Day 58: The Web Planet

The first episode of a serial fulfils an absolutely vital function, that has sadly been neglected in time as the time allotted to this function gets shorter and shorter. It exists to set the scene, so that we become familiar with the world before the plot can get going. As an example, this episode features the TARDIS being affected by an outside force, which has taken over Barbara. Meanwhile, we have seen giant ants on the barren planet, encountered acidic seas, and found a gigantic pyramid like structure. All of this may seem like a lot, but when you get down to plotting, there isn't actually that much that has been done this episode. The ant-like creatures have no perceivable motivation, aside from getting the TARDIS, we have no idea of what has taken over Barbara, why it has done so or indeed how it has done so. The primary function and motivation that we have received so far is explore. Explore the surroundings, and become familiar with the world. It is a vital function because it means that the audience can get a sense of immersion within the surroundings, as they discover things at the same time as the TARDIS crew. It means that when the plot does begin, we start on a level footing, because there are still a lot of things that need explaining, but we have their context already, and so we are able to consider things for ourselves. And that's another function that first episodes bring. They plant ideas in heads in the form of questions, curiosity, if you will. We have no idea what is happening but we have seen it and we want to explore. Like the TARDIS crew, we have been granted the opportunity to witness a world unlike ours and so we as we experience it, we gain their sense of curiosity, and so we are explorers on a distant alien world that is hidden within the television set.