The edge of destruction (1964)

Review
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More about this serial

Review

This is a two-part serial, first broadcast between 8th - 15th February 1964. A brief and not really spoiler-ish summary of the plot: after the Tardis breaks down the Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara all start to behave strangely...

This serial was a last minute addition to the first season. It was inserted either to bring the total number of episodes to thirteen (the number of episodes that had been approved by BBC management) or to fill a gap that was caused by a delay in creating the sets and costumes for the subsequent serial 'Marco Polo'. In any case, it had to be made with no money, which meant that only the regulars could be in it and that they couldn't leave the Tardis.

The good bits:

it's a weird story. Susan runs with scissors, Ian makes half-hearted attempts to strangle both the Doctor and Barbara, and the Doctor threatens to throw Ian and Barbara off the Tardis - into outer space, if necessary
the serial shows us the Tardis as, to some extent, sentient and intelligent. This idea would be expanded upon in the TV Movie and in the new series
the serial is important to the relationships between the four regulars, who have started to trust each other at the end of part two. In part two there are some particularly good scenes between the Doctor and Barbara where the two sort out their differences

The less good bits:

the serial aims for psychological horror, and misses. What we get in stead, particularly in part one, is characters acting weirdly without provocation and hysterically overreacting to insignificant events. Part two, where the four leads start acting rationally again and working together to figure out what's going on, is a great deal more enjoyable
throughout the serial William Hartnell gives a good performance as the Doctor, but in part one we get a great deal of 'insanity' acting from the others that probably shouldn't have made it out of the rehearsal room. In part two everyone does better, especially Jacqueline Hill as Barbara

My verdict:

Interesting.

If you're a fan you should see this. If not, you might as well give it a miss.

More about Doctor Who

An introduction:
Doctor Who reviews: introduction

More "interesting" Doctor Who:
Doctor Who reviews: interesting

More from the William Hartnell years:
Doctor Who reviews: 1963 - 1966

Similar stories:
Doctor Who reviews: fantasy

Original version of this review:
06/10/19

More about this serial

Episode guides:
BBC Cult

Serial reviews:
Outpost Gallifrey

DVD reviews (of the 'The beginning' boxed set):
DVD in my pants
Outpost Gallifrey

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