Look, I was already frustrated by this story ages before I got here. It is the one DVD that I failed to get before it went out of print. When it first came out in 2006 it was a stupid $15 story that looked awful, and I wasn't seriously collecting the videos yet. I didn't bother with it. By the time I started in earnest, it had gone out of print and now can only be gotten for upwards of $200. So I knew I was going to have to watch a streaming version, but it made me frustrated. Then today happened, and things got much worse.

Let's talk about that.

Last night I was up late, because I am in a theatrical production that opens today (in about two hours, actually), and yesterday was the final dress rehearsal. So I slept in a bit this morning, and then just when I was going to get up our most timid cat climbed up on top of me and went to sleep. Honestly it didn't take much persuading, so I decided I would do the treadmill on my lunch break, and I went back to sleep.

Then when I finally got around to getting on the treadmill, the story was truly dreadful. All the very worst tropes were there, with actors walking around in laughably bad giant ant costumes and such. I was rolling my eyes so hard I could almost see behind myself. Apparently the universe agreed, because five minutes into the episode my treadmill just.... stopped. It turns out I have burned out the motor control board. Fortunately it is still under warranty, but it is going to take over a month to get the replacement part.

But, because my dedication to you -- my dear imaginary readers -- is so strong, I headed off to the local YMCA to use their treadmill. I will have to do so for the foreseeable future, unfortunately.

Oh, you wanted to know about the story? Really?!? Ok...

The Web Planet / The Zarbi

The TARDIS gets stuck on a desolate planet called Vortis. The ship can't take off, and the power has failed as well. There are people dressed horribly as giant ant creatures called the Zarbi. There are also people dressed up somewhat less horribly as giant moth creatures called the Menoptera. Vicki, because she is young and has better hearing, can hear the high pitched screeching of the Zarbi. Barbara, because she is wearing a gold bracelet given to her by Nero, falls under the control of the Zarbi. The Doctor and Ian wander around for a while exploring, while Barbara is off wandering under the Zarbi mind control, and Vicki is stuck on the TARDIS while it is carried away. Eventually they are all reunited in a cave where the Zarbi have drug the TARDIS. The Doctor tries to communicate with them, but lacks the kind of grasshopper legs required. The Zarbi lower some kind of magical cone over the Doctor's head, and a voice asks, "Why do you come now?" Roll credits.

Did I miss anything important? I don't think so. Dear god, this is going to be a long couple of days...

STATS:

Doctor(s): First
Companion(s): Vicki, Ian Chesterton, Barbara Wright
Episode(s): The Web Planet, The Zarbi
Derailments: 3
Commitment: Unwavering
Steps Walked: 6,390 today, 205,012 total
Distance Walked: 3.03 miles today, 92.58 miles total
Weight: 296.00 lbs (five day moving average), net change -11.30 lbs