The Sensorites

"It all started out as a mild curiosity in the junkyard, and now it's turned out to be quite a great spirit of adventure."

Writer: Peter R. Newman
Format: TV
Broadcast: 20th June - 1st August 1964
Season: 1.07

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara

Synopsis

The Doctor and his companions land on a spaceship orbiting a distant and mysterious world, where a human crew lie frozen somewhere between life and death.

The planet is the Sense-Sphere, home of the Sensorites, beings of immense intelligence and power. Unable to leave, the Doctor and his companions must deduce the Sensorites' intentions: are they friendly, hostile or frightened? And what is the deadly secret at the heart of the Sense-Sphere?

Verdict

The first season of Doctor Who isn't disappointing me at all with yet another good serial! The Sensorites was full of tension, dissension and mystery. I loved the eeriness of episode one with the TARDIS landing on a spaceship, with two people dead. But John and Carol shockingly awoke! And throughout they were excellent additions for the serial. Brilliant characters. As was John - who was extremely affected by the Sensorites - and his mystery was really good! The Sensorites' appearance was great and the telepathy powers shown were really good, especially once they got to Susan and she left the safety of the spaceship and went down to the Sense-Sphere! The planet was tremendous but the plan going on between the Sensorites themselves, the battle for power, and the evilness of the City Administrator wanting control, and going so far as killing! I really liked the plot, but at times it just seemed to be filling time, and I think six parts was a bit too much for this serial. The use of Sensorite politics, in the future as well, was really good though and the cliffhangers were mostly brilliant. The absence of Barbara was interesting, I'm not sure why they just left her up in the spaceship! But Susan was the highlight in this serial and her guiding of Ian to safety was masterful. But once all was resolved and Ian and Barbara seemed to mock the TARDIS' navigation, the Doctor was outraged and told them that they'd be leaving the ship at the very next stop, no matter where! Would the Doctor really throw his companions out? I guess I'll find out in the season finale...

Rating: 8/10