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{{Infobox Individual|
{{Infobox Individual
individual name= Kal |
|image       = Kal-auc.jpg
image= [[Image:Kal.jpg|200px]]|
|species      = Human
race= [[Human]] |
|affiliation  = Tribe of Gum
home planet= [[Earth]] |
|origin      = [[Earth]]
home era= [[100,000 BC]]|
|first        = An Unearthly Child (TV story)
appearances= [[DW]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child]]''|
|appearances  = {{il|[[PROSE]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (short story)|An Unearthly Child]]''|[[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child (novelisation)|Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child]]''}}
actor= [[Jeremy Young]] |}}
|actor        = Jeremy Young
|other actor = Leslie Bates
|clip        = Kal is banished from the tribe - Doctor Who - An Unearthly Child - BBC
}}
'''Kal''' was an outsider taken in by [[Za]]'s tribe, the [[Tribe of Gum]], circa [[BC#Prehistory|100,000 BC]].


'''Kal''' was an outsider taken in by Za's tribe in the year [[100,000 BC]]. At the time the tribe was undergoing a crisis as the previous leader had been killed before he was able to pass on the secret of making [[fire]] to his son [[Za]].  As a result, Za's leadership of the tribe was in question, and Kal hoped to take advantage of the situation.
== Biography ==
=== Early life ===
Kal was originally part of a [[tribe]] that died in the cold. He claimed to have been their leader. Following their demise, he crossed the mountain range that divided his tribe and the [[Tribe of Gum]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child (novelisation)|Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child]]'') When encountering this tribe, their leader, [[Za]], chose not to kill Kal and permitted him to eat with them and share their [[cave]]s.


Kal saw his chance when he observed a group of strangers emerge from a [[The Doctor's TARDIS|strange blue tree]], and later witnessed the group's leader, an [[First Doctor|old man]], produce fire by striking a tiny stick on a rock and proceed to breathe smoke. Kal captured the old man and took him to the tribe where he hoped to force the stranger to tell him the secret.  
Whilst Za spent his time attempting to make [[fire]], Kal brought [[meat]] to feed the tribe. This led to [[Horg]] and the other old men of the tribe to begin favouring him and considering making him leader. Whilst Kal could not make fire, he claimed to have often seen men make fire where he was from. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'')


Za's [[Old Mother|mother]] was convinced the use of fire had brought divine wrath down on her husband, and feared the same would happen to the entire tribe if the old man and his [[companion|friends]] were allowed to produce the secret. As the tribe slept, she snuck into the cave where the strangers were held and helped them to escape into the forest. After Za and his mate [[Hur]] left in pursuit of the strangers, Kal in anger killed the old woman. When the strangers later returned with Hur and an injured Za, the old man was able to prove that it was Kal who killed Old Mother, and the tribe in anger drove Kal into the darkness.
=== Bid for leadership and death ===
Kal saw his chance to become leader when he observed the [[First Doctor]] emerge from [[the Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] and produce fire by striking a [[match]] on a rock and breathing smoke through a [[Smoking pipe|pipe]]. Kal captured the Doctor and took him to the tribe, where he hoped to force the stranger to tell him the secret.


Kal snuck back, seeking revenge on the strangers. He was confronted by Za, who killed Kal in a fight. Za then proceeded to use the secret of fire taught him by the strangers to re-establish his leadership over the tribe. ([[DW]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child]]'')
[[Old Mother|The old woman]] helped the Doctor and his [[companion]]s escape the [[Cave of Skulls]] into the forest. Kal killed her in anger and blamed Za, but, when the strangers returned with [[Hur]] and an injured Za, the Doctor proved it was Kal who had killed her. The tribe drove him into the darkness.


