| GHOST LIGHT by Marc Platt |
| Story 156 Synopsis: Gabriel Chase is a very odd house in London. The year is 1883, and the Doctor has brought Ace here, knowing that she will go on to burn it down. The head of the house, Josiah Smith, is in reality one of a team of aliens, but he has gone native, and plans to shoot Queen Victoria. Another of the aliens, Light, is aghast at the proliferation of mankind, and the march of evolution, and so plans to start a worldstorm that will obliterate the human race. But the Doctor defeats him, and ensures that the aliens' spaceship is sent on its way. Ace realises the reason she burned the house down was its sense of all-pervading evil, which was an echo of Light. |
| Review:- The last Doctor Who story to be made during its original 26 year stint, this tale has also become notorious for being one of the most referential stories ever shown as Doctor Who, not to mention being only the 2nd story written by a 'fan'. The concepts of evolution are curiously a link with Full Circle, which was the other story by a 'fan', but here in a Victorian house, there are aliens on our doorstep. Throw in a plot to kill the Queen, and the Doctor playing a nasty game with his companion, and you have quite an astonishing story. The other saw about this story is that it's incomprehensible. There should be an extra episode to explain what's going on. That the casual viewer has no chance of understanding it, and the fans have struggled. Well, this is a little harsh. Yes, it is a little bit complex, but I could understand it in one viewing, so it can't be that tricky, I can assure you... Josiah Samuel Smith aka Survey, is an intriguing character who disguises his true nature very well, and the degradation of his stance is well paced. Control, conversely, moves from lowly slave almost, to reasoned and composed. This makes for a neat symmetry. Both contrast with Light, who strangely seems to be the one with all the power, but at least makes for a good icky villain, even if the failure of his program echoes that of Samuel Johnson in that Blackadder The Third episode. Redvers Fenn - Cooper is mysterious to the point of being opaque when first we meet him, but he warms up nicely once he pulls himself together. Nimrod the Neanderthal is a jolly little creation, out of time, yet not out of place. Inspector Mackensie is one of the rare examples (in the later years, anyway) of a character who exists not to further the story so much as provide a little light relief. His fate is perhaps the grisliest of all... Reverend Matthews, similarly, seems to exist only to come to a sticky end. Gwendoline and her mother have darkness about them, and at least can be felt to have deserved their end. Ace is sadly quite dull, and her characterisation seems to be pulling in two directions at once. The Doctor plays some dangerous games, and doesn't really seem to be punished for his cheek. He lets Light loose, and seems sure he can keep control of Ace. This habit eventually receives some justice (Loving The Alien), but here, is a little bit too clever-dick. A challenging story, but charming all the same. Just be careful after 6pm... |
| Disclaimer: I've seen the video, and read the book. |