Genesis of the Daleks

"We're talking about the Daleks. The most evil creatures ever invented. You must destroy them! You must complete your mission for the Time Lords." 

Writer: Terry Nation

Format: Audio

Released: 29th July 2013

Released in: Fourth Doctor Time Capsule Set

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Sarah, Harry

Synopsis 

The Time Lords want the Fourth Doctor to destroy the Daleks, the most evil creatures ever invented, so they send their unwilling agent, along with his companions Sarah and Harry, to the Dalek homeworld Skaro - at the point it the Daleks' creation. 

Verdict 

Genesis of the Daleks is an excellent story and it was really interesting to listen to an hour long audio version of the tale, especially when all of the audio came from the TV adventure itself. The idea of having Tom Baker to do linking narration as the Fourth Doctor was really intriguing and I really liked its aim of speeding up the pace of the story. It was really nice to blog my first adventure with the magnificently wonderful Sarah Jane, she is an all time favourite companion of mine! And let's not forget Harry who was good in his own right. The story itself, as I already know from the TV serial, is superb and hearing the Doctor meet Davros for the first time was just terrific. He certainly is a madman with an incredible idea, but he couldn't keep his creation under control. The Nazi theme of the Daleks and Davros put in from Terry Nation is really special and likening Davros to Hitler just makes you see how bad the creator of the Daleks is! I really like how this story is referenced a lot by future incarnations, especially in regards to the Time War, with the Time Lords firing the first blow. The speed of this story was excellent but despite my thorough enjoyment, taking a six-part serial and squeezing it into an hour somehow took the beauty away from the original story. But with the narration from Tom Baker, I still loved it and thought it was very clever! The birth of the Daleks was a joy to listen to and the early Skaro setting was terrific. The war between the Thals and Kaleds was extremely intriguing and I'd love a story set after this but before the first TV serial to feature Davros's creations, The Daleks. I'd really love to see how the Thal-Kaled war altered when the Daleks were born and killed their creator, and ultimately taking the place of the Kaleds in the war. The moment where the Doctor ponders whether he has the right to commit genocide was outstanding, an all time favourite moment of mine. Instead of murdering the Daleks, the Doctor sent them back in advances around a millennium. So at least he was happy and the Time Lords' mission may still have been fulfilled. Overall, a unique portrayal of the story but it was magnificent! 

Rating: 9/10

Jetsam

"Voices of war, coming in the night. Taste of blood and metal when I wake. We've got to get this stuff off the ship."

Writer: Brian Williamson

Format: Comic Strip

Released: April 2008

Printed in: Torchwood Magazine 03

Featuring: Captain Jack, Gwen, Owen, Tosh, Ianto

Synopsis 

A cargo ship outside of Cardiff Bay has several alien artefacts in its hold which the crew were paid handsomely for transporting. When they first set off the device were dormant. However, when they got in range of the Rift one of the devices began communicating with the crew using telepathy. It foretold tales of war and gave the taste of blood and metal. Spooked, the crew jettisoned the crates into the sea and the Torchwood team found them at the edge of the coast, and found something unexpected...

Verdict 

Jetsam was an incredible Torchwood comic strip! Absolutely brilliant. A fantastic plot, action-packed and many references to the Whoniverse. What more could I ask for? I loved the idea of the carob being filled with alien relics and an image of a naked Torchwood team sparked great humour towards Owen and a child. The giant motorbikes were extremely intriguing and I couldn't get over the scale of them compared to a person. They were just ginormous! Jack's leadership was tremendous in the story with him giving brilliant and clear instructions to his colleagues. The Bad Wolf reference, although probably a little out of time in relation to Doctor Who series one and Torchwood series two, was still wonderfully welcomed! I also liked the very clever reference and imagery of the Beast. The centre of the story being on Tosh was terrific and like Greeks Bearing Gifts and To the Last Man, it allowed the reader to learn a lot more about the brilliant character. The way she was drugged, hypnotised almost, yet still trying to help the rest of the team was magnificent and really showed us what a courageous character she really is, as we'd later see in Exit Wounds. Ianto and Owen helping Tosh's mind to return to normal by an old traditional Japanese story was really nice and a great touch! I adored the action packed nature of the comic strip and thought Gwen quietly shone. The resolution was very good and the motorbikes with a strangely fantastic twist as almost enemies was certainly a first. And it was outstanding! 

Rating: 10/10

The Legacy of Torchwood One

"Remember - it's tapping into your fears. Whatever you see, that's not what it really is!"

Writer: Simon Furman

Format: Comic Strip

Released: February 2008

Printed in: Torchwood Magazine 01

Featuring: Captain Jack, Gwen, Owen, Tosh, Ianto

Synopsis

Ianto is walking the streets of Cardiff in the early evening, when Rupert Howarth, his old mentor from Torchwood One, whom he believed to be dead, confronts him...

Verdict

The Legacy of Torchwood One was an excellent way to kick off the Torchwood comic strip stories! With AS exams slowly dominating my life, I needed something short but detailed enough to fill my Who fancy for today and after delving deep into my storage, I pulled out the very first issue of Torchwood magazine! To my expected hopes, a comic strip was within with the original team from the first two series'. The story started off well, with a lot of intrigue regarding Rupert Howarth. It was a bit random how he stopped Ianto in the middle of the street, especially once more of the history of the man was explained. I really liked how he had previously worked for the now defunct Torchwood One, whilst being a mentor to Ianto whilst he worked there, before ultimately faking his own death to protect his life from the pharmaceutical companies who'd discovered he may have the power to wipe out viral disease. Although minimal, I like the way Jack's presence added to the story. He was still undoubtedly in charge despite Ianto vouching and knowing a lot about Rupert. The creature of Chimera was fantastic and I really liked its similarities to Bilis in End of Days, trying to show the team what they most feared. The image of the creature was quite impressive which is always good. The physical nature of the comic strip was somewhat different to that of the DWM comic strips and I think Torchwood can flourish in this format due to its more adult orientated audience. Jack's trust shown in Ianto was very good and undoubtedly proved, if it ever needed to be proved, that the events of Cyberwomen were far, far behind the pair. Speaking of that episode, the reference to Ianto's fear being a metal man was very clever, of course referencing the Cyber-Dalek war that was depicted in Doomsday. Hell for Ianto, as was explained in the aforementioned Torchwood TV episode. The finale of this story was the only real let down as no matter how small a story is in length, the resolution/climax to the danger/villain should always be eventful and significant. I like it to have a wow factor. But I didn't get it here unfortunately. The Chimera was just shot but the way it conveniently killed Rupert as well, snapping his neck, was great. As it allowed the current team, Torchwood Three, to reflect on what their legacy might be in the future. I'm sure they're hoping for a much better one than their One cohorts, as all that was left was a deceased alien and a dead man already thought dead. But overall, a great story and a good start to the comic adventures!

