User Reviews

The Doctor is not impressed with Barbara, she's made the mistake of interfering, having tried to stop the sacrifice, she's made an enemy of Tlotoxl, he tries challenging Barbara's knowledge. Not done yet, Tlotoxl is contriving a battle between Ixta and Ian, she sets up a battle. The Doctor meets Ixta, whose father built the entrance to the tomb where the TARDIS lay, he explains he has a duel with Ian, and tries blackmailing the Doctor, a victory in the duel for the plans. Tlotoxl and Autloc overhear an indiscretion between The Doctor and Barbara, and imprison the Doctor. The Doctor can't warn Ian of the trick he's planning and the fight begins....

I think John Ringham was rather brilliant as Tlotoxl, being so used to his character 'Norman' in Just good friends, what a sharp contrast, he was a very good actor. Tlotoxl is a real villain. I've just watched and reviewed Colony in Space, they rather wasted him in that.

The acting is rather wonderful, it's faultless, not a single weak link. The script is just so good. I enjoyed the Doctor's romancing of Cameca in the garden. It's truly a lavish early adventure. 9/10

Ian and Ixta are set to fight for leadership of the Aztec army, but the Doctor may have a hand in Ian's defeat.

It's amazing how good John Lucarotti's script is, and all the actors give it the dignity it deserves. Carole Ann Ford is on vacation this week, so she only appears in film inserts. Jacqueline Hill is fantastic, and Hartnell is on top form, especially in his scenes with Margot Van Der Burgh.

However, John Crockett's direction is still awful. The camera work isn't as bad as it was last episode, but we have to suffer through another badly staged fight scene.

The Aztecs - Review of all 4 parts:

This is a 4 part adventure beginning with The Temple of Evil. It is a pure historical adventure with the TARDIS crew arriving in a tomb in 15th Century Mexico during the time of the Aztecs. The TARDIS becomes trapped inside the tomb with the crew outside the tomb's inaccessible sliding door. Barbara is taken to be the reincarnation of their goddess Yataxa by the high priest of knowledge Autloc but is doubted and proclaimed a false God by the high priest of sacrifice Tlotoxl. Barbara tries to influence against human sacrifice despite the Doctor's insistence that this is meddling in the past which cannot be done, and they all try to find a way to get to the TARDIS before the Aztecs turn on them.

This is a top notch adventure, brilliantly scripted by John Lucarotti, following on from his previous great historical adventure 'Marco Polo'. It is beautifully acted with an interesting plot that includes very strong material about whether the time travellers can or should interfere with historical events.

Doctor Who is a time travel adventure not just another space adventure. The time travel aspect made it far more unique at the time and is still a central part of what the programme is. So great historical adventures like this show the value of exploring the time travel aspect of the show. Considering morality and possible outcomes of interference in history is a tremendous concept to bring to audiences and this story does it wonderfully. It really demonstrates how axeing historical stories a few years later was a big mistake. If done seriously and intelligently like this, Marco Polo, The Massacre, The Crusade etc they were a great addition to the series. They provided variety, moral dilemmas and great drama. When turned into lightweight comedy or executed badly they flopped a bit but they needed more thought, not axeing. Rather like the whole show in 1989!

William Russell and Jacqueline Hill as Barbara and Ian are two of the finest companions the Doctor ever had and they are superb here as is William Hartnell as The Doctor.

Carole Ann Ford as Susan has one of her best performances here too. Autloc and a female elder Cameca are fantastic too.

Tremendous adventure across all four episodes.

My Ratings: All 4 Episodes 10/10.