Overview: The First Doctor

William Hartnell established the Doctor as a character, and made the show his own. As companions came and went, it was Hartnell that was the face of Dr. Who from one story to the next.

This is a little overview of all the stories I’ve watched up to this point – what I liked, what I didn’t, and why.

The Stories

The First Doctor's stories are often memorable for including the first moment a recurring concept appears in Doctor Who. The first TARDIS shots in "An Unearthly Child"; the first story with the Daleks or Cybermen; the first regeneration; the first hint at the Time Lords...

They also are notable for the large number of “pure historicals”. Only two stories from other Doctors – “The Highlanders” and “Black Orchid” - would again return to the historical format, but these stories actually work really well. In fact, this is something that Chris Chibnal should have considered for last years episode “Rosa” - one of the stronger stories in a very weak season. It was weak sci-fi that let “Rosa” down. Had it been written and produced as a pure historical in the Hartnell tradition, it could have been a much stronger story.

Another element to note about these stories is their sheer variety. In comparison to later Doctors, where the series got established, there was a lot of experimentation in the early years. Here we have psychodrama ("The Edge of Destruction"), Shakespearian tragedy ("The Aztecs"), musical ("The Gunfighters"), surrealism ("The Celestial Toymaker"), farcical comedy ("The Romans") and many other genres and styles. Some worked better than others, but the pure creativity and imagination is delightful.

Seeing I’ve got an undeniably mathematical mind, I felt the urge of representing my Whovian enjoyment in graph form. Interestingly, there is a slow start for the show – none of the first five stories blow me away, at least not in their current form. Had "Marco Polo" survived, I’m sure it would have easily made my top ten.

Talking of which, the following are my top five First Doctor stories:

1. The Dalek Invasion of Earth
2. The War Machines
3. The Aztecs
4. The Tenth Planet
5. The Romans 

The Dalek Invasion of Earth is quite justified in taking the top spot – an epic sci-fi tale made all the more impressive for taking place on a post-apocalyptic future Earth. Few other Doctor Who stories will ever be so bold as to imagine an Earth where the invasion has already taken place so completely, and even fewer will finish with the immense task of rebuilding brick by brick. It’s far easier to have the Doctor wave his sonic screwdriver and undo all the damage! The departure of Susan and the Doctor’s farewell speech are only the icing on the cake in this majestic story.

The War Machines may be a more controversial second choice. It’s not everybody’s cup of tea, but I am perfectly happy to place it so high. I love the idea of returning the series to contemporary earth. I love that we are seeing genuine period London – 60s London filmed in the 60s to look like the 60s. I love the new energy from Ben and Polly and I love the Doctor swanning around in Rolls Royces, drinking coffee, reading newspapers and saving the day.

The Aztecs is a totally different kind of story, but one that works really well. An epic tale doesn’t need armies of flying Daleks, or explosions or planetary peril. A truly epic tale like the Aztecs can tell the story of a whole civilisation through the lives of two men – Autloc and Tlotoxl – as they face the choice between light and darkness. Here the dialogue is poetry, the characters are credible human beings, and the inevitability of the unfolding story mirrors the theme of destiny perfectly. Oh yes, and the Doctor gets engaged!

And here’s that graph again, but in ranked order:

Something I find interesting about my own scoring system is the very gradual, smooth diagonal line punctuated by one or two cliff-edges, especially between “The Ark” and “The Sensorites”. I think this jump represents that most simple of tipping points – did I like it? Yes or no?

The Web Planet is easily the worst of the First Doctor, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being the worst of the whole series. Not only is it long and boring and senseless, but it has never-ending noises like car alarms all the way through it. It therefore earns the ultimate dishonour of being genuinely painful to watch your way through a full episode. It was in the middle of watching this series that I questioned the wisdom of ever attempting to continue this marathon!

The Companions

The Doctor is nothing without his companions, and the First Doctor has a higher turnover rate of companions than any other Doctor.

Some of these companions are excellent characters, charismatic and enjoyable to watch, with a clear sense of a life beyond their period with the Doctor. Others are really poor – whether they are badly written, badly acted or whatever, they fail to become anything more than a cardboard cut out. These are the companions of the First Doctor, ranked in order of Best to Worst.

