The Reign of Terror

"I can't decide whether you're a rogue, a halfwit or both!"

Writer: Dennis Spooner
Format: TV
Broadcast: 8th August - 12th September 1964
Season: 1.08

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara

Synopsis

The TARDIS arrives near Paris during the French Revolution, a time of great upheaval, bloodshed and terror. Soon, with the Doctor trapped inside a burning farmhouse, Ian imprisoned and Susan and Barbara on their way to the guillotine, it's clear this will be on of their most dangerous and exciting adventures yet...

Verdict

A wonderful season finale! The Reign of Terror, as the synopsis says, was full of danger and some twists in the serial were really good! With episodes 4 and 5 sadly missing, the animation in place that completes this adventure was sensational! Brilliant likenesses and graphics and really lights up a tremendous Classic adventure. A historical as you can guess, the detail and accuracy of 18th century France was fantastic and I loved the fear that Ian and Barbara had when they found out they'd arrived during the Reign of Terror. Following on from The Sensorites, would the Doctor really leave his friends here? Of course not. And Susan was to thank for that, she was reluctant to see her teachers leave and Ian wanted a better parting than just 'goodbye'. After all, they had gone through so much! So the Doctor accompanied Ian and Barbara in search of a drink but things soon took a turn for the worse. The Doctor had arrived in his favourite period of Earth history - so seemed eager to stay. And as the story unfolded he realised he was wrong and that he needed Ian and Barbara with him. He couldn't abandon them and that was lovely to see. The First Doctor had sentiment after all. The story itself is home to my favourite Classic cliffhanger ever; at the end of part one with the Doctor down and knocked out and the barn is lit alight! I genuinely believed that was it for the Doctor (of course, I knew it wasn't, but that's the affect the cliffhanger had on me!). The guest characters were tremendous with the brilliant Rouvray, Webster and Léon. The message Ian had to find James Sterling was good and once found it seemed surprising. The jailer was tremendous throughout, full of humour and French stereotype. The Doctor was the highlight for me, and I loved how he tricked the jailer with his infamous attire acquired for the serial. Excellent twists, great plot and fantastic cliffhangers! Lots of travelling as well!

Rating: 9/10