History Recap / DoctorWhoNSS2E7TheIdiotsLantern

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wire_8287.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:344:[[EvilIsHammy FEEEEEEEED]] [[ChewingTheScenery MEEEEEEEEE!!!!]]]]
->''Goodnight children, everywhere.''
-->--'''The Wire'''

The Doctor and Rose visit the 1950s, intending on seeing Elvis perform on ''The Ed Sullivan Show''. The TARDIS takes them to Muswell Hill in North London instead, a day before the Queen's coronation in 1953.

The coronation is going to be televised, which has the populace excited. Televisions are at a premium. Luckily, the owner of a local television store, Mr Magpie, is practically giving them away. That's because it's got a face-eating monster called The Wire (no, not [[Series/TheWire that one]]) inside. The Wire feeds on energy, specifically on the faces of the people watching her. Mr Magpie can count on people in TheFifties to keep anyone who's different, such as a faceless family member, tucked carefully away out of sight.

The Doctor sports some marvelous aviator sunglasses and a quiff with unequaled resilience to motorcycle helmets, but even that can't keep Rose from getting her face eaten. The Doctor and an abused kid called Tommy storm the TV store and meet the Wire. Mr Magpie puts the Wire into a portable TV and runs off to put her in the broadcasting tower. The Doctor climbs up after Magpie (masquerading as the King of Belgium to get past the guards) and sort of electrocutes everything. Magpie is dissolved by the Wire, the Wire is trapped in a Betamax tape and everybody gets their faces back. Tommy's bastard of a dad is kicked out of the house by his wife as everyone learns an important lesson about speaking out when things are bad. The Doctor and Rose, however, encourage Tommy to chase after his dad and see if he can't TakeAThirdOption -- because even abusive 1950's fathers are still fathers.

