Unwilling Adventurer

K and C’s favourite Hartnell era moments/scenes.

Vicki and Ian go exploring.

Just the best. Ian promises to look after Vicki and she leads him off to explore the desert planet with so much enthusiasm. Like an older brother, Ian teases her constantly and indulges her curiousity and imagination. This is really the first episode that plays on the Ian/Vicki dynamic and it’s lovely.

there’s lots of fun and banter and the adorable scene where Ian tries to pull the ring from the sand and Vicki tells him about the stories from her childhood about castles and drawbridges. When Ian pulls the ring and it comes loose and into his hand, he raises the ring into the air and exclaims ‘Excalibur!’, which we absolutely love for obvious reasons *cough Lancelot* 

And then they meet the mire beasts and when Vicki gets scared, Ian calls her a little fool and in return she calls him a ‘nit’ when he freezes from fear. the whole thing is perfect. William Russell and Maureen O’Brien have such chemistry and in the Chase commentary, Maureen comments on how much she likes those scenes the two of them had together. Someone else on the commentary is talking about how you can see the set dressing and Maureen says something like ‘I wouldn’t notice that, I’m looking at the people and what they’re doing and the storytelling, if you always notice those little things then you’re not watching it properly.’ or something along those lines. How true. 

K and C’s favourite Hartnell era moments/scenes.

Ian the loyal protector.

IAN: Oh, we’ve got one consolation - we’re all together again.
DOCTOR: Yes, but I don’t mind admitting, I…feel rather exhausted after all that experience.
IAN: Well, why don’t you go down and have a rest?

In the Chase, Ian is still his dutiful self. One moment we really like is when they have got Vicki back and the four of them are by the cave. Barbara and Vicki are asleep and they are all exhausted and worried about the Daleks on their trail. Ian, knowing the Doctor is tired and anxious, offers to be the one to keep watch. He always will do anything to protect his friends. He waits on his own outside the cave, on guard in case the Daleks arrive and you can see his weary eyes closing before he forces himself to stay awake. 

It’s rather adorable when you realise it’s morning and that he fell asleep, you wonder how long he forced himself to stay awake to defend the others. The Doctor then has to wake him. Also, Ian’s trousers have rolled up and his socks are showing, just cute. Ian’s duty and loyalty to the Doctor and the others has always been one of our favourite things about Ian, sure he cares about other people and species but he would do anything for his team, even if it killed him.

K and C’s Favourite Hartnell era moments/scenes.

Barbara’s compassion for others.

In two separate scenes, one in her first serial and one in her last, are two of our favourite Barbara moments. We’re always hearing that Barbara is weak and scared in An Unearthly Child which in our opinion is a bit harsh. She’s also always said to be a BAMF because she ran over Daleks in a lorry etc but there’s so much more to her than that.

First of all, yes, she is scared in An Unearthly child, yes she is crying and screaming, who wouldn’t be? She’s been kidnapped, taken back in time and is confronted with people who want to kill her. They manage to finally escape but have cavemen chasing them and she is lost, tired and covered in animal blood. When they have a chance to get to the TARDIS, Barbara is the one who despite being the most scared, wants to stay and help injured Za- A man who may have killed her. But she doesn’t care about that or getting home, she says to Ian : “These are human beings Ian.” 

And in the Chase, the Aridians are scared and have decided to hand the team over to the Daleks (Let’s face it probably to be exterminated) and yet when the Mire beast begins to attack and one of the Aridians is grabbed by the beast, it is Barbara again who rushes to his aid and tries to pull him free and once again it’s the Doctor who wants to go on and not help. He has to forcefully remove Barbara and shove her up the stairs whilst she’s screaming that she needs to help. She tries to help people no matter who they are or what they’ve done. She tried to rescue someone who was going to hand her over to be killed.

So there’s more to Barbara than being a BAMF and there’s more to a character than when they cry and scream. There’s overcoming the fears to do what you can in a bad situation.

K and C’s favourite Hartnell era moments/Scenes

Ian is separated from Barbara.

