Disclaimer: Just in case any pedants read this, I know that in the Hand of Fear, it's Eldrad, not Eldred. But still...
The Watcher
As if Ian and Barbara's exit hadn't been so painful already, we get more of a reminder here, as the Doctor and Vicki sadly talk of how they shall be missed. The Doctor admits what he showed in the Chase, that he wasn't expecting them to leave, and that it took him by surprise and was a real blow. The Doctor has never been this vulnerable as he again asks Vicki if she really wants to be with him. The scene between them is so sweet, as is Vicki's "they weren't getting any younger" about Ian and Barbara, and the Doctor's amused response. It's when Steven shows up, of course, that we get the famous buggering speech, which is sheer poetry. It is the best description of the TARDIS I think we've ever had. Steven's scepticism is nice, almost a reminder of Ian and his refusal to believe the TARDIS could travel in time back in An Unearthly Child. I know it's childish, but I also like the way Steven keeps calling the Doctor "Doc", before hastily adding the "tor". I also like Vicki's, "it is very small outside, it's just in here it's big", and Steven saying the TARDIS has a "way out" design.
The moving sky is rather impressive. It's very fast moving, but impressive nonetheless. Of course, out here we get the famous "I'm not a mountain goat, and I prefer walking to any day. And I hate climbing" speech from the Doctor. It works for splitting the regulars up, though. It leaves the Doctor on his own to charm Hur! Oops, I mean Edith. Alethea Charlton is just as cute as a Saxon as she was as a cavewoman, and the scenes between her and the Doctor are lovely. The Doctor drinks mead and asks for more, and even plays the "I'm an old man" card to get her on side! And then yet again we get a mention of Barbara, as the Doctor wishes she were there, and then proceeds to speak out loud about Stamford Bridge and Hastings with Edith standing right there! So much for not interfering, Doctor!
The Doctor off on his own also allows Vicki and Steven to have a lot of time together. O'Brien and Purves make a very good team. I love the way Vicki's already angrily ordering him about when he ignores her. I like that Steven doesn't believe they've travelled back in time, and then finds a watch lying about! It's quite late in the episode by now, and I think the audience could have been forgiven for thinking this was a historical, so that must have been quite the surprise. Even more of one when the Doctor finds the record playing! I love how he sees it and just starts giggling.
Lovely introduction to a season closer. It's an intriguing story, and the Monk for now is very interesting. It's not so far off being faultless 9/10.
The Meddling Monk
What's that? William Hartnell is on holiday AGAIN? He just took one two stories ago! Oh well, it's lucky Vicki and Steven are so watchable. The Monk's fry-up is rather lovely. It's rather obvious already that he's not exactly an evil, scheming villain (if it wasn't already from the fact that it's Peter Butterworth, anyway).
I know we get plenty of characters who are there to perform a specific function, particularly in Terry Nation stories, but Eldred (MUST LIVE!) is just really bad. "They're evil, I don't trust them, they must die!" Why? Aside from him briefly thinking the "travellers" raped Edith in this episode, there isn't actually any need in the story for the Saxons not to trust Vicki and Steven. It's never even mentioned when Eldred isn't there. If he'd managed to convince the Saxons that our heroes were spies and got them in trouble then he'd have made sense, but he doesn't actually do anything of value. Anyway, accusing Vicki of raping Edith is a bit bizarre, no? Also on that subject, the Vikings talk of lying low so their attack can be a surprise. Erm, so why go and rape Edith? And not only that, leave her alive so she can report the presence of Vikings?
There's another thing that doesn't really come to anything. Steven and Vicki talk to the Monk, and Steven uses the clever "get the bad guy to reveal something he couldn't possibly know" trick to find out that the Monk has abducted the Doctor. But then Vicki says that the Monk gave himself away too easily. "He'd be pretty stupid to give himself away like that," she says. However this whole scene is never mentioned again, as Vicki and Steven break in easily and get to the Doctor's cell without trouble. So it seems that the Monk actually was that stupid. Oh well.
As usual, the story suffers a little without the presence of Hartnell, but not so much. Vicki and Steven carry the story very well, and are always good to watch. This episode involves a lot of setting up for later, but it still is very enjoyable. 7.5/10.
A Battle of Wits
Hmm, the Monk really is stupid. He doesn't know about the secret passage. He gives Eldred (must live) penicillin. He's actually going out of his way to help somebody. It is quite lovely, I think, that the enemy in the story wants nothing except a bit of fun. He's perfectly willing to help others. That said, he is planning to kill a whole load of Vikings, so maybe he isn't quite that nice? He's not really very smart, either, asking Wulnoth to light a load of beacon fires. Vicki was right, after all. Saxon villages are very cosy and lovely, aren't they? Travellers welcomed with mead and smiles (except by the Kastrians), the men willing to go out of their way to help. It's all very nice. I'm sure it was just like that.
