16) THE CHASE

The Chase is a similar idea to The Key of Marinus, no, wait a minute, scratch that, reverse it, it’s a direct copy. The serial only succeeds in emphasising just how boring the jumping-around-between-various-locations in quick succession becomes when watching all six episodes in one sitting, and how long winded it can be when watching episodes week by week. 
The Chase is a mixture of greatness and frustration. There is a sense of fun from the four regulars, and the Dalek vs. Mechonoid battle scene (another failed attempt to cash in on a new Doctor Who monster) is decent for 1960s standards, but everything else is dumbed down where the plot becomes a mockery of what made The Daleks so special in the first place. Perhaps Terry Nation never believed his creations would remain as popular for long as they did. The direction is muddled and confused, with a list of seemingly endless production errors which suggest a rushed and poorly directed production. The writing is poor and somewhat juvenile and amateurish, going back and forth between serious hard-hitting drama, slapstick comedy, woe-is-me soap opera acting and hammy monster movie acting. Whether it was a lack of discipline from Dennis Spooner, or enthusiasm from Terry Nation doesn’t excuse how lazy the plot gets. There is clearly effort from time to time to create something memorable (the use of stock footage of New York, cutting between model shots and footage from studio recordings etc.) but again why not concentrate on one setting for the entire story? Why Terry Nation?
This is the Daleks’ worst showing, in terms of being a menace and threat, becoming the laughing stock for most of the story, instead of the run-and-hide-behind-the-sofa menaces children fell in love with following their introduction. The departure of Ian and Barbara is hard hitting, and marks the first major change for the show, and fans can only agree when The Doctor says ‘I shall miss them. Yes, I shall miss them’. Steven Taylor meanwhile shows promise, the show’s first companion not to officially join The Doctor through a request or invite. 
As a whole, The Chase has aged terribly, but is memorable, nonetheless. The serial will always be a guilt-pleasure and does make for some light hearted entertainment, but deeply flawed on a number of levels. If you’re looking for something which doesn’t require a lot of attention, this one will satisfy. If you’re looking for a solid, well-structured, intellectually stimulating adventure then take a ‘Flight through Eternity’ and look elsewhere. **
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