In the Rescue, Ian and Barbara are separated by Koquillion when he causes the explosion that brings down the cave, blocking the entrance. After the Doctor helps Ian who is rather disorientated and nearly knocked out, Ian rushes to the entrance and is shocked that Barbara is not there. He heard her scream and it’s so sweet the way he begins clawing at the rubble, frantically trying to get to her, even though its pretty impossible.

The Doctor has to calm him down and snap him out of it. Ian is breathing like a madman and he’s stressed and keeps looking at the rubble, worried sick about Barbara. The Doctor uses humour to relax Ian slightly. He manages to get Ian to explain what has happened so far and Ian explains about Koquillion and the jeweled club.  The Doctor pretty much forces Ian to get up and carry on.

DOCTOR: Now look here, what about Barbara, are you alright? Are you capable?
IAN: Yes I’m not too bad.
DOCTOR: Come along! Don’t just sit there my dear boy, stand up; stand up. Come along, that’s it, mind your head, it’s only dust,

DOCTOR: No bones broken? Eh?
IAN: Thank you Doctor, that’s the most thorough going medical I’ve ever had!
DOCTOR: Yes, it’s a pity I didn’t get that degree isn’t it?

Just a wonderful scene between the Doctor and Ian.

K and C’s favourite Hartnell era moments/scenes

Ian and Barbara have a barney.

After getting along okay aboard the TARDIS when they’re clothes were removed…and replaced again upon arriving at the Space Museum (that doesn’t sound the way we intended); the mood herein seemed to change.  Ian and Barbara seem really pissed off with each other. Ian talks about the dark side of the moon, Barbara snaps, and as we’re guessing it’s not because Barbara hates Pink Floyd that there must be something annoying her about Mr. Chesterton. Ian keeps snapping back and moaning at her and they spend the early scenes giving each other evil glares and sly glances.

Ian even walks with Vicki through the museum and not with Barbara at all.  We’re assuming that this little subtle fight between them makes it more believable when they get into the heated argument later on but we just always find it amusing how they keep looking at each other and then quickly looking away.

And then they have their fight and Vicki’s in the background like ‘Oh shut up Mum and Dad, let’s start the revolution!’. After that Ian seems a lot more relaxed because he whips off Barbara’s cardigan and inspiration strikes…

K and C’s favourite Hartnell era moments/scenes.

Ian and Barbara in the lab.

So in Planet of Giants after Ian has swept Barbara into his arms after she fainted, he waits for her to wake up. It’s adorable as he simply watches her and then carefully looks after her as she regains consciousness. Even though Barbara’s like ‘I’m fine Ian, stop fussing,’ he still has his sense of protectiveness and honour. 

He seems genuinely concerned for her when she starts panicking about the fly, unfortunately he’s clueless as to why she’s upset but we think this is because being in the lab has reminded him of home and Coal Hill and he’s saddened by it. He even mentions the litmus paper that he held in his hands; so he honestly doesn’t notice Barbara has problems, even though to us it’s obvious. Of course Barbara should have told him and when he finds out how ill she is, he’s devastated that she didn’t confide in him and he also blames himself. Whereas the others want to go on despite her illness and stop the DN6 project, Ian just wants to get to the TARDIS and save Barbara’s life.

K and C’s favourite Hartnell era moments/scenes

Family moments aboard the TARDIS.

The first episode or two of the Web Planet has some really lovely character moments for the team. There’s Ian and Barbara playing like husband and Wife as Ian teases her and then she worries as he and the Doctor plan to go outside to explore.  You have Vicki feeling ill and Barbara taking care of her. This has a great scene in which Vicki and Barbara bond and discuss their different educational systems in their own times. Vicki insults Barbara accidentally but Barbara just jokes about it, trying not to be too annoyed with the precocious teen.  This is also the scene where Vicki notices the bracelet that Nero gave Barbara and she wonders if it’s a present from Ian. What does Vicki know?

And then we get the duo partnership of Ian and the Doctor, which is one of our favourites as like a Dad and his son-in-law they argue and joke with one another but dutifully protect one another.

Just love these team moments that the First era had so many of.

K and C’s favourite Hartnell era moments/scenes.

Steven’s skepticism.

