Ghost Light - Classic Doctor Who review

[@highvoltage7797]

As others have said “We all have a universe of our own terrors to face” is a clear iconic moment. That whole interaction between Ace and 7 is peak.

[@AnotherScifiGuy]

Ghostlight really takes multiple viewings to fully appreciate (and understand) IMO. The McCoy era has many three parters, about half of his stories actually. The Season 26 collection boxset, has an extended workprint/version of this story with deleted scenes added back in, that does help the story breath a little better. Interesting note, while Survival was the final transmitted classic who story, Ghostlight was actually the final one filmed.

[@Yellowsublouise]

two 3-part stories and two 4-part stories is actually the standard season format for the McCoy era.

[@HudsonMedia]

Absolutely. Adore. This. Banger. Watched it drunk on my first go cause I knew how convoluted people found it. I adored it. I think the theme of evolution was just super well done. Yeah can’t praise it enough.

[@michaelvalentine8723]

Ghost Light feels the closest a Doctor Who story gets to Giallo horror.

[@Snatcher42]

There is an extended workprint of this on blu-ray, still 3 episodes but about 10 minutes longer. Doesn't significantly clarify the plot, but does flow better thanks to many scene extensions and transitions. I do love sinking my teeth into this weird one.

[@elliottnoad1270]

Always loved how accidentally meta in hindsight S26 was with both Ghost Light and Survival. Ghost Light being the Last story filmed (despite how it was always gonna be Story 2/4) and the cherry on top the last scene was Light saying "you changed now never change again". Alongside Survival having the McCoy Doctor chose not to smash the Master's head compared to An Unearthly Child where Hartnell Doctor would have smashed Za's head showing how the Doctor had evolved and now he wouldn't change again (until the Wilderness Years and Revival Who but still)

[@demonlurking]

Ghost Light and Curse of Fenric were basically a thematic arc for some of the relationship between the 7th Doctor and Ace. It sort of began with The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, got a little lighthearted in Battlefield, and then finished off with Survival with these two in between. The production mixup with story order did sort of mess with the prior mention of burning the house in Perivale. IIRC it also came up much more vaguely in the conversations between Ace and Shou Yuing.

[@roisinodonnell]

"I need to speedrun an existential crisis in my head" was not a phrase I ever expected to hear. But that is the perfect way of putting it.

[@adampeacock8867]

One of the main scenes from this episode I always remember is Josiah Smith (Survey, seeing as you couldn't remember the name), sitting down with the Priest who is against the theory of evolution, laughing as he un-peels a banana and de-evolves. I don't know why, but it's always the first scene I remember when I think of this episode.

[@theevildalek5425]

Half of McCoy’s era are made up of 3-Part stories: . Delta and the Bannermen . Dragonfire . The Happiness Patrol . Silver Nemesis . Ghost Light . Survival

[@nocturne8333]

I really like Ghost Light. Once you get your head around the plot, it’s a really interesting story.

[@BulbasaurRepresent]

One of the very, very few classic stories where the problem is it didn't have ENOUGH time Most of the time, it feels like the classic stories have way too much padding - this one desperately needed more! Also the 7th doctor's era is full of three parters - his seasons are always two 4 parters and two 3 parters. As for Ace mentioning the house in a previous episode... that actually kind of did happen, but in a future episode because of something weird happening in production. Curse of Fenric has a line where Ace mentions this house, which was MEANT to foreshadow this story - but then Curse of Fenric was put later than Ghost Light for whatever reason.

[@adamski9556]

"I need to speedrun an existential crisis" is a phrase I'm going to use at my workplace from now on.

[@jaehurd3524]

I just started Ghost Light again, been showing my partner the 7th doctor era since he's my favorite. I do think its got one iconic moment being "we all have a universe of our own terrors to face"

[@alunrundle162]

The House in Perivale was brought up prior to this. Sort of. It's mentioned in 'The Curse of Fenric' which was supposed to be the story before this one but the order was switched so she goes from dealing with her trauma here to admitting she's still traumatised by it in the next story. And the Doctor talking an angelic being into suicide is peak 7.

