For the first time since 1967, Doctor Who goes pure historical. This format shows that a pure historical could work in the modern era - it's a few minutes shy of the standard length of a New Who standalone episode.

The Doctor's drawn the short straw here - he spends most of the episode lost in his host's house, and it's kind of funny. I think this is the only time, apart from Cold War, where he decides to drop the lies and reveal who he actually is without any need to. It's a very odd choice, but a lot about this episode is very odd. It's nice to see the Doctor and co having a lot of fun, showing the perks of time travel rather than always confronting evil monsters and scares, and the cricket scene is an example. The Doctor's enjoying it a lot, and of course this incarnation is good at it! I couldn't stop laughing when he was bowling and the crowd kept yelling "AZZAAARGH!" Tegan's stopped caring about going to Heathrow, letting her hair down and enjoying life onboard the TARDIS a lot more. It's great to see her having a lot more fun, and the chemistry with the other companions has improved a lot more. A favourite moment of mine from her is just having a good time dancing with Sir Robert and doing the Charleston. Adric spends most of the episode stuffing his face and not doing much, and Nyssa also gets to let loose, meeting her double and messing about with her. Being a very upper-class, royal woman, she doesn't get many chances to be a kid and play about, but this is one of those rare chances where she does - everyone's having a whale of a time, until the murders start...

It's very strange that Tegan knows about George Cranleigh, the botanist and explorer - doesn't really seem her thing. He went mad because some natives removed his tongue. I don't know how I feel about tihs, it's very bizarre, that's all I can say. Everything about this serial is an oddity, I can't stress that enough.It's never really explained what he's doing. He disguises himself as the Doctor for some reason, murders a few people and kidnaps "Ann", but I don't know what he wants to do with her? They're on the roof, because he loves her? I mean he's a solid threat, and he's not of sound mind, of course, but I wish there was a bit more to it than a lunatic. The setup is fairly well-written, with references here and there, but there could've been more played into the relationship with his family, and his death is very stupid. "Aah, my brother's coming towards me, better back away and fall off the roof!"

After a lot of vivid, strange environments, it's nice to strip back to a rural countryside, with lots of upper-class people just being British. Like I say, I really like the cricket and the party scenes, everything looks very realistic and beautiful.

The mother is a very horrible person - tying her own son up instead of trying to get him medical attention, disrespecting Charles, trying to frame the Doctor - and all that sourness never pays off and she never gets what comes to her. Charles is a fun side character to be around, definitely enjoying the company of the Doctor and being very hospitable. It's fun to see Sarah Sutton playing someone completely different to Nyssa, fainting and screaming all the time, and it's odd to see someone like Sir Robert getting along with someone like Tegan.

The music's never anything special, and I don't think it particularly fit the story, unfortunately.

For a filler story, this is very good - the cast has such good chemistry, the characterisation is fantastic, and the dialogue is fun. It's so nice to see the team just having a ball for once (pun unintended). It's a very very strange episode, and I adore it.