Order of Simplicity

"The doors of perception were flung wide open."

Writer: Nick Scovell
Format: Audio
Released: November 2008
Series: Main Range 115b

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace, Hex

Synopsis

Dr. Verryman has devoted his life to the advancement of knowledge. When his experiments on a remote planet threaten the entire human race only the Doctor can help – if he puts his mind to it.

Verdict

Order of Simplicity was a very good continuation of the Forty Five audio anthology to celebrate Doctor Who's 45th anniversary! This was definitely a bit of an improvement from the first story whilst also sharing the issue of probably being a victim of its own format. Had this been extended into a feature length adventure I think it would have made for an instant classic! Instead things seemed a bit rushed and while that was a little annoying, it made for quite a frantic pace which absolutely enhanced the excitement. I love it when the Doctor's curiosity gets the better of him and that was the case once again here with the code. I thought this was definitely one of Sylvester McCoy's best performances as the Seventh Doctor in a long time and he was definitely the highlight which isn't a common occurrence if the truth must be told. Ace and Hex had pretty decent outings in the companions roles, but they were definitely second fiddle to the Doctor this time around and sometimes that is just how it needs to be. Hex showing that he was quite scared of his surroundings was good whilst Ace continued to make boyish impressions which was very much in line with her character. I seemed to have a vibe similar to the recent airing of The Haunting of Villa Diodati when listening to this one as the setting seemed contained and that usually works well for me. Mrs Crisp was a creepy character whilst seeming to be very normal which was a strange but likeable balance in a character. Her reveal as being the Order of Simplicity was intriguing and I found that whole concept very interesting. It probably warranted more time to explore but time just didn't allow. She was here in a response to Dr. Verryman's experiments in trying to open the brain to enhance its intelligence. I loved the idea of human experimentation and tampering in a way that wasn't the Cybermen because it was a little unique which is always good. I didn't expect to find out that he was his own first subject but that definitely answered some questions about his personality. He was certainly a little mad and would soon regress to having an IQ of 45 once the code's viral effects took their toll. The idea of the code's solution making it airborne seemed like it wouldn't be defeated and with the Doctor infected and on some sort of mental breakdown, the likelihood only increased. The answers lying in the third bedroom on the third floor of the house was good and Hex finding two individuals who had reverted to an intelligence level of just IQ 45 was great and just so intriguing as they still had their memories and understood what had made them this way. I think it's slightly harsh for them to be credited as a 'Thing' in the cast list though! Mrs Crips's relationship and distain for Verryman was excellent and that really did show. She was undoubtedly committed to her cause and it was a shame that she perished in such quick but brutal fashion. The conclusion was very fast and seemed to be over in a flash which suited the rest of the audio's pace. The use of fire and linking it back to the very first big jump that humanity made was good and I also liked the humour at the end with the TARDIS having been left seaside with the tide now in. Overall, a great little audio adventure!

Rating: 8/10