Doctor Who Rewind - The Web Planet

Sometimes in the interest of breaking new ground in television, Doctor Who strived to try and push the boundaries of what could be done with a limited budget and a fast turn around. Sometimes those experiments worked and sometimes they didn't. The Web planet is a prime example of the shows ability to go out on a limb and experiment with the relatively new medium of television.

It's a six part story that was broadcast in March 1965. The TARDIS is pulled down onto planet Vortis, a seemingly lifeless desolate moon like planet.
The Doctor and Ian go and investigate, putting on special suits which somehow combat the thin atmosphere. They come across a pool of water which Ian is eager to drink, but the good old Doctor knows better, and, after getting hold if Ian's tie, and dipping it into the liquid, discovers it's some kind of burning acid.

Meanwhile, Barbara falls under the influence of an outside force which is using her bracelet as a conduit, and against her will is led outside. It's an eerie scene that actress Jacqueline Hill plays really well and gives a convincing performance.

Barbara soon stumbles across the moth like creatures called the Menoptra. They are clad in what can only be described as black leotards with frilly fluffy stripes segmented all over, with wire antennae on their heads and plastic patterned wings hanging from their backs. When they walk and talk they perform a little wistful dance with their hands akin to some kind of strange musical sign language.

Barbara escapes from the Menoptra but is captured by the Zarbi, who are giant ant type creatures, who are drones that go around poking people and emitting a high pitched warble akin to that of a car alarm.

The TARDIS, with only Vicki left inside then starts sliding across the planet, as if being pulled by some unseen power.

Ian and the Doctor follow its trail and end up being captured by the Zarbi, they are taken to a place called Carsinome where they find Vicki who has also been taken. The Doctor speaks to a creature called Animus through some kind of telepathic device placed on his head. Animus wants the Doctor to help track down the Menoptra, who are an invasion force sent to take back the planet from it's evil force.

Ian discovers that the Zarbi and Menoptra were native to Vortis originally until the evil Animus took control of the planet through the Zarbi drones insectiods.

To be perfectly honest, By this point in the story, with some two hours of viewing time still to go, I was beginning to struggle with the complete removal of any kind of lucid narrative in this serial. I found that there was just too much of an experimental nature about the whole thing.

Giant dancing moths, Ants who communicate by car alarms, the disembodied sound of Animus controlling the Doctor (whom we finally see in the final episode), and, a race descended from the Menoptra called Optera (walking grubs with deep voices) who live underground. All this absurdity added together is a just a little to much overkill i found.

Oh and I haven't even mentioned the jam smeared lens effect. Well not quite jam, but the effect of fog or atmosphere was created, I have read, buy smearing vaseline on the camera. This made everything seem all smudgy and out of focus. Great!

I tried to imagine what a viewer in the 1960's would think of it all watching on a small grainy black and white TV and I think they probably would have gotten more out of it than me. I think the passage of time, and the remastering and watching on a big screen really doesn't do this story any favours.

Though the sets have been painstakingly put together, some consisting of a forest like swirl of modern art sprawling through a maze, they only seen to add to the confusion of the overall piece.

Watching it was like trying to listen to a contemporary piece of atonal music that offers little in the way of pleasure or reference points to hang your emotions.

In some of the scenes, when both Zarbi and Menoptra were fighting, I thought I was watching a local amateur dramatics group work shopping a new experimental theatre production. And had to force back the urge to laugh out loud.

In short then, this is the first time during the Rewind that I've started to flag during a story. But I persisted through. I haven't come this far to give in to the odd challenging episode, and I'm sure there will be many more as I progress through the cannon.

Next time on Doctor Who Rewind a story half lost from the archives, set in the holy land during the time of the crusades. Ah, it'll be a piece of cake.