The Slave Traders opens to reveal that not only have the TARDIS crew survived the fall, but are living it up in a Roman villa and paying the local village regular visits to buy supplies. While there, Vicki and Barbara attract the attention of some slave traders. It obvious that William Hartnell is enjoying the lighter script even at this early stage, building up the lighter side of the Doctor's character.

After the Doctor and Vicki head off to Rome, the slave traders attack the villa, capturing Ian and Barbara, then selling Ian to another man. On the road, the Doctor and Vicki come across a murdered lyre player, and the Doctor is mistaken for him by a centurion. Later that night, the centurion berates the assassin, then sends him into the Doctor's room...

Raymond P. Cusick has designed the sets for The Romans, a break from the usual more sci-fi stories he has been assigned previously, tackling the job quite well, as seen in the excellent looking villa set (apart from the plastic in the fountain), and some good looking exterior sets of the village and road to Rome.

The Doctor easily avoids the assassin's attack, but Vicki spoils his fun by scaring the assassin. The Doctor informs Vicki that he knows that the assassin was hired by the centurion, and that in these times, such assassinations were an accepted part of society.

All Roads Lead to Rome continues as Barbara finally arrives in Rome, and soon comes to the attention of Tavius, who ends up making the winning bid for her, taking her to work in Nero's palace. Meanwhile the Doctor and Vicki arrive, as the comedy increases as they manage to avoiding seeing Barbara twice, once at the slave auction and then in Nero's palace. Ian meanwhile is in a slave galley, which ends up getting shipwrecked in a storm, with Ian and another slave, Didius, surviving. They decide to also head for Rome.

The Doctor meets Nero, who is played by Derek Francis, who makes Nero a pompous egocentric, with these scenes working quite well as the Doctor boosts Nero's ego each time he speaks - the Doctor's motive being to avoid playing the lyre. Raymond Cusick's sets of Nero's palace ooze the opulance of Imperial Rome. In the apoditarium, the Doctor and Vicki discover the body of the centurion who hired the assassin - it seems that they have a guardian angel in Tavius. Ian and Didius arrive in Rome, and are immediately captured, and taken to the cells - they are to fight in the circus against lions...

Conspiracy is the funniest episode of The Romans, as Nero meets Barbara and takes a shine to her, chasing her around the palace, only to be thwarted by the Doctor or Vicki, who only just miss spotting Barbara. These scenes are well timed, with the actors hitting their marks at the right time - otherwise the scenes would have been spoilt by the Doctor or Vicki seeing Barbara, but acting like they haven't. Nero's wife, Poppaea hasn't taken to Barbara, and prepares to have her murdered by the poisoner Locusta. Locusta is a marvellous character who works well with Vicki.

Thanks to Vicki and the Doctor, Barbara isn't poisoned, but Nero's oafish servant Tigilinus, who has provided a few amusing moments in this episode and the last one, instead samples from the poisoned drink. Seeing Barbara is still alive, Poppaea has Locusta taken away to be thrown to the lions. At the banquet, the Doctor 'plays' the lyre, moving the his hands over the strings, but producing no sound - the guests hide their ignorance by pretending he has played a beautiful compostion, launching into rapturous applause, the sound of which enrages Nero, who then develops a plan.

Nero heads off to the gladiator school, with Barbara in tow - plans to have the Doctor play in the arena, and as he plays, hungry lions will be released. In the combat area, Ian and Delos are brought out to fight - the fight sequences in The Romans have been arranged by Peter Diamond, who also plays Delos, and the fight between Ian and Delos is thrilling to watch; with Nero wishing the fight to be to the death...

Ian and Delos attack Nero's guards and escape, and upon discovering that Ian and Barbara know each other, Nero plans to catch them in a trap, and also plans the death "Maximus Petullion" - during a performance in the arena the lions will be released. Back at the palace Barbara informs Tavius of Nero's plans, and of her intended departure, something Tavius is pleased about - Poppaea has ordered him to dismiss Barbara.

Inferno continues the conspiracy themes of the previous episode, as Tavius informs the Doctor of both his planned death, and Maximus' real purpose in Rome - to assassinate Nero. The Doctor and Vicki examine Nero's plans for a new Rome, with William Hartnell obviously enjoying the lion and eating puns the Doctor fires at Nero when discussing his prformance before the people of Rome. The Doctor's glasses set fire to Nero's plans, inspiring Nero to burn down the old city in order to construct his new city.

As the Doctor and Vicki depart Rome, Ian and Delos sneak into the palace in a group of men who are hired to start the fires - finding Barbara, and leaving with her. Tavius wishes them well, and after they go he pulls out a crucifix - he is an early Christian. Overall, Tavius has been written well, and acted well by Michael Peake. Having beaten the Doctor and Vicki back to the villa, Ian and Barbara resume their life of luxery, and are berrated by the Doctor for apparently having a relaxing few days with out he and Vicki. The TARDIS departs, but is soon being dragged to a new destination...

Historical inaccuracies aside, The Romans is quite a brilliant script. The regular cast all seem to have fun with the witty script, with William Hartnell appearing to enjoy the lighter side to the Doctor; also Jaqueline Hill and William Russell too appear to be having fun in the scenes between Ian and Barbara, emphasising their friendship. Backed up by some enjoyable incidental music from Raymond Jones, The Romans is an excellent first foray into less dramatic stories.

8.7/10

Next time: The TARDIS crew make friends with butterflies...