Ghostlight has the distinct honour of being the last Doctor Who story to be made in the classic era even though Survival was transmitted last. This story is also entirely studio bound which in some cases helps the story but in other’s it restricts it. Written by Marc Platt who would go onto write some impressive stories for Big Finish has written a story that is quite odd and is something that does require more than one viewing.
There is a mystery at the beginning and it is wanting to know what the Doctor is upto. The mystery is resolved in that the house they are in is the one that in about 100 years time, Ace will burn to the ground. This is great and quite different for the Doctor to do. Never before has he turn psychiatrist and forced a companion to face their fear.
The story isnt still to this day 100% clear to me but it seems like Josiah has been forced to into watching over Light and Control. Why this is the case isnt clear nor is why they ended up on Earth in the 19th Century. That said there is an intrigue to this story with some very interesting characters. Michael Cochrane is wonderful as Redvers. His character is made and that makes him instantly likeable. Ian Hogg is another wonderful actor as Josiah. He shines in the role and doesn’t stop being wonderful for the entire serial. He clashed well with Sylvester McCoy. I also found Inspector Mackenzie to be a nice bit of comedy relief to an otherwise emotional intense story. Frank Windsor gives a lovely performance and is great throughout the two episodes that he appears in.
The story has lots of wonderful moments such as the moment when Reverend Matthews mutated into an ape. It was subtle and not expected but it was totally enthralling. I also liked the moment when Light turns Mrs Pritchard and Gwendoline into stone. These two characters were very good and played wonderfully by Sylvia Syms and Katherine Schlesinger respectively.
Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred are superb in this story and their chemistry is clear for everyone to see. In particular Ace who been on quite a journey since she first appeared in Dragonfire and it’s good how the character is so much different to Mel and it shows that Ace suited the Seventh Doctor and also by this point the quality of stories had also improved. McCoy spends a lot of time talking to people and this was refreshing but McCoy is such a good actor that every speech he gives is memorable.
The production value in this serial is of the highest quality because the one thing that the BBC does well is period drama and this was another good outing for them. The sets were impressive and they were used for just the right amount of time. The lighting is also very good because the one thing that spoilt a large number of 1980’s Doctor Who (and maybe earlier) is the insistence of using bright lights. Ghostlight sees the lighting reduced to a very low level. What a refreshing change.
Control is the only disappointing thing about this story. The build up to find out who or what it is was one of the things I was desperate to find out when watching this for the first time however I was disappointed by it. Also Light was not what I was hoping for. He seemed a bit whiny and didn’t really live up to the tension and drama that had been building up from the beginning.
Ghostlight is a highly enjoyable story. The whole of the 1989 series seems to be about Ace and the series is making conscious decision of giving us someone who is compared to (is compared to) Rose. Ghostlight is one that no matter how many times I watch it I find myself still trying to work things out (and failing) but still wanting to watch it again and again. That is the true mark of a good story.
There is a mystery at the beginning and it is wanting to know what the Doctor is upto. The mystery is resolved in that the house they are in is the one that in about 100 years time, Ace will burn to the ground. This is great and quite different for the Doctor to do. Never before has he turn psychiatrist and forced a companion to face their fear.
The story isnt still to this day 100% clear to me but it seems like Josiah has been forced to into watching over Light and Control. Why this is the case isnt clear nor is why they ended up on Earth in the 19th Century. That said there is an intrigue to this story with some very interesting characters. Michael Cochrane is wonderful as Redvers. His character is made and that makes him instantly likeable. Ian Hogg is another wonderful actor as Josiah. He shines in the role and doesn’t stop being wonderful for the entire serial. He clashed well with Sylvester McCoy. I also found Inspector Mackenzie to be a nice bit of comedy relief to an otherwise emotional intense story. Frank Windsor gives a lovely performance and is great throughout the two episodes that he appears in.
The story has lots of wonderful moments such as the moment when Reverend Matthews mutated into an ape. It was subtle and not expected but it was totally enthralling. I also liked the moment when Light turns Mrs Pritchard and Gwendoline into stone. These two characters were very good and played wonderfully by Sylvia Syms and Katherine Schlesinger respectively.
Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred are superb in this story and their chemistry is clear for everyone to see. In particular Ace who been on quite a journey since she first appeared in Dragonfire and it’s good how the character is so much different to Mel and it shows that Ace suited the Seventh Doctor and also by this point the quality of stories had also improved. McCoy spends a lot of time talking to people and this was refreshing but McCoy is such a good actor that every speech he gives is memorable.
The production value in this serial is of the highest quality because the one thing that the BBC does well is period drama and this was another good outing for them. The sets were impressive and they were used for just the right amount of time. The lighting is also very good because the one thing that spoilt a large number of 1980’s Doctor Who (and maybe earlier) is the insistence of using bright lights. Ghostlight sees the lighting reduced to a very low level. What a refreshing change.
Control is the only disappointing thing about this story. The build up to find out who or what it is was one of the things I was desperate to find out when watching this for the first time however I was disappointed by it. Also Light was not what I was hoping for. He seemed a bit whiny and didn’t really live up to the tension and drama that had been building up from the beginning.
Ghostlight is a highly enjoyable story. The whole of the 1989 series seems to be about Ace and the series is making conscious decision of giving us someone who is compared to (is compared to) Rose. Ghostlight is one that no matter how many times I watch it I find myself still trying to work things out (and failing) but still wanting to watch it again and again. That is the true mark of a good story.
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