Marco Polo: Personal Thoughts and Observations
FIRST THOUGHTS
This is the first missing serial I have encountered in my re-watch.
I chose to watch the Loose Cannon Production reconstruction. There are no telesnaps of this serial, but the soundtrack does survive. Luckily, Marco Polo is one of the most photographed serials of the 1960s, so there is a wealth of imagery. Some of the photographs are black and white so they have been re-colourised. While the reconstruction is very primitive, it is worth sitting through just to enjoy this classic serial.
This should be turned into an animation - like the recent The Power of the Daleks animated release - but only if a better style of animation is used. It would also benefit from being in colour.
I read the novelization of this serial only a few years ago, so I felt no need to re-read it again.
THE FIRST HISTORICAL
This is the first historical serial. After having watched so many of the recent stories featuring historical locations with alien or futuristic elements, it was refreshing to watch a serial in which the only element of science-fiction was the presence of the TARDIS.
In this serial I get a real sense that the four travellers - The Doctor, Ian, Barbara, and Susan - really have stepped into history - as if they always were a part of Marco's travels - it is just that history does not record it.
I actually enjoy the 1960s historical stories. Watching the reconstruction of this serial has put me in the mood to read the historical spin-off novel The Plotters by Gareth Roberts. I started reading it when I was a teenager, but never finished it.
THE FIRST ADVENTURE
After the traumatic events of 100,000 BC, Skaro, and the TARDIS malfunction from the three previous serials, this is the first time the four travellers have an “adventure” together. Even though they are placed in danger at various points during the serial, there are real moments of enjoyment and wonder experienced by all of them.
This serial takes place over a longer period of time than most serials, especially in comparison to stories from the modern series. It reminds me that the Doctor does sometimes settle down for longer periods - if mostly off-screen - e.g. Rome, UNIT, Victorian London, Darillium, and St. Luke's University.
THE SETTINGS
The sets and costumes are consistently brilliant throughout this serial. They help lift it out of the limitations of being studio-bound.
THE DOCTOR
To modern viewers of Doctor Who it might be surprising to see how little the Doctor appears in this serial (and a few other early ones). Ian and Barbara as the audience identification figures are far more prominent.
The Doctor refusing to kow-tow to Kublai Khan due to a bad back was priceless - as was Kublai Khan's own admission about his own bad back. It was wonderful to watch these two ancient figures bond over their ailing bodies.
This was the first time we see the Doctor play chess. The Doctor as a chess player would carry mythological weight in later serials Silver Nemesis and The Curse of Fenric from the Seventh Doctor's tenure.
MARCO POLO
Marco Polo is a well developed character. It was interesting to see him torn between his desire for freedom and his respect for his new friends. Hearing Marco's journal entries read out in a voice-over gave us a rare insight into his character, something not usually afforded to guest characters in Doctor Who.
POLO: No, my lord. They would not believe half the things that I have seen in Cathay. But what is the truth? I wonder where they are now? The past or the future?
THE TARDIS
The premise of Marco trading the TARDIS for his freedom is an interesting one. During these early serials there is a recurring theme of preventing the four travellers from returning to the TARDIS. This will continue in the following serial The Keys of Marinus.
I did not like, believe, or understand the idea of condensation forming on the interior TARDIS walls.
TEGANA
Tegana was a pantomime villain. I grew bored of Marco failing to notice Tegana's machinations. I was glad to see him die a coward's death impaled on his own sword.
SUSAN AND PING-CHO
PING-CHO: Where are you from?
SUSAN: That's a very difficult question to answer, Ping-Cho.
PING-CHO: You do not know where your home is?
SUSAN: Well, I've had many homes in many places.
SUSAN: One day we'll know all the mysteries of the skies, and we'll stop our wandering.
I liked the friendship between Susan and Ping-Cho. With all her wandering I cannot imagine Susan ever had time to develop any real friendships. Despite claiming to love Coal Hill in An Unearthly Child, her unearthliness made her stand out enough to be laughed at and shunned, so she probably did not have any real friends there.
The friendship between Susan and Ping-Cho reminds me of the relationship between the Fifth Doctor's companions Nyssa and Tegan (the only example of two female companions of roughly the same age travelling together in the TARDIS for a lengthy period). There is quite a contrast between Susan's relationship with Ping-Cho compared to her relationship with Barbara. I wonder how Ping-Cho would have fared as a companion.
OTHER THOUGHTS
Kuiju looks like he would not be out of place as a minor villain in an Indiana Jones film.
When Marco mentions that the Crusades were twenty-five years ago during his and Ian's discussion about time travel, the serial (unintentionally) foreshadows next season's The Crusades, in which Ian himself will appear.
