28.07: The Idiots Lantern

[Dave]

It's 1953, the Coronation year of HM Queen Elizabeth II, and the people of Great Britain huddle round their television sets to witness the great event. But behind the celebrations there are rumours of monsters on the streets, and the tormented Mr Magpie is hiding a strange and alien secret.

I think this suffered from being put among a very strong Season so far. It wasn't too bad a story, though the villain didn't seem too evil, and I didn't really understand how the Doctor defeated her by recording her on a Betamax video tape, but I think I was better than 'Tooth and Claw'.

The Tardis has obviously begun playing up again though. He went to london rather than New York and was at least 4 or 5 years off target.

[PTeppic]

Funnily enough I was going to mention either the TARDIS controls or the Doctor's dodgy driving (again). Is it once per season? He'll be getting points on his licence if he's not careful! Saying that, if it was New York in c.57, why was he going to drive a scooter - I thought they were quite European?

As a villain, The Wire was encumbered by only appearing via playback (from BBC3 it was interesting to see it was actually filmed at Alexandra Palace - even if it didn't need to be!!) though I thought Maureen did a reasonable job of malicious greed. As a plumby 50s announcer, of course, she was ideal: anyone who has seen her Joyce Grenfell act will know that.

Nice to see, at the end, Rose has learned from her own mistakes and was awake enough to stop it happening to the young lad.

[Krystal]

This episode was a good one although I have to agree with the villain not been too evil. I enjoy the doctor trying to caught the police every time they take someone and all the thing with the people without faces was good.