Review: Doctor Who: The Faceless Ones Parts 4-6

OVERVIEW (SPOILERS)

The Doctor, Jamie, and a random woman named Samantha Briggs, continue investigating the Chameleons, aliens who take on the appearance of humans they’ve captured. Jamie is eventually captured along with Ben and Polly, so The Doctor infiltrates the group while the humans working at the airport find out that messing with the captured humans can actually kill the Chameleons who are connected to them. Soon enough, they find a peaceful solution and defeat those that are bad, though Ben and Polly stay behind when they learn this is the exact day that they left with The First Doctor a year ago (from their perspective, having travelled for about a year). So The Doctor and Jamie go looking for the TARDIS, which has been stolen! To be continued!…if you feel like it.

OUR TAKE

As said last time, this is simply a reconstruction of an old 1967 story from the numerous episodes of the series that only existed in audio and stills, thus requiring this odd animation style to try and replicate the filming style of a 1960’s UK black and white sci-fi show. As expected, it looks rather off-putting for anyone who isn’t watching this because they want to check it off their Doctor Who watchlist. Its significant milestones, such as being the first story to primarily take place in then-modern day and the departure of two series regulars, don’t do a whole lot to keep it from feeling like a two hour slog. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by modern television and modern Doctor Who especially, but it still ends up being difficult to take serious knowing how much better it things get down the line.

It probably doesn’t help that we’re just jumped into the middle of the story, so those who are starting with this episode are likely to be lost. Not that I really expect anyone to actually start here of all places, because again, only those who know this show well enough will bother watching this over the revived series, which started in 2005 and it still going on to this day. Though for fans of the series that are familiar with its history, like me, it is interesting to see what is essentially the beginning of the legendary duo that was The Second Doctor and Jamie, the latter of whom would go onto be one of the longest running companions in the classic era of the series. The Second Doctor’s run is actually one I haven’t seen very much of myself, so maybe I’ll finally get around to watch the rest of it when I’ve got time.

Still, as a bonus little event for fans who are eagerly waiting for the next season of the revived series, whether to cheer it or mock it, this was surely a nice surprise to see on television. It shows the love for the series is still alive and well long after the 50th anniversary hype of 2013 has worn off. And hopefully we’ll see another resurgence of popularity for Doctor Who very soon. In the mean time, you’ve got all the time in the world to check out the whole show in its entirety, missing episodes and all! Just make sure you have a time machine.