#1 Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright

Ian and Barbara are a double act, appearing together in the opening scene of "An Unearthly Child", and continuing to the end of "The Chase", where they bow out of Dr Who in a glorious montage sequence of sixties London. They have to be taken as a couple, and together they form the template for all other companions in the history of Dr Who.

Ian – an intelligent man of action, most often dressed in a cardigan – and Barbara – the ever-resourceful, big-hearted woman, whose stiff post-war mannerisms mask a passionate courage – are very much the human conscience for the Doctor. At the beginning of the show, his alien nature makes him appear self-centred. By the time they leave, he is everybody’s grandfather.

As the series developed, younger companions tended to be the norm, and Ian and Barbara remain among the most mature companions to have travelled regularly with the Doctor. This gives them an air of confidence and capability which few others possess. They easily rank as #1

#2 Ben Jackson and Polly Wright

Ben and Polly are another double act, appearing in "The War Machines", close to the end of Hartnell’s run, and continuing on into the era of the second Doctor. Their immediate charisma, their swinging sixties vibe, their banter and their energy land easily them the second slot. 

Ben is one of the most action-hero type companions of them all, though he does not appear to be blessed with high intelligence. Polly is a character that seems to be trying to break out of the sexist mould where the woman makes coffee and works as a typist. Her brains and courage mark her out as something much more than the role society keeps trying to impose on her.

#3 Steven

Steven is a solid kind of companion. He gets a good entry to the series in “The Chase”, as an astronaut clutching a teddy bear, driven half-mad by enforced isolation. His follow-up story, “The Time Meddler” is another brilliant adventure as he accepts the powers of the TARDIS and how his life might look with the Doctor. He even manages to hold his own as the main character in some stories and episodes, such as “The Massacre”. He gets a disappointing exit in “The Savages”, tacked on the back of the main story as an afterthought, but his attempted furious departure after “The Massacre” allows for the possibility of him leaving.

#4 Susan

Susan gets the number four slot mainly for her connection to the Doctor, as his granddaughter. This particular connection has been enough to extend Susan’s mythology among the Whovian fan base way beyond her relatively minor impact in the series. Her introduction in “An Unearthly Child” is great, and her departure in “The Dalek Invasion of Earth” is one of the best and most memorable moments in the history of Dr Who. Beyond that, however, she only gets a little to do in stories such as “The Sensorites”, and her character is ignored and underdeveloped.

#5 Sara Kingdom

Sara only appears in a single story - “The Daleks Masterplan” - but makes a big impression. What separates her from other ‘characters of the week’ is the way she flies in the TARDIS with the Doctor, journeying across multiple planets and time periods, taking on the clear role of a regular companion. She bursts on screen in kinky military leather, murdering her brother in cold blood for his alleged treachery to Earth. Her story continues in equally bombastic fashion until she is ‘aged’ to death by the Time Destructor at the end of the story. It’s not the first death of a companion (see below) but it’s by far the most impactful until Adric dies decades later.

#6 Vicki

We are definitely into the region of ‘poor’ companions by now. Vicki comes onto the show as a decidedly disappointing and irritating replacement for Susan. She has none of the mystery and even less charisma. Her acting talent is pretty ropey and her characterisation is summarised in a line by Ian: “Don’t just stand there and scream, you little fool – run!” Frankly the less said about this character the better.

#7 Katarina

Katarina remains probably the most underused companion in all Dr. Who, and indeed there are only a few seconds of her performance that have not been lost. A minor character in "The Myth Makers", who we frankly don’t notice until she is suddenly coming into the TARDIS, she hangs around for only a couple of episodes into the following story: "The Daleks Masterplan". She remains in shock for the entire time that she in on the show, utterly unable to wrap her head round basic concepts including door knobs, still less inter-dimensional transcendence! Her one moment in which she takes action beyond simply following instructions is her death moment – though whether it is suicide or accident is never completely established.

#8 Dodo

Could there ever be a worse companion than Dodo? A brainless twerp who wanders into the TARDIS thinking that it’s a police box and *doesn’t even notice* that it’s bigger inside than outside. On her first trip, she accidentally eradicates half the remaining human race, and all the while seems to think that she is still in London. When she eventually does return to London, she simply wanders off to her aunt’s house and passes on a message: “If you see the Doctor, tell him I’m staying here”. She doesn’t bother to turn up to say farewell, nor even to call or send a postcard. She has probably got distracted by a passing leaf and forgotten that she ever got in the TARDIS at all. Not only is she utterly brainless, but she possesses the smug superiority, the goofy foolishness and the infinite self belief that such people far too often inflict on the world. She is a disaster of a character, and brings down the tone of every Dr Who story in which she is involved. It’s harsh – but you know it’s true.

