Let's go straight into the second season. There's not much to report that happened between the two seasons except it was successful and people looked forward to the new adventures.
Heck, it was so popular, film producers Milton Subotsky and Max J. Rosenberg adapted The Daleks into a movie called Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965, dir. Gordon Flemying) starring Peter Cushing as a human called Dr. Who. But... um... that's uh... yeah, that and the sequel need their own post.
Verity Lambert is still the producer and David Whittaker would serve as script editor until the second story of the story. He would be replaced by Dennis Spooner.
So, let's get on with it.
Planet of Giants
(three parts)
W: Louis Marks
D: Mervyn Pinfield and Douglas Camfield
"We have been reduced roughly to the size of an inch!" - The Doctor
Starting off the second season, we get a disappointing one. Okay, it's not bad but - spoilers - it turns out not to be a planet of giants but just Earth except the TARDIS crew is small. Also, this story takes place in an English resident's backyard - er, I mean garden - in 1969. This then leads to them getting in the kitchen. So, basically, Doctor Who did Honey, I Shrunk the Kids before the movie even happened.
The main villain of the plot is an evil businessman (Alan Tilvern) who benefited from a pesticide meant to end famine but can cause damage.
Yeah, this isn't as compelling as other stories. Now what is interesting is apparently on the DVD release there's a special feature where people recreate the missing parts of the script using the original script, newly recorded dialogues, and animations.
By the way, John Guilor is absolutely amazing with his impersonating Hartnell. He would go on to do Hartnell's voice again for the 50th Anniversary episode Day of the Doctor.
A fact I discovered later on! Alan Tilvern who plays the villain in this story would go onto to play R.K. Maroon in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988, dir. Robert Zemeckis).
I don't hate it and it's far from the worse but for me, you won't miss much if you skip it.
RATING: 2/5
PLOT: The doors of the TARDIS open of their own accord just before it materializes, running out of control. On emerging, the travelers find the ship has been reduced in size and they are now only about an inch tall.
Starting off the second season, we get a disappointing one. Okay, it's not bad but - spoilers - it turns out not to be a planet of giants but just Earth except the TARDIS crew is small. Also, this story takes place in an English resident's backyard - er, I mean garden - in 1969. This then leads to them getting in the kitchen. So, basically, Doctor Who did Honey, I Shrunk the Kids before the movie even happened.
The main villain of the plot is an evil businessman (Alan Tilvern) who benefited from a pesticide meant to end famine but can cause damage.
Yeah, this isn't as compelling as other stories. Now what is interesting is apparently on the DVD release there's a special feature where people recreate the missing parts of the script using the original script, newly recorded dialogues, and animations.
By the way, John Guilor is absolutely amazing with his impersonating Hartnell. He would go on to do Hartnell's voice again for the 50th Anniversary episode Day of the Doctor.
A fact I discovered later on! Alan Tilvern who plays the villain in this story would go onto to play R.K. Maroon in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988, dir. Robert Zemeckis).
I don't hate it and it's far from the worse but for me, you won't miss much if you skip it.
RATING: 2/5
The Dalek Invasion of Earth
(six parts)
W: Terry Nation
D: Richard Martin
"One day, I shall come back. Yes, I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in all your beliefs and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine." - The Doctor
"One day, I shall come back. Yes, I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in all your beliefs and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine." - The Doctor
PLOT: The TARDIS returns to London; however, it's the 22nd century. With bodies in the river, and quiet in the Docklands, the city is a very different place. The Daleks have invaded and it's up to the Doctor to thwart them once again.
Now, we're getting into some great stuff. This is a memorable episode for two reasons: 1. the reappearance of the Daleks who have upped their game by taking over the world! 2. The first companion departure.
