Return to the Web Planet

"Blundering into things is what the Doctor does for a living."

Writer: Daniel O'Mahony
Format: Audio
Released: December 2007
Series: Subscriber Exclusive 05

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa

Synopsis

"It's an ancient name. From the dark time..."

It's been hundreds of years and several regenerations since the Doctor last visited the insect world of Vortis. Mycg has changed during his absence, but not necessarily for the better.

This now green and pleasant land isn't the paradise it first appears. Something malevolent is living out in The Desolation... And the Doctor and Nyssa must solve the mystery before the City of Light is overrun...

Verdict

So after completing The Web Planet yesterday, I thought today was a good time to listen to the audio sequel; Return to the Web Planet was a very enjoyable audio to listen to and certainly a mass improvement from its TV predecessor. I really liked the pairing of the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa, as per usual, and was probably their best combined performance that I have listened to so far, though I have a whole load of Main Range audios to get through yet! The description of a much changed Vortis, since the Doctor was last there at least, was great. The action packed start was very good with the Doctor and Nyssa fleeing from a Zarbi stampede! The Zarbi, who were pretty bad in The Web Planet, worked a whole lot better in audio. The format definitely suited them and I wouldn't be against a return in the future! The Zarbi were pretty useless without the Animus controlling them, they just seemed to get in the way in a humorous fashion, which was more than enough for their role. The main story centred around Yanesh and Xanthe, who were sent from Earth as part of a biological test to adapt to the planet of Vortis. I liked what had happened to Xanthe in becoming the Speaker for Mother Life, and arguably playing the enemy. The way she was reunited with Yanesh and then ultimately created a cocoon with him, to breed Zarbi-human children was quite disturbing but yet intriguing. The Doctor allowing it occur was of further intrigue. The Menoptera characters of Hedyla and Acheron were brilliant and I liked how through them a lot of history about the Zarbi and Vortis itself was told. The many references to The Web Planet, despite that being a poor TV story, were great and overall, a great story! I just thought the ending was a little abrupt but still fantastic nonetheless!

Rating: 8/10