Doctor Who: The Well Review - 8 Ups & 2 Downs
7. UP - "What Did You See?"
Once it became apparent that The Well was a sequel to Midnight, there was a worry that we might actually see the monster. After all, Aliens gave us heaps of xenomorphs, Flesh and Stone gave us talking Angels. How would The Well update the Midnight Monster? Would it show us what it looked like?
Thankfully not. Instead, there were just glimpses of shadow behind Aliss' shoulder. These glimpses were just another way that the Midnight Monster created paranoia and tension for its victims. Clearly RTD and Sharma Angel-Walfall understand that less is more, and the creature in our imaginations – and those of the characters – is far more terrifying than anything conjured up by VFX.
There was another risky moment when the Doctor and Bel spun around to look at the monster while running away, but again, all we get are shadowy shapes that create fear and wonder.
The Doctor's decision to stare directly into the eyes of the monster was an incredible character moment. Of course the Doctor would risk his life and that of his companions to see something he'd never seen before. That's how the First Doctor ended up meeting the Daleks after all!