Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 23 "The Second Doctor In Review"

Notes: Taking over for William Hartnell was a risky venture. But to continue the series it was necessary. Patrick ultimately decided to play the Doctor as a sort of flute playing 'cosmic hobo'. If he wouldn't have been able to pull it off so well, it's unlikely Doctor Who would still be around today. It's also evident the current Doctor, played by Matt Smith, has taken on a lot of Troughton's mannerisms. Like the first Doctor, this incarnation also had trouble steering the Tardis and operating many of the controls. Some of the mystery surrounding the Doctor fades towards the end of Patrick Troughton's tenure as the Time Lords are introduced as his 'people', though the name Gallifrey is to be given to his home planet. Patrick loved playing the Doctor (despite a gruelling schedule) and likely would have continued if not for his manager and wife who both urged him to move on so not to be type-cast. At the end of the War Games, the Time Lords capture the Doctor and put him on trial for breaking their rule of non-intervention. The Doctor points out how he has actually helped people. As punishment, the Time Lords take his companions away, force him into a regeneration and maroon him on Earth, with his knowledge of the Tardis taken from him.
Name: The Doctor (Second) 1966-1969
Actor: Patrick Troughton
03/25/1920 - 03/28/1987
Occupation: Time Traveller
First Seen: Earth, 1986 (Inside the Tardis)
First Episode: Power of the Daleks (Season 4)
Last Seen: Gallifrey, (year unspecified)
Last Episode: War Games (Season 6)
Special Appearance: The Three Doctors (1972-1973), The Five Doctors (1983), The Two Doctors (1985)


Notes: When the Doctor initially regenerated, Ben had a hard time believing it was the same person. He noted not only did the Doctor look different, he acted different as well. It wasn't till much later he finally accepted the truth. Much like Ian and Steven did with the first Doctor, Ben was the central action male. During his travels with the Doctor he continued to watch over Polly and their friendship strengthened. At the end of the 'Faceless Ones' adventure, he realized the date was the same as when he originally left with the Doctor. Though asking the Doctor if he would still need his assistance, he left with Polly.
Name: Ben Jackson 1966-1967
Actor: Michael Craze
November 29th 1942 - December 7th 1998
Occupation: Navy
First Seen: (With the second Doctor) Earth, 1986
First Episode: Power of the Daleks (Season 4)
Last Seen: Earth, 1966 (Same day he originally met the Doctor)
Last Episode: the Faceless Ones (Season 4)


Notes: Unlike Ben, Polly was more open to accepting the Doctor at his word when he said he was the same person. She may have seemed like another pretty face, and admittedly had her screaming moments, she was very intelligent and on several occasions proved her worth as an assistant. Her friendship with Ben grew while on-board the Tardis though it's unclear in the series if they became a couple during or after the travels in the Tardis. She enjoyed travelling with the Doctor as much as Ben did, but when he decided to leave, she went with him.
Name: Polly 1966-1967
Actress: Anneke Wills
October 20th 1941 -
Occupation: Personal Assistant
First Seen: (With the second Doctor) Earth, 1986
First Episode: Power of the Daleks (Season 4)
Last Seen: Earth, 1966 (Same day she originally met the Doctor)
Last Episode: the Faceless Ones (Season 4)


Notes: When the Doctor first met Victoria she was a captive of the Daleks. Her father was experimenting in time travel and that caught the Daleks attention. She was rescued by the Doctor and when her father was killed by the Daleks, she agreed to join the Doctor, who promised her father he'd look after her. Victoria was mainly a screamer, though her screams were the key to destroying at least one menace. Jamie had a particular fondness for her and looked over her as best he could. Despite the love she felt from both the Doctor and Jamie, she longed for a simple life once more. When the opportunity arouse, Victoria decided to stay on Earth with a family who agreed to take her in.
Name: Victoria Waterfield 1967-1968
Actress: Deborah Watling
January 2nd 1948 -
Occupation: Civilian
First Seen: Skaro, 1866 (From Earth, though held captive by the Daleks)
First Episode: Evil of the Daleks (Season 4)
Last Seen: England, circa 1968
Last Episode: Fury From the Deep (Season 5)
Special Appearance: Dimensions In Time (1993), Downtime (1995)


