The Time Meddler is the first story for Peter Purves as Steven Taylor who played two roles in the previous story ‘The Chase. We are introduced to The Meddling Monk who is another Timelord (though not called that) and he likes Meddling with the events of history. The opening scenes are in the TARDIS and are quite sad because it acknowledges the departure of Ian and Barbara which was the last eminence of the first line up of the show back in 1963.
The story spends a large part of the first episode with Steven not believing that the TARDIS is a space and time machine. In fact this refusal to believe what’s in front of him starts to get a bit annoying. Despite waking up in a completely different environment to that of which he left, he still finds it hard to believe that he is in 1066. Thankfully, all that nonsense disappears and we are left with the main plot which is trying to make sure that history happens as it should instead of what the Monk wants to see happen. I actually found it quite funny when Steven and Vicki get into the Monk’s TARDIS and discover all of the Monk’s stuff and how he’s got to different times and made himself wealthier. The thing about the Monk is that he isn’t evil, just greedy. I think that’s more to do with Peter Butterworth who is truly marvellous and is even better when returns in ‘The Daleks Master Plan’. The on-screen chemistry between Hartnell and Butterworth is one of the best things about this story. His absence from Episode 2 allows Peter Purves and Maureen O’Brien to take centre stage and this is where I think the story does rather well because it turns Steven from being a disbeliever to a believer.
There are two things about the end of this story that I like. The first being how the Monk thinks that he has got away but the cheeky note that the Doctor has left for him dispels that. The camera pulling away from the Monk and he sits down on the step and puts his head in his hands is just a perfect way to leave the character. The second thing is how just seconds before it ends there are the faces of the three regulars. It’s the series’ attempt to say that this is a new era in the show and that it’s going to be better than ever.
I really like The Time Meddler and think that its quite a fun story. It’s a story that doesn’t take itself too seriously and has a bloody good time doing it.
The story spends a large part of the first episode with Steven not believing that the TARDIS is a space and time machine. In fact this refusal to believe what’s in front of him starts to get a bit annoying. Despite waking up in a completely different environment to that of which he left, he still finds it hard to believe that he is in 1066. Thankfully, all that nonsense disappears and we are left with the main plot which is trying to make sure that history happens as it should instead of what the Monk wants to see happen. I actually found it quite funny when Steven and Vicki get into the Monk’s TARDIS and discover all of the Monk’s stuff and how he’s got to different times and made himself wealthier. The thing about the Monk is that he isn’t evil, just greedy. I think that’s more to do with Peter Butterworth who is truly marvellous and is even better when returns in ‘The Daleks Master Plan’. The on-screen chemistry between Hartnell and Butterworth is one of the best things about this story. His absence from Episode 2 allows Peter Purves and Maureen O’Brien to take centre stage and this is where I think the story does rather well because it turns Steven from being a disbeliever to a believer.
There are two things about the end of this story that I like. The first being how the Monk thinks that he has got away but the cheeky note that the Doctor has left for him dispels that. The camera pulling away from the Monk and he sits down on the step and puts his head in his hands is just a perfect way to leave the character. The second thing is how just seconds before it ends there are the faces of the three regulars. It’s the series’ attempt to say that this is a new era in the show and that it’s going to be better than ever.
I really like The Time Meddler and think that its quite a fun story. It’s a story that doesn’t take itself too seriously and has a bloody good time doing it.
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