!Tropes
* AbusiveParents: Eddie Connelly is explicitly verbally abusive to both his wife and son, and strongly hinted to be ''physically'' abusive as well.
* BerserkButton: "They left her in the street?" (see PapaWolf)
* BigBad: The Wire is behind all the face stealing and, indirectly, the disappearances.
* BigNo: Did we mention that the Wire is a [[LargeHam ham]]?
* BigShutUp
--> '''Mr. Connolly''': "I AM TALKING!!"
--> '''The Doctor''': "And I'm '''NOT LISTENING!!'''"
* TheBlank: The Wire's victims register a lack of brain activity, and faces.
* BorrowedCatchphrase: Magpie going "I'm sorry... so sorry" when the Wire gets Rose.
* CallingTheOldManOut: Eddie Connolly gets the full front of this from his son. This his wife joins in.
* ChewingTheScenery: The Wire could stand beside the Captain from [[{{Recap/DoctorWhoS16E2ThePiratePlanet}} The Pirate Planet]] and BrianBlessed in [[{{Recap/DoctorWhoS23E2Mindwarp}} Mindwarp]]. Some might even argue she carries the whole episode. You start wondering how she can get so 'HUNGRY!!!' when she's eaten a decent chunk of the scenery...
* DisneyVillainDeath: Played with in Magpie's case. [[HeelFaceTurn He realizes the error of his ways]] and begs for peace, and [[BigBad The Wire]] responds by zapping him in cold blood and he falls from Alexandra Palace, but his body [[NoBodyLeftBehind turns to dust]] before he hits the ground.
* EvilLaugh: From the Wire the closer it gets to the end game.
* EvilPlan: The Wire seeks to feast on the brains of the twenty million people watching the coronation on TV and then regain a physical body.
* ExpospeakGag
--> '''The Doctor''': "I'll use my unrivaled knowledge of trans-temporal extirpation methods to neutralize the residual electronic pattern."
--> '''Rose''': "You what?"
--> '''The Doctor''': "I'm gonna tape over it."
* {{Expy}}: Mr. Connolly is similar to [[Literature/HarryPotter Uncle Vernon]] in appearance (stocky, brown mustache) abusive behavior, and obsession with appearances.
* TheFifties: ''Just'' as much of the sexist, [[StepfordSmiler Stepfordesque]] bad as the idyllic, cutesy good.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: When a policeman asks the Doctor to tell them everything he knows, the Doctor glibly replies "Well, for starters, I know you can't wrap your hand round your elbow and make your fingers meet". One of the policemen can be seen trying it in the background.
* FreezeFrameBonus: The writing on the video tape's label has been scribbled out and started again, like the Doctor can't think of a good name for it. Even better, it's not in English but Gallifreyan.
* HeWhoFightsMonsters: Eddie gets high and mighty about his military record, fighting Nazis, but then Tommy points out the truth. He's been informing the government about the people in the neighborhood who've lost their faces because they're 'filthy' and a threat to his reputation. In other words, he came home from a war against fascism and began practicing it at home.
* HumiliationConga: From the moment the Doctor and Rose barge through his door, Eddie Connolly gets nothing but this for the rest of the episode.
* IronicEcho: "Tell me everything you know." First from Inspector Bishop to The Doctor and then The Doctor to Inspector Bishop. They even reverse positions.
* MadwomanInTheAttic: [[TheBlank Faceless]] woman in the attic who won't stop tapping the floor.
* TheMenInBlack: They arrive at houses without announcement and take people away under blankets.
* PapaWolf: The Doctor does ''not'' take well to Rose's face being stolen.
-->'''The Doctor''': 'They took her face and just chucked her out and left her in the street? Well, as a result... that makes things simple, very very simple. You know why?
-->'''Bishop''': No.
-->'''The Doctor''': Because NOW, Detective Inspector Bishop, there is no power on this EARTH that can STOP ME.
* PoliceAreUseless: Due to a lack of manpower because of the upcoming coronation, and the simple fact that a face-stealing alien is something they simply aren't trained to deal with.
* PopCulturedBadass: Although the Doctor owns up to it he says that the wise person he was quoting was [[Music/KylieMinogue Kylie.]]
* ShoutOut:
** "[[Theatre/LittleShopOfHorrors FEED ME!]]"
** "[[ThePrisoner Goodnight children... everywhere.]] It seems an appropriate show to reference, given the nature of the face-stealing.
* TalkToTheFist
-->'''The Doctor:''' Hold on a minute. There are three important, brilliant and complicated reasons why you should listen to me. One- *punched out by TheMenInBlack*
* ThrowTheDogABone: " 'Course he's an idiot. He's still your dad."
* TranquilFury: Rita Connelly reacts this way when she learns her husband was responsible for all the faceless people getting taken away, including her own mother.
* WifeBasherBasher: The Doctor to Eddie Connelly in a rare nonphysical example. This includes his BigShutUp above.
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Poor Mr. Magpie...zapped when The Wire no longer needs him.
----

--> '''Eddie''': "I AM TALKING!!"

--> '''The Father''': "I AM TALKING!!"

The Doctor sports some marvelous aviator sunglasses and a quiff with unequaled resilience to motorcycle helmets, but even that can't keep Rose from getting her face eaten. The Doctor and an [[AbusiveParents abused kid]] called Tommy storm the TV store and meet the Wire. Mr Magpie puts the Wire into a portable TV and runs off to put her in the broadcasting tower. The Doctor climbs up after Magpie (masquerading as the King of Belgium to get past the guards) and sort of electrocutes everything. Magpie gets dissolved by the Wire, the Wire is trapped in a Betamax tape and everybody gets their faces back. Tommy's bastard of a dad is kicked out of the house by his wife as everyone learns an important lesson about speaking out when things are bad. The Doctor and Rose, however, encourage Tommy to chase after his dad and see if he can't TakeAThirdOption -- because even abusive 1950's fathers are still fathers.

* BigBad: The Wire.

* TheBlank: The Wire's victims.

* CallingTheOldManOut: Eddie Connolly gets the full front of this.

