In a successful blend of light Gothic horror and inventive science fiction, viewers are introduced to Leela and given some iconic Fourth Doctor moments.
Story:
The Face of Evil re-uses old concepts; two tribes at war with each other, a mad computer or mind wreaking havoc; a distant forest planet filled with strange dangers. There's a little bit of Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee era storytelling here. The story feels oddly familiar, like something written by Terry Nation, and I can't help but think its only purpose is to introduce new companion Leela. The story initially weaves a mystery that slowly uncovers a disappointingly mundane solution.
The first episode begins interestingly, with a shade of mystery surrounding it. After that, the plot isn't very interesting again until Xoanon is properly introduced in the cliffhanger to Part Three.
The Face of Evil is also a fascinating case study in the effects of the Doctor's travels in time and space. The story lets us understand that everything that is going and the two tribes believing in Xoanon and the Evil One has all to do with the Doctor and his previous visit on the planet.
Acting:
Louise Jameson's time on Doctor Who is riddled with a lack of diversity and development for her character Leela, but in her debut story she immediately strikes the right chord with Tom Baker.
How strange it is to see the creepy David Garfield from The War Games (1969) in a completely different part, as the savage and brutish Neeva. It's not a bad performance, just not nearly as good as his turn in The War Games. It's pretty silly even and oftentimes over-the-top.
Other than Garfield and Jameson, the guest actors don't stand out. Victor Lucas plays another cliched tribe leader and the rest of the bunch are all average or just below.
The Doctor:
After Sarah's departure, the Doctor truly turns into the comedy star of his show. It begins here and grows stronger and stronger until the end of the Tom Baker era.
The Companions:
Leela is a great companion, mostly in terms of characterization. She is different from most female companions before or since, due to her being a human from a crashed spaceship crew and having that savage action vibe over her. And the way she joins the Doctor in the TARDIS is hilarious.
The Monster/Villain:
Xoanon is the best mad computer in the series, other than BOSS from The Green Death (1973). I particularly like the way he is portrayed, and the fact that he has a split personality makes him all the more sinister. It's also a clever, albeit unnecessarily negative way to depict mental health issues. The computer has the creepiest voice of all the computers in the series, particularly when it shifts from a male and female voice to a child. Among the voice actor are Rob Edwards and Pamela Salem, both of whom will reappear in the next story, The Robots of Death (1977).
Production:
The planet surface isn't anything special and the same goes for the spaceship. The CSO work is pretty good and the costumes are fine. The standout sequences are those in Xoanon's chamber, they are great both in terms of directing and visual effects.
The music is loud and bombastic, oftentimes too much so when compared to what is going on.
Pacing:
The middle-part lacks interesting material before the turn of events halfway through. Other than that the action scenes, Baker and Jameson's acting and the simple story keep this story flowing.
Atmosphere:
In many ways, this feels like an adventure the Fourth Doctor should have later in his era or something the Third Doctor could have had with Jo. While not necessarily a bad thing, it just feels oddly misplaced in a Hinchcliffe era season.
The cliffhanger to Part Three is one of the creepiest and chilliest one of Tom baker's entire run. It gets me every time.
The final episode turns awkward at places, particularly when Xoanon calls to the Tesh and the Sevateem to join him.
Impact:
In one of Doctor Who's last Gothic horror stories, we are introduced to Leela of the tribe of Sevateem. It also contains several iconic moments for the Fourth Doctor.
Replay Value:
This is a good adventure to rewatch now and again, mostly for its interesting story concept and the introduction of Leela.
Random Observations:
Tom Baker was known to occasionally break the fourth wall, for better or for worse, and does so here at the start of Part One. He talks to the audience like he would be having a conversation with a companion, likely to indicate that the Doctor feels rather lonely.
"Now drop your weapons or I'll kill him with this deadly jelly baby" "Well, kill him then!" "What?" "Kill him!" "I don't take orders from anyone.- Take me to your leader!".
The stone carving of the Doctor's face at the end of Part One doesn't resemble Tom Baker in the slightest!
