Last Stand: A Passion for Fashion

"It makes people obsessed with the feathers."

Writer: Helen Goldwyn

Format: Audio

Released: March 2025

Series: Paternoster Gang 2.11

Featuring: Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

Society ladies are losing their fortunes and growing mortally sick – apparently infected by insatiable desire for the designs of enigmatic hat-maker, Monsieur Declerq. 

With the help of a shop-girl, the Gang uncover rivalry in the fashion world and a dark trade in cruel importation. They also find that Monsier Declerq is much more than a flamboyant fashionista. 

Verdict

A Passion for Fashion was another great episode to continue my way through the Last Stand concluding box set of the Trespassers second series of adventures for the Paternoster Gang! Whilst this was still a very strong episode I thought this was mainly having a feeling of being a filler episode ahead of what is set to be a fascinating finale involving the Eighth Doctor and Brottac! With the business savvy nature of the Zygon, I thought Vastra wanting to investigate a high end fashion ball was terrific and it felt awfully Victorian! I was a big fan of that and the way Jenny was getting her wife ready for the ball was quite amusing. Jenny didn’t understand art all that well but I must say I was in agreement with her regarding taking two years to create a gown! I’m no lover or even understander of fashion as I dress fairly simply, but the way it was on show here was impressive. Especially in a non-visual format! The role of Fotheringay as the fashion man was good and I thought the way the story developed for Jenny was excellent. It was a standout performance for Catrin Stewart here as she was slowly consumed and engulfed by the feathers. The idea of what is essentially an infectious material of clothing and desiring it more and more is a sound business plan! Who wouldn’t want that kind of continued inflow and increase of money? The effects were actually startling as Jenny was deranged in her addition but the way it impacted Vastra was intriguing with her Silurian makeup. Her DNA was different and by the end it almost felt like they were going to die together! There was a good emotional pull there but Strax was on hand to ensure that wouldn’t be the case. I thought that was a really nice touch. Vastra having the knowledge of the Kosori was good and it’s often easy to forget just how much knowledge she will have spanning millions of years. The idea behind their feathers was really intriguing and I like how they were fledging much more frequently than the legend tells. I thought the superstition within the Kosori of being a phoenix and the fires within the feathers was excellent. The imagery there was fantastic with the almost rainbow colour flames that did indeed see the rebirth of the Kosori! I thought the return of Trelawney was good and I loved that high end women were perishing from their own elite fashion sense. It’s certainly a different kind of class story! I really liked the character of Declerq and the sacrifice he made at the end to endure the Kosori was reborn and the feathers were left non-impactful was great. Vastra basically wishing him off at the end was a nice touch and I liked how the episode served as a reminder of what could happen. There aren’t all bad visitors coming to this world like the Zygons, but trespassers are afoot. Vastra using these events as also a means to show why they needed to keep their home was excellent. It had a feeling of the calm before the storm and now I’m very excited. Oh! And a lovely touch in the department store being Henrik's. Strong continuity there and a wonderful comment from Strax about it departing. Glorious.

Rating: 8/10

Last Stand: I Married a Zygon

"I regret to inform you she will soon be dead."

Writer: Alan Ronald

Format: Audio

Released: March 2025

Series: Paternoster Gang 2.10

Featuring: Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

The Gang visit an old friend in a haunted mansion. Miss Faversham is suffering a mysterious malady, and her engagement to the curious Lord Briar convinces Vastra she can scent the enemy...

As Jenny helps supernatural investigator Harriet Cross catch a ghost, they discover something far more dangerous loose inside the walls of Briar Hall.

Verdict

I Married a Zygon was a strong start to the Last Stand conclusion of the Trespassers second series of Paternoster Gang adventures! After a magnificent cliffhanger at the end of the No Place Like Home box set last time out, this followed up very nicely and really stretched out the continuity of the series. The way things started was just incredible with Strax showcasing once again why he is one of my all time favourite characters. He is the shining light of this series in my opinion because he can inject the right amount of comedy at absolutely any time. It never feels out of place despite it being almost certainly ridiculous. The way he was recalling events when buying fish and chips in the form of a play was a glorious pre-titles sequence and I loved how he intended on using the Scottish form of payment by going at it with two fists. The English method of paying with money wasn’t something he was all that impressed with but it set the tone right away. This series is often fun and this episode was no different despite it dealing with some quite emotional issues. Vastra was deeply disturbed by the idea of Brottac knowing 13 Paternoster Row better than she does and that was fascinating to hear. She’s often the one member of the trio that’s calm and collected but here she was troubled. Almost desperate. I could understand her anger and it’s a fun little twist to consider that it might be the Paternoster Gang that are the trespassers. The concept of Zygons being in business is quite interesting though and with the revelation that it was actually Brottac all along who had wooed Miss Faversham in the guise of the Eighth Doctor, I’m really intrigued by their intent. I wouldn’t describe it as typical Zygon behaviour! I’m really interested though and it’s definitely got me wanting to listen to the next episode right away. I think the links back to Till Death Us Do Part were really strong and I suspect will come into play further with the Eighth Doctor once again set to return in this box set. I can’t wait for that! Jenny had a strong outing herself with the ghost hunting and I enjoyed her relationship with Harriet Cross. She was a terrific character and I had strong Hide vibes with their reaction to hearing a ghostly reply to the message. The idea of the ectoplasm being Zygon wasn’t much of a surprise but I really liked it and I do hope we get more of Strax taking them on. Sontarans vs Zygons just sounds wonderful for battle! You don’t need to tell Strax twice either. His comment about Earth if the Sontar High Command had declared war against it was hilarious. His loyalties firmly lay with his own species! And he was a handsome one from his clone batch. They all were. Just excellent. I thought Faversham was clearly toiling from ‘John Smith’ jilting her but her new love in the form of Lord Briar was clearly something more than just innocent love. Vastra’s game of bluff was also terrific as that brought back some strong personal school memories! I used to love that game. Her desperation to out Brottac was on full show and she had to be calmed by Jenny. They really are a strong match and I enjoyed how that made the maiden feel on par with the Great Detective. I like the idea of Brottac still being out there but being weak. The imagery of his half taking the form of the Doctor was excellent! It’s a shame that didn’t grace the artwork for the series, but it was still terrific. Overall, this was a really strong start to the concluding box set for the series! I can’t wait to hear where things go from here. Very solid stuff that’s left me wanting more. 

Rating: 8/10

The Ruby's Curse

"There's nothing good on the telly until 1963."

Writers: Alex Kingston & Jacqueline Rayner

Format: Novel

Released: May 2021

Series: BBC PDA 03

Featuring: River

Synopsis

She's got ice in her heart and a kiss on her lips...

1939, New York. Private Eye, Melody Malone, is hired to find a stolen ruby, the Eye of Horus. The rub might hold the secret to the location of Cleopatra's tomb – but everyone who comes into contact with it dies. Can Melody escape the ruby's curse?

1939, New York. River Song, author of the Melody Malone Mysteries, is forced to find a reality-altering weapon, the Eye of Horus – but everyone who comes into contact with it dies. River doesn't believe in curse – but is she wrong?

From the top-security confines of Stormcage to the barbarism of first-century Egypt, River battles to find the Eye of Horus before its powers are used to transform the universe. To succeed, she must team up with a most unlikely ally – her own fictional alter ego, Melody. And together they must solve another mystery: is fiction changing into fact – or is fact changing into fiction?

