Doctor Who - The Time Meddler (Episode 17)
Starring: William Hartnell, Maureen O'Brien, Peter PurvesStudio: BBC Warner
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Format: Black & White, NTSC
DVD Release: August 5th 2008
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DVD Review
The TARDIS seems emptier without Barbara and Ian - at least until the Doctor and Vicki discover that the astronaut Steven stowed away before they left Mechanus. Steven's skepticism toward time travel pushes the Doctor to confront him with living proof. Shortly after landing on a beach in England, they discover a Viking helmet, but Steve remains unconvinced. Instructing Steve and Vicki to wait with the TARDIS, the Doctor seeks further proof. Heedless of the Doctor's warning, Steven persuades Vicki to explore the cliffs above the beach, where they find an abandoned wristwatch. Meanwhile, the Doctor investigates a ruined monastery, where he encounters an electric toaster, a gramophone playing ecclesiastic chants, and a monk who traps him in an alcove. Eventually, the Doctor realizes that the famous Battle of Hastings is only a few weeks away. That should provide ample proof for Steven, but who is this mysterious monk, and what is his interest in the events of 1066?
User Reviews
The Mythology Expands - Rating: 4/5
After The Unearthly Child and The Daleks, the Time Meddler adds to the modern mythology of the show with the 1st appearance of another member of the Doctor's race with his own TARDIS.
This pacing of the story is of it's time, and feels completely different than the modern show, but I feel that that just show how strong the format is to endure throw the generations.
The one super highlight of the DVD is the mini documentary on Doctor Who in Comics: The 1st Doctor. I hope to see the continuation of the series with future releases for other Doctors, since one may be surprised about the talent that has worked in Doctor Who comics in the pass would make a amazing set of documentaries.
Again this is story that should be in any fans collection, but I wouldn't use the story as a jumping point for fans drawn in from the modern series.
One of my favorite of the First Doctor surviving stories - Rating: 5/5
I've liked this story from the first time I saw it many years ago. This is the last story from the second season. This story picks up where The Chase left off with the Doctor and Vicki finding new companion Steven Taylor hiding inside the TARDIS. Events from that story are also talked about in this one. They arrive on the eve of an invasion between Vikings and the Normans in 1066. The Monk turns out to be another person from the Doctor's home planet. This would be the first time other than the Doctor and Susan, that we see someone from his home planet although The Doctor's planet wouldn't be named until Doctor Who - The Time Warrior (Episode 70). This is also the first time that we get a story that is based on historical events but with a Sci Fi twist thrown in.
The story itself is quite good and the region 2 disc that I've seen, thanks to a friend, doesn't look too bad so I should think that the region 1 disc will look as good. I hope so as that's the one I'm buying. There are still 11 seconds of the fourth episode that are still missing due to overseas distributors' editing it for viewing. One of the special features goes back and uses both telesnaps, off air recordings and the such to recreate this scene as one of the special features.
