The Savages

 The Savages

(Episode 1)

So, I am going into this tale with very little memories of my last watch of it, over 20 years ago. I remember Steven leaving clearly, and one of my favourite Doctor moments ever, but that's about it.

The Doctor announces he has landed in a place of peace and prosperity and leaves the TARDIS for a walk. He's in a forest.

A much more relaxed Dodo (who knew Doc Holliday was such a mood fixer) jokes with Steven about the Doctor getting lost, all the while some old men creep up on him.

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Steven shouts for the Doctor.

He doesn't answer back so everyone immediately splits up.

The music goes nuts as though someone is stalking them - as we can assume from the audio.

"He was like a savage," said Dodo. Her Eurocentric imperialism rears its head again.

The two men in the bushes watching the Doctor are alarmed by the Doctor telling them to come out of hiding, but it turns out to be two other men all together.

These men already know that the Doctor is a time traveller, and that they have been expecting him.

EDAL: You are not alone?
DOCTOR: Good gracious, no. Did you expect me to be?
EDAL: We have no information about your companions.
DOCTOR: Oh, they're very pleasant. Yes, they're both very pleasant apart from their juvenile exuberances.

Hah.

Dodo screams, and Steven picks up a spear which may have been thrown at them. The lack of moving pictures is clearly doing Jackie Lane a disservice. The TARDIS is hit by an arrow, then they are met by another guard.

The Doctor meets a bunch of fans who enjoy his adventures, having watched them on the TV. You can tell Ian Stuart Black was a pal of Patrick McGoohan, can't you?

They schmooze the Doctor who is easily flattered.

JANO: We recognise in you the greatest specialist in time-space exploration. You have taken this branch of learning far beyond our elementary calculations.
DOCTOR: Oh, come, come, my dear sir. I know that you've been very responsible for vast scientific research. And at the same time, I always knew a race existed of great intelligence in this segment of the universe.
JANO: Thank you, Doctor. We like to think that we have created here something of lasting value.

Oh get a room, you two.

Steven and Dodo meet back up with the Dodo for this Doctor Who Appreciation Society meeting.

The guards chat to each other about not trusting strangers.

One of the "savages" (sigh) tells the others the guards have begun to hunt.

That chap is called Avon. He's not played by Paul Darrow, must be some error.

This is easily the slowest start to a Dr Who story in some time.

The guard tells Dodo that all of their achievements are based on one secret he can't tell her. There's subtext and then there's moustache twirling villainy, and that's on the latter end of the scale for foreshadowing.

DWAS are still interviewing William Hartnell. They want his personal seal of approval, presumably for the Time Lord newspaper.

One of the characters who was introduced solely to go into the ravine (quarry) gets captured in an amber substance.

The MVP so far is the music.

Once the amber stuff hits you, you follow instructions from the guards like a Roboman.

The most defeated rebels in history look sad.

JANO: That is true, Doctor. We have learned how to transfer the energy of life directly to ourselves. We can tap it at its source. It is as though we were able to recharge ourselves with life's vital force.

That doesn't sound pleasant.

The Doctor is already twigging that he's not going to be in a good mood with his fans when he finds out they've been murdering behind his back.

Dodo sees one of the guards with his female prisoner, but Steven disbelieves her.

Scientists prepare an experiment on an old man.

Nanina, the captured woman, is strapped to a trolley and rolled into the laboratory, moaning in terror. So far, so non fantastical horror.

Dodo escapes the tour guides and sees the earlier experiment figure walking towards her. So she screams.

A very, very odd episode.

The Savages

(Episode 2)

Dodo is scared by shadowy man (maybe the direction is decent, we'll never know) but he walks right past her and goes outside.

Nainina continues to sob at her treatment. Again, too realistic for my liking.

The experiments continue.

Steven looks for Dodo.

FLOWER: She may be hiding. Just a game.

STEVEN: Not even Dodo'd be as stupid as that.

Hahah poor Dodo.

Anyhow she gets found and the Doctor listens to how the experiments happen. He then tries to make a quick getaway with the Dodo and Steven.

The Doctor is captured, and Dodo and Steven save the old man's life after he was hurt by the experiments, so he spares their life.

Anyhow I've been sitting here for the better part of an hour with very little to say, so this is a runaround and the Doctor gets caught again. But we do get one of the great Doctor Who moments in all the series, where the Doctor reaffirms his life philosophy:

DOCTOR: So your rewards are only for the people that agree with you?
JANO: No. No, of course not. But if you are going to oppose us.
DOCTOR: Oppose you? Indeed I am going to oppose you, just in the same way that I oppose the Daleks or any other menace to common humanity.
JANO: I am sorry you take this attitude, Doctor. It is most unscientific. You are standing in the way of human progress.
DOCTOR: Human progress, sir? How dare you call your treatment of these people progress!
JANO: They are hardly people, Doctor. They are not like us.
DOCTOR: I fail to see the difference.
JANO: Do you not realise that all progress is based on exploitation?
DOCTOR: Exploitation indeed! This, sir, is protracted murder!
JANO: We have achieved a very great deal merely by the sacrifice of a few savages.
DOCTOR: The sacrifice of even one soul is far too great! You must put an end to this inhuman practice.

