Classic Doctor Who | The Sensorites Part One: STRANGERS IN SPACE - REACTION (from a Trekkie!)

A lifelong Star Trek and Wars fanatic takes the plunge and starts working his way through the classic era of Doctor Who.
Join Mike from The Rewatch Project and ChinStroker VS Punter as he watches the #DoctorWho episode The Sensorites Part One: STRANGERS IN SPACE
How will Mike react to the FIRST part of this classic serial watching it in 2024?
Episode timings:
00:00 - Intro
01:09 - Episode Reaction
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[@frankshailes3205]

The fellow who does a lot of the documentaries and commentaries on the DVDs/BluRays, comedian Toby Hadoke (a huge Who fan, and acknowledged expert in its production) is covering this story at the moment on his podcasts - from a different perspective, which is complementary and not competitive. So it is great to have this first-time viewing as a contrast!

[@andrewgwilliam4831]

I thought this was a really interesting episode when I saw it. I particularly liked that discussion about how they've changed since they began their adventures. You might have commented on this previously, but it's clear that Ian and Barbara are no longer desperate to return home (although that's not the same as having no desire to do so).

[@therewatchproject]

Amazing point that I paraphrase on the show.

[@soupdragon1971]

Although tangential to the main story, I believe this is our first encounter with future humanity.

[@andrewgwilliam4831]

Good spot!

[@frankshailes3205]

Yes, unless Marinus was once a colony.

[@soupdragon1971]

@@frankshailes3205 Possible I suppose, although unlikely. Terry Nation also referred to the Thals in human terms during the Daleks. Aliens that look entirely human are a big television sci-fi trope. Much more practical back then of course but it still happens on modern television.

[@therewatchproject]

Good call. It is

[@CRINOTH]

Although this story isn't held in generally high regard, it's one of my favourites of the first season. Some people find it plodding but I quite like the pace of it and the chance to get to know the characters.
One slightly unfortunate aspect of this story is that it possibly contains the most flubbed lines of any Doctor Who serial - and they're by no means all Hartnell, many of the cast have their momentary struggles with this script. :)

[@frankshailes3205]

Yes, loads of flubs from others, which gives the lie to the idea Hartnell was a serial fluffer (as it were). The rpessures of production in "as live" television were no different to the later studio sessions of the Tom Baker era (an episode-length of scenes were still pretty much all recorded in one evening), but videotape editing advances meant a lot of the flubs and swearing could be edited out of the latter's stories before transmission!

[@andrewgwilliam4831]

@@frankshailes3205 I've commented on this before, but when I watched through all the Hartnell stories in sequence for ths first time, my impression was that in the earlier part of his era the flubs were across the board, but in his later stories it was mostly Hartnell.

[@therewatchproject]

I'm enjoying it so far!

[@therewatchproject]

I now love the phrase 'serial fluffer ' :-)

[@relative-dimension-in-space]

Calling the TARDIS “the ship” is largely a Hartnell era thing, I can’t think of many times that happens afterwards. It’s something unique about these early years of the show that I enjoy.

[@andrewgwilliam4831]

I looked into it a few years ago, using the transcripts, and found that it was still in use (but fading out) during the Troughton era. There were a tiny number of indirect references in the 1970s before its use was revived during the Davison era (for reasons that I won't elaborate on so as not to spoil anything for our host).
Interestingly it was brought back for New Who right from the beginning, but has only been used occasionally except perhaps for a more frequent usage during the Chibnall era.

[@frankshailes3205]

@@andrewgwilliam4831 I suppose it is a "Time ship" instead of a space ship. Or a bit of both.

[@therewatchproject]

Adds to the charm of the era!

[@therewatchproject]

Thought that might be the case

[@obiwankenobi687]

Have you ever seen new who? The good stuff?

[@therewatchproject]

I've seen the odd episode when they have just happened to be on