Notes: When Jamie began travelling with the Doctor, he had no knowledge of technology as we know it. You can imagine how he might have reacted to knowledge of such highly advanced technology such as a Tardis. Perhaps it was a reason he travelled with the Doctor for as long as he did, trying to take in all there was to learn. Though he was always perplexed by our strange modern inventions, he was quick to accept them. With Ben's departure, Jamie became the main 'action' hero. He was fearless and courageous and did his best to look after both Victoria and Zoe. When Patrick Troughton decided to leave the series, Frazer also figured it would be a good time to depart. So, during the War Games, he was slated to leave. Jamie is one of two to have the distinction of being the first to visit the Doctors home planet. (Outside of Susan of course). The Time Lords returned Jamie back home, with his memory wiped of the time he spent with the Doctor, besides the first adventure.
Name: Jamie McCrimmon 1966-1969
Actor: Frazer Hines
September 22, 1944 -
Occupation: Highlander Piper
First Seen: Earth, 1746
First Episode: the Highlanders (Season 4)
Last Seen: Gallifrey (though unnamed) and returned to Earth, 1746
Last Episode: the War Games (Season 6)
Special Appearance: The Five Doctors (1983), The Two Doctors (1985)


Notes: There is never any mention of the exact date Zoe is from, but it is is sometime in the 21st century. She couldn't be more different from Jamie in many ways. Unlike Jamie she is from the future and has an intelligence rivalling the Doctors (at least she likes to think so.) Unlike many of the Doctors female companions she wasn't much of a screamer (though did on occasion), and was able to help the Doctor solve whatever was puzzling them. When Frazer and Patrick decided to leave the series, Wendy decided it was also her time to move on. After the Doctor was captured by the Time Lords she was returned back to her own time-line with her memory wiped of the time she spent with the Doctor, besides her first adventure.
Name: Zoe Heriot 1968-1969
Actress: Wendy Padbury
December 07, 1947 -
Occupation: Scientist (astrophysicist)
First Seen: 21st Century Space Station
First Episode: the Wheel In Space (Season 5)
Last Seen: Gallifrey (though unnamed) and returned to the 21 Century Space Station
Last Episode: the War Games (Season 6)
Special Appearance: The Five Doctors (1983)


NEXT: "I Shaw My Dolly Move" [IN COLOUR]

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 16 "The Faceless Ones"

Chameleon Boys
The Tardis crew land at Gatewick airport in the year 1966. Upon exiting the Tardis they see an airplane heading for them as they have landed on the runway. Security immediately chase them and they get split up. But some of the airport staff are not what they seem. They have been taken over by an alien race of Chameleons. The Chameleons are horribly scarred and are 'stealing' human identities.

While the Doctor catches up with Jamie, Polly has her own adventure when she witnesses a murder. She meets up with the Doctor briefly and lets him know what's going on, but is shortly captured by the aliens. Ben also meets up with the Doctor till he is captured. For the most part, it's the last we see of Ben and Polly till the story ends and they say goodbye.

The Doctor and Jamie soon discover Chameleon Tours is a cover for the aliens who have been kidnapping youths. Jamie befriends Samantha Briggs, who is looking for her brother. He recently took a tour with Chameleon Tours and is now missing. Jamie and Samantha become fast friends. It's obvious Samantha (played by Pauline Collins) was being groomed to be the next companion but the actress turned the offer down.

Trying to resolve the case is difficult when no one will believe the Doctor, especially the Commandant of the airport. Finally, Detective Inspector Crossland shows up and listens to the Doctor. Crossland is looking for his colleague, who just happens to have been the man murdered. At Crossland's urging, the Commandant finally listens to the Doctor.