Verdict

The Ruby's Curse was a pretty average read I am sad to say. I was so looking forward to this one and it has been long overdue me getting around to reading it! I'm a massive fan of the character of River Song so to have a whole novel with the input of the brilliant Alex Kingston herself as the credited author was awfully exciting. Unfortunately the book fell a little way short of what I was hoping for. It's annoying because at the heart of the novel there really does feel like there's a very strong story there, but the way it was presented was just all wrong. I thought the format of the book hurt it a great deal as it was just a bit of a mess to be honest. I think the premise of a River Song story where she meets her own creation in the form of the Melody Malone character is exciting and something that sounds magnificent. However, the convoluted execution here with chapters shifting between the book we were reading and the book that featured within the story was not a great stylistic choice in my opinion. Starting each chapter with the year and location was also a little odd as there were quite a few in a row that stayed in the same place and time. The scale of the story was impressive with the range going from Ancient Egypt all the way to the Stormcage facility. I thought it was quite fun that River had reached a point where she was breaking into the supposedly impenetrable prison for a place to have some quiet time for writing and reading. Something that is unfortunately ironic about the book though is that despite the author being who she is, the first person format really didn't feel like River was captured authentically. That really isn't lost on me but unfortunately I think it's true. I would have much preferred a third person format as when Melody arrived in full fashion, it wasn't always clear who was speaking. Also, this is just a personal preference but I bloody hated the accent and the incorrect grammar in the way that Melody was depicted. I thought River addressing that within the story was good and I liked that she was having regrets, but crikey it didn't half annoy me! I thought the plot was actually strong with the ruby at the centre actually being genuinely interesting. I liked the idea of a curse but after a lengthy build it seemed something of a throwaway to come up with the idea of it only being able to be held by those who weren't actively seeking to take it. River being that person and having the power of the Eye of Horus behind her was exciting and she did put it to good use. Her relationship with Melody was quite amusing and I enjoyed the concept of them being sisters. River being placed within the book of her own making was fascinating, but things had been changed by her Stormcage buddy Ventrion. He was a decent character although I felt his setting up of booby traps in the past whilst simultaneously sending messages to River through the book he had taken authorship of was a little difficult to believe. I couldn't believe there wasn't a reunion either! Mrs Jones as the secretary actually turning out to be the murderer was something I didn't see coming, but I did like that she was actually Ruby Badger! That worked well. I thought Phil was going to turn out to actually be Horace P. Wallace but alas he turned out to be the lost to history son of Cleopatra, Caesarion! That was a little weird but I liked the idea of him being a character that River had not written into the story. The search for Cleopatra's tomb was a lot of fun and River having to admit to taking on her appearance in The Pandorica Opens was pretty fun stuff. I was less keen on Cat Malone due to the ridiculousness, but what a name! For me, whilst the plot was strong just in a convoluted and messy form, the highlight of the book has to be the idea of Meldoy having dinner with Amy and Rory post-The Angels Take Manhattan. That was glorious and it coming to explain how Amy took over writing as Melody was wonderful. Overall, some strong stuff but a very slow start and not a format that lent itself kindly.

Rating: 6/10

The Savages

"We've reached an age of peace and prosperity."

Writer: Ian Stuart Black

Format: TV (Animation)

Released: March 2025

Season: 3.09

Featuring: First Doctor, Steven, Dodo

Synopsis

The Doctor and his travelling companions Steven and Dodo arrive on an unnamed planet where they encounter two distinct people – the Elders and the Savages. They soon discover the Elders are the evil ones, draining the primitive Savages for their life source to remain young and powerful forever.

Verdict

The Savages was a very strong animation of the sadly completely missing First Doctor serial! I’ve been really excited for this one ever since it was announced and part of that is because of how niche it feels. I don’t feel like this is a story that fans were screaming out for to receive the animation treatment but I’m so happy that it has been done. I’ve had this on pre-order and read the preview in Doctor Who Magazine along with listening to the Power of 3 podcast preview too. I’ve been very excited and thankfully it didn’t disappoint! I’ve caught up on the animations in my last month or so of blogging and whilst this one perhaps was a little more traditional and aimed to stay true to the original - something I’m completely on board with - it didn’t make it any less entertaining. Perhaps the best description would be that it was less ambitious than some of the more recent ones. One thing I didn’t notice by choosing to watch the colourised animation version is that the setting is actually quite mundane. There’s not a lot of moving around and I almost feel like I would have benefitted more from watching the black and white version. There just wasn’t an awful lot of stuff to provide colour for! That’s not the animation’s problem though and I thought they did a fine job in bringing the story to life. I must say, the animation for Dodo in particular was outrageously good. Her likeness was captured absolutely perfectly! I was so impressed with that. I’m surprised this story doesn’t have the strongest of reputations amongst fandom because it sees the departure of Steven as companion, but in watching again that never feels like it’s going to be the case until the last five minutes. I like the suspension in part one before we learn how the Elders sustain themselves with such a powerful supply of life force, and having blogged this story twice already in different versions I feel like I can appreciate that more in hindsight. I know the answer so drip feeding it to the Doctor and his companions is great. I love the idea of the Elders having charted the Doctor’s travels through time and space and they were honoured by his arrival to visit them. He was instantly bestowed as an Elder himself and that’s just a figure or figurine variant waiting to happen! I am a big fan of the way the story develops and we learn that the titular savages are actually not the enemies of the piece. There’s something far more disturbing at hand. I was impressed with the animation in capturing the after effects of the transference on the savages, and this definitely came across better on them rather than the Doctor. The use of subtle mannerisms though to show that Jano had essences of the Doctor within him after solely taking his life energy was glorious. I would love to see if that happened in the original version and hopefully one day the original tapes show up! It does feel like we’re never going to get any missing material returned now which is a massive shame, but these animations are wonderful in filling the gaps. I thought the light guns came across really strongly in the animation and would definitely be an improvement on the prop we would have seen on screen. There were also vibes of An Unearthly Child for me in how the savages were depicted and that went nicely with Dodo thinking they weren’t actually in the far future at all but more like the time of the first man in the Iron Age. The vaporising smoke was also captured really well in the animation and was definitely a benefit of having colour, especially when the guns were fired into it. Also, just one thing that I adore about these early animations is the colour of that first TARDIS console. It’s always glorious and it’s a shame we don’t get to see more of it! I think the destruction of the Elders’ machines and basically their entire society was done brilliantly and the direction for Steven’s departure afterwards was emotional. He just saunters off by himself to become a king of an entirely new society that will require a great deal of fixing! Big Finish have explored that wonderfully but the images here are really strong. Dodo’s crying really sells how much of a departure this is and it does feel like a bit occasion. As it should do! Overall, the story itself is very solid if not a tad slow in parts, but the animation feels true to how things would have played out in 1966. Hopefully one day we’ll be able to compare, but until then this is an excellent replacement. I can’t wait for the next announcement!

Rating: 8/10

Conspiracy in Space

"Honour does not hide in shadows."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: October 2021

Series: Third Doctor Adventures 8.01

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

When the TARDIS is diverted to Draconia, the Doctor and Jo fall foul of the hawkish Lady Zinn. War with Earth seems imminent. The Draconian military are on high alert and rumours of a super-weapon are rife. 

Execution, assassination, intrigue and a mysterious faction known only as 'The Eyes' are all part of a deadly mission the Doctor and Jo have no choice but to accept. But as they fight to survive, the peace of the entire galaxy hangs in the balance.