Go on, my son! The Doctor kicking righteous arse here and standing in the corner of every vulnerable or abused peoples in the galaxy. It's not a sudden change, we've seen it since Dalek Invasion of Earth at least, but here it, spelled out in binary terms for everyone.

If only the rest of The Savages part 2 was as good!

The Savages

(Episode 3)

The experiments continue on Doctor Who, who is requir... sorry, that's 3 episodes time.

Scientists are worried the Doctor might not recover from his experimental ice bath.

Apparently, he'll recover. Phew.

They want to upload the "essence" of the time travellers.

Jano announces the same experiment must be done on Dodo and Steven.

Steven tells the old men in the jungle to fight. Instead, he points them to a cave where they live. The guards don't go there because they are scared of the dark.

The old guy tells them the Doctor will now be a hollow shell.

Men glance at the Doctor's body.

"It'll take time for the Doctor to recover" says a character I've forgotten the name of. They mentioned it a minute ago. Jano talks about safety being his priority, after 2 episodes of things going wrong.

Jano announces he will have the Doctor's essence put in him. Carry on Doctor.

The titular savages argue with each other about who the leader is.

Namina shows up to be scared of the Doctors companions.

Everyone lives in this tiny cave. All 30 of them. Must be cramped.

The guards shoot Tor. Who immediately gives away their secret cave. Should have told Doc instead.

In the dark cave, which has stairs on the recon, people panic.

Chal (who?) tells Steven and Dodo to follow him. So they do.

The guards conquer their phobia by entering the cave to get everywhere. The guard interrogate the savages, but they say nothing, so he threatens them with his gun.

Chal continues to lead Dodo and Steven through the caves.

A whole bunch of silence happens. Probably riveting if the episode exists. Or not, on the evidence.

The lead guard is following them without the need for guides. He's really done well to conquer this phobia they mentioned earlier. Either that, or the old man was talking utter bollocks.

Steven points out they are being followed.

The main guard then yells and echoes in the dark.

Chal has led them towards a dead end, presumably because he's a git.

"The strangers helped us!" Not much evidence of this yet.

Steven throws fire in the man's face. At least, that's what it looked like on the recon. I presume it was far less Tarantino in the actual episode. Especially as no one actually dies.

"You cannot resist us" says the main guard. Who has now decided he is feared of the dark. Because we've got 15 minutes to kill.

Bloody hell, this is interminably dull.

The guard is using his light gun to find people. Only for Steven to use a mirror (?) to reflect the light gun back on the guard and control him. What a convenient loophole for these energy possession weapons!

The old man is all "You won? But I had a bet on you to lose!"

The guard is now a prisoner.

The Doctor is STILL asleep.

Jano talks to one of his guards and prepares to download the Doctors essence into his brain. Hmm.

The Savages to The War Machines. Fastest improvement curve for any Doctor Who writer?

Senta is the scientist experiments dude. He starts to pump Jano with the essence. White smoke appears and traditional Dr Who computer beeps play to reassure the audience at home.

In the caves, people laugh. Steven orders people about.

Despite Steven capturing a guard, some of the cave dwellers tell him doing so is impossible.

"We must try" says Steven, who is at the end of his tether.

Steven, Dodo and Chal head off to try and find the Doctor. Then the others try to kill the guard but the girl stops them.

People prepare to do something. Eventually.

The old man points Steven the way to the laboratory.

A guard is eating his lunch. Apparently.

The guard is interrupted by Steven using his light gun on him.

Dodo and Steven get into the Elders city and look for Doctor Who now. He is require... sorry, too soon.

He bloody well is required to inject some life into this, though.

Jano has had the full Doctor's essence enter him and is now acting strangely.

His pal asks if he is OK.

JANO: Hmm? What's all the fuss about? I'm quite all right. The trouble with you people on this planet is that you don't...
SENTA: What do you mean, Jano? You belong to this planet. You're one of us.
JANO: One of? Yes, yes of course. I'm afraid I'm not quite myself.
SENTA: I understand. You must rest, Jano. I shall give instructions that you're not to be disturbed.
JANO: Hmm! An excellent idea. After an experience like that, one takes time to become adjusted. I suppose my two young friends
SENTA: Avon and Flower?
JANO: Good gracious, no, no, no. Steven and Dodo, the child with the ridiculous name.

Yes, that's right, Jano has been turned into the First Doctor.

Frederick Jaeger's William Hartnell impression might have been worth seeing.

Jago continues to act as though he is the Doctor.

The Dodo and Steven continue to look for the Doctor.

The guards spot them and plan to intercept them.

Dodo talks so quietly you can't hear her.

