Unmatched Ambition - Doctor Who: The Keys of Marinus (1964) - REVIEW 

"Machines can make laws but they cannot preserve justice. Only human beings can do that." Last video of 2022, everybody! We're just over 100 subscribers away from 30K, so be sure to subscribe, "like" and leave a comment to appease the almighty RU-vid algorithm!

The definition of flawed but ambitious, and the court scenes are incredible. Really underappreciated as an early innovator of the adventure style episode.

One of the most ambitious weekly stories for the production team which they pulled off masterfully. This paved the way to be used again in The Chase, The Dalek Masterplan, and even years later in the Key to Time season

Drinking Game: Take a shot every time Mr.Tardis says "but, let me back up."

Turns into a cupboard cut out lol

Definitely one of those stories that solidified for me that I wanted to continue watching Classic Who. It's been an up and down ride, and this story is a perfect encapsulation of that while never losing its epic feel all the same.

I've always had a soft spot for Keys. While the Daleks gets the acclaim for making the show a sensation, I bet kids in the 60s were engrossed in this one just as much. It's proper pulp 60s Sci-Fi done well and is quietly one of the most enjoyable 6 parters you'll see in Classic in my opinion.

honestly my fave part of the whole thing is the scene where the Doctor has to sit outside of the room that Ian was getting killed and you could really see the guilt and sadness in the doctor's face as he realizes that he got Ian killed!! you can really see the empact of Ian and Barbara on the doctor for the first time, as the doctor realizes he actually likes Ian and Barbara, and he only realizes that when he lost them... ie when Ian is supposably dead, amazing character stuff

The show doing a Key-related search 15 years early! All we're missing is a sultry Time Lord assistant and a robot dog!

Fun fact, the Vvord are actually Cybermen, at least in the comics

Settle in, because I am the biggest Marinus fan. I love this story for it's sense of adventure. And variety. I also love how because the justice machine has started to collapse that the different places on Marinus are representations of chaos that can happen without true human preservation and order and now that the machine has started to fail (hence the need for the keys again), the 4 locations are all chaotic and trying to compensate. Morphoton is a city where human will has been abandoned in the "true" image of Marinus and the Morphos have taken advantage of a society that seem driftless and aimless now that the system of justice from the machine is gone hence the Morphos can easily take over. The jungle is chaotic and uncontrollable due to neglect and scientific experimentation without accountability. The snows of terror is an environment where any sense of order and justice are gone from humanity as it's essentially barren leaving only Vasor. But Vasor is taking advantage of that lack of order to become the king of his own little land, exploiting the lost and vulnerable. (Though I got the impression he also bigged himself up too much in order to survive. Deep down, he's a complete wimp.) And with Millennius, the faltering machine creating peace and order has thrown the city and ultimately it's justice system into utter chaos and is now backwards and broken. I see them as humans who have no clue what to do or how to govern and control with order and justice so this hectic, chaotic approach to justice exists in it's place. I would also argue that maybe this sense of momentum and urgency is needed because the Voord could take the island at any moment. Now granted there is no line of dialogue that states the rest of the world is becoming resistant to the machine's power but I think that's what the story was going for. But tbf I could be wrong. (In case it wasn't obvious, I've re-watched this one more than any other classic story.) Thank you for shining light on this wonderful story. I'm so glad you watched it. Also, can we take a moment to appreciate the Voord tripping over the door at 20:07?

16:41 I sincerely hope the Doctor cross-examined a parrot and had updated autopsy reports or the turnabout wouldn't have worked 😄

With regard to Ian's intimidation being offscreen, onscreen canon notes that he did his National Service in the 50s and was apparently a well regarded boxer. I wish I could remember the story it was in, but Ian showed a remarkable aptitude for efficient violence putting down the threat in very short order.

As everyone has said this is a rather flawed story but I've always loved the concept of exploring different regions of the same planet. It really helped Marnius feel more like an entire world in motion than a few people loitering on sets waiting for the protagonists to arrive.

Vortex manipulators

I'm glad I've been watching classic doctor who a bit ahead of you, so I get to go back and watch these videos and get another perspective on the serials. Great series so far!

I like The Keys of Marinus

thankyou! ive been watching all your videos over xmas , its really helped me with my mental health struggles, and i just want to say im really enjoying your content and especially hearing about these Doctor adventures i havent experienced before, wishing you all the best and thankyou for all your content

While only Tom Baker Dr. Who was available in the US in the early days, all we had were the novelizations of other Doctors. And I have to say that The Keys Of Marinus totally blew my mind by how massive of scale it was. Many of the books were like this.