Verdict

Conspiracy in Space was a decent start to the eighth series of Third Doctor Adventures! I'm a big fan of this range and I must say I am so grateful to Tim Treloar for bringing the Third Doctor back to life with his incredible impression of Jon Pertwee. This one felt very much like it was a part of the era in which it is chronologically set and given that it had big connections with Frontier in Space that's quite the compliment. The story wastes no time in delving into the politics of Draconia but I must say in somewhat harsh fashion that I wasn't all that bothered by the royals and so on. I understand there is a strict system of class and honour on the planet, but I'm not wholly convinced the Draconians work best in the audio format. Without that visual aid it's often quite easy to forger that some of the characters speaking are not supposed to be human. That was a little troubling but at the same time that might just be me. I think some sort of sound effect to differentiate between human and Draconian would have been beneficial and it really could have been ever so subtle. It would have helped a lot in my opinion. I thought the idea of doing a prequel to the aforementioned Third Doctor serial is a fun idea and it's quite loose in what it plays around with. The building tensions between Draconia and Earth are presented in a strong fashion and that's never really any more evident than with Lady Zinn. Her shock at being greeted by the Doctor in the traditional greeting of nobility was magnificent. She was also not exactly impressed by Jo much to the companion's surprise and dismay. Her introduction in presenting herself as a princess of TARDIS was marvellous but it only bought the Doctor time with Zinn being quick to execute outsiders on the spot! She would have to watch instead with it being lady's first. Some prize! I thought the relationship Jo built with Ruji was wonderful and he clearly did have strong feelings for her. That was fascinating to hear and the sacrifice he made without Jo being given the choice to get her free was incredible. It's no wonder she wanted the TARDIS to go back and say a proper goodbye. The Time Lords had other ideas though given the moment's importance in history. I thought Emerald Lindstrom made for another strong villain on the other side of things and the threat of the magnetoid was pretty strong. The image of it literally moving asteroids and even planets was quite spectacular, but the use of it here as a means to get a preemptive strike on the Earth to spark an all out war was dastardly. I must say I thought the story was a good one but I can't help but feel it was a tad repetitive. Not within itself, but it just felt unoriginal. I know it's all new but I felt like I have listened or watched this story play out numerous times before which is a shame and the bulk of my rating perhaps being a tad low. The Doctor getting to show off his Venusian aikido against an actual Venus native was a tad random but I was all here for it. Especially given this was the third incarnation! That just felt right. I wasn't a massive fan of the robot inclusion in this story because I'm not convinced they were entirely necessary, but I do understand the need for efficiency! I wasn't all that surprised by some of the reveals of conspiracy which was a shame, but given the series this features in I am a huge fan of the title. Hell, there's even a Colony in Space reference with the IMC! It's really clever and almost becomes a very loose trilogy. The ending was a little sudden in having the Doctor typically reverse the polarity and that seemingly putting everything back in whack with the duralinium being attracted to the magnetoid. It was certainly effective though! Overall, a strong story for sure and a good way to start the series. Treloar needs to do less of the Third Doctor angry! 

Rating: 7/10

The Well

"Hope is irrelevant."

Writers: Russell T Davies & Sharma Angel-Walfall

Format: TV

Broadcast: 26 April 2025

Series: 15.03

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda

Synopsis

Far in the future, on a tough, brutal planet, a devastated mining colony has only one survivor. To discover the truth, the Doctor and Belinda must face absolute terror.

Verdict

The Well was an outstanding episode to continue the new series! Wow, this was probably not suited for an 8am viewing with my three-month old daughter attached to me in the carrier, but that's exactly how I watched the episode and it's something that will stay with me forever. This is a sensational story and might just go down as my favourite Fifteenth Doctor episode yet! That's saying something considering the beauty of Lux last week but I'm a sucker for nostalgia and having a sequel to Midnight is a tremendous idea that was executed pretty perfectly. Unfortunately, the news had gotten out into the online domain about this being a sequel but I appreciate the effort that came from the official channels and previews not detailing it. I still take information gleaned online with a pinch of salt but the noise was very loud surrounding this particular rumour. That didn't take anything away from the reveal moment though. That was one of the best sequences of the modern era as the Doctor learns that 400,000 years ago the planet designated 6-7-6-7 in which he stands in Colony Base 15 had a very different name. He learns of the cause of the galvanic radiation and how in the ancient times the planet was made of diamonds. That was extraordinary as Shaya revealed the planet used to be called Midnight. The reaction from the Doctor was just sublime as he slowly realised what kind of evil and demonic he was dealing with. I thought the direction in the episode was sensational and I was really impressed with the tiny glimpses we got of the Midnight creature. I am so glad we didn't see it properly or in full because that just isn't needed and I think would have taken away from the original too. We saw just enough. The atmosphere in the episode was incredible and the tension was honestly palpable! Aliss Fenly was a superb character and I loved that she was deaf. It added so much to her character and played a crucial part in explaining why she was the final survivor. The Doctor and company finding the base had been smashed with particular reference to the mirrors was intriguing, even if it did signal a weakness and possible use of defeat. The way everyone approached Aliss with caution other than the Doctor and Belinda was excellent and I'm already a huge fan of the latter as a companion. Her performances in the first three episodes have been sensational and I hope she stays for a very long time. I just love everything about her and she seems to have accepted her situation now of not quite being able to get home. She's going to enjoy the ride now and apparently changing clothes are a big part of the fun! I'm still baffled as to how the Doctor and Belinda had the exact same spacesuits as those being used to reach the planet, but that's a minute detail to be honest. I thought Shaya as the leader was another fantastic character and the way she took it upon herself to become the sacrifice when they thought they'd gotten away from the creature was admirable. She would do her job and duty as the best shot around. Shooting through Belinda (literally) to attack the creature is quite audacious, but it worked! Or so we thought. Belinda just wants to help people but here she was as the one needing help. Cassio was a decent character and his death was just excellent as Shaya ordered the creature to turn its back on some of the crew that deposed her. Was she to blame or should we accept she was justified? The whole the creature being behind you vibe was so well done and I loved the devastation that came from the crew being thrown about like rag rolls. The performance from Rose Ayling-Errirs in the story is just incredible. Her getting to escape to safety was fitting for everything she had gone through in killing her own friends and watching them die. She deserved to reach safety and I'm so glad that she did! Overall, just pure excellence. A sublime sequel! 

Rating: 10/10

Vogue

"I was an exile who'd been invited back home."

Writer: Stephen Cole

Format: Short Story

Released: July 2024

Series: I, TARDIS: Memoirs of an Impossible Blue Box 05

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Turlough, Kamelion, Peri, Sixth Doctor, Mel, Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

The Doctor has a unique bond with their TARDIS. They've always loved the 'old girl' for the way she's gone looking for trouble anywhere in the universe. The Doctor says they stole the TARDIS from Gallifrey. The TARDIS disagrees... she stole them. She hasn't always taken them where they want to go, but she's made sure to take them where they needed to be.

For the TARDIS is dar more than just a time machine crossed with a spaceship. Her life reflects the Doctor's life – a shared wanderlust and longing to explore. Now you can revisit the Doctor's adventures as seen through the eyes – or the flashing rooftop light, at least – of the TARDIS. From the time the Doctor stole her from Gallifrey to her latest adventures with the Fifteenth Doctor, the TARDIS reflects wittily on her epic, incredible history – past, present and future! 

