"But you can't rewrite history, not one line!"
This is the second serial by John Lucarotti author of Marco Polo. Suffice it to say that Lucarotti is much more successful with his second story than Terry Nation was with his.
The TARDIS lands in 15th century Mexico at the height of Aztec civilization in the center of a high priest's tomb. The Aztecs are a specialty of Barbara's, she points out that there was a great deal of good in their society and that Cortez couldn't look past the evil to see it.
This is still early in the series and the Doctor wasn't the meddler that he later became. At this point each story had to come up with a reason why he and the others didn't just get back into the TARDIS and go to another place at the first sign of trouble. Sometimes the crew are kidnapped, sometimes something goes wrong with the Ship and other times they just can't access it.
This story falls into the "they just can't access it" category. In the course of exploring the tomb the travelers leave the inner vault and let the hidden door slam down. The door is very easy to open from the inside, but not meant to be easily opened by grave robbers. It's a clever enough idea and gives the Doctor a tangible goal to work on.
Barbara describes the Aztecs as both good and evil. There are many admirable things about their civilization, but they did perform human sacrifice. Lucarotti demonstrates this dichotomy in the characters of Autloc and Tlotoxl. Autloc is the wise and soft spoken priest, while Tlotoxl, the priest of sacrifice, is Richard the Third.
Through a bit of luck and some flim-flam on her part Barbara has been accepted as the reincarnation of the high priest who was interred in the tomb the TARDIS landed in. The others have been accepted as her servants.
Tlotoxl begins his trickery by pitting Ian against Ixta for the honor of commanding the military. Ixta demonstrates that he's a nasty guy to see on the other side of the battlefield in a little sparring match put on for Ian's enlightenment. Ixta makes it clear that he will kill Ian for command.
He and Ian are to present the human sacrifice at Barbara's reincarnation coming out party.
Meanwhile the Doctor is taken to the garden of peace. A place of recreation set aside for all of those who are over 52. They are no longer required to labor, just rest and remain a source of wisdom for those who seek them out. It is here that he meets Cameca, a retired woman of great poise and wisdom. The two are obviously struck by one another. The Doctor is trying to get information about the tomb from her, but he makes several side comments about her that show that he is clearly impressed by her. Her demeanor suggests that she is quiet stricken by him.
Cameca offers to set up a meeting between the Doctor and the son of the builder of the tomb. The son, she tells the Doctor, isn't a builder, but a warrior.
At that point Ian catches up to the Doctor and tells him of the human sacrifice. The Doctor forces Ian to go through with the ceremony. The Doctor goes to Barbara and tries to get her to do the same, but she refuses. She wants to rewrite history, remove the evil side of the Aztecs nature and allow the good to survive on after Cortez.
The conversation between the Doctor and Barbara is both well written and well executed. Barbara has been given the powers of a god by the priests and her foreknowledge of the future and she plans on changing things for the better. The Doctor tells her that it's impossible, implying strongly that he himself has tried and failed.
This is Doctor Who at it's best.
The acting is solid both in the regulars and the guest cast. Tlotoxl is close to being over-the-top, but I suppose every villain can't be Tegana.
As cliffhangers go this episode's was a bit weak. After Barbara stops the sacrifice Tlotoxl has the victim suicide. It rains. Barbara and the priest of sacrifice exchange heated words and then he declares her to be false and promises to kill her.
Next up: The Warriors of Death
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