Horror of Fang Rock - Episode 2

I could perhaps be very critical of the model used to show the ship crashing on the rocks. First thing that stood out in this episode is the rather cold reaction that Leela gives when it’s revealed that they have crashed on the rocks is a bit odd. Her attitude is slightly odd, its almost like she is bored of what is going on. The crew of the wrecked ship is a mixture of annoying and charming. Lord Palmerdale and Adelaide are both equally irritating. It’s like they stumbled out of an episode of Upstairs Downstairs. The ship crashing is largely down to Palmerdale so after just a few minutes we are left in no doubt that he is suppose to be an unlikeable person. Colonel Skinsale (played by a returning Alan Rowe) and Harker are the more charming characters. Skinsale seems to spend most of the episode revelling in the fact that Palmerdale is about to lose a lot of money. There is an instant friction between them which makes it quite an interesting.

“We might all be dead” is delivered like there is a punchline and Tom Baker delivers the line with a smile on his face. It’s the only time that there is any humour in the episode. The Doctor doesn’t seem to stop moving in this episode. Tom Baker’s Doctor always has a lot of energy and he uses this quite a lot in the episode. Louise Jameson does a lot of moving around herself and the fact she isn’t dressed lady like in this story provides some humorous looks.

There is a glimpse of what crashed into the sea at the beginning of the previous episode and there is no easy way of saying it but it does look like something that came out of your nose. The fact that we only see a little bit of it is quite good as there gives a bit more mystery to see whats causing all of this. The deaths have stopped for now but it feels like a pause in the chaos which is probably the best thing. The episode ends with a  chilling cliffhanger. Reuben screams and yet the camera is focused on Skinsale. I think if it had ended with the camera seeing what happened to Reuben then it wouldn’t have been as good but I liked this ending. The fact that there have been some annoying elements introduced into this story doesn’t detract from what is still a thoroughly exciting story.