Yes, the first companion departure of the show is the Doctor's own granddaughter Susan. Having her be the first companion to leave signifies that no actor on the show will last forever. Of course, this is hindsight considering how I'm sure the producers didn't realize how long the show would last. But having Susan leave is not only a great significant moment for the show but also for the Doctor's character. It shows that he's starting to get out of his hermit-like life and realize that things change. As he says in his famous speech, "You are still my grandchild and always will be. But now, you're a woman too. I want you to belong somewhere, to have roots of your own."
This to me ranks as one of the best companion departures of the series. This won't be the last time Susan appears in the show. Carole Ann Ford will play her again in future specials, audio dramas and be referenced time and again. One appearance that Susan made that packs a punch to me is in the Eighth Doctor short story Ghost of Christmas Past by Scot Hancock - part of the anthology book Twelve Doctors of Christmas. Trust me, you'll love it.
Onto the other point I mentioned above:
I like how they've upped the ante with Daleks. The Doctor hasn't bumped into them when they're planning an invasion or take over, they've already won. It gives the story a WWII resistance feel to it. Not too hard to imagine especially since the Daleks are based around Nazi ideology.
Another aspect I like is that it really takes advantage of his being a more ensemble cast. The TARDIS crew gets separated in the story and the audience follows them as they try to reconnect while trying to survive. Through their travels, we get a look at what the world looks like after the Daleks conquered it -at least what the U.K. looks like. They've enslaved some, made some into foot soldiers called Robomen, make them grunt work, and while many are fighting against the Daleks there are some who are just trying to get by.
And, yes, this story was also adapted into a movie starring Peter Cushing called Daleks' Invasion of Earth 2150 A.D. (1966, dir. Gordon Flemying). I'll talk about that with my post about the first movie. For now, I'll say that the only thing really notable about the film is stars Bernard Cribbins who would go on to play Wilfred in the modern day series.
Overall, this is definitely one of my favorite First Doctor stories and Dalek stories.
RATING: 4.5/5
Yes, the first companion departure of the show is the Doctor's own granddaughter Susan. Having her be the first companion to leave signifies that no actor on the show will last forever. Of course, this is hindsight considering how I'm sure the producers didn't realize how long the show would last. But having Susan leave is not only a great significant moment for the show but also for the Doctor's character. It shows that he's starting to get out of his hermit-like life and realize that things change. As he says in his famous speech, "You are still my grandchild and always will be. But now, you're a woman too. I want you to belong somewhere, to have roots of your own."
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| Susan says goodbye |
This to me ranks as one of the best companion departures of the series. This won't be the last time Susan appears in the show. Carole Ann Ford will play her again in future specials, audio dramas and be referenced time and again. One appearance that Susan made that packs a punch to me is in the Eighth Doctor short story Ghost of Christmas Past by Scot Hancock - part of the anthology book Twelve Doctors of Christmas. Trust me, you'll love it.
I like how they've upped the ante with Daleks. The Doctor hasn't bumped into them when they're planning an invasion or take over, they've already won. It gives the story a WWII resistance feel to it. Not too hard to imagine especially since the Daleks are based around Nazi ideology.
Another aspect I like is that it really takes advantage of his being a more ensemble cast. The TARDIS crew gets separated in the story and the audience follows them as they try to reconnect while trying to survive. Through their travels, we get a look at what the world looks like after the Daleks conquered it -at least what the U.K. looks like. They've enslaved some, made some into foot soldiers called Robomen, make them grunt work, and while many are fighting against the Daleks there are some who are just trying to get by.
And, yes, this story was also adapted into a movie starring Peter Cushing called Daleks' Invasion of Earth 2150 A.D. (1966, dir. Gordon Flemying). I'll talk about that with my post about the first movie. For now, I'll say that the only thing really notable about the film is stars Bernard Cribbins who would go on to play Wilfred in the modern day series.
Overall, this is definitely one of my favorite First Doctor stories and Dalek stories.
RATING: 4.5/5
The Rescue
(two parts)
W: David Whitaker
D: Christopher Barry
"This used to be the people's Hall of Judgement. Fitting, in the present circumstances, don't you think?" - The Doctor.