* DisneyVillainDeath: Subverted with Magpie. [[HeelFaceTurn He realizes the error of his ways]] and begs for peace, and [[BigBad The Wire]] responds by zapping him in cold blood and he falls from Alexandra Palace, but his body [[NoBodyLeftBehind turns to dust]] before he hits the ground.
* EvilLaugh

* {{Expy}}: Mr. Connolly is quite similar to [[Literature/HarryPotter Uncle Vernon]].

* IronicEcho: "Tell me everything you know."
* MadwomanInTheAttic: [[TheBlank Faceless]] woman in the attic.
* TheMenInBlack

* PopCulturedBadass: Although the Doctor does own up to it. He does say that the wise person he was quoting was [[Music/KylieMinogue Kylie.]]
* ShoutOut: "[[Theatre/LittleShopOfHorrors FEED ME!]]"
** "[[ThePrisoner Goodnight children... everywhere.]] Seems an appropriate show to reference, given the nature of the face-stealing.

* WifeBasherBasher: The Doctor to Eddie Connelly in a rare nonphysical example. Especially his BigShutUp above.
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Poor Mr. Magpie...

* AndThatsTerrible: Informing the government about the people in the neighborhood who've lost their faces has turned you into the very [[ThoseWackyNazis Nazis]] you once fought against, [[AbusiveParents Dad!]]

* ChewingTheScenery: The Wire could stand beside the Captain from [[{{Recap/DoctorWhoS16E2ThePiratePlanet}} The Pirate Planet]] and BrianBlessed in [[{{Recap/DoctorWhoS23E2Mindwarp}} Mindwarp]]. Some might even argue she carries the whole episode. You start wondering how she can get so 'HUNGRY!!!' when she's eaten a decent chunk of the scenery...
** A bit of an inversion as the Wire is in every Television in England eating the faces of her victims, in a way the scenery is chewing the actors.

* {{Expy}}: Mr. Connolly isn't too far removed from [[Literature/HarryPotter Uncle Vernon.]]

** A bit of an inversion as the Wire is in every Television in England eating the faces of her victims, in a way the scenery is chewing the actors.

* NightmareFuel: Rose's image on the tv screen can be seen silently saying "Doctor" over and over.

** HilariousInHindsight: [[Recap/DoctorWho2007CSVoyageOfTheDamned Guess who would join the show later on?]]

** "[[ThePrisoner Goodnight children... everywhere.]] Seems an appropriate show to reference, [[spoiler: given the nature of the face-stealing]].

The coronation is going to be televised, which has the populace excited. Televisions are at a premium. Luckily, the owner of a local television store, Mr Magpie, is practically giving them away. That's because it's got a face-eating monster called The Wire (no, not [[Main/TheWire that one]]) inside. The Wire feeds on energy, specifically on the faces of the people watching her. Mr Magpie can count on people in TheFifties to keep anyone who's different, such as a faceless family member, tucked carefully away out of sight.

The Doctor sports some marvellous aviator sunglasses and a quiff with unequalled resilience to motorcycle helmets, but even that can't keep Rose from getting her face eaten. The Doctor and an [[AbusiveParents abused kid]] called Tommy storm the TV store and meet the Wire. Mr Magpie puts the Wire into a portable TV and runs off to put her in the broadcasting tower. The Doctor climbs up after Magpie (masquerading as the King of Belgium to get past the guards) and sort of electrocutes everything. Magpie gets dissolved by the Wire, the Wire is trapped in a Betamax tape and everybody gets their faces back. Tommy's bastard of a dad is kicked out of the house by his wife as everyone learns an important lesson about speaking out when things are bad. The Doctor and Rose, however, encourage Tommy to chase after his dad and see if he can't TakeAThirdOption -- because even abusive 1950's fathers are still fathers.

* AndThatsTerrible: Informing the government about the people in the neighbourhood who've lost their faces has turned you into the very [[ThoseWackyNazis Nazis]] you once fought against, [[AbusiveParents Dad!]]

