Doctor Who (TV Series) The Smugglers: Episode 2 (1966) User Reviews

The Doctor and his companions entertain in a Jamaica Inn type adventure

[A_Kind_Of_CineMagic · 6/10 · 21 August 2014]

Review of all 4 parts:

This 4 part adventure on the coast of 17th Century Cornwall takes Doctor Who into a Jamaica Inn type world with a tale of smuggling and hidden treasure.

It could easily be a reasonable quality 1960s BBC production of that kind of period drama but with the interesting addition of the Doctor and his new companions. These new companions (Ben and Polly) perform well providing exactly what is required from companions creating added drama, action scenes and nice dialogue between them and the Doctor. William Hartnell, in his penultimate story before being retired off and replaced with Patrick Troughton, is still on good form.

All the acting, the direction and the general values on show from Brian Hayles' story and its presentation are of a fair standard but are not great and unlike many historical adventures the TARDIS crew's presence is not interacting with events in an intriguing way they are just caught up in events without any great importance. Basically it is just a fairly entertaining romp with some colourful characters. A solid effort but an unexceptional adventure in which the time travel element is too unimportant.

My Ratings: Episode 1 - 6.5/10, Episode 2 - 6/10, Episode 3 - 6.5/10, Episode 4 - 6/10

Overall: 6.25/10

An interesting, historical adventure story.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 18 March 2021]

Ben and Polly are imprisoned, but a resourceful Polly has a bright idea. Smuggling is a popular industry along the Cornish coast.

It's a different feeling episode, historicals had all but vanished in favour of more traditional sci fi, Daleks, Cybermen and Wotan, it's an enjoyable, swashbuckling romp. Some of the dialogue is wonderfully vivid, and grimly descriptive.

Hartnell is sometimes criticised in his final episodes in the role, for fluffed lines, and less energetic performances, personally I have never seen any evidence of it, except for The Celestial Toymaker, where he's poorly, here though he's as wonderful as ever, he's highly charismatic.

George A Cooper is very good as Cherub, an unmistakable voice.

I rather enjoyed this, 7/10.