Rating: 8/10

Death Disco

"You can tell by the way I use my walk. I'm a Time Lord from Gallifrey!"

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Comic Strip

Released: August 2008

Printed in: Doctor Who Annual 2009

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Donna

Synopsis

The Tenth Doctor takes Donna to an intergalactic ballroom dancing competition final, but with claims of a fix and the winners being transported to Birmingham in 2009, things aren't quite what they seem...

Verdict

Death Disco was an excellent comic strip story! Following on from its predecessor in the annual, The Time Sickness, the high quality in that story continued through into this. I really liked the idea of Donna disagreeing with the judges' decisions in the dance final and the Doctor's reaction to her displeasure was a great highlight. I really loved the concept of the Terpsivore! A species that gets it's energy from the power of dance, just beautiful. The way the zombies from 1984 misread the Doctor's instructions was funny and his dismay at the resulting and imminent self destruct of the Terpsivore was brilliant. The resolution from Donna was both logical and comical somehow! In a Doctor Who story, the conga saved the day. Yes, you read that right. Instead of a giant centipede to instruct the ship to cancel self destruction, Donna organising the zombies into a conga did the trick and it was just magnificent! The Doctor couldn't believe it was working which was excellent also. A fantastic story with a terrific resolution!

Rating: 9/10

Danger Down Below

"Why did the Doctor always have to materialise the TARDIS inn the middle of nowhere!"

Writer: Unknown 

Format: Short Story

Released: September 1982

Printed in: Doctor Who Annual 1983

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan

Synopsis

The Doctor has landed on the planet Aronassus 49 in response to a general distress call from his old friend, High Minister Threll. He's not quite sure why Threll is in trouble, but their friendship makes answering the call a priority. After a long time trek through the desert surrounding Prime City, the Doctor and Tegan finally are escorted roughly to Threll by the city's guards...

Verdict 

Danger Down Below was an enjoyable little read! Reading again from the 1983 annual, I loved the retro feel my own experience brings to the classic visual print stories, whether it's a comic strip or short story, I just feel privileged to be reading it! I really liked how in this story, for the mass majority, we got an adventure with the rare pairing of the Fifth Doctor and Tegan (whist Nyssa remained in the TARDIS) and I liked the Australian companion's displeasure towards the Doctor's navigation skills having landed the TARDIS in the middle of nowhere, in a desert in blazing heat. The story itself was very good and I liked the character of Threll, somebody the Doctor had a storied past with. Threll's reaction to a new incarnation of his Time Lord was quite funny and was a real nice hello reunion. The revolt that occurred was clever as, with there not being a main threat or enemy to the Doctor and Tegan, it still kept the essence of danger alive and well, keeping the reader in suspense that things might just not work out for once. The Migrator was a unique species to say the least! The explanation to its way of giving birth was very good but unusually unique! The electrical black balls acting as a body defence system... outside of the body, was again unique! The story had a lot of strange uniqueness which made it different which is always good due to the sheer mass of Doctor Who stories there are across the many different formats! The climax was good with the Doctor somehow getting the giant Migrator through the TARDIS doors and to humorously squash Nyssa against the wall. The Doctor's gesture of freeing the Migrator into space and helping his old friend was excellent! I really liked the artwork of the story and it went well with the uniqueness of the adventure. 

Rating: 8/10

On the Planet Isopterus

"This device is a sort of dream machine - I can programme it to conjure up powerful images in your brain."

Writer: Glenn Rix

Format: Comic Strip

Released: September 1982

Printed in: Doctor Who Annual 1983

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Adric, Nyssa, Tegan

Synopsis 

Tegan has a go at the Doctor's new dream machine and the TARDIS crash lands on the dying world of Isopterus. The travellers soon discover something is aiding the fall of Isopterus years before its destruction. The Doctor faces a dilemma: save Isopterus and change time or let history take its course and be the reason for a planet's end. 

Verdict 

On the Planet Isopterus was a very good little comic strip! There's something about the classic comic strips that I just love, probably the fact that I wasn't around when they were made (I'm only 17) so whenever I have the opportunity to read one I grasp that opportunity with glee! The smile that crossed my face upon seeing a PDF for the 1983 annual on the Time-Flight DVD special features was a delightful one of that! The story itself was actually very good! You have the Fifth Doctor trying to show off to his young companions and this strip made me realise that although this is the youngest Doctor so far (at the time of release date), by having young companions it still shows that the Doctor is the clever and senior figure inside the TARDIS. The planet of Isopterus was intriguing, especially, as Adric pointed out, that it was Latin for 'termite'. And termites were of course the inhabitants, except they'd been massively enhanced in size and ruled, storing humans as their food supply! The worry inside the cave from the TARDIS crew was good and it showed that it was certainly going to be difficult to escape this sticky situation. But the Doctor's genius with his dream machine was just majestic! He projected a signal of vegetation to lure the giant termites away whilst the TARDIS foursome and the other trapped humans could escape. A very good resolution I thought! For a 31-year old story, I thought the artwork and text was top notch and very well in representing the cast of 1983. Overall, a very good story!

Rating: 8/10

Project: Twilight

"I'm here because a falling empire started playing with powers they didn't understand and got it wrong!"

Writers: Cavan Scott & Mark Wright
Format: Audio
Released: August 2001
Series: Main Range 23

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Evelyn

Synopsis

In the renovated docklands of South East London, on the bank of the River Thames, the doors of the Dusk are open for business. Bets are called, cards are dealt and roulette wheels spun. As fortunes are won and lost, an inhuman killer stalks the local avenues and alleyways - a killer with a taste for human flesh.

Is there more to casino owner Reggie 'The Gent' Mead or is he just a common gangster? What secrets are hidden in the bowels of the Dusk? And what connection does the apparently sleazy Bermondsey casino have to a long-buried government initiative known as Project: Twilight?

The Doctor must form uneasy alliances where the line between friend and enemy is blurred, playing games of chance...

But are the stakes too high?

