The Gunfighters (TV Story) Review

Title: The Gunfighters
Writer: Donald Cotton
Original Broadcast Date: 30 April 1966 - 21 May 1966

Once again skipping over the missing episodes, we come to The Gunfighters, which to popular belief is the worst episode of Doctor Who ever. To my surprise, I enjoyed it!

Common complaints include the bad american accents, ridiculous plot and the musical aspects, which I completely disagree with... except the bad american accents. (Even I can do a better accent than some of the actors here). The plot's rather enjoyable, ridiculous, but it doesn't take itself too seriously. The musical aspects, with a tune linking and sometimes narrating most scenes is actually one aspect I really loved about it, and the tune is really catchy, so do expect it to be stuck in your head for quite some time.

The first two episodes are the best, with the last two bogged down with slightly complicated relationships between characters and ones introduced out of nowhere. Dodo is delightfully good in this one, making a great team with Steven, although not as good as her predecessor.

Well, is it the worst episode of Doctor Who ever? No. A long way off it infact. I rather enjoyed this adventure into the Wild West for what it was: experimental and unique in which one of the most overlooked companions was given some great moments to shine.

7/10

The Ark (TV Story) Review

Title: The Ark
Writer: Paul Erickson and Lesley Scott
Original Broadcast Date: 5 March 1966 - 26 March 1966

Taking a big jump thanks to the sheer amount of missing Season 3 episodes, The Ark, the first avaliable story after The Time Meddler is an interesting one, with great concepts but poor execution.

The worst part of this story is the Monoids, which honestly looks like a lump of rubber with a mop thrown on top for the hair. They're actually quite scary looking until they start waddling about. The aforementioned ideas are rather intriguing, with a cold almost wiping out future humans due to their lack of resistance against it, but it just seems like a sidetrack for the main story to take place, over 700 years after the disease outbreak, involving the Monoids having taken over human life on the Ark.

There is a lovely idea involving a statue, but the prop just looks rather silly so the effect is ruined. There are also a few fight scenes which, with the Monoid waddling, look even worse. Dodo, in her first full story, is an interesting addition, being relatively similar to Susan and changing her accent half way through the story.

Overall, this story could have been brilliant, but with poor execution on the writing and visual front there isn't a lot to like about The Ark.

6.5/10

The Time Meddler (TV Story) Review

Title: The Time Meddler
Writer: Dennis Spooner
Original Broadcast Date: 3 July 1965 - 24 July 1965

After almost two seasons, Doctor Who had shared little to no information of The Doctor's planet and people, that is until The Time Meddler, a pitch perfect ending to Hartnell's best season.

Among other firsts, The Time Meddler is also the show's very first Pseudo-Historical, a genre that would eventually outlive the basic historical, with a meddling monk threatening to change the course of history, situated in England, 1066. The first episode opens with The Doctor and Vicki mourning the departure of Ian and Barbara, only to find another member onboard: Steven Taylor. This opening has some wonderful dialogue as The Doctor explains the TARDIS to Steven, including probably my favourite Hartnell quote:

That is the dematerializing control, and that over yonder is the horizontal hold. Up there is there is the scanner; those are the doors; that is a chair with a panda on it. Sheery poetry, dear boy! Now please stop bothering me!

The first episode is extremely atmospheric thanks to a wonderful echo-y chorus of singing monks, setting a gloomy, mysterious and slightly creepy mood. Vicki and Steven, separated from The Doctor most of the story, are brilliant together and have great chemistry. Its a definite shame there are no more surviving stories of these two. 

Peter Butterworth, in the role of the Monk, is a star, playing a perfect counterpart to Hartnell's mischievous Doctor, and their relationship reminds me of The Master's with The Doctor. The side characters are abnormally good in this story, with developments I genuinely cared about!

The Time Meddler is a masterpiece, with a great plot, wonderful characters and a perfect villain. Dennis Spooner has done it again!

10/10