The Moonbase - Episode 1

I start Episode 1 of The Moonbase the day after it was revealed that 9 episodes of Doctor Who had been found in Nigeria. Sadly it isn’t The Moonbase but I’m in a good mood and I have always liked The Moonbase so it’s a good day to be a Doctor Who fan. This is the first appearance of the Cybermen since they appear in William Hartnell’s final adventure. Amazingly that was only two weeks ago. Like that story this is another of those base under siege stories that I enjoy so much. When the story moves to inside the moonbase there is a drama already in motion. It’s not being caused by the Doctor’s involvement but some other influence.

It’s easy to make the argument that this is The Tenth Planet on the moon but that in itself is not a problem. There is a difference and that is the problems that the moonbase is having. There is the illness. We are reminded several times that the Moonbase is very important to the Earth as it controls the weather and when it goes wrong then the effects on Earth are devastating. Due to the increasing number of people collapsing there is a greater sense of tension as it feels like the base is under attack in a slow but calculated way.

The usual trick of keeping a familiar villain out of shot for as long as possible is used here. It’s 18 minutes before we get an indication of the Cybermen. It must have been a surprise in 1967 and they were used well because the temptation would have been to go a bit overboard upon their return but they have popped up at the right time.

Jamie is given the short straw in this episode as he spends the entire episode asleep and rambling due to concussion. It’s a shame really as he seemed to be developing well after the previous four episodes. It means that Patrick Troughton, Anneke Wills and Michael Craze get to do their thing with the regulars and Polly did seem to be playing nurse which is a waste really but the alternative is that she would be filling the screen and doing nothing in the process.

It’s a atmospheric setting opening episode. It does what an opening should do and its got the added bonus of being a base under siege story which I love. The cliffhanger was slightly disappointing as I think that when I stick episode two on the DVD tomorrow this ending might make more sense but as it is this ending is the weakest part of the episode.