The Time Meddler

"I've finally got my little sister back."

Writer: Phil Ford

Format: Webcast

Released: November 2023

Series: Tales of the TARDIS 1.05

Featuring: Vicki, Steven

Synopsis

Steven and Vicki meet again and remember their first adventure battling a time-travelling Monk about to change the course of history in 1066.

Verdict

The Time Meddler was another stunning Tales of the TARDIS episode! This is such a feel good series and I really do hope that this is just the beginning. The very idea of getting to do a story like this between two companions from the First Doctor era is extraordinary! We get to see Steven and Vicki reprises their roles nearly six decades after they last played them on screen which is nothing short of remarkable. It really is a delightful treat to get Maureen O'Brien and Peter Purves reunited and this was a fine celebration of the First Doctor era. Choosing The Time Meddler as the story to retell for these two companions is a very smart choice, not that there were a whole host of options! It was lovely to see Vicki now very much in her elder years but still adorning that Ancient Greek attire. She looked splendid and I loved the way she marvelled at the Memory TARDIS. There were plenty of memories there and she had no doubt despite the change of design for the interior that this was the Doctor's TARDIS. Having her spot his pocket watch was lovely and something so simple really didn't bring back fond memories of the First Doctor. Vicki was keen to explore everything on offer inside the TARDIS which was quite fun and a reminder of her inquisitive nature. The moment she bumped into Steven and they got to reunite was really lovely. I liked how Steven was able to catch her up on events after she left in The Myth Makers and tell how when he departed in The Savages he left as a king. Her reaction to that was lovely and it was just so nice to oversee these old friends catching up. Vicki finding the Viking helmet that they found on the beach was really nice and a fun way to delve into the storytelling of the serial depicted here, with some fun memories of the Meddling Monk mentioned. I was delighted that even after the serial had been replayed that Steven was keen to point out this wasn't the last time they encountered the Monk. Vicki had found the Monk's dimensional stabiliser which was a lot of fun and wonderful to see in colour! But Steven was on hand to let her know that they met again in a lovely The Daleks' Master Plan recollection. Vicki claiming to be jealous of the further adventures Steven had with the Doctor was interesting and not something I actually expected to hear, but it was also really nice for her to confirm that she had no regrets of staying with Troilus. Even if she was a farmer now! I must admit, that's a profession I couldn't see Vicki doing but she would have matured a considerable amount since she left the Doctor. It was really nice to get an update of both Vicki and Steven having children and grandchildren now as they would certainly both be great family people. The moment the story finished on as Vicki was convinced they were being watched by the Doctor was really nice and the camerawork panning to the scanner in black and white was beautiful direction. I really like the idea of the Doctor looking on, but Vicki wanted to actually see him. She and Steven wished that they could be reunited with him once again, and where else than the TARDIS would a wish be more powerful? That was really nice and I think Vicki's reaction and hearing that infamous First Doctor chuckle was one of the most poignant moments I've seen in Doctor Who. It was absolutely stunning and really hit me in the feels! A stunning moment that shows the beauty of this series. Overall, another tremendous episode! 

Rating: 9/10