An Unearthly Child

I was excited as I sat down to watch the first ever Doctor Who story created. I had just finished the pilot and could not wait to begin a fresh journey into the beginnings of canon Who. The first few seconds left me with a feeling of deja vu, but as soon as the camera reaches the slightly revised TARDIS, I'm aware of how different this tale will be. At various points I noticed things that have been improved and periodically the things that have become worse. The character of Susan, who was merely bizarre in the opening, is now a genuine character. The school teacher's motivations make a bit more sense. The Doctor is a bit more likable and most importantly, this story has a much faster plot.

The first half of the pilot has become the first quarter of episode one. Mysterious scenes at the school are shortened and most of the episode takes place in the TARDIS and the junkyard it is located in. We are greeted by a marvelously designed console room that carries the dialogue well. The scene does not fall into total chaos nearly as quickly as it did in the pilot and the dematerialization sequence is lengthened and the famous sound effect is now in the foreground. Interestingly, you can see that the Doctor is younger at this point. He still clings to the time lord concept of noninterference and thus justifies kidnapping the history and science teachers. The shadow falling across the sand leaves everyone on the edge of their seat, dying to see what sort of monster is on this strange planet the Doctor has taken the group to. The credits roll and I am still hooked.

The disappointment comes in when it turns out that in fact that the "monster" is merely a caveman. Or possibly a hippie in need of a shower. The opening scene in the TARDIS reveals that the representatives of the education system have been knocked unconscious somehow but Susan and the Doctor (presumably adjusted to time travel) are standing, but look slightly stunned. (They haven't been anywhere in five months.) The Doctor argues with Ian about whether or not it's all a trick and it feels forced and over extended. The point is proven when they find themselves outside presumably on Earth (no one actually says that they are on Earth) a million years B.C. The caveman attacks and kidnaps the Doctor and Susan immediately goes into a frenzy. Unfortunately from this point on, and through out the serial's remaining episodes, the Doctor becomes a background character. Helpful and with plenty of good scenes but the driving force becomes the younger folks attempt to return to the ship and go home. Unfortunately, even that plot is swallowed by the dull story of a power struggle between the two cavemen Za and Kal. The macguffin to that story is fire. Fire that the leader of the tribe must create in order for the other cavemen to survive.

There is a variety of well executed chase scenes and not so well executed dramatic scenes that make up the majority of the following two episodes. It feels like the characters are stuck in a loop. Escape, get caught, escape, get caught. Until finally they do escape at which point the Doctor again becomes the story's central figure. He resumes his firm position about letting our "heroes" go back to their own time and a debate begins but before this action can finish they arrive somewhere else and they go to rest and clean up. Susan checks the radiation meter which reads all clear until she walks away. Then it begins to detect enormously high levels and flash "DANGER." And so the curtain falls on the final installment of the first complete Doctor Who serial.

One is left fascinated by the first episode, confused and disappointed by the second and third and impatient for the following broadcast. All in all "An Unearthly Child" is an wobbly start for so fascinating a series. The first episode has the air of a thriller and could be called what science fiction would look like if Hitchcock were to approach the genre. The story of the cavemen feels like a truly awful Twilight Zone story but without the Rod Serling twist that program was so famous for. However, dull as it was, it has left me eager for it's sequel. And that is on it's way...

3 out of 5 TARDIS.

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