As we enter the final days of the classic series we are presented with yet another overly complex story. It's convoluted plot almost doesn't matter though as it is ultimately a brilliant piece of television, despite being difficult to keep up with.

The 7th Doctor and Ace stay in the past in The Curse of Fenric, which is where they thrive. This time The Second World War, another perfectly Doctor Who-ish period in history. I love the central mystery - what tripped up both the Vikings and the Russians on the shores of this small village?

Whereas most stories they are given can barely live up to McCoy and Aldred’s simmering potential, here our leads are giving plenty to work with. Thrilling interactions with the priest, translating ruins, with the decoding expert, showing off their logic skills, with the decoding “girls”, local teenagers and “the old bag”. Once you throw the army officer and Russians in you’d think it would be overstuffed but it’s amazing how well paced everything is. Each character is given a substantial, natural feeling introduction that delivers them as fully formed people in the story. There is a real sense of place to this village. A much better use of budgets than alien worlds.

The sense of journey is the key that makes this story sing. You get a sense of how this moment in time fits into Ace's life as a whole, helped by call-backs to that haunted house from the last story - she feels like a real person, which is a step forward for the show. At the same time you get a sense of the importance Ace has in The Doctor's life whilst it is revealed how he has challenged and beaten Fenric before - many, many years in his past. This story makes the narrative of the wider show richer and more interesting follow and for that - it is one of McCoy's best.

Yep, I enjoyed this one's Tales Of The TARDIS episode so much that I just had to go and watch the original episodic version so soon.

The Curse of Fenric is an utterly mind-blowing Doctor Who serial. It's the perfect showcase of the Seventh Doctor and Ace and how toxic their relationship could be, with the Doctor cruelly breaking Ace's faith in him to beat Fenric.

Fenric is easily one of the best one-off Doctor WHo antagonists, with an intriguing shared history with the Doctor. The Haemovores are excellent too, and are easily among the most impressive monster designs from the classic series. You could have the Haemovores return in the new series, and you'd barely have to alter their look to make them work for a modern audience.

📝9/10

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"The Curse of Fenric: A Haunting Triumph"

The Curse of Fenric is a triumph of atmosphere, storytelling, and character development, blending history, mythology, and science fiction into one of the most memorable serials of the classic era. It’s dark, mature, and layered, showcasing the Seventh Doctor and Ace at their best.

The story is an intricate mix of WWII intrigue, Norse mythology, and vampiric horror. The pacing is deliberately slow in the first two parts, with tension and mystery simmering beneath the surface. The build-up works brilliantly, culminating in the terrifying reveal of the Haemovores at the end of Part Two. From that point on, the narrative explodes into action, particularly in the breathless Part Three, where the menace fully materializes.

What makes the plot shine is its timey-wimey complexity—a hallmark of modern Doctor Who—and its emotional ties to Ace's personal history. The balance between historical drama, political scheming, and supernatural horror is handled with precision, keeping the viewer hooked throughout.

The Haemovores are among the creepiest and most effective monsters in Doctor Who. Their design—ghoulish, grotesque, and dripping with decay—elevates them above traditional vampires, making them genuinely unsettling. The scenes where they rise from the sea or advance on characters feel like a horror film come to life.

Fenric himself is a chilling villain, more a force of nature than a character, but his presence looms large over the story. By inhabiting Dr. Judson’s body, Fenric becomes both terrifying and tragic, making his evil feel personal. The Doctor’s history with Fenric adds an intriguing layer, giving the villain weight and scope.

This story showcases the Seventh Doctor at his most manipulative, dark, and calculating. Sylvester McCoy delivers a nuanced performance, combining the Doctor’s brilliance with an almost ruthless determination. His ongoing chess game with Fenric—both literal and figurative—highlights the Doctor’s strategic mind and willingness to take risks, even at the cost of his companions’ trust.

Ace shines here as one of the most well-developed companions in the show’s history. Her connection to the story, particularly her emotional ties to her past and her growing frustration with the Doctor’s manipulation, gives the narrative a personal and emotional core. Sophie Aldred delivers one of her finest performances, balancing Ace’s courage, vulnerability, and anger. Her journey—from anger at her mother to finding faith in herself—is particularly moving.

The production team deserves high praise for creating a serial that feels cinematic and immersive. The WWII setting is captured perfectly, from the military base to the period costumes and weaponry. The creepy, fog-covered coastline and the Haemovores’ underwater emergence evoke classic horror imagery.

The music underscores the tension, heightening the drama and horror of key moments.

The Haemovores’ make-up and special effects are some of the best in the classic series, making them convincingly monstrous.

The atmosphere is relentless in its tension and dread, especially as the story builds toward its chaotic and high-stakes climax.

The Curse of Fenric is a mature and thoughtful story, touching on themes like faith and belief, which become weapons against the Haemovores; the horrors of war, with soldiers battling both human and supernatural enemies; and Ace’s coming-of-age, as she confronts her past trauma and grows emotionally.

These deeper layers elevate the story beyond a simple monster tale, making it resonate long after the credits roll.

Final Thoughts:

The Curse of Fenric is a standout story in the Seventh Doctor’s era and the classic series as a whole. Its blend of intense atmosphere, character-driven storytelling, and thematic depth makes it feel ahead of its time—reminiscent of the modern era of Doctor Who.

With terrifying monsters, a chilling villain, and a focus on faith, war, and personal trauma, it’s a dark and mature tale that highlights the strengths of McCoy’s Doctor and Aldred’s Ace. It’s easy to see how this story influenced the show’s future, particularly under Russell T Davies and beyond.

Random Observations:

• The idea that faith, not symbols, repels the Haemovores adds a fascinating twist to the vampire mythos. It’s a thoughtful and thematic addition.
• The Part Two cliffhanger, with the Haemovores advancing, recalls the tension of earlier cliffhangers like Full Circle (1980).
• Sylvester McCoy’s bird-whistling is a fun quirk that inevitably brings to mind his later portrayal of Radagast in The Hobbit.
• The timey-wimey nature of the story, combined with its emotional weight, feels like a precursor to the revived series’ storytelling style.

I really enjoyed The Curse of Fenric. While the first part was my favourite and I feel it declined from there, it didn't decline far and remained exciting and action-packed. The mystery elements nearer the start were really nice and the characters felt very strong. I particuarly liked the development of the Doctor and Ace. The effects and prosthetics look pretty good as well.

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

Previous Story: Ghost Light

Overhyped, but good nonetheless. Really interesting setting for a story (compared to the usual quarries atleast) and and excellent supporting cast. I love the worldbuilding here and the way Fenric is built up as a villain, even if I think his actual reveal is a bit anticlimactic. The whole "workers rising up" idea with the British and Russian soldiers was a bit over-the-top in my opinion, though it's good evidence against anyone who tries to say that Doctor Who was never political - I mean Ace runs around with a Soviet badge for half the story!

McCoy is at his most scheming here, playing a much more sinister version of the character. I'm gonna be honest, I'm not sure I like the direction the Doctor is going in but I thought it was brilliantly done here nonetheless. I only hope the actual emotional consequences between the Doctor and Ace are explored (though I understand the show itself doesn't have much time to do that anymore).

Good story but it's not without flaws and I definitely think it has a tad too high a reputation.

Next Story: Survival