Doctor Who (1963) 14.06.05

The Talons of Weng-Chiang - Part 5

The Doctor and Leela find Professor Litefoot just as he is recovering. The time cabinet is gone. The  Doctor starts to put more of the pieces together. His words don't make any sense to Leela or Litefoot. He speaks of the Peking Homunculus, a creature that looks like a short man but that is made of the cerebral cortex of a pig and computer parts. It's actions in the year 5000 almost caused World War VI. 

The Doctor and Leela go looking for Weng-Chiang. Their quest leads them to an opium den where they find Li H'sen-Chang. One of his legs was gnawed off by a giant rat. He tells them to look for the House of the Dragon and to be beware of the eye of the dragon. He dies before he can tell them where to find the House of the Dragon.

Mr. Jago finds a bag. He assumes that the Doctor would be interested in it so he goes looking for him. His search leads him to Professor Litefoot's abode. Litefoot suggests that they should stake out the theater and see if anyone comes back looking for the bag. Jago reluctantly goes along with Litefoot's plan. Someone does come back looking for the bag. Jago and Litefoot follow them but they are spotted by Weng-Chiang once they get to the House of the Dragon. The masked man sends his men out to capture them.

The Doctor and Leela return to Professor Litefoot's home empty handed. They find the bag and the note left by Jago explaining their plan. The Doctor suggest that they should expect the villains to return looking for the bag, which contains the key to the time cabinet. Leela starts to prepare for the assault when she is attacked by Weng-Chiang.

Thoughts

This story has some superior supporting characters, notably Professor Litefoor and Mr. Jago. They meet for the first time in this episode. They make a really good team. I love how they contrast. Litefoor is eager to help out and do whatever is needed. Jago not so much. He would rather sit on the sidelines but he gets dragged into the middle of it by Litefoot.

Leela has one line that I loved where she kind of pokes fun at her roles in the show.

I didn't remember all the twists and turns that this story takes, despite having watched it numerous times, years ago. I was worried that this episode would be nothing but filler but I like how it unraveled and how it fits in with the story up to this point.