I had my annual eye exam today, which amon other things involved putting dilation drops in my eyes. I then spent the next six hours barely able to look at anything light, like computer screens. So I did my time on the Time Treadmill, but it was in a dark room with the curtains closed. Fortunately, The Talons of Weng-Chiang is primarily set in dimly lit locations so it didn't hurt my eyes to watch it. The show definitely did everything I could to keep my eyes on it, what with having Leela running around the sewers in her Victorian undergarments.

So let's talk about that.

The Talons of Weng-Chiang - Parts 3 & 4

(TARDIS Data Core recap)

The cliffhanger of the second episode had Leela confronted by the creepy living ventriloquist dummy named Mister Sin, and at the start of the third episode she winds up fleeing by jumping through a window in a burst of glass. Ultimately she leaps onto the back of Chen's carriage and secretly follows him and Mister Sin back to Weng-Chiang's lair. As such, she spends most of the third episode separated from the Doctor. She witnesses Chen hypnotizing and kidnapping a young woman, and manages to take her place before she is delivered to Weng-Chiang for feeding along with another victim. She is unable to rescue the second victim, and winds up escaping into the sewers in order to escape the titular talons of Weng-Chiang.

Have I mentioned I had a crush on Leela back in the day? This is why.

Unfortunately, Weng-Chiang has been growing giant rats in the sewer to act as guards, which leads to the third episode cliffhanger where Leela is attacked by a Rodent of Unusual Size.

I promise it looks better onscreen and in context...

Fortunately at the start of the fourth episode the Doctor comes along with a rifle to rescue Leela and kill the offending rodent. Unfortunately for Chen, by the end of the fourth episode he himself has become rat food as Weng-Chiang dispenses with him as a servant. Also by the end of the fourth episode, Weng-Chiang has successfully acquired the Time Cabinet he needs in order to regenerate and has fled into the night, leaving the Doctor and Leela with no clues to follow.

This story is just so good! And I'm not just saying that because Leela spends time running around in a soaking wet white undergarment.

Hello, gentlemen.

It's just a great story with great villains and great supporting characters. it is the summation of the entire Holmes/Hinchcliffe era, and I am eagerly awaiting tomorrow's big finale.

STATS:

Doctor(s): Fourth
Companion(s): Leela
Episode(s): The Talons of Weng-Chiang - Parts 3 & 4
Steps Walked: 7,359 today, 1,547,440 total
Distance Walked: 3.94 miles today, 770.94 miles total
Weight: 257.36 lbs (five day moving average), net change -49.94 lbs