Sounds pretty exciting, doesn't it? Well, to an extent it is. Some sequences are rather well done, the Sensorites are effective aliens, and the first two episodes are actually quite clever. The regulars are mostly in good form, especially Ian and Barbara, although Carole Ann Ford is clearly greatly relishing the new challenge of having a personality as Susan, and the Doctor seems to be very intelligent, despite not having paid too much attention to the script. The trouble, or one of the many troubles, is that the guest cast are all pretty hopeless. Peter Glaze's administrator is very funny until you realise he isn't meant to be a comic character, whereupon he becomes just plain irritating, and the three astronauts are all incredibly feeble. Finally, in episode six, the sinister villains behind it all are revealed as a trio of "Monty Python" 'It's' men with slightly less conviction than your average plank.

Next, the plot. Well, it's... simple. Six episodes with padding, yes. Six episodes where the entire plot becomes obvious to the viewer by three minutes into episode three- and this is not me, but someone who had neither seen, nor knew anything about, the story beforehand, is less forgiveable. After this, it's simply a matter of waiting around until what you know is going to happen happens, only with worse acting than you imagined. Still, some bits are entertaining, especially the 'made to be trailer' retrospective of adventures so far in episode one, and the inability of Hartnell and certain Sensorites to speak coherently provides a certain amount of amusement. There are some nice scenes for Susan, but in general, unless you're watching for kitsch value alone, I should give up after episode two.