The Smugglers

"The distractions... I really thought I was going to be alone again."

Writer: Brian Hayles

Format: TV

Broadcast: 10th September - 1st October 1966

Season: 4.01

Featuring: First Doctor, Polly, Ben

Synopsis 

The TARDIS arrives on the coast of seventeenth century Cornwall - much to the astonishment of Polly and Ben. Pirates led by Captain Samuel Pike and his henchman Cherub are searching for a hidden treasure, while a smuggling ring masterminded by the local squire is trying to offload contraband. 

Verdict 

The Smugglers was a very good serial and was a strong start to both the new fourth season and the first adventure for Polly and Ben in the TARDIS. I must, again, send my upmost thanks to Loose Cannon for creating the brilliant reconstruction of all four missing episodes of this lost serial! Without them I wouldn't have been able to fully visualise the story as it was intended. And a good one it was! Following straight on from The War Machines where Polly and Ben enter the TARDIS, the reaction of the Doctor was very good! He was at first shocked and displeased but because they'd been of such good help in fighting WOTAN, he soon accepted their presence as companions and explained how things and life in the TARDIS worked. It was intriguing how Polly and Ben, two companions associated together like Ian and Barbara, had very different thoughts. Granted they'd only met each other for the first time in the last serial but the differences were clear here, and I think that's exactly how it should be. Ben took his time to believe that the Doctor in fact had a time machine at his disposal and after arrival in Cornwall Polly didn't question the Doctor whilst Ben remained skeptical. I was very intrigued at the Doctor's comment of how he thought he was going to be alone "again." Not since An Unearthly Child has he not had a companion and after it was implied he left his home planet with Susan, just when exactly has the First Doctor travelled alone? I'll believe what he said though! I did like how he intended to travel places alone but surely even he, despite his stubbornness, knew he needed people with him and I think he realised that in this story. Polly and Ben were ideal companions! I loved the humour portrayed by the Doctor when his new acquisitions thought they could easily be returned to 1966. It's not so simple in the early days of the TARDIS! The murder of churchwarden Longfoot was a good focal point for much of the story and I was surprised an incident of such significance occurred as early as it did. The conspiracy behind it and the accusations against Polly and Ben, and also the Doctor! The references to Captain Avery and his treasure were good and I liked how in turn, as this was my first viewing of the serial, this became a loose prequel to The Curse of the Black Spot! The 17th century Cornwall setting was fantastic but I think the plot could have had an extra oomph of pace. Episode two in particular was a bit slow. The violence and bloodshed in this serial was actually terrific and at times you do need to get bloody in Doctor Who! It's not all fun and games. I liked the smuggling that was occuring and it allowed us many guest cast who were mostly very good! Cherub and Squire the standouts. I was surprised that Polly was mistaken as a "lad" for all of this story. I don't care what place or time period you're in, how can you fail to recognise the beauty Polly has in abundance? Her luscious looks, beautifully blonde hair and superb sense of humour have already cemented her place as a wonderful companion. Ben was good as the cockney sailor here and somehow fitted into the time period and location! The plot itself was good but could have been paced a bit more efficiently. But Polly was a shining light and for the first time I noticed how old the Doctor was being a problem. Still, a great start to the season! 

Rating: 8/10