As a companion piece to “Telly Visions”, I’ve determined to introduce another new recurring feature, to this blog, in order to give it a fresh sense of identity in the absence of regular new “Doctor Who” reviews. The general idea of “Warden’s Watch” is to take a closer look at one of the productions in which the selected “Telly Visions” actress featured. This doesn’t, necessarily, mean analysing whole series (perish the thought!) but attempting to discern what makes a single episode, or serial within a series, stand out from the crowd. In the interests of variation, I may choose to consider a piece under the “Warden’s Watch” banner, initially, then follow through, subsequently, with an overview of a particular cast member’s career. Equally, each of the new strands may simply stand alone. It’s not set in stone like the rock creatures in “The Fires of Pompeii” otherwise any possible creativity, in the writing department, goes straight out the window! I may even still review a new “Doctor Who” episode as part of this series. Next Saturday’s “Planet of the Ood” looks a little more promising than its two predecessors, in the latest run, now that the British Board of Film Classification has indicated it’s not as suitable for youngsters by giving it a 12 rating! On the other hand, don’t hold your breath!! So, without further ado, to business…
What is it that makes “Fury from the Deep” my all-time favourite “Doctor Who” story? I haven’t watched this six-part serial since I was nine years old, and am unlikely ever to see it again, having been wiped from the BBC’s archive, so the answer is simple… my memory of it being the scariest set of episodes. It boasts three genuinely frightening cliff-hangers, one of which is the most bizarre thing I’ve ever experienced in a television drama to this day. At the end of episode three, Maggie Harris and Robson, both infected by the weed creature, meet on the beach. The former tells the latter she will obey his instructions. Then, she turns and walks straight out into the sea, eventually becoming completely submerged beneath the waves… Can you imagine the effect that had on someone my age in 1968? It is a haunting image, make no mistake. And, talk about creative! You need a warped imagination to invent something as unusual and truly weird as that!! Thinking about it now, I’m surprised it made it to broadcast at 5.15 in the afternoon of Saturday, 30th March. Episode one’s ending was a stunner, too. Victoria (Deborah Watling), trapped in a store room at the base, screams as foam pours in through an open grille and advances toward her. Within the foam are fronds of animated seaweed… And, it occurs to me that it’s exactly forty years, to the day, since the transmission of episode five which concludes with the Doctor and Jamie entering the central area of the control rig to find themselves confronted by the terrifying sight of Robson standing in the middle of a mass of weed and foam. “Come in Doctor,” he whispers. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
“Fury from the Deep” is the only television “Doctor Who” story to be written by script editor, and former actor, Victor Pemberton. He based it on his own radio play “The Slide”, about mind-controlling mud with a heartbeat! Yeah, I know it may sound silly but if done properly, with the skill to suspend one’s disbelief, it can scare the heebie-jeebies out of anyone!! “Fury” features a Robert Holmes-style double act in the shape of a couple of characters called Oak and Quill. The scene of these two weed-infected technicians attacking Maggie Harris in the comfort of her own home is one of the most terrifying in the show’s history. On the downside, I wasn’t too sure about the travellers returning to the TARDIS to conduct experiments, mid-serial, considering the ship was parked on the surface of the ocean, making it more than a little inaccessible. Second Doctor Patrick Troughton didn’t want to go up in a helicopter either! However, the story was more than successfully directed by another former actor, and ex-school teacher, Hugh David. Formerly David Hughes, it was his second and last time on the show. He had previously worked on “The Highlanders” in the same capacity. I later discovered he taught my father maths at grammar school! His wife, Wendy Williams, played Vira in the Tom Baker serial “The Ark in Space”. And, she was the English teacher at the same establishment!! It was the first story to feature the sonic screwdriver which, now, is a mixed blessing but, then, functioned exactly as described. And, it was the last story to feature Debbie Watling as Victoria Waterfield. The end of the final episode features a touching and emotional farewell without being overbearing. As the image of Victoria waving goodbye recedes on the TARDIS scanner screen, the Doctor reminds his forlorn companion, “I was fond of her too, you know, Jamie.”
What is it that makes “Fury from the Deep” my all-time favourite “Doctor Who” story? I haven’t watched this six-part serial since I was nine years old, and am unlikely ever to see it again, having been wiped from the BBC’s archive, so the answer is simple… my memory of it being the scariest set of episodes. It boasts three genuinely frightening cliff-hangers, one of which is the most bizarre thing I’ve ever experienced in a television drama to this day. At the end of episode three, Maggie Harris and Robson, both infected by the weed creature, meet on the beach. The former tells the latter she will obey his instructions. Then, she turns and walks straight out into the sea, eventually becoming completely submerged beneath the waves… Can you imagine the effect that had on someone my age in 1968? It is a haunting image, make no mistake. And, talk about creative! You need a warped imagination to invent something as unusual and truly weird as that!! Thinking about it now, I’m surprised it made it to broadcast at 5.15 in the afternoon of Saturday, 30th March. Episode one’s ending was a stunner, too. Victoria (Deborah Watling), trapped in a store room at the base, screams as foam pours in through an open grille and advances toward her. Within the foam are fronds of animated seaweed… And, it occurs to me that it’s exactly forty years, to the day, since the transmission of episode five which concludes with the Doctor and Jamie entering the central area of the control rig to find themselves confronted by the terrifying sight of Robson standing in the middle of a mass of weed and foam. “Come in Doctor,” he whispers. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
“Fury from the Deep” is the only television “Doctor Who” story to be written by script editor, and former actor, Victor Pemberton. He based it on his own radio play “The Slide”, about mind-controlling mud with a heartbeat! Yeah, I know it may sound silly but if done properly, with the skill to suspend one’s disbelief, it can scare the heebie-jeebies out of anyone!! “Fury” features a Robert Holmes-style double act in the shape of a couple of characters called Oak and Quill. The scene of these two weed-infected technicians attacking Maggie Harris in the comfort of her own home is one of the most terrifying in the show’s history. On the downside, I wasn’t too sure about the travellers returning to the TARDIS to conduct experiments, mid-serial, considering the ship was parked on the surface of the ocean, making it more than a little inaccessible. Second Doctor Patrick Troughton didn’t want to go up in a helicopter either! However, the story was more than successfully directed by another former actor, and ex-school teacher, Hugh David. Formerly David Hughes, it was his second and last time on the show. He had previously worked on “The Highlanders” in the same capacity. I later discovered he taught my father maths at grammar school! His wife, Wendy Williams, played Vira in the Tom Baker serial “The Ark in Space”. And, she was the English teacher at the same establishment!! It was the first story to feature the sonic screwdriver which, now, is a mixed blessing but, then, functioned exactly as described. And, it was the last story to feature Debbie Watling as Victoria Waterfield. The end of the final episode features a touching and emotional farewell without being overbearing. As the image of Victoria waving goodbye recedes on the TARDIS scanner screen, the Doctor reminds his forlorn companion, “I was fond of her too, you know, Jamie.”
2 comments:
Alas! Now I can read all about the classic episodes that I missed out upon as a kid! Bit of a double edged sword - especially if the Beeb have insanely wiped some of the recordings. Why on earth did they do that?
Well, "Fury from the Deep" was broadcast before you were born, Steve. Most of the "Doctor Who" episodes you would've missed still exist! It's those from my childhood that have been erased as it was believed they had served their purpose and were of no further value. At the time, the BBC also had limited storage facilities and the recordings were on hefty two-inch videotapes!!
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