The Aztecs has always been one of my favourite Hartnell stories, and is probably in my all time top ten of the whole series, classic and new (although I tend to be unable to limit myself to 10 and the titles tend to be a little changeable depending on the mood I’m in).  I must have watched it countless times before and it never fails to entertain and amuse me.

What struck me the most though, on this viewing, is how different it is to John Lucarotti’s previous script for the series: Marco Polo. This is everything that Marco Polo wasn’t for me. Superb sets and costumes coupled with an intelligent, tightly plotted script, brilliant performances and the regulars actually doing something rather than being on the sidelines.

Of the regulars, this is Barbara’s story and allows us the pleasure of Jacqueline Hill’s best performance as Barbara – her sparring with Tlotoxl is amazing. William Russell gets to be a proper action man coming up against a man who is basically his Aztec equal, Ixta. William Hartnell’s scenes with Cameca in the garden (and the heartbreaking scenes towards the end when they part) show that the softer side of the First Doctor was evident much earlier than we may sometimes consider. Even Carole Ann Ford’s Susan is less screamy and useless than in surrounding stories and although partly due to her ‘holiday’ episodes, gets some decent, if brief scenes, in the seminary educating children everywhere on what it was like to be a young, single Aztec girl. Her opinions on marriage are fun, if a little more like a emancipated 60s girl’s thoughts than an alien Time Lord’s.

John Ringham, as Tlotoxl, is probably the series best villain up to this point – far more menacing than Tegana and a character who actually succeeds in certain aspects of his dastardly plans. Possible a touch melodramatic at times (particularly in his final scene sacrificing the Perfect Victim after the TARDIS crew have escaped), but huge fun. His scenes of plotting against Barbara, in particular his tricking her into agreeing to have Susan punished, are a joy to watch. He is supported ably by Keith Pyott as Autloc, Ian Cullen as Ixta, Walter Randall as Tonila and Margot Van de Burgh as Cameca, all working together to create a believable Aztec community.

The script allows for these wonderful performances. Is there any scene better than the Doctor getting accidentally engaged to Cameca? It’s hilarious and is coupled with the wonderful scene where the Doctor casually mentions to Ian what has happened with William Russell’s brilliant double take. Episode 3 also has the superb scenes where Barbara saves Ian by threatening Tlotoxl and later where Tlotoxl and Tonila attempt to poison her. There are so many excellent scenes across the four episodes (in fact I cannot think of a duff scene or even line in any episode). The dialogue sparkles and even though it strays towards the ‘Shakespearean’ vibes I didn’t find appealing in The Crusade (or for that matter Marco Polo), it just seems to work in this instance.

In teaching us a little about the Aztec culture, the majority of information is concentrated on the practice of human sacrifice. We are presented with the balance of the priests of sacrifice and knowledge; we are given detailed information about the Perfect Victim and we have the odd nugget of detail dropped into dialogue such as the Aztecs not having invented the wheel. We also have the reason for Barbara’s drive to change the Aztec way of life in her explanation of the arrival of Cortez – although we never actually see this for ourselves.

The costumes and sets look authentic and are in no small part responsible for how wonderful this story is as a whole.

I honestly cannot think of one bad thing to say about this story and look forward to watching it again some time in the far distant future when I’ve finally finished this marathon.