Inferno

"I don't exist in your world."

Writer: Don Houghton

Format: TV

Broadcast: 9 May - 20 June 1970

Season: 7.04

Featuring: Third Doctor, Liz, Brigadier

Synopsis

UNIT is providing security cover at an experimental drilling project at Eastchester, designed to penetrate the Earth's crust and release a previously untapped source of energy. Soon, however, the drill head starts to leak an oily green liquid that transforms those who touch it into vicious primeval creatures with a craving for heat.

With the Doctor transported sideways in time to a parallel universe where the drilling project is more advanced, he works to save both versions of the planet...

Verdict

Inferno was an outstanding serial to conclude the seventh season of the Classic era! Astoundingly, I have only ever watched this serial once before and that was way back when in 2012 as I embarked on the ultimate rewatch of the entire show and completing it in around eight months. I must admit, my memory on the story was hazy and that was only to my benefit as it almost felt like an entirely new on screen adventure! I remembered not being a massive fan of the story when I first watched it but I just knew on this viewing that was going to change from everything I have read or come across regarding the serial. It's an instant classic. It is a wonderful use of tackling the concept of a parallel Earth and whilst that alone was exciting, the plot and the main issue at hand was also fantastic. I really loved the Doctor getting involved in the project and the prospect of digging twenty miles into the planet's surface and reaching the crust is exciting but it hardly feels like something that should be tampered with! I did though enjoy how much of a real world feeling this had because those kinds of threats are usually the ones that I take more seriously and have more of an impact on me. That was certainly the case here. Of course, this is also a sad serial for me as it sees the departure of Liz. The fact that goes unannounced is such a shame and whilst it did bring a smile to my face for her laughter to be the closing shot of episode seven, she deserved better on screen for a proper goodbye. Her role in this story is excellent and I don't think there's anything quite as striking as the introduction for her parallel counterpart. That black hairdo is quite something! And she gets to play the stern authority type which was a nice change from the do-good scientist. The contrast of the Brigadier and his parallel Brigade Leader was something marvellous and Nicholas Courtney did an incredible job in that role. He was sensational and the anger he is able to channel in his performance is just magnificent. The image of him as well with the scarred eye and patch is so good. It captures the attention right away! I was really impressed with the character building within the Inferno project as the cast really helped sell just how good the serial was. Sir Keith was played by Christopher Benjamin superbly and I couldn'believe my eyes with how different his performance and character was to Henry Gordon Jaho in the future! His dying in a car crash on the parallel Earth but only sustaining an arm injury here was presented very well and kept the viewer waiting for just the right amount of time. I thought Petra and Greg getting together by the end of the adventure was a nice touch and having a romantic interest element in a story like this was a fine injection of realism. Stahlman made for a sublime villain and his inability to see reason and to push forward with the drilling acceleration was terrific. His becoming a Primord was a fitting end for him and their appearance in particular was excellent! They had a striking look and some of the direction in the story was just sublime. They helped the Primords a lot but even for other elements it was so good. There was a grainy feel and the little shift sound and wobble effect to go between worlds was a really neat touch. I thought the TARDIS console being outside of the police box and guiding the Doctor sideways to another parallel world was so incredible and just unlike anything else we've seen before. I think it's good fun that even works a little! The need for nuclear power was excellent and I loved that by going to a parallel world, we can actually see the world end. It ws an incredible image to see the inferno flowing down towards the parallel Liz, Petra and Sutton as the Doctor shifted back. I must also say I liked the pre-titles a lot with the stock footage of the fires and the part four cliffhanger goes down as one of my very favourites with just what was at stake with the planet and the helplessness of the Doctor. The calm nature in which the Doctor stops the drilling after the systems are reversed is glorious in how casually he walked back into the room. Overall, just simply superb! 

Rating: 10/10