S5E24
Grimly triumphant
Written by Henry Lincoln & Mervyn Haisman
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The Web of Fear Part 2

As Yeti and a mysterious fungus overrun the London Underground, a military unit, along with Victoria and Jamie, must uncover the truth behind the attacks and locate the Doctor to stop the mysterious force controlling the chaos before it's too late.

In the heart of London, a series of inexplicable events unfolds as the Underground becomes infested with both a strange, web-like fungus and the menacing Yeti. Amidst the chaos, a military unit stationed in Goodge Street finds itself at the epicenter, struggling to comprehend and combat the escalating threat. Captain Knight leads his team, but struggles against an unseen enemy. The situation grows more complicated with the sudden arrival of Jamie and Victoria, time-traveling companions of the Doctor, who bring with them knowledge of the Yeti's robotic nature and their mysterious control spheres. Their warnings are initially met with skepticism, particularly as suspicion falls on the Doctor himself when an attempted demolition in the tunnels is sabotaged.

Professor Travers, an expert on the Yeti from a previous encounter in Tibet, becomes a crucial ally, vouching for the Doctor and seeking to understand the current crisis. His daughter, Anne, however, harbors doubts and begins to suspect the Doctor's involvement, perhaps even controlling the Yeti. As the fungus spreads rapidly, cutting off sections of the Underground and isolating the military unit, panic begins to set in. Chorley, a journalist, fans the flames by pushing a narrative of spies and sabotage, further dividing the group. Meanwhile, Victoria becomes separated and lost in the tunnels, heightening the sense of desperation.

Amidst the rising tension, a soldier named Evans stumbles upon Jamie, revealing the presence of a pyramid-shaped device used to control the Yeti. Jamie, determined to aid the Doctor, resolves to find and destroy the pyramid, disrupting the Intelligence at the heart of the invasion, and leaves the military unit. As the military unit attempts to hold its ground, they face increasing losses and dwindling resources. The Circle Line is compromised, further isolating them and increasing the urgency of their situation. The episode closes with the group trapped and surrounded, the Doctor still missing, Victoria lost in the tunnels, and the fungus creeping ever closer, leaving the fate of London hanging in the balance.


Events in This Episode

The narrative beats that drive the story

33
Act 1

The episode opens with Jamie and Victoria confined, facing Captain Knight's intense suspicions regarding an explosion in the tunnels. Knight dispatches Arnold to investigate the blast site and locate the Doctor, whom he believes is responsible. Simultaneously, Weams and Anne Travers note the conspicuous absence of an audible explosion, fueling Knight's belief in deliberate sabotage rather than accidental detonation. News then arrives of a brutal Yeti attack at Holborn, confirming the immediate and escalating danger, prompting Knight to send reinforcements into the perilous Underground. Arnold returns from the tunnel, confirming no explosion occurred, which reinforces the sabotage theory and strengthens the suspicion directed at the Doctor. Professor Travers, upon learning Jamie and Victoria's identity and their detailed knowledge of the Yeti's robotic nature and control spheres, recognizes them from a past encounter in Tibet. He vouches for the Doctor's character, defending him against Knight's accusations, and joins Jamie in the urgent search for the missing Time Lord. Meanwhile, Anne Travers begins to harbor her own doubts, questioning the coincidental timing of the Doctor's appearances with every Yeti encounter. Chorley, a sensationalist journalist, amplifies these suspicions, openly accusing Jamie, Victoria, and the Doctor of espionage. Victoria learns Jamie has ventured into the dangerous tunnels with Arnold to find the Doctor, escalating her concern and fear for his safety.

Act 2

Captain Knight's military unit, including Lane and O'Brien, faces a brutal Yeti attack in the tunnels, suffering casualties as conventional weapons prove ineffective. Knight attempts to barricade the tunnel with explosives, but the Yeti's web-like substance absorbs the blast, leaving them unharmed and trapping the soldiers. Back at Goodge Street, Anne Travers voices her growing suspicion that the Doctor controls the Yeti, a theory Victoria overhears, causing her distress and prompting her to wander off into the tunnels. The Yeti mysteriously withdraw from Knight's position, allowing the soldiers to retreat, though Jamie's desire to pursue them is overruled. Meanwhile, the fungus rapidly spreads across the Underground map, further isolating the unit. Chorley continues to fuel paranoia, suggesting Jamie and Victoria are spies. Victoria, now lost and alone in the tunnels, calls out for Jamie and the Doctor. Knight's group encounters Evans, a lost soldier who describes a Yeti carrying a pyramid-shaped device. Jamie identifies this as the control mechanism for the Intelligence and resolves to destroy it, separating from Knight's unit with Evans to pursue this dangerous new mission.

Act 3

The fungus continues its relentless spread across the Underground map, with Weams reporting Liverpool Street compromised, though the southern section initially remains clear, offering a fleeting hope of escape. Chorley, increasingly panicked, advocates for immediate evacuation, but Professor Travers firmly insists on Captain Knight's authority for such a critical decision, highlighting the chain of command. Meanwhile, Jamie and Evans, lost and disoriented on the Circle Line, realize they have gone "miles out of their way" from their objective. Jamie, consulting a rudimentary map, identifies Monument and Tower Hill as their next targets, maintaining his unwavering resolve to find and destroy the pyramid. Knight and Arnold eventually return to Goodge Street, bringing grim news: Knight confirms the loss of all his men from the tunnel encounter. Travers then reports that the southern section of the Underground, including Charing Cross and the Temple, is now compromised by the rapidly advancing fungus, further tightening the noose around their isolated position. Knight also learns that Victoria is missing, adding another layer of desperation to their predicament. Victoria remains lost and alone in the dark, labyrinthine tunnels, calling out for the Doctor and Jamie, unaware of the lurking danger and the figure observing her. The episode concludes with the fungus engulfing Cannon Street and Tower Hill, leaving the Goodge Street unit completely isolated and trapped. Knight grimly acknowledges the probable demise of anyone caught on the Circle Line, including the Doctor and Victoria, as their situation becomes increasingly hopeless.