Verdict

Vogue was another pretty average short story to continue my way through the I, TARDIS: Memoirs of an Impossible Blue Box collection. There seems to be something of a common theme with this book now and that is that it's just trying to cover too much with not enough space. It almost feels like there should have been two books covering both the Classic era and the modern one because to take account of basically every televised story is almost impossible and this just leads to things feeling rushed and the Journey Log in particular is just becoming absolutely rubbish. A sentence or two is not enough to describe what happened at a certain location. There's a startling lack of detail here which is just frustrating because I know this book could be so much more. Bundling together the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Doctors into one story was surprising to me given that the first four in the collection have all featured just one incarnation's time aboard the TARDIS, and whilst I knew from the number of chapters that this wouldn't always correlate I didn't expect three to get thrown together! That was disappointing as in the main body of text, the focus was surprisingly on the Sixth Doctor's time who had the least number of serials! Getting the TARDIS to react to the events of Castrovalva was good and I thought the shocked and exasperated perspective actually worked well here with her reacting to having a quarter of her mass jettisoned to escape Event One. However, from there things were just not very focused and again there seemed to be more intention to cover everything quickly whereas I think it would almost certainly be beneficial to go into more detail on certain highlights. The little page focusing on The Five Doctors was very good and I like the shedding skin line when the multiple TARDISes dematerialised at the end to take their respective Doctors and companions back to their own time stream. Suggesting that these might be the first Memory TARDISes seems like a bit of a stretch, but I can appreciate what's being done here. I thought the TARDIS could have gone into more detail about her relationship with Kamelion but at the same time I couldn't disagree with her description of him being such a waste. One thing I was really hoping for from this book in particular was the TARDIS reacting to the events of Attack of the Cybermen and the chameleon circuit functioning properly again. I was so disappointed with how vague that was presented here as I felt that was a massively missed opportunity. It was just descriptive of what happened instead of actually telling us how the TARDIS felt which was a shame. Touching upon the Rani hijacking the TARDIS in Time and the Rani and causing the Sixth Doctor's regeneration also warranted more detail, but I did like how Mel was utilised with the TARDIS even being confused as to how she became a companion. The suggestion of the Valeyard being from within the Time War was fascinating and something to ponder given which numbered incarnation fought there and that not really being confirmed on screen, but it's something to think about! I felt the Seventh Doctor's section of the Journey Log was very poor and didn't tell us anything at all, but the TARDIS hinting at Ace's fate and then her return in The Power of the Doctor was a nice touch. A better nickname than Basher would have been good though! Pease Pottage for Mel was just perfect. I also did enjoy the take on the new TARDIS console from the twentieth anniversary onwards. It does look splendid and the Eaglemoss figurine of it is one of my favourite elements of my collection. Overall, some fun stuff but it just felt like a rush.

Rating: 5/10

Day of the Master: Part Two

"Regeneration energy everywhere. Now the Ravenous can feed anywhere they want."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: October 2019

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures: Ravenous 4.04

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

The Doctor investigates a mystery in the vortex, Liv follows the trail of their enemy, and Helen searches for a god. Everywhere they go there is a Master or Mistress, but is the Doctor's oldest enemy there to hinder them, or to help? With the TARDIS crew scattered and lost, only a miracle can save the universe. And for that to happen someone is going to have to die.

Verdict

Day of the Master concluded in sensational style with this second part of what has turned out to be a rather magnificent finale! This is a fitting way to conclude the Ravenous story arc that has encompassed the last four boxsets of Eighth Doctor Adventures. It really did wrap up everything very nicely with so many moving parts! It was an enthralling hour of audio drama that absolutely flew by. I thought the cliffhanger finish of Liv regenerating was almost immediately played for gags with the War Master shooting her again when she was done, only for her to regenerate once again. Alas, despite her shock she had not changed appearances. Now that would have been something! Missy really came into her own here after a quiet outing in the first part which was just wonderful and hearing her on top form always makes me happy. She's incredible and arguably my favourite incarnation of the Master. I think that's in flux though but she shone here. Having her alongside two other versions of herself in the form of the War Master and The Movie Master was magnificent and she couldn't help but comment on the voices of both. She was almost in love with her past American self and her impression of the accent going all Aussie was sublime. Her calling the War Master posh and claiming he was jealous because of that was hilarious also. I'm not sure she was the incarnation the other two were hoping for when they called for help at the way station, but she was just perfect. I thought the revelation regarding Artron and his wish giving potential was something I didn't see coming but him turning out to be the provider from Fairytale of Salzburg was some fantastic continuity. The reaction of the Doctor when he pieced that together was fantastic. I liked how Helen's wish brought the trio together just in time for Liv before she was sent out of the airlock to die over and over, and it felt like a while since they had all been together! The origin of the Ravenous being confirmed here was brilliant and I love that with things being pre-rassilhon era on Gallifrey, he had distorted the truth to make them the nightmares of the Time Lord race. Artron was actually responsible and the way regeneration energy had been given to all was spectacular. Talk about a feast for the Ravenous! Their arrival from later in the timeline alongside the Eleven was quite the entrance and I loved their potential feast being one of perpetuity. The inner selves of the Eleven being unsure about the prospect of being the only living being other than the Ravenous was completely understandable, but they need not worry. The Doctor working things out and helping Artron in his later form of much older age to realise the truth and grant his own wish was excellent. He reverted the Ravenous back to their true selves as the Kolstani people and they actually forgave their inadvertent creator. His dying after the effort of his own wish was a fitting way for him to bow out, but he was far from the last Time Lord to perish! The Eleven lost everything here and in trying to form an alliance with the three Masters out of desperation, they each shot him to send him off into regeneration. The comment about the Eleven preparing to now see things from the inside was sensational, I also thought the trio coming together and having the ability to grant their former decayed past self a new regenerative cycle was incredible but it showed the desperation of the Time Lords during the Time War to do this. I'm fascinated by the idea of the Decayed Master not now finishing up in The Keeper of Traken, but multiple versions and a set fate for the Master in any form is something good to play with! Overall, a sublime finale that pulled everything together very nicely and was just a satisfying way to conclude the series! I can't wait for the next one already. 

Rating: 10/10

Day of the Master: Part One

"The feast is not yet over."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: October 2019

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures: Ravenous 4.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

The Doctor investigates a mystery in the vortex, Liv follows the trail of their enemy, and Helen searches for a god. Everywhere they go there is a Master or Mistress, but is the Doctor's oldest enemy there to hinder them, or to help? With the TARDIS crew scattered and lost, only a miracle can save the universe. And for that to happen someone is going to have to die.

Verdict

Day of the Master started in fine fashion with this opening part of the double Eighth Doctor Adventures Ravenous finale! This was an enthralling listen and all while seemingly setting things up for quite the explosive part two conclusion! There’s a great deal going on and it’s impressive that things never feel messy or convoluted. The TARDIS trio are split up right from the off which is good and almost necessary with how many different moving elements there are in this episode. The Doctor and Liv initially escape in the Master’s TARDIS which is quite fun and her comments about the interior being black were negative, but what else was the decorating going to be like? She'd just met the decayed version on the brink of death! The toil the Doctor was going through in having to leave his own TARDIS behind was excellent and sold so well by McGann. This was a hugely impressive performance and it really did help sell just how big the stakes were here. They ought to be a finale after four box sets! The Doctor leaving Liv behind to explore the world of Kolstan was a bit of a shock to me but that allowed for the supposed Time Lords he had called upon for support to join her. Of course, that turned out to be the War Master which was delightful. Just how he can show up with several of his other selves around is something I do hope gets addressed given the time locked nature of the Time War, but having him glory in Liv not knowing his identity was great stuff. When the moment came and she thought he was the Twelve was just glorious as he retorted in anger that he was not a number. His identity came as even more of a shock given that she was convinced she'd confirmed in Planet of Dust that he had died, but this incarnation had gotten over that which was quite fun. He really does know how to defy death! Helen being kidnapped by Missy was fun stuff and I was hoping for a little more of her given that she graces the front cover in such a dominant fashion. Anything we get with Michelle Gomez is wonderful though and I suspect she'll shine in the second part. The Master who takes centre stage for me here is the incarnation from The Movie which was such a fun reunion. I associate the Eric Roberts version as the Eighth Doctor's Master so to get a rematch here was long overdue! I hope we do get these two incarnations doing more battle in the future because they work splendidly well and it's fun to continue a rivalry that we actually saw on screen and that's not easy with the Eighth Doctor! Having him go to Kolstan was really intriguing as I loved the idea of him going to pre-Time Lord history. That's something he shouldn't be doing so that was delightful fun. I love exploring that kind of lore and ancient history with the Doctor obstructing all Laws of Time. The continuity from the previous episode in having him meet Artron was strong stuff and I liked how he nearly gave away where he was from in blurting out Gallifrey. He couldn't give away the future, especially at a precious time as this. I thought the reaction of the Doctor when he realised that the Kolstani people were getting hungry was tremendous as things finally seem to be coming full circle regarding the Ravenous. Exploring their potential origins here is really interesting and I can't wait to see that play out further in the second part, whilst they were alongside the Eleven on Gallifrey causing mayhem with their feeding on the Time Lords. The potential of more guards coming to attack them just meaning a buffet was terrific stuff! I thought the cliffhanger finish with the Master shooting Liv and then her seemingly beginning to regenerate was quite incredible and something I certainly didn't see coming. I don't believe she will actually change in the slightest, but it's a very fun thought and I'm looking forward to the resolution. Overall, a very strong first half of what is set to be a great finale. I can't wait for the conclusion. 

