I’m actually in the process of watching a fan made animation of this one with my partner that I found on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@MMF294) and while it’s not my favorite, I’ll forever be sad that it’s missing for the costumes and sets alone
(I really don’t want to subject my partner to loose cannon, but they want to watch all the episodes)
Blimey - they’re brave!
I rather like the Loose Cannon reconstruction, especially the one based on the telesnaps, but the artwork on that animation looks beautiful!
Loose cannon not bad for the telesnaps. They also have a 30min condense version if you want a little taste of it and do not want to suffer through 7 episodes.
I’ve watched them all before, and I applaud what they managed to do with what they had, but for me they hurt to watch more than anything
I enjoy this one and, while not a favorite, really wish they’d either find or animate this one.
I was not that big off a fan off it when I saw it. But that might be beccose i was not used to telesnaps yet. It might be better on a rewatch.
I listened to the BBC audio soundtrack with linking narration. Maybe that would work better.
I think I’ve said this a few time before but this story is genuinely fantastic and my favorite Hartnell story by far. The set design is one of my favorite aspects with how detailed it is throughout. The best part is definitely the last episode although the first, second, and sixth are all fabulous. It honestly surprised me that I liked it as much as I did considering I was almost positive I would hate reconstructions. Thankfully, I didn’t hate them and this story might be the reason due to how great I find it. Unfortunately, it’ll probably be a while until it’s animated but I’m still so excited for when it is!
So far I’ve only experienced this story by reading transcripts. (Eventually I’d like to watch the reconstructions and also read the novelisation.) I think it’s pretty fun. There’s a funny part in the backgammon scene I can’t recall now but it really stood out to me at the time I read the transcripts.
This was the first time I had listened to this story (I used the BBC soundtrack with linking narration and looked at the telesnaps afterwards). I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it - so far I’ve managed to avoid most of the pure historicals because I thought they might be boring - but in fact I wasn’t bored at all! I was a bit frustrated that so many of the telesnaps were close-ups of people’s faces instead of wide-angle shots of the whole scene, and the sound quality on Episode 5 was absolutely atrocious, but these issues are not relevant to the story itself.
I did find the constant failed attempts to steal the TARDIS key a bit repetitive, and couldn’t understand why Marco couldn’t see through Tegana, or at least distrust enough to start having him watched, but he came through in the end.
It was nice to see Susan get a bit more character development and form a genuine friendship - it brought home how lonely she must have been just travelling with the Doctor before going to Coal Hill.
And Ian and Barbara are now acting like they have embraced the time travelling life.
Another forum has pointed out the work of Andrew Orton on Youtube with 3D set reconstructions.
This is for Marco Polo:
my favourite first doctor story
Welcome to the forum @ineedausername124 - I’d love to hear more on your thoughts on Marco Polo and do pop over to the Introductions area and tell us a bit about yourself.
This story is fine, I do think I would like it more if it still existed, but I think the very favorably rating I give it is in estimation of that in comparison to my actual enjoyment when watching the recon. The Aztecs is one of my favorite stories from that first season, marvelous, Reign Of Terror on the other hand feels overstuffed and lacking in spots. Marco Polo feels like it would’ve been quite the adventure to see on screen, and would’ve sat comfortably in the middle of Aztecs and Reign if it existed. I hope something turns up someday.
Unlike any other televised Story, this is the one I read before I listened and “watched” the Telesnaps Recon. I must say as a huge pure historical enjoyer, this one just works. It definitely helped to have read the Target to know the Storybeats. There is a lot to love here, going by the Pictures, we still have from it, the Costumes were just excellent. I liked the Friendship Susan had, and she certainly gets a lot more to do than she had in the previous two Serials. Unlike a Serial like the Massacre, I think this one would benefit from some nice Visuals, be it a recovery from the Episodes itself (Please.) or just a wonderful Animation (which is unlikely as of now, but you can dream).
Admittedly at times some of the Story can be quite frustrating, like the whole stubborn Marco Bit, where he refuses to give the Doctor his Key again, while fun for a while, it gets a bit tiring. Same with the Fact that most of the Crew doesn’t show any mistrust about Tegana (like @deltaandthebannermen pointed out already).
Overall, a splendid proper outing for a full pure historical serial. One of my favorites of Season 1.
(I also slightly prefer the Target instead of the Recon)
The Telesnap images are so beautiful! It is sad that we can’t watch this! It is crazy that they made this many great costumes and other stuff just to erase it. The budget for this episode must have been kind of high.
An excellent story, and actually providing plenty of good quiz question material…
Oh I’m going to do really badly in that quiz. I’m no fan of Marco Polo.
