A historical Doctor Who story these days usually involves some kind of alien menace within a historical period which to be fair has still made for a formula for some good stories. However, my favourite historical stories were largely made during the William Hartnell era when the Doctor and their companions were thrust into an era of history and forced to try and survive. The Pure Historicals present some really interesting situations showing that humanity can be just as cruel and dangerous as any alien presence and provide some of Doctor Who’s best stories. I thought I would put together a ranking of all the Pure Historical stories from worst to best. I will only be including the stories from the TV series itself and will be excluding Black Orchid from the Fifth Doctor run as although technically it is a historical story with no alien threat it does not fit into the formula and intentions as the rest of the stories on this list as a historical drama. Let’s get started!!!
11.) The Gunfighters (1966) written by Donald Cotton
Overall, the Gunfighters is a silly story and badly put together. To take on the western genre you need a level of violence which you simply can’t achieve with a fantasy and family science fiction series. Donald Cotton tries to maintain a certain levity to the serial throughout and it clashes horribly with the violence of the story and as a result, the whole thing feels confused and jarring. The villains are by and large interchangeable and awful and are recognised solely by their dreadful American accents and generic stereotypical performances which descend into parody more than anything else. You have the violence and conflict on one hand and then you have jarring comedy and a light-hearted musical western on the other, which just does not fit with the plot at all and is cringey to watch. Beyond that what becomes incredibly aggravating is the song of the Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon which they play over and over again. It totally ruins the story and is played so many times that I never want to hear the song again in my life. It disrupts the pacing and the structure of the story and slows everything down and it’s the main responsibility for the jarring and confusing tone because every moment of violence and conflict is disrupted and ruined by this ridiculous piece of music.
10.) The Myth Makers (1965) written by Donald Cotton
The Myth Makers is certainly a story similar to the Romans with an overall very comedic direction and tone, however in this case that just doesn’t work; it’s not even the fact that the story does not have comedic potential in the historical situation. The whole of the Trojan War was launched because Menelaus’s wife Helen ran off with another man which is kind of an absurd idea when you come to think about it. In the Myth Makers you don’t have the advantage of a strong script, it’s all reliant on the actors and guest characters to heighten the situations which creates forced comedy. I think another problem is that there is not enough peril because the story does not take advantage of the situations. I do like the idea of the Doctor coming up with the Trojan Horse but then the final massacre feels tonally at odds with the rest of the story. The love story and exit for Vicki is also horribly handled. Vicki barely spends any time with Troilus so I can hardly get on board with it as a love story. Beyond this I don’t see what Troilus can offer Vicki as a life in Troy beyond himself and it feels like Vicki flings herself at the first man she is attracted to.
9.) An Unearthly Child (1963) written by Anthony Coburn
The first story of Doctor Who often gets overlooked as a pure historical, mainly because its first episode is the most famous as the one that introduces the audience to the show which is set in the 1960s. It’s about introducing the audiance to the core concepts of Doctor Who. However, from Episode 2 onwards the whole thing is set during prehistoric times during the Stone Age. It must be said all the best stuff comes from the first episode set in the 1960s. I truly think the first episode of An Unearthly Child could be one of the best episodes in television history. The magic and reveal of the discovery of the Tardis by Ian and Barbara is truly transformative. Unfortunately, the central plotline simply falls apart and there is not a lot to it, even after three episodes it becomes repetitive and tiresome. It feels like there is not an awful lot of content in this era of history that makes for much gripping television. The truth is the characters all feel the same and you never learn anything from it of historical value and I don’t think any storyline of merit is told from this story. It just becomes irritating and borders on parody with exaggerated performances with the same situations and limited dialogue of battling over meat and fire on a loop endlessly, which are quotable for all the wrong reasons. I think it's the characters with the Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara and their journey that does sustain the story.
8.) The Smugglers (1966) written by Brian Hayles
William Hartnell’s penultimate adventure and his last historical story was the last in the production block of Season 3 but was held over as the opener for Season 4. I think it is most prominent though for being Ben and Polly’s first adventure in the Tardis and I think it handles them as characters quite well all things considered, before they would quickly go downhill in the following story with the Tenth Planet. I like Ben and Polly’s reaction to the Tardis and their disbelief in being in a time machine which can travel anywhere in the universe. The Smugglers certainly isn’t a bad story, and it starts quite well with the Doctor, Ben and Polly looking around Cornwall and spending time with that Tardis Team, but I do think it loses its way and is rather a mixed bag of a story. I think this comes down to the fact that it simply has too many characters and as a result, the story becomes rather confusing and difficult to follow. All the ingredients are there with a pirate story about trying to find and discover the treasure of Captain Avery, but there are too many characters at odds with one another that become interchangeable. I don’t think the time is given to let the conflict play out naturally between the characters. There should have been clearer stakes and reasonings as with only four episodes there isn’t enough time to understand any of the characters’ motivations and give time for the plotlines. It feels simply rushed through and incredibly mechanical in execution which is a real shame because there is some good potential here.
