Doctor Who: The Time Meddler
 |
| A new alien! In the past! |
... Or I assume that's what happens.
This serial originally aired in four parts between July 3 and July 24 1965. Let's hope it does a credit to a season that has, thus far been a mix between lack-luster and boring and pretty darn interesting and even comedic at times.
Two Hours Later...
Soo.... this serial.... Well, Vicki got a bit more annoying this episode which is sad because I usually like her. You find Steve hidden away in the TARDIS at the beginning. Vicki and the Doctor are missing Ian and Barbara when they hear a noise and find Steve Taylor passed out on the floor of the TARDIS in one of the private rooms. They're glad to see him because they thought he was dead.
Of course, he doesn't believe them when they try to explain to him that they're in a time machine. Then the Doctor lands them on the beach of Northumbria in 1066 A.D. and Steve Taylor still doesn't believe they were in a time machine and it takes them most of the serial to convince the stupid blighter that they really are in 1066 AD... mostly because the Meddling Monk is running around with modern things like watches and a gramophone.
At first the Meddling Monk watches them get out of the TARDIS. Then he captures the Doctor. When Vicki and Steve go to rescue the Doctor, it turns out the Doctor has already escaped and he's not only looking for his companions, but he's also trying to figure out what the Monk is up to.
Turns out the Monk just wants to change history by killing the Vikings who are supposed to raid Northumbria and fight Harold Godwinson who will shortly thereafter be defeated by William the Conqueror in the Battle of Hastings. The Monk believes that if Harold doesn't have to fight the Vikings, he will win against William the Conqueror which will mean Britain won't get into as many wars and will be allowed to flourish into the modern age much sooner. Perhaps Shakespeare can even write his plays for television!
The Doctor, Vicki, and Steve stop him by inciting the locals into stopping the Monk, thinking he's a spy. Then the Doctor disables the Monk's TARDIS by messing with the "dimensional controls" which strands the Monk in 1066. This is the best and funniest part of the serial. I swear, the face the Monk makes when he realizes he's stranded in 1066 is priceless. I watched it several times.
The rest of the episode was pretty interesting, but the interplay between the Doctor and the Monk were the best. Watching them argue and try to outwit each other and using other people as pawns was rather fun. Especially the part where most of what the Doctor did was unintentional and a woman over-hearing him talking to himself.
Next Blog: Season Two Overview then Galaxy 4.
Of course, he doesn't believe them when they try to explain to him that they're in a time machine. Then the Doctor lands them on the beach of Northumbria in 1066 A.D. and Steve Taylor still doesn't believe they were in a time machine and it takes them most of the serial to convince the stupid blighter that they really are in 1066 AD... mostly because the Meddling Monk is running around with modern things like watches and a gramophone.
At first the Meddling Monk watches them get out of the TARDIS. Then he captures the Doctor. When Vicki and Steve go to rescue the Doctor, it turns out the Doctor has already escaped and he's not only looking for his companions, but he's also trying to figure out what the Monk is up to.
Turns out the Monk just wants to change history by killing the Vikings who are supposed to raid Northumbria and fight Harold Godwinson who will shortly thereafter be defeated by William the Conqueror in the Battle of Hastings. The Monk believes that if Harold doesn't have to fight the Vikings, he will win against William the Conqueror which will mean Britain won't get into as many wars and will be allowed to flourish into the modern age much sooner. Perhaps Shakespeare can even write his plays for television!
The Doctor, Vicki, and Steve stop him by inciting the locals into stopping the Monk, thinking he's a spy. Then the Doctor disables the Monk's TARDIS by messing with the "dimensional controls" which strands the Monk in 1066. This is the best and funniest part of the serial. I swear, the face the Monk makes when he realizes he's stranded in 1066 is priceless. I watched it several times.
The rest of the episode was pretty interesting, but the interplay between the Doctor and the Monk were the best. Watching them argue and try to outwit each other and using other people as pawns was rather fun. Especially the part where most of what the Doctor did was unintentional and a woman over-hearing him talking to himself.
Next Blog: Season Two Overview then Galaxy 4.
Comments
Post a Comment
Have something to say about this post? Write it here!