Writer: Justin Richards
Director: Lisa Bowerman
Producer: David Richardson
Running Time: approximately 40 minutes
Series: 1, episode 1
Note: Jago and Litefoot episodes are sold in boxed sets by season, but for the sake of convenience, I am reviewing each episode separately.
Summary: Jago and Litefoot are called on to solve a mystery: A group of soldiers are facing trouble from their captain, who has been infected with lycanthropy after returning from India. One of the soldiers contacts Jago, promising him a lucrative sideshow. Jago convinces Litefoot to fund it, despite the soldier saying that he wants the money up front, and will only show the creature in a back alley. They discover a soldier’s corpse that has been completely drained of its blood.
Review: One of Doctor Who’s most celebrated writers is Robert Holmes, who was an expert in Gothic horror. One of his most prevalent tropes was the comedy duo. The most famous example of this trope was Jago and Litefoot, who were introduced in “The Talons of Weng-Chiang”. In fact, BBC had actually considered a spin-off starring the duo, but when K-9 and Company failed, they didn’t want to risk another flop. Big Finish released a Companion Chronicle starring the duo as a back-door pilot, resulting in this series.
The story has a great Gothic feel, reminiscent of Holmes’s best stories. Christopher Benjamin and Trevor Baxter (the originators of the roles) have no trouble getting back into their characters. It’s basically a paranormal version of Sherlock Holmes. Not a bad start at all.
Overall Review: 9/10
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