The Talons of Weng-Chiang - Episode 6

This is the final episode of the story and also of the season. The cliffhanger works just as well as second time. It was perhaps the right thing to only have it shown briefly for a short amount of time because it is quite gruesome. The mask is quite an effective one but it must have been annoying for Michael Spice because that was the only time we got to see his eyes. The first meeting between Weng-Chiang and the Doctor is a good one. The way that the Doctor sits down thinking that he is talking to Leela when in fact it’s not is a funny moment. As this scene progresses it does feel very much like it could be on the stage.

I like the scene between Jago and Litefoot when they talk about being brave and this is where the friendship. Despite only being together for two episodes, both Trevor Baxter and Christopher Benjamin have been fantastic together and despite being from two very different walks of life, they have become firm friends and its easy to believe that these two would be friends and the Big Finish series of adventures has expanded on this.

I think that Greel got slightly devalued in this episode because Mr Sin suddenly becomes the better villain. Greel becomes almost a hysterical person for some reason. I still think that he has been a good villain but in this last episode something happened and Mr Sin suddenly became the better villain. Deep Roy suddenly leapt to life (forgive the pun) when he was shooting at things and people. It was perhaps inevitable that Sin was going to turn on Greel.

Greel’s death is a bit of an anti-climax as it came after Mr Sin had turned on him. Mr Sin’s demise was a little bit entertaining but only because Tom Baker was throwing the dummy version of him around like a dummy. Once both of them had been dealt with the story had reached its natural conclusion and there is a nice little scene to ends things and then the story is over. As a six parter this story has been just as fun as I remembered. I think that this story has used all six episodes well and it’s the perfect way to end the fourteenth season and one that has seen a lot of change and one of the best stories in Doctor Who.