Skin Deep

"Everyone's doing Amber."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: August 2018

Series: Lady Christina 1.02

Featuring: Lady Christina 

Synopsis

Sylvia Noble always knew she deserved better. So, when a chance encounter with aristocracy propels her out of Chiswick and into high society, she's delighted. 

But the beautiful people have their own agenda – and Christina is surprised when those plans involve her father.

Verdict

Skin Deep was a decent continuation of the Lady Christina spinoff series! I thought it was certainly an interesting pairing to have her alongside Sylvia Noble and whilst I'm not sure what the thinking was behind that, it was certainly unique! Their chance meeting at a salon was good and from there they fostered a really nice friendship. Christina used her talents to take Sylvia to the opening night gallery and from there she was living the high life. The introductions of Tamaraind and Malia were good and I liked the idea behind the Amber product that would rid a wearer of their wrinkle lines. My intrigue peaked when a man jumped to his death for being too pretty and claiming he should be ugly. That set the tone in a dark way which was good. Sylvia referencing Donna and how she was off with her husband was nice and it's just lovely to know that she is enjoying her life, even if her mother thinks she could have done better than her other half! Christina noticing the ATMOS sat-nav from The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky was excellent and I liked how Sylvia's story for all of Donna's time with the Doctor meant her 'travels'. The line about Donna not being able to take her souvenirs was heartbreaking though and a stark reminder of how difficult it must be for Sylvia to ensure Donna doesn't remember her time with the Doctor. Christina forcing her way into a tour of the Noble household was great and I loved how she was even interested in Wilf's shed. Sylvia later realising that she was scoping the house for alien tech or artefacts to steal was hilarious. The gathering of elites was a good setting for much of the second part of the story and I was fascinated that Christina encounter her father! It had been three years since their last meeting and they clearly had an iffy relationship at best. It was nice character development and he turned out to be quite a likeable character. His knowing all about Christina's actions and actually calling her a disgrace to the family was unexpected though. The elite and rich theme throughout the audio was a little tiresome if I'm being honest and I was getting a little annoyed of listening to them. The Partners in Crime reference from Sylvia and her likening of the Adipose to Amber was very good, except this time around the product was just for the select few which was definitely an important distinction. Malia and Tamarind mocking Sylvia for being old was a shame but it was a good twist when they told her about Christina's thieving. Sylvia soon realised that she was merely in attendance as a distraction for Lady Christina's latest scheme. She was soon feeling under the weather though because of Amber and the needs of the enemy to plant their eggs and have tastier skin was interesting to say the least. Sylvia cracking one of their shells and hearing the beetles emerge was a little weird, but from there I thought things got slightly silly with Amber. I was also very surprised that when Sylvia mentioned the Doctor, Christina didn't even react and them talking about the Doctor as that was the one common thread between the characters really ought to have happened. The Amber voice was possibly even more annoying than their human form which was a shame as the concept was actually decent. Christina's dad getting to take the initiative and pretend to help the Amber by offering them help in exchange for youth was very good and his sacrifice was certainly admirable! The image of everybody being wrapped in cocoons was amusing, as was Sylvia's reaction when she learned of the alien intent in Christina's theft. Sylvia not being overly effected by the Amber poisoning was good and I thought it was nice how it was a ring from Donna that sent healing waves around there that prevented her from the fate that befell the rest of the invited guests. The way it was used in the conclusion was great and I thought it was fantastic to have Sam Bishop again show up at the end and provide Sylvia with antibiotics not yet on the public market. I look forward to him getting a full adventure with Christina. Sylvia's appeal to Christina's dad at the end and how she blamed herself for pushing Donna too close to the sun with the Doctor was quite emotional and I'd just love for a meeting between Christina and Donna in the future! For now though, this was another good little tale. 

Rating: 7/10