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Deep in the darkest heart of Victorian London, the Doctor
and Leela are confronted by a series of bizarre and horrific
events. An innocent cabbie is viciously slain by the agents
of a secret Chinese cult; young women disappear quietly and
suddenly; in the depths below, the rankest sewers are infested
by giant, deadly abominations. The Doctor, helped only by
the local pathologist Professor Litefoot and the cowardly
Henry Jago, finds himself battling for his life against the
hideously deformed Magnus Greel, who pretends to be the ancient
Chinese God, Weng-Chiang. But Greel is not the only menace;
the Doctor must also deal with the illusionist Li H'sen Chang
and the murderous dwarf Mr Sin before Leela falls prey to
the Talons of Weng-Chiang...
Talons
of Weng-Chiang marked the end of an era - a golden age
when Doctor Who was always good and sometimes really
good, as is the case here. For six perfectly paced and well
acted episodes we get to see the show at its very best in
more ways than one. The story has been loving restored to
look its pristine best and a great collection of extras have
been amassed to create a quite superb double disc set. DVDs
really don't come much better than this.
In truth there really isn't much of a story on offer - a time
travelling war criminal lands in Victorian London in search
of his stolen time machine - but the cast of supporting characters,
some great dialogue and a thick London fog, combine to good
effect so that even when very little is happening there's
always something to enjoy. And the production even manages
to be quite scary at times - enough to give those of a delicate
disposition a case of the Uberzootics.
The
elements that are supposed to mar the story - the giant rat
and some dodgy oriental makeup - are far less intrusive than
popular mythology would have you believe and as everything
else works so well (especially the music hall setting where
much of the early action takes place) it's easy to forgive
a couple of minor hiccups. If only the stories that were to
follow were as good as this.
The extras, a complete second disc's worth, include some interesting
behind-the-scenes footage, the Whose Doctor Who documentary,
interviews, a photo gallery and some great Blue Peter
clips. And you get all this effectively free: Talons'
two discs sell for the price of a single issue.
Was
there ever such a phantasmagorical chronology of enticing
entertainment? Did you ever apperceive an account so fiendish
in all its aspects? Prepare to have your perspicacity confounded...
make ready to enter the cabalistic cabal of Weng-Chiang where
the malignant machinations of the mad master of ceremonies
will electrify and enrapture even the most jaded of palettes.
It
really is that good.
Anthony
Clark
 
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