Woof, what a long day. I should be in bed right now. But before I do that, can I get a little WHAT WHAT for breaking 100k cumulative steps since I started this project?

As for the back  half of The Aztecs, it's every bit as good as the front half. Let's talk about that briefly...

The Bride of Sacrifice, The Day of Darkness

Barbara saves Ian's life by threatening the life of the High Priest of Sacrifice. Later, she even confesses to  him that she is a false God, but threatens to destroy him if he tells anyone. Meanwhile, in the peaceful garden the Doctor accidentally gets engaged to a very nice older woman by making her a cup of cocoa. He is initially caught flat-footed by his unintentional proposal, but ultimately he really does enjoy her company and treats her well. When the time draws near to leave, he is honest and apologetic, and it really is a nice moment.

Ian manages to access the inner tomb by way of a hidden water sluice, but it's a one-time-only trip that becomes permanently blocked. He rigs up a rope to be able to pull open the door from the outside, but it is still too heavy to move without a lever and pulley. Those things get constructed as the titular Day of Darkness draws near.

Susan is selected by the Perfect Victim to be his bride, (a.k.a. the titular Bride of Sacrifice). When she adamantly refuses, violating both the law and common Aztec decency, she is sentenced to be severely physically punished by the High Priest of Sacrifice just before the main event. She is later rescued by Ian, with an assist by the Doctor's fiancé.

Ultimately, Ian faces off with (and defeats) the competing warrior, just before the Perfect Victim is to be sacrificed. Barbara is unable to change the course of Aztec history and end human sacrifice. In the end the Doctor and companions rush into the tomb during the total eclipse, and escape in the TARDIS while the High Priest of Sacrifice offers up the Perfect Victim to the gods.

There is so, so much more going on in this story, though, at every level. It's the details and characterizations that really make it sing. The old saw is that "the villain is the hero of his own story", and that is very much the case here. Yes, the High Priest of Sacrifice is ruthless and savage, but the simple fact is that he (rightfully) believes he is saving his people from the machinations of a false God. He ultimately wins the day, because he has to, because for his people and his culture he truly is the hero.

So, yeah, I still love this story. Not quite as much as Marco Polo, if only because that one had nearly twice the running time. But this is a close second for me, and I kind of dread the rest of Hartnell's run after this.

STATS:

Doctor(s): First
Companion(s): Ian Chesterton, Susan Foreman, Barbara Wright
Episode(s): The Bride of Sacrifice, The Day of Darkness
Steps Walked: 6,597 today, 106,513 total
Distance Walked: 2.96 miles today, 46.78 miles total
Weight: 300.20 lbs (five day moving average), net change -7.10 lbs