In Which Meddow Discovers 60s Who
I’ve been watching Old School Who again, this time going all the way back and watching The Beginning Box set, which is the first four serials of the series ever and features the original Team Tardis - the crotchety first Doctor, his granddaughter the 20th century loving teenager Susan, the cardigan-wearing action man Ian Chesterton and the class act Barbara Wright - and I’ve done another screencap review. Though it shall probably end up as one big discussion of how Barbara Wright it the greatest companion ever. Because she is.
An Unearthly Child
The first episode is amazing. I was not expecting TV in 1963 to be as good. It’s moody and atmospheric, the dialogue quite very good.
So it all starts with Ian and Barbara, two apparently single school teachers with pretty obvious chemistry and a curiosity about the weird kid Susan Foreman.
And that would be Susan, listening to her favourite singer - John Smith. I adore Susan. Not the character or the actress or anything like that. Just that one of the funniest things I’ve encountered is the reaction of a friend of mine - who is only familiar with New Who and is die-hard Rose/Ten shipper - finding out the Doctor has a Granddaughter. I wish I could screencap that.
Anyways, Ian and Barbara do what any teacher would do in the situation, go on a classic stakeout. Early Mulder and Scully?
Investigating the junkyard where Susan apparently lives, the come across a police box and some old dude with a key.
They force them in, The Doctor refused to let them live. Ian refused to believe the Tardis can travel. Susan pushes some buttons and before you know it, everything’s gone to pot.
That is one brilliant visual. Maybe it’s just the black and white hiding the limits of the budget, but the sets are amazing. Anyway, then there’s a rather boring three episode about cave people and fire.
What’s more interesting is the original conception of the Doctor. One is about as far from removed as the morally righteous vengeful god that is Ten as you can imagine. He’s more of a curious scientist, and rather uncaring. In fact at one point he actually moved to kill an injured caveman that’s holding them up with a rock.
It is Ian that handles the physical action and Barbara that acts as the moral compass. Though the Doctor really has a moment of Doctorness in the beginning of the fourth episode, setting his mind to the task of proving which caveman murdered the old woman.
And the old woman gets the distinction of being the first character in the history of the show to get killed off.
I realise Barbara hasn’t done anything awesome yet, but wait for it.
The Daleks
The next serial involves the first appearance of the Daleks. I think the fact they show up in the second serial really cements them as the fundamental monster of Doctor Who, even thought Simm!Master is more entertaining and I find the Cybermen more scary (Cybermen will change you into one of them, a far worse prospect than the quick death the Daleks deliver).
Anyway, the Tardis lands on the planet Skaro - complete with a gorgeous petrified forest set - which has been destroyed by a war and radiation and the crew thinks they are alone.
There they discover a city, and rather sensibly, Ian, Barbara and Susan don’t want to visit. They’ve obviously been watching horror movies and know the drill.
But the curious Doctor tricks them all into going down. And there they discover the locals.
Don’t get your hopes up as to the Daleks being the same creatures they are in later serials. They’re pretty much glorified dodgem cars with a stun gun at this phase in their evolution. We know this because Ian and his cardigan decide to make a runner. He gets shot and all that happens is temporary paralysis. So early Daleks fail. Thought Ian’s cardigan could keep me entertained for hours. Seriously, action man wearing a cardigan - it’s a visual oxymoron.
Anyway, they escape, with Ian disguised as a Dalek.
And gain some aid from the horrifically mutated, leather pant-wearing, Thal people.
Though only after Ian gets smacked about a bit. There was actually a point to that, the Thals claimed to be pacifists. Ian decided to prove different and succeeded.
The whole message somewhat is about fighting against evil. I think when it comes to the Thal vs. Dalek/Kaled conflict, I prefer the Genesis of the Daleks retcon. However, unlike in Genesis, at least one side is likeable.
That’s the first four episodes. The next three consist of a group of Thals and Ian and Barbara trying to cross swamps and climb through caves to find the back entrance to the city. Which would be lame if not for two things:
Swamp monsters, and
Barbara/Ganatus OTP!
Barbara by this point has apparently swapped her skirt for some leather pants and is being as action woman as I suspect many women got in 1964. Or thirty-something history teachers get, ever.
And because they’re so very cute together, more Barbara/Ganatus.
And even more.
