📝6/10

Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time! 

"The Keys of Marinus: Unlocking The Potential of An Uneven Quest"

Terry Nation’s second serial for Doctor Who attempts to experiment with a bold concept: a narrative that hops between six unique settings, connected by the central quest to retrieve the titular keys. While innovative in structure, The Keys of Marinus struggles with uneven pacing, patchy execution, and some uninspired storytelling.

The opening episode effectively channels the eerie atmosphere of The Daleks’ first chapter, drawing viewers into the alien mystery. However, the intriguing premise falters as the story progresses. Each subsequent episode becomes a hit-or-miss vignette, with ideas often underdeveloped and action frequently bogged down by sluggish sequences, such as yet another unnecessary cave-climbing scene. By the time we reach the hurried conclusion of Part 6, the story leaves much unresolved, making for a lackluster payoff.

Nation’s penchant for recycling ideas is evident, even this early in his Doctor Who tenure, though he does sprinkle in some engaging themes like mind control, pacifism, and skepticism toward machines. Unfortunately, these concepts rarely receive the depth they deserve. The story also suffers from weak antagonists: Yartek, the supposed mastermind, barely appears and fails to deliver any menace, while the Voord—clearly an attempt to replicate the Daleks’ success—come across as underdeveloped and ineffective despite their sleek design.

Visually, The Keys of Marinus underwhelms. The constantly shifting settings strain the budget, resulting in simplistic and unconvincing set designs. This "make do" approach is especially glaring in Part 3, which feels like hastily assembled filler.

There are, however, standout moments. Part 4 delivers a chilling, atmospheric interlude with Vasor, one of the most disturbingly effective guest characters in the show's history. His unsettling presence injects genuine tension into an otherwise sagging middle. Part 5, on the other hand, revitalizes the narrative by pivoting to a fast-paced courtroom drama, showcasing William Hartnell’s Doctor as Ian’s spirited defender. This episode hints at the cunning, justice-seeking qualities that would become a hallmark of the character across his regenerations.

Susan, sadly, is at her most grating and unhelpful in this serial, while Yartek’s unconvincing disguise and the rushed conclusion leave much to be desired. On the brighter side, the script cleverly accommodates cast vacations by splitting up the TARDIS team and focusing on them in turns, a logistical touch worth noting.

While The Keys of Marinus offers glimmers of creativity and a few memorable moments, it ultimately falls short of its ambitious potential, burdened by uneven execution and underwhelming production values.

RANDOM OBSERVATIONS:

• William Hartnell delivers a classic flub with the line, “If you would have had your shoes on, boy, you could’ve lent her hers!” A delightful bit of unintended comedy.