Review by Theo KallströmVIP 6BlockedParent2020-06-30T05:28:54Z
In a successful blend of light Gothic horror and inventive science fiction, viewers are introduced to Leela and given some iconic Fourth Doctor moments.
Story:
The Face of Evil re-uses old concepts; two tribes at war with each other, a mad computer or mind wreaking havoc; a distant forest planet filled with strange dangers. There's a little bit of Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee era storytelling here. The story feels oddly familiar, like something written by Terry Nation, and I can't help but think its only purpose is to introduce new companion Leela. The story initially weaves a mystery that slowly uncovers a disappointingly mundane solution.
The first episode begins interestingly, with a shade of mystery surrounding it. After that, the plot isn't very interesting again until Xoanon is properly introduced in the cliffhanger to Part Three.
The Face of Evil is also a fascinating case study in the effects of the Doctor's travels in time and space. The story lets us understand that everything that is going and the two tribes believing in Xoanon and the Evil One has all to do with the Doctor and his previous visit on the planet.
Acting:
Louise Jameson's time on Doctor Who is riddled with a lack of diversity and development for her character Leela, but in her debut story she immediately strikes the right chord with Tom Baker.
How strange it is to see the creepy David Garfield from The War Games (1969) in a completely different part, as the savage and brutish Neeva. It's not a bad performance, just not nearly as good as his turn in The War Games. It's pretty silly even and oftentimes over-the-top.
Other than Garfield and Jameson, the guest actors don't stand out. Victor Lucas plays another cliched tribe leader and the rest of the bunch are all average or just below.
The Doctor:
After Sarah's departure, the Doctor truly turns into the comedy star of his show. It begins here and grows stronger and stronger until the end of the Tom Baker era.
The Companions:
Leela is a great companion, mostly in terms of characterization. She is different from most female companions before or since, due to her being a human from a crashed spaceship crew and having that savage action vibe over her. And the way she joins the Doctor in the TARDIS is hilarious.
The Monster/Villain:
Xoanon is the best mad computer in the series, other than BOSS from The Green Death (1973). I particularly like the way he is portrayed, and the fact that he has a split personality makes him all the more sinister. It's also a clever, albeit unnecessarily negative way to depict mental health issues. The computer has the creepiest voice of all the computers in the series, particularly when it shifts from a male and female voice to a child. Among the voice actor are Rob Edwards and Pamela Salem, both of whom will reappear in the next story, The Robots of Death (1977).
Production:
The planet surface isn't anything special and the same goes for the spaceship. The CSO work is pretty good and the costumes are fine. The standout sequences are those in Xoanon's chamber, they are great both in terms of directing and visual effects.
The music is loud and bombastic, oftentimes too much so when compared to what is going on.
Pacing:
The middle-part lacks interesting material before the turn of events halfway through. Other than that the action scenes, Baker and Jameson's acting and the simple story keep this story flowing.
Atmosphere:
In many ways, this feels like an adventure the Fourth Doctor should have later in his era or something the Third Doctor could have had with Jo. While not necessarily a bad thing, it just feels oddly misplaced in a Hinchcliffe era season.
The cliffhanger to Part Three is one of the creepiest and chilliest one of Tom baker's entire run. It gets me every time.
The final episode turns awkward at places, particularly when Xoanon calls to the Tesh and the Sevateem to join him.
Impact:
In one of Doctor Who's last Gothic horror stories, we are introduced to Leela of the tribe of Sevateem. It also contains several iconic moments for the Fourth Doctor.
Replay Value:
This is a good adventure to rewatch now and again, mostly for its interesting story concept and the introduction of Leela.
Random Observations:
Tom Baker was known to occasionally break the fourth wall, for better or for worse, and does so here at the start of Part One. He talks to the audience like he would be having a conversation with a companion, likely to indicate that the Doctor feels rather lonely.
"Now drop your weapons or I'll kill him with this deadly jelly baby"
"Well, kill him then!"
"What?"
"Kill him!"
"I don't take orders from anyone.- Take me to your leader!".
The stone carving of the Doctor's face at the end of Part One doesn't resemble Tom Baker in the slightest!
Score: 81/120