Planet of Dust

"You steal water, you steal life."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: October 2019

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures: Ravenous 4.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

On the parched world of Parrak, the Master holds sway. But he is exhausted and desperate, and his final hope for survival lies somewhere beneath the desert. When the TARDIS arrives, alliances will be made and trust will be broken – and feuding Time Lords will discover the Ravenous never, ever give up.

Verdict

Planet of Dust was a great episode to continue my way through the fourth Ravenous series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! This felt a little bit like filler in terms of setting up the two-part finale but that really is okay as the story was still strong in its own right whilst doing so. I’m surprised that given the journey we have been on since The Eleven that it’s the Master’s time to come out and play against the Eighth Doctor, but in being alongside both the Doctor and the Master I was very impressed with how much of an equal the Eleven felt. It was a solid tri-fector and neither party felt inferior which is testament to the way the Eleven has been developed over the course of the Big Finish run. He didn’t take too much time in revealing again that his intentions were very much selfish and that once again sparked some fun annoyance from Liv, but his desire for power on the planet Parrak was fascinating. It was a strong setting and I thought it was great stuff to already have the Master positioned as the Provider. He has monopolised the planet’s water supply throughout time which is quite incredible really and only he could give it out. Talk about power and a hold of a population! The innocence of the Doctor and his companions carrying flasks and being deemed thieves was amusing but I was intrigued by the Master seemingly being put off by the Doctor’s arrival. The version of the Master here being the decayed emaciated incarnation was perfect given what was happening on the planet and his continued search for renewal, although I was fascinated by his comments. This doesn’t appear to be the same decaying version that was renewed at the end of The Keeper of Traken because there were references to other sources of replenishment such as the Cheetah People from Survival and even the worm-like embodiment in The Movie. The idea of the Master always ending up in the decayed way is a fascinating concept but I’m not sure it’s one I’m entirely onboard with. I’m not sure it’s viable as a whole, but I’m open minded to explore it! The desperation is clear as he desires new life replenishment and where better than the Tomb of Artron. Slightly more background on that would have been welcomed but I still appreciated what we got. Hell, the Eleven was one step ahead of the game which again showed how much of an equal he was to the Master and the Doctor because the tomb was empty! The Master’s reaction to that was terrific. His reaction to the mention of the Ravenous also was superb and really helped sell what kind of a threat they are. For possibly the first time the Master admitted he was feeling fear. I’m not sure how much of a tasty snack he would be in his decayed form, but the Eleven had much bigger feasts planned for the nightmares of the Time Lords. The idea of a perpetual feast for them with the Tomb of Artron was really good and really sets things up nicely for where they’ll go from here. They are the umbrella title for the four boxsets comprising this series so I wonder where numerous Masters will fit in come the double finale. I can’t wait to find out! I thought the Doctor solving the problem of water on the planet was relatively straightforward and the local reaction to seeing a water fountain was one of joy and buoyancy. Who could blame them? Water in perpetuity was something they could never even dream about! I thought the way things finished with the cliffhanger was the Eleven getting a little ahead of himself as after some slow pacing and getting a hold of his inner former selves, it was time to proclaim victory. He certainly has all of the aces up his sleeve at the moment! But a tad more of a less generic threat or proclamation there would have really added to things. I was hoping for a little more interaction between the Eighth Doctor and this version of the Master, but what we did get was terrific. The image of the Master in his white robes almost painted the picture of a mummy! That was intriguing and it’s a shame it couldn’t grace the front cover. Overall though, a really strong story to set up a very exciting finale for what has been another stellar series in this range. 

Rating: 8/10

Whisper

"It's camouflaged as a killer."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: October 2019

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures: Ravenous 4.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

Seeking respite after their battle with the Ravenous and hoping to find a quiet place where the Eleven can recuperate, the TARDIS crew visit the Still Foundation. But all they find is a small band of survivors under siege from a terrifying predator. A predator that hunts by sound.

Verdict

Whisper was an excellent episode to kick off the fourth and final Ravenous series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! This was such a strong format and if it went a little longer or perhaps was expanded upon in a Monthly Adventures type story, then it could have even got a perfect rating! It’s just a fantastic idea for the audio format and the execution was superb. I was worried when I realised the significance of the title that things might get a little annoying hearing whispers for much of the audio, but it actually turned into something quite special. The actors all deserve kudos for still maintaining their true voices whilst keeping that quiet tone. Naturally, an episode that was made up a lot of whispers had a very eery tone and atmosphere which fitted perfectly. The Still Foundation made for a strong setting and it was quite ironic that this was somewhere the Doctor intended to take the Eleven for something of a calm experience. I was a little disappointed that the revelation that he hadn’t actually been cured of his regenerative disorder was revealed so early on after that being a superb cliffhanger at the end of the previous box set, but at the same time that provided a scintillating dynamic between the Eleven and Liv. This relationship is honestly spectacular and I could listen to an entire episode of them just locked in a room. The disdain she has is so different compared to Helen thanks to the time she spent with him thinking she was providing therapy. I am fascinated by his endgame here and whilst the Ravenous were barely even mentioned, we know they’re still around and the Eleven has them in his back pocket to produce and reveal his endgame. I’m looking forward to that but for now he genuinely did save the Doctor’s life. Even Liv was startled and admitted she might have been wrong about him which did honestly surprise me. I like how the Doctor does want to help the Eleven despite everything he’s put him through and I hope we do hear a ruthless streak from this incarnation once it blows up in his face. The mystery of the creature that hunted by sound was really good and I was even more fascinated by the fact the others had been present on the planet for two years before they appeared. The death of Vonn was quite a shocking moment and she died quite early as it felt like she was going to be an important character. It was a startling reminder of how ruthless he could be and he quickly calmed Liv by asking if she’d rather it be Helen who was sacrificed instead. That was brutal! I thought the Eleven in particular struggling with his past selves when it came to the whispering was superb because it was so hard for him to control and even more so when he was feigning being cured! The lack of sympathy Liv had was just tremendous. I thought the tiptoeing in the story was really good and the journey through the Foundation was just thrilling. I was actually listening quite early in the morning and in hindsight I wish I had actually listened to this one in the dark at night. It felt superb. I liked how things finished with the Eleven having a request on where to be dropped off as he could sense he had outstayed his welcome in the current TARDIS dynamic. I smell a plan! I can’t wait to hear the next instalment. A wonderful series and another excellent episode!

Rating: 9/10

Shada

"The universe shall be me."

Writer: Douglas Adams

Format: TV (Partial Animation)

Released: December 2017

Season: 17.06

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II, K9

Synopsis

"Delicate matter, slightly. It's about a book..."

