Directed by Douglas Camfield
Main Cast-
The Doctor - Jon Pertwee
Liz - Caroline John
The Brigadier - Nicholas Courtney
Sgt. Benton - John Levene
Main Guest Cast-
Professor Stahlman - Olaf Pooley
Petra Williams - Sheila Dunn
Greg Sutton - Derek Newark
Sir Keith Gold - Christopher Benjamin
Harry Slocum - Walter Randall
Synopsis-
Professor Stahlman is heading a drilling project that intends to drill through the Earth's crust, with the hope that by doing so it will create a new, clean energy source. The Brigadier and a detachment of UNIT soldiers are on hand at the drilling facility to provide security. The Doctor is also on hand, as he's using power from the nuclear reactor that powers the drill to experiment with the Tardis console.
Stahlman will suffer no interference, and Sir Keith Gold is concerned and would like more attention to be paid to safety procedures. Sir Keith brings in an expert oil driller, Greg Sutton, to consult on the project.
Harry Slocum, a repairman, is exposed to a green slime while making repairs. This turns Slocum into a hairy beast and Slocum ends up going on a killing spree before he himself is killed. Some of this slime is gathered and an attempt is made to analyze it. Stahlman arrogantly handles some of the slime, which infects him. However, unlike Slocum, the limited exposure seems to make the transformation process take much longer. In order to hide his condition, Stahlman starts wearing white gloves.
The Doctor, meanwhile, conducts an experiment with the Tardis console that transports him to an alternate Earth, one where the drilling is much more advanced. The Doctor attempts to convince the alternate Brigadier and Liz that the drilling should be stopped. However, even on this alternate Earth, Professor Stahlman will not tolerate any interference. The alternate Greg Sutton is adamant about stopping the drilling, and tries to convince the Professor's assistant, Petra Williams to talk to the Professor since it seems that Petra is the only person the Professor will listen to.
However, all efforts to stop the drilling are unsuccessful and the Earth's crust is breached. This causes an ecological disaster and dooms this particular Earth to destruction. Stahlman finally finishes his metamorphosis into a hairy beast, along with several technicians. The alternate Brigadier and Liz hold off the hairy beasts while Petra and Greg help the Doctor to return back to our Earth by reconnecting the Tardis console with the nuclear power generator. It is hoped that The Doctor will be able to convince the Professor of our own Earth to stop the drilling, and prevent the disaster that has happened on this alternate Earth.
Once returned home, The Doctor's knowledge of future events, and the early reveal of Stahlman's condition allows the drilling to be stopped just prior to the drill penetrating the Earth's crust. Petra and Greg supervise the filling of the hole and the project is abandoned.
Review-
One is reminded a great deal of the Star Trek episode "Mirror, Mirror" when watching Inferno. Much like the Star Trek show, the alternate Earth that's portrayed in Inferno is much more violent and far less benevolent than the regular Earth.
The Brigadier of the alternate Earth is much more violent, and at is proves in the end more worried about self preservation that serving his government. Greg Sutton, the oilman who's brought in to consult, is much more forceful about his reservations about the drilling project in the alternate world. Stahlman, however, is very similar in both worlds and simply won't tolerate any interference.
Indeed, it is the alternate Liz who eventually takes charge of the situation at the end. Unlike the alternate world Brigadier, she understands why The Doctor cannot take the alternate versions with him back to our world, as it would create a paradox.
The plot does contain a few plot holes, particularly in regard to the green slime. Why does the green slime, which is also heated due to coming from deep within in the Earth, cause those who come in contact with it into hairy, mindless beasts? This is never really explained, and as it turns out completely unnecessary. The character of Professor Stahlman was quite arrogant to begin with, even before he became infected by the green slime. However, Stahlman's transformation at the end of the story is the impetus that's needed to get The Doctor, Petra and Greg to convince the other technicians to shut down the drilling in the nick of time.
Inferno, despite this, is quite entertaining and holds up quite nicely. A definite winner, and a great way to close out the first color series/season of Doctor Who. The only sad note is Inferno would turn out to be Caroline John's last regular performance as Liz Shaw. The character never gets a real send-off, only a quick mention at the beginning of Terror of the Autons as the decision to write out Liz came during the series/season break. It's a bit of a shame, since I felt she made a decent companion for The Doctor.
Up next is my series/season seven wrap-up, followed by my review of Terror of the Autons.
