I've complained many times about the treatment of Susan as a character (though not, I am sure, as often as Carole Ann Ford); and finally she gets an episode where she can be the focus of attention for something other than screaming or teenage girliness. She shows her intelligence; she has a key role in the plot; and she's a little bit unearthly. Ford does an excellent job of it, too, as if to show what she's capable of when given decent material. Admittedly we did get to see how bright Susan was in the filmed sequences of the last serial, but then it was tempered by her teenage strops. (For any teenagers reading, or indeed allies to teenagers, I should mention that I'm using the term in the same way I use 'girl' - as the stereotype promoted in the media. I am aware that real life teenagers show a much wider range of behaviour!)
Anyway. The tone this time around was much better matched to the material, helped by some very good music. (Didn't I say last time that was one of the things that could improve it?) They actually manage to create the claustrophobic feeling I was talking about; which is ironic considering that these two episodes were filmed in TC3! The finest example is the sequence where Iananbarbara are searching the corridors. This goes on for quite some time with nothing much happening and by rights should be boring, but it isn't. There's a real sense of tension which was completely absent from the last episode. The following section, with Ian threatening the Sensorites with a wrench, is also better than it sounds, gradually revealing more about the behaviour of the alien creatures.
The Sensorites themselves, seen in closeup, have very effective heads; and the feet are interesting, too. I'm not too bothered that the parts in between look entirely human. Their weakness and indecision combined with their mental abilities makes them an interesting enemy, not a copy of the Daleks with their terrifying monomania, but not dull like the Voord either. I have high hopes for them at this point in the story.
The humour, backstory and educational elements also fit better this time. I love the way Ian starts to explain spectrography to Susan, who cuts him off with an "oh yes, of course". I know more about molybdenum than I did before, and even if it is a bit of a lecture, it makes sense that the Doctor shows off his knowledge. We also get another snippet of description from Susan about an adventure she had with her Grandfather before the series started - one that's useful to the plot.
And yet, despite all this, there's a feeling that nothing much happens. Which is not entirely unjustified - the plot doesn't really get going until the Sensorites contact Susan mentally. In fact, there's about half an hour's worth of story in the first two episodes: with some judicious cutting and emphasis on atmosphere over repeated demonstrations of Maitland, Carol and John's struggles, they could have made one stonkingly good episode. As it is, the good in this one only balances out the lack of activity.
Having said that, I'm more eager to see what happens next time.
Broadcast:
Date: Saturday, 27th June 1964
Viewers: 6.9 million
Chart Position: 39
Appreciation Index: 59
Rating:
5.5/10.
Next Time:
Hidden Danger.
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