Doctor Who, season 2 continued …

A  much lower-key adventure than the previous Dalek story, with just two other cast members, primarily designed to introduce Susan’s replacement.  The mask of Koquillion is particularly effective.  The effects crew have got better with their miniatures and the split-screen effect of looking out over the valley.

For a relatively short story, there’s quite a lot of thought put into it.  We’re on a planet the Doctor’s visited before, so he knows the people.  The Doctor’s clearly affected by leaving Susan behind, while Barbara and Ian attempt to comfort him in their own way (Barbara’s over-exaggerated way of making sure she’s operating the door switch under the Doctor’s guiding eye is a particularly effective example of this).

Maureen O’Brien’s Vicki doesn’t exactly impress right off the bat, but it’s good to have this introduction out of the way before the following story – there are some strong stories coming up, and it’s important not to get too distracted with the introduction of Susan’s replacement later on.

Next time … Desperate Measures