The Doctor smuggles his way onto the alien satellite orbiting the Earth, where the 50,000 young people from all over the world are being stored. He turns the aliens against each other as well as threatening them into giving up. The Doctor promises to grant them safe passage home, with a few tips to cure their condition if they return all the captured people. The aliens agree and Ben and Polly are reunited with the Doctor. When they find out it's the exact day they left, they opt to stay behind.

WHO: Ben Jackson

DEPARTURE LOCATION: Earth, circa 1966

REASON FOR DEPARTURE: Decides to stay behind when he learns it's the exact same day he and Polly left, though he tells the Doctor he'll stay with him if the Doctor needs him to.


WHO: Polly

DEPARTURE LOCATION: Earth, circa 1966

REASON FOR DEPARTURE: Decides to stay on Earth with Ben.







NEXT: Victorian Evil

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 15 "The Highlanders"

There Can Be Only One - Or Three
The Tardis lands in the year 1746 in a Culloden Moor, during the battle of Culloden. To make it simple, it's a battle between the 'Red Coats' and the 'Highlanders'. As you'll recall, when Doctor Who began, it was mainly for children and a goal was to teach about History and Science. Much of that changed when the Daleks were introduced. The futuristic stories quickly became more popular than the historical ones. As a result, 'The Highlanders' was the last story written with a pure historical setting.

The problem with reviewing the episode 'The Highlanders' is it's one of the many stories destroyed by the BBC from their library to make room for newer shows. Despite the purge, many episodes have survived, or at least parts of the episodes. This is one case where nothing remains but a few minutes. What does remain are scenes cut by foreign countries who disliked the fighting scenes; it was a 'childrens' show after all.

This time it's Ben who decides he wants to explore. Before long they run into a small group of Higlanders on the run from the army. Two of the group are named Jamie and Kirsty. Polly befriend Kirsty and the two go for water. Meanwhile, the Doctor, Ben and Jamie are captured by the army. Wishing to quickly end the matter, the Sergeant orders all men to be hung.

The Doctor and group are saved from the nooses, only to discover they are to be sold as slaves. The Doctor manages to escape, impersonating a German 'Doctor Wer'. With the help of Kirsty and Polly, the Doctor is able to free the prisoners being illegally sold into slavery with a little help from a reluctant Lieutenant Ffinch. With all his friends gone, and no where else to go, Jamie is invited aboard the Tardis.

WHO: Jamie McCrimmon
PLANET OF ORIGIN: Earth, 1746
REASON FOR JOINING: Polly invites him to join the Tardis crew. The Doctor concurs.








NEXT: Chameleon Boys

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 14 "The Power of The Daleks"

The Power of Regeneration
The Doctor has survived (sort of) his first encounter with the Cybermen. Instead of using the term regeneration, the Doctor calls his change a 'renewal'. Ben is sceptical, but Polly takes him at his word. However, no rest for the weary as the next adventure takes the Tardis crew to the planet Vulcan, an Earth colony. It isn't long before they run into trouble and a dead body.

The dead person is an examiner from Earth, sent to investigate a dead alien space-craft which has been found on the planet. The Doctor assumes the role of the Examiner to do his own investigation. Sneaking onto the space-craft, the Doctor's hunch is right and he discovers several inanimate Daleks. What makes matters worse is one of the Daleks is missing!

Lesterson is the chief scientist in charge of the space-craft and has been testing one of the Daleks. He believes the Daleks can be used as servants. Things seem to be going according to plan as Lesterson only gives the Dalek partial power and has taken away the Dalek gun. To further convince him, the Dalek assures him he's his servant. The Doctor sees through this and explains to Ben & Polly the Dalek is really the one in charge.

The Doctor continues to warn Lesterson about the Daleks, but his warning falls on deaf ears. Lesterson refuses to believe the Daleks are anything other than what they claim, servants. But the Daleks are no fools, while one of the Daleks continues to claim its servitude the rest of the Daleks have been busy reproducing. Also, they now have enough power stored up to move about freely.

