Written by Peter R. Newman | Directed by Frank Cox | Produced by Verity Lambert | Original air date 07/25/64
Black and white television has always looked good in the gloom. The dark aqueduct scene that opens the episode is darkly lit, giving the scene a much-needed feeling of oppression that otherwise would be completely absent, since we don't see anything of what attacks the Doctor at all. After Ian and Susan get him out of there, the Doctor realizes that one of the Sensorites must be their enemy - it's a bit of a leap in logic, but it makes a sort of sense. Anyway, the Doctor's jacket is ripped up, and he gets a rather fetching cloak (he comments "Beau Brummell always said I looked better in a cloak," yet again referencing an off-screen adventure).
Apparently, according to one of the scientists, Sensorite society is perfect, and all are contented. This is a strange belief to hold, considering how xenophobic and vindictive the City Administrator is (as is his buddy, who I'm going to call Some Guy, even though I think he's referred to in the credits as Fourth). Carol explains what purpose eyelids are for (why, I don't know), and the scientist Sensorite replies, "To see all the time is not a good thing." I can't fathom why a Sensorite would say that, since they're unable to see in the dark and very frightened when that happens.
The City Administrator helpfully reiterates the plot to us, as he explains to the Second Elder shortly before his death at the City Administrator's hands what he's going to do - that he's going to use the sash he has, the Second Elder's sash, to impersonate him. We already knew this - and yes, I grant that this is restating a major plot point from the last episode that viewers may have forgotten, but it could have been written better.
Since the Doctor's coat got ruined, when the Sensorite trying to help the City Administrator blames the Second Elder's death on the Doctor but describes him as wearing his coat when he does it, the City Administrator's plan is foiled. He gets a promotion at the Doctor and Ian's urging, though, as they haven't caught on yet that he's the enemy. Meanwhile, the First Elder handwrings a little about the death of his advisor, but doesn't look into it too closely before promoting the City Administrator and moving on as if nothing had really happened. No one - the Doctor or the First Elder or anyone else - seems very alarmed at the death of the Second Elder. They mostly go about their business and I can't imagine why one or more of them don't want to have some sort of immediate inquiry into what happened with the death.
Carol is grabbed by a Sensorite while the Doctor and Ian head to the aqueduct without telling Susan, and the episode ends. I'm not sure if it's the writing, the directing, or both, but I enjoyed this episode more than the past few, despite its deficiencies. The plot is coming together, now, and tomorrow's episode introduces the final bit of the puzzle we don't have yet.
"Doctor Who" puns so far: 2 | Tomorrow: "A Desperate Venture"
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