Series 1 Episode 35: Kidnap

Serial: The Sensorites
Episode: 5 (Kidnap)
Doctor: William Hartnell
Companions: Barbara, Ian, and Susan

Writer: Peter R. Newman
Director: Frank Cox
Producer: Verity Lambert
Original Air Date: 25/07/1964

EN ATTENDANT BARBARA (and other stories)

In which everyone abandons all pretence and just wants to know when Barbara's coming back. Or maybe that's just me.

Right, so just one more Barbaraless episode to go and then oh god why was this ever a six-parter? I’m enjoying it, but there’s a fuckload of filler and I seem incapable of skipping over it.

Anyway, the Doctor is being bellowed at by an unseen menace, and it looks like Susan and Ian can hear it, too, wherever they are in the aqueduct system. Susan does the thing where women ask Ian what a noise/creature/thing is when he’s the least qualified person in the room, and obviously he hasn’t a Scooby. She checks that the recently-poisoned Ian is ok, tells him to lean on her, then bolts when she hears the Doctor yelling at something or someone to keep away.

I may or may not have increased the speed of this gif.

They arrive on the scene to find the Doctor on the floor with his coat in shreds. Ian seems to be back to normal because he’s ordering Susan to gather up the Doctor’s bits and pieces and dragging the Doctor to his feet. Susan spots a mystery object in amongst the pipes (a hole in the wall or some sort) and is curious about it so it can be significant later; Ian thinks they should get the hell out of Dodge.

Back in the city, Carol is giving the Sensorites a hard time about leaving Team Where’s Barbara Already in the lurch. They distract her with talk of her almost de-deranged fiancé John, who’s getting his final treatment done at the Brain Salon, and encourage her to think of the friend she’s about to regain rather than the ones she’s just lost. ‘Those poor people’, she murmurs.

At the entrance to the aqueduct, Team Where’s Barbara Already are mourning the loss of the Doctor’s coat and remarking on how weird it is that the claw marks didn’t reach the Doctor’s skin. Apparently something hit him under the heart(s?) and whatever it was was invisible and it was most unpleasant and thank chuff he gave them the antidote or he’d have been a goner. Which brings us neatly to the topic of Susan and Ian not having received the antidote, leading them to the conclusion that they’ve an enemy among the Sensorites—that’s two separate enemies! How concerning. And OH WHAT’S THIS? A Sensorite has just popped up behind them, and has apparently been spying on the gang!

So spy. Much stealth.

Back in the Brain Salon, John is still muttering about treachery and plots and wants to warn them but can’t quite manage it. The medical guy says John has to be delusional:

SCIENTIST: It must be illusion. Our society is based upon trust; treason or secret plotting is impossible.
CAROL: That's rather a sweeping statement.
SCIENTIST: But why should a Sensorite make any secret plans against anyone? We have the perfect society, all are contented.
CAROL: Some people always want more than others.
SCIENTIST: That is a human quality, surely.
CAROL: Perhaps!

Ooh, that’s juicy! And indeed Orwellian. Also Carol is great and this kind of discussion in Sci-Fi is also great.

Anyway, Carol composes herself and asks the Sensorite to carry on with his explanation of brain-related things, which a) just to be safe I’m going to preface with a Mental Health CW just because it’s pretty evocative to me at least and b) I’m pretty sure I’ve seen in various YA novels from my youth; in fact I can tell you exactly it was in a book I read as a teen (which was in the downstairs loo for about 15 years) called Song Quest, where there were these five songs sung for different magical purposes and the Death Song could be used in small doses to make you forget by closing doors in your head. Fun facts abound.

SCIENTIST: We discovered long ago that in our brains there were many different compartments. When fear and alarm is at work, that section becomes open, a veil is lifted, do you understand.
CAROL: Yes.
SCIENTIST: That is what has happened to the man John, but the veil will not lower itself. Thus he is constantly afraid, even when he's at peace. When he's asleep for example; the body says one thing, the brain the other - thus his condition. Utter confusion.
CAROL: And this treatment you're giving him is in order to close down that veil?
SCIENTIST: Yes. Not permanently of course, or he would step into danger without concern, the veil must function normally again.
CAROL: It's rather like an eyelid isn't it? Oh, these shutters over my eyes.
SCIENTIST: Hah, yes. To see all the time is not a good thing.

