The Mouthless Dead

"Everyone wants to see him past."

Writer: John Pritchard

Format: Audio

Released: June 2016

Series: Companion Chronicles: The Second Doctor 1.01

Featuring: Second Doctor, Polly, Ben, Jamie

Synopsis

The TARDIS arrives in 1920s England, the Doctor, Jamie, Ben and Polly finding themselves in a wintry dusk beside a railway line. The station nearby appears deserted, but there are figures watching from the shadows, all of them waiting for a dead man's train...

Verdict

The Mouthless Dead was an outstanding Companion Chronicles audio adventure! I absolutely loved this one and it was the perfect way to kick off the first volume of the range for the Second Doctor. Hearing the TARDIS proximity alarm during the era of the Second Doctor was really good because we didn't get anything of the sort on screen so it's good continuity as far as the TARDIS is concerned. I really enjoyed how the Doctor explained the TARDIS incorporating a number of different calendars as well, and once he'd narrowed readings down to the Gregorian type, it was clear we had arrived in 1920s Kent which was a good little setting. The TARDIS being hit by a train upon materialisation was a great start and the prospect of the ship actually being wounded was terrific. It needed time to heal so some exploring at the locale was on the cards. This was my first experience of Elliott Chapman in the role as Ben and even though I'm a little sceptical when it comes to recasting, I thought he was actually fantastic! I really enjoyed his take and it was wonderful to hear that Cockney lingo interact with Polly who I thought had a terrific tale. Jamie learning all about trains was a lot of fun and I found it humorous that he ridiculed the prospect of how they worked despite all he'd seen travelling with the Doctor. The creepy setting of a platform at night was good and throwing in a disappearing man made for a tremendous atmosphere. Francis was a very good character and I thoroughly enjoyed her relationship with Polly, even if to the companion her newfound associate felt like a ghost. The use of the Unknown Warrior as a focal point for the platform was magnificent and Francis and others were hoping to see him past on his return from France to pay respects as he represented all those that had fallen during World War One. That was a tremendous use of history. The humour that came from Jamie hearing of a world war and thinking it meant war against aliens was sublime and just peak Jamie as a companion. I was a huge fan of that and audibly laughed. The mystery of the TARDIS light flashing but not dematerialising was good and the 'trespassers' in the tunnel added to the eery feel. Their description of being a ghostly glimmer of decay and advancing upon the girls made for a very good cliffhanger. Francis having lost her fiancé to the War was sad and I liked how her brother had also fought at the Somme so she was effected by the conflict in a big way despite not actually partaking herself. Her thinking that the Unknown Warrior was her fiancé was a really nice touch and Polly's response to that was very nice and comforting. The train actually stopping at their station was good given the signal trouble from the thought soldiers and the voices that came with them for Ben and Jamie, both hearing different sounds from Culloden to the navy, was really well done. The dead hoping to go after the train was a fantastic image and the Doctor questioning whether they were spectral or physical was brilliant. The death of the signalman answered that query! The use of the TARDIS telepathic circuits to actually provide mental thoughts to the warriors and link with the country's climate of grief was superb. Thomas being scarred as a way to protect him from the soldiers was really well done and I liked the danger that came with the thought soldiers hoping to cling onto the train with thousands waiting for the Unknown Warrior in London. That spelled danger which was great. Polly seeing a figure with a tattered outline and shadowy face guarding the Unknown Warrior was brilliant and I loved the revelation that the soldiers were born out of grief and loss. That fitted in with the climate wonderfully. Thomas being a survivor and immune was terrific and I loved how he and the three males from the TARDIS linked hands to get past the soldiers and confront on the train. Thomas, who was the fiancé of Francis, couldn't bare to face his love which was quite emotional as he didn't want her to see his scar. The meeting of the pair with her not initially recognising him was sad but her love for him shone through when she realised which was just lovely. Him being accepted by her was stronger than the grief as he was accepted back into society by Francis and that threw the tide of grief into the reverse, with the TARDIS essentially reversing the polarity which was a lot of fun. The Doctor pondering on wanting to go back and see who the Unknown Warrior was made me smile, but that would be defeating the point as he acknowledged. Overall, a superb audio!

Rating: 10/10