Chris Parsons is happily engrossed in studying post-graduate physics at Cambridge, when one day he finds an old book, sitting on a dusty shelf in an ageing professor's library. Written in a language nobody can read and made of a paper that can't be torn, this is no ordinary book. And when it enters his life, everything changes for young Chris Parsons.

Soon finding himself aboard an invisible space-ship, chased by monsters made of molten rock; aboard an alien prison on a distant planet and attacked by a horde of mind-control zombies. Chris also meets a strange man with a very long scarf who claims he can travel through time and space... in a police box.

It's going to be a busy day for Chris Parsons.

Verdict

Shada was a great story and a fascinating format with the mix of the originally recorded material prior to the serial being abandoned due to the BBC strikes and filling in those gaps with brand new animation. It's funky to tell the story this way and whilst I do think the transition is slightly off-putting, I think this is certainly an improved take on the serial-that-never-was compared with the version that was originally released on VHS with the more narrative style to fill in the gaps of what should have been happening between material that was recorded. One thing I did find odd was the decision to make this version a feature-length almost movie. That felt odd and I'm not really sure why the cliffhangers were omitted! It didn't hamper my enjoyment too much I just found it very perplexing and I'm not entirely sure there's much value there. In terms of the animation itself, I'm honestly not sure Doctor Who has ever looked better in this style. It was staggeringly good! The detail and the colour was second to none and the movement as well was so good. This felt like another level to nearly every other animated reconstruction there has been. I am baffled to find that this version was released in 2017 as here I am eight years later finally watching it, and I must have owned the DVD since at least 2018! Better late than never, eh? It's been nine years since I blogged that VHS version and I remembered a fair chunk which was good, although it didn't click until quite late on that Professor Chronotis was actually Salyavin. It was obvious once he used his mental powers on Clare but apparently I clocked on much earlier when I watched the VHS version back in 2016 after rereading my blog entry! I think the story is perhaps damaged by its reputation as being lost and its author. It's very good as my rating reflects but I do think it is perhaps a little too long. It could definitely benefit from an injection of pace, but the charisma is all there with the Doctor and Romana. This pairing almost certainly are my favourite TARDIS combination and their instinctive banter and chemistry is just magnificent. Their interactions with Chronotis were fantastic and he was an incredible character. The cravings for tea I had whilst watching! I would be remiss if I did not mention the outfit for Romana here because she just looked incredible. I'm not sure how happy the animators would be though! But the transitions from real footage to capturing the characters in animation was honestly seamless. I was so impressed with the likenesses. I thought Skagra made for a really strong villain and his calm demeanour was superb. I would have liked more background regarding him throughout the story instead of a quick summary at the end by the Doctor, but that scene did allow for something incredibly special. I thought the Doctor fiddling with the TARDIS interior was fun but when the camera panned to the older hands and then we got the shot of Tom Baker modern day reprising the role again it was just wonderful. Linking it into how Chronotis was viewed was just magical. Easily the highlight of the entire thing! Chris Parsons made for a really strong character and his take on science here was strong, only for it to be ripped apart. The Doctor telling him he had a lot to unlearn was marvellous. I thought the prison planet of the Time Lords makes for a wonderful idea although I do question why those imprisoned would go along with Skagra's plan to make the universe a singular mind. It's an incredible idea but if they're revered war criminals why would they want their minds altered? That felt odd and it's a shame none of them were recognisable. The use of the book was fantastic and I liked how Clare grew into things from there, and the Doctor's mind copy playing a crucial role in the conclusion was nicely done. Overall, a stunning way to complete this unfinished classic and it really is a delight that the original actors could reunite to finish their work. Kudos to all involved. A magnificent idea and a fine execution. 

Rating: 8/10

Lux

"The greatest story ever told."

Writer: Russell T Davies

Format: TV

Broadcast: 19 April 2025

Series: 15.02

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda

Synopsis

The Doctor's quest to get Belinda home takes the TARDIS to Miami in 1952, where an abandoned cinema is hiding a terrifying secret. Can the Doctor uncover Lux's power?

Verdict

Lux was just a sensational episode to continue the brand new series! Another 8am watch with my three-year old son in the room and it’s fair to say he’s slowly becoming a fan! The nature of this episode and the cartoon character coming to life premise means it’s ripe for a young child like that to enjoy, but there was also plenty for the adults too! Right from the off the atmosphere was excellent and it was good to follow on immediately from where The Robot Revolution left off in the TARDIS. Belinda was a little more accommodating of the Doctor here and whilst I do think her character accepting him like that is a little quick, there’s enough there to be well paced and make sense. It’s not a huge shift and she’s still there to call the Doctor’s name ridiculous. That was a magnificent moment. I thought the fun between the Doctor and Belinda in the TARDIS as they got dressed for 1952 Miami was infectious and I really liked how they addressed their race. It wasn’t as full focus as Rosa which was absolutely the right move, but I’m so glad it was highlighted in an important way. Belinda’s realisation of where and when she was made for a terrific companion moment as she came to grips with actually being in the past. The way she told the fictional police officer later in the episode to not hold a gun at them was powerful stuff as she really wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself. The cartoon of Mr Ring a Ding was just outstanding and I absolutely adore the idea of an animation coming to life. He looks all colourful and bubbly when playing the role, but once infected with the moonlight and coming to life he became incredibly sinister! Addressing the cinema audience was a neat touch and was one step off from the viewer later being addressed. I thought the Doctor and Belinda becoming animation was good fun and whilst it would have been good to get more of them in that form, what we did get later was just astounding. I gasped out loud when we saw the Doctor Who fans! Just the image of the Doctor and Belinda sitting on the sofa of three Who dans made me quite jealous actually. It’s so bold and barmy but I just loved it. With the Doctor and Belinda in a cartoon film, everything was on the table and whilst this certainly pushed the envelope, I adored it. Just seeing the Classic era DVDs in the background along with an Ood action figure and that clothing merchandise was spectacular! The Doctor addressing his fans was amusing and I liked how they even admitted they were annoying. As a fandom we really can be, and it’s a shame this concept was leaked online as addressed in the bloody episode! I didn’t think that would come until the finale - and it still might - but it’s just incredible for the Doctor to acknowledge that somewhere there is a fictional television show about him. The humour that came from the fans agreeing that Blink is the best story and Belinda hearing the concept was just so good. It really was. I thought the moment where Mr Ring a Ding let out its laugh and it echoing that of Maestro from The Devil’s Chord was an outstanding moment. It really made me sit up and take even more notice! I loved the Harbinger moment and getting to do battle with Lux as the God of Light was tremendous. I didn’t expect another god to do battle here so that was a terrific surprise. The mentions of the Toymaker, Maestro and Sutekh as that Pantheon was already defeated was marvellous. I thought the foreshadowing with the Sunshine character and the fate for Lux was brilliantly done and the fans even addressing how the resolution was obvious was fun stuff. Lux utilising light and trying to harness the regeneration (or was it bigeneration?) energy of the Doctor to give itself form was excellent and quite the tormenting image! Reginald Pye was a lovely character and his suffering at losing his wife was a strong emotional tie. Him being the one to blow a hole in the cinema and give Lux all of the light it could handle in more in the form of sunlight was a superb resolution. Lux just kept on expanding into nothingness! The importance of the water analogy for us humans and how we can still drown was fantastic. I thought the fans mentioning they weren’t real characters because they didn’t have surnames but then appearing in the middle of the end credits and being credited with surnames was a nice touch. Is the Doctor really out of the fictional world? Mrs Flood showing up and mentioning there only being a limited run was marvellous too. Just who is she? I can’t wait to find out! Overall, just outstanding. 

