29. The Tenth Planet

As the Doctor will say in the future, "It's the end... but the moment has been prepared for." The Tenth Planet is William Hartnell's last full story as the Doctor. After 3 years and deteriorating health, it was decided that William would leave and the role of the Doctor would be recast. From a junk yard in London to the South Pole and everywhere in between, the 1st Doctor blazed a trail across time and space. The Doctor Who of today can be traced back to groundbreaking cast, crew and stories of this era. Even 50 years later, these episodes can be viewed as Doctor Who in its simplest form. Unburdened by continuity, unable to control his TARDIS, and at the mercy of the universe, Hartnell's Doctor set the mold we hatch every Doctor from today.

Fortunately the first 3 episodes of this story and footage of the 1st Doctor's last few minutes with the first regeneration still exist. This material was released on VHS and is expected to be released on DVD this year. It is hoped that the missing episode 4 will be recreated through animation to complete the story for its DVD release. It would be a perfect celebration of 50 years of Doctor Who to see this great story finished and be the final DVD release of the collection.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tenth_Planet

Up next:
The dawn of a new era as Patrick Troughton becomes the 2nd Doctor in The Power of the Daleks!

28. The Smugglers

The Smugglers kicked off Doctor Who's 4th season and unfortunately, none of this story's episodes exist. I have listened to the audio soundtrack and read the Target novelization, and I still can't remember anything amazing about this story. It was a historical,17th century, set in Cornwall, which took the cast and crew on location, but other than that.... Polly does dress up like a boy for most of the episode to protect herself and Ben takes his shirt off. Ah Ben. :)

But as it is A) season premiere, B) two new companions first trip in the TARDIS, and C) the penultimate episode of the 1st Doctor's tenure, this is a very unmemorable episode. This is the beginning of the end of the classic historical stories, the death knell of history.

It really is unfortunate that none of the footage exists because I'd really like to see Ben without his shirt on.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Smugglers

Next episode, the final story of the William Hartnell era- The Tenth Planet!

27. The War Machines

For the final episode of the 3rd series, the Doctor returns to modern day (1966) London for first time since the first episode back in 1963. After saying farewell to Steven last story, we see Dodo depart half way through this story (with no real explanation) and welcome mod girl Polly and sailor Ben on board the TARDIS.

The story in many ways foreshadows many things to come on the show. A modern day threat to London, this time in the form of the evil computer WOTAN. Check. The Doctor helping out the military to death said threat. Check. A young couple stumbling into the TARDIS for adventure. Check and check!

There's a lovely scene where the Doctor enters the night club Inferno to find Dodo. In his cloak and cap, he stands out in stark contrast to all the swinging 60's kids dancing the night away. This type of scene is seen many times again of the shows 50 years.

A major feature of this story is the Post Office Tower, a then newly opened skyscraper in London and a very identifiable feature of the skyline. When I went to London last year, this was the first major landmark I saw that related specifically to Doctor Who. I was quite slack jawed and in awe of it. I just kept pointing at it and saying "It's the Post Office Tower!" and as I looked around for rogue War Machines.

Series 3 ended as turbulently as it began. With the loss of 5 companions, 2 of which dying, the family unit from the first season is long gone. The stories went further, were more ambitious, had great victories and deeper heart breaking losses. It had become more evident of William Hartnell's ailing health, as his tenure was coming to end. While this last story of the season would more typically have been the Doctor's swan song with the as-yet-unnamed regeneration at the end of the episode, William Hartnell starts season 4 with two more stories.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_Machines

Next non-existent episode: The Smugglers!

26. The Savages

As it begins, so shall it end. In the second episode of the season, we said good bye to Vicki. And here in the second last episode of the season, we say good bye to Steven. The Doctor and company stage another revolution and leaves Steven behind to clean up the mess. Thanks Doc!

The real tragedy of The Savages is that none of its footage still exists. Another piece of television history lost forever. The audio recording is a treat to listen to with the final moments between the Doctor and Steven really touching.

