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The Doctor demands answers from
The Meddling Monk (Peter Butterworth).
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4 episodes: The Watcher, The Meddling Monk, A Battle of Wits, Checkmate. Running Time: Approx. 98 minutes. Written by: Dennis Spooner. Directed by: Douglas Camfield. Produced by: Verity Lambert.
THE PLOT:
The TARDIS materializes on an English beach in the year 1066, but this time its appearance does not go unnoticed. Unbeknownst to the Doctor, a mysterious Monk (Peter Butterworth) observes the timeship's landing, and does not seem particularly startled by it.
The Doctor's temper is tested by an argument with new companion Steven Taylor (Peter Purves), who is skeptical that the TARDIS travels in time. He decides to explore alone, telling Steven and Vicki to join him at the top of a nearby cliff. By the time the Doctor finds a Saxon village, his irritation has faded - but he is intrigued when he hears a strange "skip" in the chanting of the local monastery, and he can't help but investigate. Inside the monastery, he discovers the source of the chanting: Not monks, but a gramophone!
Steven and Vicki make some a strange find of their own - a wristwatch, discovered on the ground by a Saxon villager. Their path also takes them to the monastery, where they become convinced that the Monk is holding the Doctor prisoner. They break in that night, only to find the Doctor has already escaped. More than that - the Monk's authentic Saxon sarcophagus isn't a sarcophagus at all.
"It's a TARDIS!" Vicki exclaims. "The Monk's got a TARDIS!"
CHARACTERS:
The Doctor: He clearly finds it exasperating that Steven refuses to believe they've traveled in time. When they discover a Viking helmet and Steven scoffs at it, the Doctor snaps, "What do you think it is - A space helmet for a cow?" He clearly misses Ian and Barbara, and voices concern that Vicki is choosing to stay with him just to look after an old man, none of which helps his mood. When he discovers the anachronisms caused by the Monk, he is delighted to have a mystery to sink his teeth into... until he discovers the Monk's intention to meddle with history, that is, at which point the lightness is replaced by a stern, angry authority. Hartnell is magnetic, and his interactions with Peter Butterworth's conniving Monk are hugely entertaining.
Vicki: "Either let us go or do whatever you're going to do, but make up your minds!" Vicki is fantastic in this story. Captured along with Steven by Saxon villagers, who fear they are Viking scouts, she more or less berates them into believing her. When they agree to let them go, with some food in the bargain, she forcefully glares at Steven until he takes the hint and gives thanks. Her interactions with Steven are entirely different than with Ian and Barbara. There, she was essentially a surrogate child, allowing (if occasionally chafing at) their protectiveness. Here, she mostly takes the lead, treating Steven like a slightly dim-witted older brother. Her scenes with the Doctor remain charming, as she spends the opening moments of the story reassuring him that she genuinely wants to stay and travel with him.
Steven: His first proper story shows that he is very different than Ian was. He still fulfills the action man role - But with a lot less judgment and restraint. When they see a Saxon villager picking the Monk's watch up off the ground, he ignores Vicki's protests and jumps out of hiding to basically tackle the man, simply to see what it is he is holding. Despite being headstrong and stubborn, however, he is not stupid. When he and Vicki search for the Doctor at the monastery, he knows immediately that the Monk is lying to them, and comes up with a ploy to make the man reveal himself. Peter Purves is an agreeable screen presence, and he and Maureen O'Brien spark instantly together.
The Meddling Monk: The first time we meet one of the Doctor's own race - A rival, whose agenda the Doctor feels duty bound to fight against. No, the Monk isn't the Master - But you can pretty easily see him as a sort of less sinister prototype. Unlike The Master, he doesn't come across as evil so much as irresponsible. He doesn't want to rule the planet, he has no visions of galactic conquest. The sense is of a child, stirring things up just to see what will happen, so that he can sit back and enjoy the chaos. When he reveals his "master plan" to the Doctor, he seems to genuinely want the older man's approval - And is disappointed when he doesn't get it.
THOUGHTS:
Confession time: I loved Barbara, and I liked Ian, and the ensemble of Ian, Barbara, and Vicki was often delightful... But I actually prefer the Steven/Vicki team. Sadly, thanks in part to the arrival of a new producer in Season Three, this team would not last long - But they are an absolute delight, O'Brien and Purves playing wonderfully (often hilariously) opposite each other, and also both enjoying strong rapport with William Hartnell. This is my favorite First Doctor lineup, and I regret that The Time Meddler is their only fully existing story.
That said, if only one of their stories was to survive, I am glad it was this one! The Time Meddler is significant, of course, both as the first story not to feature Ian and Barbara and as the first story to introduce another member of the Doctor's people. But forget all of that - It is a cracker of a story: well-paced, often quite funny but never at the expense of the drama, and constantly imaginative.
Dennis Spooner's script is engaging and well-structured. The first episode takes a bit of time to reflect on the departure of Ian and Barbara, then takes another few minutes to introduce Steven and establish him as a new regular. The first two episodes reveal information in pieces. At first, we seem to be firmly in the familiar "Hartnell historical" territory, with Saxons and an imminent Viking invasion. But the Monk isn't at all surprised by the TARDIS... the Doctor finds the phonograph... Steven and Vicki find the wristwatch. It's made clear in tiny bits and pieces that something more is going on, until the big revelations hit in the final episodes.
It's also a strong visual story. I noticed right away, in the opening TARDIS scenes, how many shots stand out - from Vicki regarding a clock, to the way the Doctor and Vicki are framed when discussing Ian and Barbara. I made a bet with myself and, at the end of Episode One, carefully watched the credits. Sure enough, the final credit popped up: "Directed by Douglas Camfield." As with The Crusade, it just was instantly apparent how much more care was taken to the visual element here than in any of the surrounding stories. This is only Camfield's second full story as director, but I already feel very confident labeling him the series' best director at this stage of its run. There isn't even a close choice for second place!
It falls just shy of full marks because the resolution feels a touch rushed (although the Doctor's final surprise for the Monk is a delight). Still, this is a very good story, possibly one I would label ideal for introducing modern viewers to the Hartnell era.
Overall Rating: 9/10.
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