The Highlanders

"Put the foot into him and tramp his English bones into the deck!"

Writers: Elwyn Jones & Gerry Davis

Format: TV

Broadcast: 17th December 1966 - 7th January 1967

Season: 4.04

Featuring: Second Doctor, Polly, Ben

Synopsis 

The time travellers arrive in Scotland just after the Battle of Culloden. The Second Doctor gains the trust of a small bang of fleeing Jacobites by offering to tend their wounded laird, Colin McLaren. While Polly and the laird's daughter, Kirsty, are away fetching water, he and the others are all captured by Redcoat troops commanded by Lieutenant Ffinch.   

Verdict

The Highlanders was a fantastic serial, and the first where there was no doubt that Patrick Troughton was the Doctor. After The Power of the Daleks introduced us to the new man with the keys to the TARDIS, this adventure allowed him freedom and expression of the new. And along with Polly, who's just shone ever since arriving in The War Machines, the Doctor's antics were a big highlight of this serial. The numerous disguises the Doctor dawned in this story were very comical! The main German persona was very good but I'm not sure, this early into his reign as the Doctor, that Patrick Troughton should have been blending in and covering himself up. Despite this, I thought he was tremendous! It shows how much of a change has occurred as I just couldn't imagine the First Doctor dressing up and acting as an old lady. The writers can now give the Doctor more freedom and they've been quick to use the new abilities here. The 18th century Scotland setting was one I really adored with my love of history. Scotland wasn't a great place to be in the 1700s with the fighting against the English so a Doctor Who story taking place here is definitely something that needed to be done and I'm glad it was pounced upon early. But with the Doctor and the setting being highlights, yet again it was Polly who was the star. She looked absolutely sublime! Her hair and attire was just gorgeous and as I've mentioned even her voice is lovely! And her actions in blackmailing Ffinch was one of the greatest companion performances I've ever watched. She was so vicious, devious and conniving. And I absolutely loved it. Polly was flirtatious, passionate and just damn right sexy and I think she's slowly becoming my all time favourite companion. Her relationship with Kirsty in this story was brilliant and its development was nice to see after they originally didn't see eye to eye. The guest  cast were incredibly strong in this story with the likes of Perkins, Kirsty as I've mentioned and Trask. The reference to The Smugglers was nicely placed and I liked how Solicitor Grey proved to be a great historical figure enemy. The scenes on the ship with the English literally trying to sell off the Scottish as slaves were fantastic and this is where Ben fitted in tremendously. The cockney sailor was on the side of the Scottish, so there were obvious complications there and Ben was thrown straight in at the deep! As I say that, that brings me to the cliffhangers which were all excellent, particularly episode three where Ben literally was thrown in at the deep as he was chucked off the ship. For me it was a historic cliffhanger and was one of my all time favourite episode finishes! The overall plot of the serial was excellent and despite the TARDIS trio all being back together early in episode 4, they were going to stay and aid the Scottish on the ship which I thought was lovely! The way they liberated the ship was very clever and it was nice how Jamie had become fond of his savers. I liked Polly's eagerness to have him join onboard the TARDIS instead of leaving him on his own. And the Doctor's agreement, with a joking condition of learning the bagpipes, was wonderful. A new Doctor, and now a terrific trio has become a fantastic four. I look forward to future adventures, reverting back to the very first season with four TARDIS members! 

Rating: 9/10