Doctor Who

The second of two “special” episodes uniting the Sixth Doctor with Jago and Litefoot, this sees the trio arrive at Roanoke colony just as it is discovered mysteriously abandoned. It's a famous historic mystery, albeit likely one with a prosaic explanation, but, here, Jago soon begins to fall prey to apparently supernatural forces, leading the others to make the journey to the forbidden island of Croatoan.

The supernatural elements do fit well with what the Jago & Litefoot series has already done, and the tale is quite a dark and sinister one. In that respect, it works well, but the big failure is that the story does not make good use of its stars. Jago and Litefoot are here taken about as far out of their stomping grounds of Victorian London as is possible - a grassy island that's literally on the edge of the known world. Where the previous special episode, Voyage to Venus at least had a Victorian “planetary romance” feel, here I'm not getting any appropriate vibe.

Neither of the characters get to use their skills in any meaningful way, and the characterisation also feels weaker than usual - although this may just be because of the oddness of the setting. Even the Doctor is largely just traipsing about following events, until close to the end of the story, and the other two could have been almost anyone else, and the story might have been better for it. At least most other companions are supposed to be visiting strange times and places.

So a reasonable, if not particularly fresh, story that works well enough on its own merits, but doesn't take advantage of its cast. And, as always in Jago & Litefoot, it ends on a cliffhanger. Which, to be honest, isn't one that fills me with enthusiasm for the next tale.