Verdict

Project: Twilight was a bit of a mixed bag. It sadly decreased in quality as time went on I thought which was disappointing. A second consecutive Sixth Doctor and Evelyn story, and I just don't like the pair together. I really do love Colin Baker as the Doctor and the razzmatazz he brings to the role but he's just not suited to a companion like Evelyn. She's boring, can't bring any action and is so un-companion like. The Sixth Doctor works so much better with Peri in my view. The plot of this story was intriguing with the mystery of the casino. I didn't like the South-East London setting and I really disliked Reggie, he seemed too much like Phil Mitchell which wasn't great at all. However, the revelation of the fact that the limited guest cast were vampires was a big shock, which is always good. It was unique and something I certainly was not expecting! The character of Cassie was wonderful, I adored her from start to finish and I liked her intelligence in holding off Reggie when she was converted to a vampire. Nimrod was also a good enemy but I felt he needed to feature a bit more frequently throughout. Amelia was terrific and the way she seemed to continuously play and fool the Doctor was excellent. I greatly disapproved of the brutal nature of the story from Reggie. I thought he was a disgraceful man and he epitomises everything I despise. A gangster, 'tough guy' and someone who abuses and hurts women. For me, a character like that has no place in a Doctor Who story! But I do accept that it was different. The plot itself was actually very good and the cliffhangers and revelations throughout were very good! The comical reference to The Marian Conspiracy with the Thames was great and I also enjoyed the Marco Polo reference. The Doctor's adoration of Chinese food was certainly something new also! The climax worked well and I do approve of the story being left wide open and to almost certainly be continued in a future audio adventure, where I will give the characters another chance should they feature again. A bit sloppy and brutal - but a great story.

Rating: 7/10

Bloodtide

"We are but animals. It is only through our arrogance that we put ourselves above them."

Writer: Jonathan Morris
Format: Audio
Released: July 2001
Series: Main Range 22

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Evelyn

Synopsis

The prehistoric Earth is dying. Thunderclouds roll across the skies, cloaking the land in darkness. The seas crash and boil as the rain turns to acid. The remnants of the Silurian race place themselves in suspended animation, deep below the surface.

One day they will awaken and reclaim their world...

The TARDIS has landed on the Galapagos Islands, a desolate outcrop of rocks shrouded in mist and fear.

In the settlement of Baquerizo Morena, there are rumours that prisoners have been mysteriously disappearing from the gaolhouse. A fisherman has been driven insane by something he saw in the caves. And the Sixth Doctor and Evelyn are not the only new arrivals; there is also a young natural philosopher by the name of Charles Darwin...

Verdict

Bloodtide was an outstanding audio adventure! I really loved the plot and an audio debut of the Silurians was extremely welcomed, especially as they were undoubtedly villains in this story which I very much like. Not that the stories where they're not villains as a whole aren't good (The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood), but that's the beauty with the dormant Earth rulers, they can be bad or good. And in this adventure, they were brutally bad! They stored humans, or apes as they still refer them, for food. A shocking dynamic from the Silurians we're used to but this is a much different colony of cold bloods than we've previously met so changes are to be expected. Just like The Silurian Gift, the Merkyr's appearance was much more successful when it couldn't be seen. I thought the Sixth Doctor and Evelyn were terrific together and I adored the surprise the Doctor had in store for his companion, to meet Charles Darwin at the time he came up with his infamous theory of evolution! I think it was just wonderful how the Silurians were somewhat the final piece in Darwin's puzzle of evolution. Just magnificent! Tulok was a fantastic Silurian villain and his disgust to towards the 'apes' was really good, and the prospect of him claiming to have modified the whole human race was just incredible! A lot of revelations in this story about Earth's history no doubt. The guest cast were all brilliant particularly Greta who enjoyed a good relationship with the Doctor, as well as Captain Fitzroy and the Silurian accomplice Governor Lawson. The climax was very good and showed a realisation of that evil isn't what the Silurians are, at least from Sh'vak's perspective! She stopped Tulok and helped the Doctor and co escape to the safety of the surface. Overall, fantastic!

Rating: 9/10

The Emperor of Eternity

"Eternal peace for eternal terror? Where anyone who doubts him is burnt alive?"

Writer: Nigel Robinson
Format: Audio
Released: March 2010
Series: Companion Chronicles 4.08

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Victoria

Synopsis

After colliding with a meteor in space, the TARDIS is forced to make an emergency landing on Earth.  The place is China around 200 BC, during the reign of the first emperor, Qin.

When the Doctor is taken away to the imperial city, it's up to Victoria and Jamie to save him. Their friend is now a prisoner of Qin, who intends to extract the secret of eternal life, so that he may rule the world forever...

Verdict

The Emperor of Eternity was a good adventure but not the great story it could have been. Now with it being a Companion Chronicle, the focus was all on Victoria, and that's how it should be as that's the purpose of this series of audios. But here, I feel that the script really misrepresented Victoria to the companion she was on television. I just can't imagine her sacrificing her life for a would-be emperor whom she'd barely met. The story itself was actually fantastic and it started off with a flyer (pun intended). The TARDIS crashed with a meteor that fell to Earth causing havoc and death in China. Indirectly, the Doctor was responsible for a natural massacre. Victoria realised that and was actually quite horrified which I liked. Jamie's role in the chronicle could have been enhanced but as shown on the CD cover, it's Victoria's story so I guess that was the intention, although I do think a more predominate role wouldn't have hurt at all. The setting was reminiscent of Marco Polo with a Chinese ruler seeking for something special. Although with this story set a millennium before the First Doctor serial, Qin's role was much better than Kublai Khan's. The way the Doctor was captured and separated from his companions (always inevitable) was rather weak but it allowed the companion focus this series thrives upon. The moment where Jamie thought there was the possibility of encountering the Yeti in Tibet once more was terrific! The outlay of the plot somehow seemed to slow as the audio went on which was a slight disappointment as I prefer things to go in the opposite direction. I've given a lot of criticism so far, but I actually enjoyed the adventure very much! Great setting, bewilderment of the TARDIS and the Doctor playing his recorder were three fantastic highlights. However, the climax was a mixed bag with the TARDIS trio simply being let out of the cave in which they were trapped only to be chased and caught by Qin, who had a wonderful sudden revelation that immortality was not desirable, something Victoria had taught him. An excellent occurrence but I don't think that's the character of Victoria! A big misrepresentation which wasn't good. Just because a story takes place in an unseen medium that doesn't mean you can alter a companion's personality! Anyway, a really good story with a great cliffhanger but some negatives hurt it for my final rating.

Rating: 7/10

The Oseidon Adventure

"They look like a pig mated with a rhino."

Writer: Alan Barnes
Format: Audio
Released: June 2012
Series: FDA 1.06

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

The first time the fearsome Kraals attempted to take over the Earth, with the help of their android agents, things didn't go quite according to plan - thanks to the time travelling alien Doctor and his allies at UNIT.

This time, Marshall Grinmal and his belligerent cohorts are ready for them. This time, they'll make no mistakes. The time, Chief Scientist Tyngworg has not just one plan, but a back-up plan, and a back-up back-up plan worked out...

With the Doctor a prisoner on the Kraals' radiation-blasted home planet of Oseidon, only his companion Leela can save the day - alongside a most unlikely ally.

