Classic Who day by day

[OmahaStar]

Time Meddler, episode 4 - "Checkmate" originally aired 7/24/65
Written by Dennis Spooner
Directed by Douglas Camfield

While Steven and Vicki explore the Monk's Tardis, the Doctor interrogates the other Time Lord. The Monk is a time meddler, and his actions piss off the Doctor. They go to the Monk's Tardis, and they all reunite.

The Monk has a "Mark 4" Tardis.

He works with the Vikings, and they overpower the Doctor and his companions. The villagers figure things out and attack the Vikings. The woman frees our heroes and the Doctor plots against his kinsman.

While the Monk is hiding, the Doctor sabotages his Tardis, leaves and note, and the crew returns his his ship.

The Monk's Tardis is no longer functional, and the Monk is marooned in 1066.

* * *

Nice new ending credits. I quite enjoyed this one, especially the Doctor's meeting on of his own. In every way, this is the Doctor's path-not-taken. We see what the Doctor could have been, had he chosen to meddle in time, instead of just observing.

I loved every episode of this story, and it's a must-have for fans of the series.

Only one more complete story is available on dvd, The War Machines, which is coming up next. After that, we'll be welcoming the Second Doctor.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

Only one more complete story is available on dvd, The War Machines, which is coming up next. After that, we'll be welcoming the Second Doctor.

What about The Keys of Marinus?

 

[DarkHorizon]

Only one more complete story is available on dvd, The War Machines, which is coming up next. After that, we'll be welcoming the Second Doctor.

What about The Keys of Marinus?

That's only just come out in Region 2. I think I'm right in saying that OmahaStar is in North America - since the Region 1 DVD covers are what have been accompanying these posts. They won't get that release until January.

I am enjoying these posts, btw - even though I haven't seen most of these episodes myself!

 

[OmahaStar]

Only one more complete story is available on dvd, The War Machines, which is coming up next. After that, we'll be welcoming the Second Doctor.

What about The Keys of Marinus?

That's only just come out in Region 2. I think I'm right in saying that OmahaStar is in North America - since the Region 1 DVD covers are what have been accompanying these posts. They won't get that release until January.

Yep, everything I'm doing is based on what has been released in Region 1. Since we get everything last, by the time we get it, it'll give everyone an opportunity to follow along if they want to.

I am enjoying these posts, btw - even though I haven't seen most of these episodes myself!

Thank you!

 

[OmahaStar]

War Machines, episode 1, originally aired 6/26/66
Written by Ian Stuart Black (with Kit Pedler)
Directed by Michael Ferguson

The Doctor and Dodo step out of the Tardis and onto then-modern London. There is a strange alien tower in the distance, and off they go to investigate.

Inside the tower, they are welcomed with open arms by the scientist in charge of creating a massive supercomputer he names W.O.T.aN. He also introduces his assistant, Polly.

Polly takes Dodo to a nightclub, where we meet Ben, a sailor who fancies Polly.

Slight complication with W.O.T.aN - it can hypnotize human minds, forcing them to do its bidding. And it uses its slaves to gather new slaves, taking over each in turn.

It orders them to bring The Doctor as its next victim.

* * *

It's a pretty good episode, but with the exception of The Doctor, I don't know any of them. Dodo references Steven, so this must be sometime after his departure. Beyond that ... *shrug*

Polly and Ben are joining the Doctor, and this is the only released serial in which Dodo appears. So ... yeah.

As for the story itself, it's one we've all heard so many times before - a supercomputer is built and tries to take over the world.

I'm pretty sure I've seen this story before, but it still feels new ... fresh, somehow. And it seems like The Doctor has calmed down considerably over the last few stories.

 

[Captain Pike]

You not going to touch on the Lost In time set? I seem to remember you mentioning something about it but I can't find what you said right this moment.

As for Dodo, from the small amount I've seen and listened to she was one of the more annoying companions. In The Ark the cold she is carrying almost dooms the last remnants of humanity and another species called Monoids. Though there are some deaths, thankfully the doctor is able to create a vaccine. She's trouble though, that one..

 

[OmahaStar]

You not going to touch on the Lost In time set? I seem to remember you mentioning something about it but I can't find what you said right this moment.