Finally, Lesterson over-hears the Daleks conspiring and finds the assembly line of Daleks. Realizing he has been wrong the entire time, Lesterson goes crazy. He believes fighting the Daleks is futile and they will now be the dominate life form, taking over for homo-sapiens. He also foolishly belies the Daleks won't kill him because he "gave them life".


The Daleks agree he did give them life, then promptly kill him. But the Doctor has used the distraction to use the colonies power to overload the Daleks and blow them up. The Daleks are destroyed, but at the cost of the colonies power supply. The Doctor decides to make a quick exit before he's given the bill for his damages.


NEXT: There Can Be Only One - Or Three

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 13 "The First Doctor In Review"

Notes: By 1966, William Hartnell was finding it increasingly difficult to continue the role of Dr.Who. He was forgetting lines and the work strain was becoming too much. At one point he was slated to leave the series during the 'Celestial Toymaker', but he continued. When he did leave, the show was doing well enough to continue instead of cancelling. So the producers devised a way to 'renew' his character. At this point in the series, it was not called a regeneration and his home planet of Gallifrey or him being a 'Time Lord' were yet unmentioned. William Hartnell later reprised his role as the Doctor in the 1973 episode, 'The Three Doctors'. In 1983, Richard Hurndall stood in for the character of the first Doctor in the story 'The Five Doctors'.
Name: The Doctor 1963-1966
Actor: William Hartnell
January 08th 1908 - April 23 1975
Occupation: Time Traveller
First Seen: Earth, 1963
First Episode: An Unearthly Child (Season 1)
Last Seen: Earth, 1986
Last Episode: Tenth Planet (Season 4)
Special Appearance: The Three Doctors (1972-1973)


Notes: The Doctor is actually the one who spearheads Susan's departure. Sensing she has fallen in love with David Campbell but unwilling to leave the Doctor's side, he locks her out of the Tardis. Susan and the Doctor meet once more when they are both drawn to the 'Death Zone' on Gallifrey as seen in the episode 'The Five Doctors'. The Doctor has recently stated all the Time-lords died as a result of the time war. Susan was not excluded so she's likely deceased. The actress herself moved on from the series when her character was not as she imagined. Initially she thought Susan would be a more sophisticated and intelligent individual, but the producers wanted her to relate to the children watching the show.
Name: Susan 1963-1964
Actress: Carol Ann Ford
June 08th 1940 -
Occupation: Doctor's Grand-Daughter
First Seen: Earth, 1963
First Episode: An Unearthly Child (Season 1)
Last Seen: Earth, 2164
Last Episode: Daleks Invasion of Earth (Season 2)
Special Appearance: The Five Doctors (1983) & Dimensions In Time (1993)


Notes: As a science teacher, Ian had a hard time believing the Tardis could actually travel in time. However, he became an invaluable asset to the crew. Often he'd take the lead in whatever physical needed to be done. He was also very protective of Barbara, Susan and Vicki. When he finally had the opportunity to return home he took it as he missed sitting in a pub having a pint or watching a cricket match. His friendship with Barbara was very evident though there is never any indication they became a couple within the series. William Russell has reprised his role as Ian several times for a few videos of missing episodes where he fills in the missing parts of the story.
Name: Ian Chesterton 1963-1965
Actor: William Russell
November 19th 1924 -
Occupation: Science Teacher
First Seen: Earth, 1963
First Episode: An Unearthly Child (Season 1)
Last Seen: Earth, 1965
Last Episode: The Chase (Season 2)


Notes: When Barbara became overly curious about one of her students, Susan, she enlisted the aid of fellow teacher and friend Ian to figure out what was so 'unearthly' about her. They followed her to her home - the Tardis. This was how Barbara became involved with the Doctor. Though Ian was initially skeptical, Barbara was quick to accept the Tardis as a time machine. As a history teacher she was quite possibly excited to travel with the Doctor even though her and Ian getting off on the wrong foot with the Doctor. As awkward as their relationship started, she was slightly reluctant to leave the Doctor as she came to grow fond of him as a friend. Still, she was happy to return to Earth with Ian where they continue to remain friends. According to rumours, they are currently professors at Cambridge.
Name: Barbara Wright 1963-1965
Actress: Jacqueline Hill
December 17th 1929 - February 18th 1993
Occupation: History Teacher
First Seen: Earth, 1963
First Episode: An Unearthly Child (Season 1)
Last Seen: Earth, 1965
Last Episode: The Chase (Season 2)


