My first run in with Fury from the Deep came when I purchased the audio soundtrack with audio linking narration by Frazer Hines. And to be completely honest with you when I first listened to this story, I wasn't actually overtly sold on it, for some reason I cannot quite put my finger on. But when I heard the awesome news that the story was going to be given the animation treatment, I thought I had to give the story another chance, considering the fact that this story is considered a classic and will probably never be viewable in any other way in my lifetime. So, I purchased it but still with the notion that somehow, I would be disappointed with the story like I was first time round. I couldn't have been more wrong!
I think it was merely a case of being too young and thinking it was just a tad long for my liking. But now with the benefit of adult patience and viewing eyes I can see just exactly what so many fans are raving about with this superb story.
Let's start with the story's strongest aspect of all. As the final story for Victoria, as played by Deborah Watling, this is admirably done. It is good to see her given such a resonant and strong exit. Her discontentment at always being frightened wherever she and the Doctor and Jamie go is palpably acted. I would go as far as to say this is Victoria's strongest out-ing on the show. Her final moments with the Doctor are amazingly touching, and the Harris family being willing to take care of her is both charming and yet believable too. It is brilliant for once to see a companion of the classic era get such a strong exit, as seldom in the classic era do, we get superb exits for characters. And Debbie Watling certainly delivers the goods in this glorious final outing for her orphan Victoria Waterfield. To me she was a perfect fit to Pat Troughton's era. She bounced off both Frazer Hines and Pat Troughton superbly so their short time together was still one of my favourite eras in the show! I actually had a tear in my eye watching the farewell scenes!
What other aspects of the story also commend your attention? Well, there is the sinister combo of superbly freaky characters, Mr Oak and Mr Quill. These two characters exude palpable menace and especially the scene where they gas Maggie Harris is rightfully synonymous with being one of the most treasured and remembered scenes of the classic era. Of the two only Mr Oak speaks, and when he does, he has such a creepy sibilance to his voice that one is at once freaked out to the max by this human who has been taken over by the sea weed creature.
Victor Maddern as Robson is another serious selling point for the story. He gives a powerhouse performance as the controller of the Base who slowly descends into a manic, and venomous psychosis. He is obnoxious and everything you love to detest in a character. But for once it is good to see that his character does come round after his encounter with the stinging weed creature and does regain some of his humanity that for most of the story has been so entertainingly absent. Victor was an incredible actor and it is great to see him at the height of his powers in this story.
Another Doctor Who stalwart also gets to put in a smart and nuanced performance too. John Abineri as Van Lutyens is highly credible and his being at loggerheads with the single-track mind of Robson is part of the driving force of the narrative. His determination to get to the bottom of the problem despite the hot resistance of Robson is excellently portrayed.
One of the very special moments of the animation in particular too is the little nod they throw in to Roger Delgado's Master, as they did with the Faceless Ones animation too. It's lovely to see a tribute to one of the show's most revered characters and actors, and I couldn't help but smile again when I saw his wanted poster on the wall again. It is a thing to treasure!
The fact that we get to see the very rare occasion of the Doctor being quite flummoxed as to how to defeat the seaweed too makes for a rare moment where we see the Doctor struggling to work things out. Until the genius stroke of writing of having Victoria be the core of the sea weed's demise rears its head in a brilliant and very smart way. But we see here that the Doctor is not always the man with the quick and easy answer to bad situations. The Second Doctor in this story is not completely infallible, and Patrick plays this vulnerability sublimely. Makes you even the more thrilled when he does finally, but only by a whisker, pull through the ordeal!
The interaction of Jamie and Victoria too is beautifully acted too. You can really sense Jamie's sadness at Victoria wanting to leave the Doctor and him. He even goes as far as to reply with a stab of venom when the Doctor asks of him where they want to go next and he shouts “I couldn't care less!”. The fondness for Victoria will never leave Jamie or the Doctor. As I already said her goodbye is one of the finest the show ever produced.
So, all in all, Fury from the Deep and it's new brilliant and beguiling animation is definitely a story any stalwart fan of the show has to see. You are missing out on the cream of science fiction if you do not watch this!
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