PS Creativity > Reviews > Into The Vortex > Season One

TThe stories that started it all off - you'd think the Daleks would have stole top place, but the time travellers' gripping adventure in Aztec history won the battle, with an average rating of 8.46 out of 10 from those who voted. Surprisingly, John Lucarotti's other season one tale Marco Polo could only manage 4th place, and the less said about the season's other historical The Reign of Terror, the better.

>> Season One averages 6.97 out of 10 <<

Some comments from a few members...

The Aztecs

"Maybe not the classic it's sometimes made out to be, but it gets a high score mainly for Barbara and the Doctor."
-- Andrew Curnow (7.5/10)

"One of the finest Hartnell stories, one of the first BBC videos I bought, back in 1997 - it helped me with my History project about Aztec culture! Again, fine characterisation from John Lucarotti." -- Phillip Madeley (8/10)

"The historicals in this period really were something special, weren't they?" - The Secretive Bus (10/10)

"I've never been too enamoured with the Hartnell historicals, and this is no exception. Like Marco Polo, I just don't see what all the fuss is about." - Ant Williams (6/10)

"Loved this ever since I first saw the video in the early 90s. Sheer perfection and a story I shall never tire of watching. Barbara's shouting match with the Doctor sends a chill down my spine every time." - Jonno Simmons (10/10)

"The perfect historical? Superb performances by all, a blinder of a disagreement between the Doctor and Barbara. Everyone always goes on about the one before the sacrifice, but I prefer the one after, when the Doctor tears into Barbara for her foolish actions before realising she is genuinely upset, apologising and then trying to reassure her that things can still work out all right for them." - Jason Thompson (9/10)

The Daleks

"A game of two halves. The first half is clearly better, though that's not to say the second is bad. The characters continue to develop (Susan less so than the others), with a notable scene Ian's pragmatic, not vicious, admonishment of the Doctor in the second episode. The travellers illness is well played, as are the gentle Thals. So many great images and scenes, and when watched with an open mind, you can see just how much of the Daleks' aggression comes from fear and habit."
-- brandynigma (9/10)

"A classic, though it shouldn't be. The regulars get locked up in the first ten minutes of episode 2 and don't get out until the very end of episode 3, possibly the longest incarceration in the show's history. It's an example par excellence of making four episodes' worth of plot stretch to seven without seeming overly padded. And all the supporting characters are actually characters (with the possible exception, unfortuinately, of Dyoni)." -- Jason Thompson (9/10)

"Used to love it but on recent viewing it really is a load of old tosh, saved only by the 1st episode & the fact that it's got Billy, Babs & Ian in it. The finale is remarkably unspectacular given we had 7 episodes to get to it." -- The Secretive Bus (5/10)

"It has some classic bits in it, but it’s way too long and fairly snoresome in the middle" -- Ant Cox (6/10)

An Unearthly Child

"Thrilling stuff, though the scenes without the regulars are a bit tiresome... some fine moments though, such as the Doctor's 'evil moment' and the amazing journey into space and time at the end of episode one. -- Phillip Madeley (8/10)

"Excellent start to the series, and as I like grim scenarios, the caveman stuff is just fine by me! Very nostalgic too, as it was my first b&w story 25 years ago this very month!" -- Jonno Simmons (8/10)

"Almost two separate stories, since the first episode stands alone so well. In fact, the first episode still stands up as a good piece of TV to this day. The other three are often overlooked, which is quite unfair as they're actually rather good, especially in terms of the regular characters. Susan is as annoying here as she always will be, though" -- Jason Thompson (8/10)

"the first episode is just brilliant, and the rest is reasonably good, with a fantastic atmosphere." -- Ant Williams (7/10)

Marco Polo

"I've never seen what all the fuss is about this story. Sure, the characterisation is great, but that's not everything a story needs." -- Ant Williams (6/10)

"Only listened to it twice (both in the last 3 years or so since the tin came out) but I fell in love with it instantly and love the epic feel to it. Would probably rate higher if only it existed visually." -- Jonno Simmons (9/10)

