"The Unicorn and the Wasp"
"Doctor! You are impossible! Who are you?"
- Agatha Christie
In 1926, the Doctor and Donna, via the TARDIS, arrive at the estate of Lady Edison and her husband, Colonel Hugh, who are hosting a dinner party. Besides the Doctor/Donna using the psychic paper to get themselves invited, the guests attending are well known in the social scene, including one, Agatha Christie. After spying a current newspaper, the Doctor recalls that today's date was the day in which Agatha disappears for a few days after discovering her husband's affair. Suddenly, the party goers attention turns to Miss Chandrakala, who runs from the house screaming as she had just discovered the lifeless body of Professor Peach in the library. The party guests are sequestered to a room for future questioning by the Doctor and Agatha while Donna searches for clues (with her plucky magnifying glass). After sharing it's history, the butler opens a locked room for Donna, who is attacked by a giant wasp that breaks in through a window. She manages to hurt it via her plucky magnifying glass and sunlight shining through the broken window. Donna escapes into the hallway and shuts the door behind her. The Doctor and Agatha rush to her aid and find the wasp, sans stinger stuck in the door, is gone. Shortly thereafter, Miss Chandrakala is crushed by a falling stone ornament outside and the trio chase the wasp indoors but it reverts to human form, leaving the remaining party-goers as suspects once again. A thief's kit is found outside by Agatha and Donna, who then bring sit to the Doctor's attention. As the three deduce that it must belong to the Unicorn, a jewel thief rumored to be in the area, the Doctor is startled to realize that he has been poisoned with cyanide. After using a 'big shock' (as well as some other ingredients) administered by Donna, the Doctor is able to rid himself of the poison. That evening, the guests are gathered for dinner and the Doctor adds pepper to their food, thus poisoning the wasp/human. Wind blow the windows open and the lights go out causing a commotion during which the wasp's buzzing is heard. When things return to normal, Lady Edison's necklace is missing and her son, Roger, is dead with a knife sticking out his back. The Doctor inspires Agatha to use her great mind to help solve the murders. She questions the guests and it's revealed that one of the guests, Robina, is the Unicorn thief and that Colonel Hugh can walk. Lady Edison has her secret exposed: while in India, she fell in love and had a child with a man who turned out to be from a wasp-like alien race called,Vespiform (he had also left her the necklace that the Unicorn had tried to steal). After he died, she put their child up for adoption. The Doctor takes a stab at the next stage of the questioning and all eyes land on Reverend Golightly, who had apprehended some thieves in his Church a week ago. For the first time in his life, Golightly experienced true anger which broke the genetic lock between his human and Vespiform. At the same time, Lady Edison, wearing her necklace, was reading an Agatha Christie novel. The necklace, or Firestone, turns out to be the essence of Golightly's wasp form and as such, the works of Agatha Christie were transferred to him, causing a murder scenario to occur like in one of Christine's novels. To the horror of the guests, the creature reveals it's true form and intentions. To make amends for what she thinks her books have done, Agatha takes the necklace and attempts to lure the wasp away from the guests. She jumps into a car and takes off into the night with the Doctor/Donna following as well as the alien. Agathe stops at a nearby lake as does the Doctor/Donna and wasp. Her intention is to drown herself in the lake with the wasp possibly dying with her. Donna grabs the necklace and tosses it into the lake. The wasp flies in after it and drowns; however the process causes Agatha to have amnesia and thus, completing (and repeating) history with the unexplained disappearance of Agatha Christie (for a few days and with the Doctor/Donna's help).
Commentary:
My goodness but I thought this was a wonderful episode. Forgetting the silliness of giant wasp aliens, it seemed like a refreshing change from all the dreariness of the previous episodes. Oh and talking about the silliness, the episode was humorous throughout, which is something they really needed to do, finally, considering that Catherine Tate is part of the cast now. Mucho enjoyable through and through and what follows are some random thoughts as to why it is so.