But really this is excellent stuff.

Anyway, back in the City Administrator’s lair, the Engineer is telling all about having seen the Doctor and pals emerging from the aqueduct entrance. Which is alarming for the CA, especially as John’s nearly cured and can speak against him. After a bit of floridly xenophobic dialogue, the CA tells the Second Elder (whose sash he’s stolen, remember) to contact the Senior Warrior with his mind transmitter and get him to bring along the firing key of the disintegrator…or else his family group gets it. The Second Elder does as he’s told. Once the CA has left, the SE asks the Engineer why he follows the CA, and is told the CA ‘will not betray our people or surrender our planet’; it’s beginning to sound distinctly Trumpy now.

Back in the city, it’s the recently-mauled Doctor who’s now dragging Ian along:

DOCTOR: Well you've been exerting yourself boy, naturally you're weak.
SUSAN: He can rest now can't he Grandfather? We'll force him to.
IAN: I wish you two'd stop fussing over me.
DOCTOR: Now, now, now, you must do as you are told and that is that!

The giddy zeal with which the two Gallifreyans are concerning themselves with the health of their pet human is almost endearingly violent.

Enter the CA ‘disguised’ as the Second Elder; the Doctor runs after him. At this point, Ian starts wondering how Barbara’s getting on:

SUSAN: It's a funny place down here isn't it?
IAN: What about up there? I wonder how Barbara's getting on?
SUSAN: Mm, I wish she were down here with us.
IAN: I wish we were up there in the TARDIS and away from here. Still, I know what you mean.

Then this happens:

YES PLEASE CAN WE HAVE BARBARA BACK NOW?

The Doctor comes back laughing about how the Second Elder ran away from him, and Susan makes a racist joke about their comically floopy feet. As a viewer, of course she’s entirely right, but if we’re assuming that in their world it’s not a stupid costume, Bad Susan. The Doctor assures her he was ‘very mobile’.

Back in the City Administrator’s lair, he has the firing key, which leads him to exclaim ‘NOW I HAVE THE POWER!’, which is…yeah. Just as the CA is about to use the firing key to get the disintegrator working (and presumably kill all the humans), the Second Elder jumps up, grabs the key, and bends it in half; the Engineer punches him to the ground AND KILLS HIM, but it’s too late—they key is beyond repair. What will they do to avoid punishment? Nobody cares.

Back with the First Elder, the gang is discussing the weirdness of the Second Elder’s actions. It’s been discovered that said SE (who is really the CA) blocked the antidote; the First Elder can’t and won’t believe he’s guilty. Someone arrives with a cloak for the Doctor, who has spare coats in the Tardis but who has been told by Beau Brummel that he looks better in a cloak. Such a namedropper.

Gifs by cleowho.

Enter the City Administrator in his own collar this time with urgent news: the Second Elder has been murdered and it was the Doctor wot dunnit! Susan immediately leaps up and yells that it’s not true, but the Doctor pulls her back down while the assembled Sensorites give evidence against him. The Engineer concludes by saying he saw the Doctor take an object from inside his coat and use it to kill the Second Elder.

Ian, clearly bored, or acting on a look from the Doctor, takes on the Defence. And is much better at it than the Doctor was on Marinus in his defence. He asks how the Engineer knows the Doctor: the Engineer replies that he knows him by his hair and his coat; Ian asks if he’s sure it was his coat; when the Engineer says he’s sure, the Doctor stands up and flourishes his cloak like the Drama Lord he is. Well-played, Space Bros. The Engineer backtracks and says he was sure it was a actually a cloak; the First Elder tells the Engineer he’s only just presented it to the Doctor. BUSTED.

As the Engineer is taken away, the CA seems undeterred and rolls with his change of fortunes by heaping blame upon the Second Elder; Susan reckons it was the Second Elder who was in fact their enemy. The First Elder needs to appoint a new Second Elder, and the CA happens to have the sash handy; Team Where’s Barbara Already think they’re awfully clever when the reckon that if the CA thinks he got a promotion because of them, he’d be a useful ally, and immediately recommend him for office; the Doctor proceeds to nominate the CA. It is done, and the CA is now the Second Elder.

