"Yes, you must travel with understanding as well as hope. You know, I once said that to one of your ancestors, a long time ago."
Today is Doctor Who's birthday. 48 years ago today, An Unearthly Child was first broadcast.
This wasn't An Unearthly Child.
When I started this post I actually was going to defend the writers. My line of thought was that this is pretty much two stories with two sets of characters to set up. And then I looked at the time that they had to work with, realized that most science fiction shows can do what needs to be done in the same amount, and ditched the idea of defending them.
At this point in the series, Hartnell was getting harder and harder to deal with. His health was getting worse, the production schedule was taking its toll, and he was extremely unhappy with changes in the cast and production team.
I know that the production team was actively thinking about replacing Hartnell as the Doctor.
Dodo really isn't given a great start as the new companion. She barely appears in the far superior Massacre serial, her character isn't given any development other than the extremely mild slang that she uses to annoy the Doctor. Maybe she's the descendent of someone that we got to know and sort of like. That and and her crusader outfit are all that she has to work with.
In the intro for the next serial, she becomes the first companion to wear a mini-skirt (depending on whether you count Vicki's future outfit or not).
Steven isn't given much either. In his case, we know what the production team is wasting. Purves is a good actor, he deserved better.
Next up: The Celestial Toyroom
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