The Unicorn & the Wasp is a perfect example of what
Doctor Who can achieve when it wants to have a bit of fun, but still seem vital at the same time. Gareth Roberts' script hit the tone on the nose with laughs galore and a mystery to be solved; and The Doctor and Donna in charge. Here the pair play with the material in the most delightful of fashions. Both Catherine Tate and David Tennant know who to play comedy and how to play it to its best.
Given what's coming up for them in just a few episodes time, it's lovely to look back at them having a whale of a time, drinking in the era and displaying, more than ever, the amazing dynamic between the two of them. As Doctor and Companion their friendship and zest for adventure is what makes them so unique (in post-2005 Who). They remind me of Tom and Lis in some ways, two best friends traveling through space and time and getting up to all sorts of mischief. And Unicorn shows it off beautifully.
Elsewhere, the cast aren't too shabby either with returnee Christopher Benjamin, previously Henry Gordon Jago in 1977's
The Talons of Weng-Chiang (which I'm sure may pop up later in this chart), full of robust boozy joy and the gorgeous Felicity Kendall burpring her way delightfully through the story, reminding a nation why we fell in love with her so many years ago.
Special mention must go to Fenella Woolgar whose Agatha Christie is full of grace and beauty - and also full of questions. Her attitude to The Doctor is nonplussed and no-nonsense. "How like a man to have fun while there's disaster all around him," she reprimands him. Agatha would have been a fine, fine companion.
It's shot in the most colourful and musical of fashions, coming off like a bubbly comic strip - a dazzling treat for the eyes. Everyone, from the cast to crew seems to having an outright ball with the bouncy script.
What I love most about
The Unicorn and the Wasp is that it plays like a good old-fashioned fun Billy Hartnell story. Its light and playful nature marks it as somewhat of an oddity but it's that sheer audacity and frisky vivaciousness that makes me return to it so much.
Check out No. 50 HERE
RECENT POSTS
Here it is! Blogtor's personal countdown of his 50 favourite Doctor Who television stories, one a week till the big day in November 2013. Now, just to point out, this choice is purely my own. So don't expect reasoned debate or objectivity. Or even the need to please every fan out there. This is my list, and I stand by it. I will also add that I've seen every Doctor Who story released (at least twice), so I feel like I know what I'm talking about. Anyway, enough chittle of the chattle, let's begin...
