The wheel in space (1968)

Review
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Review

This was a six-part serial, first broadcast between 27th April - 1st June 1968. A brief and somewhat spoiler-ish summary of the plot: the Doctor and Jamie find themselves in the middle of another attempt by the Cybermen to first conquer a strategic space station - the Wheel of the title - an then the earth.

What I've seen:

Parts three and six. The other four episodes are lost.

Let's start with the not-so-good bits:

• the two remaining episodes, particularly part three, don't really work stand-alone
• the confusing script doesn't help. The Cybermen have been over-thinking things, which resulted in a plan that involves sneaking Cybermats onto the Wheel and having them destroy all supplies of some compound, causing a meteorite storm by making a star in a nearby star system go supernova, and, finally, invading the Wheel - and it's anyone's guess why they just didn't start with that last bit in the first place. The regulars get in their bit of bad planning as well. In part three, in an effort to keep the space station's personnel from destroying a rocket that has the Tardis on board, Jamie sprays liquid plastic onto one of the station's vital components - thus rendering the Wheel defenceless against the oncoming meteorite storm

Mixed feelings about:

• the model work and visual effects. The exterior shots of the Wheel, and the space walks between the Wheel and the rocket are outstanding; the meteorites, the beams that the Cybermen use to 'zap' the crew, and the Cybermen's space walk are not
• the story's uneven treatment of the still too-cute-to-be-menacing Cybermats. At one point a crew member spots one, decides it's cute and harmless and hides it in a closet to get it out of harm's way. Later on, another crew member sees one and immediately goes mad with fear - rightly so, as the Cybermat and its Cybermates end up killing him

The good bits:

• the sound effects - it's easy to underestimate how much good sound can add to a story
• the confrontation between the Doctor and two Cybermen in part six, which is very well-written and well-executed

My verdict:

Worth seeing for the confrontation between the Doctor and the Cybermen in part six. For better - and better preserved - 'base under siege' stories from the Troughton era, try 'The moonbase' or 'The seeds of death'.

More about Doctor Who

An introduction:
Doctor Who reviews: introduction

More "interesting" Doctor Who:
Doctor Who reviews: interesting

More from the Patrick Troughton years:
Doctor Who reviews: 1966 - 1969

Similar stories:
Doctor Who reviews: alien invasion

Original version of this review:
07/01/01

More about this serial

Episode guides:
BBC Cult

Serial reviews:
Outpost Gallifrey

DVD reviews (of the 'Lost in time' boxed set):
Outpost Gallifrey

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