Team Where’s Barbara Already goes out, buoyantly; Susan reminds Ian he was going to ask about Barbara; Ian reckons it’s not quite the right moment. IT IS EXACTLY THE RIGHT MOMENT, IAN. GOD. Then this happens:

IAN: Oh, and er, congratulations.
EX-ADMINISTRATOR: When you address one of the Elders you call him sir!

WELL LA-DI-DA.

Back in the salon, John has had his final treatment, and appears to be back to normal; he recognises Carol, who is Very Emosh, and actually it’s really touching. Carol introduces John to the Scientist who cured him, and John teaches him how to shake hands. Enter Team Where’s Barbara Already; the Doctor proclaims it a happy scene; I concur. John remembers Susan distinctly (OF COURSE!) and Ian and the Doctor introduce themselves; John wants to know where Barbara is. ME TOO, JOHN.

Susan asks John what he was trying to warn them about; John tells her there was a dangerous Sensorite about; the New Second Elder happens to be eavesdropping at the door and interrupts, asking whether said plotting Sensorite is in the room now. SUBTLE. John says no, but that there was something particular about his clothing, and the NSE interrupts again saying it must’ve been the Sensorite who has just died; Susan supposes it must indeed have been him. The NSE barks at Susan to tell the Doctor the First Elder wants to see him, and everyone remarks about how unfriendly he is once he’s gone and how he’s probably on a new power trip.

On the other side of the room the Doctor and Ian are being shown some of the earlier humans’ possessions; Ian is rather taken with the family snaps but the Doctor is more interested in some plans of the aqueduct. I smell a poison plot. Anyway, at this point Susan works out that it was the City Administrator who was their enemy and asks John whether the weird thing about the plotting Sensorite was his collar; John confirms this. Everyone feels a bit stupid. But hurrah for Susan working it out.

Back in the New Second Elder’s lair, he’s spring the Engineer from prison and wants him to remove the mechanisms from some hand rays. Intriguing.

Meanwhile, Ian and the Doctor are conferring over how useless it is to tell tales to the First Elder without proof, so they need to go back into the aqueduct. The Doctor asks what about Susan; Ian reckons this might be an ideal time to ask whether they can have Barbara back. YES. YES THIS IS THE TIME.

Anyway, the Space Bros tell the First Elder they reckon the water supply is being deliberately poisoned so they need to go and stop it. The First Elder agrees on condition that they go with light and weapons. Then this happens:

INDEED.

And FINALLY the Doctor asks whether they can have Barbara brought down like she’s a fucking hatbox but who cares, Barbara’s coming back; the Doctor actually claps his hands with glee; Ian leans back and grins; I punch the air.

The warrior brings weapons, and they’re the duff ones from earlier, as we learn when we get back to the New Second Elder. He also intercepts the Sensorite with the map of the aqueduct, claiming he will deliver it; he gets the Engineer to change some of the routes and then get it delivered. So now they’re going to be lost and defenceless.

Meanwhile, Ian and the Doctor are admiring their weapons. Then this happens:

WARRIOR: The range is considerable. The ray paralyses up to a distance of thirty yards.
DOCTOR: Yes, yes, splendid. And remember dear boy, that I will be standing nearly next to you! I have never liked weapons at any time, however they're handy little things.

All of this.

UGH but then one of my unfavourite things about this show happens and the Doctor decides to get the Sensorites to not tell Susan where they’re going because she’ll only tag along and he and Ian have decided it’s best for her not to go despite the fact that she’s got mad telepathic skills and has already been in the aqueduct dragging Ian about when he was ill:

DOCTOR: Yes, and that brings me to another problem, my Granddaughter Susan. She's bound to want to come with us.
IAN: I don't think she ought to Doctor.
DOCTOR: No. I agree with you my boy, we must go and not tell her, and avoid any arguments. I wonder sir, would you mind keeping a small secret until we're well and truly away?
FIRST-ELDER: Very well.

STOP DENYING YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER AGENCY YOU COLOSSAL BELLEND. Well I suppose the plot demands someone to pick up the shit when the inevitable happens and the Space Bros find themselves lost in a dark, watery maze with useless weapons.