[@voltijuice8576]

Coil’s missing album - _How to Destroy Space Liberace_

[@highvoltage7797]

Three parters where the norm in the 7th Doctor’s era. Half and half. Also, I love this story. Dripping with atmosphere and has some iconic quotes and character moments.

[@FoggyD]

I think for McCoy's first season the producers considered two 4-parters & one 6-parter but eventually decided it was best to squeeze four separate stories out of the small number of episodes the BBC had commissioned.

[@meander112]

Engagement for the engagement god!

[@thevacuumofcomments2946]

This is the classic who story I've shown to newcomers the most. I will not elaborate

[@TheGerkuman]

That's like throwing someone into the swimming pool at the deep end to teach them how to swim. Not something I'd recommend, but unlike swimming it's not risking anyone's life so... _shrug_

[@thevacuumofcomments2946]

@@TheGerkuman Never forgotten some of my friends reactions "...Why is the Policeman soup?"

[@marvelsomething1952]

that's hilariously cruel

[@Jedi_Spartan]

It might feel like the Classic Who equivalent of getting New Who fans to start Big Finish with Zagreus...

[@oldwebshooter]

The Doctor Who Collection Season 26 Blu-Ray boxset had a new extended 'Workprint Cut' that includes several deleted scenes put back in.

[@Jedi_Spartan]

In his recent 'Knock, Knock' video, Harbo Wholmes made a brief reference to this story with just "and... whatever Ghost Light was." and having recently watched Ghost Light myself, that's probably the best description I can think of.

[@TheGerkuman]

@@Jedi_Spartan ghost light is. That's the sentence.

[@kierenevans2521]

1:10 2 three parters a season in McCoy's era. So half his stories are three parters. Lots of cut material, sadly a lot doesn't survive in broadcast quality. The Bluray has a work print extended edition which I haven't got watching just yet.

[@hugoalynstephens9166]

I adore this story as it was my proper introduction to Seven & Ace followed by Curse Of Fenric. I love Ace's outfits in both, especially the Ghostlight dress. 🥰

[@weejas]

I remember reading about the time that Virgon lost the licence to print Doctor Who content that Ghost Light was the basis for Lungbarrow. Now, I adore Lungbarrow, being something of a lore hound. However, as far as I can tell, the similarities between them are that they both take place in old houses with secrets and creepy occupants.

[@chewie837]

Gonna add to the chorus and recommend the extended Workprint version. It doesn't solve everything, but the added scenes and time do help significantly.

[@anvalisok]

You finally made a Taylor, you finally made a Taylor, you finally made a Taylor out of me.

[@DavidBeddard]

I love you, Professor!

[@jedisalsohere]

This is a surprisingly simple story, made complicated by a bizarre edit and not enough episodes. Reading the novelisation, it's clear to see what just didn't have time to make it to screen. At the same time, I like how much of it is left for you to figure out for yourself.

[@Dalekzilla]

This is one of my favourite Doctor Who serials (it's in my top fifteen). One of the cleverest premises combined with a wonderfully dark and dangerous atmosphere. The closest Doctor Who ever came to Sapphire and Steele.

[@mpv7575]

I always thought that Ghost Light was considered one of the better regarded 7th Doctor stories? I haven't seen it myself, but that's the impression I always got from other people who had.

[@aboyandhisdogRE]

It is rated quite highly by many as bonkers as it is. I love it.

[@somthingbrutal]

if i remember right this was part of the cartmell master plan, part of which was he was training Ace as he wanted her to go to the Timelord Academy

[@craigcharlesworth1538]

This has been my favorite story since I first saw it aged 9 and 30-odd years later it still is.

