Season 7@50. Over
the past decade or so `Inferno` has gained in reputation amongst fans of the
original series to the point where the story is now often cited as the finest
Third Doctor adventure usurping the traditional poll topper `The Daemons`. I’m
not sure I agree with this consensus to the point where I would pin it in
fourth place in an admittedly very strong season. While there is a huge amount
to enjoy about it and some great performances there is also a nagging sense of
repetition about a lot of the dialogue. And this is before we get to the
parallel world. As the third story in a row to be set around a scientific
establishment there are similar scenes to its two predecessors in which authority
figures clash with experts while the Doctor tries to get his view across. There
is also carefully calibrated scientific or engineering work going on again for
the third story in a row and, whisper it, this can be a little tedious. However
these are often compensated for by the vigour of the production into which a
cast hurl themselves with enthusiasm. By the time the story is running in two
dimensions it has built up as much steam as the drilling process it is
depicting and there is a genuinely thrilling denouement in the parallel world.
