COMMENTARY OF BEN'S STORIES
THE WAR MACHINES-As an introductory story for Ben, "The War Machines" does an adequete job. The first two episodes are spent getting to know the new companion and his participation in the plot is minimal. All at once, Ben is presented as a tough but likeable sort of fellow who quickly becomes friends to Polly and Dodo. Despite barely knowing the Doctor, Ben immediately sees the old man as a respectable figure to the point of willingly accepting a "spy" assignment from him. The Doctor, it seems, sees something in Ben, for he takes him into his confidence rather quickly. Later, the Doctor accepts Ben's story about the machines at face value and in return Ben sticks by the Doctor. The relationship is, however, far from smooth as the Doctor does yell at Ben at times, and Ben is fustrated by the Doctor's lack of interest in Polly's welfare.
Other Noticables:
-Ben's Cockney accent is rather thick. Something that Michael Craze seemed to tone down in later stories. This makes for some of Ben's statements to be barely understandable.
-He is fiercely loyal to his friends. Depsite barely knowing the Doctor or Polly, he risks his very life for them.
-He seems to have a low self esteem and gets rather defensive easily.
-He wears his famous sailor's outfit complete with hat for this story only. Most of the story he wears a more casual sailor outfit.
-Polly practically pushes him into the TARDIS at the end.
Togetherness: Ben and Polly get to know each other in Episode 1 and stay together through about 1/4 of the way to Episode 2. They are apart for much of the story after that except for the beginning of Episode 3 and the end of Episode 4.
THE SMUGGLERS-I have always felt this was more of a Polly than Ben story as she got more of the lines and action. Ben refuses to believe anything about time and space travelling until it is literally shoved in his face. This bull-headedness is rather refreshing given later companions from the similar period in earth's history (Tegan, Peri etc.) readily acceptance of it. Ben tends to be more of a whiner and pessimist in this story than most, too eager to see the worst in people - even the Doctor. Only Polly is spared. All n' all what I'd think many of us would feel if caught in a similar situation.
Other Noticables:
As told in "The Discontinuity Guide", Ben drinks beer, one of the few companions we know who drank alcohol.
Ben wears a period costume for this story.
After rather trusting the Doctor in the last story, Ben adopts a more distrusting attitude in this one. He comments, at one point, that the Doctor is probably resting comfortably back at the TARDIS, while he and Polly are deep in trouble.
Ben makes his first of his many references to being from 1966. "The War Machines" gave no year to when it occurred.
Ben (and Polly) is tied up.
Togetherness: Ben and Polly are together throughout the entire story except for a brief spot in Episode 2
THE TENTH PLANET-It would be easy enough to say that Ben was probably the star of this story. With Hartnell ill, Ben was given the lion share of the dialogue originally written for the first Doctor. This makes for some interesting conversation as Ben speaks of things that would normally appear far beyond his comprehension. After a slow first episode for Ben, the final three finds him in a variety of situations. He says the base from the first Cybermen invasion, disarms the Z-Bomb and helps defeat the Cybermen's second invasion. Boy, was that a busy afternoon for Ben or what! Seriously, it was nice to see a companion given so much to do. And we get to know more and more about Ben. However some of them seem contradictiory. First, he seems willing to abandon the South Pole crew to their fates and try and make a break for the TARDIS. Yet later he risks much to disarm the Z-Bomb because he knows it could make life on earth most unpleasent. Yet through it all, his primary concerns are the Doctor and Polly. His protector attitude towards them is at its full. But perhaps the most noticeable thing about Ben is his total dislike of killing, even when it was necessary. He feels remorse for killing the Cyberman.
Other noticables :
Ben and Polly could very well still be alive as their older selves when this story takes place in 1986. In fact, John Peel mentions this in the prologue to his novelization of "Power Of the Daleks".
Ben carries a pocketknife.
Polly makes coffee.
Togetherness: Ben and Polly are together throughout Episode 1 (and have very little dialogue) But are seperated midway through Episode 2, to be reunited towards the end. Again they are split up at the start of 3 although they reunite midway and at the end of the episode. In 4, they split up again and do not reunite until the end.
