| IMAGE OF THE FENDAHL by Chris Boucher |
| Story 94 Synopsis: At a secret base in Fetchborough, a recently-unearthed skull is dated at being 12 million years old - older than known records. Related experiments in time affect the TARDIS, and the Doctor lands, seeking the Time Scanner. He heads for Fetch Manor, where the scientists are. Stael and Fendelman are planning to look through time, but Colby & Ransome are less sure. A hiker is killed, but Stael delays calling the police. In a supposedly haunted wood, the Doctor is attacked, but he escapes. Back at Fetch Manor, he is locked up, but escapes, and finds the skull that the Fendahl uses to leech power. Leela saves him from death. He takes her in the TARDIS to see the Fifth Planet, but they find it has been timelooped. Returning to Earth, he switches the Time Scanner off, but finds that Stael is planning to use a local coven as Fendahleen fodder, and Thea as the new Core. The Doctor rewires the Scanner, and in confusion, steals the skull. The Time Scanner is rigged to explode, destroying Fetch Manor, and the Doctor deposits the skull in a supernova to destroy it. |
| Review:- So, continuing the curious blend of tragicomedy of this season, we have a story with high horror, and little laughs. But then, with a nemesis that is death itself, what could they expect? The Fendahl is a very clever concept, put across superbly by the cast, and scripted to be formidably terrifying. But in what may be an unwitting echo of the problem of the previous story, its big failing is its design. I mean, Erato and Peladon are well-known and much-derided phallic aliens, but come on... this is just blatant. Anyway, apart from that, there is much to praise. The small creates a fine focus on the story. Steal, Colby, Ransome and Fendleman are 4 sides of a very potent and well-acted team, and their characterisation does just enough to keep you interested. The lighter characters, such as the Tylers and Ted Moss help present the more explicable side of the story for the benefit of the audience. One step removed from both these groups are the Doctor and Leela, one wise, one savage, but both determined and capable. In fact, one could contrast both the above groups with either of this team, although that's just smooth writing. On the whole, a dramatic and swift story, well worth watching. |
| Disclaimer: I've read the book, and seen the video. |