1 • The Crusade (A+)
2 • The Time Meddler (A)
3 • The Dalek Invasion of Earth (A-)
4 • The Rescue (B+)
5 • The Romans (B+)
6 • Planet of Giants (B)
7 • The Chase (C-)
8 • The Web Planet (D)
9 • The Space Museum (D)
Not quite the best Hartnell season, I don't think. But it does have what I believe—currently—to be the best Doctor Who story of all time. It also has the two worst Hartnells, so if we treat this like olympic diving and ignore the extremes, we're left with a fairly decent average. In terms of individual quality it probably out-performs season 3 by virtue of having better characters. It is superb. But then all the early seasons are superb.
Other things to note. As I mentioned the other day, The Rescue meant a new year (1965) for viewers at home, and a new production block for the cast and crew: the programme has a palpable air of confidence, the cast feel fresher, and Ian and Barbara's romance is given a welcome focus. There are other hugely important steps made. The Web Planet for better or for worse (it's worse) is the first story to feature no human or humanoid characters. The Dalek Invasion of Earth, and later The Chase, underline the Daleks's status as the Doctor's arch-enemy. And one of the greatest cliffhangers of all time (A Battle of Wits) sees Steven and Vicki wander into somebody else's Tardis!
All in all a brilliant batch of episodes, although IMO not quite as consistent as the first. I'm hoping to get the Blu-ray for Christmas.