While I am focusing on the television episodes for the purposes of this blog, I must mention the audio 'The Five Companions' by Big Finish (www.bigfinish.com). In it, the 5th Doctor is reunited with a Steven Taylor later in his life. Steven confesses that he always hoped and wished the Doctor would come back to visit him on the planet of the Savages. It was a heart touching scene over 45 years in the making, and was one of many great scenes on the audio. Another gem of a scene is when Steven and Ian meet each other again after many years, having co-starred in one episode in 1965. Of course the reunion wouldn't be complete without a Dalek!

While we aren't able to see Steven's departure, I am reminded of another departure some 20 years in the future when a young red-headed boy left the Doctor to return home something of a hero after the Doctor rescued him from a prison exile, on the eve of the Doctor's impending regeneration. The beauty of Doctor Who is the cycles it runs, that sometimes history does repeat itself, and the joy of looking back at 50 years, we can revel in its greatness.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Savages_(Doctor_Who)

Next in the exciting season finale: The War Machines!

25. The Gunfighters

I don't like The Gunfighters. There, I said it. I wouldn't say I hate this story but out of 50 years of Doctor Who stories, this is my least favorite episode. I've never been a fan of Westerns, which I'm not sure if it's because of this story or not (see- the chicken and the egg paradox).

It was one of the last VHS tapes to be released and after many years of not seeing it, I still didn't like it. Then most recently it was released on DVD and I hoped that with it being remastered and with rose colored nostalgia glasses, I might like it more. Well, I don't.

Don't get me wrong. I cherish it as a surviving piece of film with William Hartnell and showcases the talents of Peter Purves and Jackie Lane as Steven and Dodo, respectively. It's an amusing story and a bit farcical. It's just the setting that I just don't like. This story could be any place else and any when else, and I'd probably love it 100% more. It's similar to my aversion to True Blood.

When I heard there was a Western in the latest season of Doctor Who with Matt Smith, I shuddered. I started having bad flashback to this story and my fear of the new episode becoming akin to it. Thankfully it wasn't that bad and it's not at the bottom of my list although I don't frequently rewatch it like the other episodes.

With only one complete and one partial story left with the 1st Doctor, I will force myself to enjoy this precious screen time from the amazing era of Doctor Who.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gunfighters

Next exciting episode: The Savages!

24. The Celestial Toymaker

The Celestial Toymaker really takes Doctor Who outside his box. For the first time, we meet an alien more powerful than the TARDIS. The Doctor is essentially at the Toymakers mercy and has to play his games. Up to this point, the Doctor has gone up against rather human adversaries in history and credible alien threats. But we now are introduced to a being verging on the god like.

William Hartnell is invisible for most of the story as he was probably in vacation for most of the filming. We're left with Steven and Dodo in some very mod clothing from the TARDIS wardrobe. The Toymaker pits them against some of his outrageous game pawns.

Only the 4th episode of this story still exists and show the final showdown between the Doctor and crew against the Toymaker. It's a great taste of this story but it reminds us of what a shame it is that the whole story doesn't exist. The story ends with the Doctor biting a piece of candy and getting a toothache leading to our next adventure....

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Celestial_Toymaker

Next adventure: The Gunfighters!!

23. The Ark

After the massacre of The Massacre and the Doctor picking up young Dodo, we find ourselves on the Ark with the last survivors of Earth. Of course the survivors are wearing shammy rags and sandals and have enslaved an alien race call the Monoids. Some earth habits die hard.

Dodo brings a cold on the ship and infects everyone to the point of death. A cure is found and everyone is lives. And that's only the end of episode two! The story takes an interesting turn when the TARDIS crew travels 700 years. They find that the human race are now passive slaves to the Monoids! Turnabout is fair play! Of course the Doctor helps the humans defeat their former slaves and saves humanity.

This is a great first episode for Dodo that really sets her apart from the previous girl companions. She's not alien, she's more modern with street cred, and she questions and doubts everything. She is a welcomed fresh breathe of air.

The other interesting plot twist is that this is essentially two stories over 4 episodes. Allowing the TARDIS to jump ahead 700 years, you get to see the consequences of one's action.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ark_(Doctor_Who)

Next episode: The Celestial Toymaker!!