Riddles, treasure and pirates are the order of the day when the Doctor and his new companions, Ben and Polly, arrive on the Cornish coast in the 17th Century.
Listen to the story via the official soundtrack:
Rate and review the story below:
Yep, that was a serial I watched last December, as a loose canon reconstruction.
Things happened in it.
It was one of the serials of all time.
This is what I watched when I last saw it.
I really don’t have anything to add to that…
I didn’t feel like rewatching The Smugglers for the TV Club, so here’s my review from my previous rewatch. This is sadly one of the more forgettable and boring Hartnells, and it being missing and suffering from a weak recon certainly doesn’t help.
I’m going to listen to the Target novelisation instead, and see whether I like it better.
While The Smugglers offers strong world-building and a promising setting, it fails to deliver an engaging or dynamic story. Ben and Polly’s strong introduction and the atmospheric locations help, and there are moments of tension and adventure that work well, particularly in the latter half. However, the sluggish pacing, repetitive dialogue, and lack of narrative drive make the serial feel like it’s treading water rather than sailing towards an exciting conclusion.
As a result, The Smugglers ends up as a largely forgettable adventure—one that lacks the intrigue and dramatic weight of earlier historicals like The Aztecs or The Massacre. It’s a shame that Hartnell’s last historical doesn’t make a stronger impression, but as a transition into the new era of Doctor Who, it at least serves as an important stepping stone for Ben and Polly’s development.
Feel free to read my full review below:
This is the review that I wrote many a moon ago when I watched the story for my marathon. I have rewatched it since and actually really, really enjoyed it - to the point where I think it deserves a reappraisal. It’s nothing groundbreaking, certainly, but it is entertaining and the three regulars are strong.
It also is one of the few historicals to have a ‘sort-of’ sequel/prequel. Do you all know which story I’m talking about?..
The Curse of the Black Spot.
I think that this story suffers from really poor telesnaps. Might appreciate it more when it gets animated.
Yep, I agree there. It’s similar to The Space Pirates in that sense. An animation would probably make it much more enjoybale in my book.
Well, time to be a Contrary and say I really enjoyed it! The Smugglers is a great Pure Historical, which still continues the fresh and amazing new Energy brought to the Show. I do think an Animation could give it a much bigger Reappraisal, but we will see when that eventually happens (hopefully)!
Boring and plodding. Very little to enjoy here.
2/5.
Do you want me to do another Web Planet Defence-style post? Do you?
If you want. I won’t read it anyway.
I want it!
I listened to the audiobook version of the Target novelisation of this story, and while Anneke Wills makes it an occasionally enjoyable listen, it doesn’t improve the overall story for me.
4/10
While The Smugglers novelisation benefits from a strong opening and a good grasp of its lead characters, it ultimately suffers from a sluggish pace and an uninspired depiction of its historical setting. Without the visual elements that a TV production provides, the story feels flat, and the characters struggle to stand out. The audiobook version, bolstered by Anneke Wills’ performance, helps inject some energy into the tale, but overall, this remains one of the less engaging Target novelisations.
Feel free to read my full review below:
Do it! Please do it, show them!! 