Stories Television Doctor Who Season 15 Serial: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Image of the Fendahl 1 image Overview Episodes Characters How to Watch Reviews 7 Statistics Related Stories Quotes 5 Transcript Overview First aired Saturday, October 29, 1977 Production Code 4X Written by Chris Boucher Directed by George Spenton-Foster Runtime 100 minutes Time Travel Present Tropes (Potential Spoilers!) Breaking the Fourth Wall, First TARDIS trip Inventory (Potential Spoilers!) Sonic Screwdriver Location (Potential Spoilers!) Earth, England, Fetch Priory, Fetchborough Synopsis The present day: just as the Fourth Doctor and Leela arrive in Fetchborough, England, Professor Fendelman prepares to experiment on a fossilized skull which science says should not exist. The skull is actually an artefact of the Fendahl, a god-like being who feeds on the life force of others. It has begun to awaken and kill. Worse yet, others seek to exploit the Fendahl's dreadful power. Watch Watched Favourite Favourited Add Review Edit Review Log a repeat Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Owned Save to my list Saved Edit date completed Custom Date Release Date Archive (no date) Save 4 Episodes Part One First aired Saturday, October 29, 1977 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Chris Boucher Directed by George Spenton-Foster UK Viewers 6.7 million Synopsis England, the late 1970s. At Fetch Priory, Dr Fendelman's experiments with the new Time Scanner are disrupted by the mysterious death of a hiker, nearby. Then there's the mysterious skull, also being used as part of his work. A skull that seems to predate the evolution of mankind. What is the true role of the Fendahl in humanity's evolution? Part Two First aired Saturday, November 5, 1977 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Chris Boucher Directed by George Spenton-Foster UK Viewers 7.5 million Appreciation Index 75 Synopsis The mystery surrounding the strange skull deepens. Thea is slowly succumbing to its influence while the Doctor prepares to battle a creature from mythology. Part Three First aired Saturday, November 12, 1977 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Chris Boucher Directed by George Spenton-Foster UK Viewers 7.9 million Synopsis While Max prepares to tap supernatural forces beyond imagining, the Doctor and Leela investigate the legend of the Fendahl. Part Four First aired Saturday, November 19, 1977 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Chris Boucher Directed by George Spenton-Foster UK Viewers 9.1 million Appreciation Index 61 Synopsis The Fendahl is returning to life, ready to consume everything in its path. Can the Doctor find a way to kill death itself? Show All Episodes Characters Fourth Doctor Tom Baker Leela Louise Jameson K9 Mark I Fendahl First Appearance Show All Characters (4) How to watch Image of the Fendahl: Watch on iPlayer Blu-Ray The Collection – Season 15 DVD Image of the Fendahl VHS Image of the Fendahl (VHS) Reviews Add Review Edit Review Sort: Date (Newest First) Date (Oldest First) Likes (High-Low) Likes (Low-High) Rating (High-Low) Rating (Low-High) Word count (High-Low) Word count (Low-High) Username (A-Z) Username (Z-A) Spoilers First Spoilers Last 7 reviews 23 May 2025 · 76 words Review by 6-and-7 A good bit of classic occult/folk horror Who, with a bit of an eldritch flair. Nothing especially groundbreaking here in terms of plotting or villainy, and the plot drops off sharply for a bit while the Doctor and Leela go try to investigate the creature's planet of origin in the TARDIS, but it had some great design work, some fun side characters, a nicely unsettling atmosphere, and some good Doctor-companion relationship. I enjoyed it immensely. 6-and-7 View profile Like Liked 0 24 April 2025 · 27 words Review by Rock_Angel This is a stronger story then a lot of people give credit for I love it not as much this watch round but it was still fun Rock_Angel View profile Like Liked 0 19 March 2025 · 64 words Review by KieranCooper 2 Stylistically I like this story The Fendalh I think is a fascinating foe, I would have loved to have learned more about them, the design is interesting Leela is awesome in this story Side cast does a great job too, keeping up the drama and being useful I just love the atmosphere of this story, this is how envision a classic doctor who perfectly KieranCooper View profile Like Liked 2 7 March 2025 · 43 words Review by VoRus1 2 Chris Boucher is really one of the greatest Who writers huh. Absolutely adore gothic horror vibes in the last two episodes (I wasn't particularly impressed by first two episodes, but they made a REALLY good job at the end of the serial imo) VoRus1 View profile Like Liked 2 26 May 2024 · 157 words Review by uss-genderprise Spoilers 3 This review contains spoilers! An enjoyable episode but nothing groundbreaking. I think the "small English town with a superstitious old witch and a cult that are secretly worshipping what is actually an alien" trope was done better in The Dæmons, and at least that one had a fun villain. I like the design of the Fendahl - I almost want to cosplay her - and Fendahleens, even if it was very similar to the design of the Drashigs. Leela's new dress didn't fit her properly at all, and the bun wasn't a great look either. I'm glad they seemed to reset back to her old look at the end. As is the nature of any long-running show, there were plenty of things I felt other episode of Doctor Who had done both better and worse than this one. Nothing is truly original, but it's amazing to see the same plots and tropes repeat on the same show to such varied results. uss-genderprise View profile Like Liked 3 Show All Reviews (7) Open in new window Statistics AVG. Rating404 members 3.37 / 5 Member Statistics Watched 760 Favourited 46 Reviewed 7 Saved 4 Skipped 3 Related Stories Torchwood Main Range • Episode 25 Night of the Fendahl Rating: 3.22 Story Skipped Audio Drama Reviews(3) More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: Torchwood Main Range 1-49 Set of Stories: Torchwood Main Range Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved Lucie Miller Island of the Fendahl Rating: 3.61 Story Skipped Audio Drama Reviews(2) More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: The Eighth Doctor Adventures Set of Stories: The Further Adventures of Lucie Miller Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved The Blogs of Doom Doctor Fendelman Rating: ??? Story Skipped Short Story More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: The Blogs of Doom Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved Other adaptations of this story: We define an adaptation as a recreation of a similar story but on a different medium or with different characters. Target Collection Doctor Who and the Image of the Fendahl Rating: 3.48 Story Skipped Book More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: Target Collection Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved Quotes Add Quote Link to Quote Favourite DOCTOR: We Time Lords are a very meticulous people. You have to be when you live as long as we do. — Image of the Fendahl Show All Quotes (5) Open in new window Transcript Needs checking Part One [Laboratory] (Earth, now. We are in a geology lab, with maps on the wall, row of test tubes, rock samples, filing cabinets and sets of drawers. An old skull, without its mandible, sits on a stand.) COLBY: Oh, don't just sit there, Eustace, say something.THEA: Why don't you just publish and get it over with. (Everyone say Hi! to Wanda Ventham.) Show Full Transcript Open in new window
