The Meddling Monk.

[Haggis and tatties]

I just bought this from Tesco on a whim the other day and i have to say what a cracking serial, Hartnell seems to have become really comfortable in the part and the whole thing is just so watchable, and with this being my first time watching the serial i was pleasantly surprised at the ending and who the Monk was and how the doc dealt with him...........Great stuff.

I am always pleasantly surprised at just how good these old Hartnell stories are, and how well they stand the test of time story telling wise.

Good stuff.

Oh and a little nod to the restoration team who once again do there magic on these little slices of fascinating TV history.....

 

[Winterwind]

It is quite the serial isn't it? And I agree with you on Hartnell's stories. I've always enjoyed them, despite the age and the sometimes (to us looking back) silly scientific terminology.

 

[The]

​

Hartnell has what Tom, Colin, and Eccleston, mainly, brought to the part.....and that's presence. Sure he's doddering (how much of that is act?), and sure he flubs his lines. But a lesser actor wouldn't have been able to blend it in so distinctly with the character, much less infuse him with such equal ferocity and compassion. As the later actors brought the "old wise traveler in a young body", Bill Hartnell's twinkling eyes, wry smirk, and impish giggle brought out "the young, wide-eyed adventurer in an old body". Say what you will about the era, good or bad, but William Hartnell created The Doctor...

​

 

[Cutter John]

Honestly the line-flubbign never bothered me all that much. I mean hell, even in real life people sometimes catch themselves saying the wrong word.

But yes, I agree. Its definately one of the best and more modern feeling Hartnell's.

 

[26138]

​

Hartnell has what Tom, Colin, and Eccleston, mainly, brought to the part.....and that's presence. Sure he's doddering (how much of that is act?), and sure he flubs his lines. But a lesser actor wouldn't have been able to blend it in so distinctly with the character, much less infuse him with such equal ferocity and compassion. As the later actors brought the "old wise traveler in a young body", Bill Hartnell's twinkling eyes, wry smirk, and impish giggle brought out "the young, wide-eyed adventurer in an old body". Say what you will about the era, good or bad, but William Hartnell created The Doctor...

​

Agreed, if it wasn't for Hartnell, I don't think Doctor Who would have lasted very long.

 

[davejames]

Honestly the line-flubbign never bothered me all that much. I mean hell, even in real life people sometimes catch themselves saying the wrong word.

Lol, yeah it always bugged me how everyone in Trek always spoke so flawlessly. No tripping over words, or searching for the right word, or throwing a couple of "ums" and "ahs" in there like real people always do.

 

[Stevil2001]

"You'll end up as a couple of burnt cinders floating around in Spain!"

 

[The]

"I'll take walking to any day, my boy..."

 

[diankra]

"I'll take walking to any day, my boy..."

"Eh, Chesterfield? I mean, Chatterton, ah...." [Theme music] Tune in next week to see if the Doctor can get Ian's name right...

Though to be fair, apparently that was a running joke Hartnell deliberately put in as an ad-lib after the first time he got Chesterton's name wrong. And yep, I'm with those who reckon he's one of the very best - Hartnell's Doctor seems to get better everytime I see one of his stories again. I'm now digging out the old VHS releases again rather than wait for more DVDs.

 

[Demonland]

Agreed with all of the above. I always get very excited to see a new (well for me anyway) Hartnell story released on DVD.

 

[Cutter John]

And what a great actor they cast to play the Monk. He felt a bit like an evil Troughton.

Always loved how wonderfully violent Hartnells Doctor was in this episode. Threatening people with a fake gun and a wooden staff. The Doc didn't take any crap back in the day.

 

[The]

And what a great actor the cast to play the Monk. He felt a bit like an evil Troughton.

The wife and I just watched this tonight, and she said the exact same thing. It was like watching The Doctor's first two incarnations match wits.

Always loved how wonderfully violent Hartnells Doctor was in this episode. Threatening people with a fake gun and a wooden staff. The Doc didn't take any crap back in the day.

Doctor's 3, 6, and 9 get it honestly, don't they? I always found it funny how some fans mistake The Doctor's general dislike of using violence as outright pacifism. The Doctor can think his way out of any reasonable dilemma. But, when it comes down to it, he'll drop your ass like a bad habit (just ask the Third Doctor). They don't call him "The Oncoming Storm" for nothing...

 

[26138]

...he'll drop your ass like a bad habit (just ask the Third Doctor)...

Kung Fu fighting!

 

[Allyn Gibson]

And what a great actor they cast to play the Monk. He felt a bit like an evil Troughton.

I've always wanted to write a Second Doctor vs. the Monk story. In fact, I even know who the Monk's companion is.

 

[Marc]

...he'll drop your ass like a bad habit (just ask the Third Doctor)...

Kung Fu fighting!

Venusian Fu fighting thank you much.

The 3rd Doctor was very proud that he was on of the few non-six armed beings to master Venusian Karate.

 

[The]

^I wouldn't mind Matt Smith pulling out some Venusian Fu. He's young enough to be action-oriented...

 

[Sci]

Honestly the line-flubbign never bothered me all that much. I mean hell, even in real life people sometimes catch themselves saying the wrong word.

Lol, yeah it always bugged me how everyone in Trek always spoke so flawlessly. No tripping over words, or searching for the right word, or throwing a couple of "ums" and "ahs" in there like real people always do.

To be fair, that's a fundamental conceit of almost all modern drama, whether it be onstage, on film, or on television. Only rarely do you see works specifically designed to mimic the imprecise, incorrect, or overlapping ways real people speak.

 

[The]

^Ala' the original M*A*S*H* movie...

 

[matthunter]

Only rarely do you see works specifically designed to mimic the imprecise, incorrect, or overlapping ways real people speak.

Harold Pinter was a master of this.

 

[Sci]

Only rarely do you see works specifically designed to mimic the imprecise, incorrect, or overlapping ways real people speak.

Harold Pinter was a master of this.

Very true.

I'll tell ya what, though, when I read The Homecoming, I was really expecting them to all turn into hyenas and go hunting.