Ah, I see now. Where Jago and Litefoot focuses on the human element and has pacing closer to Classic Who, Paternoster Row focuses more on the alien element and has pacing more like New Who (2005). Compare, for example, Justice of Jalxar and this play. In Justice of Jalxar, the alien element is there only to emphasize the human story within. In this play, the human element is only a reason for the characters to get embroiled in the alien plot.

The alien plot here is fun enough, if a bit disjointed. There is a monster to be investigated, and while Strax bumbles through his own highly amusing efforts, Vastra, Jenny and a new character, not Sarah Jane Smith without morals (Jenny Nettles?), get the meat of the roles.

Sadly, the human element of the plot was threadbare, and the alien element required a lot of convenient exposition, as this series tends to lean on.

Still, not a bad story, and the focus Jenny in particular got was very welcome.