The Ghosts of N-Space

just cant recommend boring

This has a really interesting structure, both in that it constantly shifts between the Doctor's and the Brig's (and later Sarah's) perspectives and in its combination of multiple genres and elements: post-medieval and Regency historical, Gothic, hard sci-fi, Christian/European mythology, probably more I'm forgetting already. I didn't enjoy it as much as its predecessor, The Paradise of Death, as its dialogue isn't as snappy and it's denser (hard sci-fi is always hard for me to follow, though). But Christian mythology specifically is something I've always felt is underused in Doctor Who – probably to avoid offense – so it's very cool to see it get some use here. The Brig's uncle is a good comic relief character, and Jeremy is still a solid quasi-companion. On the other hand, by this time Jon wasn't always audibly recognizable as the Doctor, and Sarah is a bit weak and imo even out of character in this.

The Ghosts of N-Space is a great story with the Third Doctor, told over six, 30 minutes episodes. While on the surface, and in the beginning, it feels like a simple ghost story, but about a third of the way through it changes and turns into the Doctor Who we know and love from the era depicted. The plot keeps moving at a decent pace, with enough breathing room to put the expansive plot together, and rarely has a dull moment. The characters, and situations, are interesting. The cast is wonderful, with the returning Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor bringing all the charm I was expecting. Elisabeth Sladen and Nicolas Courtney also give great performances as Sarah Jane Smith and The Brigadier, respectively. The rest of the guest cast is solid, including a couple of over-the-top accents. The only real criticism I can give is that sometimes there is too much 'explaining' narration of other's actions. While it happens a few times, generally it is very quick. Overall, I think this is a great story that is well worth seeking out if you are a Third Doctor fan.