1.11: The Rescue
In which Doctor Who replaces his granddaughter a bit quick, and there are a problematic number of people dressed as monsters.
Broadcast: January 1965
Watched: July 2019
The thing you need to know about this story if you haven’t seen it: the villain turns out to be a human dressing up as a monster. This is a problem in a show in which the monsters are also all humans dressing up as a monster. Another monster, who is really a human dressing up as a monster, turns out not to be a monster at all, but a pet. It’s little wonder everyone gets confused. Anyway, onwards.
1. The Powerful Enemy
Who exactly is the powerful enemy? The title doth protest too much.
Anyway. In 21st century terms this should obviously be called “Vicki” (some of the early scripts do call it “Tanni”, after the earlier name for the character). Very thin and silly, but O’Brien is great and so much less annoying than Ford. We see the TARDIS land, but then get several minutes with her before we see any of the regulars.
I like that the Doctor is cheery but we know he’s depressed because he just wants to sleep. Also, he does a whole monologue in the TARDIS, Big Finish style. Also I think this is the first time he has fore-knowledge of an alien planet? (Although, from things he says in the previous story, he’s clearly been reading up on Skaro.)
The costumes are all so ridiculous that it isn’t obvious that one in particular is a man in a suit. The spiked walls which push you into a pit are oddly pleasing.
2. Desperate Measures
Once again Barbara does not consider for even a second that the Doctor might be dead. She understands the rules of Doctor Who now.
Bennett is hilariously unconvincing.
Barbara slaughtering Vicki’s pet Sandy in cold blood is both the saddest and funniest moment of the series so far. It is not quite as funny as the next scene, in which Ian and the Doctor try to get the girl to laugh it off. All of the regulars are utter pricks in this bit.
Not sure Sandy’s death has any thematic relevance though, it’s just gratuitous barbarism. Oh and then it’s Vicki who apologises these people are awful.
The “I suppose you’re wondering why I’ve called you all here today” scene at the story’s conclusion feels like another step on the road to Doctor-ish-ness.
HARTNELL FIGHT SCENE! And then two blokes in white scare Bennett off a cliff, how lovely.
When I first saw this during my marathon, it did remind me oddly of NuWho (I suppose primarily because of the length, but there's just something about it). I am still mourning Sandy. I don't think that's something we would see in C21st DW.