"This used to be the people's Hall of Judgement. Fitting, in the present circumstances, don't you think?" - The Doctor.
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| The Doctor confronts Koquillion. |
PLOT: The Doctor, Ian, and Barbara arrive on the planet Dido. They find a crashed spaceship, the only two survivors of which are terrorized by the monster Koquillion. But who is Koquillion?
Much like The Daleks, we go from a sprawling epic to a fairly contained two-parter, although it's not that contained and it does pack a lot just within its two parts.
The main thing is this is the first appearance of the new companion Vicki played by Maureen O'Brien. A now orphaned girl who is one of two survivors of a spaceship crash.
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| Vicki Pallister (Maureen O'Brien) |
While it can be easy to see to Doctor just taking her on to be as a stand-in for Susan, you can tell that the Doctor recognizes her scenario and she needs help. This is also another step in the Doctor's character growth because I'm more than certain that if that happened in the first season, The Doctor would have opposed it.
Also worth noting is that this is the first episode where the characters visit a planet that the Doctor claims to have visited before. This plays a part in how the Doctor figures out what's going on with the plot.
Now it turns out that that the other survivor of the crash - Bennett - was masquerading as Koquillion by wearing their religious garb. Bennet informs the Doctor that before the ship crashed he was arrested for murdering a crew member. After the ship crashed he engineered an explosion that killed both the other survivors and many of the Dido native - who are actually humanoid looking. He kept Vicki alive because she was unaware of his crime and she could testify to his innocence.
The Doctor perfectly summarizes Bennett, "You destroyed a whole planet just to save your own skin. You're insane!"
While there's nothing that spectacular elsewhere in the story I do like this story. It's a short and simple story that does a good job of introducing our new companion.
RATING: 3.5/5
The Romans
(four parts)
W: Dennis Spooner
D: Christopher Barry
"You know, I am so constantly outwitting the opposition, I tend to forget the delights and satisfaction of the gentle art of fisticuffs." - The Doctor.
"You know, I am so constantly outwitting the opposition, I tend to forget the delights and satisfaction of the gentle art of fisticuffs." - The Doctor.
PLOT: Landing in Rome, A.D. 64, the travelers take a rare holiday. While Ian and Barbara are happy to relax, the Doctor and Vicki set off to pursue adventure.
However, adventure soon finds Ian and Barbara too as they are kidnapped by slave traders, and the Doctor's imitation of Maximus Pettulian sees him taken to the court of Emperor Nero.
This four-parter took a while for me to get into it but eventually, I grew to enjoy it.
This is another historical that does a good job incorporating the characters into the historical environment.
This is another historical that does a good job incorporating the characters into the historical environment.
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| Michael Peake as Tavius. I'm mainly sharing this because I love this face. |
There's nothing too spectacular the episode, but it's a fun one to watch none-the-less.
And of course, you can't go wrong with the Doctor engaging in the gentle art of fisticuffs. Give it a watch.
And of course, you can't go wrong with the Doctor engaging in the gentle art of fisticuffs. Give it a watch.
RATING: 3.5/5
The Web Planet
(six parts)
W: Bill Strutton
D: Richard Martin
"Come along, drop this hairdryer or whatever it is." - The Doctor.
PLOT: On the planet Vortis, the Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Vicki are swept up in the struggles of the butterfly-like Menoptera, the original denizens of Vortis who were forced to flee the planet for the moon Pictos to escape the encroaching web of the Animus and its mind-controlled minions, the ant-like Zarbi, and their living weapons, the larvae guns.
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| Jacqueline Hill is thinking, "what the hell?" |
Oooooohhhhhh boy... I do not particularly care for this story. I think I've seen some people say they like this during the Doctor Who streaming marathon. If so, then fine, but I seriously found this to be so annoying. And that's because of all the noise... all the noise, noise, noise, noise!
