Doctor Who: The Abominable Snowmen
(6 episodes, s05e05-e10, 1967)
The Doctor is excited to be back in Tibet, has a Holy Ghanta to return to the local monastery, and the adventure begins with murder. The Doctor’s warm furry coat gets him confused with the real monster of the week, the Yeti, who is actually pretty convincing for the 1960s. Meanwhile, the local monks are battling the Yeti, who is a robot being controlled by Padmasambhava, the High Lama of the monastery, who is himself being controlled by The Great Intelligence.
The Great Intelligence… wait, I know that one! This nemesis has something for the cold, doesn’t it?
It’s a pretty simple story from there: The Great Intelligence wants to take over the world and our heroes unlock the puzzle to stop it. Cue the big explosion at the end to wrap it all up. Victoria continues to grow on me with her desire to explore and strength of character. Jamie is still doing his thing as the vocal compass of the team.
Overall, it’s a good story and an entertaining time.
Rating: 4/5 – “Would you care for a jelly baby?”
UP NEXT – Doctor Who: The Ice Warriors
The Timestamps Project is an adventure through the televised universe of Doctor Who, story by story, from the beginning of the franchise. For more reviews like this one, please visit the project’s page at Creative Criticality.
Oh, very interesting that you like Victoria. She often isn’t given any credit by fandom. One of my favorite scenes ever happens in the existing episode for this story:
Doctor: Victoria, I think this is one of the times when discretion is the better part of valor. Jamie has an idea. Run.
Anyhow, I find this one drags a bit and it’s not one of my favorites. The Yeti are iconic, but the Great Intelligence kind of falls flat with me. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on the Ice Warriors.
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