Doctor Who (TV Series) The Web of Fear: Episode 3 (1968) User Reviews

Enter Lethbridge Stewart

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 5 June 2017]

Jamie and Evans fight the fungus, while another stranger pops up, Colonel Lethbridge Stewart, and instantly takes command. The Doctor has managed to find the UNIT base and becomes reacquainted with Travers, who explains how he managed to reactivate the Yeti, and bring The Great Intelligence back into being. It becomes evident that one of the Party is a traitor, removing one of the small Yeti figures. Victoria slips up and tells Chorley the journalist about the TARDIS, and soon after Craftsman Weams is found dead, two Yeti close by.

It is such a shame that this episode doesn't exist, Part 3 continues to develop the story, not suffering as so often the case with mid story burn out. Evans continues to be a delight, the Welsh coward is such a well drawn character, not particularly essential to the story, but one that enriches it.

Hopefully this will one day be found and complete this classic story, it's not as fleshy as other episodes, but it gave us the Brig. 8/10

The Joy of Fear. One of the very best, a terrific classic

[A_Kind_Of_CineMagic · 10/10 · 2 September 2014]

Review of all 6 parts:

This has been acclaimed as an all time classic for many years and deservedly so. It is terrific in every department.

The story involves the Great Intelligence, the villain introduced earlier in season 5 and which would return some 45 years later, shortly before and during the shows 50th anniversary season. The threat posed by this villain and the actions of his minions the Yeti, provide cracking entertainment and thrills.

The Great Intelligence causes the TARDIS to go to Earth where the evil power is carrying out an attack on London including robot Yeti marauding through the London underground.

There is plenty of action, there is mystery as to who is under the influence of the Intelligence and consistently great dialogue supporting a tremendously high standard of story (written brilliantly by Mervyn Haisman & Henry Lincoln) throughout the 6 episodes. The number of great characters is incredible with Nicholas Courtney as Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart (later to be Brigadier, regular 'companion' to The Doctor) making his notable debut, the return of Professor Travers (Jack Watling) and the addition of Anne Travers (Tina Packer), the journalist Chorley (Jon Rollason) and some excellent soldiers especially Sgt. Arnold (Jack Woolgar). Great villains, brilliant acting from the whole cast (including regulars Pat Troughton, Frazer Hines and Deborah Watling), great direction from Douglas Camfield, quality production values and set design with a fine script and effects make this pretty flawless.

This is a true all time classic with an atmosphere and a magic which make it one of the best Who stories ever and therefore as good as TV gets! All 6 episodes 10/10.