The Web Planet is probably Doctor Who's biggest case of "what could have been had the budget been better". In its current condition, it's boredom on a galactic scale with perhaps the exception of Episode 1, which shows the least of the hokey aliens and instills actual atmosphere. Actually, where atmosphere is concerned, this story is a great success. The echoes and the vaseline really work wonders.
The Doctor and co land on an alien moon where two insectoid races are at war. One of the races, the Zarbi are mind-controlled slaves of some kind of... web... spider... combo thingy and the other race are the Menoptera(and their retarded brothers, the Optera).
It's very confusing. But let's start with the positives. Episode 1 is brilliant.The echoing and the tub of vaseline on the camera lens create a spooky atmosphere. Ian and the Doctor share some great dialogue(when don't they?), we get to see more of the TARDIS(including those weird-shaped beds we last saw in The Edge Of Destruction) and even the Zarbi are pretty cool. Most people blame them for this story's reputation, but they actually look rather good(except for the legs I guess) with sweet sound-effects.
Also, the cliffhanger was just shocking: the TARDIS has disappeared! Yes, it doesn't sound too much, but what makes it shocking is Hartnell's reaction. He stares into the empty space and says "My ship... my TARDIS..." in a tone and expression that makes you think his entire world has just fallen apart. And in a way, it had. Now compare it to the scene in The God Complex where the TARDIS also vanishes. The Eleventh is like "Oh well. I guess I'll find it at the end. That's how it works, eh?". The new series can be just pitiful at times.
Onto the bad parts now. While the Zarbi were a bit goofy, they really go overboard with the wasps who are just stupid, plain stupid. And just when you think it can't get worse, the Optera hop into this story.
The plot is very hard to follow. There's some stuff about a spearhead attack, the Doctor reversing the polarity of gold or something and Ian's completely pointless detour(it's like The Daleks all over again).
And whatever happened to the breathing issues mentioned in Episode 1? Everyone just got used to breathing in low oxygen? Makes sense I suppose, but they could've elaborated on that.
One thing I'd also like to know is what's all the fuss about the First Doctor's ring? He seems very irritated to have to give it up in The Reign Of Terror and here he's almost saying "bring it back or don't come back" to the Menoptera. Is it his version of the Master's "come-back-for-second-try" ring from The End Of Time?
All in all, great concept, horrible execution. Doubt I'll watch this again any time soon.
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