The Best Villains

This top five list of best villains is only looking at individuals, not races. Therefore ‘The Daleks’ or ‘The Cybermen’ would not fit here. Apart from being a bit obvious, I’m wanting to celebrate here the best characters who oppose the Doctor – the ones who captivate our attention every moment they are on screen.

#5 – The Abbot of Amboise, ”The Massacre”

Sadly the whole of “The Massacre” is missing, so we will never have the chance to see William Hartnell playing his nemesis as the murderous Abbot who plans to rid Paris of Protestants. If I’m fair, he probably wouldn’t make this list at all, were it not for the unexplained and undeveloped gimmick of him being a doppelgänger for the Doctor. Nevertheless, the Abbot just about packs enough of a punch for him to sidle awkwardly onto the bottom of this list!

#4 – The Toymaker, “The Celestial Toymaker”

The notion of the Toymaker as a bored cosmic spider playing games with the foolish travellers who fall into his web is fantastic. The story itself is very poorly constructed and underdeveloped, but the Toymaker himself, played with delicious malice by Michael Gough, is excellent. There was a plan, I believe, to do a sequel with the Toymaker in the era of Colin Baker – the sixth Doctor. It’s a great shame it never came to anything, as the Toymaker is a brilliant villain.

#3 – Mavic Chen, “The Daleks’ Masterplan”

Mavic Chen never misses an opportunity to remind us of his name. “I, Mavic Chen, will [insert preposterous plan here!]”. From his peculiarly long fingernails, to his peculiarly darkened skin, the Guardian of the Solar System bursts onto the screen with a bombastic eloquence, a smug superiority and a mad compulsion for dominion. He steals his every scene, outwitting Daleks and Doctor alike until his final exuberant demise.

#2 – Tlotoxl, “The Aztecs”

No other villain of Hartnell’s era can match Tlotoxl for malice, cunning and determination. The High Priest of Sacrifice is very believable – neither a wild megalomaniac nor a mere thug, Tlotoxl has a clear and simple motivation. He wants society to remain as it is, and he is ready to do anything to stop it being overturned by Barbara, the Doctor or anybody else. Ruthless, clever and dangerous, Tlotoxl is one of these rare breed of villains that actually wins in the end. He easily deserves this spot.

#1 – The Meddling Monk, “The Time Meddler” and “The Daleks’ Masterplan”

Peter Butterworth’s ‘Monk’ is never particularly frightening, dangerous or malicious. His villainy stems entirely from his own selfishness and his readiness to break any laws ever written in order to satisfy his own desires. But he is easily – by miles – the most entertaining, charismatic antagonist the First Doctor encounters. This is clearly recognised by the producers who brought him back for a second appearance – the only time an individual villain returns until the Master turns up in the Third Doctor’s era. With perfect comic timing, the Monk wanders through his two stories as if he is telling a totally different story of his own, in which he is the hero. Whether he is curing Viking warriors with paracetamol or trying out new sunglasses in Ancient Egypt, the Monk is a wonderful character and it’s a shame to me that he only appears in the two stories. He deserves his own spin-off!

The Most Magical Moments

These are hard to rank, and include moments that are comical, dramatic, tragic, exciting or endearing. But these are my top ten favourite moments from the Hartnell era, in ascending order.

#10 – in “The Time Meddler”

Kicking off our list is a simple moment of pure entertainment. The Doctor finds a horned Viking helmet on the beach, and is frustrated when Steven does not take it as immediate proof that they have travelled in time. “What do you think this is then? A space helmet for a cow?” It’s just a brilliant line – snappy and funny. A laugh out loud magical moment of Dr Who.