I am. I'll be finishing up War Machines, then going to the (sadly) few stories released of the Second Doctor, then going back and doing everything from the Lost in Time box set ... By the time I'm done with that, War Games will be out and I can do that.

The only ones that are out are ... Tomb of the Cybermen, Mind Robber, The Invasion, and Seeds of Death.

Now, Dodo is in one of those episodes (maybe) from Celestial Toymaker. But, it's not a complete serial, just one episode from it. Lost in Time will probably have the most difficult stories to talk about, since there is no context, it's just one or two episodes that still exist, with the rest being lost. Except for The Crusade, there the lost episodes are on the dvd as audio only.

As for Dodo, from the small amount I've seen and listened to she was one of the more annoying companions. In The Ark the cold she is carrying almost dooms the last remnants of humanity and another species called Monoids. Though there are some deaths, thankfully the doctor is able to create a vaccine. She's trouble though, that one..

No companion has ever been more annoying than Mel. I hope.

 

[Captain Pike]

Ah cool.

Except for The Crusade, there the lost episodes are on the dvd as audio only.

And The Moonbase.

 

[OmahaStar]

The War Machines, episode 2 - 7/02/66
Written by Ian Stuart Black & Kit Pedler
Directed by Michael Ferguson

W.O.T.aN orders its slaves to create war machines and to gather more, suitable slaves. Dodo finds The Doctor in the night club and gets him outside, but Ben interferes with her programming, procuring a taxi himself.

Work progresses steadily on the machines.

Dodo repeatedly tries to get The Doctor to go back to the tower, but keeps getting foiled. The Doctor realizes she has been hypnotized. He de-hypnotizes her and says she'll be out for 48 hours.

After many tests, the war machines hit the streets.

* * *

Bye-bye, Dodo. It's a really crappy way to lose ya. But, only two episodes doesn't really give me much to care about you, ya know?

 

[CaptMurdock]

One story you have to see during this period: The Gunfighters. The Doctor, Steven and Dodo at the OK Corral. Depending on whom you ask, this is either a forgotten gem or a camp classic. You be the judge.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Or complete rubbish. The Gunfighters is one of my least favorite Doctor Who stories, right up there with "Daleks in Manhattan"/"Evolution of the Daleks."

As for Dodo, I adore her. It helps to watch/listen all of the reconstructions of her stories and not just the few completed stories on DVD (which don't reflect her very well in my mind).

 

[OmahaStar]

One story you have to see during this period: The Gunfighters. The Doctor, Steven and Dodo at the OK Corral. Depending on whom you ask, this is either a forgotten gem or a camp classic. You be the judge.

I'd sure like to see that story. It's one of the few left that isn't missing any episodes. Based on 2entertain's statement that they wanted to have all the complete stories released by ... what was it, 2012? ... it shouldn't be much longer.

Or complete rubbish. The Gunfighters is one of my least favorite Doctor Who stories, right up there with "Daleks in Manhattan"/"Evolution of the Daleks."

As for Dodo, I adore her. It helps to watch/listen all of the reconstructions of her stories and not just the few completed stories on DVD (which don't reflect her very well in my mind).

I've noticed this, especially about the earliest stories. Fans either really really love certain episodes, or really really hate them. At times, the really good actors can make absolute crap at least watchable. But they can only do so much. And yeah, I really don't have good memories of the DiM/EotD episodes.

And now for tonight's episode ....

* * * * * * * * * *

War Machines, episode 3 - originally aired 7/09/66
Written by Ian Stuart Black and Kit Pedlar
Directed by Michael Ferguson

Uh oh! Polly's been taken over and Ben tries to free her. She allows Ben to stay and work for W.O.T.aN - without being hypnotized. He eventually escapes and makes his way to The Doctor, telling him what's going on.

The army is on the scene, moving against W.O.T.aN and its war machines. It knocks the stuffing out of them, and the episode ends with the machine bearing down on the Doctor.

* * *

There isn't a lot to describe here. I'm reminded of that scene in Dalek Invasion of Earth, when Barbara is running through the deserted streets of London for a long sequence.

