Doctor Who: The Edge of Destruction

I love Doctor Who.  This episode is terrible.  This is an episode that should be avoided.  The only good thing I can say about it is that it's only two parts, so it is over in 45 minutes.  The entire episode takes place in the TARDIS.  Usually "bottle episodes" are interesting character studies.  This was an incoherent mess.  I will make this quick.  The plot, such as there was one- the TARDIS malfunctions, and they are all knocked unconscious.  After they wake up, they can't figure out what is wrong.  Susan threatens people with scissors, the Doctor threatens to put Ian and Barbara off the ship, and Ian tries to choke people.  At one point, the Doctor drugs everyone.  The Doctor somehow decides that the TARDIS is about to disintegrate.  Barbara determines that the TARDIS is giving them clues as to what is going on.  In the end, there is no outside force making them all crazy.  The Doctor activated the fast return switch when they left Skaro at the end of "The Daleks."  It was supposed to take them back to Earth.  The switch was stuck on because a spring was broken.  It is fixed, and they are saved.  Really.  The end.  Awful. 

There is no reason why they would immediately turn on each other so completely.  This makes all of the characters come across badly.  When the audience finds out that there isn't some entity causing them to act this way, they just seem like insane jerks- completely out of character.  The supposed clues that the TARDIS is giving to them don't make sense.  This whole episode stretches the limits of suspension of disbelief. 

Drink when the 1st Doctor grabs his lapels.

CONTINUITY FUN!  Ian checks the Doctor after they are all knocked out for the first time, and he notes that the Doctor's heart seems fine.  Heart.  Singular.  It is established later that Time Lords have two hearts.

I was glad when this episode was over.  I'm not sure yet what the plan will be for the next one.  "Marco Polo" is one of the missing episodes, lost when the BBC wiped the tapes on which it was stored.  No video of the serial exists. 

THE RUNDOWN

Doctor: First

Companions: Susan, Ian, Barbara

Episode: #3, "The Edge of Destruction," two parts- 'The Edge of Destruction,' 'The Brink of Disaster'

Adversary: none

Classic Lines: the Doctor: "One man's law is another man's crime."

Tuck This Away to Impress Your Friends: Ian chooses a coat from the Doctor's wardrobe that was given to the Doctor by Gilbert and Sullivan.  

Next Up: "Marco Polo"