Obviously they snuck off to one of those caves for a quick shag.
Barbara Wright - pioneer in the field of interplanetary relations.
By this point I had sort of given up on the plot and was living for the shipper moments. It ends with what appears to be the Doctor Who's first genocide, which was as easy as turning off the power. Though I have a feeling those Dalek things may be back.
The Edge of Destruction
This serial was apparently created in a “oh, fuck, we need two more episodes and we have no budget!” moment. And so there are no guest stars, very few effects and the cast never leave the Tardis. You can also add in the fact the plot is somewhat lacking. However, it’s only two episodes and the interaction between the characters is magnificent. There’s actual character development of the Doctor. It’s wonderful!
Basically, the Tardis goes funny, causing some of the characters to go a bit funny. Ian attempts to strangle the Doctor and Barbara. Susan goes a bit psycho and violently attacks a couch and later threatens Barbara with a pair of vicious looking scissors.
The Doctor then accuses Barbara and Ian of sabotage, leading to one of my all time favourite moments in Doctor Who in which Barbara yells at the Doctor: “How dare you! Do you realise you stupid old man that you would have died in the Cave of Skulls if Ian hadn’t made fire for you. And what about what we went through against the Daleks? Not just for us but for you and Susan too, and all because you tricked us into going down to the city. Accuse us?! You ought to go down on your hands and knees and thank us! Gratitude’s the last thing you’ll ever have or any sort of common sense either!”
Have I mentioned how much I love Barbara?
Anyway, Barbara saves the day by figuring out that the Tardis is trying to tell them something which is that one of the springs in a button has gone and they’ve travelled back to the beginning of time. So two episodes of tension because of a broken spring. I repeat that the plot is a somewhat lacking.
But who cares about a thin plot when you get Doctor and Susan being all cute.
And the fact the episode ends with the Doctor actually apologising and being lovely to Barbara. I think now’s the point where humans start to become the Doctor’s favourite species.
Marco Polo
Since Marco Polo is missing, this was just a half hour recreation using telesnaps and audio of what was once a seven episode serial.
Really though, money, time, talent and creativity went into making those TV episodes. What idiot would ever think to destroy them? The BBC apparently.
So a run down on the Barbara:
Hooked up with a hot alien: check
Verbally kick's the Doctor's arse: check
Saved everyone’s lives: check
Conclusion: Bring back Babs!
And also, 1960s TV is way better than I expected.
An Unearthly Child
The first episode is amazing. I was not expecting TV in 1963 to be as good. It’s moody and atmospheric, the dialogue quite very good.
So it all starts with Ian and Barbara, two apparently single school teachers with pretty obvious chemistry and a curiosity about the weird kid Susan Foreman.
And that would be Susan, listening to her favourite singer - John Smith. I adore Susan. Not the character or the actress or anything like that. Just that one of the funniest things I’ve encountered is the reaction of a friend of mine - who is only familiar with New Who and is die-hard Rose/Ten shipper - finding out the Doctor has a Granddaughter. I wish I could screencap that.
Anyways, Ian and Barbara do what any teacher would do in the situation, go on a classic stakeout. Early Mulder and Scully?
Investigating the junkyard where Susan apparently lives, the come across a police box and some old dude with a key.
They force them in, The Doctor refused to let them live. Ian refused to believe the Tardis can travel. Susan pushes some buttons and before you know it, everything’s gone to pot.
That is one brilliant visual. Maybe it’s just the black and white hiding the limits of the budget, but the sets are amazing. Anyway, then there’s a rather boring three episode about cave people and fire.
What’s more interesting is the original conception of the Doctor. One is about as far from removed as the morally righteous vengeful god that is Ten as you can imagine. He’s more of a curious scientist, and rather uncaring. In fact at one point he actually moved to kill an injured caveman that’s holding them up with a rock.
It is Ian that handles the physical action and Barbara that acts as the moral compass. Though the Doctor really has a moment of Doctorness in the beginning of the fourth episode, setting his mind to the task of proving which caveman murdered the old woman.
And the old woman gets the distinction of being the first character in the history of the show to get killed off.
I realise Barbara hasn’t done anything awesome yet, but wait for it.