Rating: 10/10

Doctor Who in Wonderland

"You'd be best off forgetting all about your rationality."

Writer: Paul Magrs

Format: Novel

Released: July 2024

Series: Puffin Classics 06

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan, Turlough

Synopsis

The Doctor and his companions visit the dreaming spires of peaceful Oxford, hoping of a brief respite from their travels.

But when Lewi Carroll appears at a garden party and their fellow guests transform into animal, they realise that everything is not as it seems...

An unknown cosmic foe has trapped them in a twisted version of Alice's Wonderland. Separated from the TARDIS and from each other, their only hope of escape lies in cryptic clues teased by fan-favourite characters from Carroll's classic tale.

Verdict

Doctor Who in Wonderland was a great novel to keep me up to date with Puffin's rather unique and quirky classics crossover range! I have been a big fan of what this range has been doing because it does not take itself seriously and quite frankly it's just a lot of fun. I think Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a fine story to push Doctor Who into a crossover with and this was actually one of the more familiar stories from this range for me personally. I haven't actually read the book which is a shame but it's been an eternity since I read a book that wasn't Doctor Who or written by my very talented partner. There are just too many in need of blogging! But I have seen both of the Alice in Wonderland films that were released over the last decade or so and very much enjoyed them. I'm not sure how true they are to the books but this was actually quite different to what I was expecting. The idea of the Doctor and his companions going into Wonderland is marvellous but the version we got here was almost like a mixup of fiction and reality. It was an intriguing dynamic and I think it worked despite my different expectations. I really loved the role of Turlough in the story and having this set between Mawdryn Undead and Terminus was an excellent choice in hindsight. He is incredibly new as a companion and Tegan is at the absolute height of her suspicions regarding Turlough. That makes for brilliant reading and it's interesting to read how even Nyssa was showing some level of concern. He was clearly shady and this makes it a fun way for the Black Guardian to be the villain without having to give him another return. This is set within the Black Guardian trilogy and just perfectly slots in. Having the Black Guardian as the evil Queen of Hearts was quite the image, but it's fair to say the imagery described in this book was off the charts! It was an amalgamation of so much with people having whiskers and tails and the Doctor and his companions not always noticing! I like the idea of Tegan having a favourite childhood book and it certainly seems like good advice to Nyssa to relax by reading something fun rather than scientific. Her desire for the book in a non-physical form was excellent and something I found ironic as I was reading on the Kindle. However she had even located the book in liquid form and Turlough (under the Black Guardian's guidance) would see that cause havoc with the TARDIS systems. The arrival in Oxford was fun because from there things got whacky. The Doctor and Tegan were sent as caterers to the Dean's party whilst Turlough took Nyssa for her first experience punting. Their accidental kidnapping of the Cheshire Cat was quite hilarious! I thought the threat of the Jabberwocky was very good and the way a couple of chapters just concluded with it eating Lewis Carroll and then the Doctor was extraordinary. It was so emphatic! I thought the use of the March Hare and the Madhatter alongside Tegan was a little reduced compared to what I was expecting, and Alice being an older woman from the 1930s was different altogether! I quite liked that dynamic though and her holding the manuscript that was in flux was fascinating. How could fiction be fluid as a fixed point in time? Was time really moving here? That would play into the resolution well as the Doctor realised that if the clocks resumed then time would flow and Wonderland wouldn't be able to exist anymore. That came quite suddenly but it was certainly impactful in providing a resolution to things! Overall, this was a fascinating take on the crossover as it didn't wholly feel like that we entered the fictional world of Wonderland but that was absolutely fine. No Master or visit to the Land of Fiction was involved and with the story's placement in televised continuity, I like how the Doctor is unaware of the culprit. This was all about Turlough for me and having a new story placed so early on in his chronology worked wonders for me. I'm a fan! A terrific little read.

Rating: 8/10

Last of the Cybermen

"I want only to bring our two species together."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: May 2015

Series: Monthly Adventures 199

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Jamie, Zoe

Synopsis

It's been ten years since the final assault on Telos, the last act of the Great Cyber War. Thanks to the Glittergun, humanity prevailed – and the half-machine Cybermen were utterly obliterated. 

Out on the furthest fringes of the galaxy, however, they left their mark – in the form of a giant Cyber-head, hundreds of feet high. A monument? A memorial? A tomb? The Doctor, the Cybermen's most indefatigable adversary, sets out to investigate... but he fails to return to his TARDIS. Leaving the Ship, his two companions – brave Highlander Jamie MacCrimmon, and super-intelligent Zoe Heriot – find a stranger in the Doctor's place. A strange in a coat of many colours, who insists that he's the Doctor – transposed in time and space with one of his former selves...

But why here? Why now? Has the universe really seen the last of the Cybermen?

Verdict

Last of the Cybermen was a great story to continue my way through the Monthly Adventures! This served very nicely as the middle instalment in the wrong Doctors trilogy which I am a massive fan of because it's just so much fun to mashup different Doctors and companions. In saying that, I do feel slightly cheated by the combination here because even though it wasn't exactly the true versions of the companions, Legend of the Cybermen feels like it got there first with this trio. That's not to say I didn't thoroughly enjoy things because that would just be false, but I would've preferred things changing slightly. That's just me being picky though and I wonder if there will be some significance of the Doctor changing places with his previous self of four incarnations prior for each edition of this trilogy? I do hope we get the answers in the next story because it was alluded to here just as it was in The Defectors that there is certainly somebody behind it. But why? What do they gain? The Sixth Doctor here tackling the potential of history changing if he acted differently to how his second incarnation might have was fascinating and it almost feels like this is Big Finish wanting to do in this case a Main Range story for the Second Doctor. They've just injected the Sixth in his place! That's no bad thing and I'm intrigued by the use of the earlier Doctor's theme arrangement. I thought Jamie and Zoe watching the Second Doctor running away from something was an intriguing way to start the story but before they knew it he'd been replaced by the Sixth. Zoe was quick to believe that he was who he said he was, whilst the tension between the Doctor and Jamie was incredible! It was genuinely tense at times and I really did think things were going to get physical. It made for both compelling and humorous listening. I thought the setting was really strong and the proximity to the Great Cyber War was fantastic. There was so much continuity here with the obvious being to The Tomb of the Cybermen with Jamie and Zoe thinking they were in a Cyber tomb, but for them it was only a few weeks after the events of The Invasion which was fascinating. Jamie's retort about being shot and not actually meeting the Cyber Planner when one was revealed here was marvellous. I thought the Doctor referencing Orion was intriguing and I loved the reference to The Isos Network because it came before that Early Adventure had actually been released! That's a clever little idea and it is incredibly effective. It really can just be the little things. I thought the discussion on memories in this story got a little emotional with the Doctor realising that this was likely his former companions' final trip before The War Games where they would lose nearly everything. The Doctor being so open about all of their fates when constructing the hypercube was quite shocking but the emotional toll will never be dampened on the serial. It's incredible. I thought some of the guest cast in this one were intriguing with Zennox the absolute highlight as the villain. Her desire to have the Cyber Planner as the central piece of her collection as a part of Cyber consciousness. That was never going to end well and restoring the Planner meant the Cybermen were returned, at least the last of them that is. Who would have thought a lightning strike would be so important? I wasn't a huge fan of Lanky unfortunately because he just didn't work for me as a character. I don't like the idea of a fake Cyberman either! Findel though was tremendous and the way he hit things off with Zoe was superb. Their share love of mathematics meant solving the logic gates was right up their alley. I wasn't expecting Zoe to be installed as the vessel for the Super Controller, but I appreciated her brain power being sufficient! It was an audacious plan, but it would actually be Findel who made the ultimate sacrifice to wipe out the Cybermen seemingly for the last time. I thought the imagery in the story was impressive with the description and cover art of the five-hundred foot Cyber head quite spectacular! The history of the Glittergun ties in nicely to come with Revenge of the Cybermen and this almost fills a gap between the two which is great. Overall, this is a great adventure and I just wish we actually had more of the Cybermen! 

