1.20: The Myth Makers

In which the TARDIS lands in the Iliad, and it's all fun and games until someone gets massacred by Greeks.

Broadcast: October-November 1965

Watched: July 2019

This is one of those that exists only on audio. Which is a shame, because it’s brilliant.  

1. Temple Of Secrets

Had forgotten the title referred to the TARDIS.

Anyway. Brilliant, obviously. Really funny – like, properly funny, not just Doctor Who funny. Also, I like that it’s funny in two different ways – there’s surface level silliness, but also a load of jokes that are only there if you know the myths and the way it’s inverting them: making Paris a coward, Odysseus a thug, having Menelaus wondering out loud if it’’s all worth it. I’ve always thought it’s like a Round the Horne film parody, but actually The Simpsons might be a better comparison.

It’s somehow the same series as Mission to the Unknown, which is completely mental.

Also, Hartnell is clearly loving being a god. I like that so much of the regulars-in-peril stuff on this one comes from them not talking to each other and just coming up with totally different stories to tell about themselves, which then clash massively.

2. Small Prophet, Quick Return

And this is even better. Quite neat that it only introduces the Trojans in episode 2, so we’re not overloaded. The reaction to Cassandra describing her dream is hilarious. 

O’Brien’s deadpan delivery of “That’s very comforting” is the funniest moment of the series so far, and possibly ever.

I know I’m just raving a lot about how good things are at this point, but in my defence late 1965 is a really incredibly good run for Doctor Who. So many stories that are so good in completely different ways, and it’s an era that properly pushes the bounds of what the series can do.

3. Death Of A Spy

The Vicki/Troilus relationship is actually quite sweet – it works far better than Susan/David. Vicki and Steven’s bickering is great.

The Cyclops subplot is a tragic trope, which offers a pretty good insight into what kind of story we’re heading for.

Also, the thought occurs that the very title of this one is an insight into the sort of story we’re in – playing with myth, not actual history – but in a very different way.

Bit odd that the Doctor basically enables a war crime here isn’t it?

4. Horse Of Destruction

I know the Who’s Next take on this is that the shift to tragedy doesn’t work, but I don’t find that at all. It’s not Blackadder Goes Forth, but it’s not meant to be – it is genuinely horrifying, the more so because we were laughing with these characters five minutes before.

The fate of Cassandra is another reminder that the Hartnell era just loooooves rape.

The audio version doesn’t explain how Steven gets injured, which is odd. I assume we see him stabbed. Wonder why they don’t explain it.

Vicki being unable to leave Troilus is also oddly affecting. Bit convenient Aeneas shows up to found Rome.