The Aztecs (Doctor Who)
The Aztecs is a 4 episode Doctor Who serial. It is the sixth story in the first season, featuring William Hartnell as The Doctor.
The serials four episodes were individually titled,
- The Temple of Evil
- The Warriors of Death
- The Bride of Sacrifice
- The Day of Darkness
Synopsis
The TARDIS crew arrive in Mexico in the Fifteenth Century. With the TARDIS trapped in a tomb, Barbara is forced to assume the guise of Yetaxa a God for whom the Aztecs have mistaken her. While the Doctor tries to find a way to re-enter the tomb, Ian must join the military and fight the strongest warrior to proove his ability to command the Aztec forces.
In her new position of power Barbara sees her chance to bring an end to human sacrifice. As somewhat of an expert on this period, she sees how advanced their culture really is and believes that if sacrifice was abolished then they would be spared destruction at the hands of Spanish.
Despite her efforts, she cannot change an entire culture, although she does succeed in changing the views of one man, Autloc. The Doctor and his companions eventually manage to get back to the TARDIS and leave knowing that despite their intervention history will take its pre-destined course.
Writer
Main cast
- The Doctor: William Hartnell
- Susan Foreman: Carole Ann Ford
- Barbara Wright: Jacqueline Hill
- Ian Chesterton: William Russell
- Autloc: Keith Pyott
- Tlotoxl: John Ringham
- Ixta: Ian Cullen
- Cameca: Margot van der Burgh
- Tonila: Walter Randall
- Perfect Victim: Andre Boulay
Notes
- One of the subplots in this story involves a romance for the Doctor with Cameca an Aztec with whom he inadvertantly becomes engaged to be married
- One of the classic historical stories which were discontinued later in the shows history
- This serial first aired in the United Kingdom on the following dates, 23rd May 1964, 30th May 1964, 6th June 1964 and 13th June 1964.
External Links
| Preceded by: The Keys of Marinus |
List of Doctor Who serials | Followed by: The Sensorites |