Verdict

The Oseidon Adventure was a magnificent end to the first series of Fourth Doctor Adventures! I liked how basically it was a part two to the previous story, Trail of the White Worm, which was obvious from the cliffhanger of that story. I loved how the Master was back at his very best here and my opinion on his role in Trail has greatly improved thanks to events in this adventure. He was an android! The fact that the Master had aligned himself with the Kraals of all people was a pleasant surprise. The alien enemies didn't make a great impression in The Android Invasion but I was glad to see a classic villain return to performed Who! And in this adventure, I thought they were much better than their first appearance. The plan of the Master was incredible and similar to that of The Deadly Assassin, he wanted to prolong his life that was coming to an end. But he was using much different means to achieve it in this adventure! I thought his method was insane, which is wonderful for the Master, so I loved the revelation very much. Leela was wonderful in this audio also, mocking the appearance of the Kraals, slapping the Master in the face when he tried to hypnotise her and riding a horse with the Master through a wormhole to the Kraal home world! Fantastic! The Kraals turning on the Master was inevitable and I liked how Spindleton continued on from Trail with his absolutely crazy self. He wanted to replace the Earth's population with androids so he could shape to his wishes! Just a barmy character. The continued revelations of the Doctor and Master being androids was terrific but the story for me was all about the Master and his master plan to gain immortality. The way he was thwarted, by himself (technically, a Master android) was magnificent! I found it interesting at the climax that the Doctor seemed convinced that the Master was gone forever. Would the Doctor really believe that?

Rating: 10/10

Trail of the White Worm

"Is this a private burglary, or can anyone join in?"

Writer: Alan Barnes
Format: Audio
Released: May 2012
Series: FDA 1.05

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

The legend dates back to Roman times, at least: a great White Worm, as wide as a man, slithers out of the rocks of the Dark Peak Gap to take animals, sometimes even children, for its food.

When the Doctor and Leela arrive in the wilds of Derbyshire, only to get caught up in the hunt for a missing girl, they soon discover that the legend of the Worm is very much alive - even now, in 1979.

Worse still, it seems that the Doctor isn't the only renegade Time Lord on the trail of this deadly and mysterious Worm...

Verdict

Trail of the White Worm continued the high standard of Fourth Doctor Adventures thus far and although the plot threads are far from finished, it was a great little audio. Now, I think I've mentioned this for every blog of my little FDA run so far, but the wonderful humour between the Fourth Doctor and Leela is just magnificent. It really is. It makes the pair so easy to listen to and provides chuckles from almost anywhere. Even being separated from his companion for most of this story, the Doctor still put in some terrific humour of his own (as you can see from my quote). The plot was good and the idea of a legend of a great worm was intriguing, especially when the Doctor and Leela found its tracks. The derby locals failure to name it, in fear presumably, was very good I thought. The 'you know what' was a nice way to put the unnamable. From the cover, I was particularly looking forward to having The Deadly Assassin version of the Master in a performed story once more, but sadly, the Master's role was what let the story down in my view. He didn't really need to be there until the cliffhanger at the end of the whole audio, and if Barnes had kept the revealing of the Master until that point I think it would have been much more effective. But what the Master was up to was indeed fantastic. Causing havoc for his own mysterious gain. I loved the irony of the renegade using a giant worm, seemingly implied that he modified it, to create his own wormhole in space-time. Just what is he up to now? The guest cast of Spindleton and Demesne were very good and I'm not sure why, but the story almost seemed like it was in a land of fiction (not that we saw in The Mind Robber) but almost as if someone was controlling the events from the outside. The unexpected cliffhanger at the end of the audio was intriguing to say the least, using events in this story the Master is bringing through the wormhole alien accomplices! The question I'm looking very forward to being answered in the season finale is, who are those alien accomplices that the Master will be aligning himself with?

Rating: 8/10

Energy of the Daleks

"That was the Daleks. They're ruthless, they're unstoppable and they're on their way..."

Writer: Nicholas Briggs
Format: Audio
Released: April 2012
Series: FDA 1.04

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

The Doctor and Leela find themselves in the middle of London at the time of a new energy crisis. The GlobeSphere Corporation seems to have all the answers - but several thousand protestors beg to differ.

What is the connection between the National Gallery and a base on the Moon? Has radical thinker Damien Stephens simply sold out, or does he have a more sinister agenda?

The Doctor has detected a mysterious energy reading. Could it be that the most evil creatures in the universe have returned to claim ultimate victory once and for all?

Verdict

Energy of the Daleks was again, another fantastic Fourth Doctor Adventure! The Daleks were back in performed Doctor Who alongside the Fourth Doctor, who was there at their very creation in what seems to be most people's (not myself) favourite Dalek story in Genesis of the Daleks. But now the Daleks were up to no good at all, and their plan was incredible! They were going to try to push the moon away from orbiting Earth sending the whole planet's axis, tilt, oceans and light into absolute turmoil and in turn would wipe out the human race. From my original TV run which started 2 years back now, I remember humour with the Fourth Doctor, but never as much that has been present in his very own audio series. But I'm not complaining at all - it's bloody brilliant! Leela's displeasurable reactions to being taken prisoner by the Daleks was fantastic. She wasn't happy in the slightest and I really liked it when she found out that the Doctor was the Daleks' greatest enemy and he'd defeated them numerous times as she mocked the tin pot creatures. The Doctor's relationship with Jack in the story was very good and again home to some good humour. The 2025 setting was very good and somewhat could indeed be an insight to the future with an energy crisis. The link between the National Gallery (now GlobeSphere HQ) and the moon was great and somewhat reminiscent of The Seeds of Death. The return and role of the Robomen was wonderful and just like The Mutant Phase where the Robomen returned there, I was just as happy here as I adored them in The Dalek Invasion of Earth. The climax of the story was fantastic with the Doctor sending the Dalek operations into overload, defeating them yet again. Overall, excellent story! Just remember, "fingers in ears, Jack."

Rating: 9/10

The Wrath of the Iceni

"If there's one thing I hate in the universe its morris dancers, they're right up there with the Daleks and Cybermen."

Writer: John Dorney
Format: Audio
Released: March 2012
Series: FDA 1.03

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

Britain. The height of the Roman occupation. The Doctor has brought Leela to ancient Norfolk to learn about her ancestors... but has no idea how much education she is going to get.

Because this is the time of Boudica's rebellion. When the tribe of the Iceni rises up and attempts to overthrow the Roman masters.

As Leela begins to be swayed by the warrior queen's words, the Doctor has to make a decision: save his friend... or history itself?

