Insurgency

"I'm trying my best to lead Gallifrey into the future!"

Writer: Steve Lyons

Format: Audio

Released: July 2005

Series: Gallifrey 2.04

Featuring: Romana II, Leela, K9

Synopsis

They are the brightest minds of their generation; the architects of tomorrow. And now, they have the chance to attend the finest, most exclusive school known to temporal powers. After millennia of secrecy, the Gallifreyan Academy has opened its doors to off-worlders...

But the experiment is failing. As interracial violence erupts in the corridors of learning, somebody is using the students as pawns in a political power game – and, while Tutor Leela struggles to unravel the motives of her ex-husband, Andred, President Romana may be falling under an ancient spell.

It's a dangerous time to be a stranger on Gallifrey. It seems that not all Time Lords wants to share their secrets...

Verdict

Insurgency was another really good and solid audio adventure to continue what is shaping up to be quit the consistent second series of Gallifrey! Whilst I did enjoy this one, there was definitely a feeling of just hanging around as we head to the finale which was weird, but I think that was its purpose and it did a good job of adding to what has been set up for an epic conclusion! I liked that we got more involvement from the students of the Academy that were welcomed to Gallifrey for the first time under Romana's rule and Nelok was definitely a standout character at the start of the story. The mentions of the Prydonian college and wanting to follow in the footsteps of the Doctor were great and I like that even in his absence, he had clearly made a lasting mark on his home planet. Leela being involved as a tutor was a lot of fun and I really loved that Romana wanted her to teach the students wisdom. I also welcomed the references to The Invasion of Time and how Leela was partly responsible for stopping the Sontarans. She was almost revered which was quite lovely to hear. Her confrontation continuing with Andred was quite emotional as she reminded us of having already mourned her husband and she was clearly hurt when he claimed that she disappointed him! Her talk of him having different hearts and a different soul on top of becoming a different person with regeneration was powerful stuff, but it was nice that there was a suggestion of the pair somewhat reconciling as the audio went on with Leela recognising the sickness of his post regenerative trauma. The old Andred was trying to find his way back which was really good and I do hope they make up in the finale. I'm not sure if it will actually happen though! The new acting High Chancellor in the form of Valyes was an interesting character and with his appointment coming from the High Council, it appears that he is going to cause some issues to Romana. His involvement in revoking the Matrix access to off-worlders was a prime example. Romana suggesting that her continued dreams were a warning was intriguing and I liked how she was able to converse with the future aspect of Pandora through K9. It only now being able to talk of the future was good and a different dynamic, with the suggestion from Narvin that Romana was already under the influence perhaps having credence at the end of the audio. Darkel's political scheming was great with her provoking Gallifreyan civil war tensions whilst also wanting to lay waste to the temporal powers and isolate Gallifrey once more, at least according to Pandora. Taylor and B'arech breaching access to the Matrix was good and I liked how Andred wasn't going to reprimand them. The latter character was definitely the highlight of the students. His search for the Great Key of Rassilon ending up in his demise was really interesting and quite sudden! Pandora's suggestion that the dogma virus may have already infected a number of Time Lords was fantastic and that could set up a brilliant element of the season finale. I look forward to hearing what occurs there. Romana resisting the implementation of the ancient edict to create a dictatorship in her name was good and I do wonder if that is what will end up happening. Romana's suggestion that the only way the Imperiatrix would return is if it was her choice was unexpected and her claim that Pandora could guide her on the future leads me to think Romana isn't quite what she seems. The way she asserted power at the end with appointing Leela in charge of security and rejecting her resignation, giving her more power than Valyes was brilliant and excellently performed by Lalla Ward. Overall, an enjoyable listen that has set the finale up very nicely with Darkel challenging Romana for the presidency. 

Rating: 8/10