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 19 "Fury From the Deep"

Screams & Screwdrivers
In one of the oddest arrivals, the Tardis plummets from space to land gently floating on water. Instead of taking off, the Doctor rows to shore. Before long, the Doctor discovers a pipeline worth investigating. Thinking he hears something inside he opens a panel with a 'Sonic Screwdriver'. "Never Fails, Neat isn't it? All done by sound waves". This is the first appearance of the Sonic Screwdriver.

While investigating, the Doctor, Jamie and Victoria are being watched. If I were to tell you they are not captured, would you believe me? I didn't think so, of course the photo to the left gives it away. They are taken to a near base and held as prisoners. Victoria complains because they are always in danger. Jamie notes they always arrive on Earth and in England.

Victoria is right, they are in danger once again. This time by seaweed creatures capable of controlling humans or knocking them out via gas they spew from their mouths. Because other bases have suddenly gone quiet and continual dangers, the Doctors help is enlisted despite protests from Robson the man in charge, who continues to grow irate and irrational as the Doctor helps.

When Victoria's scream disables one of the seaweed creatures the Doctor realizes they can be destroyed using high frequency sounds. But Victoria is once more captured, this time by Robson who is under control of the creatures. She's quickly rescued by the Doctor. Once safe, the Doctor cobbles together a device to defeat the seaweed creatures.

The Doctor is ready to take off again but Victoria isn't sure she wants to. She wants a stable environment where she isn't in constant danger. The Doctor gives her till the morning to make up her mind. Jamie tries to convince her to keep travelling but she's made up her mind. In the morning she tearfully waves goodbye to the Doctor and Jamie as they head off for their next adventure.

WHO: Victoria

DEPARTURE LOCATION: Earth, circa 1968

REASON FOR DEPARTURE: Tired of continual travel and being in constant danger.






NEXT: Zoe takes the Wheel

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 18 "The Web of Fear"

A Unit of Fear
A few episodes before, the Tardis crew were in Tibet battling an alien known as the 'Great Intelligence', which used robot Yeti to attack humans. As this story begins the Tardis is flying in space, it's captured mid-flight and drawn to the Earth. Unknown to the Doctor, the 'Great Intelligence' is to blame. The Doctor breaks free and lands on Earth in the London Underground system.

It turns out the 'Great Intelligence' has returned because of Professor Travers. 40 years earlier, he was one who helped defeat the Yeti in Tibet. He foolishly reactivated a control device which brought the 'Great Intelligence' back as well. The Doctor is wanted by the 'Great Intelligence' for his brain and the intelligence he posses. Of course revenge is another reason he is being hunted by the Yeti.

As the Doctor, Jamie and Victoria search the London Underground for answers they come upon the military. The Underground has been shut down and London evacuated so the military can destroy the Yeti. With Professor Travers assistance the Doctor is able to convince the Army, lead by Colonel Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, he is not to blame for the Yeti attacks.

Attempts to blow up the Yeti fail as it seems the army has a traitor who's informing about the attacks. The Yeti simply use strange web-spraying weapons to cover the explosives and render them harmless. Suspicions run rampant as to who could possibly be the informant, or why they would do so. Everyone from the Doctor to Alistair is suspect, which hampers the investigation.

Ironically, one of the actors playing the Yeti later goes on to play Benton, one of the key members of Unit, (more on that later). When the Doctor deduces the 'Great Intelligence' wants to drain his brain, he alters the machine so he'd be able to drain the 'Intelligence'. However his companions rescue him and the machine is destroyed prematurely and the 'Great Intelligence' escapes.

WHO: Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart
PLANET OF ORIGIN: Earth, 1968
REASON FOR JOINING: He doesn't. He stays on Earth and helps form UNIT -United Nations Intelligence Taskforce, which the Doctor later helps out from time to time.





NEXT: Screams and Screwdrivers

Dr. Who (The Early Years) - Part 17 "The Evil of the Daleks"

Victorian Evil
The Doctor and Jamie are still at Gatewick Airport, having just said goodbye to Ben and Polly when they realize the Tardis is being stolen. After asking around, they find out the Tardis has been collected by a local antique dealer, Edward Waterfield. They schedule an appointment to see him but arrive early to scout about. The antiques they find are genuine, but brand new. Jamie says this suggests time travel.

As the Doctor and Jamie scout about they discover a dead body. As the Doctor examines the body it appears the man died in a gruesome fashion, with a horrified face. Further investigation reveals a secret room. The door suddenly opens and the pair walk in with Waterfield watching from a distance. The Doctor investigates a strange device but Jamie sets a trap and they are knocked out with gas. Waterfield steps in and activates the strange device. All three disappear.

The Doctor wakes up to discover he's been transported back in time to the year 1866 and in the house of Theodore Maxtible. Both Maxtible and Waterfield are experimenting with time travel via mirrors and static electricity. The word 'static' immediately peaks the Doctors interest. Maxtible admits they have allies who are working with them but Waterfield calls them monsters and is hesitant.

The Daleks are revealed to be the partners (as if you couldn't tell from the episodes title). They have kidnapped Waterfield's daughter and entice Maxtible with the power of transmutation to keep them working. The Daleks force the Doctor to send Jamie off to rescue Victoria so he can extract the human factor and inject it into the Daleks to help them defeat the humans.

The experiment has limited effect as the 'human factor' essentially turns the Daleks into children who want to play. All Daleks are called back to Skaro and the humans are brought along for further experiments. The Doctor meets the Emperor Dalek who actually wants to install the Dalek factor into humans. The Doctor makes the Emperor believe he has been turned into a Dalek but has instead given the human factor to more Daleks. A civil war is started and the Emperor, along with the Dalek base are seemingly destroyed. Waterfield sacrifices himself to save the Doctor, so the Doctor promises he'll take care of his daughter.

WHO: Victoria Waterfield
PLANET OF ORIGIN: Earth, 1866
REASON FOR JOINING: After her father dies, the Doctor promises to keep Victoria safe.









NEXT: A Unit of Fear