The Edge of Destruction

The Edge of Destruction [Episode 1]

I've made a point of informing Hannah that this story is only two episodes long. If there was any chance of her believing that the events of this first episode could be dragged out across another seven-part story, we'd really be in trouble.

Hannah: I want a better look inside the TARDIS.
Me: Well, there's a documentary about the set design...
Hannah: No, I want an episode where we actually look at it. All they've done is stand in the control room so far.

After the Doctor cuts his head, Ian checks his heart and only hears a single heartbeat.

Me: Why are you smirking?
Hannah: Because he only has one heart at the moment. The second one hasn't been established yet.

Everyone has been behaving very oddly since the story began, to say nothing of the TARDIS itself. When the the doors open by themselves in mid-flight, Hannah is immediately suspicious.

Hannah: There's something very strange going on.

Nothing gets past her.

The Doctor (now wearing what Hannah describes as a "fancy crown bandage") goes off to check the fault locator.

Hannah: The what? The fornicator?
Me: The fault locator. At one point during filming he did actually call it that, but you'll be amazed to hear that they did a re-take for that one.
Hannah: It still sounds like fornicator.

By the end of the episode Hannah's wish for a better look inside the TARDIS has been granted, but by now she has other concerns.

Hannah: I wouldn't say I'm particularly enjoying this story. I like intrigue and mystery and tension, but when it's just like "what the actual fuck is going on?" it's not that enjoyable.
Me: So you're not ready to watch the next one yet?
Hannah: Yes, I want to know what the fuck's going on. It's just nonsense.
Me: But you said you like intrigue and mystery, and you're clearly intrigued and mystified.
Hannah: I'm not intrigued, I'm annoyed.

The Brink of Disaster [Episode 2]

Hannah: I like the titles of these episodes.

Keen to find out exactly what's going on, or possibly just to get it over and done with, Hannah absorbs the episode in silence. Judging by the look on her face at the end of the story, I can tell exactly how it's gone down with her.

Which brings us to...

The Score

Me: Well?
Hannah: How much swearing do you want in your blog?
Me: Whatever you like.
Hannah: Absolute bollocks! Total crock of shit. Maybe the two worst sci-fi episodes I've ever seen.
Me: That's a little harsh.
Hannah: Yeah, okay. I've seen original Star Trek. But the story was terrible!
Me: The story isn't really the point, it's more about developing the character dynamics. They're functioning much more as a proper team now, and the ending of this story is the turning point for the Doctor. From this point on, he's much more--
Hannah: Less of a dick.
Me: Yes. In that last scene they've pretty much rewritten his character, and now he's a lot more like the Doctor you know and love. And it's the first time you learn that the TARDIS is sentient and isn't just a spaceship that looks like a blue box; you spend the whole story thinking that some kind of alien intelligence has infiltrated the ship and then you get the twist that the ship is actually alive, which I think is a lot more interesting.
Hannah: Yes, it had redeeming points; it was interesting that they ended it by revealing that the ship is sentient, and the Doctor becomes a bit more kind and it all clicks into place a bit better. But the story isn't clear enough. The ship has malfunctioned, so it leaves them clues by making them all go mental and giving them random pains and memory loss. It's just really strange, and it's too far-fetched that anyone was able to work out such a weird system of clues.
Me: Maybe Barbara likes cryptic crosswords?
Hannah: Maybe. She does have to read children's homework and work out what the hell they're talking about. But the TARDIS decided to turn them all against each other, flash the lights every fifteen seconds, show them a slideshow of the Doctor's vacation pictures, open and close the doors randomly and melt all the clocks. Who would get that? I think it was utter nonsense.

3/10

Me: You didn't think it was ambitious and creative way to fill two spare episodes, then?

Hannah: I do like abstract art-type things, but when you're trying to make a family sci-fi show, I think doing a really abstract art piece isn't really the way to go. I think it's completely wrong.