The Ark

The survival of humanity hangs in the balance in this four-part adventure spanning seven centuries. The Earth is about to plunge into the Sun, and all life has taken refuge on a huge celestial ark prepared to undertake a 700 year journey to a new home. But a common cold threatens the voyage and the Doctor barely finds a cure in time. With the Ark underway, the TARDIS travels into the future to board the craft as it nears the end of its journey. Here, the Doctor finds a new disease: an epidemic of racial injustice dividing the travelers into slaves and rulers. Unless he can persuade them to live in peace, their journey will have been in vain.

• One of the few complete stories of Hartnell's 3rd season, "The Ark" proved to be an ambitious production requiring the use of live animals, large open sets, and cast to have one eyeball in their mouths.   ;)

• Meet Eric Elliott.  He played the Commander in the first two episodes.  To Eric goes the prize of the most fluffed lines, missed marks and even going the wrong direction - making a sharp ninety degree turn - and then back to where he was supposed to go in the first place.  :)

• Also watch for the atrociously over-the-top acting by Inigo Jackson (who plays Zentos).  It would make William Shatner blush.

• 700 years separates the first two episodes from the last two.

• The end of episode 4 leads directly into the next story, "The Celestial Toymaker."  Sadly, it only exists (in full) on audio.

• The Doctor Who Restoration Team did extensive work on this video release by cleaning up both picture and sound.