PS Creativity > Reviews > Into The Vortex > Season Two

A close battle for top place in this 2nd season vote, the Meddling Monk sharing the laurels with the Daleks! How odd that would be.
This season also recorded the lowest mark so far, with The Web Planet only managing an average rating of 5.32 from our members.

>> Season Two averages 6.55 out of 10 <<

Some comments from a few members...

The Time Meddler

"A good start for Steven, whose character sadly was never this good again, and of course a star turn from Peter Butterworth. Nothing spectacular, but a nice, steady adventure.." -- Jason Thompson (8/10)

"Very rewatchable, some great scenes between Hartnell & Butterworth." -- Perry Vale (8.5/10)

"Peter Butterworth makes this story as good as it is. He's wonderful as the Monk, and steal every scene he's in. Good start for Steven too, and it does have the wonderful line, "What do you mean, 'maybe'? What do you think it is, a space helmet for a cow?" - Paul Clement (8/10)

"Great fun, a nice romp to end the season. Hartnell is clearly enjoying himself sparring with the Monk, and it's fun to see Vicki somewhat lording it over newboy Steven. I wonder what viewers thought in 1965 when the cliffhanger to episode three first aired? My favourite scene is in part 4, as the three regulars are tied up by the sarcophagus, and Vicki and Steven discuss what will happen when time is changed..." - Andrew Curnow (7/10)

"i very rarely give a story top marks as I don't believe any thing is perfect but this one is one of the few exceptions. It's a wonderfull story with Hartnell on top form but it's Peter Butterworth who steals the show." - Larry (10/10)

"The season goes out with a bang! This comedy pseudo historical is firing on all cylinders, and with all links to the beginning bar the Doctor cut, it has to be. New companion Steven settles in, and plays the cynic to the open minded Vicki. This gives the Doctor a chance to get in trouble, getting some of the best scenes whilst on holiday! Butterworth's Monk is a wonderful change in antagonist. Admittedly self-serving, he's not trying to hurt anyone, but if a few things get changed along the way, what's wrong with that? His relationship with Hartnell is stunning, and makes you wish he'd returned more often. The implied rape scene is very odd in terms of the tone of the surrounding material, but was probably included to add historical detail."
- - brandynigma (9/10)

The Dalek Invasion Of Earth

"While Marco Polo and The Keys of Marinus were epic, this one knocks their socks off. It has better focus than the former, and much better production values than the latter. Here, we have a well developed multi-stranded plot, very good effects for the time (don't mention the Slyther!) and a wonderful sense of doom, desperation and hope. True, there are stereotypical character models (the gruff hard man, the stubborn rebel leader, the selfish and doomed extortionist) but the actors and direction imbue these characters with a third dimension not found in the script. The last scene provides a massive tear-jerker, and must have been an amazing shock at the time." -- brandynigma (9/10)

"Despite the iconic moments and superb 'London under occupation' feel, one of the dullest and least satisfying Dalek adventures." -- Rob McCow (6/10)

"Always loved this ever since reading the Target circa 1980. I even splashed out on the £20 video on day of release while I was a student - a real luxury item! Love the grim feel to it and the fact that the Earth for once has been invaded and subjugated well before the TARDIS crew arrive. And the first ever companion departure remains one of the best. Would have a perfect score if it weren't for the somewhat disappointing Dalek voices." -- Jonno Simmons (9/10)

"very slow moving and cheap looking, although it has its moments, a fair sense of grimness and a strong first episode."
-- Logo Polish (5/10)

"Ah! The Dustbin Vacation on Earth. A favourite with some, but personally I think it's rather average. I'd rather watch the Cushing film instead... " -- Phillip Madeley (5/10)

The Crusade

"Acting gold from all concerned (with the possible exception of Reg Pritchard as Ben Daheer), but it fizzles out. The surviving episodes look superb, but then you expect no less from a BBC period drama, and in places it is very cleverly scripted. Quite good, but the story just stops rather than ending. -- Jason Thompson (6/10)

"Would probably score a notch higher if it was complete to see in all its glory. Good cast, good costumes etc."
-- Jonno Simmons (7/10)

"Good performanves all round again, and it's good to see that it's a straight historical rather than staying down the comedy road that The Romans took...I'd probably rate this higher if the complete story existed." -- MacNimon (7/10)

"Brilliant, but not as brilliant as it thinks it is." -- Rob McCow (7/10)

The Romans

"He's quite handy in a fight, that Hartnell. Apparently." -- Rob McCow (8/10)

"Oh sweet god this is good. A rich script, great acting, excellent design and duck-and-weave plot make this essential viewing. This shows Doctor Who can work wonderfully as farce and still maintain an edge, with Nero being both threatening and hilarious. Francis Wolf's performance is sublime, and the first real direct foil to Hartnell's Doctor. We also get Barbara as a Benny Hill girl, Ian in a toga & Vicki smashing pottery over an assassin. What more do you want?" -- brandynigma (10/10)

