#bide-a-wee

[contac]

[unwillingadventurer]

Thoughts on 'Bide-a-wee' (First Doctor short story)

We read this a few days ago. It was such a strange story because it was just the Doctor alone in a Bed and Breakfast. Susan had gone off with some friends and it was before they had met Ian and Barbara. Supposedly the ship was working and he had chosen this holiday in 1933 in a seaside town.

And that was our problem with the story. Yes, it was nice to have the Doctor eating ice cream, (incidentally in our favourite Ice cream parlour) and paddling and socialising but it just didn't feel like him. It was entirely unlike the First Doctor who had yet to meet the teachers who would change him.

Here he enjoyed human company, he was nice to children and wanted to spend his days relaxing and chatting to others, and therefore instantly what we love about the First Doctor was removed. Sure he was still his funny grandfatherly self but all the danger and mystery we love about the character was gone.

So maybe if we think of this as an alternate reality it could work for us but it was less enjoyable to read because we wanted to see him get stroppy. It's a shame as well because the storyline about time travel was really good and there was some really good moments raised about racism and prejudice but it just sort of felt forced for the Doctor to be so involved in human problems. Perhaps if he'd gone on holiday with Ian and Barbara later it would have been a lot more fun but it just seemed so unlike what the First Doctor would want to do with his life. We imagined him barely venturing out of Totter's Lane. He even said he 'tolerated' the 20th century so we couldn't imagine him enjoying it and finding it idyllic.

Though it was a nice touch to have him leave and instead decide on the 1960's because it was a greater decade for Susan to enjoy fashion and music. 

Don't get us wrong, it was a nicely written and at times humourous story but when the First Doctor loses that uncertainty and danger, especially so early in his story then we don't feel the same about it.