Doctor Who was an experimental show, in the 1963 – 66 period. Featuring, a mysterious alien time-traveller – of unknown origin; who journeyed through time-and-space – in a distinctive time-machine, with his grand daughter; Susan.
Doctor Who – featured the surprise casting of little known character actor, William Hartnell; a then – 40-year veteran of stage-and-screen. Hartnell was usually cast, in supporting roles; as antagonists – rather than as a lead performer.
An Unearthly Child featured the introduction of the mysterious Doctor, Susan and kidnapped teachers; Ian and Susan. Who began a random journey through space-and-time, never sure – of where they would end up.
If the Daleks gave the early series, a welcome boost. Then it was solidified – in the development of the classic hook of; “blindly travelling through space-and-time”; which would provide the central formularic core of the show; for the next 26 years.
The early series, was split into science-concept episodes; which were set in space, on alien worlds – or a future Earth. Through to Earth historical period-dramas; which faithfully covered varying Earth periods. Usually with a cheeky bit of historical influence; from the Doctor.
The Doctor visited far-flung worlds, meeting telepathic Sensorites in The Sensorites. Sub-serviant Monoids in The Ark. He also presided over a civil war – between the butterfly Menoptra and ant-like Zarbi, in The Web Planet.
The First Doctor, had a fondness for Earth history. Particularly, the French Revolution (The Reign of Terror) – and 1960’s London; where we first met the Doctor – in An Unearthly Child. The Doctor also battled the fearsome artificial intelligence WOTAN; in London 1966 – in The War Machines. In what was; an early UNIT-style nod, to the Doctor – working with the military.
Hartnell brought a deep sense of commitment and purpose – to his portrayal of the Doctor, which was carefully developed over the following three seasons.
He displayed a myriad of complex and interspersed moods and emotions. Swinging between kindly and humourous grandad, boastful and arrogant teenager – and petulant child. All of this, was underpinned – by a quiet sense of intelligence, authority – and superiority.
The Doctor had an on-running battle, with his teenage grand-daughter Susan; who he still felt was still a child. However, Susan felt she was an independant young woman. It was with heavy heart/s, that the Doctor chose to leave her behind, with her new love; David in The Dalek Invasion of Earth.
And this became the theme of the First Doctor’s ongoing travels; meeting and losing companions. Sometimes he met young girls, who seemed to fill the void left by Susan (Vicki, Dodo, Polly). Other times, he chose not to save someone – or interfere, as if choosing to observe the (as yet not referenced); “Laws Of Time”.
The Doctor finally met a fellow time traveller – known as the Meddling Monk, in The Time Meddler and again in The Daleks’ Master Plan. Setting up a rivalry and feud, which continued through time-and-space. The Monk manipulated Earth events, for his own ends; which outraged the Doctor.
However, the Doctor was quick to forget – about his own (sometimes well-intentioned) meddling. Such as offering the idea of the wheel, in The Aztecs and the idea for the Greek Wooden-Horse (during the Siege Of Troy), in The Myth Makers.
The Doctor began to feel time – catching up with him, in The Smugglers and upon a visit to an Earth military base; in The Tenth Planet collapsed in the Tardis – and underwent a “change of face” (the term ‘regeneration’ – wasn’t coined until the Pertwee era).
Strangely, the First Doctor’s final turn, was not – following a battle with the Daleks again. As fate may have otherwise dictated – but with a soon-to-be other cult monster; the Cybermen.
Hartnell left the role – due to deteriorating health, having established the mythos; which would ground – and propel the show forward; over the next 3 decades. His Doctor perhaps can be regarded as the most mysterious; due to a lack of detail of his earlier life/background.