"An historical played for laughs, and that damages it for me. Picks up in places, and Hartnel is again on good form, but I'd rather watch Carry On Cleo...." -- Phillip Madeley (5/10)

The Rescue

"It has a sort of cosy feel to it. But it's a great story, which when you really think about it is quite dark in content - Vicki living with the man who murdered her father... the regulars are on fine form (especially Hartnell) & it whizzes by entertainingly." -- Phillip Madeley (8/10)

"It's a short but solid story that gives the Doctor a great moment at the end when he confronts Koquillion and successfully establishes Vicki before she becomes a companion." -- Paul Clement (7/10)

"Irrational perhaps, but I just absolutely adore this one. Cheap it may be, but it has bags of atmosphere, and Hartnell is at his finest. Plus it's the first time really that the Doctor saves the day on his own, confronting Bennett alone in the temple. Absolutely one of my all-time favourite stories, a little gem." -- Andrew Curnow (10/10)

Planet of Giants

"not bad but a bit of a drag even in only three eps. Good effect though." -- Logo Polish (5.5/10)

"An enjoyable enough story, with excellent effects for it's time. It wouldn't have worked as a 4-parter, though."
-- MacNimon (7/10)

"I used to not care for this much, but the VidFIREd video release pushed it up a score or two. Best bit by far is Barbara's fear at being poisoned and her bravely hiding it from Ian." -- Jonno Simmons (6/10)

"A very low-key start to the season, and probably the best take on the miniscules plotline, judging by the other rumours. The structure is very interesting, with the leads never interacting with the guest cast to any major degree, and this is handled rather well (though Hilda is annoying!). The villian and their motivation is quite at odds with this era of the series, and the plot is played surprisingly straight, feeling a bit like a Cathy Gale Avengers episode." -- brandynigma (5/10)

The Chase

"It actually makes The Space Museum seem more bearable! What an awful waste of Doctor Who screen-time - the middle two are the worst of the six, but that's not saying much! The only nice thing I can think of to say is that Hartnell shows his skill as an actor in episode 5, as he clearly knows exactly when he's playing the Doctor and when the robot, and considering they would have been doing it 'as live' he's 100% on the ball, bless him. But my goodness, what a dreadful tale to write out Ian & Barbara in." -- Andrew Curnow (2/10)

"Poor production, poor scripting in places, and infamously the one with the stupid Dalek and the robot Doctor who looks nothing like him, this is nonetheless good fun. We don’t need serious, deep and meaningful stories full of heightened emotion all the time. Why not have a bit of a romp every so often? Love it." -- Jason Thompson (8/10)

"Another comedy, though not as good as the Romans. the story looks very impressive overall, with special points going to the two alien planets (even with a giant testicle coming through a wall). Essentially The Keys of Marinus with more Daleks and less plot, The Chase has a daft charm all its own, helped by the fact that our heroes keep telling us they're in mortal danger. We are given a bit of a slap towards the end, with Vicki going missing, a homicidal Robot Doctor, and the Mechanoids (who are actually rather sinister). Ian and Barbara's departure manages to sum up their relationship with the Doctor in about five minutes, showing how far they've come, and the Doctor's reaction is wonderfully real and sad." -- brandynigma (7/10)

The Space Museum

"Part one deserves a 8 or even 9 out of ten, but the rest of it just drags it down. It's like watching a car crash!."
-- Pip Madeley (5/10)

"Ugh. A creepy first episode, but then the rest of it is like pulling teeth. By the end you don’t remember which character was which, nor do you really care. The stuff about wondering if the future is fixed was interesting (although why, after making so much fuss about the possible significance of whether a button was missing or not, did no-one think of the significance of unravelling Barbara’s cardigan in terms of the future they were trying to avoid?), but the background story was just very, very dull." -- Jason Thompson (3/10)

"Phenomenally eerie first episode and then it gets weaker, but all in all I prefer it to a lot of the other stories from this season" -- Paul Clement (7/10)

"Not even a relatively interesting first episode can save this one.
Watch closely and see if you can spot the exact moment where the budget ran out!" -- Andrew Curnow (3/10)

The Web Planet

"The first two episodes are really rather good, but the rest is a bit of a struggle. Highlight is the Optera sacrificing herself in the acid flow to save the others." -- Jonno Simmons (5.5/10)

"Zzzzzzzzzzzz..." -- Ant Cox (3/10)

"I'm always baffled as to why this gets such bad "press", I love it.
Great sets & design, and wonderfully spooky atmosphere too." -- Perry Vale (8/10)

"yawn." -- Ant Williams (4/10)

"A very brave production, but the fact remains, it's no classic. I remember sitting up for this episode when I was younger, taping it off UKGold late one Friday night, remote control in hand and milk and cookies nearby... and I was fast asleep by the end of part three... happy days" -- Phillip Madeley (4/10)

Last updated 10th March 2007
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