The Ice Warriors [3.1]

Still complaining of the cold of Tibet, Jamie believes the Doctor has landed the TARDIS further up in the Himalayas. In turns out to be a future Britain in the middle of a global ice age. Under the command of Leader Clent and his all-knowing computer, a small team of scientists are battling to hold back the advancing glacier.

When one of the scientists uncovers the body of a prehistoric spacetraveller frozen in the ice, everything changes. Varga is an Ice Warrior in cryogenic hibernation. As soon as he defrosts, he wakes up, defrosts his companions and prepares to take over the world. It is up to the Doctor, Jamie and Victoria to stop him.

The Majesty

The first time I watched this serial I hated it. Now, several years on, it is a lot more enjoyable on second viewing. The two missing episodes are nicely animated, and despite missing the live action originals, we do not lose the thread of the story. Locating the base in a disused country villa is a nice touch, though it's difficult to credit that all the artworks are sitting there unprotected under the slowly advancing wall of the glacier. Clent is not a bad character, and the random Scottish scavanger is certainly different, although most of the others are fairly forgettable. The Ice Warriors themselves are great villains and their design is very striking: it's easy to see why they were repeatedly brought back.

The Misery

The story is (again) two episodes too long and feels pretty contained, so after a while it certainly drags. The science is often baffling, whether it's the cutting down of trees that causes a global freeze or what exactly their ionising beams are doing or why the ice warriors spaceship could blow up. We get a general idea of the stakes at each point, but things are far from clear. Additionally the continual sneering at Clent for relying on the computer seems a little backward.

Magical Moments

• Clambering awkwardly out of the TARDIS in Episode One, the Doctor suddenly screams in panic and terror. It tuns out Jamie is standing on his hand.
• While Varga defrosts unnoticed in the background, Jamie is admiring the miniskirts of the lady scientists and trying to persuade a scandalised Victoria that she would look good in one.
• The idea of a chemical dispenser – type in the code and get what you want – is neat, as is the fact that the Doctor uses it to get a glass of water.
• In Episode 5 the Doctor finally persuades the Ice Warriors to open the door and talk to him. He goes in, takes one look at their size and power, says “Oh my word”, turns right round and leaves.
• The Doctor's scheme, which involves vibrating the fluids inside humans and warriors alike, seems incredibly cavalier. He says Ice Warriors have more fluid so it will affect them more, but as humans are 80% fluid, that doesn't strike me as likely to be particularly safe. He himself admits there is a strong chance that everyone might die, and then flicks the lever anyway. An interesting approach!

In Summary

It's not a terrible story, but it's not particularly good, and apart from the introduction of the Ice Warriors themselves, not particularly memorable. Victoria does a lot of crying and screaming – which she is very good at – but you can't help but wish that there had been more for her to do.

Overall: 3.1