An Unearthly Child

Review for "Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child", Episode One (of four).

The beginning to this long-running sci-fi phenomenon showcases the capabilities of the BBC's excellent choice of staff, almost 60 years ago, who worked together ingeniously to create a subtle yet intriguing opening to a fiction. Schoolteachers Ian Chesterton (William Russell) and Barbara Wright (Jacqueline Hill) investigate their curiously intelligent, yet somewhat hopelessly uninformed student, Susan Foreman (Carole Ann Ford). Their curiosity leads them to the discovery of what is as much a marvel of science fiction now as it was when this episode aired in 1963. Without giving away spoilers, I'll say that the dialogue was quite well done and the acting was not only realistic, but enjoyable to watch. The story played out neatly and the actors all deserved their praise. William Hartnell steps in as a mysterious and authoritative first Doctor; Ian is portrayed by Russell as the firm, protective man we'll all come to love; Hill plays Barbara as a caring, sympathetic and insightful character; Ford is the excitable, intelligent and altogether lovable unearthly child herself, Susan, the Doctor's granddaughter.

The picture and sound quality are obviously only to the standards to 1963 and it is something one gets used to quite easily when watching these old episodes.

My rating: 8.1/10.