The (re)Generation Gap
There are, of course, many Who fans out there for whom Who is a recently discovered passion. For whom the 2nd Doctor is David Tennant rather than Patrick Troughton.
But with nearly 50 years of material where to begin.
Luckily Matt is here to help us plug the (re)Generation Gap.
But with nearly 50 years of material where to begin.
Luckily Matt is here to help us plug the (re)Generation Gap.
17th of March 2011
Episode 2: The Daleks
By Matt Crossman
One of the great things about watching Doctor Who with someone who knows nothing about the older episodes are the surprises. Of course keeping them as surprises is often more difficult than you would expect. With “The Daleks” as our next Doctor Who story I was determined to keep the appearance of the titular monsters a surprise from James.
“Are you ready for the next story, James?” I asked.
“Yeah! What’s it called?”
“Erm, ‘The Mutants’” I replied.
“The Jon Pertwee one? I thought we were watching all of the Hartnell ones.”
“This is a Hartnell one.” I said.
“But we just bought “The Mutants” and it’s definitely a Jon Pertwee one.” James said with an air of confidence that belied his six years in age.
“There are two stories called “The Mutants”. Now are we going to get on with this or not.” I always get a tad cross when being given the third degree by children.
“Ok. Can I see the box?” James asked.
“No, you may not. Now Let’s get on with “The Mutants.”” The DVD was already in the machine and cued up at the first episode therefore missing out all the DVD menus that so cleverly give the game away.
“Don’t want to watch it now.” James said sulkily.
“Why not?” I asked.
“Why won’t you let me look at the box?” He retorted.
“Fine. Don’t watch it. I’ll watch it on my own.” It’s not just children that can be petulant and moody. I felt I was holding my own in this area quite nicely. So I started the DVD whilst James did his best not to watch although he was through glances over the top of a book while he pretended to read. As the episode wore on James’ attention was grabbed more and more.
“Are they in another forest like in the last story?” James asked.
“Thought you wasn’t watching.” I said. He rolled his eyes and gave me a deep sigh which he quite clearly has picked up from his Mother over the last six years and returned his attention to the television. As we approached the finale of the first episode the book lay on his lap, now quite ignored, and James clutched a cushion to his chest. And then it happened. The sink plunger came into view and the music for the end credits started.
“The Daleks! The Daleks! Dad, did you see? Those were the Daleks!” James screeched in my ear.
“Yes, I did see. You still not watching or do you want to see the next episode?”
“Yes please. Can I see the box now though?”
“Certainly” I replied handing the DVD box over to James.
“It’s called “The Daleks” not “The Mutants”. You told a lie.” James noted indignantly.
Despite this obvious betrayal of trust James stayed glue to the television for the remainder of the story utterly engrossed.
For me I found it lagged somewhat around the middle and the ending was then rushed but that is what television was like nearly fifty years ago. No way would a television series get away with such languid pacing nowadays but in many ways that is the attraction. The story progresses at a more natural pace than the series today and consequently, despite the lack of special effects or actors stumbling over their lines or the scenery, these early productions of Doctor Who feel more substantial.
So here we are, two full stories in, and James remains as captivated as ever. At the end of this story I gave him my “Doctor Who: Legend” book which had sat for a good many years on my bookshelf undisturbed. Within days it was looking tatty and well thumbed but I’m not one of those people who likes to keep things in mint condition. A tatty book is a sign of a good and well loved one. James now knows what titles are to come and he is eager to get to them as soon as possible. I do wonder how he will feel when we are on our tenth Hartnell story of even how what his opinion of the next story will be, a story with no monsters, no effects and set completely within the TARDIS.
It should be interesting…
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