Seriously, there are so much random "bleepings" and "bloopings" and weird noises that it becomes so annoying.
There was seriously so much weird random noises at some points that I seriously thought I was watching planet Koozebane sketch from The Muppet Show.
Yeah, I don't have much to say about this episode outside of I didn't like and found it annoying. But I will say one nice thing about it. Barbara gets to step up and becoming a driving force to defeat the enemy - Animus.
Again, if you like it, that's fine, no judging on my part but I just didn't like. Right now it stands as my least favorite story so far. I'm certain others will take that spot.
RATING: 1.5/5
The Crusade
(four parts/two missing)
W: David Whitaker
D: Douglas Camfield
"There's something new in you, yet something older than the sky itself. I sense that I can trust you." - Princess Joanna.
PLOT: The TARDIS arrives in 12th century Palestine where a holy war is in progress between the forces of King Richard the Lionheart and the Saracen ruler Saladin. Barbara is abducted in a Saracen ambush and the Doctor, Ian, and Vicki make their way to King Richard's palace in the city of Jaffa.
This is an okay, historical story.
I won't lie, this is a story where I can't help but feel like nothing spectacularly happened. I guess this is just me having too high of expectations given how other historical stories have been awesome.
Also, a part of me feels like this episode takes a step back with Barbara, seeing as how throughout a majority of the story she's just a hostage. Like, I didn't care for the last story but she was incredibly active with that one. It felt like it took forever for her to try and do something.
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| The Doctor and Vicki meet Joanna (Jean Marsh). |
But even then, it's still an okay story. I like the scenes with Richard the Lionheart (Julian Glover) and his sister Joanna (Jean Marsh). Both of their actors we'll see more in the future.
RATING: 3/5
P.S.
I've met Julian Glover. I met him at the 2017 Cincinnati Comic Expo and he was an absolute delight and a gentleman. I mean it, he shook every man's hand and kissed every woman's hand. It was amazing!
RATING: 3/5
P.S.
I've met Julian Glover. I met him at the 2017 Cincinnati Comic Expo and he was an absolute delight and a gentleman. I mean it, he shook every man's hand and kissed every woman's hand. It was amazing!
The Space Museum
(four parts)
W: Glyn Jones
D: Mervyn Pinfield
"The least important things, sometimes, my dear boy, lead to the greatest discoveries." - The Doctor
PLOT: "The TARDIS jumps a time track and the travelers arrive on the planet Xeros. There they discover their own future selves displayed as exhibits in a museum established as a monument to the galactic conquests of the warlike Morok invaders who now rule the planet. When time shifts back to normal, they realize that they must do everything they can to avert this potential future."
Here we have what could possibly be the first "wibbly wobbly, timey-wimey" stories and... meh. I don't hate but it feels like they haven't quite stuck the landing on the concept and such - though it's debatable if this type of time jumping has ever been truly nailed down.
Now, the last time Doctor Who Magazine published a ranking of all Doctor Who episodes in 2014, this was the lowest ranking of all the Hartnell episodes sitting at #232 out of 241 (counting Trial of a Time Lord as one episode). Which is a bit harsh to me. Especially since we still have Web Planet.
Truth be told I really don't remember that much about it. Grant it, it's been a while since I watched it and writing this but the only scene I remember is the cliffhanger for the first part (which is an effective one) and the Doctor giggling in an empty Dalek shell. And really how could I forget that scene?
RATING: 2.5/5
Here we have what could possibly be the first "wibbly wobbly, timey-wimey" stories and... meh. I don't hate but it feels like they haven't quite stuck the landing on the concept and such - though it's debatable if this type of time jumping has ever been truly nailed down.
Now, the last time Doctor Who Magazine published a ranking of all Doctor Who episodes in 2014, this was the lowest ranking of all the Hartnell episodes sitting at #232 out of 241 (counting Trial of a Time Lord as one episode). Which is a bit harsh to me. Especially since we still have Web Planet.
