The Web Planet

BARBARA: Oh, you’ll find the answer, Doctor. You always do.

(Yet MORE sucking up!)

BARBARA: Honestly, one of these days I’m going to have a jolly good spring clean around here.

VICKI: You know, Doctor, I’m getting quite fond of Zombo.
DOCTOR: What?
VICKI: Zombo, it’s his name. I gave it to him.
DOCTOR: Oh, yes, I see, I see.
VICKI: He’s quite cute, isn’t he, when he’s like this.

(She likes giving things names, doesn't she?)

HROSTAR: Zarbi!!!
HILIO: Zarbi!!!
HROSTAR: Zarbi!!!
HLYNIA: Zarbi!!!

• The bit where Vicki gets the mental attack in the TARDIS at the beginning of the story is notable because Maureen O'Brien spends the entire time trying incredibly hard not to laugh and failing pretty badly. There's some more Vicki greatness in this story. When the Doctor and Ian enter the TARDIS to get equipment for the Animus, the Zarbi keep Vicki hostage. Rather than scream or cry like, er, certain companions, she bravely nods and says, "I'll be all right". 
  
• It amuses me that when the Doctor tells Ian they're on Vortis, Ian replies with, "Vortis? What galaxy is that in?" as if the answer would mean anything to him anyway! 
• I think Ian has forgotten Marinus already. Surely once you've had one near-death experience on an alien planet with water that turns out to be acid you'd be a bit more careful in future? I do like the way he gets so upset about the Doctor using his tie to demonstrate. He even complains about it five weeks later right at the end of the story! 
• The cliffhanger for the first episode is great. Barbara's about to jump in some acid, Ian's being eaten by some unconvincing prop, Vicki's being carted off and the Doctor finds that the TARDIS has vanished. I think that's the first ever four-way cliffhanger? It certainly beats the cliffhanger for episode four, where it cuts from the action after Barbara has already started running away. Speaking of the end of episode four, the mass fight scene there between the Menoptera and the Zarbi is absolutely hilarious. Doctor Who has had very few more enjoyable fight scenes in its history. 
  
• The quality of this story is, admittedly, a bit up and down, but episode five is great if you're still awake to witness it. The Doctor and Barbara making plans, Vicki having fun with the tame Zarbi and Ian trying to talk some sense into those silly Optera. It's great. 
• Without the Animus, the Larvae Guns suddenly become cute and cuddly little creatures. But presumably still with guns, so, you know, rather dangerous? 
• Isoptope. Ha. And the Zarbi hitting the camera. Haha.

Verdict

I'm not going to deny that there are issues with the Web Planet, but I give the production team top marks for trying it. It's a shame more modern teams wouldn't have the guts to try something similar. It looks brilliant. The story might be lacking in life a little, but there's plenty to look at. It's such a bleak

and alien world, and all the various creatures look strange. The noise the Zarbi make is also fantastic. John Wood and Daphne Dare deserve a lot of credit, as does Roslyn de Winter for the "Insect Movement" that she apparently devised. I actually think that at four episodes this would be a very strong story. Even with the presence of poor old Richard Martin dragging things down. Six is just a little bit too long for the actual story. But Hartnell and O'Brien are such a strong and sweet pairing and their scenes are so watchable. The time flies by whenever they're on screen together. It's a bit unfair on Barbara that the Doctor is the one hailed as a hero. It was her plan of attack they used and the Doctor failed miserably. It was Barbara (with a bit of help from Ian) who killed the Animus! In conclusion: a good effort, at least.