TV Club welcomes Vicki to the TARDIS with her introductory story - The Rescue.
Both episodes of this story are available on BBC iPlayer:
And on DVD and BluRay:
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7 Likes
Iāve always enjoyed āThe Rescueā. Itās admittedly light on story but is a fun intro for Vicki. Though well known today, it would have subverted expectations at the time. The Doctor also notably softens with the introduction of Vicki and takes a big step closer to being the character that we know and love.
11 Likes
Donāt remember details of this one much, but I remember really enjoying it. This TARDIS team is probably my favorite of the era (though unfortunately I find the stories theyāre in to be a rather mixed bag) and I do enjoy a nice short story and think it did well to introduce Vicki
9 Likes
You are quite right. Great TARDIS team, but a very varied run of stories. Vicki is immensely likeable as a character. Maureen OāBrien infuses her with a mix of innocence, curiosity and positivity. Sheās lovely!
9 Likes
I really like The Rescue.
Itās a stupidly fun little episode that works wonders as the first companion introduction with a great mystery carrying its two parts.
Itās entirely inoffensive and, whilst the magic reintroduction of the Didans show that the writers clearly had no idea how to end the episode, itās a very worthy inclusion in the showās Season 2.
11 Likes
Some thoughts on āThe Rescueā.
Episode 1 - The Powerful Enemy
Vickiās joy at the beginning when she thinks a rescue ship has landed is so pure, like a ray of light in the dark. Generally speaking, every time Maureen OāBrien portrays emotions, I am able to feel them. Nice acting.
The whole start is one nice scene after another. First, as mentioned, Vickiās joy (and the first seeds of mistrust against Bennett). Then the Doctor sleeping through the landing. Followed by the Doctor mistakenly calling for Susan, only to realize she is gone. Followed by the scene where Ian whispers with Barbara about the Doctor showing his age, only for the Doctor to show up and tell them that he can hear them. The whole ramp-up of the episode is just a delight.
The design for the Koquillion is an interesting one. I do like it. I also like the Doctor remembering the quite monster-like looking people of the planet Dido being quite friendly and peaceful, and insisting that something just does not fit when everything else hints at them having gone bad.
There are no real lowlights. If I had to mention something that doesnāt quite work, Iād say that as much as I like how much emotion Maureen OāBrien as Vicki radiates, at times her portrayal looks a little too much like an adult playing a child (what it is) and overdoing it.
And in the last scene, it seems very easy to circumvent the trap (just climb on the rods!). All the while, Ian acts like there is no way out. Itās a little too much for my ability to suspend disbelief. 
As a whole, I really did like Episode 1, and I am looking forward to Episode 2.
Episode 2 - Desperate Measures
The scene at the beginning where Barbara kills Vickiās pet continues the theme that one shouldnāt judge others by their appearance. I did not like one of my heroes killing the animal despite Vickiās desperate protests. At the same time Barbara had actually good reason to act as she did. Really well-written and well-played scene.
Leading to Vickiās dislike of Barbara, displayed in a talk with the Doctor (that one word āBarbara!ā and the accompanying body language, brilliant acting). Leading to the next great scene when the two of them talk it out. Chapeau!
The conclusion of the little mystery: not really surprising, but I liked it. So, the human was the monster all along. Superb acting on Hartnellās side when he confronts Bennett in the Hall of Justice.
All in all, a brilliant introduction for the new companion. Light on the story side, but the simple story is ideal for what the serial intends to do.
4/5
9 Likes
I like The Rescue quite a bit.
While the story is simple, it is told very well. The twist is done well done. I didnāt see it coming the first time I watched this. At 2 episodes, this serial moves along at a decent pace. I wish there were more Classic serials like this. In-and-out with no fat.
This is an effective use of minimal sets and actors. Sometimes a limited cast can end up feeling like a long conversation that doesnāt go anywhere, this one doesnāt. With our regular crew, and the guest cast, we have a wopping 6 characters. There are enough to have multiple storylines going on.
Not to spoil future reviews, but the introduction of Vicki has me 
. She is great right off the bat, and immediately I was smitten with her.
This gets a very good 4/5 from me.
