Day 3: The Forest Of Fear

The early days of Doctor Who were filmed in black and white, but it's more apparent here that they're shades of grey. There aren't many straight out good characters in this, each has their own motivation. Take for instance when Za and Hur are hunting the Doctor and company. They're the antagonists in the scene, and yet when Za gets attacked by the wild animal, they're helpless, and in need of assistance which Barbara is keen to give, as is, with some persuading, Ian and eventually the Doctor. It's an interesting scene, as we see Ian adapt to the surroundings, being able to take charge effectively, and be the hero, as opposed to the Doctor, who very much isn't. It's the most noteworthy scene in the episode, as the Doctor picks up a rock and examines it, considering what to do with it. It's brutally apparent that he wishes to bash out the brains of the cavemen with it, so that he can escape, and he lies about it to Ian. This is important as it isn't the Doctor that we know today. It's a Doctor who is willing to kill, something quite unlike even the Doctor in a couple of months. It's part of the reason why we're so lucky to have these early episodes, as it allows us to see these characters develop into the more recognisable characters that we see today