Verdict

The Wrath of the Iceni was a tremendous story and my favourite of the Fourth Doctor Adventures thus far. I really loved the historical setting of Britain during the Roman occupation, and at the time of the war with the Iceni! This was the education Leela would enjoy but to the Doctor's displeasure, the warrior savage inside her took over and she didn't just want to learn, she also wanted to take part in the war activities against the Romans. Leela riding her emotions with her Sevateem roots was intriguing and after meeting Boudica she was prepared to join her, especially after the Doctor told her of how her daughters were raped before her very eyes. Leela was disgusted and showed just how much of a savage she is. She wanted the Romans to be defeated and suffer for what they did, and she felt so passionately about it that she was prepared to, and to some extent, left and defied the Doctor! The reference to The Renaissance Man was good and humorous, but as the humour between the Doctor and Leela has been so predominant in the first two FDAs, it was the complete opposite here. Very serious indeed. I really loved the character of Bragnar and her relationship with the Doctor when they were both tied up was lovely, playing 'I spy' of all things. So typical Doctor. Boudica was very brutal and warrior like and you could tell she was very confident of victory against the Romans due to her outrage and mockery of the Doctor's 'prophecy' that she would be defeated. It was of course factual history. I liked Leela's inability to comprehend that recorded history cannot be changed. The cliffhanger was tremendous, I particularly enjoyed! Leela's slow realisation as the audio went on that the Doctor was indeed right and things couldn't be changed and Boudica could not be aided was lovely. That was the best education Leela could get. She was learning morals. A great lesson. The climax was wonderful with Leela defeating Boudica in battle but sparing her life - the Doctor is having a terrific influence on his brilliant companion!

Rating: 9/10

The Renaissance Man

"How does it feel not being the cleverest man in the room?"

Writer: Justin Richards
Format: Audio
Released: February 2012
Series: FDA 1.02

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

To continue Leela's education, the Doctor promises to take her to the famous Morovanian Museum. But the TARDIS lands instead in a quiet English village, where they meet the enigmatic collector Harcourt and his family.

When people start to die, reality doesn't appear quite what it was. There's something sinister going on within the walls of Harcourt's manor, and the stakes are higher than they can imagine.

The Doctor is about to discover that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

Verdict

The Renaissance Man was a fantastic audio adventure! I really liked the concept and murder mystery theme of the story. I think it's really great how the Doctor is trying to educate his companion, Leela, of her heritage. Leela though seems to be getting tired of visiting Earth or something associated with it which I think is brilliant. Now, I'm only two stories into the Fourth Doctor Adventures series but the humour between the Fourth Doctor and Leela is just perfect. It's really superb! Ian McNeice guest starring as the evil Hardcourt was a welcomed bonus and he really suited a harsh villain. His accomplice, Jephson, was equally as brutal, villainous and evil and I thought it was excellent how they were manipulating events in the renaissance section of the Morovanian Museum. The way the Doctor reacted to what was going on, with Hardcourt aiming to know everything, literally everything, was terrific. The Doctor's relationship with Scruffy, a dog, and the continuous references to cow parsley was just wonderful and so typical of the Time Lord. I really enjoyed the concept of everybody in the story (apart from the Doctor and Leela and of course) were just props in a game of soaking up knowledge. And the Doctor's brilliance in feeding false information from his mind was just genius! And then he realised that Hardcourt was a prop too, for the real Renaissance Man who was in the museum. But the Doctor and Leela saved the day in excellent fashion and it left an empty renaissance section in the museum, and that was applauded in fashion. Overall, an excellent theme, great plot and terrific humour!

Rating: 9/10

Destination: Nerva

"I could travel in the TARDIS for a billion, billion years and still only scratch the surface of eternity."

Writer: Nicholas Briggs
Format: Audio
Released: January 2012
Series: FDA 1.01

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

After saying their goodbyes to Professor Litefoot and Henry Gordan Jago, the Doctor and Leela respond to an alien distress call beamed direct from Victorian England. It is the beginning of a journey that will take them to the newly built Space Dock Nerva... where a long overdue homecoming is expected.

A homecoming that could bring about the end of the human race.

Verdict

Destination: Nerva was a good start to the Fourth Doctor Adventures series of Big Finish audios, but despite it being great I was hoping for better! With Nicholas Briggs writing I was expecting a top, top quality adventure (9 or 10/10) but it wasn't quite that. I don't know why I'm complaining though, the audio was still excellent! I liked how it started off from the end of The Talons of Weng-Chiang and left the Doctor and Leela remaining in Victorian attire. The pairing of them seemed even better here than it did on TV. Leela's lack of knowledge on human affairs and taking almost everything literally provided some wonderful humour. Add to that some clever puns from the Fourth Doctor and the TARDIS pair is just top class. I liked that the Doctor was going to be heading to Space Dock Nerva once again, or as I remember it, the Ark. The references to The Ark in Space and Revenge of the Cybermen were fantastic. The surprise return of the Drudgers who briefly featured in The Sirens of Time was very welcomed. The plot was good, but it could have been better, and I thought Lord Jack Corrigan was a terrific villain. The concept of 'joining' was horrifying but I think it is difficult to fully portray in audio and would be best placed for TV. But hey, it still worked for the most part. Alison was a lovely character, I really liked her throughout. The Drellerans were very good and their role was pretty good! The climax was eventful but I didn't much like how it wasn't clearly explained, although after the Doctor did his best to enlighten Leela, the star of the audio, I was a bit more happy. Overall, a decent start to the new series, but it could have been much better! Still sneaks my maybe generous rating.

Rating: 8/10

Dust Breeding

"You've spent your life looking at mask Madame Salvadore, without ever wondering what lay beneath them. Would you like to see beneath my mask..?"

Writer: Mike Tucker

Format: Audio

Released: June 2001

Series: Main Range 21

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace, Bev

Synopsis

On nineteenth-century Earth, artist Edvard Munch hears an infinite scream pass through nature. Centuries later, his painting of that Scream hangs in a gallery on the barren dust world Duchamp 331.

Why is there a colony of artists on a planet that is little more than a glorified garage? What is the event that the passengers of the huge, opulent pleasure cruiser 'Gallery' are hoping to see? And what is hidden in the crates that litter the cargo hold?

The Doctor's diary indicates that the painting is about to be destroyed in 'mysterious circumstances', and when he and Ace arrive on Duchamp 331, those circumstances are well underway.

