Tread Perilously is a podcast in which hosts Erik Amaya and author Justin Robinson watch the “worst” episodes of popular TV shows, attempting to determine if they would continue to watch the series based on the most off-key moments.

This Week: Doctor Who‘s “An Unearthly Child”

Tread Perilously celebrates its 500th podcast by going back to the beginning — the first ever Doctor Who story: “An Unearthly Child.”

When Shoreditch area schoolteachers Barbara Wright and Ian Chesterton have a conversation about an unusual student, Susan Foreman, their questions lead them to a junkyard at the end of Totter’s Lane. Inside, they find no trace of Susan, but instead discover an out-of-place police box. Soon, they encounter a difficult old man who not only turns out to be Susan’s grandfather, but an alien known only as The Doctor. And when he sets his time machine to 100,000 B.C., it begins a huge adventure for the foursome.

Justin reacts to just how different The Doctor is in his first appearance. Erik recalls some previous episodes of the podcast. Susan finally gets a discussion all her own. Barbara and Ian also take focus, forcing Justin to reconsider one of his previously established archetypes. Erik tries to give producer Verity Lambert some of her due. The issues with episodes 2-4 are explored. The initial William Hartnell depiction of The Doctor leads to some myth-making about the show. Justin has a hard time holding onto Jacqueline Hill’s name, and the pair imagine other Doctor/companion teams dealing with the cavemen and their quest for fire.

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