Urgent Calls

"Strange matters is basically your job."

Writer: Eddie Robson
Format: Audio
Released: April 2007
Series: Main Range 94b

Featuring: Sixth Doctor

Synopsis

Earth, 1974. An innocent phone call. Okay, it was a wrong number, but there can't be any harm in that. Can there?

Verdict 

Urgent Calls was another pretty decent from Big Finish's Main Range. It formed the second story of the ninety-fourth monthly release and whilst I'm not the biggest fan of the format of a three-part adventure and a following, unconnected one-part story, it does make for easy listening. It was basically a full cast Short Trip and once again I thought that Colin Baker was terrific as the Sixth Doctor. He really is a totally different personality on audio and it is very refreshing. When he answered the call of Laura Hudson at the start of this story, it wasn't exactly unexpected by I really enjoyed the conversation they had. He quickly realised that she was in grave danger and needed urgent medical help. How they came into contact was very intriguing but that intrigue was heightened further by the second conversation they had. The Doctor was quite taken aback that he was once again talking to Laura and the chances of that occurring were very unlikely. He did concede that there was a chance but he put it into connection with a far bigger picture concerning a deadly virus that was being transmitted through the telephone. Laura jokingly mentioning aliens when describing the treatment she had in the hospital was terrific given that it was the actual reason that she nearly died. Her reaction to the Doctor revealing that he too was an alien was great and I thought the pair were good. Sadly, the story didn't have too much going on in terms of action and whilst the conversations and relationship between the Doctor and Laura were good, there was only so much time that could be taken up by this. With the 1974 setting, the Doctor thinking that Laura might have seen the Third Doctor was great but I was questioning that he would surely remember meeting her if that had been the case. The pace of the story was quick and at 33 minutes long it did seem to whizz by. The conclusion was pretty good and I liked how the Doctor was intending on tracking the virus to its original source. Laura had enjoyed her conversing with the Doctor and wanted to talk to him again, and it seemed that would happen at some point. Overall, a decent little adventure! Sadly, there was no official artwork for this story but this fan artwork more than suffices - it's terrific.

Rating: 7/10