POWER OF THE DALEKS- As much Ben and Polly's story as the Doctor's due to the fact that the show was charting new ground and audience acceptance of the new Doctor was up in the air. Therefore, much dialogue and action are given to both companions. Ben's suspicions of the new Doctor are right up there with credibility and realism. Although he seems to be reaching for straws after a while, this is still in keeping with the character. We learn much about Ben's "bull headedness" and strong convictions in the story. Ben provides a good "Watson" to the Doctor's "Holmes" as they gather facts about the colony and the Daleks. Both companions shine in this strong story. During the Dalek's senseless killing of the colonists in Episode 6, Ben becomes particuarly outraged and affected at the slaughter. I've always been impressed at this side of Ben - a character very much against killing and very sensitive underneath the gruff exterior.
Other noticables:
Ben wears a watch and is righthanded. How does he keep time :)
In the John Peel novel, Ben talks a bit about his childhood.
Ben uses a large number of Cockney slang terms in the story
Ben is tied up.
Togetherness: Ben and Polly spend all of Episodes 1 and 2 and the first part of 3 together. Then they split up and do not reunite until Episode 6. (Polly does not appear at all in Episode 4 and Ben does not appear at all in Episode 5)
THE HIGHLANDERS- Poor Ben gets it rough in this story. Kept prisoner by the English almost from the start to the beginning of Episode 4. He and Jamie become fast friends and have alot of good dialogue together. Ben shows his strong loyalty to his principles and friends during his tearing up of the contract in Episode 3, regardless of the consequences. On the minus side, Ben shows an incredible lack of common sense and knowledge at the start of Episode 1 first by running away into trouble, then causing a firearm to go off, resulting in the capture of him and his friends by the Redcoats. All in all, a fun story, one of Ben's better stories.
Other noticables:
Ben becomes the only companion to be basically "keel-hauled".
Ben can hold his breath for a rather long spell, and cand swim great distances. He learned this from his father.
Ben is tied up, but frees himself with some tricks he knows.
Ben, apparantly does not know Gaelic/Scottish
Ben claims to know karate, but we never see any.
Ben wears a policeman's jacket throughout most of the story. Michael has commented that he chose to wear it as such jackets were popular at the time due to the Beatles and the "Sgt. Pepper's" album. During part of episode 4 he wears a period costume.
Togetherness: Ben and Polly split up midway in Episode 1 and are not reunited until the beginning of Episode 4. Instead Ben is paired off with Jamie throughout much of the story, while Polly is paired off with Kirsty.
THE UNDERWATER MENACE - Well this is not a good story. Okay it is a bad story. Even Michael Craze dislikes it. This is compounded by the fact that Jamie, as a last minute addiiton, spends all of his time stealing dialogue originally written for Ben and Polly. With this story, we once again have Ben acting as the Doctor's "right hand man". Helping him put a stop for Zaroff's plans. Ben and Jamie's friendship grows as both work and help each other. The highlight of the story is the beginning of episode 3, when Ben (complete with Cockney accent) successfully impersonates the Atlantean diety in order to save the Doctor.
Other noticeables:
Ben continues to wear his policeman's jacket he wore in "The Highlanders" from Episodes 1 through part of 3, when he and Jamie change into Zaroff guard wetsuits.
When the TARDIS lands, Ben jokes that he hopes "It's the Daleks...I don't think!"
Ben (as well as the other travelers) is tied up.
Ben and Polly stumble over a medallion of the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. They recognize it suggesting that in 1966 they were aware of that city was chosen to host that event in two years.
Even though Ben tends to dislike killing, he shows a lack of concern of the fate of Zaroff. Going so far as preventing the Doctor from trying to rescuing him. Despite the destruction, Zaroff is the only major character killed in the story.
Togetherness: All four travellers are together throughout much of Episode 1. Then Ben and Jamie, together are sent to labour. Ben and Jamie reunite with Polly at the end of Episode 2 and with the Doctor at the beginning of Episode 3. The 4 again seperate with Jamie and Polly in one direction and Ben and the Doctor out to destroy Zaroff's plans. The four reunited at the end of Episode 4.
