The Web of Fear

"He thinks you're responsible for the Yeti!"

Writers: Mervyn Haisman & Henry Lincoln

Format: TV

Broadcast: 3 February - 9 March 1968

Season: 5.05

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Victoria

Synopsis

In order to escape an attack in space, the TARDIS makes an unscheduled landing and ends up deep inside the London Underground. Here the travellers soon find themselves engulfed in a terrifying battle against the Great Intelligence and the Yeti, a deadly enemy set to invade the Earth. As events progress and the menace spreads, it becomes clear that the Intelligence's goal is not just possession of Earth, but the Doctor's mind too.

Verdict

The Web of Fear was a great Classic serial and it was terrific to revisit it in its entirety! I remember back in 2013 being absolutely thrilled when then news came that this serial had been found almost in its entirety, and it's a delight to have it complete here with the third episode getting a well overdue animation! I was surprised at the time of the DVD release in 2014 that the missing episode didn't get the animated treatment, but better late than never! I watched the serial again in its entirety and it was a really nice trip down nostalgia lane. I was impressed with the lighting and directing considering this serial is 53 years old, but my main interest was concerned with the animated episode. I opted to stick to tradition this time around and keep things flowing as well as possible by having episode 3 in black and white, and it really did keep things authentic. It was tremendous to be able to watch the serial all in one go and it really is a triumphant return for the Yeti and the Great Intelligence. The Doctor and Travers acknowledging the little shift in appearance and how it was a mark two of the robot was nice and I just love the look of the enemies. Having the Abominable Snowmen in such a familiar setting of the London Underground is pretty barmy, but the contemporary nature of the setting is excellent and it really works nicely with Travers returning and being over three decades older. The moment Victoria recognises him but Jamie does not is lovely and it's fun to have this confirm to Travers that the TARDIS and time travel was all true. Harking back to The Abominable Snowmen was terrific and that was felt throughout the serial. The animated episode sees a visual representation of a very momentous occasion in the history of Doctor Who with the debut of Lethbridge-Stewart, who would of course go on to become the infamous Brigadier. Gemma was watching parts of this one whilst doing embroidery and it was fun for her to know who he was because of Kate in the modern series. It's quite the legacy! Now, I went into the animation knowing that it would be a different style to those that have come before it, and it was clear that was the case. I was hugely impressed by the artwork for the background sets and essentially everything that wasn't a moving character. The actual movement was quite disjointed a little off-putting at times, but I was delighted that the London Underground was animated so well, along with the dartboard also continuing to be there! That was really nice. As a whole, the setting is really what makes this serial and it has a claustrophobic and contained feel which really comes across nicely. It works so well. I love the Yeti and the whole use of the spheres control. The relationship between the Doctor and Anne Travers is also magnificent highlight. It probably goes a little bit long and the ending is slightly rushed, but as a whole this is still a fantastic serial and it's marvellous to have it complete! 

Rating: 8/10