2.2: The Highlanders
In which Doctor Who gets its last “pure” historical for many, many years, and one of its longest running companions arrives.
Broadcast: December 1966-January 1967
Listened: August 2019
I listened to the audio of this one on my way to, and wandering aimlessly about, Dublin, so the notes are a bit truncated.
The Highlanders, Episodes 1-2
It’s quite funny to see the Doctor portrayed as a physical coward, hiding when he hears gunfire – not sure that ever happens again, does it? The “Doctor Von Wer” stuff [he does a silly German accent and signs his name as such] is quite fun though. As is the Doctor in drag. This is one of those times we get a version of the character we don’t really see again and sort of forget about, partly probably because we can’t see these ones.
Again, though – it’s sort of interesting that you can’t imagine Hartnell playing a lot of this. The new Doctor is a totally different character, not just a recasting. [The ever informative James Cooray Smith tells me that this is because Troughton was convinced he’d get Doctor Who cancelled: “He’s trying to disappear.”]
Also, Polly has more balls in this story than normal and she’s much more fun this way, even the bit when she calls someone a stupid peasant.
That said, two episodes in and I still haven’t the foggiest what this story is about. It’s just a load of capture-escape loops, tourism with peril isn’t it? [“It’s about the author having read Kidnapped as a child,” someone replied.]
The Highlanders, Episodes 3-4
I have never read Kidnapped. On googling i realised the weird whitewashed slave trade stuff is from there too.
“I would like a hat like that” is a very odd catchphrase.
Why does Jamie join the TARDIS? It works obviously but it looks like an odd choice in late 1966. Two male companions and his plot function is too close to Ben’s, and his role in this story isn’t big or important or impressive enough to scream, “Hire this guy!” Surprised we never had a Big Finish audio deliberately misunderstanding this story and assuming he’s the Young Pretender though.
[Gonna quote Jim Smith again here: the plan wasn’t to add the character of Jamie, it was to bring Frazer Hines on as the new companion; Jamie was just a convenient part to cast him in. Anyway, it clearly worked out, as he stayed with the show for the next two and a half years, and only leaves when Troughton does: he’s in more episodes of Doctor Who than anyone but the first four Doctors.]
I like the way Ffinch, who’s been a comedy foil for four episodes, gets to be the hero at the end.
It’s fine. But Doctor Who really does get a lot simpler when Innes Lloyd takes over as producer.