The Aztecs

"You cannot rewrite history, not one line!"

In the 15th century, civilization is hardly civilized as the Doctor discovers when the TARDIS materializes in an ancient Aztec temple. When Barbara is mistaken for the reincarnation of the Aztec's High Priest, Yetaxa, she seizes the opportunity to put an end to the ceremonial rites of human sacrifice and save the Aztecs from self-destruction.

The Doctor must somehow convince Barbara to let history follow its natural course and return to the TARDIS before their real identities are discovered. Can they escape before they become the next blood sacrifice?

• The Aztecs was the second historical adventure to be done on Doctor Who.   The first was Marco Polo (no episodes exist of this story). 

• This story is also unique in that there is a romance for the Doctor's character (although mild).  Amusingly, the Doctor inadvertently proposes to Cameca without knowing it.

• John Ringham gives a great performance as the priest of sacrifice, Tlotoxl.

• Watch for the cameraperson colliding with the sacrificial alter and jiggling the camera and for Hartnell's hallmark fluffing of his lines.

• Actor Walter Randall has his first role in Doctor Who here as Tonila.  He would return the next season to play El Akir in the Hartnell classic "The Crusade."  The third season saw him as Hyksos in "The Daleks' Masterplan" as Hyksos.  He would return for one final appearance in the 7th season story "Inferno" as the doomed repairman Slocum.  You can see more of him than you ever imagined in an interview session on "The Aztecs" DVD. 

• If you can, you should really check out this story on DVD.  The story has undergone an amazing restoration process as well as having the DVD crammed full of nice extras.  Well worth a look.  :D