#9 – in “The Romans”

At number 9 on the list comes another comedy moment, this one from “The Romans”. The mad Emperor Nero, furious at the Doctor for accidentally burning his map of the city, delivers the most outrageous death threat in all of Dr Who: “I’ll have you both killed over and over again. I’ll have you tied out on a stake in the arena. On an island with water all round. And in the water there will be alligators, and the water level will be raised and the alligators will GET YOU!” Foaming at the mouth and screeching hysterically, Nero’s performance has to be seen to be believed.

#8 – in “The Reign of Terror”

From one historical to another, but Revolutionary France is a million miles away from farcical Rome. There’s a few great moments in this story, but the one I’m picking comes at the end of Episode One. We have quickly established how easy it is for characters – even proper emerging characters – to be suddenly shot dead. Now, the farmhouse is on fire, Ian, Barbara and Susan are captured and being led away and the Doctor is unconscious and trapped on the top floor. We cut to him lying on the floor, unmoving and surrounded by flame. We cut back to Ian et al looking horrified. We insert a beautiful model of the farmhouse, wreathed in fire. Close ups of flames licking round a doorway. Susan again, burying her face in Barbara’s shoulder. The Doctor’s face, unmoving, with smoke everywhere. Cue credits! It’s a perfect cliffhanger, and it’s made all the better for not being undermined by a silly resolution in the next episode.

#7 – in “The Dalek Invasion of Earth”

Our next moment is different again: action, rather than comedy or tension. Barbara – an unlikely action hero – demonstrates her indomitable will in a vehicle chase across Dalek-occupied London. Driving a huge, battered lorry, she rampages through the streets, mowing down Daleks left right and centre, chased by a spaceship. It’s bombastic, full-on action, which would be a strong set piece even in the modern episodes (though of course it would be filmed differently). The fact that it’s Barbara, as opposed to Ian, who is taking on the whole Dalek squad single handed, is what makes this such a brilliant moment. She even finishes it all off with a commando roll out of the cab just before the lorry is blown to smithereens. It’s a magnificent sequence.

#6 – in “The Time Meddler”

We return to “The Time Meddler” for the sixth best moment I’ve selected from the Hartnell era. The Monk is such a fantastic character, but it is his identity which is the real revelation. At the end of Episode Three, snooping around and trying to find out what dastardly plan the Monk is concocting, Vicki and Steven crawl into a sarcophagus to discover another TARDIS – similar to the Doctor but different in sinister little ways. You can imagine the shock for first time viewers, as Vicki expresses what’s on all their minds: “It’s a TARDIS! The Monk’s got a TARDIS.” No longer is the Doctor unique in the Universe.

#5 – in “The Daleks’ Masterplan”

After twelve epic episodes, “The Daleks’ Masterplan” takes the bold step on ending on a downbeat note of tragedy. Steven and the Doctor stand alone on a graveyard of a planet, the only two survivors of an apocalyptic Time Destructor. With morbid curiosity, the Doctor investigates the embryonic remains of a primitive proto-Dalek. Steven is in no mood for pleasantries: “Let’s go Doctor. I’ve seen enough...” The Doctor tries a little false optimism: “Well my boy, we’ve finally rid this planet of Daleks!” Voice choked with emotion, Steven cries out the names of their dead friends: “Bret! Katarina! Sara!”. The Doctor just stops and stares, then whispers to himself: “What a waste... What a terrible waste...” Battered and defeated, the two men walk into the TARDIS and leave. It’s such a downbeat ending, and so different to the norm, that it makes a very powerful impression. It easily deserves to rank so high, and is the only moment on this top ten to make it to the list despite being missing from the BBC Archives.

#4 – in “The Aztecs”

A lighter moment now, as a complete contrast from what has gone before, comes from “The Aztecs”. A beautifully sculpted romance has developed between the Doctor and an Aztec widow called Cameca. She decides the time has come to take their relationship one step further and prepares him a ritual drink of cocoa. Thinking that they are just having a friendly beverage, the Doctor happily takes a sip. At this point Cameca spills the beans: “Sweet favoured man, you have declared your love for me, and I acknowledge and accept your gentle proposal!” The Doctor leaps to his feet in alarm – his what?! It’s played for comedy, but what makes this moment so particularly good is the way in which the Doctor does genuinely seem to fall for Cameca and vice versa. Even after this moment of confusion, they are still to be found arm in arm or with her head nestling on her shoulder. I like to think – in my more sentimental moments – that somewhere along the way, before he regenerated, the Doctor found time to drop his companions off somewhere, return to Cameca, and spend many happy years with her before returning to the TARDIS and continuing his travels once again.

