Doctor Who (1963) 14.06.04

The Talons of Weng-Chiang - Part 4

The Doctor shoots the giant rat with the large rifle that Professor Litefoot loaned him. The rat is killed and Leela is saved. Leela wants to show the Doctor where to find the rat's master but then they hear another rat coming and decide otherwise.

Mr. Jago is heading out when he runs into Mr. Chang. Jago tries talking him into extending his stay at the Palace Theater. Chang is evasive and they don't come to a decision one way or the other.

Leela tells the Doctor what she saw in the layer of the masked man. Leela gets dressed in an outfit that Professor Litefoot bought for her. The Doctor and Professor Litefoot talk about the cabinet while Leela is changing.

Li-H'sen Chang overhears Jago talking to Casey and learns that the Doctor will be at the show that night. Chang goes to his master, the masked man whom the Doctor referred to as Weng-Chiang, and promises to kill the Doctor. Weng-Chiang is fed up with his servant.

The Doctor takes Leela to the Palace Theater. They get a box seat. Chang gets the Doctor involved in the act but the Doctor manages to avoid getting killed. The same can't be said for Casey who is accidentally killed by Chang.

Li-H'sen Chang flees to his master's lair under the Palace Theater only to find it abandoned. The Doctor, Leela, and Jago follow him down there. The Doctor learns a little bit about Chang's past but the stage magician escapes into the sewer where he is attacked by a giant rat.

The Doctor and Leela head back to Professor Litefoot's home unaware that Weng-Chiang and Mr. Sin have just stolen the cabinet.

Thoughts

Chang mentions Tongzhi. He was the emperor of China from 1861 to 1875. It seems as though it must have been somewhere in that time frame that the villain known as Weng-Chiang arrived in China.

Professor Litefoot is shown reading an issue of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine while the Doctor and Leela are at the theater. Blackwood's was published for over 160 years. A number of well known authors contributed to the magazine including Edgar Allan Poe and Joseph Conrad.

This story continues to entertain me. I like how it is slowly unfolding. It still doesn't feel overstuffed or like it is dragging.