Saturday 29th February 1964 - The Singing Sands

Saturday 29th February 1964 - Doctor Who - The Singing Sands

It sounds as if all the devils in hell were laughing.

It's a slow episode which emphasises the dangers of the desert - particularly lack of water - and the danger of Tegana's villainy. Perhaps the tedium of the episode reinforces how frustratingly long a journey across the Gobi Desert would have been. In fact, the previous adventures happened over a few days - so the TARDIS companions have, by the end of this adventure, spent more time together withe Marco Polo than they have before. The Doctor is missing for almost the whole episode. He's sulking about not having access to the TARDIS and hides himself away. Presumably, in real-life, this was to allow William Hartnell to take a holiday. The use of Marco Polo's voiceover and the maps work well. It's the villainous warlord Tegana who steals the episode and, although Susan is suspicious of him, it's clear that others are not going to see his treachery until it's too late. The cliffhanger has Tegana emptying water onto the ground at the oasis, enjoyig the prospect of the death of the others. (I'm not sure why the Doctor or one of his companions doesn't suggest the Doctor fetching water from inside the TARDIS.)

I think this is the weakest of any of the episodes so far. It has its moments: the sandstorm particularly, but the plot has barely moved from last episode. Maybe it's the lack of the Doctor in his own show.

Next week: Five Hundred Eyes