The Abominable Snowmen - Episode 1

The Abominable Snowmen is arguably the Troughton era’s most popular and successful creation outside of the Dalek and Cybermen stories. Recently five of the six episodes of The Web of Fear were found but sadly this one remains lost.  It’s quite noticeable for many reasons but firstly its that this story features Deborah Watling’s father Jack Watling who plays Professor Travers in this story. After the futuristic story featuring the Cybermen, its time to take Victoria to her first proper story in history. The episode starts quite good because we get screams and no clear sign as to what has happened. It’s quite surprising at how sort of afraid Jamie is portrayed because he unwilling to go out with Victoria and does what the Doctor tells him. This soon changes when Jamie decides that he’s going to take on the trouble that is in front of them. It doesn’t take long for them all to be separated and it also doesn’t take long for the Doctor to get into trouble.

Our first meeting of Professor Travers isn’t a particularly positive one as he is the one that is convinced that the Doctor has killed his friend and caused all the trouble. I know that this is all part and parcel of the early stages of a Doctor Who story but sometimes it’s a bit tiresome but with six episodes to fill there has to be some sort of padding and its not the worst padding device ever. In terms of performances from the regulars, I think they all do rather well though I am confused by the swapping of roles between Watling and Hines. It almost seems like the writers couldn’t quite make up their minds about these two after spending a lot of time working on what Patrick Troughton was doing and I must say that his side of the story was quite enjoyable (if predictable).

I must say that after the Tomb of the Cybermen this story was always going to feel a bit of a let down but so I didn’t have my expectations to high and I think that the issue with a six parter is going to rear its ugly head during the next five episodes. There’s going to be a lot of padding but I think (or hope) that once it gets going it will be better than I think it is. I haven’t listened to this story in a long time so something’s are a bit hazy when I try and remember this story so hopefully this story will spring a surprise on me.