I've always liked this story, the fact it's multiple stories with a single story arc running throughout it, makes it almost hale to New Who. I've read had there been a third Peter Cushing movie either this story or the Chase were being considered. I've always wished it had happened, to imagine this ambitious story made in color with a cinematic budget, omgs.

When I heard Andross’s voice clip from Star Fox 64 played over that brain, I initially thought it was David Banks Cyberman voice. Can you blame me? They sound very similar uncompressed. Also, the Voords look kind of like the Shadow Heartless from Kingdom Hearts. Well, MrTARDIS played one of Andross’s voice clips over those Brain like characters and also played Ace Attorney music during the scene when the Doctor was saving Ian during the trial, why the heck not.

As a kid I found this absolutely enthralling.

Ian threatened that big bully with a mouse who immediately gave in 😁

I love when Hartnell makes his return in Sentence of Death, the way its done is awesome because we hear his voice from.offscreen we see the elation on the faces of the companions, then we cut to him as everyone gathers around and Susan gives him a big kiss on the cheek. Considering he was.missing for episodes 3 and 4, it is rather heartwarming the way he makes his grand reentrance

You forget William Russell was also Sir Lancelot 😂

Honestly it makes sense, the guy's a bully who never had to back up his bluster, & someone who wouldn't B cowed would present too much of a challenge.

Is sentence of terror basically space ace attorney

Great to see Terry Nation inventing teleportation on TV science fiction some years before Star Trek did it. People who criticise Blakes 7's teleport are conveniently ignored this story (and the teleport bracelets are a direct continuation of ideas from this to Blakes 7).

“It’s only a model!” “Shh!” Is quickly becoming my new favourite phrase.

I love this story

Not seen this story in ages, but I'm planning a Who marathon in the new year, so this maybe a surprise for me! 🙂

I'm really liking these deeper dives into the classic episodes. I haven't seen them all, but I've really enjoyed the ones I have seen, like this one. It really felt like an epic story, with them having to collect the keys and crossing into entirely different settings and environments.

Is Keys Flawed? Yes, but it’s bursting with ideas. Keys is one of my fave 1st Doctor stories. It’s early in the shows life and really adds to the character’s personalities.

The way you describe the Voord at the beginning makes them sound like potential good guys!

The microphone shadow at 22:21 looks like it is in the overscan area so would not have been visible on CRT television screens. One disadvantage of new TVs and monitors.

I never realised that Arbitan was George Coulouris, before. That means that an actor from Citizen Kane was on Doctor Who. That’s just cool.

5:35 - Arbutan gets stabbed in the back, but he falls to the floor clutching his chest! 😆🤣😂

One I’ve been waiting for. Can you imagine if Hartnell sent a postcards while on his holiday. Good weather. Hope your have a good time on Marinus.

7:04 Sorry, I lost it when Annie Wilkes from "Misery" appeared. God, is Kathy Bates an amazing actress.

I'll always have an affection for this story because it was the one that got me properly hooked on classic Doctor Who. Having watched some of the new series I wanted to check out the old show, and starting from the beginning I skipped the caveman episodes of An Unearthly Child, didn't really like The Daleks or Edge of Destruction much, and didn't try to watch Marco Polo bc I hadnt learned about missing episode reconstructions yet... if I hadn't liked this serial, I probably would have given up on watching the show, but I realized it had really hooked me and after this I was in it for the long haul. I love how it hops around between all these different locations, it keeps it from ever getting boring.

I would say if there's one thing about 1960s Doctor Who is that the first season should have had a long running arc discovering more about who Susan is (and therefore more about Timelords...yes I know they weren't named yet). The season could have culminated in something about her being important and this is maybe where she then gets left on Future Earth at the end like she does in canon. Then when Susan ultimately returns for the Five Doctors, her being a Timelord could have help in the resolution, like maybe she was the first half-human/half-timelord. Then again I'm using my 2022 TV brain for a 1964 TV show.

thank you for this. i definitely have a soft spot for the keys of marinus. such a good review. yes, what the hell are the vord for? are the brains the same as those in "the return of doctor mysterio" ?

I think we have to think of the production value / execution in terms of 1964 and other TV ( more than film ) series and one offs. It was not expected to be examined frame by frame but on fairly small 405 ish lines of distribution over a saturday tea time. As such the thought to the script arc , which calls on the likes of Perry Mason, Quatermass and so on for the sci-fi threats etc I found quite interesting given the time pressure to turn anything about. The cast of extras / supporting characters shows the kind of jobbing actor/ rep in the theatre world coming through , flubbed lines reminds me of Arthur Lowe at the end of the decade in Dad's Army, but in reality we have to accept people putting mouth into operation before brain is in gear so it is a bit realistic too.

