THE SHAPE OF DOOM Airdate: Feb 6, 1966 Writer: William Welch Director: Nathan Juran Guest Stars: Kevin Hagen (Dr Holden)

In a race to protect the president, the Seaview crew battle a giant whale that has swollowed an atomic bomb. And to make things worse, Dr Holden, a scientist who is "a bit touched", wants the whale kept alive because Holden wants to do scientific study on the whale (Holden has injected the whale with growth elements).

William Welch knew what Irwin wanted and he gave it to him. When the viewer is watching a Welch show the viewer is often, but not always, watching something that is close to the heart of Irwin. However, in my research I find that the many supernatural ghost shows from Welch were probably not something that Irwin dreamed up in any way.

The Shape Of Doom stole story and footage from Jonah And The Whale and surprise, surprise, Jonah is one of Irwin's two favourite episodes of Voyage. This is probably why Welch did a show that was so like Jonah. But this episode is not about stock story and stock footage, the atmosphere, character study, and missing flying sub make this hour feel like a year one Voyage but filmed in colour.

Despite all this, I am perhaps the first in history to give this show a positive review! I never liked this episode in childhood, not until I turned 18 did I really understand how good this hour is. Perhaps others are going on childhood memories? Kevin Hagen played a bad giant or bad alien in a few Irwin hours but in The Shape Of Doom we see a richer performance from Hagen, which is perhaps brought about by him performing with the master (Basehart) and motion picture director Nathan Juran.

When Hagen first comes on board the Seaview he really looks like a guy down on his luck. He then gets to perform both respect and mild anger at Nelson, later he gets to laugh at Nelson, and finally he goes over the edge, but still concerned for others. His final moment in the mini-sub is perhaps one of Voyage's most tragic moments. William Welch gives both Basehart and Hagen some great lines. Nelson desribes Holden to Crane by saying "Most of the scientific community think he is a bit touched ... but he is a genius ... keep an eye on him, Lee".

Later an emotional Holden says to Nelson "Time and Money! I expected more from you Admiral, do you have any values left that you don't measure with a dollar sign?". And Nelson's very cool closing remark in this episode is highly memorable, to me that is. Kevin Hagen would also appear in another Welch scripted Voyage, but it was an episode in who-gives-a-crap year four. Even the title - Attack - lacks imagination! All concerned seem totally dis-interested in the hour and when Nelson says "What kind of a madhouse is this?", the viewer is left to wonder if Basehart is playing Basehart? The Shape Of Doom is not liked by all due to the stock elements.

The use of stock footage was a life time trademark of Irwin Allen. The Story Of Mankind (1957) lifted footage from Land Of The Pharaohs (1955) and Beyond The Poseidon Adventure (1979) lifted footage from The Poseidon Adventure (1972). Sometimes stock footage in Irwin television bothers me and other times I like it. I think the stock footage was one of several Irwin trademarks that just told the viewer that Irwin was not some executive producer who sat in his office all day. Irwin had these shows in the palm of his hand. They were his. Thank you.

Special Thanks To StuOz For Another Great Review.