This is one I remember watching in 2009 with my little brother. I'm not sure we knew 100% what was going on with the notoriously complex plot back then so this time I had the subtitles on and was in full concentration mode. I watched the originally transmitted version, not the newly expanded ones that Marc Platt recommends (I would be interested to see these).

At its heart Ghost Light is two plots which have been smooshed together. 1) Haunted house from Ace's childhood gets a backstory (great!). 2) An alien surveyor from eons ago wakes up after a long sleep, pissed off to find that his survey is out of date (mmm... okay!) The first of these two elements works like a charm and is sufficiently affecting that the huge amount of intricate detail you have to take on board with the surveyor elements gets a pass. This would have the potential of being McCoy's best story if it had just been simplified. The Victorian setting is always perfect for Doctor Who, this plays well with the increasingly mysterious nature of The Doctor and Ace's growing backstory. Ace feels like a real character.

Josiah Smith is a good main villain, though I'm not sure why he was "evolving" into a Victorian gentleman or taking over the house. I enjoyed The Doctor trying to teach Light of the futility of opposing evolution though - that felt very "Doctor-ish".

I wish I could say I enjoyed Ghost Light more, or that I could rate it higher than its current average, rather than pushing it lower. Unfortunately, this is a limited storyline for Who. On the one hand, it has exceptional production in its sets and design. They do a lot with clearly a limited budget. There's some great ideas in here but it is definitely cram packed full of plot, clearly truncated on some level and all the worse for it. The weird ghost wanting to catalogue everything and being obsessed with evolution was interesting, but I'm not sure how well it squared with the excellent character work around Ace.

There's some great moments here kind of unforgettable to Who, but it is held back in little ways and odd little beats of acting here and there.

📝5/10

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"Ghost Light: Atmosphere Over Clarity"

Ghost Light is an ambitious yet puzzling story that thrives on its dark, atmospheric setting but falters under a confused and overly convoluted plot. Written by Marc Platt, this serial is steeped in gothic horror and psychological tension, creating a haunted house mystery with an underlying sense of dread. Unfortunately, script edits and rushed production leave the narrative feeling disjointed and impenetrable.

The story kicks off with a creepy atmosphere and an intriguing set-up but quickly becomes a labyrinth of unexplained events and abstract ideas. The haunted house concept is excellent in theory, and there’s clearly a deeper thematic richness lurking beneath the surface—explorations of evolution, repression, and Ace’s past—but these ideas remain frustratingly underdeveloped or muddled.

Reportedly, Marc Platt’s original script was far clearer, but edits for time and complexity stripped away essential explanations, leaving a story that often feels like a series of strange and disconnected moments. Characters pop in and out without clear motives, and by the end, it’s hard to tell who the villain truly is or what the ultimate goal of the plot is.

Despite the script’s flaws, Ghost Light excels in developing its characters, particularly Ace and the Seventh Doctor.

Ace’s arc shines here, as the story ties deeply into her past. She is forced to confront the trauma of burning down the house as a teenager, haunted both literally and metaphorically by her actions. This makes for a dark, personal exploration of her character and gives Sophie Aldred the chance to deliver one of her finest performances.

The Seventh Doctor is at his most manipulative and enigmatic. Sylvester McCoy relishes the role, portraying a darker, almost unsettling Doctor who deliberately brings Ace to face her demons, even if it’s painful for her. His cryptic, almost theatrical delivery enhances the story’s eerie tone.

While the Doctor’s actions here are controversial—he’s more ruthless and detached than usual—it aligns with the Cartmel Master Plan, which paints him as a more powerful and mysterious figure.

The supporting cast, including Ian Hogg as Josiah Smith and Sylvia Syms as Mrs. Pritchard, embody their eccentric and sinister roles effectively.

While no central villain emerges, the house itself feels like the antagonist—an environment that is both hostile and unknowable, which adds to the psychological horror.

Where Ghost Light truly excels is in its production, direction, and atmosphere. The set design for Gabriel Chase is stunning, creating a gothic and claustrophobic environment that feels alive with menace. The dark, candlelit interiors, creepy taxidermy, and eerie visual effects add to the unsettling vibe.

The music is a highlight, blending brooding, atmospheric cues that heighten the tension.

The direction, despite the director’s own confusion about the plot, manages to maintain a sense of suspense and unease throughout.

The production team succeeds in crafting a story that feels frightening and mysterious, even if the narrative itself struggles to keep up.

Final Thoughts:

Ghost Light is a story of contradictions: its atmosphere, performances, and production are some of the best in Doctor Who, yet its plot is impenetrable and frustratingly unclear. It’s a prime example of a serial that prioritises mood and themes over narrative coherence.

For fans who enjoy gothic horror and psychological exploration, Ghost Light offers a rewarding—albeit baffling—experience. The story provides fascinating insights into Ace’s character and solidifies the Seventh Doctor’s darker, more enigmatic persona. However, its confusing plot and lack of clear direction may alienate viewers who prefer more straightforward storytelling.

Ultimately, Ghost Light is more about the experience than the story itself—a serial you appreciate for its tone, atmosphere, and performances rather than its narrative clarity.

Random Observations:

• Sylvester McCoy considers Ghost Light his favourite serial, despite admitting he had no idea what was happening in the story—something shared by most of the cast and crew.
• This was the last serial produced during Doctor Who’s original run, even though it wasn’t the final one broadcast.
• Marc Platt would go on to write Virgin New Adventures novels featuring the Seventh Doctor and later pen the acclaimed Big Finish audio Loups-Garoux (2001).

I really enjoyed watching Ghost Light. It's atmospheric and mysterious right from the start and really captivated my attention. The directing is strong, the costumes are good and the sets are solid. I really enjoyed watching it. However, now that I've finished the story, I'm just filled with confusion and unanswered questions. This story deserved to be longer and I feel that it's really suffered from just being 3 episodes long. The Blu-ray release does include an "extended workprint" version which I imagine is better as it includes some of the originally cut material, but I've not watched it yet so I can't comment. I can also see this being a story that the novelisation improves a lot, but, similarly, I've not yet read it.

Ghost Light has so much potential to become a favourite of mine: it's set in Victorian times, with a fantastic set and amazing costuming, it's marvelously creepy, and Ace gets to dress both butch and femme, as well as bond with another young woman.

Unfortunately, I got food poisoning somewhere around the middle of the second episode, right about where the plot begins to become incomprehensible, and that has sorely soured my experience.