Doctor Who: The Savages (TV Soundtrack)

By: Ian Stuart Black

Narrated by: William Hartnell, Full Cast, Peter Purves

'We have reached the distant horizon of an age of peace and prosperity!' When the TARDIS materialises on an alien planet, the Doctor insists that he and his companions have arrived in the far future. Steven and Dodo think otherwise, however, after they encounter a band of cave-dwelling primitives who are terrified of strangers. The travellers discover that the planet's population is divided into two castes, and that the professed idyll of the Elders - who inhabit a technologically advanced city - seems oddly dependent upon the unsophisticated Savages. Whilst the Elders' leader, Jano, welcomes the Doctor into their society, Dodo stumbles upon a dark secret at the heart of the community. The truth behind the Elders' great knowledge is eventually revealed, and the Doctor sees it as his duty to end a terrible case of exploitation. Yet Jano has plans of his own for the Doctor... With the Doctor's faithful companion Stven discovering that events on this planet will irrevocably shape his destiny, The Savages marks the final appearance in the programme of Peter Purves, who also provides the linking narration for this release.©2002 BBC Worldwide Ltd; (P)2002 BBC Worldwide Ltd

Another lost classic

Good send-off for companion Steven, played by Peter Purves who narrates this CD, the Doctor's other companion, Dodo (Jackie Lane) leaves in the next story, which was The War Machines. The audio (from an off-air recording by Graham Strong when it first aired in 1966 is excellent).

Farewell, Steven Taylor

The final screen appearance for Steven Taylor and it's a surprising solid story. At the beginning, I thought we would get something akin to the, Caveman scenes of 100,000 BC Instead, the story takes a turn as we learn the nearby society has built it's prosperity on stealing the life force from "Savages," another race they argue are inferior.

There's a wonderful core story here and it's helped by a great final performance from Peter Purves as Steven is given a great chance to show his heroism one last time. The Doctor has a great speech to the council. The story is not without faults, hurt by a bit of padding in the early episodes and a contrived change that's key to the outcome of the story. Still, this is fitting send off for Steven.

Classic Doctor Who at its best.

Great story. An alien civilization that uses innocent simple people's life force to make their selfs a race of super people, isn't going to sit well with the Doctor. So you know he's going to have stop them. Nice little story about morals and the rights of sentient races to live their lives without their rights taken away from them. The Doctor also loses his companion Steven. Who's helped him fight the Daleks and other Evil beings through out their travels. I hope he enjoys his new job. Great story to listen to.