Verdict

Dust Breeding is an excellent audio adventure and one full of more than a few surprises! It starts off wonderfully with us learning that the Doctor has his own art gallery inside the TARDIS. The City of Death reference in regards to the Mona Lisa was just beautiful, especially as the Doctor implied his version was the original. The Doctor's answer to having all these paintings in his gallery was so typical Doctor too, he 'rescued' them before they'd be destroyed or stolen in some way. Ace knew that he was stealing them, but the Doctor was humorously adamant that was not the case. The atmosphere of the story was all so eery and tense, especially with Mr Seta. It was obvious from the actor playing that role, the daunting music that accompanied his scenes and the anagram, that this was another alias of the Master! It'd been a while since my last Master story so for him to make an unexpected return, now in the audio format. The explanation to the current incarnation was outstanding. The Master had some difficulty stealing the painting in which the Warp Core was present, but he disturbed it massively and it tore the Trakenite aspect from the Master's body, leaving him similar to how he was before Anthony Ainley took the role. Decayed and dying as seen in The Deadly Assassin and The Keeper of Traken. The Master wasn't the only person making a return in this audio though as Bev Tarrant surprisingly returned which I very much welcomed! I really liked her in The Genocide Machine and now she was back here to add a new dynamic to the pairing of the Seventh Doctor and Ace. It was very similar to the setup of The Shadow of the Scourge. I thought the plot of this story was excellent and the threat posed by the Krill was terrific. The cliffhangers were all superb, part two's being a highlight with the revealing and confirmation that the Master was back. The relationship between the Doctor and the Master was terrific as always and the disgust in the Master's voice once he'd realised that the Doctor had once again got the better of him and the Warp Core turned on him, or rather not thanking or caring for being freed, was just brilliant. The guest cast were very good and I liked the characters of Madame Salvadori, Klemp, Guthrie and Damien! Four great guest cast. The climax was brilliant and I love how although the Master was defeated, he wasn't thwarted and would be making a return in the future. The Doctor would soon enough cross paths with his arch nemesis once again.

Rating: 9/10

Universally Known

                                    

"The Snark method is simple. I don't need an army to take over a planet if everyone there loves me already!"

Writer: Eddie Robson
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 9th April 2014
Printed in: DWA 343

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Clara

Synopsis

The Eleventh Doctor takes Clara to New York... but things aren't as they're supposed to be. An evil being has hypnotised the entire population into adoring him, and it's not long before Clara falls under the spell...

Verdict

Now this is more like it! Universally Known was a much improved comic strip from the guys at Doctor Who Adventures magazine. I haven't been too impressed with their recent comic adventures (T-Shirt Terror and Fans) but this was a very enjoyable story with a great concept. The entire population of New York (and presumably the World) were under the hypnosis that Snark, an alien being, "the most famous being in the universe", was a hero of sorts. I liked Snark's plan to sell the Earth's mineral wealth once he'd sucked the planet dry and be thanked for it thanks to the level of his influence! Judging by the title, and the fact that Snark claimed to have enslaved fourteen planets in this method previously, it's clear that he was known around the entire universe, surely as a threat. I really liked Clara's falling under the influence but the Doctor's desperate attempts to at least keep her neutral. The climax was very good, wonderfully clever and similar to Day of the Moon with the Doctor having Snark to say words he wanted, promoted from Clara's interviewing skills, to tell the population to forget him, and Snark himself even forgot who he was! Overall - very good!

Rating: 8/10

Trial of the Valeyard

"You will create me because you will wish not to become me. That is our tragedy, Doctor."

Writers: Alan Barnes & Mike Maddox
Format: Audio
Released: December 2013
Series: Bonus Release 12

Featuring: Sixth Doctor

Synopsis

There is some evil in all of us - even the Doctor. Transported aboard the Time Lords' orbiting courtroom, the Doctor once again encounters the Valeyard, an amalgamation of the darker sides of his nature. This time, however, the Doctor isn't in the dock. This time, the Valeyard is the defendant, accused of a crime so terrible that the presiding Inquisitor is forbidden to reveal it even to the court, nor even to his counsel for the defence... the Doctor.

If the Valeyard is found guilty, he'll be executed. Execute the Valeyard, and the secret of his origins dies with him. A secret that the Doctor is desperate to know... and which the Time Lords will stop at nothing to protect.

Verdict

Trial of the Valeyard is a wonderful audio story! Absolutely superb. I really loved the role reversal from The Trial of the Time Lord with the added irony. Whereas in the previous trial, the Doctor was being prosecuted by the Valeyard, but now it was the Valeyard himself on trial - with the Doctor as his defence! Upon arrival to the court, the Doctor's reaction was outstanding and so typical of the sixth incarnation which I really loved. The way he tried to convince himself that he wasn't curious was just fantastic. The return of the Inquisitor was welcomed as I really liked her in the TV appearance and then of course the Valeyard arrived. I adored the plot and story and after all the evidence turned out to be a plan of the Valeyard's to kill both the Doctor and the Inquisitor, it was made out to be an evilly excellent plan. But the bugged evidence, although questionable that it may be true, and I like to believe that most of it is, was tremendous! Hearing of the history of regeneration, how Rassilon may have modified the limit on regenerations to prevent crisis. The explanation as to why a Time Lord couldn't go past a thirteenth incarnation was magnificent and made perfect sense. The Valeyard recalling his childhood was very intriguing, describing how he was in Rassilon's Shadow House, home to Time Lord's whose regenerations had gone wrong. The story references of The Invasion of Time and Logopolis were great but the story was all about the Valeyard, triumphantly returning to performed Doctor Who. His devious plan culminating on Eta Rho (Theta Sigma, an old nickname for the Doctor) was tremendous. The brief moments where it seemed the Sixth Doctor met the Thirteenth incarnation of his future self (which would be the Eleventh Doctor) was incredible. Babbling, hoping, holding on to life and trying desperately to continue it. I thought it was incredibly clever and was very plausible to have tied in with The Time of the Doctor. Despite the Master referring to the Valeyard as it, and the Valeyard himself claiming to have identical DNA, I'm still not utterly convinced that the Valeyard is a future incarnation of the Doctor - he may just be using to his advantage to try and wipe out the Doctor, or turn the Doctor evil he believes he's seen what he will become. The climax was very good and has definitely paved the way for a sequel! Too much unfinished business for there not to be!

Rating: 10/10

The Shadow Trader

"The traders had a little bit of skill, little bit of patter, and a little bit of magic."

Writer: Charles Williams
Format: Audio
Released: August 2011
Series: Short Trips 4.07

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

Salim finds he's picked on the wrong girl when he tries to steal the shadow of Ace in a space-shipyard on a lonely planet...

Verdict

The Shadow Trader wasn't a bad Short Trip at all. Wonderfully read by Sophie Aldred, the tone of the story was magnificent! I liked the emphasis and basis of the story on shadows, and how Salim was a trader in them. What use people get out of a shadow is up to interpretation but unbeknown to Salim himself, it would have a detrimental effect on the person losing their shadow, in due time, as the Doctor explained. Sophie did a very good job of impersonating Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor, albeit if it wasn't for too much of the story's duration. The background on the character of Salim was welcomed and allowed insight into the story itself and why he trades in shadows. I think the problem with most Short Trips audios is that the balance of the story is never spot on. The writers either try to do too much in a minimal amount of time, or too little somehow. The only Short Trip I adored was Rise and Fall and that was 22 minutes long, and perfectly balanced. The Shadow Trader worked to an extent, but all the background on Salim, despite being good, sort of rushed the ending a bit when there was absolutely no need. 16 minutes isn't long enough for a Doctor Who story, so why couldn't it just be extended by a few minutes? Ahh well, the climax was still pretty good and overall, mainly thanks to Sophie Aldred I think, still a good adventure!

