One of the best markers of success in having a historical figure on Doctor Who is when the episode they appear in perfectly encapsulates who they were as a person. In that regard, The Unicorn and the Wasp is a wonderful exploration of Agatha Christie, both as a writer and a woman. It's also a well-written murder mystery that's a throwback to the type of stories Agatha herself was famous for (in fact, that's a key plot point in the episode). It features probably one of the funniest scenes in Doctor Who history, with the Doctor and Donna playing a frenetic game of charades that is doomed to hilarious failure almost as soon as it begins. Overall, it's just a textbook example of how to do historical episodes -- The Unicorn and the Wasp feels firmly rooted in its era, rather than just an arbitrary time period chosen just to make a historical. We can't say the same for some of the Victorian stories we've been getting of late.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
