Storm Warning

"Geronimo, Lenin's pyjamas, Tiddlywinks with the Tsarina and now you can see the future?"

Writer: Alan Barnes
Format: Audio
Released: January 2001
Series: Main Range 16

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Charley

Synopis

October 1930. His Majesty's Airship, the R101, sets off on her maiden voyage to the farthest-flung reaches of the British Empire, carrying the brightest lights of the Imperial fleet. Carrying the hopes and dreams of a breathless nation.

Not to mention a ruthless spy with a top-secret mission, a mysterious passenger who appears nowhere on the crew list, a would-be adventuress destined for the Singapore Hilton... and a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey.

There's a storm coming. There's something unspeakable - something with wings, crawling across the stern. Thousands of feet high in the blackening sky, the crew of the R101 brace themselves. When the storm breaks, their lives won't be all that's at stake...

The future of the galaxy will be hanging by a thread...

Verdict

Cometh the hour, cometh the Eighth Doctor! Paul McGann finally reprises his role as the Eighth Doctor and boy was he good! Now, I've seen where the Eighth Doctor arrived in The Movie and where he regenerated in The Night of the Doctor, but now I get to explore everything in between! Storm Warning was a very strong audio debut and a fantastic second performed adventure for the incarnation. Charley was a tremendous character and it was obvious from the start that she would end up as companion! The chemistry between India Fisher and Paul McGann was magnificent and I could instantly tell that these two were going to be a wonderful TARDIS pairing. The plot of this story was fantastic and had a great guest cast. Charley stowing aboard the R101 to reach a date in Singapore was good and as the plot unravelled I adored the feistiness of her character! The early stages of the Doctor in this story, alone in the TARDIS, was brilliant and I liked how he kept on talking to himself despite telling himself to stop doing so. The guest cast were excellent in this audio with the brilliance of Rathbone and Lord Tamworth. Frayling and Weeks were also very good! The Triskele were outstandingly mysterious and the three parts to their existence was incredible. I really liked the idea of an Uncreator! The Law Maker was fantastic also. Paul McGann showed all the traits of the Doctor, and even squeezed in some familiarity from The Movie which was marvellous! Certainly different, definitely the Doctor. The Vortisaurs were really good and I liked the Doctor's reference to riding the tiem-feasters bareback on Gallifrey. The many Russian history references were great and the speedy climax was excellent! And the Doctor unintentionally saving Charley, taking her as companion seemingly against his wishes at first - along with a Vortisaur called Ramsay, when she should have died on the R101 was so good! It instantly makes Charley a central point and the Doctor isn't quite sure of what, if any, consequences she'll bring him. I look very forward to seeing what effects Charley's existence has on the 'new' Time Lord. A great story - and it's amazing to have, what feels like, a new Classic Doctor!

Rating: 9/10