But in this case, it's even longer. Seven minutes - SEVEN! - with the army fighting the war machine. There's a bit of dialog, but it's just one long fight scene. In an episode that is barely twenty two minutes (even less without the credits), seven minutes is a huge chunk of time.

It also shows that the army is really rather lame. No wonder Unit is so awesome - when they finally show up, several stories from now.

 

[DWF]

The War Machines was something of a prototypical UNIT storyline and it was much better than The Gunfighters.

 

[Captain Pike]

To this day I've only seen the first 2 or 3 episodes of The Gunfighters. I got that far and was unable to stomach any more.

 

[OmahaStar]

I'd much rather have UNIT. At least there, we know what we're getting.

Pike - I still haven't seen any of The Gunfighters. I hope it doesn't suck as bad as Web Planet.

* * * * *

The War Machines, episode 4, originally aired 7/16/66
Written by Ian Stuart Black and Kit Pedler
Directed by Michael Ferguson

The Doctor escapes, by simply walking away. He works with the army and other scientists, and discovers W.O.T.aN was turned on before it had finished being programmed. He also discovers there were 12 war machines built.

With the army's help, he captures and neutralizes one of the machines, then reprograms it.

The war machine destroys W.O.T.aN and all those who had been under its control are freed.

The Doctor returns to the Tardis. Ben and Polly meet him, and Polly tells him Dodo has decided to stay behind. After he enters his ship, they sneak in behind him.

* * *

Ok. Not bad, not great. Nice intro for Polly and Ben, the first companions who witness a regeneration, a few stories from now.

This story is the first (in order of my viewing) to stop giving individual episode titles. Now it's "Story Name, Episode 1, Episode 2" etc. It may have happened in an earlier story, but not one that has been released so far.

The ending is bittersweet. Of the released stories, this is the final one to star William Hartnell as the Doctor. Yes, he returns for The Three Doctors, and there are other episodes on Lost in Time, but in a way, we're saying goodbye to this Doctor here.

Some time next year, we're supposed to get The Keys of Marinus. That's another early story (one set right before The Aztecs).

But this really is it. This is story number 27. All four episodes of the next story, 28 (The Smugglers) are lost. And 29 (The Tenth Planet) is Hartnell's last. That's when he regenerates to the Second Doctor. In that serial, the first three episodes exist, but the final one, all but the last 20 seconds are lost.

Next up is one of my favorite stories of the series, Tomb of the Cybermen.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I think you'll hate The Gunfighters. As I said before, it's one of my least favorite Doctor Who serials and I think The Web Planet is underrated and should be applauded for its ambition.

 

[OmahaStar]

I think you'll hate The Gunfighters. As I said before, it's one of my least favorite Doctor Who serials and I think The Web Planet is underrated and should be applauded for its ambition.

There's only so much they can do with a two-episode script expanded for six episodes, without expanding the story. Group splits, group A gets surrounded, group B gets surrounded, group A escapes, group C gets captured, group A gets captured, repeat for six episodes.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I think you'll hate The Gunfighters. As I said before, it's one of my least favorite Doctor Who serials and I think The Web Planet is underrated and should be applauded for its ambition.

There's only so much they can do with a two-episode script expanded for six episodes, without expanding the story. Group splits, group A gets surrounded, group B gets surrounded, group A escapes, group C gets captured, group A gets captured, repeat for six episodes.

Fair enough on that point, but can you at least appreciate its ambitious attempt at world building with a strong social structure and history?

 

[OmahaStar]

Yes, I can appreciate what they were trying to do.

And now, the next Doctor.

The Tomb of the Cybermen, episode 1, originally aired 9/11/67
Written by Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis
Directed by Morris Barry

The Second Doctor shows Victoria around the Tardis while he and Jamie explain how it works. The Doctor says he is about 450 Earth years old.

On a planet named Telos, an expedition is exploring, searching for the Cybermen.

The Doctor and his new crew arrive and discover the expedition. He assists them in opening a door into the lobby of the Cybermen's Tomb.

In the lobby, the combined group splits and goes to search in the tomb. There are two doors and a circular hatch to explore.

Though he doesn't know what it is, Jamie finds a Cyber-Mat. Elsewhere, The Doctor gives the Professor the clue he needs to turn the control panel on, powering up the whole place.

