Writer: Elwyn Jones and Gerry Davis
Original Broadcast Date: 17 December 1966 - 7 January 1967
Placed right after Patrick Troughton's debut comes The Highlanders, introducing the Second Doctor's most famous and longest running companion, Jamie McCrimmon, and bringing an end to the pure historicals, being the very last one to broadcast for 15 years.
The Doctor, Ben and Polly land in Scotland, right after a battle between rebels and Red Coats, where they befriend a group of highlanders. Polly, by chance, manages to escape before British soldiers discover the rebel's hiding place and take The Doctor, Ben, Jamie, and Colin McClaren, the Laird to hang...
From that sypnosis you may have been able to figure out that this story follows the basic historical formula, with focus on imprisonment and attempts to escape, but this ceases to matter to me as it did it so well and it has its own unique charm, with a variety of unique settings and landscapes, and intriguing sub-plots.
Jamie McCrimmon in his first ever appearance is surprisingly underwhelming, and from any of the supporting cast, Kirsty, the daughter of the Laird seemed a more suitable choice for a companion from this story alone. This is mostly due to him being originally written to be a side character exclusive to this story, not planned to become a companion. This changed when the cast and crew got on so well with Frazer Hines, thus he became apart of the TARDIS team.
The Second Doctor, now settled into the role, was allowed to flex his muscles, and Troughton allowed to parade his talent, portraying The Doctor's comedy side as he deceives enemies by dressing up as an old lady, a German Doctor and a British soldier, which provides some great comedic moments. Its a shame this story is missing as I would love to see Troughton in disguise of an old crone.
The Highlanders is often overlooked by most fans, but this last hurrah for the historical genre never failed to impress me with its clever dialogue and plot, characters and hilarious comedy moments.
From that sypnosis you may have been able to figure out that this story follows the basic historical formula, with focus on imprisonment and attempts to escape, but this ceases to matter to me as it did it so well and it has its own unique charm, with a variety of unique settings and landscapes, and intriguing sub-plots.
Jamie McCrimmon in his first ever appearance is surprisingly underwhelming, and from any of the supporting cast, Kirsty, the daughter of the Laird seemed a more suitable choice for a companion from this story alone. This is mostly due to him being originally written to be a side character exclusive to this story, not planned to become a companion. This changed when the cast and crew got on so well with Frazer Hines, thus he became apart of the TARDIS team.
The Second Doctor, now settled into the role, was allowed to flex his muscles, and Troughton allowed to parade his talent, portraying The Doctor's comedy side as he deceives enemies by dressing up as an old lady, a German Doctor and a British soldier, which provides some great comedic moments. Its a shame this story is missing as I would love to see Troughton in disguise of an old crone.
The Highlanders is often overlooked by most fans, but this last hurrah for the historical genre never failed to impress me with its clever dialogue and plot, characters and hilarious comedy moments.
9/10
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