This episode was fantastically tense. I expected at least one of the side characters to get out alive, and each time another died I was surprised.

Speaking of the side characters, they were expertly written to cover the entire spectrum of likeability and garnered drastically different reactions when each one of them eventually died. I've never seen such a fantastic set of characters, from the lighthouse keeper who all clearly care for each other despite their differences, to a greedy capitalist doing whatever it take to get ahead, to a man just trying to save face.

I especially enjoyed how done Leela was with Adelaide's antics and how even the Doctor smiled when she threatened Palmerdale. I really like Leela so far.

This is part of a series of reviews of Doctor Who in chronological timeline order.

Previous Story: The Ghost of Margaret

Wow, what a start to a season.

It starts slow, mysterious and delightfully gothic, the isolated setting of a lighthouse in the early 1900s really makes you feel quite trapped and makes it fairly scary until you actually see the Rutan.

The supporting cast are all fun to watch and the Doctor and Leela feel in their element throughout, I do think some of their deaths felt forced but it makes for an interesting ending knowing that nobody will have a clue what happened. The Doctor turns up to a place, everyone gets killed, he saves the world and leaves and nobody ever knows he was there.

The Rutans as a villain feel like they should be interesting but their main ability (shapeshifting) is only shown once and doesn't really trick anyone, leaving them as sort of basic. Similarly their voices are just slightly softer-spoken Daleks, the only thing they really have going for them is their design and connection with the Sontarans, the latter basically just being a namedrop.

Despite having a fairly slow pace, I was hooked throughout the entire thing, it really is a story that lives up to the hype.

Next Story: The Foe from the Future

If I have seen any of season 15 before, it will have been this story, at least 11 years ago. I immediately recognised the Rutan in part 4, though knowing my memory I could have picked this up from a DVD extra for another story.

This is a brilliant way to kick off the Graham Williams era, continuing the extraordinary run the show has seen since The Deadly Assassin. Like many of my favourites it is set in the recent past, where life is recognisable but different enough to be interesting. The world building is top notch, I loved seeing the different generational attitudes towards electricity for example. The story felt claustrophobic and frightening, inventively set on four sets all seemingly one story above another - it really felt like I was in that lighthouse, it felt real.

The acting of the younger lighthouse worker was not all that great in part one, but for some reason it dramatically improved when the cast grew in part two, with the introduction of the shipwrecked citizens. Otherwise there were flawless performances all round from the well balanced ensemble of actors. It is shocking that every single character other than The Doctor and Leela die, especially given how well developed they were.

This story carries on the Gothic darkness I associate with the Hinchcliffe era (not exactly considered Williams' trademark by fan consensus). It will be interesting to see if and when this is dropped. This was also Terrance Dicks' best effort since The War Games, 8 years before. I have everything crossed hoping this run of form will continue.

I quite like Horror of Fang Rock overall, with a fun sense of characters in a distinct setting, and a very strong sense of atmosphere.  I'd rate it higher but it really feels like we are giving similar plot beats to another season premiere story, Terror of the Zygons, and I much prefer the earlier version with Sarah and Harry over Leela.  I don't have anything against Louise Jameson or her character, she just feels a little more awkward here compared to most other Fourth Doctor companions.  I find the whole bit around changing her eye colours weirdly distracting for something so trivial.  I don't know.  I enjoyed this one overall but can see how this was a start of a bit of a weird season in Doctor Who history.

Horror of Fang Rock is an excellent serial with lots of tension and some genuinely scary moments. The plot completely engorossed me throughout, and I feel that the characters are really strong and well-put-together: the dislikable characters are really dislikable and all characters seem well-motivated. Yes, some of the special effects are dated (although there is a version with updated special effects on the The Collection - Season 15 Blu-ray boxset) but, if you can overlook that, there's a really solid story here.

• Right up my alley, this story is, spooky, by the sea, and gloomy as hell
• Leela and the Doctor as a Tardis team works so well here it's great
• This story is a little grim, considering everyone dies
• The Rutan makes for a great foe
• Honestly would 4 stars but I found the random introduction of the new character midway just a bit unnecessary, either have them all there already or not at all, felt a bit like they were starting to stretch the story

This story still very much has the feel of the Hinchcliffe era, with a terrific claustrophobic atmosphere throughout as an alien force begins picking through the cast by one on one, and Tom Baker and Louise Jameson are on top form. Only thing that lets it down slightly is I think the Rutan is a slight anti-climax, mainly because the design is a bit too silly for my tastes. Definitely a great way to open the season though.

I love this story because you can tell that the budget for this was almost nonexistent. However they do a lot with what little sets they have and all of the characters are decently fleshed out even if they are annoying at times. I also adore that Leela doesn't care what clothes she wears and is always ready to pull her knife out whenever there is trouble.

(Second viewing)

This is still one of (if not the) greatest Base under Siege stories in Doctor Who. The slow build up of tension, the introduction of the characters and their predicament and the amazing atomsphere of the lighthouse make for a great four-part horror story. Plus, this is the first (and only, at least in TV) appearance of the Rutans. The design is really cool, although obviously outdated, and the final confrontation is gripping and ingenious.

Leela and the Doctor are such a charismatic pair, she is quite possibly my favourite companion for Tom Baker's incarnation.

I love how Graham Williams was brought in to make Doctor Who more kid-friendly and the first story he does is a scary base-under-siege which kills basically everyone.

It’s a shame that Tom Baker was apparently very stubborn behind the scenes, yet his more stilted performance gives off an uneasy style in this creepy setting, and I think that, while he isn’t the director, he has been there a long enough time to know what works and what doesn’t, and I wish that their relationship improves in the future. It’s hilarious how well Leela deals with the side characters, even going to slap people in the background and taking pride in destroying the Rutan. Her eyes changing colour was very strange to watch, but I think it made sense in the context.

Speaking of the Rutan, man is it creepy. When Reuben the Rutan smiles, it's both hilarious and uneasy at the same time. It definitely works that it doesn’t really show up until Part 4. Something I really dislike, however, is how it moves. I wish they could’ve had it float in the air like it usually does. I also don’t get why there was a Rutan on Earth 80 years before. If it was another scout, how come the Empire hadn’t invaded already? It was also defeated extremely poorly. Despite all that, it's an intimidating villain and I'm surprised it hasn't returned on TV.

The setting for Fang Rock is very effective, being misty in the open and cramped on the inside, creating a claustrophobic feel for both - especially when the Doctor says "I've locked it in... with us!" because you realise that that small lighthouse got even smaller. I think it might be one of the best locations we've had in a while, and the director was very skilful in utilising the settings, especially showing off the change in tone.

Every character had their own story, which meant that the Doctor was putting out a lot of fires and built up the tension - I think that's one of the best things about this story, and I hope that every character gets something to do within this era. There's the posh people who are arguing amongst themselves about that fortune; the keepers discussing the Beast of Fang Rock - and none of them survive!

Overall, the Williams Era starts on an absolute high, and I can't wait for what's next!

I think this might be hands down one of the best 4 n Leela stories it’s definitely the strongest opener for Tom so far and it’s such a hammer horror vibe the hinchcliff era tried and failed to do so many times for my liking

I thought on this rewatch I'll have no distractions and just concentrate on this. But, once again, I didn't find it exciting. It's one of those that fandom loves and I just don't get it.