Image of the Fendahl

There are four thousand million people here on your planet, and if I’m right, within a year there’ll be just one left alive. Just one.

The Fourth Doctor

Synopsis

The TARDIS lands in Fetchborough, where a team of scientists are experimenting on a skull which should not exist.

Review

Image of the Fendahl feels like the final passing of the torch moment in the Tom Baker era between the Philip Hinchcliffe era to the Graham Williams era. There are a lot of aspects that are familiar from the gothic tones of the Hinchcliffe era, but there is also a lot of humour and some lighter-hearted moments that feel as though they would be developed as the Williams era progressed, especially when Douglas Adams became involved in the show.

I didn’t really know what to expect from this story going in, and am pleased to say that I came away pleasantly surprised as the story builds really nicely and by the time it reaches the first cliffhanger which sees the Doctor paralysed in the misty woods, I was hooked. The gothic atmosphere benefits the story greatly, with the woods and mysterious cult, led by Stael and Mrs Tyler having the sight due to the benefit of living near the time fissure. From a production standpoint, I really liked the transition shots between Wanda Ventham’s Thea and the skull in the first part, which are simply effective, and perhaps makes up for the appearance of both the Fendahleen and the Fendahl later in the story. I have often heard it said that the Hinchcliffe era left no money for Graham Williams to work with, but this story mostly does not betray that.

Image of the Fendahl also allows the audience an insight into the hypocritical behaviours of the Doctor’s own people. Whilst following the time fissure back in the TARDIS, the Doctor discovers that the home planet of the Fendahl has been destroyed and erased by the Time Lords due to the threat they were deemed to pose. The Doctor states with disdain that they should never have done it. Eight years previously, the show had shown the Time Lords exiling the Doctor to Earth on grounds of interference in other civilisations, however, given that the Doctor recalled hearing stories of the Fendahl in his youth, it can be assumed that they were doing similar things for far, far longer than he had.

The guest cast are especially strong here, although perhaps Wanda Ventham stands out as particularly deserving of praise for her performance before and after the transformation here. This is quite a bloodthirsty story, which surprised me, complete with Stael shooting Fendelman in the head after the latter decries the way that the Fendahl have used humanity throughout their history, as well as Stael ultimately committing suicide.

Tom Baker feels as though he is still being relatively controlled at this stage of his time as the Doctor. I know that Baker became notoriously difficult to work in the latter stages of his time in the role, especially for writers and directors, but here he appears to be quite restrained and it is a joy to be in his company. Baker is able to capture both the more serious and comedic parts of his character really well; when this incarnation of the Doctor tells you that you’re in deadly danger, Baker’s gravitas makes you utterly believe it, but he can make you feel utterly safe and make you laugh at the same time. There’s a really lovely moment where Ted Moss is warning Stael about the Doctor and Leela and describes the Doctor to him, and the Doctor, standing outside the room pulls his hair in front of his eyes, just in case there’s another Doctor wandering around! It is really fun to see the Doctor wandering around alone at points in this story, almost as though the camera is his companion, making comments on the items he comes across at Fetch Priory.

Louise Jameson doesn’t not have a lot to do here as Leela, but what she has to do she handles capably. Looking at this, it does appear to justify Louise Jameson’s decision to leave the programme, although she does state in the behind-the-scenes documentary that she would make a different decision if she had her time again. Part Two is definitely where Leela gets the most to do, away from the Doctor for the majority of the run time, and the relationship between Baker and Jameson has noticeably improved on screen.

Verdict: Image of the Fendahl is a gem in the mid-Tom Baker era and combines the gothic atmosphere with some nice moments of humour. 9/10

Cast: Tom Baker (The Doctor), Louise Jameson (Leela), Edward Arthur (Adam Colby), Wanda Ventham (Thea Ransome), Denis Lill (Doctor Fendelman), Scott Fredericks (Maximillian Stael), Graham Simpson (Hiker), Edward Evans (Ted Moss), Derek Martin (David Mitchell), Daphne Heard (Martha Tyler) & Geoffrey Hinsliff (Jack Tyler).

Writer: Chris Boucher

Director: George Spenton-Foster

Producer: Graham Williams

Composer: Dudley Simpson

Parts: 4

Original Broadcast Dates: 29th October – 19th November 1977

Behind the Scenes

• The last story to be commissioned by Robert Holmes.
• K9 only appears fleetingly, as at the time the story was commissioned, it was not known that K9 was to join the series going forwards.
• Chris Boucher was unable to complete rewrites on this story due to being appointed as script editor on Blake’s 7. Incoming script editor Anthony Read took over the rewriting.
• This story marks the debut of a new costume for Leela, as the original costumes was beginning to wear out. The old costume would be used for the next serial, The Sun Makers, before being retired.
• This is among Louise Jameson’s favourite stories, however, during production, she made the decision to leave the show.
• Wanda Ventham states that this was the first major production she was involved in following the birth of her son, Benedict Cumberbatch. Cumberbatch would go on to appear in the Big Finish play Forty-Five.

Cast Notes

• Wanda Ventham had previously appeared as Jean Rock in The Faceless Ones and would go on to play Faroon in Time and the Rani.
• Dennis Lill would appear in the Fifth Doctor serial The Awakening as Sir George Hutchinson.
• Scott Fredericks had previously appeared in Day of the Daleks as Boaz.
• Derek Martin appeared in a number of Doctor Who stories, including The Romans, The Web of Fear and The Claws of Axos, in uncredited roles.
• Geoffrey Hinsliff appeared in Nightmare of Eden, playing Fisk.

Best Moment

It has to be the cliffhanger at the end of Part 1, with the Doctor rooted to the spot and the gun shot.

Best Quote

He came alarmed and silent.

You must have been sent by providence.

No, I was sent by the council to cut the verges.

Your council should choose its warriors more wisely.

Leela, the Fourth Doctor and Ted Moss

Previous Fourth Doctor review: The Invisible Enemy

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