The Witch From The Well

Although, I should warn you, your view of the universe is about to be seriously expanded.

The Eighth Doctor

Synopsis

A shrieking, killing nightmare erupts from an overgrown well, hidden in the grounds of an old house, Tranchard’s Folly – and Mary Shelley, the Doctor’s latest travelling companion, rescues teenage twins Finicia and Lucern from the clutches of the monster.

But a TARDIS trip in search of the origin of the horror goes terribly wrong when the Doctor, Mary and their two new friends find themselves stuck in the middle of a seventeenth-century witch scare.

While the Doctor investigates the strange lights at Vetter’s Tor, and the twins go in search of an artefact from the Hecatrix Dimension, Mary confronts the secrets of her past… and her future. The truth will out: Master Kincaid, the terrible Witch-Pricker himself, commands it!

Review

The Witch from the Well is a story told in two time zones, with the titular witch emerging from the well in 21st Century England, which originates from the 17th Century. Regular readers of the blog will know that I’m a big fan of stories that utilise time travel as a core part of the narrative, so it will come as no surprise that I really liked this one.

Rick Briggs has written a really pacy and enjoyable story. From the behind the scenes, I note that Briggs stated that when he pitched the story that it was more complex and spanned multiple different time periods. The decision to simplify the story is definitely the right one, as it allows the story to focus on the 17th Century setting and establish the supporting characters in that period. In the years since this story’s release, we have seen witch hunts in The Witchfinders, a Thirteenth Doctor story, but this one uses the four-part format to flesh the reality of witch hunts out a bit more. Things like Beatrix being suspected as being a witch after seeing the Varaxils’ ship is one of those things that the television story did not have time to cover. There is also a scene of the Doctor, Agnes and Beatrix being burnt at the stake which is full of tension as they wait to be saved. Ultimately, whilst Agnes and the Doctor survive, Beatrix, arguably the most innocent of the trio, pays the price. The story devolves into some techobabble at the end, which feels as though it could have be edited or changed slighly, but ultimately, it didn’t impact on my enjoyment of the story too much.

The Varaxils are an interesting idea for an enemy. Previously having been reliant on Odic energy, they abandoned their pariah state to adopt the incompatible Lokic energy. Resolved to capture and imprison those who exhibit high levels of Odic Energy, the two who take the forms of the squire’s children locate Agnes Bates, who is also suspected by the villagers of Tranchard’s Fell of being a witch. The Varaxils are utterly ruthless and contemptible – they do not value human lives, killing at least five humans including the Squire’s children and describing them as being hollow. Their characterisation is helped by the performances of Kevin Trainor and Alix Wilton Regan, who make them feel suitably detached from the action and alien. They feel distinctly off when they claim to be Aleister’s children at the beginning of the story – they are not too concerned about his fate – but the twist that they are alien still works really well.

The rest of the guest cast are really good here too. Andrew Havill is good as the Squire and Aleister, making both characters feel similar and yet distinct. Claude is an ally for the Doctor in the 17th Century, whilst Aleister aids Mary work against the twins in the present day. Serena Williams shines as Agnes Bates, who notably did not need any effects added to her witch-voice for the character, and her story is ultimately tragic. Simon Rouse is also a decent adversary to the Doctor as the Witch Pricker, Kincaid, who had made the discovery of witches his life’s work, is also suitably hissable.

“Judges had rather that ten innocent should suffer than one guilty should escape”. A friends of mine wrote that. Or will, assuming I get her home in one piece.

The Eighth Doctor

Mary spends most of this story separated from the Doctor, and it’s a chance to show how resourceful she is. She is carted off to the present day with Lucien and Finicia, and paired off in the modern day with Aleister, the owner of Tranchard’s Folly. She is also the one to rescue Lucern and Finicia at the start of the story. She has a nice dynamic with Aleister, a fanatic of Lord Byron, who she ultimately convinces should be more interested in his contemporaries. The Doctor muses that she is always on the side of the monsters, a nod to her most famous work. Julie Cox is really good here, and I must admit to being a little disappointed that I only have one more story left with her as a companion.

Whilst his companion spends her time in the present, the Eighth Doctor is in the past, separated from his TARDIS too. Paul McGann shines in his scenes with the witch-pricker Kincaid, and this earlier, younger Eighth Doctor is clearly distinct from the one we left at the end of The Girl Who Never Was. This incarnation of the Doctor can command scenes and come across with a real sense of charm and humour. McGann is never less than utterly convincing in this story and gives the role his all.

Verdict: The Witch from the Well might not be revolutionary but it is a very enjoyable Doctor Who story, complete with solid performances. 8/10

Cast: Paul McGann (The Doctor), Julie Cox (Mary Shelley), Simon Rouse (Master John Kincaid), Andrew Havill (Aleister Portillion/Squire Claude Portillion), Serena Evans (Agnes Bates), Lisa Kay (Beatrix), Alix Wilton Regan (Finicia) & Kevin Trainor (Lucern/Janek/Cornet Swallow).

Writer: Rick Briggs

Director: Barnaby Edwards

Music and Sound: Steven Dixon

Parts: 4

Main Range Release Number: 154

Original Release Date: 8 November 2011

Behind the Scenes

• In order to support the familial relation between Claude and Aleister, they were played by the same actor.

Cast Notes

• Simon Rouse appeared in the Fifth Doctor story Kinda. He has also appeared in the Fourth Doctor’s audio stories The Paradox Planet/Legacy of Death and The Running Men, opposite Christopher Eccleston.
• Andrew Havill played the Chief Steward in Voyage of the Damned. He also appeared opposite Tom Baker in The Enchantress of Numbers.
• Lisa Kay also played Alaya in Empire of the Racnoss.
• Alix Wilton Regan has also appeared in the Fifth Doctor story Zaltys and the Fourth Doctor story Wave of Destruction.

Best Quote

Sinners cannot go unpunished.

Careful Kincaid, it almost sounds as if you take a pride in your work. Isn’t that a sin?

I’m a humble servant of church ans state, Doctor, nothing more.

Exactly, but you could be so much more if only you set aside your prejudice.

Master John Kincaid and the Eighth Doctor

Previous Eighth Doctor review: The Silver Turk

For more Eighth Doctor reviews, click here.