* DisneyVillainDeath: Subverted with Magpie. [[HeelFaceTurn He realises the error of his ways]] and begs for peace, and [[BigBad The Wire]] responds by zapping him in cold blood and he falls from Alexandra Palace, but his body [[NoBodyLeftBehind turns to dust]] before he hits the ground.

--> '''The Doctor''': "I'll use my unrivalled knowledge of trans-temporal extirpation methods to neutralize the residual electronic pattern."

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness

The Doctor and Rose visit 1953, intending on seeing Elvis perform on ''The Ed Sullivan Show''. The TARDIS takes them to Muswell Hill in North London instead, a day before the Queen's coronation.

The coronation is going to be televised, which has the populace excited. Televisions are at a premium. Luckily, the owner of a local television store, Mr. Magpie, is practically giving them away. That's because it's got a face-eating monster called The Wire (no, not [[Main/TheWire that one]]) inside. The Wire feeds on energy, specifically on the faces of the people watching her. Mr. Magpie can count on people in TheFifties to keep anyone who's different, such as a faceless family member, tucked carefully away out of sight.

The Doctor sports some marvelous aviator glasses and a 50's hairdo with unequaled resilience to motorcycle helmets, but even that can't keep Rose from getting her face eaten. The Doctor and an [[AbusiveParents abused, neglected kid]] named Tommy storm the TV store and meet the Wire. Mr. Magpie puts the Wire into a portable TV and runs off to put her in the broadcasting tower. The Doctor climbs up after Magpie (masquerading as the King of Belgium to get past the guards) and sort of electrocutes everything. Magpie gets dissolved by the Wire, the Wire is trapped in a Betamax tape and everybody gets their faces back. Tommy's bastard of a dad is kicked out of the house by his wife as everyone learns an important lesson about speaking out when things are bad. The Doctor and Rose, however, encourage Tommy to chase after his dad and see if he can't TakeAThirdOption -- because even abusive 1950's fathers are still fathers.

* AbusiveParents: Eddie Connelly is explicitly abusive to both his wife and son verbally, and strongly hinted to be ''physically'' abusive as well.
* AmbiguouslyGay: Tommy, heavily implied via dialogue.
* AndThatsTerrible: Informing the government about the people in the neighborhood who've lost their faces has turned you into the very [[ThoseWackyNazis Nazis]] you once fought against, [[AbusiveParents Dad!]]

--> '''The Doctor''': "And '''I'M NOT LISTENING!!'''"

* DisneyVillainDeath: Subverted with Magpie. [[HeelFaceTurn He realises the error of his ways]] and begs for peace, and [[BigBad The Wire]] responds by zapping him in cold blood and he falls from Alexandra Burke, but his body [[NoBodyLeftBehind turns to dust]] before he hits the ground.

--> '''The Doctor''': "I'll use my unrivaled knowledge of trans-temporal extirpation methods to neutralize the residual electronic pattern."

* FunnyBackgroundEvent: When a policeman asks the Doctor to tell them everything he knows, the Doctor glibly replies "Well, for starters, I know you can't wrap your hand 'round your elbow and make your fingers meet." One of the policemen can be seen trying it in the background.
* HumiliationConga: From the moment the Doctor and Rose barge through his door, Eddie Connoly gets nothing but this for the rest of the episode.

-->'''The Doctor''': Because NOW, Detective Inspector BISHOP, there is no power on this EARTH that can STOP ME.
* PoliceAreUseless: Due to a lack of manpower because of the upcoming coronation, and the simple fact that a face stealing alien is something they simply aren't trained to deal with.

** "[[ThePrisoner Goodnight children...everywhere.]] Seems an appropriate show to reference, [[spoiler: given the nature of the face-stealing]].

-->'''The Doctor:''' Hold on a minute. There are three important, brilliant, and complicated reasons why you should listen to me. One- *punched out by TheMenInBlack*
* ThrowTheDogABone: " 'Course, he's an idiot. He's still your dad."