Doctor Who: The Ark
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| We're going to the future! |
Anyhow, this serial takes place in the 57th Segment of Time (whatever that means) or the year AD 10,000,000 (ten million for those of you who don't like too many zeroes). Yeay!
This serial originally aired in four weekly parts from March 5 to 26, 1966.
Two Hours Later...
In this very interesting episode, we land ten million years in our future upon a spaceship the new companion, Dodo Chaplet, calls "The Ark" where the last of humanity as well as a race of aliens called the Monoids (who are mute) are making their way to a new planet called Refusis II. They began this journey because Earth is about to be burnt up by the sun's expansion. The Monoids are mute humanoid creatures with one eye that have been relegated to menial work under the direction of the human guardians who basically rule the ship and control it on its journey which is to take 700 years. With the humans and the Monoids, there is also plant and animal life from Earth. Any humans and Monoids who aren't assisting in controlling the ship are miniaturized and stored on the ship. If a Guardian or Monoid does not conform to the rules, they are also miniaturized until the ship reaches its destination.
Unfortunately for those on the ship, Dodo has a cold. Because the people on the ship are from the future where the cold was wiped out years ago, they catch it with deadly consequences for humans and Monoids alike. The first two episodes center around this terrible incident which ends in Steve catching the cold as well and then the Doctor curing everyone on the Ark. They leave with sage words of advice from the Doctor, but the TARDIS rematerializes on the ship just as it has reached Refusis II.
Things have changed over the centuries and the Monoids have taken control of the ship as well as created necklaces that allow them to talk. The Monoids plan to land on Refusis II, take it over, and then destroy the ship with the humans still on board. The Doctor, Dodo, and Steven can't allow this to happen because Humans Are Important... and genocide is wrong.
Anyhow, the Monoids want to know what to expect from the Refusians so they send a landing party consisting of a Monoid, a human servant from the Ark, the Doctor and Dodo. The group quickly discovers that the Refusians are bodiless energy beings due to some disaster in their past. They will allow the humans and the Monoids to land on their planet and inhabit it, but only if both species are peaceful. As the Monoid currently have a mind to conquer the planet, first the Refusians need proof that peace can be reached and the Moniods' plans to destroy the humans averted.
Obviously, the Doctor, Steven and Dodo sort it all out and we end with the war-like Monoids defeated, but their miniaturized members of the species have still been preserved and the humans are planning to land the Ark on Refusis II.
It's a nice little story and I liked the part where the plot was a kind of two-parter. You could actually split the serial in half and have two whole storied. In fact, I think it would have been more interesting if there were adventures between the first and second halves of the stories.
It was also nice to actually watch footage this time. With the actors visibly actng and everything. Once again, Steven is best when he doesn't have the Doctor to argue with constantly.
Next time: The Celestial Toymaker.
Unfortunately for those on the ship, Dodo has a cold. Because the people on the ship are from the future where the cold was wiped out years ago, they catch it with deadly consequences for humans and Monoids alike. The first two episodes center around this terrible incident which ends in Steve catching the cold as well and then the Doctor curing everyone on the Ark. They leave with sage words of advice from the Doctor, but the TARDIS rematerializes on the ship just as it has reached Refusis II.
Things have changed over the centuries and the Monoids have taken control of the ship as well as created necklaces that allow them to talk. The Monoids plan to land on Refusis II, take it over, and then destroy the ship with the humans still on board. The Doctor, Dodo, and Steven can't allow this to happen because Humans Are Important... and genocide is wrong.
Anyhow, the Monoids want to know what to expect from the Refusians so they send a landing party consisting of a Monoid, a human servant from the Ark, the Doctor and Dodo. The group quickly discovers that the Refusians are bodiless energy beings due to some disaster in their past. They will allow the humans and the Monoids to land on their planet and inhabit it, but only if both species are peaceful. As the Monoid currently have a mind to conquer the planet, first the Refusians need proof that peace can be reached and the Moniods' plans to destroy the humans averted.
Obviously, the Doctor, Steven and Dodo sort it all out and we end with the war-like Monoids defeated, but their miniaturized members of the species have still been preserved and the humans are planning to land the Ark on Refusis II.
It's a nice little story and I liked the part where the plot was a kind of two-parter. You could actually split the serial in half and have two whole storied. In fact, I think it would have been more interesting if there were adventures between the first and second halves of the stories.
It was also nice to actually watch footage this time. With the actors visibly actng and everything. Once again, Steven is best when he doesn't have the Doctor to argue with constantly.
Next time: The Celestial Toymaker.
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