Classic Doctor Who Season 4 Episode 17 The Underwater Menace, Episode 3

The Doctor and his companions, Ben, Polly, and Jamie, find themselves caught in an undersea adventure in episode three of the fourth season of Classic Doctor Who, titled The Underwater Menace. The travelers land in the lost city of Atlantis, which has been sinking to the ocean floor for thousands of years. The city has become home to a group of people known as the Fish People, who have developed gills to survive underwater.

The Fish People are ruled by the mad scientist, Professor Zaroff, who has developed a plan to lift the city out of the ocean and onto the surface by tapping into the thermal power of the Earth's core. However, the Doctor realizes that Zaroff's plans will result in the total destruction of the Earth.

Meanwhile, Ben and Polly are enslaved by the Fish People and forced to work in the mines. Jamie is chosen to be a sacrifice to the Atlantean god, Amdo, and is thrown into a pool to drown. The Doctor finds a way to enter the city's power center and stop Zaroff's scheme, but will he be able to save his friends in time?

As the Doctor infiltrates Zaroff's laboratory, he encounters a band of resistance fighters who are opposed to the professor's destructive plans. Together, they discover a way to stop the professor's plot, but not before the city begins to collapse around them.

The underwater setting of The Underwater Menace creates a captivating atmosphere, allowing viewers to feel as though they are diving alongside the Doctor and his companions. The Fish People, with their exotic looks and haunting gills, add to the sense of wonder and danger that permeates the episode.

The themes of greed and mad science, which recur throughout Classic Doctor Who, are also present in this episode, as Zaroff's insatiable desire for power drives him to risk destroying the entire planet. The Doctor's unwavering commitment to justice and his willingness to put himself in danger to protect innocent lives serve as a reassuring counterbalance to Zaroff's fanaticism.

The action-packed episode includes several exciting set pieces, such as the Doctor's escape from the mines and Jamie's underwater battle with a Fish Person. The special effects hold up well over time, with the underwater sequences exhibiting a convincing sense of movement and the collapsing city offering a dramatic climax to the story.

Overall, The Underwater Menace is an excellent example of Classic Doctor Who's ability to transport viewers to different times and places, all while grappling with relevant social and scientific issues. The combination of exotic locations, memorable characters, and high stakes make for a thrilling episode that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats.