013 The Edge of Destruction Part 2: Brink of Disaster

EPISODE: The Edge of Destruction Part 2: Brink of Disaster
OVERALL EPISODE NUMBER: 013
STORY NUMBER: 003
TRANSMITTED: 15 February 1964
WRITER: David Whitaker
DIRECTOR: Frank Cox
SCRIPT EDITOR: David Whitaker
PRODUCER: Verity Lambert
FORMAT: DVD - The Beginning Boxset

Turns out it's Ian trying to strangle the Doctor. Ian faints, the Doctor accuses Ian of faking and that the teachers are plotting against him. Ian yells a warning to not touch the console but the Doctor wants to throw the teachers off the ship. There's a danger signal from the fault locator saying that everything is wrong which the Doctor says means the ship is on the point of disintegration and they're all to blame.....

"we had time taken away from us but now it's given back to us because it's running out" What ????

A white flash, the central column moves and the Doctor announces they have 10 minutes to survive. Barbara thinks they've been getting clues and the Tardis has been warning them all along. More white flashes.

My head is in my hands. This is mad. Viewers must have been turning off in their millions.

Hartnell's raving to camera in a darkened room. It turns out the quick return switch is jammed on because the spring to release it is broken. (Quick return switch labelled in felt tip so Hartnell can find it!)

The Tardis lands somewhere very cold where Susan has found a HUGE footprint...


TWO EPISODES OF MADNESS BECAUSE OF A SPRING BEING STUCK ??????

"You know dear child, I think your old Grandfather is going a tiny bit round the bend!" Me too after having to watch this. Again.

I stuck the documentary on the Beginning DVD on to watch after viewing this episode and the way the people on there are talking they think it's the best thing ever and very clever. I found it a confusing mess. Surely a sensible fault locating system would have said "Stuck Quick Return Switch" instead of instigating the confusion seen here!


Written to fill the gap between the scheduled scripts and the BBC's initial order of 4 episodes this is a cost saving pair of episodes set almost entirely in the expensive Tardis set and just featuring the regular cast.

Please don't make me watch these a fourth time!