3.8: The Gunfighters
- Doctor: William Hartnell
- Companions: Steven Taylor, Dodo Chaplet
- Creators: John Wiles (Producer), Rex Tucker (Director), Donald Cotton (Writer)
- Season 3
What's the rating?
Worth Watching.
What's interesting about it?
It's Doctor Who. It's a Western. It's a joke.
They have fun. They have terrible American accents. They recreate the shootout at the O.K. Corral.
You really don't have a choice but to check it out, am I right?
What are others saying?
This story has been loathed by fans for decades as one of the worst ever, with a swing more recently to reconsidering it as a potential classic. The key is realizing that the story isn't intended to be taken seriously. Probably the most controversial element is the almost constant song that is sung throughout the story, with the lyrics narrating the events in real-time; it's experimental and interesting, though also overdone.
However, if you watch the outstanding movie High Noon, you'll see/hear the inspiration for the song. It's not just an experimental blot -- the song that is thread throughout The Gunfighters is a clear reference to other Westerns.
This is one where you have no choice but to make up your own mind!
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