| THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMEN by Mervyn Haisman & Henry Lincoln |
| Review:- From one set of robots to another... a return trip to Tibet for the Doctor, but a rather frostier welcome than he expected. The Abominable Snowman is one of the more unusual myths of the 20th century, and this story gives it a fairly reasonable interpretation, as Travers' innocent quest has deadly conequences. Beginning with a reference to a previous trip, the Doctor is less surprised at the lack of snow than he is at the hostile reception he receives at the monastery. Splitting him from his companions at least gives them the chance to show a bit of thinking for once, and they're soon on the trail of the Yeti. They are able to convince Travers that he's wrong about the Doctor, by which time the mystery of the silver spheres has got a firm hold... Making the Yeti into robotic monsters is perhaps the easiest way to handling a story about them (and it certainly provides for a friendly finish). Also, it prevents the need for them to engage in dialogue with anyone, which might push it too far. Instead, we have a controlling villain, the Great Intelligence. These powerful beings are generally odd, and nothing shown here alters that view. The Doctor finds this a personal mission, as his old friend is being manipulated to hurt him, and so he has to try and find a solution that won't cause too much suffering. Of course, Padmasambhava dies anyway, being over 300 years old. It's an odd sort of story... no-one watching this would anticipate it being the first link in a chain of events leading to UNIT and so much else. But on its own, it stands up quite well as a reasonable piece of drama. |
| Disclaimer: I have taken my views based on the telesnaps, for what that's worth. |
| Story 38 Synopsis: The TARDIS lands in Tibet, in the 1930's. The Doctor wants to return a holy relic, the ghanta, to a nearby monastery. On arrival, he is locked up, accused of being hostile. Jamie and Victoria find a cave where they are attacked by a Yeti. They meet Travers, an anthropologist looking for the Yeti. He realises the Doctor isn't a threat, and they all head to the monastery. The Master Padmasambhava met the Doctor on his previous visit in 1630, and also vouches for him. The Doctor finds the Yeti are robots. Padmasambhava is controlling the Yeti, whilst also being controlled by a mysterious force, the Great Intelligence, which is trying to build a bridge from its domain to our universe. The Doctor finds a way to break the Intelligence's connection, allowing Padmasambhava to finally die, and leaving the Yeti robots powerless. As they return to the TARDIS, Travers spots a real Yeti, and heads after it... |