Notes: With Susan leaving the show, the producers wanted someone to fill the role of identifying with children. Initially, thoughts were to add the character Jenny (from Dalek Invasion of Earth), though Vicki was ultimately settled on. Vicki is one of the few companions who was actually rescued by the Doctor, she's certainly the first the Doctor actually invites to travel with him. During her tenure with the Doctor she travels to Earth's past frequently. 64A.D., 1066A.D., 1190A.D. and 1200B.C. where she eventually parted ways after falling in love with Troilus, a Trojan Man. Still, she did have a few adventures in future and contemporary times including spending time on a Dalek ship.
Name: Vicki - 1965
Actress: Maureen O'Brien
June 29th 1943 -
Occupation: Civilian
First Seen: Dido, 2493 (Native of Earth)
First Episode: The Rescue (Season 2)
Last Seen: Earth, circa 1200 B.C.
Last Episode: The Myth Makers (Season 3)


Notes: There seemed to be a basic formula the early Doctor Who episodes tried to maintain. A younger person to identify with children and a young male character to do all the action scenes. Steven filled in for Ian once he left. Vicki was the first to be invited aboard the Tardis but Steven was the first stowaway (and there were several). Interestingly, Steven worked with six of the Doctors companions; Ian, Barbara, Vicki, Katarina, Dodo and Sara (If you are counting her as a companion). He had two run ins with the Daleks and witnessed the death of two companions (Katarina and Sara). After leaving Doctor Who, Peter Purves went on to be a presenter for Blue Peter. Through Blue Peter, several lost clips of Doctor Who have been found including some of the first regeneration scene.
Name: Steven Taylor 1965-1966
Actor: Peter Purves
February 10th, 1939 -
Occupation: Military Astronaut
First Seen: Mechanus, year uncertain - 23rd century. (Native of Earth)
First Episode: The Chase (Season 2)
Last Seen: A distant planet in the distant future.
Last Episode: The Savages (Season 3)


Notes: The shortest 'lived' companion of the Doctor depending on how you look at it, being in only two adventures. She had slightly more than 100 minutes of actual screen time. She was introduced late in the 'Myth Makers' episode and died early on in the 'Daleks Master Plan'. She was not only the quickest to leave the series, she was also the first to leave via a death. Though the concept of her character is interesting, it was difficult to write for a character who understood little of what was going on. In fact, till her death she still believed the Doctor to be a god and the Tardis her journey to the after-life. In the end, she sacrificed herself to save the Doctor and Steven.
Name: Katarina 1965-1966
Actress: Adrienne Hill
July 22, 1937 - October 6th 1997
Occupation: Servant
First Seen: Earth, circa 1200 B.C.
First Episode: Myth Makers (Season 3)
Last Seen: Floating in space over Desperus 4000 A.D.
Last Episode: Daleks Master Plan (Season 3)


Notes: As a security agent for Earth, Sara took her job serious. So serious in fact, when she believe Bret Vyon was a traitor she killed him, though being her brother. Sara learns she has been tricked by the real traitor of the Universe - Mavic Chen and sides with the Doctor to defeat him and the Daleks. There is much debate whether Sara can actually be considered a companion of the Doctor. But what really is a companion of the Doctor other than someone who travels with him? True, Jean Marsh only appeared in the Dalek Master Plan, but within the story she travels with the Doctor in the Tardis from Kembal to England in the 1960's, a silent movie set in the 1920's, the planet Tigus, ancient Egypt and then finally back to Kembal. Quite a bit of travel with the Doctor for someone not a companion. Obviously, I consider her a companion.
Name: Sara Kingdom 1965-1966
Actress: Jean Marsh
July 1st, 1934 -
Occupation: Space Security Agent
First Seen: Earth, 4000 A.D.
First Episode: Daleks Master Plan (Season 3)
Last Seen: Kembel, 4000 A.D.
Last Episode: Daleks Master Plan (Season 3)