12 Likes
I donāt remember much about the story, but I remember enjoying this serial a lot more than most I had seen up to that point. I loved Vicky instantly, but unfortunately this is the only story with her Iāve seen so far.
10 Likes
I think this is a real strength of the story. Itās easy, in retrospect, to see whatās coming but, with no context and having watched DW from āAn Unearthly Childā upto āThe Rescueā, the revelation that our monster of the week is actually Bennet in disguise would be a complete surprise to many. Itās just not the sort of thing that DW has done previously.
11 Likes
Had very little memory of this one before I watched it the other week, but I enjoyed it way more than I remembered, actually! Itās not that deep as far as stories go, but it is a lot of fun and Vicki is absolutely lovely
12 Likes
This is honestly a tiny favourite of mine. I love how compact and succinct it is, and I think Vickiās introduction is excellent. I love the eeriness of the setting, and the creepiness of the plot twist. Itās a great use of subversion: the monster (Sandy) is actually a sweet pet, and the man who should by all rights be a hero is the villain. Early Who likes those twists and subversions, but I think it works perfectly here. And Vicki is so delightful!
12 Likes
I donāt think Iāve ever seen so much love for this little gem of a story before. Itās good to see. .
Iāve always felt a little defensive and apologetic for liking this story. Guess Iām still scarred by previous forums and by the stigma of being a fan through the 80s and 90s. 
Wow! This community and this forum continues to make me smile (just like this story does)! 
13 Likes
First One story I ever saw. Love the dynamic between the Doctor and Vicki - even though I havenāt seen Susanās departure you can really see how it affected him. Koquillion was a cool monster design even if there was more than met the eye to him.
11 Likes
I love The Rescue! I really enjoy the pacing, and I think Koquillion rules
9 Likes
One of the best paced Hartnell Stories, easily. Itās a stellar Outing and introduces Vicki superb. Maureen fits perfectly in the Tardis, and itās clear that the writers know a lot more how they deal with her than it was sadly for Susan the case. She is also a favorite of mine so thatās a big win too, but yeah the Story is amazing. I love the faster pace, I love that this was made as two-parter and therefore can build tension faster. I love the Twist at the end with Bennet and overall I think itās super underrated overall.
I also very much enjoyed the end scene where our three tardis crew members agreed to take vicki with them, itās such a lovely scene. Really this sets the mood for the rest of this lovely seasonās filled with a spirit of adventures!
10 Likes
I think I enjoyed the story. I have previously not particularly liked two part classic serials, and I felt that this one was better than some of the other ones I had previously seen. I thought the introduction to Vicki was interesting. I enjoyed the fact that the Doctor was able to show a caring side in this serial. Despite the fact that Classic Who tends to not focus as much on character arcs, I could feel the growth. It feels like a meaningful Doctor Who moment that the Doctor offers travel to a stranger he has just met, as opposed to the more forceful situation that turned them into companions that Ian and Barbara faced.
8 Likes
This is a really good point, although I would say that I think the classic series does better (much better at times) with character arcs for companions than often people think. Ian, Barbara and Vicki all do well (particularly Ian and Barbara). Iād also highlight Jo Grant. She clearly develops in her time with the Doctor. You can see it in the stories. In her final season, she resists the Masterās hypnosis, goes off to Wales on her own etc. You really feel her growth. There are other examples and other companions but Iāve probably said plenty for now.
11 Likes
For once Iāve just watched this story (thanks to the TARDIS Guide randomiser) and agree with everyone else. I think this was often dismissed as inconsequential and just about introducing Vicki but Maureen OāBrien makes an immediate impact, the three regulars are on top form and Koquillion is an intriguing monster/villain.
The wrecked spaceship set with itās angled floors is a neat idea and Iād have loved to have seen more of the Judgement Hall set from the climax.
13 Likes
I like The Rescue. A brisk, short story, eith some lovely acting moments. Iām always a little disappointed that Koquillion could not be a returning foe or monster, itās such a great costume. And Iāve always disliked Barbara killing the creature by mistake, probably the only thing about this story I really dont like.
8 Likes
Itās also hilarious that Koquillion of all monsters made it to the Whoniverse ident - apparently at RTDās behest.
14 Likes