It was 1989. The BBC was basically done with Doctor Who. The show had been moved to a "death slot" opposite Coronation Street, the budget was practically nonexistent, and the suits upstairs were just waiting to pull the plug. Then, out of the chaos of the Seventh Doctor’s final season, came The Curse of Fenric. It shouldn’t have worked. Honestly, on paper, it looks like a mess: vampires, Viking runes, code-breaking computers, Russian commandos, and an ancient evil from the dawn of time.
But it did work. It worked so well that fans still argue about it decades later.
If you grew up with the modern era of the show—the high-octane drama of Russell T Davies or the "timey-wimey" complexity of Steven Moffat—you’ve gotta understand that The Curse of Fenric is where that DNA really started. This isn't just a "monster of the week" story. It’s a dark, psychological masterpiece that redefined who the Doctor actually is. It’s the moment Sylvester McCoy’s Doctor stopped being a bumbling cosmic clown and became the terrifying "Oncoming Storm."
A Story Written in Blood and Rain
The plot is dense. Like, really dense. We’re in World War II at a secret naval installation in Maiden’s Point. Dr. Judson (played by Dinsdale Landen) has built the ULTIMA machine to translate ancient Viking inscriptions. But the British aren't the only ones there. A group of Soviet commandos led by Captain Sorin is lurking in the shadows, hoping to steal the technology.
Then the "Haemovores" show up.
These aren't your typical sparkly vampires. They’re slimy, mutated creatures from a polluted future, summoned through time by Fenric, an ancient entity the Doctor trapped centuries ago in a game of chess. Fenric is a "Great Old One," a being of pure malice that exists outside the normal laws of the universe.
What makes this story unique is that it’s not a random encounter. The Doctor knew this was coming. He’s been playing a "long game" that spans years of his life, using his companion, Ace, as a pawn without her realizing it. It’s cold. It’s calculated. It’s peak Seven.
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Why the Seventh Doctor is Finally Cool Again
For a long time, Sylvester McCoy got a bad rap. People remembered the spoons. They remembered the slapstick from his first season. But by the time The Curse of Fenric rolled around, script editor Andrew Cartmel had introduced what fans call the "Cartmel Masterplan."
The idea was simple: make the Doctor mysterious again.
In this story, the Doctor is scary. There’s a specific scene where he has to break Ace’s spirit to save her life—essentially telling her she’s nothing more than an accidental passenger—and the look on McCoy’s face is chilling. It’s one of the most raw, uncomfortable moments in the show’s entire history. He isn't the hero who saves everyone with a smile; he’s the strategist who sacrifices pieces to win the war.
Nicholas Parsons, a legendary British game show host, turns in a surprisingly grounded performance as Reverend Wainwright, a man losing his faith because of the horrors of the war. His subplot is devastating. When he tries to ward off the Haemovores with a cross, it fails because his faith is gone. In the world of Fenric, belief is a weapon, and if you're hollow inside, you're already dead.
The Production Magic (And the Rain)
The filming of The Curse of Fenric was notoriously difficult. It was shot on location at Lulworth Cove and the Tank Museum in Dorset. It rained. A lot. But that weather actually gives the story a gritty, cinematic feel that the show usually lacked in the late 80s.
Director Nicholas Mallett pushed the production values to the absolute limit.
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- The makeup for the Ancient One (the "alpha" Haemovore) is genuinely repulsive in the best way possible.
- The underwater sequences were ambitious for a show with a budget that wouldn't cover a modern Starbucks run.
- Mark Ayres’ synth score is moody, industrial, and miles ahead of the cheesy orchestral stings from earlier seasons.
If you watch the original broadcast version, it’s a bit frantic because they had to cut so much for time. However, the Special Edition—which adds about 12 minutes of footage—is the definitive way to watch it. It allows the character beats to breathe. You actually get to see the bond between the Russian soldiers and the British girls, which makes the inevitable slaughter much more tragic.
The Legacy of the Wolves of Fenric
You can see the fingerprints of this story all over the 2005 revival. When Rose Tyler became "Bad Wolf," that was Fenric. When the Tenth Doctor went on his "Time Lord Victorious" rant, that was the Seventh Doctor’s influence.
The Curse of Fenric proved that Doctor Who could be sophisticated. It dealt with:
- Generational Trauma: Ace dealing with her hatred for her mother.
- Moral Ambiguity: The "good guys" (the British) being willing to use chemical weapons.
- Predestination: The terrifying thought that your whole life has been a move in someone else’s game.
It’s also surprisingly feminist for its time. Ace (Sophie Aldred) isn't a damsel. She’s a street-smart kid with a backpack full of Nitro-9 explosives who uses her sexuality to distract guards and her brain to solve puzzles. She’s the blueprint for the modern companion.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Plot
A common misconception is that Fenric is just a "demon." He's not. According to the wider lore (including the Virgin New Adventures novels that followed), Fenric is a universal force of chaos.
Also, people often forget that the "Wolves of Fenric" aren't just the monsters. The "Wolves" are the descendants of the Vikings who carried the cursed gene through history. They are the pawns Fenric has been breeding for centuries. This includes Dr. Judson and even Ace herself. The Doctor didn't choose Ace because she was special; he chose her because she was part of Fenric’s trap, and he wanted to be close to the source.
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That’s dark. That’s "I’m going to have nightmares about my travel buddy" dark.
Actionable Insights for the Modern Viewer
If you’re planning to dive into this classic, don’t just stream the first version you find. Here is how to actually appreciate it:
- Watch the Special Edition: Seriously. The extra footage fixes the pacing issues and clarifies why the Russian plotline actually matters.
- Context is Everything: Remember that this aired when the Berlin Wall was literally coming down. The themes of British/Soviet tension were incredibly relevant.
- Pay Attention to the Chessboard: Every time the Doctor or Fenric mentions a move, it mirrors what’s happening in the real world around them.
- Look for the "Cartmel" Signs: This story is the peak of the era. If you like it, go back and watch Remembrance of the Daleks and Ghost Light. They form a loose "dark Doctor" trilogy.
The Curse of Fenric remains a high-water mark for sci-fi television because it refused to play down to its audience. It’s complex, it’s muddy, and it’s unapologetically bleak. Even in 2026, with all our CGI and massive budgets, the image of those grey, clawed hands rising out of the water at Maiden’s Point still carries more weight than a thousand digital explosions.
To truly understand the history of Doctor Who, you have to understand Fenric. It’s the moment the show grew up, right before it was forced to say goodbye.
Next Steps for Fans
To get the full experience of the Fenric saga beyond the screen, check out the Big Finish audio drama The Gods of North, which acts as a thematic sequel. You should also track down the novelization by Ian Briggs; it includes several "adult" themes and subplots that the BBC censors wouldn't allow on television in 1989, particularly regarding the relationship between the Soviet soldiers and the local villagers.