Doctor Who (TV Series) The Plague (1966) User Reviews

A bit slow, but has a great twist in the ending.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 27 October 2019]

Dodo's cold has caused mayhem aboard The Ark, the trio of TARDIS travellers must face trial for spreading sickness, and possibly wiping out the human race.

It's a little slower then the first part, it's become a bit of a static court room drama. It feels a bit like a copy of The Sensorites, with a similar storyline. It all seems very simple, at the end they do something very different, a unique event that has never happened again, I applaud them for that moment of originality.

It's a very good looking episode, with spacious sets, and a numerous cast. No wobbly sets on show here, it's all very solid. It's a nice production, well filmed, visually appealing.

I am finding Dodo's numerous accents a little curious, she's slipping in between R.P and Northern English on numerous occasions.

It's a bit safe this episode, it allowed for a big twist. 7/10

The Ark: Part 2 - Interesting and entertaining trip to future times

[A_Kind_Of_CineMagic · 9/10 · 19 August 2014]

Review for all 4 parts:

This is a 4 part story beginning with The Steel Sky.

Quite a fascinating story which features the TARDIS landing in a jungle which turns out to be aboard a huge spaceship which is dubbed by Dodo (the new companion) as an 'ark' because it preserves humans, animals and plants from Earth travelling into distant space in the far future. They also have alien servants called Monoids who are treated more like slaves. The first two episodes revolve around Dodo bringing the common cold on board the ship thus threatening the whole vessel with a plague as there is no resistance or cure. The Doctor and his companions are suspected of deliberately bringing the virus. This is a clever idea in itself and the production as a whole is good.

The Monoids are created well with the actors holding the eye in their mouth and moving it with their tongue. This is amazingly effective. The humans are not as interesting but there is sufficient interest in the story as a whole and there are one or two good human characters such as the Commander. The dialogue is good with the Doctor and Steven providing good performances as usual and Dodo is an adequate, if unexceptional, addition.

The twist that takes episode 3 and 4 into a further future time aboard the same ship now officially named the Ark is what maintains the strong interest for me as a viewer over the full 4 parts. It is a very clever plot device which changes the scenario and gives thoughtful developments such as the Monoids having taken over after years of servitude once the virus allows them to overcome their human masters. The fact this is shown not as an evil act as such but as an understandable reaction to their previous unfair treatment is intelligent writing.

Not among the best but mostly quite impressive despite its average reputation.

My Ratings: Episodes 1-3 - 8.5/10, Episode 4 - 8/10