The Aztecs (TV story)

Summary
The TARDIS crew arrive in Mexico in the Fifteenth Century. With the TARDIS trapped in a tomb, Barbara is mistaken for and assumes the guise and identity of Yetaxa, an ancient high priest of whom the Aztecs think she is a reincarnation. In her new position of power Barbara sees her chance to bring an end to human sacrifice. She sees the good side of Aztec culture manifested in Autloc, the High priest of knowledge, and the gruesome side manifested in 'the local butcher' High Priest Tlotoxl. As somewhat of an expert on this period, she sees how advanced their culture really is and believes that if sacrifice were abolished, they would be spared destruction at the hands of the Spanish. The Doctor's warnings that she cannot change history fall on deaf ears.

The bloodthirsty Tlotoxl begins to suspect Yetaxa is not what she seems, especially because she is trying to bring an end to human sacrifice. He sets a series of elaborate traps for her and her companions. For example, Ian has been conscripted into the military and must fight the strongest warrior, Ixta, to prove his ability to command the Aztec forces. Thus Ixta develops a grudge against Ian and is used by Tlotoxl to try and prove Barbara is not Yetaxa. The Doctor unwittingly tells Ixta how to defeat Ian in combat using a drugging agent. The battle nearly ends in the Doctor witnessing his friend's death. When this fails to be conclusive, Tlotoxl convinces the priest Tonila to make a poison for Barbara; the death of Barbara following consumption of the poison would prove she is not immortal and therefore not a god. Barbara refuses to drink the poison and tells Tlotoxl that she is not Yetaxa but warns him not to tell the people. He now knows the truth - but must find a way to unmask the false goddess.

Susan and the Doctor have meanwhile both become involved in marriage-making scenarios. She has transgressed Aztec law and has been promised to the Perfect Victim, who has been scheduled for sacrifice by Tlotoxl on the day of the next eclipse; while the Doctor, who knows little of Aztec customs, has become enagaged to an Aztec woman named Cameca after they shared a cup of cocoa. Cameca is a kind lady and helps the Doctor and Ian find a way to re-enter the tomb by a secret entrance, despite realising this will help her beloved leave her. Ian braves a treacherous tunnel to re-enter the tomb by a secret door and soon tells his friends that they can flee.

Despite her efforts Barbara realises she cannot change an entire culture, although she does succeed in changing the views of one man, Autloc. He helps her become reunited with her friends before departing to meditate in the desert on what remains of his faith. In a pitched battle to gain access to the tomb door, Ian kills Ixta in a fight to the death to protect the TARDIS crew.

The Doctor and his companions leave knowing that despite their intervention history will take its pre-destined course. As they depart Tlotoxl is very much in control and sacrifices the Perfect Victim to end the naturally occurring eclipse.

Cast & Characters

 * Dr. Who - William Hartnell
 * Ian Chesterton - William Russell
 * Barbara Wright - Jacqueline Hill
 * Susan Foreman - Carole Ann Ford
 * Autloc - Keith Pyott
 * Tlotoxl - John Ringham
 * Ixta - Ian Cullen
 * Cameca - Margot van der Burgh
 * First Victim - Tom Booth
 * Aztec Captain - David Anderson
 * Tonila - Walter Randall
 * Perfect Victim - André Boulay

Uncredited Cast

Crew

 * Writer - John Lucarotti
 * Director - John Crockett
 * Producer - Verity Lambert
 * Script Editor - David Whitaker
 * Designer - Barry Newbury
 * Assistant Floor Manager - Ken Howard
 * Associate Producer - Mervyn Pinfield
 * Costumes - Daphne Dare
 * Fight Arranger - David Anderson
 * Fight Arranger - Derek Ware
 * Incidental Music - Richard Rodney Bennett
 * Incidental Music Conductor - Marcus Dods
 * Make-Up - Jill Summers
 * Production Assistant - Ron Craddock
 * Special Sound - Brian Hodgson
 * Studio Lighting - Howard King
 * Studio Sound - Jack Brummitt
 * Studio Sound - John Staple
 * Theme Arrangement - Delia Derbyshire
 * Title Music - Ron Grainer

Influences

 * The Man Who Would Be King
 * The Royal Hunt of the Sun
 * Herodotus
 * The real Aztecs

Ratings

 * The Temple of Evil - 7.4m viewers
 * The Warriors of Death - 7.4m viewers
 * The Bride of Sacrifice - 7.9m viewers
 * The Day of Darkness - 7.4m viewers

Myths

 * The costumes used by the Aztecs covered more of their body than was the case in reality so as not to offend 1960's standards of decency (The costumes used had been researched before filming and were accurate reflections of those worn by the real Aztecs)

Location Filming
This story was filmed at both Lime Grove Studio D, Ealing Television Film Studios

Continuity

 * Barbara is an expert in Aztec history
 * Ian performed National Service and is therefore a trained fighter
 * One of the few examples of The Doctor being involved in a romantic relationship. Other examples include Loups-Garoux, The One Doctor, Doctor Who: The TV Movie, The Queen of Eros, Casualties of War, Sam Jones especially in Seeing I, and The Parting of the Ways
 * The Doctor tells Barbara "You can't rewrite history! Not one line!" It is unclear if this means it is impossible to alter established history or that it is an ethical principle. By contrast, the Time Lords explicitly ask the Doctor to change history in Genesis of the Daleks.
 * In Timewyrm: Exodus it is suggested that only Time Lords or other very powerful individuals can change the course of history.
 * In contrast Interference suggests that any individual can change the course of history including the Doctor but he has chosen not to do so. In Interference he actually influences events to allow Sam to change the course of history.
 * In The Unquiet Dead the Doctor tells Rose that history is always in flux and it can change "just like that." This theme is later developed in Fathers Day however it was suggested that since the destruction of the Time Lords time has become more flexible.

Discontinuity

 * During the fight sequences in episode 4 it is clear that doubles are being used for William Russell and Ian Cullen

Quotes
Barbara - 'Oh, don't you see? If I could start the destruction of everything that's evil here, then everything that's good will survive when Cortes lands.'

The Doctor - 'But you can't rewrite history! Not one line! Barbara, one last appeal: what you are trying to do is utterly impossible. I know! Believe me, I know!'

Story Arcs

 * Historicals
 * Time Travel

Similar stories

 * The Witch Hunters
 * Marco Polo

More Info

 * Story Synopsis
 * Story Transcript
 * Story Novelization
 * Story Statistics
 * Story in the Media
 * Story Reconstruction