Notes: Though not involved in the adventure 'Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Eve', the Doctor and Steven meet a character with the same last name. Steven is initially upset the Doctor leaves the character Anne Chaplet die when they leave. The Doctor insists history must take it's course, but Steven has had enough and claims he's leaving at the next stop. However after Dodo stumbles into the Tardis and reveals her last name the pair wonder if she's a descendant of Anne. Of course that means Anne has a child out of wedlock in the year 1572 or keeps her maiden name. Dodo wanders into the Tardis thinking it's a real police box to report an accident but soon forgets the injured child as she's in wonder of the Tardis. Noticing two policeman approaching the Tardis, Steven urges the Doctor to take off. Dodo decides to travel with the crew, stating no one will miss her. Dodo has several adventures with the Doctor but the character doesn't do well and Jackie Lane's contract was not renewed. As a result, she never finished her final story and sent word to the Doctor (off-screen) she was staying in London to rest.
Name: Dorothea (Dodo) Chaplet - 1966
Actress: Jackie Lane
July 10th 1941
Occupation: Civilian
First Seen: Earth, 1966
First Episode: Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Eve (Season 3)
Last Seen: Earth, 1966
Last Episode: the War Machines (Season 3)


Notes: Another example of someone stumbling into the Tardis without realizing what it actually is. Along with Polly, Ben is returning the Tardis key Dodo gave them to return to the Doctor. With the producers not very happy with Dodo's character, Michael Craze is brought in as one replacement for her. Ben Jackson fits into the Ian/Steven roll perfectly and even fills in for the Doctor when he's incapacitated during the Cybermen adventure, 'The Tenth Planet'. This adventure is so stressful on the Doctor, he is forced to regenerate for the first time. Of the early adventures, Ben is one of only eight others to actually witness the Doctor regenerate.
Name: Ben Jackson 1966-1967
Actor: Michael Craze
November 29th 1942 - December 7th 1998
Occupation: Navy
First Seen: Earth, 1966
First Episode: War Machines (Season 3)
Last Seen: Continues to travel with the second Doctor


Notes: Polly met the Doctor while he's investigating Wotan, she was the personal assistant on duty. For the most part, she meets Ben while taking Dodo out to the local club 'the Inferno'. With Dodo hypnotized by Wotan, the Doctor enlists her and Ben's aid in fighting the super computer. Polly is also hypnotized by Wotan but travels with the Doctor instead of resting up. Like Ian and Barbara, Ben and Polly enter the Tardis crew together and leave the Tardis crew together. Besides the 'War Machines', Polly has two more adventures with the Doctor before he regenerates. As Barbara was quicker to accept the concept of time travel, Polly is quicker to accept the regenerated Doctor as who he claims to be. Polly and Ben continue to travel with the Doctor.
Name: Polly 1966-1967
Actress: Anneke Wills
October 20th 1941 -
Occupation: Personal Assistant
First Seen: Earth, 1966
First Episode: War Machines (Season 3)
Last Seen: Continues to travel with the second Doctor.

Next: The Power of Regeneration

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 12 "The Tenth Planet"

This Body is Wearing a Bit Thin
One of the next episodes has the Tardis land at the South Pole. Ben and Polly are hopeful they can catch a ride back to London, but soon discover they are in 1986, not 1966. Despite the cold weather outside, the Doctor encourages them to dress warmly so they can go out and explore. Shortly they run into a raised periscope from a base hidden beneath them.


Considering it's a South Pole base, it's not surprising the Tardis crew are immediately questioned. Things turn worse when a space capsule the base has been monitoring begins to lose power. The Doctor realizes what is happening but no one takes him seriously. A rogue sister planet of Earth, 'Mondas' is discovered and draining the energy of the space capsule and Earth itself.