Susan has no luck with shoes, does she? In her final story the Doctor takes one of hers to fix in the TARDIS and then locks the doors and abandons her!

George Coulouris (the actor who played Arbitan in part one) was a pretty big name to be guesting on such a low budget series; he was a member of Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre and most notably played Walter Parks Thatcher in Citizen Kane.

I love the way Nation pitched Keys of Marinus as an educational story in which different scenarios explore how in humans act in a world where they no longer posses a consciance, a sort of moral dilemma. The result is somewhat different - a bonkers action adventure.

Ian: "In a moment I gotta go in there and face an accusation of murder! I need a man to defend me!" Doctor: "I am that man!" Well, now we know where Picard got his inspiration to be a space lawyer in his free time. Also I like to have a headcanon that the creators of Ace Attorney got their inspiration for Manfred Von Karma after seeing Hartnel in courtroom in Doctor Who. I mean they do kinda look alike.

I really like this serial and I've watched it several times. I think the episodes when they're in the city with the murder mystery almost seem like a modern courtroom drama and a different story altogether.

This is kind of like the key to time series done 14 years earlier but over six episodes instead of a season

It looks amazing for the time tbh. I was a little confused about the woman who fake-cried and then opened the door and someone was in the room and she said they wouldn't be saved? Also maybe do a sorta companion watch for these? Like rate them in various categories like acting, dialogue, strength, whether they were integral to the plot or just there while it happened. Can't believe I am this early to a video on yt lol, usually I only see them a week after release.

I genuinely really enjoy this story, all it's parts, but that's the thing, they feel like different stories!

The Keys of Marinus in my opinion was the best serial to date at the time of its airing. I think it’s pacing and ambition is awesome and easily one of my favorites the show has to offer in the earlier seasons

Great review

The Doctor is just a better Saul Goodman in part 5.

9:29 I believe I saw somewhere that the original designs for the dalek mutants looked similar to these brain creatures. I think it was Dalek63•89 but I can’t remember for sure. If that’s the case though it’s great reuse of the concept since we never see the dalek mutant in the original episode.

Wait...Fiona Waklker? As in Silver Nemesis Fionalk Walker? Kinda makes me think rthis was the inspiration for Flux. Say what you will about comparitive story quality, but I can sort of see a bit of Keys in Flux, now I'm watching this.

3:46 Oh man, what a way to go

Great novelisation by Philip Hinchcliffe

Some good ideas, but let down by some silly ones and a long runtime. Looking forward to The Aztecs though!

This serial set up as boilerplates for future video games.

All the Places are different places/countries on Marinus not planets

'Somehow Ian intimidates him into showing them the way' It's the power of pure 60's masculinity. Ian's the GOAT for a reason.

18:22 - Lady Peinforte?

I will watch the story when they do The collection season 1 which they will do for The 60th anniversary.

I liked the 2nd episode a lot. They could have expanded that idea to a 4 parter of its own. The scene where Barbara goes ballistic on the villains is so hilarious and campy I can't get mad at the anti climax. The overarching plot would have worked better if the old guy who sends them on the quest had just been evil and the Doctor had known from the start that a mind control machine is not good to be fixing. The fake key being the solution to everything was dumb, but if the Doctor himself had made it to sabotage the machine, it'd seem slightly less cheap.

So hard to believe that Terry Nation could write something so silly after that wonderful first Dalek story. It really sticks out like a sore thumb in a nearly flawless season, although I suppose The Sensorites isn't much better. Funny thing is, they're still both very enjoyable and watchable if you turn your brain off for a couple of hours, which is much more than I can say for the later "bad" episodes of the Tom Baker and especially McCoy era.

At the 10:00 mark that guy looks just like Rick Mayall. 😃

Is Ian's japanese jacket explained? Perhaps handed to him by a not very bright wardrobe assistant for the earlier Marco Polo episodes?

15:30 What is this from? 🤣

I love the keys of marinus it is a great story writing by the crate of the daleks Terry nashon

I like this one, the jungle part is dull though ans the snow one is fine but Not the most interestinf. The other 4 parts and the entire arc though I like.

The Doctor: Ace Attorney

First comment whoop whoop

This honestly one of my least favourite episodes. I think it would have been better if they had split the survival adventure story and the courtroom drama story into two different serials. By the end of the story, I had forgotten what was happening.