"Where's the security?" is the gist.

And then they find the actual Doctor but he's not replying and looks shell-shocked.

Then the doors are shut and the Elders pump in gas to take out the TARDIS crew. I think they might be gits. The Elders, that is.

The Savages

(Episode 4)

Only 25 mins to go.

The Doctor, Dodo and Steven are being gassed by the Elders.

Dodo throws down her gun. William Hartnell looks knackered.

Then the doors open, and Dodo escapes. Steven gets the Doctor.

Jano plays with buttons in his laboratory, and clearly, he opened the doors to help them. But he denies it to the guards.

He then forgets his name.

Jano announces he will lead a patrol to the cage.

Dodo tells the Doctor to "come on".

The old man sneaks up on them. For LOLs.

They decide to take the Doctor to the caves so he can recover.

Jano leads the guards.

The main guard refuses to go with Jano because he no longer trusts him.

Steven sees them and hides with his light gun.

Steven captures another guard.

There's a fire fight between the two groups.

Dodo chastises the Doctor for not moving fast enough when coming out of possession. I think he holds a grudge soon enough.

Steven and Jano's group continue to fight.

There is no guard on the cave.

The cave dwellers, bar the woman, want to kill the captured guard.

She grabs a spear to defend the guard.

Then they hear the old man complaining in the distance.

The Doctor is helped into the cave.

Jano has a clear shot at Steven but refuses to take it. Steven escapes.

The guards fire on the cave as everyone dives inside.

DOCTOR: You must not harm Jano.

TOR: But he is their leader.

DOCTOR: Please carry out my instructions, and do not harm Jano.

The Doctor wakes up. Everyone cheer!

We've only got another 12 episodes of Billy boy after this. Sad.

The Doctor wakes up and immediately announces he plans to destroy the laboratory!

The Elders argue.

Edal says Jano has gone nuts and will betray them.

In the cave, people sit around waiting to do something.

Jano shows up to talk to the Doctor.

JANO: How do you know that I come as a friend?

DOCTOR: Oh, my dear Jano, it wasn't difficult. I knew you were to undergo the in-transference yourself.

JANO: You knew that?

DOCTOR: Yes, an unknown experiment. And you're not the type of man to allow others to take risks.

JANO: You're right, Doctor. And now tell me, what has happened to me?

DOCTOR: It's all very simple. You wanted my intellect. You got it, and along with it, you received a little conscience.

STEVEN: Conscience?

DOCTOR: Yes, yes. You see, Jano is now saddled with the sense of right and wrong, which makes him an explosive element in a civilisation such as his.

STEVEN: Is this true?

JANO: It must be. All I know is that since the experiment I have not been sure of myself. I have grown aware of the evil that we have done and I am determined to end it.

Jano has the Doctor's intelligence and his anxiety too. Be careful what you wish for!

The guard escapes to warn the others about Jano but the woman goes after him and basically goes "I saved your life; you owe me one".

And so, when the guard meets up with the Elders, he claims not to have seen Jano.

Jano shows up with the cave dwellers, pretending they are prisoners. He then has Edal arrested.

JANO: You will find what I going to say very difficult to understand. All the Elders of our city are here, and so is the source of our supremacy on this planet. No man easily gives up the means which give him power.

SENTA: I don't understand you, Jano.

JANO: That is what I am asking you to do. I want you to destroy all this.

SENTA: What? The laboratory? The generators?

JANO: All the machinery which we have used to destroy our fellows.

SENTA: They are not our fellows, Jano. They are the savages. They are not capable of development like us.

JANO: How do you know?

SENTA: All history proves it. The savages are good only to provide us with energy. The laboratory must not be destroyed.

JANO: These people whom you call savages are our equals. What we have done to them is wrong. If you will not destroy all this, then I must.

Jano smashes a console. Then the guard who was saved joins in. Then everyone starts destroying stuff and we get a small existing clip of the Doctor going:

DOCTOR: You know, my dear, there's something very satisfying in destroying something that's evil, don't you think?

And giggling like a loon. And they thought the Second Doctor had an anarchic streak.

After the destruction, both sides are sulking about making peace, when it is decided that Steven would be a useful mediator and leader for both of them. He accepts the post, with hesitation. Dodo is upset.

Whereas the Doctor, who is also sad, sees Steven off with a handshake.

DOCTOR: Well, I must say, young man, I'm very proud of you.

Dodo asks if we'll ever see Steven again. As of 2022, the answer is no. And it's a shame. Peter Purves had to replace one of the great popular companions, he had to take on more of the leading man role as William Hartnell's health declined, and he had to deal with comedy and tragedy, sometimes in the same story. And he might not think much of his own run in the show, but in my book, he knocked it out of the park. Even in weaker stories, you got your money's worth from Purves. It's just a shame so many of his great roles are lost in the archives.

The Savages isn't very good but it's not a story that works as a radio play. Perhaps it works better with the episodes. We don't know.