The Edge of Destruction

"You're the cause of this disaster. And you knocked both Susan and I unconscious."

Writer: David Whitaker
Format: TV
Broadcast: 8th February - 15th February 1964
Season: 1.03

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara

Synopsis 

Something has caused the TARDIS console to explode in mid-flight, plunging the ship into darkness and rendering the crew unconscious. As they slowly recover, they find themselves suffering from loss of memory, and headaches. The TARDIS behaves oddly, as the doors open and close of their accord. Has the ship been possessed in some way, or is something more dangerous happening to the time travellers?

Verdict

The Edge of Destruction is a fantastic little serial. Set entirely inside the TARDIS, it sounds like it could get tedious and boring and just drag on. But that was definitely not the case. Their was a great amount of dissension and clashing between the Doctor and his companions. Susan seemed to naturally side with her grandfather against Ian and Barbara who were accused of causing the mishaps inside the TARDIS and attacking the Doctor! The doors were opening mid-flight which wasn't a good sign, something evil could've got in, something possessive. But the great thing was that their was no sign of any faults on the TARDIS instruments! Everything was normal, yet the TARDIS was acting on its own. Or so it seemed. The tension between the crew was brilliant and once everything was resolved, thanks to the Doctor's brilliance and a minor technical fault meaning they hadn't quite indicated a direction or location, the four members were no longer strangers to each other. They knew they could trust each other. It can be argued that An Unearthly Child inside the Cave of Skulls, or whilst trapped and suffering the effects of radiation in The Daleks, united them. But I think it was here in The Edge of Destruction that has ultimately united the Doctor and Susan with Ian and Barbara. Compassion and care has come into play, and slowly but surely the Doctor's companions are making him what we know the Doctor as today. And it's beautiful to watch it unfold in the early years of Doctor Who. At the end of this serial, the Doctor has feelings and actually cares for his companions now. A great mystery and very intriguing serial with a simplistic resolution!

Rating: 9/10