Rating: 7/10

Night of the Stormcrow

"The universe rolls beneath me, too. I ride on the footplate of time."

Writer: Mark Platt
Format: Audio
Released: December 2012
Series: Bonus Release 11

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

High atop Mount McKerry sits the observatory. For years now it's been watching the skies. Now something's watching back. Something dark and huge that blots out the stars. Something with giant wings. Something that kills.

When the TARDIS is struck mid-flight, the Doctor and Leela crash-land on the mountain to find they are not the only aliens to be visiting. Beings of nothing infest the complex, staff members are dead or mad. As the survivors argue amongst themselves and attempt to take advantage of the situation, a creature vast and terrible is coming ever closer.

A creature called... Stormcrow.

Verdict 

Night of the Stormcrow was a thoroughly enjoyable audio adventure and one that stood out for me personally as it was my first Fourth Doctor audio to feature Tom Baker reprising the infamous incarnation's role. Accompanied by Leela, who was the perfect companion for the story, added that extra touch of excellence. I thought the guest cast were all very good and I particularly liked Peggy and Erica. The eery and tense atmosphere throughout the adventure was superb and really added to the mystery behind the No Things and added suspense to the question of what is Stormcrow. The description of the sheer size of the being was brilliant and the worry put into the story by the Doctor really made the being fearful! The few references to The Face of Evil were welcomed and I liked how Leela threatened the No Things, labelling them cowards despite the fact she couldn't see them, despite it being obvious that she was scared by them. The description of the No Things was contradictory but that actually made them all the more frightful! Beings of nothing. So, in typical Doctor-like fashion, the Fourth Doctor names them. Fabulous. Professor Cazalet was another good character, I liked her role a lot. The plot itself was very good and as I mentioned about the atmosphere, it was so eery! The climax was good but not convincing sadly and would be my only criticism of the audio. The Doctor just leaves, thinking that Stormcrow won't attack - not for a while at least. The facts were pretty favourable, but does the Doctor ever take that risk? It seemed weird, but overall - a magnificent bonus release and great to hear my first Fourth Doctor-Leela story with both actors performing!

Rating: 8/10

The Four Doctors

"I see you understand now, Doctor. This is my destiny. I've met you in your future lives, I've seen it, and I run to it willingly."

Writer: Peter Anghelides
Format: Audio
Released: December 2010
Series: Bonus Release 09

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Sixth Doctor, Seventh Doctor, Eighth Doctor

Synopsis

The fifth incarnation of the Doctor has been allowed access to the Vault of Stellar Curios, where the biomechanoid Jariden are at least prepared to consider his warnings about dangerous temporal leakage. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the Daleks attack, unleashing a temporal maelstrom that will not only threaten the Jariden race, but will have dire consequences for the history of the Doctor himself.

Verdict

The Four Doctors is a real celebratory story. On paper, it's perfect isn't it? Four Doctors and the Daleks in an hour long adventure! And it certainly lives up to its expectations. The plot was fantastic and full of action, mystery and brilliance. I liked how the Fifth Doctor started the story and then was soon joined, although not meeting, by the Eighth Doctor. That gives an advantage of having a Doctor who knows nothing of the events that would unfold and one incarnation who's experienced the events three previous times! I adored the Eighth Doctor's mocking of the Fifth's attire and also the Sixth later in the story. The format of the story was so much better than that of The Sirens of Time. Where that had three different parts with three different Doctors and everything being tied up in a final part, The Four Doctors benefited from the one hour solo episode and the character of Ulrik, who was linked in some way at some point in his timeline with the Doctor, even though every time it was different incarnation which was humorous! His reaction to meeting yet another version of the Doctor each time, always accompanied by a 'big blue crate' was terrific. The Daleks were outstanding in this and with the voice similar to that of the post-2005 series, it allowed a more fearful and aggressive stature in the classic domineer. The Dalek Prime rank, similar to the Emperor (arguably the Emperor himself) was tremendous! The idea of the Dalek-Jariden war was marvellous and I liked the Jariden's reactions to the arrival of a Dalek ship at the Vault of Stellar Curios. I liked how the mystery of the containment of the Inner-Vault and how the Daleks were desperate to retrieve it. After the Sixth Doctor's part of the story, I absolutely loved how the Robomen returned! Of all the Dalek slaves in their history, the Robomen are certainly my favourites so I was thrilled with their unexpected involvement. I enjoyed Professor Faraday and he suited being along the Seventh Doctor perfectly, particularly in 1854. The climax was fantastic and I liked how the Roboman was actually a Jariden and Ulrik's grandfather! A robo-Jariden was dangerous for the Jariden race, as the Doctor explained, as they could use it for their gain and enslave the whole race! This was of course what was contained within the Inner-Vault. The final scene inside the Eighth Doctor's TARDIS was a real fandom highlight. All the Doctors briefly met each other as I hoped and the ever-present banter in multi-Doctor stories was great. The disapproval of the Eighth Doctor's current desktop theme was hilarious! Overall, a wonderful audio!

Rating: 10/10

An Earthly Child

"David would be shocked at what we're doing! And the Daleks would be laughing..."

Writer: Marc Platt
Format: Audio
Released: December 2009
Series: Bonus Release 08

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Susan

Synopsis

Thirty years on from the Daleks' invasion of Earth, the scars still haven't healed. The survivors inhabit a world thrown back two hundred years, a world of crop shortages and civil unrest. A world where the brightest and best of its young people are drawn to the xenophobic Earth United group.

A world sliding into a new Dark Age, believes Susan Campbell, widow of one of the heroes of the Occupation. A world in need of alien intervention. A world in need of hope...

But as Susan takes drastic action to secure the planet's future, she's oblivious to the fact that her student son, Alex, ensnared by Earth United, is in need of alien intervention too. Or so Alex's great-grandfather thinks...

