| THE WEB OF FEAR by Mervyn Haisman & Henry Lincoln |
| Story 41 Synopsis: The TARDIS is attacked whilst in orbit above Earth. The Doctor manages to land the TARDIS, but they emerge to find the Tube deserted. They split up, and learn that there have been evacuations, and the army have been brought in to tackle the menace of the Yeti. The Great Intelligence is using a huge energy web to cause disruption. The Doctor eventually realises that all the being wants is the Doctor's mind. He reluctantly submits, since his friends are threatened. Having earlier rewired one of the Yeti globes, the Doctor is able to take control of a Yeti. But when he is placed into the Intelligence's machine, he rewires the circuits so that he will drain the Intelligence's power. Jamie, believing he is rescuing the Doctor, pulls him free, allowing the Intelligence to escape. The Doctor, Jamie and Victoria return to the TARDIS. |
| Review:- Notable at the time for the swift return for the Yeti, this story is also now well-known for introducing Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart, in a prototype romp for what would come to be called UNIT. Arriving first in space, the Doctor is soon ensnared in a revenge plot, and the chance to meet an old acquaintance, Professor Travers (from The Abominable Snowmen). The intrigue and base-under-siege qualities of the story just about work, although it does lose the patience when the identity of the Intelligence's agent is unknown until right near the end. Before this, just about everyone is suspected, even in the name of drama. The guest cast are quite dull. Knight is bland, and Chorley is even more smug than an actual journalist would be. It's a strange contrast with Sarah Jane's later version of investigation, though... Evans is slightly interesting, and has human motivations, therefore becomes memorable, and likeable. Anne Travers is a pain in the neck, though. Lethbridge-Stewart starts off well enough, although as no-one knew what was to come, his performance is tight, and almost genuine. Victoria and Jamie are rather dull as usual, even with Jamie's last-ditch heroics with a controlled Yeti. Which leaves the Doctor... who is on mysterious form here, almost intentionally trying to seem like the dodgy double-agent. He does pass time as a clever scientist, and is able to rely on Travers vouching for him, but it is perhaps fitting that his final gambit backfires, as Jamie rescues him from the Intelligence, unaware that in fact he is doing the reverse. Overall, quite a slight story, but well-contained. Not great, but not a failure. |
| Disclaimer: I've read the book. |