12) THE ROMANS

Unlike its historical predecessors, The Romans manages to blend both comedy and drama to create scenes intended to give the audience a laugh. William Hartnell and Derek Francis are the best comedy duo pairing in the show’s history, continually playing off on and other, and always trying to outwit the other through visual and verbal jokes. Dennis Spooner goes for a more subtle approach to the comedic elements of the story; The Doctor playing the lyre and Nero painstakingly trying not to look like a common fool, the poisoning of the mute Tigilinus, and Nero’s reaction are just a couple of highlights. Comedy aside, there is also a darker side to the story, with no cheerfulness in the depiction of slavery and slave labour or gladiator combat. Ian for a while is sold as slave, and is almost killed in a freak storm, we don’t find out that Ian survived the shipwreck until later on. It’s a haunting image that Ian could have died, and The Doctor would be none the wiser as to the fate of his closest friend. The burning of Rome is also a haunting moment. Firstly, it is The Doctor who inadvertently gives Nero the idea to burn Rome down so he can build a new one, revealing that The Doctor’s exploration across space and time does have its consequences. Secondly, Nero is portrayed as a man who can be calm and collective one moment, and diabolically insane the next. Look at the way he cackles whilst playing a lyre as Rome burns. He’s the epitome of all villains. 
The plot is both sleek and highly engaging, where The Doctor/Vicki and Ian/Barbara continually miss each other, as they venture through Rome, with both pairs remaining oblivious to the other’s presence. There’s a funny idea at the end, where each pair presumes that the other has been waiting for them to return to the Villa which they have been borrowing, without any second thought as to another explanation for their short-term absence. There are a few timing issues, now and again, but it’s the comedy which keeps the story afloat. 
The Romans is a beautiful piece of television buts it not without its shortcomings. Whilst sets like Nero’s palace and the Ship’s gallery are a success, others like the country path and market are rather underwhelming and not that visually stunning to look at. Again, these are forgivable due to the brilliant cast, gorgeous costumes, and impressive visual effects: arguably the best historical narrative in Doctor Who history. ****