Doctor Who, Season 1 Serial Three 'The Edge of Destruction'

Doctor Who, Season 1 Serial Three 'The Edge of Destruction'

This review was originally written in 2016, when episodes of Doctor Who's revival were still forty five minutes long rather than the fifty we are used to today.

Nowadays we are so used to the forty five minute story format as being a staple of the new series, and so we tend to forget that this story (which is comprised of two twenty five minute episodes that combined make for the same running time) is technically Doctor Who's first attempt to tell a narrative within such a short runtime.

Is it successful?

Well, it partly is and it partly isn't.

The Edge of Destruction sees the TARDIS trying to warn the crew about an impending disaster through various oddities such as melting clock hands and influencing the Doctor (William Hartnell), Susan (Carole Anne Ford), Ian (William Russell) and Barbara's (Jaqueline Hill) behavioural instincts.

This is an enjoyable enough story to watch and one that's suitably simplistic for a classic series two-parter. It creates a sense of paranoia well and doesn't feel like filler. It's a shame then that the resolution is such a let down.

Spoilers follow.

Because you see, when it's revealed what the TARDIS was trying to warn the crew about...it turns out it was just that the fast return switch was stuck.

Seriously.

The entire events of the two-parter were all because of one switch.

And that's not the only weird decision because earlier Susan tries to threaten Ian and Barbara with the deadliest item she can find..a pair of scissors. It's a scene that's nothing short of daft and really should have been replaced with something else.

Having said that, there are plenty of good moments. The Doctor's monologue is great and it's nice to see a story set entirely on the TARDIS. The cast all give great performances too. It's just a shame that in conclusion the story is let down by poor decisions by the writer David Whitaker.

What are your thoughts on The Edge of Destruction? Let me know in the comments.