{{season 1 aliens}}
Kal later sneaked back, seeking revenge on the strangers, and was confronted by Za. The two fought, during which Za killed him by smashing his head with a big stone. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'')
[[Category:Human criminals]]
 
[[Category:First Doctor enemies]]
== Character ==
=== Personality ===
Kal was desperate to become leader of the [[Tribe of Gum]] and was willing to lie and murder to achieve his goal. He lied to [[Horg]] and the old men of the tribe to curry their favour and murdered [[Old Mother|the old woman]] to frame [[Za]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'')
 
=== Abilities ===
Kal was a highly skilled [[hunter]], more skilled than any other members of his adoptive tribe, which earned his acceptance into the tribe. This skill was in part owing to his [[patience (virtue)|patience]] and [[cunning]], which helped him to always return home from a hunt with a kill. Kal was also more [[intelligent]] than the rest of the tribe, which helped fuel his [[curiosity]], as well as his [[ambition]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child (novelisation)|Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child]]'')
 
== Behind the scenes ==
* Kal has the honour of being the first villain on ''[[Doctor Who]]''. Though Kal himself does not appear until the second episode of ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'', "The Cave of Skulls", his shadow appears falling over the landscape during the last few seconds of the first episode, also called "An Unearthly Child". In fact it is not the shadow of Kal's main actor, [[Jeremy Young]], which is seen, but instead that of stand-in [[Leslie Bates]].
* In earlier drafts of ''An Unearthly Child'', Kal is instead named Gum. This is where the working title of ''[[Disputed story titles#An Unearthly Child|The Tribe of Gum]]'' originated from, though in the final draft, the Tribe is given no such name. Later stories would revive the [[Tribe of Gum]], adding this back into ''[[Doctor Who]]'' stories.
 
{{NameSort}}
 
[[Category:Human murderers]]
[[Category:Distant past individuals]]
[[Category:Members of the Tribe of Gum]]
 
[[es:Kal]]
[[Category:Human kidnappers]]

Latest revision as of 20:43, 17 October 2024

Kal was an outsider taken in by Za's tribe, the Tribe of Gum, circa 100,000 BC.

Biography[[edit] | [edit source]]

Early life[[edit] | [edit source]]

Kal was originally part of a tribe that died in the cold. He claimed to have been their leader. Following their demise, he crossed the mountain range that divided his tribe and the Tribe of Gum. (PROSE: Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child) When encountering this tribe, their leader, Za, chose not to kill Kal and permitted him to eat with them and share their caves.

Whilst Za spent his time attempting to make fire, Kal brought meat to feed the tribe. This led to Horg and the other old men of the tribe to begin favouring him and considering making him leader. Whilst Kal could not make fire, he claimed to have often seen men make fire where he was from. (TV: An Unearthly Child)

Bid for leadership and death[[edit] | [edit source]]

Kal saw his chance to become leader when he observed the First Doctor emerge from the TARDIS and produce fire by striking a match on a rock and breathing smoke through a pipe. Kal captured the Doctor and took him to the tribe, where he hoped to force the stranger to tell him the secret.

The old woman helped the Doctor and his companions escape the Cave of Skulls into the forest. Kal killed her in anger and blamed Za, but, when the strangers returned with Hur and an injured Za, the Doctor proved it was Kal who had killed her. The tribe drove him into the darkness.

Kal later sneaked back, seeking revenge on the strangers, and was confronted by Za. The two fought, during which Za killed him by smashing his head with a big stone. (TV: An Unearthly Child)

Character[[edit] | [edit source]]

Personality[[edit] | [edit source]]

Kal was desperate to become leader of the Tribe of Gum and was willing to lie and murder to achieve his goal. He lied to Horg and the old men of the tribe to curry their favour and murdered the old woman to frame Za. (TV: An Unearthly Child)

Abilities[[edit] | [edit source]]

Kal was a highly skilled hunter, more skilled than any other members of his adoptive tribe, which earned his acceptance into the tribe. This skill was in part owing to his patience and cunning, which helped him to always return home from a hunt with a kill. Kal was also more intelligent than the rest of the tribe, which helped fuel his curiosity, as well as his ambition. (PROSE: Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child)

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Kal has the honour of being the first villain on Doctor Who. Though Kal himself does not appear until the second episode of An Unearthly Child, "The Cave of Skulls", his shadow appears falling over the landscape during the last few seconds of the first episode, also called "An Unearthly Child". In fact it is not the shadow of Kal's main actor, Jeremy Young, which is seen, but instead that of stand-in Leslie Bates.
  • In earlier drafts of An Unearthly Child, Kal is instead named Gum. This is where the working title of The Tribe of Gum originated from, though in the final draft, the Tribe is given no such name. Later stories would revive the Tribe of Gum, adding this back into Doctor Who stories.
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