Doctor Who continued …

Ian escapes thanks in part to a convenience of a key being left in the lock and also by intention of being allowed to escape.

Again it’s Hartnell that steals the show, both in bluffing the shopkeeper and then at the jail carefully taking things in his stride when they don’t go his way.

But Susan.  Again!  I suggest that Barbara drops her off at the first opportunity if she wants to live.  Last week Susan stopped Barbara from furthering their escape from the cell because she didn’t like the look of a rat, and this week they’re on the verge of getting their heads lopped off and she doesn’t want to escape because… she’s a bit ill.  I can’t help but be reminded of Garibaldi in Babylon 5 when he said “A headache I can get over – I don’t think I’m going to get over being dead any time soon.”  If Susan’s so keen to fulfill her death wish, why does she feel the need to drag Barbara down with her?

Love the way the “villain” in the house of their rescuers is so eerily obviously “evil” without actually doing anything that’s villainous.

On the whole, the story hasn’t really progressed much in two episodes.  Nothing really has been done, except the old “separate, lock up, escape” fallback.  Good job Hartnell’s on top form, and full marks to the set designers (especially in the street sets).

Next time … The Tyrant of France