The Abominable Snowmen had a huge amount of sequel potential - great monsters and a fantastic guest actor/character. The Web of Fear goes into very different territory and is definitely a more successful and complete story.

I think one of the main reasons that this has been held up as one of Doctor Who's best stories is that the first episode is absolutely outstanding. Its one of the best first episodes of anything I have ever seen; and for a very long time this was the only episode that existed. The fact that the rest of the story does not live up to this extremely high standard is okay - it is still a brilliant story.

The prelude scenes set in the London private collection have an excellent tension between the now elderly Professor Travers and the collector. The shock of the sphere ominously breaking through the window is very well realised.

This story comes hot off the heels of The Enemy of the World, with Jamie struggling to close the door of the TARDIS behind Salamander. This injects the beginning of this story with a bit of energy and more of an episodic feel.

On this subject (and I know it sounds like a churlish criticism) but I wish The Great Intelligence's fungus was consistently web like throughout the story, rather than being foamy in large parts. I wonder why this (vaguely) annoys me as I'm the first to jump to the defense of other aspects of the 1960s production qualities. What is above criticism is those gorgeous abandoned tube stations - they couldn't look more like the real thing!

One of the big firsts for this story is the use of the pro-UNIT army team, including the wonderful Lethbridge-Stewart's debut Doctor Who appearance. After the worldwide epic feel of Enemy, the army holding down an enemy in such claustrophobic settings is the perfect set up.

Anne Travers is a wonderful character, full of warm charm and real intelligence. It brings to mind the sort of thing we will come to expect from Zoe in a few stories time. The coward soldier, the older soldier and the journalist are great characters too. Its great to have several characters who could believably be in league with (or controlled by) the Intelligence, all introduced to the story at an early stage, adding a "who-dunnit" flavour.

The fact that Jamie ruins The Doctor's carefully laid out plans by saving him is an interesting and brave ending to the story. It shows The Doctor to have more control and cunning than we initially thought. It also has the effect of resolving the situation, but leaving The Great Intelligence with the capacity to return. Its a long wait!

Do I think this story is great? Yes. Is it as good as most people think? Probably not. I remember waiting up all night to watch this and Enemy of the World with a couple of friends when they were released on iTunes. I loved both stories but it was Enemy which came out on top for me.