3.3 Swan Song

The trio find the time breaks in Jago's theatre. Scientists in the future are treated to an unexpected rendition of Shakespeare. The future and the past collide, the theatre comes alive. A step up from the previous two episodes. They seem to be getting more creative with the stories and bringing in influences from outside the Victorian era. Leela, scientists from the future and time breaks! I don't think there has been anything in 'Jago and Litefoot' as emotive as this, superb.

"Swan Song" finds the intrepid trio encountering ghosts from the future in a team of scientists whose lab was built on the site of Jago's theater and experimenting with time travel. The story has plenty of suspense as the meltdown of the future technology endangers the future of time itself. There's also the mystery of strange theatrical killings happening in the future.

At the same time, this John Dorney script is full of real characters, most notably a research scientist whose dreams of being a dancer were destroyed in auto accident and she has some wonderful and powerful scenes with Jago. The story also shows the real love Jago has for his theater and gives us a peak at its future. Overall, this is one of Jago and Litefoot's best.

I can't quite put into words how much I love this story. It made me laugh, it made me cry and somehow I found it all utterly beautiful and life-affirming. Just superb.

It took me a while to feel comfortable with this story as a Jago and Litefoot tale. I'll admit it really wasn't sitting right. But something happened halfway through and I let go of the fact that it wasn't meeting my expectations. Largely because I was falling for Alice, for the Regency, for the way their story was being told. I love it for what it is - a wonderfully well-crafted love story.

The Jago and Litefoot story I know I will return to time and time again. Beautiful.