What's not to love about The Smugglers? It contains betrayal and other turns of plot, it has a massive brawl between the brigands and the militia with our heroes stuck right between, and it contains the puzzle that leads to the buried treasure. As for me today, my five-day moving average has finally moved back in the right direction. This makes me a very happy boy indeed.

Let's talk about that.

The Smugglers - Episodes 3 & 4

(TARDIS Data Core recap)

The back half of The Smugglers pays off in spades. Even better, all of the major characters are well-serviced by the plot. There is an opportunity for the Doctor and companions to cut and run, but the Doctor refuses to do so at the expense of the innocent townsfolk. Instead he plays for time, allowing one of the supporting characters the opportunity to go and raise a militia to fight off Pike's crew. There are a number of rapid betrayals and turns of character, not to mention a few rounds of hand-to-hand combat. It is a rip-roaring (if violent) adventure that never lets up. The big finale sees a massive brawl in the church crypt between the pirates and the militia, while Ben and Polly escape down the tunnels to the TARDIS. Ultimately, of course, the pirates are defeated and the town is saved. Even the clueless Squire has a change of heart, having been inspired by the Doctor's actions.

And then William Hartnel makes one last voyage in the TARDIS, arriving at "the coldest place in the world". Tomorrow it's the start of The Tenth Planet, with the first appearance of the Cybermen and the first regeneration of the Doctor. It has taken more than 70 days to get here, and I couldn't be more excited. It's about to get really good, y'all.

STATS:

Doctor(s): First
Companion(s): Ben Jackson, Polly Wright
Episode(s): The Smugglers - Episodes 3 & 4
Steps Walked: 6,883 today, 446,873 total
Distance Walked:  3.39 miles today, 209.44 miles total
Weight: 287.44 lbs (five day moving average), net change -19.86 lbs