Writer: Ian Stuart Black
Format: Audio
Broadcast: 28th May - 18th June 1966
Season: 3.09
Featuring: First Doctor, Steven, Dodo
Synopsis
The TARDIS has arrived on a far-distant and seemingly idyllic world. Yet the Doctor, Steven and Dodo learn it hides a terrible secret: the apparently civilised Elders maintain their advanced soviet by draining and transferring to themselves the life-force of the defenceless savages.
Verdict
The Savages was a brilliant serial and served as a fantastic farewell to Steven! Significant for it being the first TV story to acquire an umbrella title on screen for all the episodes contributing to a story, I'm surprised it took them nearly three years to do so. The beginning of the first episode, after the lead in from The Gunfighters, was very intriguing. The Doctor was utterly convinced that the TARDIS had landed in an age of peace and prosperity in the far future. But upon arrival it was reminiscent of An Unearthly Child with humans seen in animal skins and using weapons such as spears. Could this really be the future? The arrival of the city guards confirmed that the Doctor was right and from the get go I was delved into the story with mighty intrigue. If the Doctor was right, which seemed so, about them being in a peaceful future then why were there savages? As the story unfolded the awful truth was revealed. But before that I really liked how the Doctor was honoured by the city elders. I loved the fact that they had tracked the TARDIS through time and space for many a year and had even estimated his arrival! This was definitely an advanced society, which made the nearby savages all the more questionable. Dodo was terrific in this story and after an edgy start she's more than at home as companion and her relationship with Steven has made her run fantastic so far! The guest cast in this serial were very good. Chal, Jano and Nanina particularly stood out for me. The scenes in episode three where it seemed momentarily that Jano had mentally switched places with the Doctor were very good! I was pleasantly surprised and overwhelmed by such an occurrence. However, the fact that Jano had just absorbed some of the Doctor's thinking which provided the story's resolution was still superb! Avon and Flower, two very clever names, were magnificent characters and the aura they brought really was unique! The conflict between the Elders & city natives and the savages was a great focal point for the story and naturally the TARDIS trio sided with the savages. Their treatment was horrific! The elders using them simply as a source of energy for themselves and scientific advancement was just awful. The horror displayed by the Doctor was terrific and so brilliantly typical of our hero. Outrage is an understatement! I admired how the Doctor, when prompted by Dodo to return to the TARDIS and leave safely, refused to leave the savages to be continually undermined. And so he took on a plan and with the help of Jano the influence and machinery that was the source of power was demolished. The Doctor took great pleasure in destroying something evil which was very good to see! The farewell to Steven was a lovely moment. He would stay to be a mediator between the savages and elders and restore the planet to democracy and equality. I really liked how the Doctor took pride in Steven's decision to stay. He'd come a long way on his travels with the Doctor. A brilliant companion who will be missed!
Rating: 9/10
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