The Phoenicians

"The ship will be bathed in their blood. It is called good fortune."

Writer: Marc Platt

Format: Audio

Released: January 2019

Series: First Doctor Adventures 3.01

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara 

Synopsis

In ancient Tyre, the Phoenician civilisation commands the oceans. But times are turbulent – the young King's quarrel with his sister threatens to divide the nation.

On perilous seas, Ian becomes Princess Elissa's favourite, while Susan and Barbara face losing their freedom. In the city, the Doctor falls foul of King Pygmalion.

As they reach dangerous shores, the travellers fight to survive as legend becomes history...

Verdict

The Phoenicians was a great story to kick off the third series of the First Doctor Adventures! I thought this was a very strong start and I liked that the TARDIS ventured deep into the past and to ancient Tyre. I must admit that this was a time and setting I knew very little about but I always enjoy exploring the more unique places and this was certainly one of them! I was surprised that Susan was able to pinpoint when exactly they were but it was just the first in a number of humorous literary references, alongside Ian and Barbara's surprise that the TARDIS had its own library! Susan's comments about The Holy Bible and referring to as if it was any other ordinary book was tremendous and I really liked her insinuations. I'm not a fan of that particular book so I certainly appreciated the comments. The Doctor was also amusing as the story began and trying to blame one of his companions for why the TARDIS never quite ended up where he intended. I've really grown to enjoy David Bradley's take on the First Doctor and I thought the characterisation was excellent here, especially with something so simple as referring to Ian as Chessington. It was very effective. Barbara's extensive knowledge of history was on full display again here and I liked that everyone turned to her when they landed in Earth's past. Elissa was a strong character and her role in exploring the relationship between Ian and Barbara was tremendous. I think this range has done a lot to address that elephant in the TARDIS and the princess getting confirmation from Barbara that she didn't love Ian opened up her path to him, something Barbara immediately regretted! The threat of Susan and Barbara being married off was good and in with the time, and Susan's reaction to potentially having a husband was great and in line with a similar situation in The Aztecs. The cliffhanger at the end of part one was outstanding as it seemed that Ian had been killed in a brutal fashion by being run down by a ship, Barbara's reaction to that showed that they were more than mere fellow travellers, and his return in disguise was good but probably a tad too soon. The Doctor getting left behind in Tyre whilst Susan, Ian and Barbara were shipped off to what would become Carthage was very good and I liked how Susan just shut herself away in the TARDIS rather than face being apart from the Doctor. Pygmalion and the Doctor interacted well and I liked how the king was enthused by having the Doctor under his capture. The moment the Doctor trapped him and turned the table was terrific. I thought Tubal was also a very good character and his prophesying was brilliant. I'm a big fan of that kind of stuff, especially when the Doctor gets involved! The resolution to this one was pretty simple once the TARDIS quartet were all reunited as the Doctor used the TARDIS scanner and speaker to imitate a deity and ensure that history took its rightful path and Elissa would go on to become Dido, whilst Ian wanted her to remember him and name the city she would found as Carthage. It was pretty neat and tidy in the end after a lot of politics and historical drama. I think this would have fitted in well with the first season of Doctor Who, and finding out through Ian's watch that he and Barbara had been travelling for four months was a lovely touch and some great information. Overall, a strong opener! 

Rating: 8/10