"I try and try but I don't understand!" is an actual line delivered by one of the characters in Ghost Light and it pretty much sums up my feelings on this one. My feelings basically being "what the hell is going on???"
This story is so confusing that the first time I watched it I actually had to read up on the plot summary on Wikipedia in order to get any grasp on what I had witnessed! I don't think it helps that this story was abridged from four episodes into 3 during production and therefore everything is rushed which doesn't leave you much time to work out what is going on.
The Doctor, in yet another cruel action, takes Ace back in time to visit an old house that she once burnt down as a teenager. The seventh Doctor is proving to be quite nasty and manipulative. It's clear that he wants to help Ace fight her demons but he goes about it such and underhand way that it doesn't seem very nice of him. This does lead to one of my favourite quotes though as the Doctor reflects that everyone has things they fear that need to be faced.
The Doctor:- "I can't stand burnt toast. I loathe bus stations - terrible places, full of lost luggage and lost souls. And then there's unrequited love, and tyranny, and cruelty. We all have a world of our own terrors to face."
As if the story wasn't confusing enough, the music seems so loud that a lot of the dialogue is drowned out by it. It's a shame because I think the essence of the story is a pretty good one.
The "villain" known as Light, arrived on Earth millions of years ago and spent thousands of years cataloging all life. Having completed his work he was horrified to see that things were evolving and changing meaning his catalogue was no longer complete or accurate. Therefore he is trying to put a stop to evolution. I mean a lot of people don't like change but Light is taking it a bit far!
There are a lot of interesting scenes revolving around the theory of evolution, an especially funny one being when the priest who is battling against Darwins theory is regressed into being an ape.
As if this wasn't enough there is another confusing plot twist near the end about an assassination attempt on Queen Victoria..not quite sure how this all fits in to be honest.
I don't think I'll ever understand Ghost Light I'm afraid, which is a shame.
Only one more week of classic Doctor Who to go. I actually feel a little afraid now. God knows how I'll feel when the quest ends completely in May 2014. I can't remember what I was before all this!
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