The Abominable Snowmen - Episode 2

The second episode is the only one of the six to exist on DVD. So its back to the ‘Lost in Time’ DVD set and the first thing I notice is that the cliffhanger from episode one wasn’t the greatest.  I love how Victoria asks Jamie what weird looking things are when its clear that he wouldn’t have an idea what it is. The Doctor’s situation goes from bad to worse as he is used as bait to lure the Yeti to the monastery whilst Jamie and Victoria spend the early part of the episode running away from the Yeti. I am surprised at how few Yeti we have seen so far. It’s not until towards the end of the episode that we see more than one. It’s quite a good sight seeing several Yeti roaming over the hills. It does show what we are missing by this not being on DVD which makes it more infuriating.

The mysterious voice that seems to come out of thin air is one of the few eerie things to come out of the episode. It’s good that we don’t see where the voice is coming from though clearly due to a shot in one scene its clear that its not too far away. It’s good how Travers admits that the Doctor isn’t the one that they are looking for. It ends that initial stage of the story and speaking of Travers its funny to see him in the scenes with his daughter. When I watch them I don’t think that they are father and daughter but instead two completely different people who have never met before.

As this is the only episode to exist on DVD it’s the only chance that I will have to comment on the direction. I think that its rather well done. The best part was when Jamie and the monks were attacking the Yeti and the camera was shaking all over the place. A technique used 40 years before Steven Spielberg would make it famous. I don’t know whether it was due to people knocking into it or whether it was intended it. Either way it’s a nice moment even if its too brief.

Performance wise, this episode works quite well. The regulars all did well and I like the joke that the Doctor does when Jamie comes up with an idea. It seems like it was a Troughton/Hines co-production. The supporting cast were all quite good but for me it was Jack Watling that was at the top of the pile.

The final moment comes after they discover what the woolly figure that has been attacking them is and it turns out that they are a furrier version of the Cybermen (but can’t talk). The final shot is of the sphere/ball moving of it own volition. It’s a good way to end the episode and my impression of the story has changed somewhat. I know that the next four episodes are back to audio but it does feel like the action is starting to take shape even if it is doing so at a infuriatingly slow pace.