Doctor Who Episode 'The Well' Revisits Classic Sci-Fi Horror

Doctor Who season 2, episode 3, 'The Well,' takes the Doctor and Belinda far into the future, where they join a squad investigating the mysterious deaths at a mining colony on Planet 6767. The episode is a tense, psychological thriller reminiscent of classic sci-fi horror, with clear homages to 'Alien' and the show's own tradition of 'base-under-siege' stories. Central to the plot is Aliss, the lone survivor, behind whom a nearly unseen, terrifying entity lurks, driving paranoia and fear within the group. 'The Well' is revealed as a direct sequel to the acclaimed 2008 episode 'Midnight' from David Tennant’s era, set 400,000 years later on the same planet, now changed from a diamond-rich tourist destination to a lifeless, irradiated world. The story explores themes of paranoia, sacrifice, and the unknown, while updating familiar Doctor Who tropes with a fresh execution. Critics praise the episode's structure, atmosphere, and effective blend of nostalgia with gripping horror.