Episode Review: Arc 92, Horror of Fang Rock

[x_losfic]

Horror of Fang Rock

In which the Doctor fails Finding Brighton 101:

Right down to the title, the arc is a classic Victorian horror story, with hints of ghostly possession and something the Doctor tries to refer to a lycanthropy-it isn’t really, but who cares? It operates as a bit of a bottle episode, with locations confined to one lighthouse during a

Comments

[marah_sarie]

I watched this one for the first time about two weeks ago and I knew completely nothing about the plot going into it, so I was like "OMG RUTANS!" I was also convinced that they wouldn't kill Hawkins, at least, but, nope, wrong. It's Doctor Who, they kill off everybodyLeela is awesome and I love her. I thought her mispronouncing of certain words, like teshnician for technician, was adorable, and didn't even think that it was, you know, a little weird until I read your review of "Face of Evil", where you point out that she's presumably speaking her own language. Most of her other mistakes are spoonerisms, though -- maybe she's just prone to them? :) Speaking of her substituting one belief system for another: there's one serial that I watched (maybe "Robots of Death"?), that starts out with her in the TARDIS playing with a yo-yo, and she's like, "Doctor, can I stop now?" -- thinking the yo-yo was a vital part of keeping the TARDIS's "magic" going -- which of course the Doctor lectures her for. You're right that he wouldn't like to know

[x_los]

Oh me either, I was all 'OMG WTF FINALLY THE FRIGGING RUTANS SHOW UP!'

Yeah, the body count totally threw me--apparently it's one of only two Who eps where everyone dies but Doctor and Companions? The other happening to poor Five? AKA 'Doctor Not Equipped To Handle This Trauma'?

Most of her other mistakes are spoonerisms, though -- maybe she's just prone to them?

That would be a weird, pretty cute character trait for Leela to simply possess with no explanation. I'd really like that. I think I'm off to Talons of Incredible Racism next for moar Leela lovin, that or The One Where He's President.

Gah. yo-yo!Leela is sweet but kind of sad: why the hell doesn't he sit her down and start to give her a basic tutorial about a scientific worldview rather than just being annoyed with her when she Doesn't Get It? She has no real reason to get it. He really can't expect her to process things by any other mental skillset then the one she has, and if he's going to trot her around through allllll these technologically advanced cultures he kind

[evilawyer_fic]

I just loved Leela calling Rueben "old one" as she hammered on the door with her ax. That scene solidified her position as one of my all time favorite companions.

[x_losfic]

That moment was just so /good/. Gawd. How does Leela BE such a fox?