The Lost

"We have crashed through the membrane of reality."

Writer: Robert Valentine

Format: Audio

Released: July 2021

Series: Dalek Universe 2.03

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Anya, Mark

Synopsis

When the Doctor's latest scheme to get back to the future fails, the team's ship crashes on a strange world, potentially trapping them for ever.

Searching for replacement parts, they find their way to a building where heart-breakingly familiar faces await them.

Lies are about to be exposed. Everyone will learn the truth. And nothing will be the same again.

Verdict

The Lost was a fantastic adventure to conclude the second series of Dalek Universe! I thought this was a poignant conclusion to what was a really good trilogy of stories to serve as the second instalment in the Dalek Universe, and making particular reference to life before the Time War was terrific. The Doctor pondered on what exactly the Lost could be and suggestions of it being an Eternal or one of the Endless was very good. I enjoyed his thoughts on the deities and similar-like beings that rampaged around the universe before Daleks and Time Lords did battle. I do hope that we get a lot more concerning that in the final boxset as whilst the first two volumes have undoubtedly been great, I think there could be more Daleks. This was a fantastic two-hander for the Tenth Doctor and Anya though and exploring their relationship was excellent. I really liked how the Lost challenged the Doctor on his thoughts towards Anya and how he sees her as the woman responsible for the death of his companion Ann Kelso, even though she didn't actually ever exist. The Lost using Ann Kelso was really strong and I liked the brief moments where her form was returned. That didn't impress the Doctor. Hearing him challenged on the loss he has faced across his multiple lifetimes was really good with the likes of Oliver and Lucie Miller getting mention with this incarnation of the Doctor a real treat and great use of the audio format. The Doctor and Anya having arrived into a bubble universe was good and the problematic make up of its existence provided a good dilemma and problem. They got on well together though. The Lost trying to break them apart worked well and having him take the form of Mark Seven so soon after he perished in The Trojan Dalek sparked some strong feelings from the Doctor. The mentions of Rose and Donna in particular struck a nerve with the Doctor when he was challenged on those left behind and I think it's important to remember where in the life of the Tenth Doctor this series is set. The actual concept of the Lost was good and I thought it was fun to have it take on the form of the Doctor alongside Anya. She didn't get fooled for long though which was important! The idea of only one of the Doctor and Anya being able to get through the portal back to normality was fun to explore and it was clear they both thought the other should get through, but that decision ended up not having to be made as the Doctor had come back into his own timeline to change the past and ensure that everything worked out. I'm not entirely thrilled with that being the resolution given the Doctor's strict stance on the Laws of Time, but it was fun for the few moments where there were two Tenth Doctors present! And it led into one hell of an ending where it was discovered the Doctor and Anya had arrived still pre-Time War and in the crossfire of a Movellan and Dalek conflict. And the Daleks were calling them aboard. Hearing a Dalek state 'Hello Sweetie' was just wonderful and I really am looking forward to the third boxset! That's got me wanting to listen to it right away. Overall, a strong episode to finish!

Rating: 8/10