The Aztecs is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in 4 weekly parts from May 23 to June 13, 1964.

Synopsis

The TARDIS crew arrive in Mexico in the Fifteenth Century. With the TARDIS trapped in a tomb, Barbara is forced to assume the guise of Yetaxa, an ancient high priest of whom the Aztecs think she is a reincarnation. While the Doctor tries to find a way to re-enter the tomb, Ian must join the military and fight the strongest warrior, Ixta, to prove his ability to command the Aztec forces.

In her new position of power Barbara sees her chance to bring an end to human sacrifice. She sees the good side of Aztec culture manifested in Autloc, the High priest of knowledge, and the gruesome side manifested in 'the local butcher' High Priest Tlotoxl. As somewhat of an expert on this period, she sees how advanced their culture really is and believes that if sacrifice were abolished, they would be spared destruction at the hands of the Spanish. The Doctor accidentally proposes to Cameca, an Aztec woman, while Ixta develops a grudge against Ian and is used by Tlotoxl to try and prove Barbara is not Yetaxa. Tlotoxl doubts her because she is trying to ban human sacrifice. Tlotoxl also convinces Tonila to make a poison for Barbara; the death of Barbara following consumption of the poison would prove she is not immortal and therefore not a god. Barbara refuses to drink the poison and tells Tlotoxl that she is not Yetaxa but warns him not to tell the people.

Despite her efforts she cannot change an entire culture, although she does succeed in changing the views of one man, Autloc. The Doctor and his companions eventually get back to the TARDIS after Ian kills Ixta in a fight to the death to protect the Tardis crew. They leave knowing that despite their intervention history will take its pre-destined course. When they leave it seems that Tlotoxl is very much in control as Autloc has gone into the wilderness.

Notes

1. The four episodes of the serial had individual titles. They were, respectively, "The Temple of Evil", "The Warriors of Death", "The Bride of Sacrifice" and "The Day of Darkness".
2. One of the subplots in this story involves a romance between the Doctor and Cameca, an Aztec with whom he inadvertently becomes engaged to be married.
3. This is one of the classic historical stories which were discontinued later in the show's history.
4. The Doctor tells Barbara "You can't rewrite history! Not one line!" It is unclear if this means it is impossible to alter established history or that it is an ethical principle. By contrast, the Time Lords explicitly ask the Doctor to change history in Genesis of the Daleks, and in The Unquiet Dead the Doctor tells Rose that history is always in flux and it can change "just like that."

External links

• Cast and Crew list, on the BBC website
• Doctor Who Reference Guide