Top Five Audio Serials: The First Doctor

A while back, I started collecting the audio tracks for the lost First and Second Doctor episodes.  Now, it’s obviously terrible that the BBC scrapped so many episodes, but I love that all of them still exist as audios because of fans who recorded them when they aired in the ‘60s.  And really, it’s not so bad – the linking narration (supplied by assorted former companions) fills you in on whatever you can’t hear, the sound quality is surprisingly decent, you can flip through the telesnap “photo novels” on the BBC website for many episodes as you listen, and thanks to the Lost in Time DVD collection, you can even mix in the odd “orphan” episode that escaped the cull.  Here are my favorite missing First Doctor stories.

“Marco Polo” (Series 1, Episodes 14-20)

A nice pure historical, unique for Who in that it’s an earthbound story that takes place outside of Western Europe (come to think of it, One’s era also us “The Aztecs” and “The Crusade” – when did the show get so reluctant to check out other parts of the world?)  I like the characterization of Marco Polo, and Susan’s friendship with Ping-Cho is a lovely side plot.

“The Crusade” (Series 2, Episodes 22-25)

Another historical that takes us across the world, this one featuring Richard the Lionheart.  It’s relies a little too heavy on exotic/barbaric foreigner tropes, but the storyline is interesting and everyone gets a chance to pitch in.  I like Vicki awkwardly pretending to be a boy, and the Doctor stealing period-appropriate clothes is just too much fun.

“The Myth Makers” (Series 3, Episodes 6-10)

Aaaand, how ‘bout one more historical?  (Side note – it’d be interesting to see new Who try a story like this sometime.)  The Doctor, Vicki, and Steven are in good form during the Trojan War.  Highlights include Vicki posing as an oracle, the Doctor trying very hard not to invent the Trojan Horse, and Katarina (companion, we hardly knew ye!) thinking the Doctor is a god.

“The Celestial Toymaker” (Series 3, Episodes 30-33)

This story is pretty strange and doesn’t make sense too frequently, but it’s creative and neat – though not as awesome, it reminds me a little of “The Mind Robber” from Two’s era.  When the TARDIS gets trapped in an artificial world maintained by the whimsically sinister Toymaker, Steven and Dodo have to play for their lives to retrieve it.  There are fun riddles, creepy poems, and living dolls.  What’s not to like?

“The Savages” (Series 3, Episodes 38-41)

I wouldn’t have thought I’d put two Dodo stories on here, but the storytelling is so interesting that I couldn’t help it.  Here, the Doctor, Steven, and Dodo arrive in a seeming utopia, but of course, things are never as they seem.  The intelligent, creative, fit citizens have acquired their gifts at a horrific cost, and team TARDIS tries to make things right in this excellent sci-fi yarn.