Truth be told I really don't remember that much about it. Grant it, it's been a while since I watched it and writing this but the only scene I remember is the cliffhanger for the first part (which is an effective one) and the Doctor giggling in an empty Dalek shell. And really how could I forget that scene?
RATING: 2.5/5
The Chase
(six parts)
W: Terry Nation
D: Richard Martin and Douglas Camfield
"London 1965!" - Ian Chesterton.
PLOT: "The travelers learn from the Time-Space Visualiser (taken from the Moroks' museum) that Daleks, equipped with their own time machine, are on their trail with orders to exterminate them."
We now must say fare thee well to two of the best companions ever - Barbara and Ian. But we'll get on that later.
This six-parter sees the Tardis crew being chased by the Daleks. But instead of having just ONE long pursuit they broke it up with taking place in different places - both futuristic sci-fi locations and historical locations. Even a Haunted Mansion! Well, sort of.
A couple moments that stand out to me. First, is a rather brief one. At one moment, the Tardis crew are operating on the Time-Space Visualiser first mentioned in Space Museum, which allows them to see actual events in history including Lincoln reading the Gettysburg Address, Queen Elizabeth I meetings Sir Francis Bacon and William Shakespeare, and the Beatles performing "Ticket to Ride" on Top of the Pops. That little clip you see of them performing is all that remains of that episode because, like with this show, Top of the Pops deleted a lot of episodes.
Then there's a mini-history lesson. At one point the Tardis crew find themselves on the sailing ship Mary Celeste in 1872. For that aren't aware, the ship set sailed from New York in October of '72 with Capt. Benjamin Briggs, his wife, and infant daughter, and seven crewmen. Weeks later, the ship was found abandoned and all occupants missing. Nothing appeared damaged, nothing stolen, and there was no sign of foul play. It remains one of the great mysteries of history... but according to this episode, everyone jumped ship upon seeing the Daleks.
The Daleks didn't kill them but the occupants were so spooked they just jumped overboard.
The other interesting moment is this is the first time we have an actor who would become a companion to make an earlier appearance. Usually when this happens it before they're cast as the companion but in this one, Peter Purves plays both soon-to-be-companion Steven Taylor but also as an Alabama tourist in NYC earlier in the episode.
The other major moment is, of course, Ian and Barbara's departure. Yes, our beloved school teacher duo leave. They realize they have an opportunity to leave via a Dalek time machine and return to their own time. Their wanting to leave has nothing to do with malice towards the Doctor but, as Ian puts it, "I want to sit in a pub and drink a pint of beer again. I want to walk in a park and watch a cricket match. Above all, I want to belong somewhere, do something, instead of this aimless drifting around in space." In other words, they want a sense of normalcy again. Which makes sense to me.
Most of the time a companion joins because they're frustratingly bored with where they are and want something more than their provisional lives. But Ian and Barbara, well, they were basically kidnapped and seemed to enjoy how things were going for them.
That's not saying they didn't have fun or have contempt for the Doctor but, well, as they say: be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.
As for Ian and Barbara post TV episodes, sadly the two never made an appearance again. Jacqueline Hill (Barbara) would pop up again as the villain the Fourth Doctor story Meglos (as of right now the only time that's happened) and they would be referenced time and again. Ian almost made an appearance in the Fifth Doctor story Mawdryn Undead but sadly that never came about.
And of course, it is hinted at with their mentioning - particularly in an episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures - that the two got married. Their wedding was a part of a comic story.
RATING: 3.5/5
This six-parter sees the Tardis crew being chased by the Daleks. But instead of having just ONE long pursuit they broke it up with taking place in different places - both futuristic sci-fi locations and historical locations. Even a Haunted Mansion! Well, sort of.