The Doctor and Edith have another scene together. They are such a sweet pair, although she's clearly been hurt and the Doctor doesn't think to ask her if she's okay! But then, he isn't thinking at all, as he tells her of the soon to come Viking invasion (again)! He's being bloody irresponsible considering what this whole story is about, isn't he? But then he is a "curious fellow", apparently. I can't believe he says "no more monkery" to the Monk. Sheesh, Doctor! I love how when the monastery is attacked by a couple of Vikings, the Doctor and the Monk knock them both out! The cliffhanger to this episode is rather good. Blimey, it's a TARDIS!
I like this episode. Yes, it involves a lot of the Doctor and the Monk playing their silly games, and Vicki and Steven worrying about the TARDIS, but it's great to watch. 8/10
Checkmate
This is all wrapped up very quickly. There's time for the Doctor to have a long chat with Edith (after she frees them and saves the day!), write a letter to the Monk and then stroll with Vicki and Steven back to the TARDIS. That's no complaint, though. Apparently the Doctor is "50 years earlier" than the Monk. I wonder how the people who wrote that the Doctor was at the academy with "Mortimus" reconciled that one. Or why they chose such a ridiculous name. Anyway, the Monk's "camouflage unit" is working, apparently.
Steven's musings on history are quite interesting, actually. The fact that we wouldn't know if history had changed. Although if it were going to change, it would have happened already, since it's the past. I love the bit where the Doctor and Vicki chant together about how "history will be allowed to take its natural course". It's a lovely scene, recalling the first episode of this story and just gives off the impression of a pair who have been travelling together for such a long time. I also love the way Vicki tells Steven that the Doctor is the crew, they're just the travellers, and the Doctor adds, "both very welcome ones!" It's all very sweet.
It's a fun final episode, with an exploration of another TARDIS. It's funny, the Doctor says all this stuff about not interfering, yet he does so himself, and his solution to the Monk's meddling is to strand the Monk in 1066! Very interesting logic there, Doctor. 8/10.
Conclusion
The Time Meddler is gentle, but it's a lovely way to finish the second season and introduce Steven. It may not be the most action packed, or even contain a huge amount of actual story, but it's about the Doctor and the Monk, and Steven and Vicki and their relationships. They all have a number of lovely scenes throughout the story, whether it's the Doctor charming Edith, Vicki and Steven arguing about whether or not there's a secret passage, or any scene that contains the Monk. Dennis Spooner is as dependable as ever, and it's sad to see him go as script editor, as he's done a superb job. It's a lovely story, and a lovely and happy way to end the season.
Average Rating: 8.125
Old Rating: 8
New Rating: 8
Season Two
Season Two has always been one I've enjoyed greatly, and it hasn't disappointed here at all. If it weren't for the two Dalek stories it would be right up there with the very best, and it is easily superior to Season One anyway. Planet of Giants and the Web Planet aren't classics, by any means, but they're both far superior to their reputation, and deserve far more credit for what they do. As for the Space Museum, I absolutely adore it, and think its reputation is wholly unfair. I think the biggest surprise for me this season was only giving the Crusade seven out of ten.
So far in this marathon, the Romans is by a distance my favourite story. It is an absolutely brilliant story in every respect. Pure genius. Sadly, the Sensorites is still my lowest ranked story so far, although my lowest in this season was the Chase, which was another surprise. Anyway, this is a big season. The season got rid of the irritating Susan, which helped massively. Ian and Barbara left, and Vicki and Steven arrived. Vicki has been as wonderful as ever. She is so much better than Susan it's ridiculous. She's fun and funny, and her only scream in the entire season was for a joke. She also hasn't cried or whinged (aside from the "I'm redundant" bit in the Chase, also for comic effect). Ian and Barbara deserve their status as two of the very best companions the show has ever seen, and it's wonderful that nearly fifty years on from his first appearance, William Russell is still playing the role, and playing it brilliantly, on audio for Big Finish. Here's hoping Big Finish revolve their 50th celebrations around him.
The end of Season Two also marks the end of moving pictures. Season Two is virtually complete, and Season One is pretty intact, but for the next three seasons there won't be much in the way of moving pictures, which is very sad. Still, I'm eager to see how well Season Three fares. Oh, and so far in my marathon, the Hartnell era is averaging exactly 7 out of 10, which is very healthy. I can't see it going down in Season Three.
Average: 7.26
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