003 - The Edge of Destruction

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This is a very tight two-parter that I really like because we get into each of the characters a little better. Lots of personal tension.

SeaDevil

This is the story that hooked me into Hartnell's era. I love the paranoia each character in turn experiences.

I think this story gets overlooked for just being "weird" by alot of people. It's really an important episode in the development of Dr. Who though. In the first couple episodes there's an open hostility between the Doctor, Barabara; and Ian. Because of the TARDIS going haywire and basically intoxicating the crew though, all that tension from the first couple episodes is brought to the forefront and they each get to work through their issues.

From here on, they got along alot more amicably toward one another. This is the episode where they graduate from reluctant travelling companions to an actual crew.

Anthony Clark
Winter Haven, FL

The scene where Susan goes bezerk with the scissors is quite disturbing.
The other thing that's memorable is the 'FAST RETURN SWITCH' sign, which is crudely written by a felt tip pen.
Overall a good story.

On Star Trek, this would be called a "Bottle Show". Totally on board the TARDIS and with just the main cast. This is when they went from a bunch of strangers to a crew and family.

Ronpur

Quite a good story! Very slow at first though. I don't understand the whole 'psychological thriller' thing that everyone says about this story, mind, but it was certainly an interesting story.

I preferred the second episode over the first; like I said, nothing really happened in the first episode, but the second episode the story moved a lot quicker. My favourite part was the ending - and I don't say to mean I was glad it was over - it was great to see the crew all happy and playing in the snow at the end after all that trauma.

What made the story for me though was the character development: as per usual, we see the Doctor being quite grumpy and arrogant, but he is sympathetic and apologetic to Barbra by the end. Of course we know this side of the Doctor exists, but we hadn't seen it in the previous stories. Absolutely wonderfully done.

Spoiler:

Anyway, great little story. Considering, as I understand it, this was made merely to fill in the 13 episode 'trial period', they did a good job for what it is. Yes, it's a bit slow at first, but it picks up and is still an interesting story. If not for its plot, you've gotta watch this one for its character development. 4 stars from me.