Doctor Who - The Hand of Fear (1975)

This One Starts So Well...

...and then it just kind of peters out. It starts out with an ominous premise (alien genes infect a beloved principal character), a setting apropos to that portentousness (a nuclear reactor), a committed supporting cast (a possessed doctor and a plant foreman with a steel spine), and a villain engaging enough to be able to play on our loyalties like a violin. But as soon as it moves into Act III, where we expect to see enough of a payoff to justify the setup, the story turns into a cheap Atari video game as the characters putter through an unscary obstacle course to a denoument we frankly saw coming. It's as though the production team had a lofty vision in their heads, and lacked the budget and technology to realize any more than a ghost of it. While fans of Sarah Jane may like watching this one to see her final farewell, this episode arc is meant for hardcore fans only; not recommended for casual viewers or neophytes. June 22, 2008

THE seminal good bye

I admit it. I am a die hard Baker fan. I am a die hard Sara Jane fan, so this episode could have been horrible, and I still would probably have given it a positive review. But not only is it not terrible, it is wonderful. The story is suspenseful from start to finsih, and oh what an ending. Any fan of the show, and particularly of Ms. Smith will need Kleenex bfore the credits role. I still get choked up watching this one. This one truly marked the end of an era in Who history. June 18, 2008

Dr Who Episode #87

I've been a Dr Who Fan since the 60's and have truly enjoyed each and every episode. I hope you'll keep these episodes available for years to come. June 4, 2008

Good episode for beginners.

Although "Hand of Fear" doesn't seem to appear on fan favorite lists for "Doctor Who," it is one of my favorites. Also it is great episode to introduce Doctor Who to a person who has never seen it before or who has never seen the classic series (as apposed to the new series which started in 2005).

I think it has all the elements that make "Doctor Who" what it is. A funky and creative alien monster; a trip in the Tardis, the Doctor's time-space machine; a suspenseful situation; and it depicts a caring relationship between the Doctor has his traveling companion Sarah Jane Smith, in her last episode as a regular.

The DVD also has great commentary from Tom Baker and other actors appearing in the episode.
May 4, 2008

Sladen's Swan Song....Sort Of

Despite being a solid serial, "The Hand of Fear" is probably best remembered for being Elisabeth Sladen's exit from "Doctor Who." The story begins with the early obliteration of a criminal and then hurls the viewer into a modern day quarry where we find the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Sarah Jane (Sladen) in the middle of a blast at the quarry. Once they are rescued, a hand that Sarah Jane has discovered overtakes her and leads her to a nearby nuclear plant in order to, as the Doctor later explains, regenerate itself. After a failed attempt with the Doctor's companion, the hand takes successfully takes control of a plant employee and takes on a female form of the being known as Eldrad. The being, played by Judith Paris in a costume that resembles Rebecca Romjin's Mystique from the "X-men" films, has plans to return to its home planet of Kastria in order to reclaim its rightful power. The Doctor agrees to help Eldrad return home, but what is Eldrad really up to?

The cast is very solid. Paris works wonders as the female form of Eldrad. She captivates the audience in each scene. Glyn Houston portrays Watson, who heads up the nuclear plant and he does a fine job. Rex Robinson portrays Dr. Carter, an unfortunate acquaintance of Sarah Jane while she's under the control of Eldrad's hand. Tom Baker, arguably the most popular Doctor, is in top form, trading quips with Elisabeth Sladen and bumbling his way through all of the chaotic events that are going on. Sladen does very well also.

When the story is resolved, Sladen makes a somewhat anti-climactic exit. It works even though it lacks much of the chemistry that she and Baker possessed. She would return in later serials as a guest star including reprising her role in the new series alongside David Tennant as Doctor #10, as well as appear in "K9 & Company" and a brand new series aptly titled "The Sarah Jane Adventures." Few companions throughout Who history grabbed the attention and the hearts as Sarah Jane did. In fact, I'd say that only Rose from the revived series comes close.

The DVD is excellent. It comes with all of the regulars established by the Doctor Who DVD releases from the BBC, as well as an engaging "Changing Time" documentary about the serial and the development of Sarah Jane and Doctor #4. Perhaps the best feature that I found was the "Swap Shop" segment wherein we get to see Sladen and Baker interact with youngsters via telephone. It proves just how much of the fourth Doctor really is Tom Baker in real life.

An excellent serial, a decent send-off for Sarah Jane and some very good special features make this a good investment for any Who fan. I highly recommend it. May 1, 2008

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