1 episode. Running Time: Approx. 17 minutes. Written by: Vin Marsden Hendrick. Directed by: Nicholas Briggs, Ken Bentley. Produced by: David Richardson.
THE PLOT:
When the Doctor and Jo stop by the farm of Brian Forest and his wife, Claire, their only purpose is to buy some rhubarb. The Doctor is immediately mistaken for a medical doctor and taken to the desperately ill Martin Chisom, Claire's brother.
Martin was found unconscious in the forcing shed that morning, and the Doctor determines that he's suffering from an overdose of oxalic acid - essentially, rhubarb poisoning. He and Brian discover that the shed is pitch black, a darkness that resists Brian's flashlight. And all around them, they can hear the popping of growing rhubarb, a sound that is closing in...
CHARACTERS:
The Doctor: He's taken aback when the farmer and his wife mistake him for a medical doctor. It's enough of a pause for the two to pick up on, but he presses them with questions before they have a chance to think about it. As usual, Katy Manning does a great job of capturing Jon Pertwee's vocal mannerisms, making it easy to envision the Third Doctor's absolute authority. In an amusing note, he attempts to fasten a piece of rhubarb to his lapel, only to dismiss the purple vegetable as "too garish." He apparently considered celery to be more suitable a couple of incarnations later.
Jo Grant: When Martin's sister tells them that he was found in the forcing shed, Jo's enthusiasm gets the better of her. She takes off straightaway to investigate, leaving the Doctor worried that she's gotten herself into trouble (again). When he catches up with her, she at least has the good grace to be sheepish about her disappearance.
THOUGHTS:
Lost in the Wakefield Triangle opens wonderfully. Its first scene, following Martin in the moments before he's attacked, is atmospheric and attention-getting. Martin is instantly relatable, and the steadily increasing tempo of the rhubarb pops create a decent amount of tension. Honestly, this would be a good start for a full-length story.
Vin Marsden Hendrick's writing is good throughout. There's a strong sense of place to the farm, and the interactions among the Doctor, Brian, and Claire are entertaining while quickly sketching in the basic personalities of both guest characters. The scene with the Doctor and Brian in the proving shed is builds an effective sense of danger as the rhubarb pops close in on them, mirroring the opening attack on Martin.
There's a minor gaffe in which it's mentioned that Martin was found because of the sound of his phone - unlikely, as consumer cell phones didn't really exist in the '70s. The other problem, much more significant for the story, is the usual one for Big Finish's early Short Trips: Time. After an outstanding start and a decent build-up, the end ends up being too rushed to truly satisfy. We don't even get confirmation of Martin's fate. We can assume that he'll be fine, but there's not so much as a single line to confirm as much.
OVERALL:
Excellent beginning, good middle, rushed conclusion. Lost in the Wakefield Triangle benefits from efficient-but-descriptive prose by writer Vin Marsden Hendrick, and Katy Manning does her usual, splendid job performing. The result is immediately engaging and quite entertaining. I just wish it had been a little bit longer, so that the ending could match the quality of the rest of it.
Overall Rating: 6/10.
Set after Terror of the Autons and before The Green Death.
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