The Space Pirates is the penultimate story in season six of Doctor Who. It is also the penultimate story for the second Doctor, who happens to be my favourite Doctor. It is the only one of his stories I have never watched. Until now. When Doctor Who returned to BBC1 in 2005 I consumed as much of …
Episode 13 – Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling First ITV broadcast: Friday 22nd December 1967, 7.30pm [ATV Midlands/Grampian] Estimated first run ratings: 7.3 million First CBS broadcast: Saturday 3rd August 1968, 7.30pm From the very beginning this episode is different as we have a pre-titles sequence, instead of going straight into the usual title …
There has been an unplanned extended break at Visual Mutterings. I was rather busy and then I got a new job so I have been even busier. But I was missing Number Six so I finally found the time to get back to the Village via a raft, a boat, a wooden box and a …
Episode 11 – It’s Your Funeral First ITV broadcast: Friday 8th December 1967, 7.30pm [ATV Midlands/Grampian] Estimated first run ratings: 9.3 million First CBS broadcast: Saturday 10th August 1968, 7.30pm The new Number Two looks like a Thunderbirds‘ character. He doesn’t look like a real person. I spent the entire episode doubting his ability to …
Episode 10: Hammer Into Anvil First ITV broadcast: Friday 1st December 1967, 7.30pm [ATV Midlands/Grampian] Estimated first run ratings: 9.1 million First CBS broadcast: Saturday 31st August 1968, 7.30pm This episode is a rare example of Number Six getting one over Number Two and the Village. I have written before about ‘little victories’, little acts …
Episode 9: Checkmate First ITV broadcast: Friday 24th November 1967, 7.30pm [ATV Midlands/Granada] Estimated first run ratings: 9.1 million First CBS broadcast: Saturday 17th August 1968, 7.30pm The episode begins with an aggressive roar from Rover as it rolls through the Village. Everyone stops completely still, apart from one man (George Coulouris). Number Six notices …
Episode 8: Dance of the Dead First ITV broadcast: Friday 17th November 1967, 7.30pm [ATV Midlands/Grampian] Estimated first run ratings: 9.1 million First CBS broadcast: Saturday 27th July 1968, 7.30pm For the first time, Number Two speaking in the title sequence is a woman. We have had a couple of female Number Two’s so far. …
Episode 7: Many Happy Returns First ITV broadcast: Friday 10th November 1967, 7.30pm [ATV Midlands/Grampian] Estimated first run ratings: 10.3 million First CBS broadcast: Saturday 20th July 1968, 7.30pm This episode goes for over 20 minutes without a single English word being spoken on screen. The episode is over half way through before we get …
So far I have not discussed what episode order The Prisoner should be viewed in. The most important thing to say about this is that it seems no one can agree on it. It should not be viewed in production order and it should not be viewed in broadcast order, apart from the first episode …
Episode 5: The Schizoid Man First ITV broadcast: Friday 27th October 1967, 7.30pm (ATV Midlands/Grampian) Estimated first run ratings: 11.7 million First CBS broadcast: Saturday 6th July 1968, 7.30pm Pay attention. It’s going to get complicated. There have been many Number Twos but there is only one Number Six. “I am a person” Number Six …
