Review of The Edge of Destruction (Classic Who 1.3)

[unfeathered]

A very unusual (and short - only two episodes) serial - especially because it takes place entirely on the TARDIS with no extra actors other than the regulars. I'm not sure I entirely understood what was going on, but they certainly had a lot of fun, with acting amnesia and OOC (making us think they'd been taken over by something, though that was a red herring) and accusing each other of messing with the TARDIS' systems etc. etc.

(Wiki entry here if anyone wants a synopsis - they explain the story better than I could!)


Interesting/fun things:

1. This story introduces the idea that the TARDIS (or 'the machine' as they keep calling her here) is to some extent sentient, although there's nothing about her being telepathic or even really alive in a biological sort of way.

2. The problem turns out to be a faulty spring in a switch on the console. Good old 'falling apart old ship' plotline there. We also discover that the Doctor really does not know very much at all about the TARDIS or how to work her.

3. When the Doctor collapses at the start, Ian says that "his heart seems fine". Only one heart at this point, then. *g* (Well, Wiki points out that one of them could have stopped, which seems a feasible way of getting round that one.)

4. We see a little more of the interior of the TARDIS. Still got the door area, then the engine room part behind a screen, the console, the food machine, and then a couple of bedrooms - Susan and Barbara apparently share a room; Ian has one to himself. Also, these three all spend the whole of the second episode in their nightclothes, long dark nightdresses for the girls and a dressing gown and bare legs for Ian!!!

5. There's also the first mention of the wardrobe - the Doctor provides cold weather clothes for the humans, including a huge coat for Ian that he apparently got from Gilbert and Sullivan (at which Ian jokes, "Ah, that's why there's room for two!")

6. We actually get the Doctor apologising to Barbara for misjudging her at the end. Wow. Frame that and keep it, Barbara. He doesn't do that for everyone! :-)

Comments

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

We actually get the Doctor apologising to Barbara for misjudging her at the end. Wow. Frame that and keep it, Barbara. He doesn't do that for everyone!

*snickers*

[unfeathered]

*grins*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Are you enjoying your trip through OldWho?

[unfeathered]

I am, yes - very much! It's so much better than I expected. I mean, a lot of it's a bit rough and ready because they didn't re-shoot stuff unless it went *really* wrong, and there's therefore a lot of bits where William Hartnell fluffs his lines etc., but the scripts are really good and the acting is top class.

The only thing I'm disappointed by, really, is the fact that I haven't warmed to the First Doctor at all. From reading on in Wikipedia, I gather he does get warmer and more accessible later, but I haven't got any other First Doctor serials yet, except the Three Doctors and WH apparently wasn't in much of that because he was ill. Still. It's definitely been very interesting to see the beginning of it all!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I never watched much One, or liked him very much. I ♥ Two and Jamie though

[unfeathered]

Yeah, I'm looking forward to Two. Though that'll have to wait as his DVD hasn't arrived yet. I've got several extras on this last DVD to watch first anyway - since it was only two episodes there are, I think, five special features on it, including a 30 minute version of the next serial, Marco Polo, which has been lost but recreated using photos and audio, which sounds intersting.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I've seen a few of those recreations. They're a bit frustrating, but kind of interesting. Stupid BBC for tossing them in the first place!

[unfeathered]

Yeah. At least nowadays they hang on to *everything*! :-)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

not the worst policy!

[unfeathered]

Nope. :-)