The Five Companions

"Sometimes it's too easy to keep on going forward. Perhaps sometimes I should give myself the luxury of looking back to appreciate all the good people I've left behind."

Writer: Eddie Robson

Format: Audio

Released: December 2011

Series: Subscription Exclusive X

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Ian, Steven, Sara, Polly

Synopsis 

Inside a cluster of fused-together derelict spaceships, four of the Doctor's oldest friends - and one of his newest ones - are lost and confused. They don't know how they got there or what they're meant to be doing - but as the place is infested with Daleks, Sontarans and dinosaurs, their first priority is staying alive.

To their collective relief, the Doctor turns up and has a reasonable idea of what's going on. If the six of them work together, they can escape this place and get home. But, unexpectedly, others may be working together to ensure they all die here...

Verdict 

The Five Companions was a truly wonderful and celebratory audio adventure. The idea is wonderful and adds a great depth to the masterpiece that is The Five Doctors. Where the TV 20th anniversary special was all focused on the Doctor, I love how this audio focused on those companions who didn't appear as part of the episode, as well as some infamous villains. The story started off terrifically with Ian and Steven reuniting after their encounter with the Daleks in The Chase. Just like in that adventure they were paired together against the deadly Skaro natives in what seemed to be similar corridors of the brief Dalek appearance in the TV story which the First Doctor and Susan used a Dalek to their advantage. The introduction in the story for Sara and Polly was lovely and it was tremendous hearing their reactions when both of them made reference to knowing the Daleks. I liked how despite the reunion or meeting of past companions a brilliant story was being told along the way. We had the Daleks asserting they're own assumed authority and once the Doctor arrived I loved the conflict between Daleks and Sontarans alike. I'm very pleased that these two villains, arguably my favourite, got the chance to have a more prominent role in a Death Zone of Gallifrey. The anomaly explanation made perfect sense and I'm glad that everybody's presence was explained. I adored the Doctor's happiness at seeing some of his oldest companions, now much older, again. And with Daleks, Sontarans and a gateway to defeat, what an inadvertent team that'd been assembled! With Nyssa added in we had some brilliant dynamics that can only be conjured up in audio and that's why it's such a magnificent format. Banter between Ian and Nyssa, Steven and Sara reunited for a new adventure with the Daleks and a quite lovely conversation between the Fifth Doctor and Polly. I just love Polly so much and it was great to hear that the Doctor admired how she would always do, say or suggest the right thing. The reference to The Tenth Planet where she memorably stood up to the Cyber Leader was quite marvellous. I was surprised to learn that Polly and Ben had gotten married it seemed but less so to learn of Ian and Barbara's wedding as I've seen the visual of that in Hunters of the Burning Stone! The reference to the rushed goodbye in The Faceless Ones was nearly added and is the only dampener on two fantastic companions who saw us through the very first regeneration. Polly's lack of understanding to the word regeneration was very humorous. After the events of the referenced The Savages, I loved the idea of Steven seeing off a Sontarans arrack! Sara's being alive is something I'm yet to learn about as I haven't yet listened to her Companion Chronicles but I eagerly look forward to seeing how she survived ageing to death in The Daleks' Master Plan. The conflict turned alliance between the Sontarans and Daleks was superb and I loved the The Invasion of Time reference! The inclusion of a Sontaran Marshall was an added bonus and it was my first performed story to feature one, my only previous was Lords of the Storm coincidentally also featuring the Fifth Doctor. The way the unexpected and unprecedented sixsome joined together to defeat the Daleks and Sontarans, and ultimately the alternative Death Zone, was splendid and I just love how the Doctor truly did appreciate his past companions. And as my opening quote suggests, perhaps one day he'll go back and visit instead of always rushing forward. Maybe one day. But overall, a truly wonderful audio adventure and it's given those who weren't lucky enough, sadly, to feature in the TV anniversary story to still have a role within it. 

Rating: 10/10