The Snows of Terror

Episode 4 (Review for all 6 episodes):

This story from Dalek creator Terry Nation begins with the episode the Sea of Death. It is in my view an excellent opening episode. It features an intriguing, well written plot with the TARDIS crew searching a strange planet. The design of the planet and its Voord creatures is very good indeed, ideas such as seas of acid and beaches of glass are cleverly used to create a truly interesting and exciting alien planet. The Voord look good, there is menace and suspense, an excellent alien landscape and building design, a proficient script and quality acting all round which gives a 9/10 opening episode to the story.

However, whilst still decent fun, episodes 2-4 are a little disappointing in comparison to the opening episode. The idea of the story means each episode of the first 5 takes place in a different location with a self contained adventure searching for the hidden Keys of Marinus. This really would be a great idea for a story but is a pity to move on to other adventures when the original world in the opening episode is so well designed.

Episode 2 has a hugely different location and features the crew suffering mind control. This second episode is very good in most aspects but a few less impressive aspects such as a minor plot hole cause its quality to suffer. This plot hole is that Barbara is meant to travel, via a kind of teleportation device, just a minute before the rest of the travellers and yet in that minute before they join her numerous things are meant to have happened.

Episodes 3 and 4 are not as interesting or well executed as the first part either with episode 4 the weakest. Episodes 5 and 6 return to a higher standard and are like a murder mystery. Very good but they still are not a match for the top quality first part.

My Ratings: Episode 1 - 9/10, Episodes 2 & 3 - 7.5/10, Episode 4 - 7/10, Episode 5 - 8/10, Episode 6 - 9/10

Overall - 8/10.

Ian and Barbara arrive in a frozen wasteland. They are saved from freezing to death by a trapper named Vasor, who may be more sinister they he seems.

"The Snows of Terror" is pure Terry Nation fun. The dialogue is pretty bad, and the absence of William Hartnell is sorely felt. Carole Ann Ford gets to act hysterical a lot, but there's a terrific guest performance from Francis de Wolff. Then of course, there's the scene with Ian rubbing Altos' thighs to get the circulation going...

It's funny, but when I think of The Keys of Marinus as a whole story, this is the episode I think of, and funny, watching it back I think it's the weakest entry. It has some really good points, Altos is a decent villain, he presents a real threat, and the ice guards in theory are awesome. The sets look rather good, they did well considering so many were needed for the story, and budgets were obviously not huge.

Robin Phillips plays Altos rather well, he's a good villain, just seems a little out of place. Ian normally so bright, has a stupid moment, leaving Altos til last on that rope bridge. The ice guards could have been a bit more menacing.

Overall, it's very good. 7/10