In another section of the tomb, Jamie operates a hypnosis machine. And then he presses the wrong button, releasing ... a Cyberman!

* * *

So many things to talk about here.

1 - The new opening titles. The Doctor's face is now in the opening credits, something that is carried through all the way to the Seventh Doctor's era in the 80s. The new music sounds almost like rock and roll!

2 - Jamie. Drool. Jamie in a kilt. Even more drool.

3 - The new Doctor ... Ok, I saw this story a few years ago. I've mostly forgotten it, except for having positive feelings about it. I remember really, really liking it. My knowledge of this Doctor is therefore mostly from the reunion shows - The Three Doctors, the Five Doctors, and the Two Doctors. In those, he is cartoonish, nothing more than a little clown. He's nothing like that here. He's mysterious, dramatic, and dangerous. He also possesses a keen scientific mind.

4 - The Cybermen! My favorite original series baddies. They're the only baddies that actually scare the Daleks. And rightfully so, too!

5 - The script is tight, superbly-written, and the director did an amazing job. So did the set builders. The whole thing deserves a five-star rating.

6 - There are pyramids on Telos. Well, at least one. It's seen far off in the distance, but I can't help but think they could easily connect these pyramids with the ones on Mars.
​

 

[OmahaStar]

Tomb of the Cybermen, episode 2 - originally aired 9/09/67
Written by Gerry Davis and Kit Pedler
Directed by Morris Barry

The Cyberman disappears. The Doctor tells Jamie to push teh buttons on the control console in the same order as before. The Cyberman comes out again. The Cyb, it turns out, is just a target, no life time to.

Everyone returns to the lobby. The rocket's captain informs them that there is damage and they cannot take off. It will take 72 hours before the damage can be repaired. He will go and do it, and there will be a guard on the ship. Anyone who approaches it will be shot.

Mr. Klieg figures out how to open the hatch. Everyone except the two women will go down inside. Victoria is told to watch Kaftan. Kaftan is the sponsor of this expedition, financing the trip. But she has ulterior motives, and is working against the rest.

Downstairs, they find the real tombs of the Cybs. They look like a gigantic frozen honeycomb. Above, Kaftan has poisoned Victoria's drink. As Victoria passes out, Kaftan closes the hatch, locking the men inside their frozen grave.

Klieg finds another control device. As the Doctor watches, he flips switches, believing it to be another way of opening the hatch. But he's wrong.

It quickly gets warmer, and as the room thaws, the Cybs awaken. One of the men, Viner, panics and reverses the button-pushes. It starts getting colder, and the Cybs re-freeze. As he stands there, triumphant, the evil Klieg murders him.

He re-does the buttons and the Cybs wake up again. As this happens, a loud beeping wakes up Victoria. Her bag starts moving - the bag which contains a Cyber-Mat.

She freaks out when she notices the hatch is closed and rushes over to the controls. Kafta stops her, pointing her gun at the young woman. The Cyber-Mat escapes Victoria's bag.

Victoria tries to war Kafta about the Cyber-Man behind her, but she won't listen. The Mat flies up and lands on Kafta's shoulder. Victoria knocks it off, grabs Kafta's gun and then rudely shoots the poor Mat. With Kafta passed out, she goes in search of the Captain.

Now well-rested, the Cybs release their Cyber Controller. Klieg tells the controller that it was his idea to wake them up, that he is in charge of the Cybermen. Fortunately, the Controller has a better idea. Klieg will get to become a Cyberman himself!

* * *

Oh yeah. It's every bit as good as I remember. There's scandal, intrigue, science, and murder. In a way, this is almost like an Agatha Christie story, set in space.

There's just enough of the baddies to keep the viewer interested without giving away too much, and the characters are behaving consistently within their own nature. With such a large cast, it would be easy to have ... well, interchangeable characters. And that doesn't happen. Major kudos to the writers.

Back in the 60s, people had to wait an entire week to find out how the Doctor would find his way out of this predicament. I'm finding it hard to wait just one day. I don't know how people managed back then.

Another thing I want to mention is the music. When the Cybs first wake up, the music subtly changes to incorporate metallic, robotic tones. It's subtle, but fun too. Nice job.