‘MOTHER’S LITTLE HELPER’

Please feel free to comment on my review.

Nanci Cruz meets the Second Doctor

This story called ‘Mother’s Little Helper’ is by Matthew Jones. It features the Second Doctor. Matthew Jones is also Matt Jones, who would go on to write the two-part ‘Doctor Who’ story ‘The Impossible Planet’/’The Satan Pit’ and the ‘Torchwood’ episode ‘Dead Man Walking’. How uncanny!

‘Mother’s Little Helper’ is a story about experiencing and coping with pain. It focuses on Nanci Cruz, an American living in England, who’s been betrayed by her best friend making out with her boyfriend. She runs into a boy, who touches her and relieves her of any physical and emotional pain.

But it’s only temporary, as the emotional pain resurfaces once the boy stops touching her. A tall blond, older woman chases after the boy and Nanci meets up with the Doctor. Together, Nanci and the Doctor try to find the boy being chased by the old woman and they end up at a very old sea pier.

I like how Matt Jones writes for the Second Doctor in this story. I could easily hear and visualise Patrick Troughton’s Doctor from the way he’s described to his lined face and having the energy of a toddler. His interactions with Nanci were also compelling to get into whilst reading this short story. 🙂

Nanci grows to learn that she can’t get rid of the emotional pain she’s feeling, following the betrayal by her best friend and boyfriend. She must learn to cope with it when returning to her school. It’s also intriguing that the old woman depends on the boy, and he relieves her of the pain that she has.

‘Mother’s Little Helper’ rating – 8/10