The Unicorn and the Wasp

"Solving a murder mystery with Agatha Christie. Brilliant!"

Writer: Gareth Roberts

Format: TV

Broadcast: 17 May 2008

Series: 4.07

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Donna

Synopsis 

In 1926, Agatha Christie disappeared for ten whole days. A disappearance shrouded in mystery as many wondered if it was amnesia, a nervous breakdown... or a giant alien wasp?

Verdict

The Unicorn and the Wasp was an outstanding episode to continue our way through the fourth series of the modern era of Doctor Who! This really is a classic and it has been quite some time since my previous viewing, but it was an absolute delight. I have somehow never clocked that Christopher Benjamin is in this episode outside of his tremendous role as Jago which really did take me by surprise. The premise of the episode is simple and just a lot of fun despite the looming and then actual threat of murder. The Doctor and Donna's reaction to meeting Agatha Christie was an absolute delight and the pair were on fire together here. The chemistry they share is sublime and this might just be their best outing together. Donna was very happy to get in on a 1920s party and the concept of the Doctor and Donna just having fun was lovely. Of course, when the Doctor meets Agatha Christie there just has to be a murder mystery! That was exactly how the story panned out and Donna realising the unlikelihood of that happening was really clever and showcased her abilities as companion. It was an impressive catch. I loved the setting as being the day Agatha Christie mysteriously went missing for ten days as that provided immediate excitement and told us that something was about to happen. Donna seemed intrigued, as was I! The characters staying at the lodgings were fun and they complimented the TARDIS pairing brilliantly, but the obvious star was Christie. There are so many sequences in this episode that are just sheerly delightful and the first of those was when the Doctor was infected by the Vespiform and had to mime what he needed to use his Time Lord biology and some fancy tricks with enzymes to rid himself of the poison. The moment where Donna states "oh it's a song!" had Gemma and myself in hysterics. It was sheer comedic brilliance! That continued as the episode went on when the murders happened and the questioning occurred as the Doctor utilised the psychic paper to show he was a police officer. Donna constantly asking for confirmation on whoever the Doctor and Agatha were accusing as the murderers was hilarious stuff. She never gave up and that was magnificent. The truth regarding Lady Eddison and her son was intriguing and whilst the effects of her transformed Vespiform child have not done overly well in the passage of fourteen years, it's a good idea and does work well. The titular Unicorn is less impactful and that is absolutely fine. It fills a fine part of the mystery at hand. The ending where Agatha seems to initiate the events that we were previewed as she would go missing was great and Donna causing the Wasp to actually drown as it went after what it wanted following the information corruption was brilliant and rather emphatic! There was no need for Agatha to sacrifice herself despite it being admirable, and her memory was soon forgotten of these events. The Doctor showing Donna a copy of a book by Christie in the year 5,000,000,000 was a lovely touch and it was fun for the Doctor to still have some Carrionite and Cyber keepsakes locked away. Oh, and The Unquiet Dead reference was tremendous! As a whole, this was just a glorious adventure from start to finish. One of the best! 

Rating: 10/10