The Daleks
The next serial involves the first appearance of the Daleks. I think the fact they show up in the second serial really cements them as the fundamental monster of Doctor Who, even thought Simm!Master is more entertaining and I find the Cybermen more scary (Cybermen will change you into one of them, a far worse prospect than the quick death the Daleks deliver).
Anyway, the Tardis lands on the planet Skaro - complete with a gorgeous petrified forest set - which has been destroyed by a war and radiation and the crew thinks they are alone.
There they discover a city, and rather sensibly, Ian, Barbara and Susan don’t want to visit. They’ve obviously been watching horror movies and know the drill.
But the curious Doctor tricks them all into going down. And there they discover the locals.
Don’t get your hopes up as to the Daleks being the same creatures they are in later serials. They’re pretty much glorified dodgem cars with a stun gun at this phase in their evolution. We know this because Ian and his cardigan decide to make a runner. He gets shot and all that happens is temporary paralysis. So early Daleks fail. Thought Ian’s cardigan could keep me entertained for hours. Seriously, action man wearing a cardigan - it’s a visual oxymoron.
Anyway, they escape, with Ian disguised as a Dalek.
And gain some aid from the horrifically mutated, leather pant-wearing, Thal people.
Though only after Ian gets smacked about a bit. There was actually a point to that, the Thals claimed to be pacifists. Ian decided to prove different and succeeded.
The whole message somewhat is about fighting against evil. I think when it comes to the Thal vs. Dalek/Kaled conflict, I prefer the Genesis of the Daleks retcon. However, unlike in Genesis, at least one side is likeable.
That’s the first four episodes. The next three consist of a group of Thals and Ian and Barbara trying to cross swamps and climb through caves to find the back entrance to the city. Which would be lame if not for two things:
Swamp monsters, and
Barbara/Ganatus OTP!
Barbara by this point has apparently swapped her skirt for some leather pants and is being as action woman as I suspect many women got in 1964. Or thirty-something history teachers get, ever.
And because they’re so very cute together, more Barbara/Ganatus.
And even more.
Obviously they snuck off to one of those caves for a quick shag.
Barbara Wright - pioneer in the field of interplanetary relations.
By this point I had sort of given up on the plot and was living for the shipper moments. It ends with what appears to be the Doctor Who's first genocide, which was as easy as turning off the power. Though I have a feeling those Dalek things may be back.
The Edge of Destruction
This serial was apparently created in a “oh, fuck, we need two more episodes and we have no budget!” moment. And so there are no guest stars, very few effects and the cast never leave the Tardis. You can also add in the fact the plot is somewhat lacking. However, it’s only two episodes and the interaction between the characters is magnificent. There’s actual character development of the Doctor. It’s wonderful!
Basically, the Tardis goes funny, causing some of the characters to go a bit funny. Ian attempts to strangle the Doctor and Barbara. Susan goes a bit psycho and violently attacks a couch and later threatens Barbara with a pair of vicious looking scissors.
The Doctor then accuses Barbara and Ian of sabotage, leading to one of my all time favourite moments in Doctor Who in which Barbara yells at the Doctor: “How dare you! Do you realise you stupid old man that you would have died in the Cave of Skulls if Ian hadn’t made fire for you. And what about what we went through against the Daleks? Not just for us but for you and Susan too, and all because you tricked us into going down to the city. Accuse us?! You ought to go down on your hands and knees and thank us! Gratitude’s the last thing you’ll ever have or any sort of common sense either!”
Have I mentioned how much I love Barbara?
Anyway, Barbara saves the day by figuring out that the Tardis is trying to tell them something which is that one of the springs in a button has gone and they’ve travelled back to the beginning of time. So two episodes of tension because of a broken spring. I repeat that the plot is a somewhat lacking.
But who cares about a thin plot when you get Doctor and Susan being all cute.
And the fact the episode ends with the Doctor actually apologising and being lovely to Barbara. I think now’s the point where humans start to become the Doctor’s favourite species.
Marco Polo
Since Marco Polo is missing, this was just a half hour recreation using telesnaps and audio of what was once a seven episode serial.
Really though, money, time, talent and creativity went into making those TV episodes. What idiot would ever think to destroy them? The BBC apparently.
So a run down on the Barbara:
Hooked up with a hot alien: check
Verbally kick's the Doctor's arse: check
Saved everyone’s lives: check
Conclusion: Bring back Babs!
And also, 1960s TV is way better than I expected.