7.) The Reign of Terror (1964) written by Dennis Spooner
I think the Reign of Terror amongst all the pure historical stories is probably the most underrated and undervalued story. It gives you a strong insight into the horrific practices and harrowing cruelty during this period of the French Revolution. That being said I think the major pitfall is that it is way too long for what is in the story, and you have an awful lot of filler to try and buy time and I think there is a lack of an immediate sense of stakes from the way Dennis Spooner writes it. I think William Hartnell and his performance with what he gets to do as the Doctor does lead this one and keeps it going. Barbara and Susan being under the threat of Guillotine does show the great danger of violent revolutions well and the cruelty of this period of history with a warped justice system, and I like the revelation of the stance of Jules and Jean which plays against Barbara’s expectations. I think as soon as they are rescued the plot does settle down a bit too much and Barbara and Susan are poorly served across the story, and the villain with Robespierre could have been more central. The last episode does push things to where they need to be though, with Ian finally finding James Sterling after his hopeless search across the story and with strong themes of keeping history in place.
6.) The Romans (1965) written by Dennis Spooner
The Romans is a story that shows the talent of Dennis Spooner; it has a witty script and is essentially a comedy, basically inspired by the Carry-On films and yet it works. There are laugh-out-loud moments throughout and clever dialogue that manages to be incredibly energetic in the way the characters and performances play off one another, but it feels intelligently thought out and plays on humorous situation comedy. The comedy is mixed with a strong darkness and Hartnell seems to be having a good amount of fun throughout the story which is great to see. Nero is played by Derek Francis and he certainly overplays the part, but he pitches it very well. Nero is a total fool and an idiot to be laughed at, but he is still fittingly dangerous. It plays with the theme that some of the most dangerous people in history have been total idiots with great authority at their command, which feels very true. The only comedy in the story I don’t like is seeing Nero running around trying to assault Barbara which is played for laughs. It’s a reflection of the gender politics of the time but is rather uncomfortable to watch if I’m honest. The whole thing ends with bizarre and fitting absurdity as the Doctor inspires the Great Fire of Rome which it turns out was started by Nero. It takes a contentious part of history and Dennis Spooner puts his spin on it by putting the Doctor in the middle which is a great deal of fun and the whole thing just succeeds in what it wants to be and it's comedic direction.
5.) The Highlanders (1966/67) written by Elwyn Jones and Gerry Davis
The Highlanders is a very easy story to forget and underestimate, not being part of the Hartnell era and being the last pure historical story. However, when I revisited it, I was surprised by how good it was and I think it makes the pure historicals go out with a good impact. I think it works well to have a very First Doctor kind of story as Patrick Troughton’s secondary adventure; to be able to showcase and prove himself, and show how different he is from the first incarnation of the Doctor by putting him in similar situations. I think what works about the conflict within the story is that it’s told mostly from the perspective of one clan with the McLaren’s. I also really like the way Polly and Kirsty work together; Polly is rarely well used but she has a strong drive and sense of intelligence in this story. This story also deals with dark subject matter to strong impact and has great villains with Grey and Trask who contrast one another very well. Grey particularly is an interesting villain who as a solicitor simply sees the war as a means of profit and does not think of the humane treatment of life as a consideration which makes him a fitting and deadly antagonist and you have some twists and directions that manages to surprise you very effectively with strong characters you root for. There are compelling and dark stakes to the events unfolding and you have a very gripping storyline that puts the characters through very grotesque and interesting turmoil.