Rating: 8/10

From Here to Eternity

"I was an exile who'd been invited back home."

Writer: Stephen Cole

Format: Short Story

Released: July 2024

Series: I, TARDIS: Memoirs of an Impossible Blue Box 04

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane, Harry, Leela, Romana I, Romana II, K9, Adric, Nyssa, Tegan

Synopsis

The Doctor has a unique bond with their TARDIS. They've always loved the 'old girl' for the way she's gone looking for trouble anywhere in the universe. The Doctor says they stole the TARDIS from Gallifrey. The TARDIS disagrees... she stole them. She hasn't always taken them where they want to go, but she's made sure to take them where they needed to be.

For the TARDIS is dar more than just a time machine crossed with a spaceship. Her life reflects the Doctor's life – a shared wanderlust and longing to explore. Now you can revisit the Doctor's adventures as seen through the eyes – or the flashing rooftop light, at least – of the TARDIS. From the time the Doctor stole her from Gallifrey to her latest adventures with the Fifteenth Doctor, the TARDIS reflects wittily on her epic, incredible history – past, present and future! 

Verdict

From Here to Eternity was not the greatest lot short stories to continue my way through the I, TARDIS: Memoirs of an Impossible Blue Box collection. I was a little worried going into this one that it wouldn't be great given how big the era of the Fourth Doctor is spanning seven seasons, and unfortunately I was proven right as everything just felt incredibly rushed. The main body of text didn't really offer much at all and even the sections recalling the events surrounding the Key to Time just were not intriguing. I would have loved much more discussion on the use of the Randomiser and the White Guardian's interference. This was all described adequately and a fine account of what happened for the most part during the Fourth Doctor's televised time aboard the TARDIS, but with this being a collection of stories from the perspective of the TARDIS itself I would have liked so much more discussion on what that did to the time and space machine. This was such a far cry from Strict Machine where the emotions of the TARDIS being exiled along with the Doctor were explored as her pilot lost sense of how to fly her. With the whole universe well and truly up for grabs here it felt like a bit of a missed opportunity. I thought the highlighting of The Deadly Assassin was positive in the TARDIS being allowed to freely return home, but for her as mentioned it wasn't really that big of a deal was it? She'd been under the flight of the Time Lords on numerous occasions. I thought including the School Reunion revelation of the Doctor actually having left Sarah Jane in Aberdeen rather than Croydon was quite amusing and a nice touch, as was the talk of Tegan returning later in The Power of the Doctor to help take on the Master's latest plan. The TARDIS being aghast at being put in a little known museum on her return to Gallifrey was pretty good, but the rest of the Journey Log was honestly quite painful. It was so rushed and just a mad dash around numerous Fourth Doctor serials without (mostly) saying a lot. I mean, what was the point of an entry for London, Earth depicting the events of The Talons of Weng-Chiang by just saying 'I spend some time by the Thames in the late Victorian era'. You couldn't be any more bland or boring! That tells absolutely nothing of one of the all time classic adventures. The miner inconvenience line for Kaldor depicting The Robots of Death is quite clever though, but again this really didn't tell me much at all about what the TARDIS went through with this Doctor at the helm. I thought it was good to touch upon the venture into E-Space starting with Full Circle, but for me it didn't go far enough. This was just all description but I want more details from the actual perspective of the TARDIS. That is the point of the book after all! I did find some humour in Romana being dubbed as 'Fred' in the Stray Memories section and with the use of the time ring in Season 11 it's a stark reminder of just how little 'Navy Man' Harry actually does travel in the TARDIS. The humour that came from 'Tin Dog' K9 was probably the highlight of the story as the pair never famously got on brilliantly or without a bit of banter, and it was nice for the TARDIS to acknowledge the events of Journey's End and the role K9 played in saving the planet there. Mouth on Legs is also the most fitting companion nickname we've seen for any so far. That perfectly encapsulates Tegan! It's a shame she isn't included in the Fifth Doctor section though. That's where she and Nyssa belong. Overall, a fine account of the Fourth Doctor era but it was just so rushed to include as much as possible that it actually didn't say a lot at all. Far too descriptive for my liking.

Rating: 5/10

Devil in the Smoke

"How can a dead body just appear inside a snowman?"

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Novella

Released: December 2012

Printed in: Summer Falls and Other Stories

Featuring: Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

On a cold day in December, two young boys build a snowman – and are confronted with a strange and grisly mystery. Their snowman begins to bleed... 

The search for answers to this impossible event will plunge Harry into the most hazardous – and exhilarating – adventure of his life.

Verdict

Devil in the Smoke was an excellent novella to continue my way through the Summer Falls and Other Stories collection! This was easily the best of the collection thus far and I was actually a tad surprised to find that it had been released as its own ebook prior to the airing of The Snowmen back in 2012. I have no memory of ever hearing about it which is a shame as it would have been pretty cool to read the story when it was released and experience it as a true prequel. It serves as a magnificent introduction to the world and time in which the aforementioned Christmas Special would be set whilst giving us just enough of a subtle hint regarding the threat to come. Highlight the Paternoster Gang here was just brilliant and they are a tremendous trio. I have loved their further adventures with Big Finish, but honestly I feel like they work even better in prose! Maybe that's just testament to the writing of Justin Richards here because he absolutely nails the dynamic between them all. Referring to them here as the Lizard Woman, Parlour Maid and the Troll is quite amusing but it's a pretty apt description! Strax might just be one of my all time favourite characters because he's just so wonderful ridiculous. No matter the format, he just works. He's so funny! A good Sontaran is not something that should work – especially alongside two female characters! – but he just does. He's tremendous. The humour he presented here was once again marvellous with his insistence on using heavy weapons, thinking Cockney dialect was code and accepting their retreat as regrouping. The technicalities of a war-bred species! His offering to be the subject of court marital and summary execution when failing to wholly act out the requests of Vastra in bringing Felicity was hilarious too. Her fate was not though. The story behind Harry and Jim was quite a sad one as they were only young boys building a snowman. What else would youngsters do when there's a white covering? I thought the fact a dead woman fell out of their snowman was a horrifying good image and one that I think would be superb on screen. I initially thought that this was going to be connected to the glass woman and the Great Intelligence with the use of the smoke, but they were just striking similarities. That wasn't a problem at all and whilst we didn't get a name for the smog creature that often took on the form of Able Hecklington, I liked the way it was defeated in having a covering of snow basically absorb the creature in its steam form. That was pretty effective and I like to think it would go on to conjoin with the Great Intelligence to soon do battle with the Eleventh Doctor. I thought the way that creature was presented was fantastic and the prospect of it wanting to consume the world and even the sun when whole was superb. The use of the toffee tin was really effective actually in keeping it separate and Strax was actually pretty useful there. Even Vastra admitted as such! The cauldron sequence was pretty incredible with the threat of Harry being taken down into the smoke, but once again Strax was on hand to use the weapons he oh so loves to save the day. Jim being forced into tricking Harry to getting there in the first place was a shame, and his ultimate fate was a sad one for a child! The Victorian setting was there in abundance in knowing that Harry was from a workhouse which made Jenny's offer at the end a nice touch. No Sontaran military training for the young lad! As a whole, this was a fantastic prequel whilst serving as its own story at the same time which is an impressive feat. There was so much to like. Great detective work and a terrific little mystery that was genuinely gory and interesting. A fantastic read! 

Rating: 9/10