Human Conflict

"Some weapons should never be used."

Writer: Iain McLaughlin

Format: Audio

Released: February 2018

Series: The Churchill Years 2.02

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Churchill

Synopsis

1941. The Prime Minister has much on his mind as London reels from the Blitz. When a daring mission to discover Nazi secrets bears unexpected results, Churchill heads north to retrieve technology that could win the war. But an old ally is set against his intent. Weary from his own people's conflict, the Doctor knows that some weapons should never enter the field of human conflict. 

Verdict

Human Conflict was another very good story to continue my way through the second series of The Churchill Years! This one jumped quite a bit forward in the historical figure's timeline from Young Winston and took us right into the middle of the Second World War which was excellent. I was intrigued from the off that we didn't get any pre-titles and from the opening theme, it was clear that a different incarnation of the Doctor would be appearing. Setting the audio during 1941 and talking on the Blitz was good and I found Churchill's comment about feeling guilty that he was relieved that bomb attacks went elsewhere in the country rather than London was intriguing and certainly something I would be guilty of myself in that situation. The War was obviously at its height and the Prime Minister's desire for new weapons was logical. Fleming given the PM an update about events in Denmark and how a whole mountain went missing was quite something! I thought the arrival of the Doctor into the story was done very well and I enjoyed the battered description from Churchill for the Ninth Doctor after encountering him in The Oncoming Storm. He didn't want Churchill to go after the weapon and would deal with it himself. It was a stark warning, but Churchill sent Fleming and his party after it anyway which was quite amusing. Churchill was certainly stubborn when it came to war! Professor Bragnar as the weapon's creator was magnificent and her initial conversation with Colonel Fischer, the German, was very good. I liked how the TARDIS landed at the weapon site and the Doctor made a theme of jumping around in different places throughout. Fleming and co escaping with Bragnar was great and I really enjoyed the action packed escape past the checkpoint and them being pursued before finally reaching their target. Their arrival in Dundee and meeting up with Churchill was terrific and I liked how he had to return to the constituency where he was MP for 14 years and didn't leave on good terms. The Doctor joining up with everyone there was great and I liked how Churchill defended his actions and fired back with the need for ending war. The Doctor's guilt at using his own weapon was a good comment as well as things were clearly not too far removed from the Time War. Brganar's escape was amusing and I liked how she left a communication device for Churchill. The Doctor knew she was alien and I thought her desire for 25% of Britain's jewellery supply was fantastic. That was quite the bargaining! Churchill's failure to give in and show resolve was typical of what we know about the historical character so that was magnificent to hear. Fleming's relationship with him was very good and I also thoroughly enjoyed the morality clash between the PM and the Doctor. The events heading for Morar as a small rock or island was good and Bragnar being an arms trader was very logical. She didn't involve herself directly in conflict, but she was certainly going to profit! Fischer and the Germans interrupting the dealings was an unexpected development and I loved how the Doctor showed up again to oversee things. He wasn't exactly happy either. The Germans thinking the TARDIS as an illusion was also fantastic. The Doctor seemed to come with more knowledge about Bragnar and how she had set worlds against each other and now she was intending on arming both sides here and eventually selling out the planet to the Julan. All were to die. From that, a common enemy was established and at the height of the Second World War, Brits and Germans worked together after the Doctor's plea to combine forces. Bragnar revealing her true form was a little weird as it didn't last, but I liked how she knew of Gallifrey and the worth of the TARDIS. It was quite ironic for Fischer to draw the line on slaughter during war given his involvement as a Nazi Colonel. The plan to bombard the island and get rid of the barrier field on Bragnar's ship was great. I liked the respect that was on show between Fischer and Churchill after they worked together. Bragnar freeing herself from the shipwreck and threatening Churchill for the TARDIS was very good but the simplicity of the conclusion was decent for the Doctor to use the sonic screwdriver to detonate the energy charge in her pistol. From there he simply took her away in the TARDIS as the bombers arrived to destroy the island. Churchill's anecdote at the end about feeling defeated despite the events because he hadn't gained a war advantage was nicely done and his remorse running out as he ordered a Nazi attack on Fischer's ship regardless of his respect and saving his life was telling. This was war. Overall, a great audio adventure! 

Rating: 8/10