4.) The Crusade (1965) written by David Whitaker
The Crusade is certainly overlooked to an extent, however it’s filled with some great writing from David Whitaker. Saladin and Saphadin are given a real amount of nuance in the way they are presented despite the unfortunate racist practice of being played by white actors. As characters, they are handled sensitively and appropriatly as diplomatic figures who feel tired of the violence and don’t seek to harm Barbara unnecessarily and it shows the pointless nature of war well. There is a great relationship and partnership between King Richard played by Julian Glover and his sister Princess Joanna played by Jean Marsh who has great influence over him, and yet their conflict and confrontation is one of the best scenes in the story and it makes a very poignant point. It's good to see the story expose and detail the male entitlement of Richard using his position as a man and as a King to hold authority over Joanna, denying her own decisions and simply trying to enforce things with his privileged power. It’s very satisfying to see Joanna become outraged and stand up for her rights in a very feminist way. Barbara is put in some uncomfortable situations which shape her effectively and the character of Haroun is given dramatic and emotional potential by George Little having had his family torn apart by El Akir. It’s a story where cruelty and politics shape the characters and the way things have turned out powerfully and it's richly complex.
3.) The Massacre (1966) written by John Lucarotti and Donald Tosh
The Massacre, whilst initially put together by John Lucarotti, was pretty much reworked entirely by Donald Tosh, who I think most of the credit for the success of the story must go to. It gives Peter Purves as Steven some spotlight as a character and a chance to shine. It gives the character a chance to demonstrate his morals, kindness and sense of right and wrong as he is desperate and has to survive and fend for himself across the story and he leads the whole thing brilliantly. There are fleshed-out characters on both sides of the historical conflict and it’s fitting they are given shades of grey as individuals. You root for the Huguenots, especially through believable and likeable characters such as Nicholas who helps Steven a lot. I think Anne Chaplet creates the heart and emotion of the story though as this vulnerable and isolated young girl who has faced a great deal of oppression, and you feel for the cruelty she has been up against her entire life with little support and protection which is why Steven’s kindness means so much to her. External factors contribute strongly to a developing threat and tension to the point where the end massacre feels both crushing and inevitable. I also just love the conflict between the Doctor and Steven at the Doctor’s unwillingness to step in and help. It challenges the cruel inability to change history and the moral implications of that and through Steven the audience questions if the morality required for travelling through history would become too much to bear.
2.) Marco Polo (1964) written by John Lucarotti
Marco Polo is truly terrific and one of the best historicals. John Lucarrotti frames the whole thing from Marco’s viewpoint which gives a good personal perspective to the whole story. The audience is appropiately wary of how the Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara are being perceived by Marco Polo and the dire consequences of losing his trust. I think Mark Eden does a brilliant job of playing the title role and turning him into a grounded, flawed, and relatable person; someone who tries to be understanding and open-minded but is prone to irrational anger and doubt. The story has a real Indiana Jones vibe and the narration of the story told from the perspective of Marco’s diary does a good job of being able to give the story a focus and track Marco's thought process about his trust in the strangers which works well with a developing mistrust and tension. His motivations and want in giving the Tardis as a gift for Kublai Khan provides great danger for the Doctor and his companions but you are sympathetic towards the motivations of Marco Polo with not having seen his home for 18 years and wanting to return to it, and his reasoning is very relatable and makes sense. You feel sympathy for Ping Cho being forced to marry a 75-year-old man out of obligation when she is a mere 16-year-old. The story recognises the repulsive nature of this but that it's the result of a different society and different culture and it’s interesting seeing Ian, Barbara, and Susan clash with Marco Polo on this and satisfying to see Ping Cho, in the end, find happiness. It's a well paced adventure with strong performances throughout.
1.) The Aztecs (1964) written by John Lucarotti
The Aztecs is not just my favourite pure historical story, I think it’s my favourite historical story of all time. Barbara sees the good of the Aztecs as well as the evil and you get a strong insight into her knowledge of history and the pain from her viewpoint knowing the consequences and how things will turn out. You can see things from Barbara’s outlook wanting to better and change things, but she does not consider the impossibility of her actions and the arrogance of wanting to change an entire way of life; her actions terrifyingly put her and the rest of the Tardis Team under effective and powerful suspicion and danger. The performance from Jacqueline Hill is brilliant, being resilient and full of confidence and authority on the outside but having emotional uncertainty on the inside. Tlotoxl proves to be a great villain as although he is vicious and manipulative and as horrible as his attempts are in some regards, he does have a strong reason for his actions trying to protect his community and way of life. I like Barbara’s relationship with Autloc as she raises some good points but her motivations are warped and very immoral. It’s interesting seeing Barbara having to act against her principles and sense of good for her own survival and who she becomes in that process. It’s a strong, ambiguous, complex and emotional story about the consequences of getting involved in history with a powerful message.
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