[@viddysgamingviddyos4710]

I think it was said on the Ghost Light DVD that the Constable was there to, aside from unsuccessfully trying to investigate the house and the Pritchards, be explained to by the Doctor and Ace in a hypothetical fourth episode everything that was going on. Though we do get a [admittedly funny] Scotland Yard joke, explanations/exposition are either quick, mumbled, cryptic or drowned out by music, warranting repeat viewings. Brilliantly surreal and atmospheric Season 26 story, but did require a fourth episode.

[@IronSalamander8]

It's interesting but strange and the concepts it brings up really needed more development. The way Light was performed and presented was so 80s that it hurts, and I liked the 80s as I graduated high school in 88!

[@1977Arrakis]

The last few seasons of classic Who were commissioned for 14 episodes. Trial of a Time Lord dealt with that by having 3 four-part stories followed by a two-part finale to wrap up the season. IIRC the budget for seasons 25-26 was tighter than ever but John Nathan Turner had found couple of loopholes to squeeze a few bucks more out of the BBC for each season if he: a) shot one story entirely in studio (Happiness Patrol, Ghost Light) b) shot one story entirely on location (Silver Nemesis, Survival) c) produced 2 three-part stories instead of 3 four-part stories and 1 two-part story. BBC math at the time apparently. Ghost Light was commissioned as a three-parter. The writer was very talented but inexperienced, and like a lot of new writers he just crammed all the ideas he had into a single story!

[@lucywillis4174]

In my head cannon light is one of the osirons mentioned in pyramids on mars. I also wouldn't surprised if Mrs flood wasn't one too...

[@clomiancalcifer]

I feel this series does this a bit. Curse of Fenric was also kinda cut down iirc. It kinda all makes sense but only after youve seen like an wiki page. Cuz like glasses guy and control being the experiment of Light kinda go past so fast you dont catch it. Though the "dinner scene" and "Burnt toast" speech do kinda hit hard tho.

[@spluff5]

This was also the final Classic Who story that was produced

[@TrekTrav]

Sylvester is my fave classic who Doctor

[@Stephen-Fox]

Half of McCoy's stories are three parters. the failed axing between S22 and S23 'increased' the number of episodes from 13 to 14, while going back to 25 minute episodes. In Trial this was handled as 3x4 part stories plus 1x2 part story to wrap up the framing narrative, and billed as a 14 part story; for McCoy, however, they instead split those 14 episodes as two three part stories and two four part stories throughout his era, with no predictability as to which two stories got three parts vs which two got four (S24 had the first two stories being four parters, the last two being three; S25 had the first and final story at 4 parts, the middle two being 3; S26 had the first and third at 4 parts, the second and final at three. Opening stories are four parters is about the only consistency there. Ghost Light and Survival got the three part treatment for S26. Survival works at that run time. Ghost Light is... Dense... due to it.) Basically - By the time this story was commissioned half the stories had been three episodes, half had been four, for two seasons, meaning the production team should have known that half the stories for the season were going to be three-part stories, so I'm not entirely sure how Ghost Light wound up like... This.

[@wheresmyjetpack]

Your suspicion that the cast didn't understand it either is confirmed by behind the scenes footage

[@wheresmyjetpack]

Also Control jumping out the window is the funniest moment

[@stephenkay4008]

Love this story - always have from original transmission. Seven’s decision that he’s going to get under Ace’s skin and make her face her fear/ trauma is performed brilliantly by Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred. The ideas are a bit of a mish-mash as in Josiah’s conflict with Control since they both want to evolve but only one of them can, so a nod to Pygmalion, in Control’s case; the satirical rebuttal of Victorian rejection of Life evolving instead of being God’s work and then Josiah’s plan to assassinate Queen Victoria and the Sachs-Coburg line - it’s a lot going on! All this I can work with - it’s random, nonsensical bits like the candle flaring up for no reason other than to give the audience a jump-scare that annoy me.

