The Web Planet

Production: N

Airdates: February 13 - March 20, 1965

The TARDIS materializes on the planet Vortis, a world with a rarified atmosphere and a population of alien insects.  The time travelers are drawn into a conflict with the inhabitants, all being manipulated by an outside force.

This six parter was a tough one to get through and John isn't shy to point this out, but that's about all he can say about it.  What do you think of the story?  Perhaps you have a different opinion.  Leave your thoughts here and perhaps you can show John the error of his ways.

Current Rankings

1 - Dalek Invasion of Earth

2 - Marco Polo

3 - The Daleks

4 - The Aztecs

5 - The Romans

6 - An Unearthly Child

7 - The Reign of Terror

8 - Edge of Destruction

9 - The Rescue

10 - Planet of Giants

11- Keys of Marinus

12 - The Sensorites

13 - The Web Planet

The Romans

Production: M

Airdates: January 16 - February 6, 1965

The TARDIS takes the time travelers to ancient Rome where Ian and Barbara are captured as slaves while the Doctor and Vicki are guests of Nero.  The Doctor is mistaken for a murdered musician and enrages Nero with his performance in Nero's court.  It all leads up to the burning the Rome.  Can the travelers escape their situation and return to the TARDIS?

It's Doctor Who's first stab at a comedy, but is it straight comedy or more like dark comedy? In any event, this is a favorite of John's and he enthuses about it on this episode. Do you agree? Let us know here.

"The Rescue"

Production: L

Airdates: January 2-9, 1965

The Doctor has left Susan behind on a future Earth, recovering from Dalek occupation.  He appears to be even more distracted than usual.  And then the TARDIS lands on the planet Dido, a world the Doctor visited once before.  There, he, Ian and Barbara find the wreck of downed space ship and the two survivors who are being terrorized by Koquilion, an inhabitant of the planet.

This story sets up the introduction of Vicki, as played by Maureen O'Brien.  She will join the TARDIS and while the producers were looking for her to be a replacement for Susan, she is clearly much more than that.  Take a listen and see if you agree with the assessment of the episode overall and where it places in the ranking.

Current Rankings

1 - Dalek Invasion of Earth

2 - Marco Polo

3 - The Daleks

4 - The Aztecs

5 - An Unearthly Child

6 - The Reign of Terror

7 - Edge of Destruction

8 - The Rescue

9 - Planet of Giants

10 - The Keys of Marinus

11 - The Sensorites

Production: J

Airdates: October 31 - November 14, 1964

The TARDIS doors open suddenly in mid-flight causing the dimensions of the vessel to change.  When the crew emerges in modern day England, they find themselves the size of insects in a planet of giants.  Add to that, there's a murder mystery that they become involved in.  How can they solve it and bring the murderer to justice in their diminutive state?

It's the first episode of the second series of Doctor Who from 1964.  This was supposed to be the first story in the series proper and it's a good thing it wasn't as it's as short in its content as the time travelers.  Take a listen to this brief review and let us know what you think of it by leaving a comment here.

The first series of Doctor Who comes to an end and there's a lot to praise in this final story, "The Reign of Terror".  But do the parts worthy of praise equal a whole satisfying story?  And what of the two animated parts?  Do they work with the flow of the rest of the story?  And what conclusion did John come to when it comes to the historicals?  It's all here in a new review episode.  Stay tuned for the start of the second series.

Current Rankings

1 - Marco Polo

2 - The Daleks

3 - The Aztecs

4 - An Unearthly Child

5 - The Reign of Terror

6 - Edge of Destruction

 7 - The Keys of Marinus

8 - The Sensorites

The TARDIS lands on an Earth vessel trapped in orbit about the Sense Sphere.  The inhabitants are hesitant about discussing the Sensorites who are holding them in place and the Doctor and his companions quickly learn about the xenophobic aliens and their strange world.  This is a story that John is of mixed feelings about.  There is much to laud in the first half of the story, but the second half lets the story down.  Take a listen and find out the good and the bad and where it plays out in the rankings.

Current Rankings

1 - Marco Polo

2 - The Daleks

3 - The Aztecs

4 - An Unearthly Child

5 - Edge of Destruction

 6 - The Keys of Marinus

7 - The Sensorites

After almost a year, John returns with his brief looks at the "classic" Doctor Who series.  We pick things up with "The Aztecs", a fantastic first season story that asks the question most time travelers wonder, what would you change about the past if you could and would you be able?  Barbara is given the opportunity when she is mistaken for an Aztec god.  For her, it's the perfect opportunity to end some of the barbaric behavior of the Aztecs, but for others, it's an opportunity to jockey for power and in doing so, endangers the lives of the time travelers.  Take a listen and let John know what you think.

Current Rankings

He's spoken of his love for the series for many years on various podcasts.  Now, host John S. Drew takes you along his personal journey through time and space to explore each and every episode of the cult television series, Doctor Who.  In the first episode, John looks at "An Unearthly Child" and points out that while it's not all that great a story, it is still a story that is essential to the entire core of who the Doctor is.

Play along with John and watch "The Daleks", the next story to be reviewed by watching on Hulu or on DVD.