11th March, 2022.
Yes: it’s Friday!
It’s officially a Friday. Which means a few things.
I’ve got back from my weight management meeting, this afternoon: it went well enough.
I’m cooking dinner. Fish and chips, if you must know.
And, as a final thought …
I’m going to be doing what I’ve gone for the past couple of weeks: watching another episode of the Classic Doctor Who story, Galaxy Four.
I should have that written and video review up, late tomorrow night: if not earlier.
Catch you later.
12th March, 2022.
She and the Doctor (William Hartnell) attempt to flee.
Only for the Doctor to make his way out of the ship: with Vicki being trapped as the doors close.
Their only option? Is for the Doctor to try and sabotage the Rills drilling machine, and blackmail the creatures into releasing Vicki.
He knows the machine is producing the ammonia the Rills need in their atmosphere.
While he’s telling Vicki this?
The Chumblies come calling: it seems they want Vicki to visits the Rill commander.
The Commander has a story to tell them.
Back on the Drahvin ship … ?
Steven (Peter Purves) is still held captive.
Whilst he sleeps?
Maaga assigns a guard to him, another to rest, and orders the third to patrol: she wants to find out what the Doctor, Vicki and the Rills are up to: not realising that Steven is not as sleepy as he seems.
Back at the Rill ship … ?
Vicki has been introduced to a commander who’s chosen to keep himself out of sight … and is communicating through one of the Chumblies.
It seems the story the Drahvins told — of how they were attacked in space by the Rills — isn’t quite the full story.
What’s more? The Rills are happy to take the Drahvins with them, when they leave the planet.
All they need … ? Is a little bit of extra energy: something the Doctor is happy to supply.
It’s only then that the Chumbley watching the Drahvin ship contacts its masters.
Steven … ? Is trapped in an airlock … …
~≈🐙≈~
Now …
What did I make of this episode?
What did I think … ?
It’s got to be said? Airlock is yet another good little episode: one that maintains the detail of the recent animated reconstructions.
I’ll be honest, the little we’ve seen of the TARDIS exterior is quite something.
As is the internal walls of both the Rill and Drahvin ships.
It also — possibly unintentionally — does a sneaky bit of reversal.
Most stories? Or, at least, most classic stories? We expect a romantically heroic, and young, Doctor to rescue the trapped damsel in distress.
Or, at least, inspire her to get out of the airlock under her own steam.
I think that applies to many of the modern series, as well.
Airlock, on the other hand?
Is all about the male companion, Steven, being trapped in the titular airlock … and getting rescued by and elderly Doctor and a female companion, Vicki.
It’s quite a contrast.
And possibly a sign of the times.
Vicki also does something of a more traditional Dr Who job.
She ends up getting captured by hideous aliens: the Rills.
And finding out they’re friendlier than they seem: some things don’t change.
~≈🐙≈~
So … where does that leave me, now?
It’ leaves me mildly impressed with a story that I’d imagined could have been a lot worse, at this stage of the game.
It isn’t.
It leaves me encouraged that the last episode, The Exploding Planet, will be a good one.
I’ll be watching that on Friday, 18th March, and will have my written and video reviews up on the 19th.
I’d love if if you joined me: I’ll see you then.
Airlock.★★★★
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