Episode #6 : The Aztecs

"You can't rewrite history. Not one line!"

Episode 6:     The Aztecs.
Companions: The 1st Doctor, Susan Foreman, Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright.

Air Date:        Four episodes. 23rd May to 13th June 1964.

The arrival of the TARDIS in 15th century Mexico leads the crew to the doomed Aztec people, a mixture of high culture and brutal savagery. Matters are further complicated when Barbara is mistaken for a god and the Doctor becomes engaged to be married.

Another reasonable historical tale dealing with a clash of cultures and mind sets. In this story we learn than Barbara is an expert on the Aztecs so we get some nice insight from her. Where this takes us is her idea of trying to prevent the downfall of their civilisation and it conflicting with the Doctor who warns her that she can't change history... not one line! This particular approach from the Doctor changes later on especially in the new series.

As much as this is watchable story it is let down somewhat by the pacing of the plot. There is a little too much going on around each character and things drag a little. Also I would guess that with The Aztecs we are looking at another attempt to use the show to teach history to children watching at home. Had the writers just worked this one as another time travel story it probably would have turned out better.

The best thing about this story is the focus on Barbara over the other characters. In The Aztecs Barbara comes across, even with the naivety of trying to alter established history, as a much stronger role model than the she has been before.