Dr Who — Season 5 Serial 6: Fury from the Deep — Episode 3 and 4 — A Review

25th October, 2020.

Yes: it’s officially the case … 

It’s a quiet Sunday night.

One that’s seen me have dinner with my family: we’re a social bubble, if I’ve understood the rules correctly.

And play Among Us with my nephew.

Frankly, I’m happier with Tetris!

But there you go.

At any rate … ?

At any rate, I’ve got home, tonight.

With plenty of time to spare.

Time that meant I could watch episode three and four of Fury from the Deep.

~≈😶≈~

Episode 3 picks up from where Episode 2 left off: showing us the Doctor (Patrick Troughton), Jamie (Frazer Hines) and Victoria (Deborah Watling) at Harris’ apartment, taking seem seaweed for examination at the TARDIS.

Leaving Harris (Roy Spencer) to make sure his wife, Maggie (June Murphy) gets to the sick bay.

Whilst Robson (Victor Maddern) argues with Van Lutyens (John Abineri) and the Chief Engineer (Hubert Rees).

At the TARDIS?   The Doctor — with help from Jamie and Victoria — works out that the seaweed can indeed move.

Unrealised by all three?   The Weed recoils from screaming.

While they’re on their way back to the base?

Robson orders the crew to check on the impeller … before heading back to his cabin.

And, after being locked in?   Attacked by the Weed … !

Robson only flees his room — and disappears — when rescued by Harris.

Harris, in the meantime?   Has contacted HQ for help: in the shape of senior manager Megan Jones.

And also contacted Sick Bay.

It’s only when Harris contacts Sick Bay, he finds out one thing.

Maggie has gone missing …

~≈😶≈~

Episode 4 picks up from Episode 3: showing us Maggie meeting Robson on the beach outside the base: telling Robson “You know what you must do.”

Then swimming out to sea.

Harris finds Robson, not long after Maggie has vanished: only for Robson to tell him that Harris will see her soon.

Back at base?

Back at base, Jamie and Victoria are trying to get some rest: although a sleepless Victoria confesses to having her doubts about their travels with the Doctor.

Meanwhile?   The chief engineer and his staff are still working on the Impeller: and being left with no clue about where the mysterious blockage is: nor where the sound is coming from.

Leaving Van Lutyens to make a risky decision.

• Someone has to got to the base of the impeller to find out what’s happening.
• He’s the only person capable.

When Van Lutyens doesn’t return?

The Doctor and Jamie volunteer to try and find him.

Little realising that the seemingly realising that Mr Quill and Mr Oak and, the engineers manning the lift?

Aren’t as friendly as they seem.

Neither is the recently arrived Megan Jones: who is incredibly sceptical about what’s she’s being told.

And about a request Harris puts in.

The rigs have been taken over: and Harris wants them evacuated  … and then destroyed … 

It’s only then that the Doctor returns to the Control Room.

Just in time for Victoria to be found near the Impeller … 

And for the Weed to turn up in person … 

~≈😱≈~

Now, what did I make of this … ?

First things first I have to mention one thing.

Eyeballs!

In my review of episodes one and two, I mentioned how the animators seem to have changed Patrick Troughton’s eye colour from blue … 

To green … 

In these two episodes, episodes three and four?

They’re still green.

In the episodes.

But not in the title sequences: where they’re blue.

Granted, they look fine, they match the general colour palette … and frankly, I’d never have noticed it, if I hadn’t been looking for it.

But, now I have … ?

It’s leaping out at me, every time!

It has no effect on the story whatsoever.

Which, I should add, is developing rather well.

Maggie possession by the Weed is developing: as is Robson’s.

Quill and Oak?

Are unnervingly menacing: as unnervingly a pair as Pin and Tulip, or Croup and Vandemer: and a menacing take on Dibber and Glitz, if you want a Dr Who take on similar characters.

Yes: there’s flaws.

The thing with the eye colour can be seen as one.

Harris always speaks of ‘My Wife,’ rather than ‘Maggie,’ to give you another.

But, thus far … ?

I’m watching a riveting base under siege story, on a par with Troughton serials.

Frankly?

By Wednesday or Thursday — around 28th, or 29th of October — I’ll be watching the last two episodes.

Feel free to join me!