"The first one that is hard to judge by dint of being missing entirely. Judging by the soundtrack I'd have to say the story is excellent, and most performances seem to be very good. Marco is an interesting character, even though he takes forever to realise that Tegana is evil despite some very obvious signs. Like The Daleks before it, even at seven episodes it does not seem too long, especially if you view it as it was intended, an episode at a time, rather than trying to sit through it all in one go. My only reservation is that if this ever turns up we'll be sorely disappointed by how it could look, especially as I have visions of shadows being cast on the backdrops, as in every other story of that era with a barren, featureless landscape as one of its settings." -- Jason Thompson (8/10)

The Keys of Marinus

"Ian and Barbara get an episode to themselves, which on it's own gets 10/10! Fun. Romp. It. Is." -- Rob McCow (10/10)

"Badly made but enjoyable. The screaming jungle's rather good and Hartnell's barnstorming in the Millenius scenes."
-- The Secretive Bus (6/10)

"I like a good adventure story, it's fun to watch & there's some fine moments... and it's fun to count how many times Jacqueline Hill blinks at the start of episode 6!" -- Phillip Madeley (7/10)

The Edge of Destruction

"I read the book as a kid, and so was disappointed to see no trip the TARDIS engine room on the original version! I have to wonder what kids were thinking of this back in 1963, as it is rather disturbing even to me. One of Carole Ann Ford's best performances- she can do sinister terribly well (and pain... not so well). The majority of our character development comes to an end here, with the rather lovely scene of the Doctor and Barbara rounding out the last thirteen episodes. But why the hell does the Doctor have to explain the fault twice in the space of five minutes?!" -- brandynigma (7/10)

"It's just very, very dull, especially the first episode. In places it's painful. 'He's gone to try the scanner...' indeed. A supposedly dramatic event that requires William Hartnell to do a lot of 'hmm'-ing & mucking about in order that he hasn't flipped the switch in the time it takes William Russell to deliver the information in a very stilted fashion with no urgency whatsoever & for Carol Ann Ford to rush out to tell him not to. The first 25 minutes really drags in ways that even some seven-parters don't. As part of the series as a whole it's actually quite a significant story, marking a change in the Doctor & how he relates to his companions. Just a shame they couldn't have had that happen in a more interesting tale."
-- Jason Thompson (3/10)

"I look at TEOD as a great piece of television drama that just happens to be part of my favourite TV series, but then each story could easily be viewed as such. Doctor Who has evolved to become the sum of its parts rather than being a strict format which stories then have to adhere to. Is the reason that most fans don’t like TEOD just the fact that it’s not like any ‘normal’ example of the series? Or do fans just think it’s a rubbish piece of TV? Do we judge each Doctor Who story on its individual merits or on how it fits into the big scheme of things? Do we automatically compare it to its neighbours, or against our favourite adventure which it then cannot help but fall short of? I’ve seen various comments regarding TEOD stating the TARDIS crew is ‘acting very out of character’ in the story, yet this was only the third story in the series; did we really know the characters back-to-front by this stage? Personally, I don’t think so." -- Ant Cox (8/10)

The Reign of Terror

"It's... OK." -- Andrew Curnow (5/10)

"Starts off well, and episode one's cliffhanger is great, but goes downhill rapidly." -- Phillip Madeley (5/10)

"This story isn't as well written or plotted as the earlier historicals and episode 6 has nothing to do with the 5 episodes before it. It also isn't funny, no matter what fan historians say. The jailer wants to shag Barbara - hardy har har. My sides are splitting. Hartnell dressed up in a plumed hat and wandering around outside a French prison shouting "I'll have you all shot at dawn!" is something to treasure, though." -- The Secretive Bus (5/10)

The Sensorites

"Some call it boring, but I like it! Okay, it could've been an episode shorter, but it holds my attention& the confrontation scenes are fab, particularly when the Doctor & Ian catch out the lying Sensorite... the swine!" -- Phillip Madeley (7/10)

"An interesting idea let down by a disappointing and over-long story." -- Phillip Culley (4/10)

"I like this one! It has its faults but is still a fun story with some great dramatic scenes in the first two episodes."
-- Ant Cox (7/10)

"Rather dull and boring, but easy to watch at the same time (if that makes any sense!) I feel as if this one talks down to the audience a bit..." -- MacNimon (5/10)

Last updated 10th March 2007
return to the Into The Vortex Index