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An Unearthly Child Format Reviewed: DVD Review Decades worth of terror, enjoyment and above all fun start here with An Unearthly Child. The franchise that is Doctor Who begins with school teachers discussing a strange student, while an unsuspecting audience watches the Doctor Who tale unfold. The first regular cast members chosen are William Hartnell playing the Doctor, Carole Ann Ford as Susan, William Russell as Ian Chesterton and Jaqueline Hill as Barbera Wright. The Doctor and Susan have settled on Earth for a period of time, during which Susan has gone to the local school where she stands out due to the superior knowledge afforded to her as an alien. Ian and Barbera are teachers at the school Susan attends and are concerned about her, so decide to investigate. Little did they know that they would then be caught up in wild adventures in time and space for years to come. In terms of the guest cast, all of the actors put in credible performances. Of particular note is Eileen Ways portrayal of the Old Mother. The tribe politics are what we would assume to be symptomatic of this period in history, and the cast recreate this with real credibility. The story itself is actually relatively strong, considering it has to introduce the series, characters and concepts whilst still engaging the viewer in a tale of survival. The story sends the Tardis crew back to the stone age where they encounter a tribe of early humans in disarray. Their fire-maker is dead, and without him they are unable to create one of the most basic human necessities, warmth. The Tardis crew are largely held captive while brutal tribal politics are played out, until Ian makes fire and they can escape to the safety of the Tardis, just. The story is dark and moody throughout, for which a lot is owed to the director Waris Hussein. It is this quality that really brings the story to life. The story concept is strong and well written by Anthony Coburn and C E Webber, and provides a good start to the series we have come to love. There are several very intriguing points in the story that are well realised. Firstly, the Doctor considers killing one of the tribe only to be stopped by Ian. The Doctor is always considered to be a pacifist who only uses violence as a last resort. This twist gives a good insight into the early life and alien nature of the character however. Secondly, the friction between the characters comes accross really well. Given the situation, this friction would be a natural reaction, but it is well scripted and realised on screen. Finally, the relationship between Susan and the Doctor is also an interesting point. Are they really related? Is Susan a Time Lord too? If not, how have they formed such a close bond? These questions and many others have been debated in fan circles again and again, and with no hard and fast answers they will be debated further in time to come. Overall, An Unearthly Child provides an excellent start to the series that millions worldwide have come to love. Doctor Who begins with a story that sets up the forthcoming episodes well, whilst telling a good tale to boot. Rating:  |