Day 465: Image of the Fendahl Part 4

There's a ridiculously dark moment in this episode. Maximilian Stael, one of the scientists, has been instrumental in summoning the Fendahl to Earth. Too late, he realises his error as the Fendhal begins to destroy his cohort, turning them into Fendahleen monsters. The Doctor runs to Stael and attempts to help him, at which point Stael asks for a gun. The gun is not for the Fendahl, he explains, but rather himself. The Doctor gives him the gun and as he runs off we hear a gunshot. The next we see of the room has Stael's lifeless body on the ground.

It's a shocking moment, and one that reflects the serious nature of the story. We don't see the character get eaten by a monster or zapped with a death ray. Instead, it's a simple gunshot, something that is far more commonplace in society, and thus making the event feel more real than we'd normally expect for the series. It's darker as well, I can't recall any moment prior to this story that we've had suicide before in the series, because it's such a dark and serious issue. All of that said, it does improve the story. We now have a greater appreciation for the threat that the Doctor and co. are facing, and we also are able to see Stael redeemed in his death, that he realises the error of his ways, even if it is a little too late for him.

There is a complaint to be had though. It makes the ending of the story feel slightly more 'off'. Instead of seeing the Doctor and Leela dealing with the aftershock of the events, or even the surviving supporting cast reflecting on what has happened, everyone seems to just move along with their lives. It's a by-product of the fact that at this point in time, each story is self-contained, meaning that we don't get much of a chance to see the ramifications of the stories as they unfold. But that's only a small complaint in an otherwise excellent and frightening episode of Doctor Who