The Aztecs

"You can't rewrite history, not one line!"

Writer: John Lucarotti
Format: TV
Broadcast: 23rd May - 16th June 1964
Season: 1.06

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara

Synopsis

The TARDIS takes the Doctor and his companions back in time to fifteenth century Mexico, the centre of the Aztec civilisation. But when Barbara is mistaken for the reincarnation of the High Priest Yetaxa, the time travellers find themselves caught up in a vicious political power struggle which could cost them their lives...

Verdict

The Aztecs is another wonderful script from John Lucarotti. Obviously shorter than Marco Polo, this story was also perfectly paced and four parts was definitely the right timing. The plot was brilliant and there was never any lack of tension or danger. This serial is also extremely important for the future of Doctor Who, where the Doctor lays down a pivotal rule as you can see with my opening quote. I loved the force and emotion the Doctor said it in and he was horrified by Barbara wanting to change history! The Aztecs are remembered for their sacrifices, imagine if that all changed! Barbara was tremendous in this serial and I loved how she embraced the role of Mexican goddess as Yetaxa. Susan was quiet in this one but following on from Lucarotti's last serial, she certainly wasn't going to have a husband arranged for her. Ian was excellent also and the scenes with Ixta were very good. Autloc, the High Priest of Knowledge was a brilliant character and his following of Barbara, obeying her words, was great. But Tlotoxl as the main villain was just superb. It's quite ironic how he was seen as the villain in the story when in actual fact he was right all along, claiming Barbara was a false goddess. But exposure would mean death - and that was not an option. The fact that the Doctor got engaged was just tremendous and the humour of the First Doctor really shone through. The cliffhangers, most notably the final one, were marvellous. The fact that the TARDIS was trapped, unreachable, was very good and always left the serial with something to achieve. And once it was, the team just managed to escape and left the Aztecs confused it seemed. Prior to that, when Barbara stopped the sacrifice, the fact that the victim killed himself anyway for honour was interesting, and it seemed to lead to realisation for Barbara that history cannot be changed. That's now a fundamental part of Doctor Who, and it was established in this fantastic serial!

Rating: 9/10