Doctor Who spin-off review: Friends are reunited in Jago & Litefoot: The Hourglass Killers
By James Aggas
In the last episode of Doctor Who spin-off box set Jago & Litefoot: Series 4, our two heroes are reunited with an old friend. And they’re going to need all the help they can get when facing some very dangerous foes!
The final episode of Jago & Litefoot: Series 4 reveals two important things. First, it reveals exactly who the antagonists – named simply as Kempston and Hardwick – really are. But, far more importantly, it reveals who the mysterious Professor Claudius Dark is. A mystery that had been building for quite some time – since Series 3, in fact…
In some ways, the revelation of who Dark really is is a very easy one for listeners to guess. Especially in retrospect – if the fact that he’s played by Colin Baker wasn’t a big enough clue already, then the fact that both Jago & Litefoot appear in a couple of Sixth Doctor stories released after this box set makes the answer pretty easy to work out!
However, that doesn’t take away from any of the buildup. Quite the contrary, in fact. It’s one of those rare cases where we know who this mysterious person really is, but the real fun is getting to hear Jago & Litefoot finding that out for themselves. Just as importantly, the listener is still presented with a mystery: specifically, why has our heroes’ old friend used a disguise? And who or what is he really hiding from?
Colin Baker stars in this episode as the Doc- I mean, Professor Claudius Dark!
Image Courtesy: BBC Studios, BritBox.
More from Winter is Coming
- For All Mankind finally gives us information in Episode 405, “Goldilocks”
- Watch a stunning VFX breakdown of The Wheel of Time season 2
- Of course Steve Toussaint (Corlys Velaryon) thinks Eve Best (Rhaenys Targaryen) should rule Westeros
- Confirmed: The Last of Us season 2 will air in 2025
- Final season of Star Trek: Discovery will have “a lot of action, a lot of adventure, a lot of fun”
A natural team
Hearing Colin Baker perform with Christopher Benjamin and Trevor Baxter is an absolute joy to hear. This isn’t the first time that they’ve worked together, and it shows in the very natural chemistry. Naturally, Colin Baker gets to really stand out in this one – another clear reason why his character wasn’t revealed in full sooner, so as not to overshadow our two leads too much.
As for the villains, Kempston and Hardwick don’t really stand out too well. While their politeness and Victorian manner is rather charming, they’re quite easily overshadowed by the likes of Dr. Tulp, Gabriel Sanders and even Elliot Payne from previous series. These villains stood out for having interesting or complex motivations, or were ruthless enough to be simply terrifying. Honestly, Kempston and Hardwick don’t stand out quite as well.
However, that doesn’t stop The Hourglass Killers from being a greatly enjoyable finale. The story uses its leading characters well, and makes sure to give Christopher Benjamin, Trevor Baxter and Colin Baker their own chance to shine in their own individual ways. In short, it’s a nice little episode – one that leaves you very excited for where Jago & Litefoot go next…
Next. Tom Baker stars in Time Lord Victorious: Genetics of the Daleks!. dark
Do you enjoy a good crossover or reunion episode? What is your favorite example from the Doctor Who universe? Let us know in the comments below.