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