I really like this story,Susan is fantastic in it but Barbara disappears for a bit,all in all I really enjoyed and Sensorites are a cool race to explore - 8/10

I actually really enjoyed myself with this one. The Sensorites are unique amongst the “monsters” we’ve seen, since they’re not really monsters at all! Their society is well thought out and there’s good and bad people amongst them, and the same goes for the humans. It strikes a really nice balance that I’ve always wanted modern who to have more often! Science fiction is in its very essence left-leaning, but at the same time it often presents whole groups or races as ‘the evil ones’. It is odd that this is something the modern series can struggle with, when it’s done so well here (although I’m not entirely convinced the concept will stick around).

This story is, however, the most interesting in its first 2 episodes, and dwindles a bit in its last 2. The addition of the extra human plot drags quite a bit and feels unnecessary, even if it is a nice contrast against the good and bad Sensorites. Still, when it is focused, it is very high quality. Props especially go to the portrayal of John, a role of so little note that he does not even have his own page on the Tardis Wiki. He is the one most effected by the mental attacks, and shows a combination of fear and craziness that establishes the threat of the Sensorites before they’ve ever been on screen. His job makes their powers and threat much clearer early on, even if they don’t intend to use it all that much.

As for the regular cast, Barbara gets shoved to the sideline a bit this episode. I assume Jacqueline Hill was on vacation. It is fine however, since she just had the last story, where the focus was completely on her. The rest of the cast shines as brightly as usual for me. Ian has to show more restraint than usual, which proves troublesome in the first few episodes, since this is a foe they actually shouldn’t attack. It makes sense after the last few adventures to take an offensive stance at the unknown, but it is dealt with in a nice way. Susan shows off some standoffishness, which I don’t really find either appealing or distracting for her character. It doesn’t really add much in the grand scheme of things, but it does fit her character. It is fine. Meanwhile the doctor seems to show a bit more stubbornness and grumpiness than he had in the last few stories, which is less appealing, since he had started to soften a bit more than this, but it isn’t too distracting.

The Gallifreyan mind powers also come into play for the first time, with both the doctor and Susan showing them off a bit. They’re neat I suppose. Not that interesting in the grand scheme of things.

Overall this is one of the better episodes. It is not the best story ever, but it has an interesting opponent which leads to nice interactions and an understandable conflict. It’s a good time.

📝6/10

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

"The Sensorites: From Suspense to Snooze"

The Sensorites is an odd tale that feels like two separate stories awkwardly stitched together. The first two episodes are a tense, gripping thriller set aboard a confined spaceship—easily one of the most compelling openings of the First Doctor’s era. Episode 1, in particular, stands out as a masterclass in atmosphere, blending sharp direction, sound design, and performances into a near-perfect prototype for the "base-under-siege" stories that would become iconic in later eras.

The story begins with a reflective tone, as the TARDIS crew reminisce about past adventures, including unseen ones that add a dash of intrigue to the Doctor's mysterious past. The Part 1 cliffhanger, with its eerie reveal, is a classic that must have haunted countless children in its time.

However, the narrative stumbles once we leave the spaceship in Part 3 and venture into the dull and overly talkative world of the Sense Sphere. The intriguing menace of the Sensorites dissipates as they transform from creepy telepathic aliens into bureaucratic squabblers. The plot becomes bogged down by padding, contrived twists, and an uninspired medical mystery. By the time we reach the rushed and unremarkable climax in Part 6, it feels like Peter R. Newman ran out of steam.

The latter episodes rely heavily on the scheming of the pantomime-like City Administrator, whose raspy voice and cartoonish villainy fail to provide real tension. His grand plan is not only absurdly simple but also undermined by noticeable differences between the Sensorites (like their voices and body shapes), despite the story insisting they are identical.

On a brighter note, this serial gives Susan some much-needed character development. Her growing independence strains her relationship with the Doctor, creating emotional depth for both characters. Carole Ann Ford delivers a nuanced performance that hints at Susan’s untapped potential—sadly, this was not explored further before her departure.

William Hartnell, meanwhile, is at his absolute best, especially in the first two episodes. The Doctor is witty, determined, and commanding, embracing his role as an investigator with gusto. These episodes also feature a delightful "Doctor doing science" montage, a rare treat.

The guest cast shines early on, particularly Stephen Dartnell as the troubled John. Unfortunately, the narrative sidelines them once the action shifts to the Sense Sphere. The Sensorites themselves start as an intriguing concept: a peaceful, telepathic race with a creepy aesthetic. However, their appeal dwindles as the script reduces them to ineffective plot devices. Even their telepathy—initially a key feature—feels underutilized, as they converse with everyone just like any other alien species.

Visually, the spaceship set and Sensorite masks are suitably eerie, but the Sense Sphere is disappointingly bland. Frequent line flubs from the Sensorite actors (and even Hartnell) add unintentional humor to the mix.

Ultimately, The Sensorites is a tale of two halves: a fantastic opening followed by a repetitive, padded descent into mediocrity. While it has its highlights, it never quite lives up to its early promise.

The Sensorites is alright enough in terms of a production thing, and easy enough to hand wave away as just a quirk of the series in it's earliest days. Still, it is just so boring. I really barely got through this one and compared to the better stories of this earlier era - like the Pilot, The Daleks, and The Aztecs, it just feels like a much weaker take on Doctor Who. The Sensorites feels like one of a handful of serials from the First Doctor's era that show what could have been - a weaker version of the Doctor Who that certainly wouldn't have the same lasting legacy than the full-blown franchise the show ultimately became.

It's fine. The pacing is a little slow but there are plenty of good moments and I enjoy Suzan finally getting her time to shine. The slow pace helped with the build-up of mystery in the first episode and didn't detract too much from the political plots, though it might have if I wasn't using this opportunity to make progress on my current crochet project.

There are some parts of the story that fall apart under scrutiny (such as the Sensorites being unable to recognise each other without their roles being communicated) but most of the plot is fairly solid, something that often feels like a rarity in Doctor Who.