Doctor Who (TV Series) The Web of Fear: Episode 4 (1968) User Reviews

A formless shapeless thing floating about space with a mind and will.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 5 June 2017]

Trapped in the underground it seems the intelligence is always a step ahead, suspicions fly around, even The Doctor is suspected, escape seems impossible, even the TARDIS is blocked by the web fungus. The Doctor sets to work on a device, but is stopped when a hidden Yeti figure brings the Yeti and Travers. The Colonel loses all his men, even the Staff Sergeant disappears.

It continues to be such a great, classic story, everything is on point, the writing, the horror element, the direction, mostly the claustrophobic sense that's been created, you feel they only have a short amount of time before they face impending danger. The scenes of UNIT fighting the Yeti look great

The Doctor delivers that fabulous description of what exactly the great intelligence is 'A sort of formless, shapeless thing, floating about in space life a cloud of mist, only with a mind and will.'. The ambiguity of the great intelligence I think adds to its appeal, to this day we know so little about it.

Part 4 is fantastic, I can see no faults of any kind 10/10

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.