Doctor Who messes with the Aztecs

Article first published as DVD Review: Doctor Who - The Aztecs Special Edition on Blogcritics. 

The Aztecs, the latest Doctor Who Special Edition released to DVD by the BBC originally aired towards the end of the show's first series. The serial consists of four half-hour episodes, which aired in May and June of 1964. It is now available on a two-disc set, complete with a wealth of extras.

As The Aztecs opens, the TARDIS lands in a tomb in 15th century Mexico. Upon emerging from said tomb, Barbara (Jacqueline Hill) is mistakenly hailed as an incarnation of an ancient high priestess. Considering she knows quite a bit about this period of human history, she decides it might be best to end the Aztec's practice of human sacrifice here and now, which, in her estimation, could spare them from their eventual extinction at the hands of Spanish conquerors.

At stake in The Aztecs, are the consequences of changing of history. If presented with the opportunity, should anyone alter the present, even if it is possible to rending the world a better place? Or is it preferable to let events run their course, considering that every bad thing still contributes into civilization as it evolves.

If you're satisfied with the present, why  risk messing it up by screwing with the past? What unintended consequences could the wreak havoc with the world? Is it even possible to change events, or are certain paths predestined?

These are questions wrestled with since the idea of time travel was first explored, and certainly since the beginnings of Doctor Who nearly five decades ago. There aren't easy or certain answers, and they are still debated today.

Doctor Who does itself a service by addressing them so early on in the show's history, and in a way that viewers would find relatable, as Barbara's intentions are noble. It's intelligent storytelling, and an excellent example of what Doctor Who has to offer the genre.

The Doctor (William Hartnell) is shocked and appalled that Barbara would even consider mucking up events. His mindset and values are not well known, especially at this point in the show's run, but clearly changing history goes against his grain. This makes for some tension between the Doctor and his companion.

The Aztecs is an exciting adventure, with lots of subterfuge and danger. Ian (William Russell) is tasked with battling to the death; there is poison and betrayal. It makes for a great and entertaining batch of episodes, even while raising some important moral issues.

Besides the action and musings, though, The Aztecs still finds room for humor. Both the Doctor and his granddaughter, Susan (Carole Ann Ford), accidentally become romantically involved with locals from the time, and must try to gracefully exit the situation without destroying local custom. This combination of so many elements makes The Aztecs a very good entry, indeed.

Which isn't to say that it's perfect. The fight scenes, like many shows of this era, feel stilted and fake. The backdrops are not always convincing. But this can be chalked up to budgetary issues and the style of the era, and not a complaint directed against the show.

The DVD picture and sound are far from the best among the Doctor Who serials on the market. However, considering that it comes from the earliest days of the series, the efforts taken to restore it should be appreciated. The technical quality could definitely have been much worse, and most fans will just be delighted to get to experience this classic tale at all. Guest stars in The Aztecs include Keith Pyott (The Prisoner), John Ringham (Just Good Friends), and Ian Cullen (Emergency - Ward 10), all of whom do a fine job.

There are many, many bonus features with this set. The audio commentary track is done by Russell and Ford, accompanied by producer Verity Lambert. The expected photo gallery and PDF materials are also present, as is an optional Arabic soundtrack for episode four. Big Doctor Who fans won't want to miss the previously lost story of Galaxy 4, tacked on here with the complete episode three, only recently recovered.

There is a half hour "Making Of" as well as several short featurettes, including one on design, and one on restoring the episodes. "It's a Square World," the very first Doctor Who skit, is included, and there are specials on the Spanish conquest of Mexico and the making of the film Daleks - Invasion Earth: 2150 AD. And there's even more than what I've listed.

Not all of the extras are directly related to The Aztecs. It's interesting to get some history of the time period, even if its a bit baffling as to why so much Doctor Who content pertaining to other stories is included. All in all, though, The Aztecs Special Edition is a jam-packed, very satisfying set.

Doctor Who The Aztecs Special Edition is available now.