Recorded Time

"I am the King, and I will not be ignored."

Writer: Catherine Harvey

Format: Audio

Released: August 2011

Series: Monthly Adventures 150a

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

The TARDIS travellers find themselves at the court of Henry VIII, where the tragic Anne Boleyn will soon be discarded by her King in favour of the lovely Perpugilliam Brown. Or so it is written...

Verdict

Recorded Time was an excellent little story to kick off the one-hundred-and-fiftieth Monthly Adventure! I must admit that I'd much rather if this landmark release was a more traditional release and just one two-hour story, as I do think there is a potential for some things to be less memorable with the four one-parters, but this kicked things off very nicely! The Tudor period of history is certainly one of the more interesting in my opinion so having a story where Peri gets courted as a potential wife of Henry VIII was tremendous. I think a longer adventure would definitely have been more beneficial, but this allowed for a much calmer and just relaxed feel. There never seemed to be any genuine threat outside of established history, but this was far from a pure historical. The impact of the pen of the Phoenix was really well done and the potential of Henry VIII getting the chance to rule over all of Time was brilliant! That's just such a barmy concept as there just isn't any way a monarch from the sixteenth century could cope with all of Time and the developments that would come. Anne Boleyn featured too which was fantastic and it's a shame to hear her fate here and the fact that she was executed for no just reason. She couldn't provide a male heir, and one day after her death the King's next engagement was already announced. Peri didn't like that at all. I thought the Doctor being dubbed a fool was amusing and not exactly much of a surprise given his attire. Henry taking an immediate liking to Peri was uncomfortable right from the off and given his proximity and attitude towards women, that attention was unwelcome from our companion. Suggesting Peri as the influence for Henry's famed Greensleeves was a lot of fun and a great use of Doctor Who combining with history. Peri signing Henry's own future tune to him was lovely as well. I thought the setting was utilised very well here. The Scrivener as the writer of the phoenix pen was a strong character and the threat posed by Henry's booming presence and promise of death was more than enough to put the King in control. He wanted Anne Boleyn proclaimed as a witch with an added finger and then wanted himself in control of Time! Talk about a man knowing what he wanted and being selfish. I thought the ending was pretty simple but effective with the Doctor ensuring that the pen actually destroyed itself with the Scrivener also going against the King's orders of what to write. He changed the death of Anne Boleyn to give her a more swift conclusion, but with the pen destroyed Henry was far from able to take over Time itself. The scene in the TARDIS at the end was an emotional one as Peri pondered over Anne Boleyn, but I really liked the assurances from the Doctor of what would become of Elizabeth and how she would be one of the greatest Queens. There was something nice there for Anne in the end. Overall, a fine start to the release! 

Rating: 9/10