70%

One of the most notable elements of this story is Barbara's presentation as a strong character. Jacquline Hill was a very good actress and here it shows: of the two main female characters, Barbara was by far the strongest and best written. Although it can be argued that today's viewing population would be interested in a female companion over the age of 21, if there is one thing the show needs it is a strong female character who can stand up to the Doctor. There have been few and far between during the run of the show, but there have been a few.

This is an interesting story, although perhaps it is not the best of the earlier stories. It is intriguing as an example of what American shows refer to as a "bottle-story" - featuring only the regular cast and the main set. It is something that has not been done since in Doctor Who which is a shame. I can say with all honesty that while it has its moments, Edge of Destruction is by no means that good a story. It could have been so much better, but perhaps it was restricted by the television codes of the time - certainly the scene when one character wields a pair of scissors I can imagine how shocking such an image would have been in 1964. To my mind, the problem is that its not as well done as it could have been. The whole story comes across as a first draft with a better version waiting in the wings. The direction, writing and performances are not as polished as with the previous 11 episodes. Despite this, it is a good story which sets a number of precedents. As Verity Lambert pointed out, Russell T Davies probably recalled this story's reference to the heart of the TARDIS and power held there.