Doctor Who (TV Series) The Highlanders: Episode 1 (1966) User Reviews

An enjoyable start.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 6/10 · 28 November 2021]

The TARDIS lands in the aftermath of The Battle of Culloden, The Doctor, Ben and Polly get caught up in a feud between the locals and a group of red coats.

This would be the last pure historical for quite some time, it's a shame they virtually ended at this point.

My recollection of this was that it was quite slow, however I rather enjoyed it. Telesnaps, the cd, and a reconstruction have me an idea of what this was really like, it looked pretty good.

Arguably a little slow, but it's an interesting story, with some nice characters, including the introduction of Jamie.

A very interesting, and good cast here, I had no idea Hannah Gordon was in it, it's a nice performance from her.

I wonder if we'll get to see an animation of this, probably in about the year 2027.

Good start, 6/10.

This pretty solid but unexceptional comedy/drama adventure was most notable for being the last pure historical story for the next 15 years.

[A_Kind_Of_CineMagic · 7/10 · 21 August 2014]

Review of all 4 episodes:

This is not a bad story at all and is good fun as the Doctor, Ben and Polly have adventures in Scotland during the Jacobite Rebellion in 1746.

The most important development in the story is the arrival of Jamie McCrimmon played by Frazer Hines who was to remain the companion of the Second Doctor until Patrick Troughton's departure. The rapport and warmth between the stars makes this a famous partnership for good reason.

This was sadly the last pure historical adventure in Doctor Who until Black Orchid over 15 years later. Not only is it a bit sad to drop the pure historical stories it is also a shame that although this is a solid effort, it is another example of comedic types of story which I feel did not show off the full potential of historical settings.

The comedy works at times but does not work all the time in my opinion. Comedy is much less easy to please everyone with. The comedy here is a broad, not very subtle humour - some love that and find it funny while others dislike it and call it disappointing. I actually find it overall a solid, decent level of entertainment but it isn't one of my favourites. I prefer more witty, cleverly written humour. That is just a matter of taste. I generally find this serial is ok, certainly a nice, fun adventure.

This is no classic by any means in my opinion but is an ok little story introducing a fan favourite companion.

My Ratings: All 4 Episodes - 7/10.

Jamie!

[wetmars · 6/10 · 16 October 2020]

The time travellers arrive in Scotland just after the Battle of Culloden. The Second Doctor gains the trust of a small band of fleeing Jacobites by offering to tend to their wounded Laird, Colin McLaren. While Polly and the Laird's daughter, Kirsty, are away fetching water, he and the others are all captured by Redcoat troops commanded by Lieutenant Algernon Ffinch.

Grey, a crooked solicitor who sells prisoners to slavery for transportation in the West Indies, secures the group into his custody. Polly and Kirsty blackmail Ffinch into helping, and the Doctor wins the day by smuggling arms to the Highlanders who are being held on board a stolen ship, the Annabelle.

Grey and the ship's unscrupulous captain, Trask, are overpowered and the vessel is returned to its rightful owner, Willie Mackay, who agrees to take the rebels to safety in France.

The Doctor, Polly and Ben return to the Doctor's TARDIS, where they are joined on their travels by the young piper Jamie McCrimmon.

Review of four episodes -

Pity that this was the last historical story in Classic Doctor Who and missing. It was hard to follow the story's plot and understand what's going on. We finally get to see Jamie portrayed by the great Frazer Hines. Nothing that much to talk about here. Sadly

It was a shock that Jamie was supposed to never meant to become a companion. I can't imagine Classic Who without him. Jamie is one of my top personal favorite companions up there. Frazer Hines also stated that The Highlanders is his favorite story because it led to them being in Doctor Who.

6/10.