The China Sin (Inspecting "The Talons of Weng-Chiang")

Doctor Who is sometimes notable for the wrong reasons, and sometimes it's legendary for the right ones. But what about when it's both, and in the same story? That's the case for The Talons of Weng-Chiang, which is rightly praised as a true classic Doctor Who story in every sense of the word, the culmination of producer Philip Hinchcliffe's ambitious era and the peak of Tom Baker's run of gothic horror stories. It's also an example of casually racist attitudes — not just of the Victorian era where the story's set, but also of 1977, when the story was made. Given Talons' many facets, what's a 21st century Whovian to make of it? Don your headphones and grab your deerstalker — the game's afoot in this pod.

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Story Essentials:

• Season 14, Serial 6 

• Story number: 90, per the The Pull To Open Codex

• Production Code: 4S 

• Writer: Robert Holmes 

• Producer: Philip Hinchcliffe 

• Aired 26 February – 2 April 1977  

Pull To Open: The Talons of Weng-Chiang 

• Season 2 

• Episode 19

Hosts: Pete Pachal and Chris Taylor

Outro music: Chronos by Alexander Nakarada