This is the first missing serial I have encountered in my re-watch.
I chose to watch the Loose Cannon Production reconstruction. There are no telesnaps of this serial, but the soundtrack does survive. Luckily, Marco Polo is one of the most photographed serials of the 1960s, so there is a wealth of imagery. Some of the photographs are black and white so they have been re-colourised. While the reconstruction is very primitive, it is worth sitting through just to enjoy this classic serial.
This should be turned into an animation - like the recent The Power of the Daleks animated release - but only if a better style of animation is used. It would also benefit from being in colour.
I read the novelization of this serial only a few years ago, so I felt no need to re-read it again.
THE FIRST HISTORICAL
This is the first historical serial. After having watched so many of the recent stories featuring historical locations with alien or futuristic elements, it was refreshing to watch a serial in which the only element of science-fiction was the presence of the TARDIS.
In this serial I get a real sense that the four travellers - The Doctor, Ian, Barbara, and Susan - really have stepped into history - as if they always were a part of Marco's travels - it is just that history does not record it.
I actually enjoy the 1960s historical stories. Watching the reconstruction of this serial has put me in the mood to read the historical spin-off novel The Plotters by Gareth Roberts. I started reading it when I was a teenager, but never finished it.
THE FIRST ADVENTURE
After the traumatic events of 100,000 BC, Skaro, and the TARDIS malfunction from the three previous serials, this is the first time the four travellers have an “adventure” together. Even though they are placed in danger at various points during the serial, there are real moments of enjoyment and wonder experienced by all of them.
This serial takes place over a longer period of time than most serials, especially in comparison to stories from the modern series. It reminds me that the Doctor does sometimes settle down for longer periods - if mostly off-screen - e.g. Rome, UNIT, Victorian London, Darillium, and St. Luke's University.
THE SETTINGS
The sets and costumes are consistently brilliant throughout this serial. They help lift it out of the limitations of being studio-bound.
THE DOCTOR
To modern viewers of Doctor Who it might be surprising to see how little the Doctor appears in this serial (and a few other early ones). Ian and Barbara as the audience identification figures are far more prominent.
The Doctor refusing to kow-tow to Kublai Khan due to a bad back was priceless - as was Kublai Khan's own admission about his own bad back. It was wonderful to watch these two ancient figures bond over their ailing bodies.
This was the first time we see the Doctor play chess. The Doctor as a chess player would carry mythological weight in later serials Silver Nemesis and The Curse of Fenric from the Seventh Doctor's tenure.
MARCO POLO
Marco Polo is a well developed character. It was interesting to see him torn between his desire for freedom and his respect for his new friends. Hearing Marco's journal entries read out in a voice-over gave us a rare insight into his character, something not usually afforded to guest characters in Doctor Who.
POLO: No, my lord. They would not believe half the things that I have seen in Cathay. But what is the truth? I wonder where they are now? The past or the future?
THE TARDIS
The premise of Marco trading the TARDIS for his freedom is an interesting one. During these early serials there is a recurring theme of preventing the four travellers from returning to the TARDIS. This will continue in the following serial The Keys of Marinus.
I did not like, believe, or understand the idea of condensation forming on the interior TARDIS walls.
TEGANA
Tegana was a pantomime villain. I grew bored of Marco failing to notice Tegana's machinations. I was glad to see him die a coward's death impaled on his own sword.
SUSAN AND PING-CHO
PING-CHO: Where are you from?
SUSAN: That's a very difficult question to answer, Ping-Cho.
PING-CHO: You do not know where your home is?
SUSAN: Well, I've had many homes in many places.
SUSAN: One day we'll know all the mysteries of the skies, and we'll stop our wandering.
I liked the friendship between Susan and Ping-Cho. With all her wandering I cannot imagine Susan ever had time to develop any real friendships. Despite claiming to love Coal Hill in An Unearthly Child, her unearthliness made her stand out enough to be laughed at and shunned, so she probably did not have any real friends there.
The friendship between Susan and Ping-Cho reminds me of the relationship between the Fifth Doctor's companions Nyssa and Tegan (the only example of two female companions of roughly the same age travelling together in the TARDIS for a lengthy period). There is quite a contrast between Susan's relationship with Ping-Cho compared to her relationship with Barbara. I wonder how Ping-Cho would have fared as a companion.
OTHER THOUGHTS
Kuiju looks like he would not be out of place as a minor villain in an Indiana Jones film.
When Marco mentions that the Crusades were twenty-five years ago during his and Ian's discussion about time travel, the serial (unintentionally) foreshadows next season's The Crusades, in which Ian himself will appear.