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The Randomizer: The Time Meddler
It took us ages to watch our way through this though I think that was more because of circumstances than because it's a particularly difficult story, even though it is a very early Doctor Who story which does entail a leisurely pace and video and sound quality that may not be of the very very best.
The Time Meddler is notable in being the first story in which we meet another time lord, the eponymous Time Meddler and, I think, in being the first pseudo-historical - i.e., historical story with science fiction elements.
The story opens with The Doctor and Vicki attempting to persuade new companion, Steven Taylor, that the Tardis is a time machine. They present evidence that they are in 11th century Britain, while he is finding digital watches. At this remove it is difficult to work out how mysterious this may, or may not, have seemed to an audience which had previously associated historical settings with somewhat earnestly educational tales (and The Romans).
There is a lot of running around between the beach, the local village and the monastery on the hill as the different groups (villagers, vikings, meddling monk, the Doctor and (separately) Steven and Vicki) pursue each other for various reasons. I half suspect you could draw a little diagram of the story and see them all running around in circles like some kind of farce. This isn't so out of place in a story which is dominated by the fun William Hartnell and Peter Butterworth are having as the Doctor and the Monk. I rather like this interpretation of the Time Lords, as a bunch of irresponsible older men, running around rubbing their hands in glee and chuckling to themselves. The show would have been very different if it had pursued the idea beyond the end of Hartnell's run as the Doctor. The comedic air also allows the production to have a lot of fun with its anachronisms
For instance the Monk's progress chart.
The other guest parts are less impressive. The villagers are stoic and dour, somewhat in the mold of peasants everywhere throughout the Doctor Who universe. The vikings hail from a time when actors or casting directors didn't not see much point in hiring actors to play thugs who looked like they could lift anything heavier than a wine glass. Though I would like to pause to admire Sven's hair:
I'm poking fun slightly but the truth is that it is difficult to dislike this story so good-humoured are the two central performances. It's a bit slow and repetitive to modern eyes but I'm glad this one survives intact in the BBC archives. It is well worth watching, if only to recall that there was a time when Doctor Who could be simple fun and the Doctor could enjoy himself in an entirely angst-free fashion.
The Time Meddler is notable in being the first story in which we meet another time lord, the eponymous Time Meddler and, I think, in being the first pseudo-historical - i.e., historical story with science fiction elements.
The story opens with The Doctor and Vicki attempting to persuade new companion, Steven Taylor, that the Tardis is a time machine. They present evidence that they are in 11th century Britain, while he is finding digital watches. At this remove it is difficult to work out how mysterious this may, or may not, have seemed to an audience which had previously associated historical settings with somewhat earnestly educational tales (and The Romans).
There is a lot of running around between the beach, the local village and the monastery on the hill as the different groups (villagers, vikings, meddling monk, the Doctor and (separately) Steven and Vicki) pursue each other for various reasons. I half suspect you could draw a little diagram of the story and see them all running around in circles like some kind of farce. This isn't so out of place in a story which is dominated by the fun William Hartnell and Peter Butterworth are having as the Doctor and the Monk. I rather like this interpretation of the Time Lords, as a bunch of irresponsible older men, running around rubbing their hands in glee and chuckling to themselves. The show would have been very different if it had pursued the idea beyond the end of Hartnell's run as the Doctor. The comedic air also allows the production to have a lot of fun with its anachronisms
For instance the Monk's progress chart.
The other guest parts are less impressive. The villagers are stoic and dour, somewhat in the mold of peasants everywhere throughout the Doctor Who universe. The vikings hail from a time when actors or casting directors didn't not see much point in hiring actors to play thugs who looked like they could lift anything heavier than a wine glass. Though I would like to pause to admire Sven's hair:
I'm poking fun slightly but the truth is that it is difficult to dislike this story so good-humoured are the two central performances. It's a bit slow and repetitive to modern eyes but I'm glad this one survives intact in the BBC archives. It is well worth watching, if only to recall that there was a time when Doctor Who could be simple fun and the Doctor could enjoy himself in an entirely angst-free fashion.