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