In the Time Meddler, Steven is a new traveller and is having a tough time accepting what’s in front of him.  We love Steven’s first few scenes because not only do they tell us so much about Steven but they tell us so much about the Doctor and his change in behaviour and attitude. Think back to An Unearthly Child and Ian is telling him that time travel is impossible. The Doctor is completely condescending, nasty and patronising. With Steven he sort of finds it charming, amusing and not any bother to him anymore. It seems that Ian and Barbara (and Vicki) have changed him so that he can now understand where his companions are coming from (of course he can tease Steven whilst he’s at it) and see that they may have doubts and questions.

Vicki is rather smug that she knows the truth and is waiting for Steven to realise he’s wrong and it’s all rather amusing and sweet.  Steven really doesn’t want to let it go, he’s convinced that there’s some sort of fancy dress and role playing going on to explain things. One of our favourite quotes:

STEVEN: (about the TARDIS) If it landed on the beach against the cliffs, it’d take on the appearance of a large rock?
DOCTOR: Yes, yes, yes, yes, but you do keep on don’t you! Hmm!

STEVEN: Do you wonder why I don’t believe you? You know that large rock over there looks exactly like a Police telephone box.
VICKI: That is merely another technical hitch and the Doctor will repair it one day.

K and C’s favourite Hartnell era scenes/moments:

Ian and Larry/Barbara and Jenny.

We always loved these relationships that build up through six part stories, it’s something that we feel is lost in shorter stories.  Ian and Barbara are pretty much split up from everyone this serial and it’s great to see them interact with some other great characters. Firstly Ian and Larry who meet on the Dalek ship, escape together, look out for each other and become friends. Ian is clearly touched when Larry pays for his food and when Larry is injured, he wants Ian to go on alone for a better chance but Ian doesn’t, he stays behind and helps him.  Larry wants to find his brother and when it ends in tragedy, Ian is shocked and hesitates for a moment or two. We feel he lost a great friend.

And Barbara and Jenny’s relationship came from a prickly beginning to a mutual respecting friendship. Jenny didn’t want to get to know anyone because she didn’t want to lose anyone again so she put on a front that she was cold and uncaring, but Barbara uncovered Jenny’s facade with her own kindness and determination to go on and do whatever you can whilst helping other people. When Jenny was upset over Dortmun’s sacrifice, Barbara convinced her that he wasn’t selfish and that he did it for them. Interestingly Jenny was considered as a choice of companion but think they wanted someone younger for the youth audience. The actress was also one of Jacqueline Hill’s best friends right up until her death so the two of them clearly were great together on and off screen.

We really liked Larry and Jenny and also Dalek Invasion has some other wonderful characters such as Tyler, Dortmun, Craddock, Ashton, Wells and David; it’s a real survival character piece.

K and C’s favourite Hartnell era moments/scenes

Antodus and the cliffhanger.

Now what makes this a great scene for us is that we’ve invested much of the episodes previous getting to know Antodus and it’s clear from when they began the trek that he was reluctant and vulnerable. So as soon as they start jumping the chasm we already know that Antodus is most likely the one who is going to fall and he does…

Now, Ian is rather abrupt and harsh with Antodus before he goes to jump. Ian has not realised that Antodus does not want to go and meet the Daleks and possibly die at their hands so he is resisting and fighting with himself about what he wants to do. Ian rather rushes him and then Antodus plunges down the cliff and hangs on by the rope, pulling Ian down with him.  Of course Ian is clinging on the edge for dear life and all he can do in his panic is shout at Antodus to do what he can to try and get onto the rock face, he doesn’t realise that Antodus simply can’t. When Antodus cuts the rope and falls, Ian stares at the rope, devastated that he couldn’t save him.

What’s interesting about the scene is the way in which you look at Antodus’ actions.  You could say he was a hero who cut the rope to save Ian. Personally we think he was in fact cutting the rope to save ‘himself’, sure he saves Ian in the process but we think Antodus just gave up, was too scared and purposely jumped with the intention to not make it, not that it’s a bad thing. Antodus was too afraid to continue the journey and so he just gave up…it’s really moving. In fact in the film version when they had Antodus survive, we were disappointed because it had no real meaning anymore.

Perhaps we’re dark kind of people but we like stories where characters die and the others learn from it. And this was a very tense scene, the build up is great. Even though you know he is going to fall it still shocks you when he does.