{"id":186,"date":"2017-10-11T00:14:57","date_gmt":"2017-10-11T04:14:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.davidredd.com\/doctorwho\/?p=186"},"modified":"2023-07-13T07:39:19","modified_gmt":"2023-07-13T11:39:19","slug":"the-romans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.davidredd.com\/doctorwho\/first-doctor\/the-romans\/","title":{"rendered":"The Romans"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Got a funny side to it hasn\u2019t it?\u201d – Ian<\/em><\/p>\n

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Right from the start, this story shows it will not take the normal route. After such a big fall in the cliff hanger, we think Ian must be lying unconscious and hurt—that is until he suddenly bites a huge bunch of grapes and we learn that he and the others have actually been fine for weeks relaxing in an exquisite Roman villa. What follows is one of the most screwball-comedy-like episodes of the series with playful banter and sight gags, puns, narrow misses, and farce. The scenes with Nero are especially played for laughs. (Our first glimpse of him is at his grand entrance in the palace when he enters with a loud belch!) The comedy is broad to the point that Nero\u2019s filandering assault of Barbara and the death of a servant by poison are all played to comic effect.<\/p>\n

Of course maybe it\u2019s good that the writing has such a light side when you consider the background subject matter is so dark and heavy. As Barbara points out in fear for her and Ian\u2019s life when captured: \u201cHave you any idea how the Roman\u2019s treated their slaves?\u201d There thus remains just enough serious danger\u2014principally in Ian\u2019s saga trying to reunite with Barbara\u2014to keep the story grounded. It\u2019s fairly unbelievable that Ian survives such a rough encounter as both being a galley slave and taking on Roman guards and gladiators in sword battle. Thus far he has not only done this but also taken on the premier warrior of the Aztecs, blood thirsty cavemen, French Revolutionary guards, and Dalek slaves and won each time. One wonders what kind of evening hobbies Ian had as a school teacher to be in such fighting shape! It\u2019s also interesting again that he cites the Doctor as inspiration: \u201cI\u2019ve got a friend who specialises in trouble. He dives in and usually finds a way. I think I\u2019ll take a leaf out of his book for once.\u201d<\/p>\n

Besides its comic aspects, one of the other hallmarks of the story is how it is made clear that both Ian and Barbara survive their deadly encounters principally because of their kindness and friendship to others. This becomes a norm for much of the series thereafter\u2014often the people the Doctor\u2019s companions assist out of the goodness of their hearts become the same ones that are key to their rescue in the end. It\u2019s shown when Barbara\u2019s kindness to a slave spurs the women to help Ian find her or when Ian\u2019s friendship with a fellow slave in the galley later ends up saving his life. But in this story it\u2019s also explicitly stated as the reason that Tavius rescues Barbara from the worst kind of slavery. (I also find it rather interesting that they later highlight the fact that he is a secret Christian\u2014explaining much in his treatment of slaves according to Biblical tradition.)<\/p>\n

While the story over all is much of an inconsequential run-around, it\u2019s fairly pleasing to watch in the end if you accept the light touch as just for fun. Some of my favorites include:<\/p>\n