Stories TV Doctor Who (1963-1996) Classic Who S15 Serial: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Image of the Fendahl 1 image Overview Episodes Characters How to Watch Reviews 3 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 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 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: Newest First Oldest First Most Likes Highest Rating Lowest Rating Username (A-Z) Username (Z-A) Spoilers First Spoilers Last 3 reviews 26 May 2024 · 158 words Review by uss-genderprise Spoilers 1 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. Like Liked 1 12 May 2024 · 120 words Review by thedefinitearticle63 Spoilers 2 This review contains spoilers! This is part of a series of reviews of Doctor Who in chronological timeline order. Previous Story: The Invisible Enemy More strange happenings in a small English town. It's a trope that feels a bit overdone, however this story still manages to feel fresh. The Fendahl is certainly a creepy villain, but not much explanation is given to their motivations and the Doctor's fear doesn't match the villains supposed abilities. Still, the location filming looks really great and the supporting cast are quite entertaining. Unfortunately, K9 is absent in the actual story as John Lesson hadn't actually been recruited for the series at that point. Next Story: The Sun Makers Like Liked 2 8 May 2024 · 252 words Review by 15thDoctor Spoilers 1 This review contains spoilers! This story starts poorly. The on location direction is far superior than the stuff done in the studio. I understand the benefits of being on film, but the director (George Spenton-Foster) feels totally out of their comfort zone, arriving at awkward performances. I’m all for more “stage theatre” inspired acting, but at points in this production I have absolutely no idea why certain actors are facing in certain directions, often completely away from the people they are supposed to be talking to. Although we've been told about what the Fendahl is all about and what it wants, we're not given much of a reason to care. The drama feels detached from any of the character's experiences. They manage to build to a terrifically tense (if a little unearned) cliffhanger which is then totally let down by the resolution for the doctor being completely flat at the beginning of episode two when he ambles away from the apparent threat. Leela and The Doctor are easily the best thing about this story, I particularly like the "tea and fruit cake" scene. I know it’s a minor point, but Leela’s classic look is really off in this one too, the bun does nothing for her, which probably accounts for why her look is completely reset at the end of the story. Having said all this, there is enough plot and intrigue to keep the show moving along at a fair pace. It's a small cut above The Invisible Enemy if nothing else. Like Liked 1 Open in new window Statistics AVG. Rating259 members 3.37 / 5 Trakt.tv AVG. Rating274 votes 3.65 / 5 The Time Scales AVG. Rating145 votes 3.60 / 5 Member Statistics Watched 503 Favourited 32 Reviewed 3 Saved 2 Skipped 0 Owned 7 Related Stories Torchwood Main Range • Episode 25 Night of the Fendahl Rating: 3.08 Story Skipped Audio Drama Reviews (1) More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets 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: 3.51 Story Skipped Audio Drama More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets 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. — Fourth Doctor, 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