THE MOONBASE-I have to admit that I like this story despite the rather straight storyline and questionable science used. The Cybermen are more streamlined and come across better than those in "The Tenth Planet". The Jamie problem is most noticeable in this story as he is written out early in episode 1 and does not return to action until episode 3. As a result much of the first two episodes are more of a Ben and Polly with the Doctor story. Ben's doings vary wildly in the four episodes. In 1 he does little and this does not improve too much in 2. In episode 3, he and the other companions assume central stage. In fact this is probably one of the very few episodes in DW history in which the companions have the starring role over the Doctor. Episode 4 has Ben returning to a minor role along with Polly and Jamie. As pointed out, Ben becomes something of a scientist in episode 3 as he Polly and Jamie look for a way to defeat the Cybermen. Although the knowledge he displays is not completely unbelievable (after all he has been travelling with the Doctor for quite some time at this point), it is not much in character.
Other noticables:
Ben proably wears his most fashionable outfit in this story. A long sleeve Carnaby Street shirt.
Although they are friends, this story marks the beginning of some tension between Ben and Jamie. This almost erupts into a fight between the two in episode 3 as Jamie insists on accompaning Ben on ambushing the Cybermen with the "Polly cocktail".
Ben gets pretty much fed up with the Moonbase leader, Hobson, by episode 2. Ben has more than a few words with Hobson more than once during the course of the story. This is not pursued beyond this episode but makes for some fun moments.
Togetherness: Ben and Polly (and Jamie) are together at first. But once Jamie is injured, Polly stays with him (and manages to see Cybermen) while Ben wanders off to help the Moonbase crew. Once the Cybermen reveal themselves, the three are together held seperately from the rest of the cast and it falls to them to save the Moonbase in episode 3. From then on Ben comes and goes, out to walk on the Moon, to check on the sick crewmembers with Jamie etc. But does very little with Polly until the end of episode 4.
THE MACRA TERROR-Probably the most Ben oriented of all his stories. This is also probably one of the best stories ever on Doctor Who. A wonderful piece of political commentary combined with an eerie atmosphere and even a monster. This is the famous "Ben is brainwashed and turns traitor" story. It is also the only story of the Ben, Polly and Jamie era that makes use of all three companions (except for "The Highlanders" of course). Ben is brainwashed by the Macra and turns on his companions and the Doctor. There are some wonderful scenes with Ben and Jamie as tension reaches the boiling point. With Jamie not understanding the concept of brainwashing, he truly believes Ben has turned against them. The scenes with Polly are also great as she too cannot get Ben to see the truth of the place. Even when she is attacked by the Macra, it takes Ben all his willpower just to even realize she is even in danger, and once the Macra goes away he quickly forgets seeing it. Only the Doctor with is subtle way is able to get through to Ben is a slow but lasting effect. Ben spends alot of time spying on the Doctor and the Doctor is able to work on Ben. The dialogue is quite interesting as the Doctor treats Ben as a lost dog. "Hello Ben, don't be afraid." etc. And to top things off, Ben is able to break free of his brainwashing and is able to save his friends at the very end. Truly a wonderful story for Ben fans.
Other noticables:
Ben wears the costume of the colony members. Truly one of the most distinguishable with a very high collar.
Ben drops his Cockney accent while brainwashed. This is quite interesting and apparently was the idea of Michael himself who wanted to make the Brainwashed Ben sound alien to his friends.
Although Ben at the end of the story saves his friends there seems to be little love left between Ben and Jamie.
Togetherness: Ben is with Polly during much of episodes 1-2 but once brainwashed he seperates from her through much of the story.
THE FACELESS ONES-Ben's final story is anticlimatic. He is only is episodes 1-2 and 6 and his not in much of those either. Except for the beginning he is only in two scenes in episode 1. He does the most in 2, but is soon captured and disappears until almost the end of episode 6. The goodbye scene in 6 is very lowkey and rather bland, but it could have been far worse and is actually better than many companions farwells in Doctor Who. All in all, Ben's participation in the story in minimal.
Other noticables.
Ben wears contemporary clothes.
Ben stumbles and nearly falls on his face when the Doctor tells his companions to scatter to evade a policeman. The policeman goes after Ben and looks like he should have been captured. But the next we see Ben he is still hiding.
Togetherness: Ben is seperated from Polly at the the start of episode 1, meets her Chameleon double in 2. Once they are both kidnapped, it can be assumed that they are together. And in 6 say depart together. What does the future hold?
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