Verdict

A good audio was An Earthly Child. As promised when he left her in The Dalek Invasion of Earth, the Doctor came back to see his granddaughter. I liked the idea of a story set during the aftermath of the Dalek invasion and an Earth in wrecking, still recovering from a complete lack of resources and a technological throwback. I liked how Susan was taking on the role of using alien intervention to help put the planet back on track, taking the responsibility of the link between the enlisted alien, the Guldreasi, and Earth. Alex was a good character and it's frightening and fabulous to think that the Doctor is now an official great-grandfather! The moment the Doctor and Susan reunited was just wonderful! Susan was so thrilled and the Doctor was certainly happy! A historic moment in the Whoniverse - the Doctor returned to his granddaughter. I liked the outlay of the plot and the Earth United group targeting students for their scheme was fantastic. The reference to The Five Doctors was very good and also unique seeing that Susan remembers the events, in which she experienced with the First Doctor, her Doctor, whilst meeting the Fifth and ultimately Doctors 2 and 3. So even after leaving as companion, Susan was reunited with her Grandfather, not that the Eighth Doctor isn't that - not at all. The climax was pretty good with the Guldreasi leaving and not fulfilling their agreed terms with Susan thanks to the story events. I found it heartbreaking for the Doctor that at the end of the adventure, alone, he wanted Susan to rejoin him and it to be just the two of them. "Like old times". But Susan refused which was devastating to the Doctor, you could tell. I also was displeased as I'd adore a series of adventures with Susan travelling in the 'gothic TARDIS' with a different incarnation of the Doctor! Her decision though, was also admirable in that she has a family now, and with the passing of David she still has a son to raise despite him being a student. She couldn't just leave it all behind. Overall, a lovely reunion and good story!

Rating: 8/10

Night Light

                                     

"I'm wanted for more crimes on more worlds than you can ever imagine... And I'm about to commit three more, inside a child's dream..."

Writer: Moray Laing
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 10th August 2013
Printed in: The Official 50th Anniversary Annual

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Clara

Synopsis

When something smacks into the TARDIS, the Eleventh Doctor and Clara follow it to the bedroom of a young boy at 3am. The venture leads them into the sleeping boy's nightmares and danger is all around them...

Verdict

For what it is, Night Light is a good comic strip. Again, I've stressed this so many times with past comic strips of similar length, it is difficult to produce a quality story over 5-6 pages and thus far only The Time Sickness has mightily impressed me. But Night Light had its highlights with the always great pairing of the Eleventh Doctor and Clara. The artwork for Clara in the comic strips I've read with her as companion has been quite poor sadly and doesn't look much like the stunningly beautiful Jenna Coleman which isn't a great. The plot was pretty good and I liked the idea of an evil light hiding in/as a metal dog which grew ferociously large in the nightmares of Tom. I liked the Doctor's dismissive attitude towards Justin. The Doctor being unable to not press a big red button that says 'Press Me' was great and so typical of Matt Smith's incarnation. A good climax that was somewhat predictable though.

Rating: 7/10

The Myth Makers

"But this is not Troy. This is not even the world. This is the journey through the beyond."

Writer: Donald Cotton
Format: TV
Broadcast: 16th October - 6th November 1965
Season: 3.03

Featuring: First Doctor, Vicki, Steven

Synopsis

When the TARDIS arrives on the plains of Asia Minor not far from the besieged city of Troy, the Doctor is hailed by Achilles as the mighty god Zeus and taken to the Greek camp. He meets Agamemnon and Odysseus. Forced to admit he is a mere mortal - albeit a traveller in space and time - he is given two days to devise a scheme to capture Troy.

Steven and Vicki, meanwhile, have been taken prisoner by the Trojans. Vicki, believed to possess supernatural powers, is given two days to banish the Greeks to prove she is not a spy.

Verdict

The Myth Makers is a wonderful serial and a lovely sendoff for Vicki as companion. The plot was fantastic from start to finish and I loved how, upon exiting the TARDIS, the Doctor was hailed as the God of Zeus. The large guest cast were all marvellous, some real standout characters in there! Cassandra as the evil, but correct, prophet of the future was magnificent and she was the only real antagonist of the serial. Achilles, Odysseus and Agamemnon were all excellent characters and their roles were just great! The setting of the Greek-Trojan war in c.1200 was brilliant and I loved the mythological references and character names. Steven inspiring the Doctor to technically invent, or at least give the spark for, the infamous Trojan Horse was just genius. For such a historically brilliant coup, the Doctor just had to be involved didn't he? I loved how, although reluctantly giving the idea, the Doctor was angered about the events and being inside the horse itself as the Trojans brought it into the city. Vicki was the standout of the serial, and rightly so given that it was her sendoff. Her relationship with Troilus was similar to that of Susan with David in The Dalek Invasion of Earth, and she departed the TARDIS for the same reason as her companion predecessor, but this time she made the choice rather than the Doctor making it for. I loved how she was given an adopted name of Cressida and thought it suited her magnificently. From a personal point, I'm glad she left looking as beautiful as she did in her first adventure after being rescued in The Romans. The climax was fantastic with the brawl ensuing and Vicki telling a shocked Doctor that she wouldn't be continuing her journeys through time and space. I found it interesting and quite sudden that she was replaced abruptly by Cassandra's handmaiden Katarina. She didn't really have a big role in the serial yet found herself on board the TARDIS at the end helping a wounded Steven! I think it'll be quite humorous having on board seeing that she thinks of the Doctor as Zeus, but it's equally unique that she thinks her death is near. Overall though, a wonderful story and a fitting goodbye to Vicki!

Rating: 9/10

Upstairs

"You couldn't just play around with the fourth dimension as though it were a schoolboy's chemistry set!"

Writer: Mat Coward
Format: Audio
Released: September 2013
Series: Companion Chronicles 8.03

Featuring: First Doctor, Vicki, Steven

Synopsis

When the TARDIS lands in a dilapidated attic, the Doctor, Vicki and Steven discover they are on Earth, in London... in Number 10 Downing Street.

However, alien forces are at play here, affecting the very fabric of the building... and adjusting the very essence of history itself.

Verdict

Upstairs was a unique tale. It had a good plot full of mystery and intrigue and I liked the idea of an endless attic full of doors leading to the same room, in a different time. A great concept but one that wasn't quite used to its full potential. The trio of the First Doctor, Vicki and Steven seemed to be wondering endlessly in the attics for a little too long. I liked how both Maureen O'Brien and Peter Purves reprised their roles as companions but in reality, it was Vicki who was the main character. She portrayed the Doctor very well to be fair and included a good variation and amount of Hartnell's traits. I thought it was good how the trio stumbled upon 1900 and worked out that they were actually in the attic of 10 Downing Street! The mention of historical Prime Minsters or Chancellor of the Exchequers was fantastic (I study History A Level) and liked the possible explanations for the deaths of Pitt the Younger and Canning. The Time Fungus was an average villain I thought, and the story tried to tell us the threat that it provided through an overuse of dialogue rather than any action. It works well to a point, as it did here, but an overuse isn't great. Evidence of the threat is needed! The climax was good and clever but the resolution was incredibly poor. A rival fungus? It wasn't convincing for me. The plot was mixed but the mystery was great and I thought Vicki told the story extremely well even if it seemed misplaced in the Hartnell era.

Rating: 7/10