The Keys of Marinus

Directed by

UK Viewers

9.9 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

The alien world of Marinus. Perfect peace has reigned here for decades due to the mind-controlling influence of a machine known as the Conscience. But now a race known as the Voord have developed an immunity and Arbitan, keeper of the machine, has been forced to scatter the vital control keys around the planet. Now he needs the help of the time travellers to get them back - it will be an extraordinary journey, with perils every step of the way...

The Velvet Web

First aired

Saturday, April 18, 1964

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

9.4 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

The Doctor and his friends arrive in the apparently idyllic city of Morphoton but Barbara soon begins to realise there is more to their hosts than meets the eye.

The Screaming Jungle

First aired

Saturday, April 25, 1964

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

9.9 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

The search for the second key takes the travellers to a jungle where Ian and Barbara come under threat from rapidly growing plants.

The Snows of Terror

First aired

Saturday, May 2, 1964

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

10.4 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

Searching for the third key, Ian and Barbara meet with the sinister trapper Vasor before following Susan and the others into a cave system guarded by the mysterious Ice Soldiers.

Sentence of Death

First aired

Saturday, May 9, 1964

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

7.9 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

The group are reunited with the Doctor in the city of Millennius where Ian faces trial for murder after the fourth key is stolen.

First aired

Saturday, May 16, 1964

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

Click here to translate

UK Viewers

6.9 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

The Doctor and his friends must locate the real murderers and the fourth key before heading off for a final confrontation with the Voord

Characters

First Doctor

William Hartnell

Susan

Carole Ann Ford

How to watch The Keys of Marinus:

Watch on iPlayer

DVD

The Keys of Marinus

VHS

The Keys of Marinus (VHS)

Reviews
Add Review Edit Review

Sort:

22 reviews

Bom episódios, só um pouco arrastado mas não vou julgar devido a época

GGVICTOR

View profile

Like Liked 0

Review last edited on 8-05-25

I found myself unexpectedly enjoying this Episode. Usually, with the season one stuff, I find myself kind of indifferent, but their whole Journey through quite a range of different terrains was a joy.

I also thought the premise itself was rather interesting, and the longer season one goes on, the more I find myself really adoring Ian and Barbara. I like that Barbara is getting quite a few moments here. I like her a lot more here than I did in An Unearthly Child and Dalek!

Pocketwatch

View profile

Like Liked 0

Review last edited on 4-05-25

The Keys of Marinus is my first 10/10 story of Classic Who. As with the other stories thus far, we're treated to another very strong first episode - this is the way to begin a story! Mysterious, imaginative, quirky - it does an excellent job of setting the tone, and I particularly loved the proto-Wilhelm scream and the plethora of revolving panels littering the outer wall of the building.

Barbara is my favorite character in season one, and episodes two and three are prime examples why. Here we have traps and puzzles galore! It's all very Temple of Doom, with Barbara coming in strong again and again. Susan even helped rescue everyone! One thing I appreciate in episodes two through four is the focus on the other characters while The Doctor is away. In episode two, we were treated to Barbara and Ian working on their own, and in episode three, it's those two with actual help from Susan, which may be the first time since she navigated the petrified jungle to fetch the medicine in The Daleks. I also appreciate the swift location-hopping in this story and the sense of actual menace from anything and everything around them - acid oceans, sentient vegetation, roving wolves, bitter cold, booby traps.

Hartnell returns from vacation completely energized here, and his performance is excellent. Episode five may showcase some of the first glimmerings of The Doctor as someone who is steps ahead of everyone else. Susan was feisty rather than whiny; Barbara was calm and steady; and Ian was stoic, trusting The Doctor to defend and rescue him from a tight spot. I've awarded individual episodes five stars before this; however, not all five-star episodes are created equal, and this one was truly outstanding. This is quite possibly the best story of Season One. It's at least the most consistent, with none of the episodes appreciably dropping in quality, plus the ending was at once touching and sagacious. All the characters had a chance to shine, and the seeds of what is to come have clearly been sown. And so, we venture into The Temple of (Elemental) Evil...

Dragonwitch

View profile

Like Liked 3

Review last edited on 4-05-25

this serial has everything: Ian and Barbara discovering more fruitiness whilst Susan has another manic episode, a fetch quest, a horror movie, a courtroom drama... and still room for weird scuba aliens.

kawaii2234

View profile

Like Liked 0

Review last edited on 3-05-25

This story has the best looking aliens (bar from the daleks) that have appeared in the show out so far, they really stand the test of time and look perfect in black and white.

I liked the concept of having the story set in lots of different places over 6 episodes, the fact that the show can be set anywhere is one of its inherit strengths, which it exploits here.

The scenes where Susan was kidnapped were the best part for me. The worst part were the unlikely ways in which the Doctor picked up clues for the court case.

15thDoctor

View profile

Like Liked 1

Review last edited on 2-04-25