📝2/10

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"The Web Planet: Ants, Butterflies, and Missed Potential"

Plastic mega ants, humanoid butterfly creatures, and a mysterious, disembodied voice—The Web Planet is ambitious, surreal, and utterly unforgettable. It’s a story that swings for the fences, but whether it succeeds depends entirely on your tolerance for bizarre 1960s sci-fi.

A Strong Start That Loses Its Way

The opening moments offer glimmers of promise, with some delightful character beats, such as Barbara and Vicki’s touching exchange in Part 1. The barren alien world of Vortis is introduced with an eerie, dreamlike quality enhanced by Vaseline-smeared lenses and unsettling sound design. The first episode manages to maintain intrigue and suspense, but the momentum quickly unravels.

The narrative bogs down in Parts 3 to 5, with excessive filler material and a lack of engaging plot. By the end of Episode 2, the story still hasn’t defined its central conflict or villain. Instead, viewers are treated to long, tedious sequences of characters aimlessly wandering or interacting with the often ridiculous Zarbi. The pacing issues make The Web Planet a slog to get through, especially for modern audiences.

Bold Concepts, Questionable Execution

At its heart, this is a war story between two alien factions—the Menoptra and the Zarbi—over their planet, Vortis, manipulated by the mind-controlling Animus. It’s a classic Doctor Who trope of resistance against oppression, but here, the plot is overshadowed by overly ambitious concepts that the production can’t fully realize.

The Menoptra are one of the serial’s rare triumphs. Their alien movements, speech patterns, and unsettling otherworldly presence are impressive, with a standout flying sequence in Part 4 that still looks great for its time. However, the Zarbi, giant ant-like creatures, are more laughable than menacing, hindered by clunky designs and poorly choreographed movements (including infamous moments of actors bumping into cameras). The Optera, with their awkward movements and grating voices, are even less convincing.

The Animus is an intriguing idea—an unseen, malevolent force controlling Vortis with a chilling vocal performance by Catherine Fleming. Unfortunately, the payoff falls flat when she finally appears as an underwhelming, web-covered prop. The villain would have been far more effective if left as a disembodied voice.

The Good, the Bad, and the Plain Strange

The production team deserves credit for attempting something as ambitious as The Web Planet. The alien landscapes, eerie soundscapes, and experimental visuals showcase the creativity and ingenuity of the 1960s Doctor Who crew. However, these strengths are often undermined by glaring weaknesses. The overuse of lens flares obscures the action, while the Carsinome set design is as baffling as its name suggests.

The cliffhangers—usually a Doctor Who hallmark—are underwhelming, save for the tension-filled one in Part 5. The alien sound effects, though adding to the alien atmosphere, are grating and headache-inducing by the end.

Characters Left Adrift

The regular cast does their best with limited material. Barbara is sidelined for much of the story, disappearing completely in Part 3, while Vicki struggles to establish her role as the new companion. The Doctor gets a few witty lines (Hartnell’s “drop this hairdryer or whatever it is!” being a highlight), but overall, the cast is underused.

The guest characters fare no better. The Menoptra are intriguing but fail to emotionally connect with the audience, while the Zarbi are more comical than threatening. The supporting cast never rises above being mere plot devices.

A Cautionary Tale in Overreaching

The Web Planet is a textbook example of Doctor Who aiming high but faltering under the constraints of budget and technology. It’s a bold, experimental story with moments of brilliance but ultimately fails to sustain its six-episode runtime. While its ambition and creativity are commendable, the lack of narrative focus, uneven pacing, and production missteps make it a frustrating experience for many viewers. In the end, The Web Planet is an intriguing misfire—a fascinating relic of Doctor Who’s willingness to experiment, even when the results are far from perfect.