"Escape to Danger" - Season 2, Episode 60

Written by Bill Strutton | Directed by Richard Martin | Produced by Verity Lambert | Original air date 02/27/65

The Animus asks the Doctor if he's a Menoptra, and if not, what he's doing on Vortis. The Doctor replies "We have strayed from our astral plane," which is a line that suggests something far more interesting than what we're seeing on screen. They don't appear to be in some sort of limbo or purgatory - they're just on a weird planet with giant insects. Still, it's a line I like, even if it doesn't fit with what's going on.

Though, we at least get more of an idea of what is going on in this episode. The Menoptra aren't actually invaders - both the Zarbi and Menoptra are native to Vortis, but the Zarbi were taken over by the Animus and forced to attack the Menoptra, driving them off planet (I can't even begin to imagine what a Menoptra space ship looks like, though who knows, maybe they can fly around in deep space). The Doctor is going to pretend to help the Animus locate the Menoptra invasion fleet with his astral map (again, the name suggests something far more interesting besides the "space map" it actually is) while Ian goes to find Barbara. Apparently, Vicki's button pushing when the Zarbi were moving the TARDIS seems to have reconnected the fluid link, providing the ship with power again (that's what the Doctor says, at least. Why didn't he think of that before?) so the astral map will work (which the Doctor tells Ian it's super important that it must never be unplugged from the relative dimension and space link, even though we've never seen the thing before).

I like the line where the Doctor wants to talk to the Animus and says "drop this hairdryer or whatever it is," dismissing this being that has his life in it's hands as ridiculous, which is always fun. The Zarbi are also afraid of the Doctor's specimen that Vicki brings out - it's not explained in this episode why, exactly, but I assume it's because he's got a small dead bug?

Who even knows with this serial. I'll be honest, like the first time I watched it, it's testing my patience. The visuals, while interesting, do not support two and a half hours of this. This episode is better than the first two - plot is happening! - but this is still very weak.

And the second season was going so well, too...

"Doctor Who" puns so far: 2 | Tomorrow: "Crater of Needles"