Once the Space Bros have gone, the First Elder waxes lyrical about their bravery and is troubled by the idea that if they didn’t kill the Old Second Elder it must’ve been a Sensorite.

Back in the lab, Susan is laying the table, because of course. Carol really wants to get back to the Earth so she can have a thick, juicy steak; John tells her she’ll have to make do with a small, juicy fruit. CONTROL YOURSELVES. Anyway, Susan wonders what the others are up to; Carol expects they’re arranging for their return to the spaceship. Incorrect. And there’s a shot of the Space Bros entering the aqueduct to prove it. Carol goes to chivvy them along.

Alone with John, Susan tells him how great it is that he’s no longer crazy and squees over his plans to marry Carol; John says he expects they’ll both give up space travel when they get home and the she’s all he really cares about. Which is sweet. But probably spells doom for Carol.

AND SURE ENOUGH, CAROL IS WALKING THROUGH THE CITY WHEN A SENSORITE HAND CLAMPS OVER HER MOUTH AND SHE’S DRAGGED AWAY AND THAT’S REALLY DISTURBING.

HEAVENS ABOVE, WILL CAROL BE OK? WILL THE SPACE BROS SURVIVE THE AQUEDUCT? WILL SUSAN GET TO BE TELEPATHIC AND FABULOUS? AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHERE IS BARBARA?

Summary (as applicable to this episode)

Does it pass the Bechdel test? I think Susan and Carol just about scrape through.

Is the gaze problematic? Nope.

Is/are the woman companion(s) dressed 'for the Dads'? No.

Does a woman fall over/twist her ankle (whilst running from peril)? No.

Does a woman wander off alone for the sole dramatic purpose of getting into trouble so she can be rescued later? Yup. Carol is kidnapped right after John says she's all he cares about.

Is/are the woman companion(s) captured? See above.

Does the Doctor/a man companion/any other man have to rescue the woman companion(s) from peril? No. But Susan and Ian have to go and rescue the Doctor. However, it looks like Carol will be in need of rescuing next week.

Is a woman placed under threat of actual bodily harm? Yup.

Is/are the woman companion's/s' first/only reaction(s) to peril gratuitous screaming? No.

Does a woman companion go into hysterics over something reasonably minor? No.

Is a woman 'spared' the ordeal of having to do/witness something unpleasant by a man who makes a decision on her behalf/keeps her deliberately ignorant? YES. Stop that right now, Space Bros.

Does a man automatically disbelieve or belittle something a woman (companion) says happened to her? No.

Does a man talk over a woman or talk about a woman as though she isn't there? Not that I can recall.

Does the woman companion have to be calmed/comforted by the Doctor/a man companion/a man? No.

Is a woman the first/only person to be (most gratuitously) menaced by the episode's antagonist(s)? Carol.

Is a man shamed into doing/not doing something because the alternative is a woman doing/not doing something? No.

Does the woman companion come up with a plan? No.

Does the woman companion do something stupid/banal/weird which inspires a man to be a Man with a Plan? No.

Does a woman come up with a theory and is it ridiculed by the Doctor/a man? No.

Does a woman call the Doctor out on his bullshit? No.

Does a woman get to be a badass? Not especially.

Is the young, strong, straight, white male lead the person most often in control of the situation? The Doctor and Ian.

Is there past/future/alien sexism? Mostly culinary.

Does a 'present'-day character call anybody out on past/future/alien sexism? No.

Does an past/future/alien person have the hots for a woman companion and is it reciprocated? No.

Did a woman write/direct/produce this episode? No/No/Yes.

Verdict

I love Carol and her Orwellian scepticism (she and Ian would get along famously) and am very cross indeed that she was relegated to Imperilled Love Interest at the end of the episode. Also it is infuriating that the Space Bros have decided Susan will worry her pretty little head too much if she knows they've wandered off into danger again so are keeping her in the dark. Susan has been so on-the-ball this entire serial but is continually undermined by the Doctor in particular, which has to stop. But at least we know that Barbara is coming back next week to (hopefully) put a stop to this nonsense. Hurrah!