3 Week To 50: The Talons of Weng-Chiang
We're now in the top 3 of my 50th Anniversary countdown of aggregated poll results for Doctor Who Books, TV Serials & Audio Dramas:
3. The Talons of Weng-Chiang
Doctor: 4th (Tom Baker)
Companions: Leela
Villains: Magnus Greel, Mr. Sin
Synopsis
In the streets of Victorian London strange thing are happening. Women are going missing, Chinese gangs seem to be involved in murder and ghosts have been spotted. This all seems to centre on the stage magician Li H'sen Chang and the Tong of the Black Scorpion, followers of the god Weng-Chiang.
Why is it so well loved?
1. This is Doctor Who at its darkest in the classic era, both literally and in the amount of adult material peppered throughout the story.
2. The period setting is wonderfully evoked in beautiful sets and excellent location work.
3. In fact the whole story is a combination of different elements of classic Victoriana\Edwardiana (e.g. Sherlock Holmes, Fu Manchu, Dr Caligari, The Phantom of the Opera etc.)
4. Jago and Litefoot are a brilliant pair of secondary characters, playing wonderfully next to the Doctor and Leela.
5. But it is the regulars themselves that excel the most, with Leela and The Doctor giving both humorous and action-packed performances.
Statistical Snippet
This is the best loved episode set in the Victorian era or Edwardian era. Overall this is the most well-loved period of history (outside of contemporary), with 8 stories in this setting. This also has the biggest gap from the previous entry (of 1.9%) marking a clear division between top 3 and the rest of the list.
3. The Talons of Weng-Chiang
Doctor: 4th (Tom Baker)
Companions: Leela
Villains: Magnus Greel, Mr. Sin
Synopsis
In the streets of Victorian London strange thing are happening. Women are going missing, Chinese gangs seem to be involved in murder and ghosts have been spotted. This all seems to centre on the stage magician Li H'sen Chang and the Tong of the Black Scorpion, followers of the god Weng-Chiang.
Why is it so well loved?
1. This is Doctor Who at its darkest in the classic era, both literally and in the amount of adult material peppered throughout the story.
2. The period setting is wonderfully evoked in beautiful sets and excellent location work.
3. In fact the whole story is a combination of different elements of classic Victoriana\Edwardiana (e.g. Sherlock Holmes, Fu Manchu, Dr Caligari, The Phantom of the Opera etc.)
4. Jago and Litefoot are a brilliant pair of secondary characters, playing wonderfully next to the Doctor and Leela.
5. But it is the regulars themselves that excel the most, with Leela and The Doctor giving both humorous and action-packed performances.
Statistical Snippet
This is the best loved episode set in the Victorian era or Edwardian era. Overall this is the most well-loved period of history (outside of contemporary), with 8 stories in this setting. This also has the biggest gap from the previous entry (of 1.9%) marking a clear division between top 3 and the rest of the list.