Although death and murder are obviously not funny, there was humor laced, much like the Doctor's drink, everywhere in the episode, most of which made me laugh out loud literally or at least brought a smile to my face. One of the best scenes had to be the Doctor attempting to spur his enzymes to reject the poison. Seriously, charades? Ha! Harvey Wallbanger? It's a song! Mammy! Camptown Races? Towering Inferno? (side note: speaking of Irwin Allen, I've been watching online episodes of
Land of the Giants. Yuck!) and of course, the near climax of the scene: Big Shock! My goodness, I haven't laughed that hard from a television show in a while. The Clue board game references made me do a virtual double take (i.e. rewind) the first time I heard them. Let's not forget to mention the initial question scenes as well. I love how the Colonel's ends up being a weird and perverted flashback within a flashback. Where the heck did that come from? And Lady Edison's recollection includes her meeting the Doctor/Donna for the first time. If the Doctor hadn't stopped her, would she have recited the lingo that Donna used? Heh! Oh... the Doctor's flashback to a forest in Belgium and Charlemagne...? Where the heck did that come from, part 2! Too frakking funny! So funny because the episode was not afraid to mock itself of the Agatha Christie convention/standard. In regards to Miss Christie: it's classically funny and yet totally in character for Donna to reference and later attempt to take credit for Agatha's book titles, "Copyright, Donna Noble."
Oh my! As you know, I just go gah-gah over the continuity and references to previous episodes. The Doctor again uses the "Smith" alias; Donna referencing Charles Dickens surrounded by ghosts in real life, and of course, the wasp itself. Does this have anything to do with the bees disappearing or not? This season (as well as
Torchwood) has had reference to them, now a wasp. Donna's concerns over this had better be explained! (hmmm, I seemed to have gone off topic within the paragraph itself. I blame the disappearing bees!)
Maybe one of the reasons why the episode seemed a bit more cheery (forgetting the multiple murders taking place) is the cinematography. Yes, the majority of the episode occurs on the grounds of the Edison Estate, but it was so nice and bright and green in the beginning that it felt more full of life than when compared to the harsh cities (and space cities and alien planets and...) we've encountered the past few episodes. From a technical aspect, I believe it's the first time (at least for the revival series) to use devices like spinning newspapers to convey the story (although we have had the modern equivalent of televised newscasts used to the same effect). How cool was that night car chase scene? Though short, I thought it was shot and lit brilliantly - especially when one considers that this is "just" a television show. Although I have complained about other aspects of previous episodes, the so-called plain ol' camera work (not special effects) is usually spot on! Kudos!
Speaking of special effects... I had no issues with the wasp itself. My guess is that the BBC's sfx crew really only had a handful of effects to work on, so they all turned out better than expected. I even enjoyed the (possibly) motion controlled or well choreographed instances of the wasp interacting with the scenery. For example: picture frames being knocked around as it crashes through the hallway. Small, quick scenes that help add to the level of disbelief.
Music: finally, finally, finally, a score that is not obnoxious like in most of the previous episodes this season! The score returns to it's rightful place within the episode: in the background, not too obvious, but just enough to help convey mood and relevant themes. Loved the period sounding pieces; some of which seem to emulate various 'who done it' film scores. Take a gander... err... close your eyes and listen to the score during the lake scene and continuing all the way up to the end of the episode.
The Doctor and Donna: as already stated, they are hilarious in this episode and the actors play off each other very well. The (now) old "we are not a couple" actually gave me a small chuckle when Agatha deduces that they are not. However, even though I complain and complain, I must admit that they finally do seem like an old married couple and it's easy to see why people, other than Agatha Christie, would get them confused. From their exchanges when Donna dresses in her period outfit to the Doctor's aside to her when she again attempts to spout the lingo of the era (" No, no. no. no, no. Don't do that. Don't."), it makes me smile and think to myself that the two of them are comfortable with each other. I'm not sure they would make a good romantic couple (barring other instances of 'big shocks'), but they are good friends and this episode proves it.
