So, here we are at the first of our Reconstructed episodes, an episode long lost. The Historian here, along with Ketina, Ronelyn, Schmallturm and Kroroboros, all gathered to watch an episode of Doctor Who that none of us had ever seen! Of course, an uncharitable soul might say we’ve still never quite seen it, but this reconstruction is the closest we will probably ever get! Onward!
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Reconstructing the Past
Some of you may have noticed that Ketina mentioned that our next story, “Marco Polo” (aka “A Journey to Cathay”), will be watched as a “Reconstruction.” I thought that I should write up a post to explain what the heck we’re talking about.
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Wrapup – Inside the Spaceship
Well, it doesn’t seem all that long ago we were doing this for “The Daleks,” does it? At two episodes, “Inside the Spaceship” (aka “The Edge of Destruction,” “Beyond the Sun” (although that last is a product of a fan error in an early reference book), etc.) is the shortest story of the first season. In fact, the story behind the story is interesting, to me at any rate. Just before production started on “Doctor Who’s” first story, there was some question by higher ups as to how viable this “experiment” would be. The show was given thirteen episodes to find its feet; if people didn’t take to it and (just as importantly for the BBC) if the production just didn’t justify the cost, then that would be the end. Unfortunately, this requirement didn’t jibe with the scripts already commissioned. In fact, thirteen episodes would only take things through the second episode of “Marco Polo!” Somehow, two extra episodes needed to be filled, but no extra budget could be allocated. Thus, we get “Inside the Spaceship,” with only the four regulars and only the standing TARDIS sets. Even with the success of “The Daleks,” it wasn’t sure up to the filming of the first part of this story that the series would continue, which gives the Doctor’s line about how “this could be the end” in episode two a certain poignancy. For the whole story of the production (and much more competently told), take a look at its “Brief History of Time (Travel)” link.
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2 – The Brink of Disaster
Hello, the Historian here, along with Ketina, Ronelyn, Schmallturm and Krorboros. A full house tonight to watch the second and final episode of “Inside the Spaceship!” And…it certainly was an episode of Doctor Who, wasn’t it?
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1 – The Edge of Destruction
Hello, the Historian here, along with Ketina, Ronelyn and Kroroboros, watching the first episode in the third serial. I think I can charitably say there were differences of opinion this week, so let’s get to it!
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Wrapup – The Daleks
The Historian here, celebrating the TARDIS Project’s completion of Doctor Who’s second serial, “The Daleks!” It’s difficult to know where to begin in an assessment of this story, given its (I think it’s fair to say) overwhelming importance to the show as a whole. Without the Daleks, Doctor Who in its original “entertain and educate” remit might have lasted a year or two and be remembered by a few people who watched it as kids. But the Daleks, they changed everything, infuriating BBC Head of Drama (and Doctor Who creator) Sydney Newman, who initially saw them as the “Bug Eyed Monsters” he’d specifically demanded the show not feature. Thankfully for us, producer Verity Lambert stuck to her guns and defended the script and production…and the rest is history. Or, in our case, still to come!
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7 – The Rescue
(Not the last time we’ll see this episode title!)
Hello all, the Historian here, along with Ketina, Ronelyn, Schmallturm and Kroroboros, gathered to watch this final episode of the second serial. Let’s get to it!
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6 – The Ordeal
The Historian here. Although I’ve been almost laid low by a cold, here I am. (Perhaps I caught the illness from that Dodo girl. No, wait, that hasn’t happened yet. Never mind, in time…) At any rate, this week, Ketina and I were joined again by Ronelyn and Schmallturm as we watched the sixth episode of this serial.
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5 – The Expedition
Hello all, the Historian here. Tonight, Ketina, Ronelyn and I were joined by Schmallturm to watch the fifth episode of this serial. Let’s get to it!
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4 – The Ambush
The Historian here with the fourth episode of this second serial, along with Ketina and Ronelyn. Things moved briskly this week, so let’s do so as well. On to the synopsis!
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