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