I have ten minutes in which to comment on this episode before it's back to the grind....
"The Talons of Weng-Chiang"
The main thing that puzzles me about this episode is why did they cast a white guy in makeup as the lead Chinese character? The various Limehouse thugs are all actual Asian people. Why not the famed magician? Were they going for a fake look because they thought it was more pulpish? Or was it simply that they didn't look very hard for a Chinese or at least Asian actor in the short time they had? This source says that the episode was put together in great haste; they hadn't even intended to have Leela stay on and be in it.
Otherwise, the episode is a lot of fun to watch. It's set in Victorian London, mostly at a vaudeville theater, and eventually that's crossed over with a villian from the 51st century, Magnus Greel.
More on the episode. And more.
