"The clans are broken. Shot to pieces by the English guns. Never had the chance to get to within claymore's length of them."
TECHNICAL SPECS: Aside from a few brief clips, the episode is story is missing from the archives. Though I've listened to the Frazer Hines-narrated CD release fairly recently, in this case, I've opted for a reconstruction. First aired Dec.17 1966.
IN THIS ONE... The TARDIS lands in 18th-century Scotland and it's the first appearance of Jamie McCrimmon.
REVIEW: Some call it the last true historical adventure, and I'm one of them (sorry, but Black Orchid is a genre piece that just happens to be set a few decades in the past), and it's got what it takes to be exciting, dramatic and funny too. And of course, it's the story that first introduces uber-companion Jamie McCrimmon, not that you'd think he was companion material here. No, he's a bloodthirsty sort, loyal to his Laird, putting a gun to the Doctor's head and talking about killing the English. Nor is the role particularly important - he's just one of three Scots attending the wounded Laird, albeit one of only two that survives, though if you were to ask anyone by the end of this episode, they'd say Kirsty, the Laird's daughter, was more of a companion (at least, to Polly). So it's pretty obvious Jamie wasn't meant to join the TARDIS crew all along. From humble beginnings...
Of the actual companions, Polly has the better role, bravely creating a diversion to save the men from a hanging, and generally playing the "modern woman" to Kirstie's easily defeated "primitive". Of course, she's got a lot to learn about respecting other cultures, attempting to strip Kirstie's of her jewelry for money, including an all-important signet ring. It's not very nice of her to call the Scots girl a "peasant", but it's a realistic character flaw for a city girl to look down on country folk (and in the past, isn't everyone country folk?). Ben is a bit of a bumbler, meanwhile, misreading every situation, attracting the attention of the Redcoats with an accidental gunshot, and generally showing his lack of historical knowledge. And then there's the Doctor who frequently defies expectations with his reactions. I like how when he's asked if he's want to people to think him scared, he answers "Why not?", for example. At this point in the series, it seems the production team really do think he's called "Doctor Who", leading to a bit of levity when he passes himself off as a German called Doctor von Wer (again, an impostor). And he finds yet another hat he'd like to wear, thankfully ditching the weird high hat he started wearing in his first appearance.
As with many historical adventures, The Highlanders mixes the drama inherent in the savagery and war of the past, and the sort of comedy we associate with adventure serials. So our heroes are about to be hanged when they are saved by Gray (the only actually historical character), a corrupt solicitor who sells captured rebels as slaves to the colonies. Serious stuff, but writer Gerry Davis relieves some of the tension by making Gray tut at the declining quality of English strategy, strolls onto the battlefield with a bottle of wine, and has a comedy adjutant in Perkins he can abuse. Ffinch's Sergeant gets a black comedy moment when he makes fun of his squeamish officer who always finds an excuse to leave when there's killing to be done. It's a story that's a lot like its Doctor. Deadly serious with a veneer of madcap comedy.
REWATCHABILITY: Medium - A good start to the last historical, with action and comedy in equal measure and as usual, a great performance from Troughton. Fans of Jamie may feel frustrated at how he was initially written though.
TECHNICAL SPECS: Aside from a few brief clips, the episode is story is missing from the archives. Though I've listened to the Frazer Hines-narrated CD release fairly recently, in this case, I've opted for a reconstruction. First aired Dec.17 1966.IN THIS ONE... The TARDIS lands in 18th-century Scotland and it's the first appearance of Jamie McCrimmon.
REVIEW: Some call it the last true historical adventure, and I'm one of them (sorry, but Black Orchid is a genre piece that just happens to be set a few decades in the past), and it's got what it takes to be exciting, dramatic and funny too. And of course, it's the story that first introduces uber-companion Jamie McCrimmon, not that you'd think he was companion material here. No, he's a bloodthirsty sort, loyal to his Laird, putting a gun to the Doctor's head and talking about killing the English. Nor is the role particularly important - he's just one of three Scots attending the wounded Laird, albeit one of only two that survives, though if you were to ask anyone by the end of this episode, they'd say Kirsty, the Laird's daughter, was more of a companion (at least, to Polly). So it's pretty obvious Jamie wasn't meant to join the TARDIS crew all along. From humble beginnings...
Of the actual companions, Polly has the better role, bravely creating a diversion to save the men from a hanging, and generally playing the "modern woman" to Kirstie's easily defeated "primitive". Of course, she's got a lot to learn about respecting other cultures, attempting to strip Kirstie's of her jewelry for money, including an all-important signet ring. It's not very nice of her to call the Scots girl a "peasant", but it's a realistic character flaw for a city girl to look down on country folk (and in the past, isn't everyone country folk?). Ben is a bit of a bumbler, meanwhile, misreading every situation, attracting the attention of the Redcoats with an accidental gunshot, and generally showing his lack of historical knowledge. And then there's the Doctor who frequently defies expectations with his reactions. I like how when he's asked if he's want to people to think him scared, he answers "Why not?", for example. At this point in the series, it seems the production team really do think he's called "Doctor Who", leading to a bit of levity when he passes himself off as a German called Doctor von Wer (again, an impostor). And he finds yet another hat he'd like to wear, thankfully ditching the weird high hat he started wearing in his first appearance.
As with many historical adventures, The Highlanders mixes the drama inherent in the savagery and war of the past, and the sort of comedy we associate with adventure serials. So our heroes are about to be hanged when they are saved by Gray (the only actually historical character), a corrupt solicitor who sells captured rebels as slaves to the colonies. Serious stuff, but writer Gerry Davis relieves some of the tension by making Gray tut at the declining quality of English strategy, strolls onto the battlefield with a bottle of wine, and has a comedy adjutant in Perkins he can abuse. Ffinch's Sergeant gets a black comedy moment when he makes fun of his squeamish officer who always finds an excuse to leave when there's killing to be done. It's a story that's a lot like its Doctor. Deadly serious with a veneer of madcap comedy.
REWATCHABILITY: Medium - A good start to the last historical, with action and comedy in equal measure and as usual, a great performance from Troughton. Fans of Jamie may feel frustrated at how he was initially written though.
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