A couple moments that stand out to me. First, is a rather brief one. At one moment, the Tardis crew are operating on the Time-Space Visualiser first mentioned in Space Museum, which allows them to see actual events in history including Lincoln reading the Gettysburg Address, Queen Elizabeth I meetings Sir Francis Bacon and William Shakespeare, and the Beatles performing "Ticket to Ride" on Top of the Pops. That little clip you see of them performing is all that remains of that episode because, like with this show, Top of the Pops deleted a lot of episodes.
Then there's a mini-history lesson. At one point the Tardis crew find themselves on the sailing ship Mary Celeste in 1872. For that aren't aware, the ship set sailed from New York in October of '72 with Capt. Benjamin Briggs, his wife, and infant daughter, and seven crewmen. Weeks later, the ship was found abandoned and all occupants missing. Nothing appeared damaged, nothing stolen, and there was no sign of foul play. It remains one of the great mysteries of history... but according to this episode, everyone jumped ship upon seeing the Daleks.
The Daleks didn't kill them but the occupants were so spooked they just jumped overboard.
The other interesting moment is this is the first time we have an actor who would become a companion to make an earlier appearance. Usually when this happens it before they're cast as the companion but in this one, Peter Purves plays both soon-to-be-companion Steven Taylor but also as an Alabama tourist in NYC earlier in the episode.
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Most of the time a companion joins because they're frustratingly bored with where they are and want something more than their provisional lives. But Ian and Barbara, well, they were basically kidnapped and seemed to enjoy how things were going for them.
That's not saying they didn't have fun or have contempt for the Doctor but, well, as they say: be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.
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| Ian and Barbara's wedding from the 11th Doctor comic Hunters of the Burning Stone |
As for Ian and Barbara post TV episodes, sadly the two never made an appearance again. Jacqueline Hill (Barbara) would pop up again as the villain the Fourth Doctor story Meglos (as of right now the only time that's happened) and they would be referenced time and again. Ian almost made an appearance in the Fifth Doctor story Mawdryn Undead but sadly that never came about.
And of course, it is hinted at with their mentioning - particularly in an episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures - that the two got married. Their wedding was a part of a comic story.
RATING: 3.5/5
The Time Meddler
(four parts)
W: Dennis Spooner
D: Douglas Camfield
"That is the dematerializing control, and that, over yonder, is the horizontal hold. Up there is the scanner; those are the doors; that is a chair with a panda on it. Sheer poetry, dear boy! Now please stop bothering me." - The Doctor.
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| The Doctor confronts the Meddling Monk |
PLOT: "The Doctor, Vicki, and new companion Steven Taylor arrive in Saxon Northumbria on the eve of the Viking and Norman invasions. It is 1066, a pivotal moment in British history. The hand of a mysterious Monk is at work in the nearby monastery, intending that history takes a different course."
Right now, if I had to pick my overall favorite Hartnell episode, there's no debate, it would be this one!
This one is just a pure delight all the way through with memorable lines, great character moments, and world expansion.
This is also when I think we really start to see the Doctor fully move past his grumpy/anti-hero characteristics. Here he's a bit more mischievous and light-hearted, with quick and witty retorts and a bit more willing to get involved.
The episode is also very significant because it's the first time we meet someone of the Doctor's race that's not Susan. The Meddling Monk as he'll be called (Peter Butterworth) is an absolutely fantastic villain. In a way, he's kind of the middle ground between the Doctor and the Master. He's a renegade Time Lord but he's not doing what he's doing for a nefarious purpose or to do good. He's just having fun - although that could be seen as somewhat worse.
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| Peter Butterworth as the Monk |
Really this is an episode I want you all to just watch and enjoy there's too much for me to gush about.
RATING: 5/5
OVERALL SEASON SCORE:
3/5
From a writing standpoint, in my opinion, it's still okay I definitely see it heading into the direction we'd all know it for. The Doctor by the end isn't as much of grump and we see him becoming more of the whimsical traveler we know. So, yeah, I'm rating this one slightly above the previous one.
Next time around... oh boy... things get a bit heavier. And hopefully, I'll get it out a lot sooner.
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