[@kellygingrich4302]

I believe I read that this story was suppose to be in a different order in the season, after whichever story actually explored Ace's background. So it IS jarring and wasn't really supposed to be.

[@Aneurin_Hunt]

Three parts are normal for mccoy. They treated the two three parters as a six parter with on entirely in studio and the other entirely on location. This story I believe over ran by a lot and making it a 4 parter wasn't an option.

[@nancyjay790]

I understand losing track of a lot of the bits in the story. But forgetting Ace in a tux? That is unusual.

[@calliesanderford3410]

I wanted to cosplay as Control but venues never meshed with my work schedule.

[@marvelsomething1952]

wow I just saw this one not long ago. I guess I should've realised you'd do it for halloween.

[@KayleighBourquin]

I watched this semi recently, and I enjoyed it. It's fucking weird and a bit manic, but I vibes with it

[@marionbaggins]

3rd Last McCoy Review of his TV Stories!!! Just Delta and the Bannermen and Survival left!!!

[@Jedi_Spartan]

Is there a review for Curse of Fenric (either here or on the main Council channel)?

[@marionbaggins]

@Jedi_Spartan Podcast.

[@Donnagata1409]

Don't remember that one, but you convinced me. I'm going to watch it again ASAP. Rather like 7 and Ace, especially her. Gives me lesbian vibes, nothing explicit, but... PS: Weirdness? In Doctor Who? Perish the thought!

[@Yan_Alkovic]

Yeah this was a very weird one. On first viewing I was very intrigued by the weirdness, the mystery, but the ending kinda didn’t stick the landing. I felt very disappointed and have not rewatched it since

[@ianfryer8386]

The Curse of Fenric from the same season has exactly the same problem. Bursting at the seams with interesting ideas and great performances from old pros, but the pace is just too fast. I'd have happily lost an episode from Battlefield to give Ghost Light the time to tell a coherent story. Ironically, the story's eliptical, hard to grasp nature is the very thing that makes it a cult episode amongst Classic Who fans.

[@ninafischer5731]

Earth is space Australia 😂

[@DavidBeddard]

As someone who lived in Australia for a while, I'm not sure that's fair to Australia. I'd say Earth is more like Space Florida 😉

[@casualcraftman1599]

The Ghost Light villain not believing evolution makes zero sense. An immortal being from another dimension cataloging life should have seen evolution and believe in evolution. The Ghost Light villain not believing evolution is like a chemist not believing the periodic table.

[@alunrundle162]

He wasn't a villain per se. He was just an accountant, unable to comprehend anything beyond his field.

[@craigcharlesworth1538]

He doesn't not believe in it, he dislikes it because it messes up his catalogue.

[@casualcraftman1599]

@@craigcharlesworth1538 Then why was he defeated by The Doctor pointing out he's evolving and basically saying "Oh no I'm a hypocrite, I'm going to frell off for no raisin."?

[@craigcharlesworth1538]

@@casualcraftman1599 that isn't what happens. The Doctor starts taunting him about the fact that even he is changing and he gets so angry he explodes.

[@eliselianaboyd2547]

I am now going to watch this episode, never seen it but seeing I have access to old dr who why not. Happy Halloween 🎃

[@CapriUni]

I fell out of love / gave up on the future of _Doctor Who_ after my PBS stations no longer aired it, followed by what I considered the disappointment of the Fox/BBC reboot pilot. Then, one day, I found the novelization for this story in my local library. I thought the Doctor-as-cunning-manipulator was out of character. But I still accidentally stayed up all night, and finished the novel in as close to one sitting as humanly possible. Of course, perhaps the novel was able to ameliorate the pacing issues. And the consequence was that I remembered how much I loved the character, and the show's ethos, and I went online in order to find other Doctor Who fans... That was just about 25 years ago. Pour one out for Usenet newsgroups and Rec.Arts.Drwho.

[@jedisalsohere]

god rest your soul, rec.arts.drwho