The Aztecs: Doctor Who: Season 1

Goldby

Grob

Boland

Ian must get into the tomb and open it before Tlotoxl exposes Barbara and has Ixta kill them all.

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The Aztecs REVIEWS



Goldby

Was pleasantly surprised by the Aztecs. I normally can't stand the all historical stories, thus when this came out on video about an historical period I didn't even know about, was extremely skeptical. Even though Season 1 is slow it's easily the fastest moving story of the first series. They literally have only about six sets to work with but maybe it's the multitude of camera angles, it seems like more.

Makes me wonder if Marco Polo would have been really good. The regulars are back on form, really used to travelling together by now. Not only that they are each given there own significant plot thread throughout the story all of which revolves around Barbara who is mistaken by the high priests to be the re-incarnated Aztec god Yetaxa with her handmaiden, chancellor and champion accompanying her. Jacqueline Wright takes centre stage, while the Doctor is whisked off to a retirement home for his first ever and last ever on screen romance with the beautifully acted Cameca, an ageing Aztec woman who he mistakenly proposes to.

As Barbara settles into her new identity, the two high priests use her as the centre piece of a political game to influence their power among the people. While the Doctor has to convince Barbara just to get the natives to open the tomb the Tardis is trapped so they can escape rather than trying directly to change history as she becomes hell bent on trying to stop human sacrifice. All the supporting cast are great the only real let down being the slightly hammy Ixta. But the two priests are excellent, Autloc noble and questioning and Tlotoxol is perfectly slimy, calculating and scheming. Plus I think he goes down as the only ever villain in the Doctor's history to win and not get his just desserts. It's like watching a televised play...

…so the acting is still a bit theatrical for today's standards but was well realised. Even Ian's fight to the death with Ixta wasn't half bad. Reckon it's my favourite Hartnell next to the Daleks , multiple viewings of a Hartnell means it's gotta be good! 8/10



Grob

I've seen the Aztecs a couple of times - and I have it on DVD. History stories really don't float my boat and although this one has an okay premise it just doesn't have enough "grab" for me. The whole "you can't change history - not one line!" scenario that is set up by the Doctor is an interesting one as Barbara gets mistaken for an Aztec god and wants to put an end to human sacrifice. Its a very good vehicle for the character of Barbara and the others aren't too badly served either.

Meanwhile, the Doctor gets engaged to Cameca which is actually quite a nice touching scene. The other three guest characters; Autloc, Tlotoxl and Ixta don't do a lot for me and at times I was having trouble distinguishing one from the other in regards to their motivation and whose side they were on. The sets are pretty stunning though and there is some nice direction as well. In all, I can appreciate why some people like the episode but for me I was a bit "meh" with it. Having said that. the DVD copy is worth looking at just for the restoration itself. 5/10 for me.

PS: I kind of feel like I missed the point of an entire episode when, on saying that I couldn't find much to distinguish one lead character from another in The Aztecs, Goldby comes along and describes all three of them, their motivations and the context of them in the story!!!



Boland
The Aztecs

If you are looking for the quintessential historical story, this might just be it. Lucarotti presents a simple story, giving each of our four main characters a nice little storyline (although Susan’s is rather small). Basically the gang of four are separated from the TARDIS, potter around a bit spending four 25 minute episodes trying to get back there. Barbara learns that you can’t change history, Ian challenges some dude to be General Smythe of the armies, Susan disagrees with most Aztec beliefs and the Doctor? Well, he has the most interesting and touching storyline of all. He falls in love. I think. It’s a little unclear. But it’s quite nice.

The limitations of the era and the studios are well apparent, the sets are good but few, and the cameras face some tricky maneuvering and go clunk here and there. But it’s a very solid four parter. The mains are great, and John Ringham, in his first of I believe 3 Doctor Who roles, is chilling as Ltoxel or however you spell the silly name. Thankfully only four parts, pace is better than average for the era. 7.0/10

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