Doctor Who Review - "Justice of Jalxar"
rating: 3.5
Back in the day, one of the best old series Who episodes aired. It was called The Talons of Weng-Chiang, and it featured the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) and Leela investigating sinister goings on in 1890s England. That story introduced two characters who went on to be very popular, namely theatrical impresario Henry Gordon Jago (Christopher Benjamin) and coroner George Litefoot (Trevor Baxter). Jago and Litefoot were often talked about for their own spinoff series, something that eventually happened when Big Finish began their line of (really excellent) Jago and Litefoot stories. They even teamed up the two with the Sixth Doctor for a set of (really excellent, and very cheap) adventures, but theyd never gotten around to having them run around with the Fourth Doctor. Until now. This story concerns the arrival of the Doctor and Romana (Mary Tamm) in London in the 1890s. Theres a series of orrible murders being inflicted upon various criminals by a vigilante known as the Pugilist. The Doctor suggests they find, and team up with, Jago and Litefoot, and the four then begin an investigation that, before they know it, has them facing off against a steampunk alien robot. This could have easily ended up as a paint-by-numbers audio. Its got the feeling of something that could be slapped together in an afternoon, but it manages to rise well above that. All the characters have very distinct voices and that comes through in the writing, which is fast-paced and very crisp. I will say, however, that the dialogue and acting were the best parts of the story. The story itself was mediocre (man acquires alien technology and goes all vigilante, something I last saw in Laserblast). I had rather high hopes going into a Fourth Doctor/J&< reunion, and Im disappointed that the story wasnt something grander and more deserving. I also think a four-part story, rather than just two parts, might have been a good idea. Something tying into The Talons of Weng-Chiang would have been truly lovely, but we do get that elsewhere from Big Finish. Also, I must say that I am very tired of the sci-fi trope of all crimes equal death! As a people, were moving farther and farther away from executing criminals, and yet in almost every sci-fi franchise, we see a human and/or alien society where, say, stepping on a flower will get you the death penalty. Its so overdone and unlikely and it always, always, takes me out of the story. All that said, if you want a good, solid, stand alone, Fourth Doctor audio with familiar characters, this is a good one to pick up. Enjoy the characters, the acting and the dialogue. Just dont hope for much with the story. NEXT TIME: Roamana and the Doctor face off against the Borg Queen! No, really!