Doctor Who: William Hartnell’s 10 Best Episodes

7. Planet Of Giants

Episode: Season 2, Episode 1

Companions: Barbara Wright, Ian Chesterton, Susan Foreman

The TARDIS lands in a jungle with giant dead insects. Ian, Barbara, Susan and the Doctor later find that they are actually on earth, and have shrunk to about an inch. The group separates, and meanwhile a scientist talks about a new insecticide he created named DN6 telling an industrialist that it is far too harmful to insect life and cannot be used yet. The industrialist, Forester, kills the scientist to take DN6 for himself. The TARDIS crew discoverers his crime and seek to bring Forester to justice, while also trying to revert themselves to normal size. In a "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" scenario, the crew must travel by drainpipe, escape the dangerous forces of a cat, and go through the excruciating task of operating a telephone. There is no better word for this episode than "fun". Today we don't have as limited resources as back then, so it's incredible just seeing how they shrink the characters down to size with massive matchboxes and giant sinks. The dual plot-line of the story also makes it far more enjoyable to watch.