The station is soon visited by creatures from Mondas. They call themselves Cybermen and were once human but have replaced all organic parts of themselves (except the brain) with plastic and steel. They have also stripped themselves of all emotions, such as love and empathy but claim to be logical. (It seems they've also lost all knowledge of fashion sense).



As much as he loved playing the Doctor, the strain finally caught up with William Hartnell. In fact, he became so ill before the filming of the third episode of his final story they had to carry on without him. Ben continued speaking for the Doctor and stressed how they didn't need to fight the Cybermen; if they were patient Mondas would draw too much energy from Earth and burn itself out.


The Doctors prediction comes true and Mondas burns itself out. The Cybermen also wither away, as if the enormous draw of energy was too much for them as well. Suddenly the Doctor realizes the stress has finally gotten to him and quickly retreats to the Tardis. With William Hartnell leaving, how do the producers decide to carry on? The answer comes as the Doctor collapses to the floor, suddenly his features begin to change. Ben and Polly are clueless as to what is happening, as are the viewers.


WHO: The Cybermen
PLANET OF ORIGIN: Mondas
GOALS: Self preservation through exploitation of other races.
WEAKNESSES: Their own weapons and home planet being destroyed. (More weakness to be discovered).






IN TWO WEEKS: The Power of the Regeneration

NEXT: The First Doctor in Review

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 11 "The War Machines"

Ben, Polly and the War Machines
After Steven has left the Tardis, the Doctor and Dodo land on Earth in the year 1966. He hears about a new super computer being built and immediately decides to investigate. The machine is called W.O.T.A.N. (Will Operating Thought ANalogue), and is designed to answer any question. Dodo tests it out and asks what 'Tardis' stands for. Surprisingly it knows the answer.

Unknown to everyone, Wotan reaches inside Dodo's head to receive the answer then 'hypnotizes' her. At first she simply seems distracted so the Doctor allows her to go with the office secretary, Polly. At the local club, "The Inferno", they meet Ben. Dodo complains about headaches and suddenly leaves, not telling new-found friend Polly where she is going.

There is certainly problems with Dodo, from a character point of view and a production point of view. The character of Dodo was not well received so Jackie Lane is quite suddenly let go by the BBC, not even allowed to finish the story she is in. In the story, the Doctor figures out she has been hypnotized and breaks her of it. He sends her off to rest, and we never see her again. She ultimately sends word to the Doctor she's done traveling and wants to remain in London.

With Dodo away, the Doctor enlists the aid of Ben and Polly when it is discovered Wotan has been hypnotizing people and building War Machines. Wotan has decided man is not fit to rule the planet so it builds the War Machines to destroy them. The machine is equipped with two guns (which seem more equipped to fight fires) and two large robot arms meant for smashing anything in their way.

The Doctor has devised a way to trap one of the war machines, but Ben is split between helping the Doctor and looking for his new friend Polly, who has also been hypnotized by Wotan. The Doctor convinces him to help destroy Wotan, then find Polly. The reprogrammed War Machine is sent to destroy Wotan and Ben follows it, where he finds Polly and brings her to safety. With the War Machines destroyed, Ben and Polly return to the Tardis to return Dodo's key back to him, but as they enter the Tardis, the Doctor has taken off with Ben and Polly inside.

WHO:Dorothea (Dodo) Chaplet
DEPARTURE LOCATION: Earth, 1966
REASON FOR LEAVING: Decided to stay on Earth and rest after being taken over by Wotan.







WHO: Ben Jackson
PLANET OF ORIGIN: Earth, 1966
REASON FOR JOINING: Wanders into the Tardis to return Dodo's key to the Doctor as he is taking off.








WHO: Polly
PLANET OF ORIGIN: Earth, 1966
REASON FOR JOINING: Wanders into the Tardis to return Dodo's key to the Doctor as he is taking off.








NEXT: This Body is Wearing a Bit Thin