Oh my! I absolutely loved the way the episode ended! As I mentioned in the recap for the episode, "the Planet of the Ood," I believe that many of the Doctor/Donna's adventures off-screen end like this. The two of them solve some mystery, save some people or just have a wonderful adventure, then they look towards the next adventure and fly off. Granted, if every filmed episode ended in this manner, it'd get boring rather quickly; however, the looks in their respective eyes at the end of the episode lead me to believe that although it might get old for the audience, the pair are in a total sense of awe and wonderment at the universe around them. For example: this episode ends with them discussing Agatha Christie's works and how they are still read even in the year, five billion.
Doctor: "All we can do is hope for the best. Maybe that's what kept her writing. Same thing keeps me traveling. Onwards?"
Donna: "Onwards"
The two gaze up at the TARDIS' center console as it starts to activate. The next adventure lies ahead or behind but always towards... the second star to the right and straight on till morning. Man, I loved this ending!
Nitpicks:
Other than the silliness of alien, giant wasps, I really don't have any for this episode. Is this a first? Well we can't have that now can we? OK, if I were going to nitpick something... anything... it would be the lake reflection on Donna, the Doctor and Agatha's faces during the lake scene. Why? Because it's only on their faces and looks a lil goofy as it reminds me of stylized film noir like lighting on just an actor's eyes, cept this time, its shiny water reflections. Meh. (side note: If you ever wanna try that basic lighting effect for your home videos, shine a bright movie/stage light either through a glass/clear plastic bowl of water at your subject or scenery. You could also use a mirror and the same bowl of water, with the mirror either under or next to the bowl, angling the reflection via the light source and mirror. See, I try to be entertaining as well as informative... and fail miserably! F minus! BAM!)
Oh, I just thought of a minor one! Yay! It would be nice to see more parts of the TARDIS other than the main console room. I was reminded of this when the Doctor searches under a deck plate for that "C" suitcase. It didn't have to be in this episode, just some future episode as I believe some of the newer members of the audience may not realize exactly how big the TARDIS is. If memory serves, we've only had a brief exposure to another part of the ship during "The Christmas Invasion" episode when the newly regenerated Tenth Doctor visits his wardrobe.
OK, OK, that wasn't really nitpicking as well... hmmm... how's about this: I didn't think the episode title was appropriate? "The Unicorn' was so secondary to the story that I don't think it (she) deserved to be part of the title.
Quotes:
Donna: "What do you think? Flapper or slapper?
Donna: "Oh, I like the cut of your gib, Chin, chin."
Doctor: "I love your stuff! You fool me every time! Well, almost every time. Well, once or twice. Well, once... but it was a good once."
Doctor: "Chief Inspector Smith from Scotland yard. Also known as the 'Doctor.' Miss Noble is the plucky young girl who helps me out."
Donna: "There is a giant wasp!"
Doctor: "What do you mean 'a giant wasp?'"
Donna: "I mean, a wasp that's giant!"
Agatha: "It's only a silly little insect."
Donna: "When I say 'giant,' I don't mean 'big." I mean 'flipping enormous!'"
Agatha: "I think I understood some of those words. Enough to know that you are completely potty!"
Doctor: "How is 'Harvey Wallbanger,' one word!?!?!"
Doctor: "Plenty people write detective stories but yours are the best. Why? Why are you so good, Agatha Christie? Because you understand. You've lived. You've fought. You've had your heart broken. You know about people. Their passions, their hope and despair and anger... all of those. Tiny huge things that can turn the most ordinary person into a killer. Just think, Agatha. If anyone can solve this, it's you."
Agatha: "Death comes as the end and justice is served."
Well, that's it from me until next week! Please share with the Doctor Who community what you thought of this episode. Do you agree that it was a welcome change of pace or did it seem out of place (did that rhyme?) with the rest of the episodes this season? Comment away! Oh and... Copyright, Robert Ivins.
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