On a Pedestal

JAMIE 😝‼️

Even by Short Trips standards, this one feels particularly short. But as truncated as the story may feel, it is also good. On A Pedestal features the Second Doctor, Jaime, and Victoria. Overhearing our two companions (both from historical periods) arguing over the historical figure William Wallace, the Doctor takes them to meet William. It's a very interesting dynamic where Jaime, a Scotsman, is steadfast in his love for Wallace, while Victoria, a Victorian Londoner, views him with disdain.

Meeting William proves to shatter illusions for both companions a bit. Jaime's hero worship is broken ever so slightly, as William is young and, at his core, only human. Victoria, meanwhile, quickly loses her prejudice against the Scots simply by seeing what Jaime is - that they are human and not much different than her. It's a simple dynamic but one I found profoundly effective - for the first time ever, I started to really connect with Victoria's character, which I found very impressive. Jaime also stands out here, truly back in his element and intimately familiar with this world (even if he's off by a few decades from his home).

More impressive is that Kathleen O'Shea, while she seems to have a background in editing, is largely only given a writing credit for On A Pedestal, as best I can tell. For a relatively novice writer to succeed so well, telling a compelling historical while aptly bringing the Second Doctor era to life, is truly remarkable. One of the strongest takes on Short Trips 24, a truly impressive entry in what is shaping up to be a quite strong anthology overall.