Doctor Who:
The Bodysnatchers
By Mark Morris
Reviewed By Paul Bowler
When the TARDIS materialises in London, 1894, the
Doctor and Sam discover a terrifying mystery lurking in the fog shrouded
streets near a factory, where the owner - Nathaniel Seers - has begun to behave
very strangely indeed. The bodies of the dead have started to go missing,
stolen from their graves, and some unspeakable horror prowls the banks of the
Thames - ready to rise up from the filthy waters to feast on human flesh.
The Doctor is reunited with his old friend, the
pathologist George Lightfoot, and together with Sam and Nathaniel Seer’s
daughter, Emmaline, they help him to investigate the recent state of horrible
occurrences. They uncover the truth behind grave robbing after they find the
entrance to a living space ship, where the Zygons have been using the human
remains to feed a monstrous hoard of Skarasen, which they intend to use to wipe
out the human race and make a new home for the Zygons.
With the help of Sam and Lightfoot, the Doctor must
find a way to defeat the Zygons before they can unleash their Skarasen army on
the world…
The Bodysnatchers is an intensely gritty and dark
story by Mark Morris. While the story may be a bit thin on the ground plot
wise, the macabre setting and grisly scenes of death and mutilation more than
makes up for any failing. The character of the eighth Doctor feels right a home
here, exploring the foggy streets of Victorian London, Sam also gets plenty to
do, and she is turning out to be a very resourceful companion.
This story also features the return of Professor
Lightfoot, who appeared in the classic Dr Who adventure The Talons of Weng-
Chaing written by Robert Holmes. Mark Morris has captured the essence of the
character brilliantly, Lightfoot has some great scenes with the eighth Doctor,
and they work really well together as they face the menace of the Zygons.
We also get to learn a lot more about the Zygons in
The Bodysnatchers. Having only appeared in one television story, Terror of the
Zygons (1975), writer Mark Morris takes the opportunity to really explore the
history of the Zygon race. We discover more about their culture, the intricate technology
of their spaceships, their warrior castes, and we are given an even greater
insight into the circumstances that brought them to Earth.
The Bodysnatches is a brilliant adventure for the
eighth Doctor and Sam, it’s a devilishly gruesome story, and the return of
Professor Lightfoot and the Zygons makes it all the more special. A really
enjoyable read and highly recommended.
