Review
More about Doctor Who
More about this serial
Review
More about Doctor Who
More about this serial
This is a four-part series, first broadcast between 23rd May - 13th June 1964. A brief and somewhat spoiler-ish summary of the plot: when the Tardis lands the Doctor and his companions Susan, Ian and Barbara find themselves among the ancient Aztecs. In this story Barbara is venerated as a goddess, even if in the end her followers lose faith and she fails to get the Aztecs to abolish human sacrifice, and both the Doctor and Susan get engaged though neither ends up married.
The story is a common one in children's fiction: present-day characters returning to some historical period and changing - or, as the case may be, failing to change - history.
To a modern audience, this series' main flaw would be its age. It's black and white, it's low on action and high on dialogue (though the action that is there is quite effective), it's got people wearing a 1960s designer's interpretation of ancient Aztec garb and it uses somewhat stilted English to denote the language of the Aztecs.
However, if you're willing to look past all that, you'll find a story that is well-written and well-paced and that gives us some memorable, well-rounded characters.
My verdict:
Not a must-see series, but quite enjoyable.
An introduction:
Doctor Who reviews: introduction
More "quite good, actually" Doctor Who:
Doctor Who reviews: quite good, actually
More from the William Hartnell years:
Doctor Who reviews: 1963 - 1966
Similar stories:
Doctor Who reviews: time travel
Original version of this review:
06/07/25
Episode guides:
BBC Cult
Serial reviews:
Outpost Gallifrey
DVD reviews:
Outpost Gallifrey
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