The Enemy of the World - Episode 1

Enemy of the World is a story that until October 11^th 2013 only survived with episode intact but thankfully we now have this entire story to enjoy and the only downside is that it wont be released on DVD until November 25 and so I am will be watching this via iTunes. I decided when they came out at midnight that I would buy them as well as the DVD because I was so determined to watch them but decided to wait until I got to them in this marathon. This story is famous for featuring Patrick Troughton playing the Doctor and the main villain who resembles the Doctor. Another thing that is interesting about this story is that its directed by Barry Letts who would go onto the produce all of Jon Pertwee’s stories and also direct several episodes.

First thing is that this is a lovely feeling knowing that I am watching something that hadn’t been seen since it was transmitted back on December 23^rd 1967. The opening moments of the episode sees us realise that sea air makes the Doctor go a bit giddy. A bit of sea and he instantly wants to run to it and have a swim. This is very much was Troughton’s Doctor would do. The story is set just five years in the future (to us) and the early moments seem to suggest that the Doctor is going to be killed and for the viewer there is a question mark as to why this would be. The explanation comes quite quickly and we are explained by people want to kill him and yet others want to help him.

This is a rare instance where the Doctor is forced into a situation. He is being forced to impersonate Salamander. The attempts to make Troughton appears subtly different as Salamander are very good. All they have done really is do the hair differently and also have him talk in a Spanish accent. It’s a great performance from Troughton and there are still five more episodes to come for him to get better. Frazer Hines is back to his best again as he seems to have gone back to being number one companion and Deborah Watling goes back to being what she’s usually like.

I don’t know if I am saying this because I think that Barry Letts is a legend in Doctor Who but I think that the directing is well done in this episode. It’s directed with a pace that there hasn’t been in Doctor Who before. There is a lot of action on the beach and its clear that some money has been chucked at this story because they have managed to secure a hovercraft and a helicopter. Even if their not top of the range they must cost a pretty penny.

The cliffhanger is rather good as we get the first moment of the Doctor being Salamander and it comes after the sinister Bruce is acting like the tough man and the moment Salamander/Doctor comes out it seems like he thunder has been stolen.

A bit of statistical information for a moment so bear with me. This episode is the 46^th episode for Frazer Hines and he is now tied for 4^th place along with Peter Purves and by the end of this story he will be just one episode behind Carole Ann Ford. Also the Second Doctor, Jamie and Victoria combination is the second longest running in the show behind the First Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan which was 51 episodes long. The opening episode is really really good and I think that my dislike for six parters is going to be under strain as this six episode run has the potential to be another cracker. It’s directed well and whilst the writing isn’t as good it all works well enough to make this a great opening episode.