Slight spoilers to all four episodes
After an accident involving the Tardis the crew find themselves in AD 64 just outside Rome and decide to make the most of their time there and relax in a Villa . However Ian and Barbara are kidnapped by slave traders . Trying to find them the Doctor is mistaken for Lyre player Maximus who is ordered to play at the court of Empereror Nero which is difficult as the Doctor can't play a note . Ian and Barbara have their own difficulties as they're sold off as slaves and are separated
This is one of those rare DOCTOR WHO stories that was universally hated by the elder statemen fans who saw it on its original broadcast in 1965 , so much so it's regarded by everyone who never saw it as being one of the worst pieces of television ever produced . That is until they saw it on UK Gold which not only surpassed all expectations but is one of the more enjoyable stories of the Hartnell era
This is the closest the early show ever got to comedy and mixes a premise of mistaken identity and the fall out that involves with straight drama . It never descends in to all out farce , though comes close on some occasions but never forgets the dilemma involving Ian who escapes being a galley slave and Barbara who is in danger of being raped by Empereror Nero . Yes you read that last bit right but it's the kind of rape confined to the CARRY ON films and Benny Hill so in the words of Whoopie Goldberg " it's not rape rape " but the innuendo involved is somewhat tasteless as in " Close your eyes and Nero will give you a big surprise " and one wonders how the show got away with this type of nudge nudge wink wink humour
The story rightly belongs to William Hartnell as The Doctor as he lets his receding hair down . Where the season one story The Aztecs saw Barbara being mistaken for a reincarnation of the God Yetaxa and played as deadly serious here the Doctor is mistaken for a lyre player Maximus and goes along with it in a subplot of relatively sophisticated black comedy . That's not to ignore the dramatic bits and yet again William Russell shines in an understated scene at the episode two cliffhanger by just giving a mere look . Indeed the entire story is good at is getting the mix between the blackly comical , dramatic and the farcical comic completely right in what is a very enjoyable story
After an accident involving the Tardis the crew find themselves in AD 64 just outside Rome and decide to make the most of their time there and relax in a Villa . However Ian and Barbara are kidnapped by slave traders . Trying to find them the Doctor is mistaken for Lyre player Maximus who is ordered to play at the court of Empereror Nero which is difficult as the Doctor can't play a note . Ian and Barbara have their own difficulties as they're sold off as slaves and are separated
This is one of those rare DOCTOR WHO stories that was universally hated by the elder statemen fans who saw it on its original broadcast in 1965 , so much so it's regarded by everyone who never saw it as being one of the worst pieces of television ever produced . That is until they saw it on UK Gold which not only surpassed all expectations but is one of the more enjoyable stories of the Hartnell era
This is the closest the early show ever got to comedy and mixes a premise of mistaken identity and the fall out that involves with straight drama . It never descends in to all out farce , though comes close on some occasions but never forgets the dilemma involving Ian who escapes being a galley slave and Barbara who is in danger of being raped by Empereror Nero . Yes you read that last bit right but it's the kind of rape confined to the CARRY ON films and Benny Hill so in the words of Whoopie Goldberg " it's not rape rape " but the innuendo involved is somewhat tasteless as in " Close your eyes and Nero will give you a big surprise " and one wonders how the show got away with this type of nudge nudge wink wink humour
The story rightly belongs to William Hartnell as The Doctor as he lets his receding hair down . Where the season one story The Aztecs saw Barbara being mistaken for a reincarnation of the God Yetaxa and played as deadly serious here the Doctor is mistaken for a lyre player Maximus and goes along with it in a subplot of relatively sophisticated black comedy . That's not to ignore the dramatic bits and yet again William Russell shines in an understated scene at the episode two cliffhanger by just giving a mere look . Indeed the entire story is good at is getting the mix between the blackly comical , dramatic and the farcical comic completely right in what is a very enjoyable story