#3 – from “The Dalek Invasion of Earth”

We are into the top three now, and these are some of the most iconic moments of not merely the Hartnell era but of all Dr Who. The first episode of “Dalek Invasion” has set up a horrific image of post-apocalyptic, dystopian London. From the opening scene – a suicide – on through the episode, we are presented with one horror after another, but there is never given any real explanation for it. Finally the Doctor and Ian are cornered by the Robomen, who seem intent on their death or enslavement. The only escape is the river behind them. “When I give the word,” mutters Ian, “turn round and jump in the water.” The Doctor concurs, but what neither of them have seen is the Dalek slowly emerging up from below the surface, revealed bit by bit. At last, the two men turn to run, and there is the Dalek, fully emerged now, and facing them. A thousand questions – How? Why? - but they will have to wait till next week... Cue the credits! I love the drama of this moment. I accept it makes little logical sense as to what the Dalek was doing in the river in the first place, but as a reveal of Daleks on Earth it takes some beating. It’s a magical moment, it’s iconic, and it gets the bronze medal for Best Hartnell Moment Ever!

#2 – from “100,000BC”

The first episode of Dr Who is a magnificent drama – intriguing and compelling. Even when seen with the benefit of hindsight, somehow, incredibly, it still manages to stand up strong, under the full weight of the series that follows it for over 50 years. The moment I have selected is rather an extended ‘moment’, but is the sequence when Ian and Barbara find themselves in the TARDIS for the first time and the Doctor is trying to get rid of them, “You don’t deserve any explanations. You pushed your way in here uninvited and unwelcome”. The scene plays out and sparks begin to fly. “You’re treating us like children!” “Am I? The children of my civilisation would be insulted!” The Doctor builds to a climax: “Have you ever thought what it’s like to be wanderers in the fourth dimension? To be exiles? Susan and I are cut off from our own planet without friends or protection. But one day, we shall get back... Yes – one day.” This speech and this scene pretty much sum up the whole concept of Doctor Who in its slow, decades-long unravelling. Silver Medal Award!

#1 – from “The Dalek Invasion of Earth”

There’s nothing particularly surprising or original about my Gold Medal choice for the most magical moment of the Hartnell Era. It’s a scene that crops up again and again, even being re-used as the pre-credits sequence for the 20^th anniversary show, “The Five Doctors”.

David – a dishy young revolutionary proposes to Susan. ‘Please’, he begs, ‘stay here with me.’ Susan is in turmoil: how can she choose between the Doctor – her only remaining family – and her true love? She hugs him in desperation, and the Doctor intervenes, closing the TARDIS doors and addressing her over a speaker. “During all the years I’ve been taking care of you, you in return have been taking care of me.” “Grandfather”, she cries, “I belong with you!” “Not any more child,” replies the Doctor. “You’re still my grandchild and always will be, but now you are a woman too. I want you to belong somewhere, to have roots of your own. With David, you’ll be able to find these roots, and live normally like any woman should do. One day, I shall come back... Yes, I shall come back. Until then there must no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in all your beliefs, and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine.” There is an emotional pause. Then “Goodbye Susan”. He pulls a lever; the TARDIS shudders into action and disappears, leaving Susan alone.

It’s the first time a companion leaves the show (and one of the best exits). It’s the end for the Doctor as a family man, and a major emotional moment for him. It’s a wonderfully memorable and quotable speech. But most of all it’s just a tinglingly brilliant moment that has given me goosebumps again just re-watching it as I write this post.

In Conclusion

This blog post is definitely the longest I have yet written, but it sums up my thoughts on three years of Doctor Who. From 1963 to 1966, William Hartnell was the Doctor, and for many he remains the original and the best. Without him, and without his character as the “First Doctor” there would be no Doctor Who series today. But he is more than just a legacy, or an origin story. He is a brilliant character, a wonderful, charismatic, delightful, exasperating Doctor, who raises the series above its limited resources, and makes these early episodes a continuing joy to watch. Yes it’s dated, yes some episodes are regrettably missing, yes some stories are mind-numbingly awful. But who cares? I for one will continue to enjoy watching these beautiful, silly episodes all my life!