The Tears of Isis

"Death will walk amongst us."

Writer: Una McCormack

Format: Audio

Released: June 2015

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 2.04

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace, Benny

Synopsis

Russell Courtland prophesied the world would end on Tuesday. No-one was more surprised than he was when it did.

Verdict

The Tears of Isis was a fantastic story to conclude the second series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! I have been very impressed with this series and it was a fitting return for Sutekh. I'm glad he got to encounter a new incarnation of the Doctor and the meddling and sneaky nature of the seventh version made for a fitting pairing. I thought the media involvement at the start of the episode with Russell Courtland on the news was not where I expected things to start following on from where The Eye of Horus finished, but that put things on a grand scale with Sutekh proclaimed as coming. I liked the idea of Sutekh having his own cult of followers and that really did show that the obelisks were doing their trick. The followers actually offering up Earth as a gift to their god was a bit of a surprise, especially with them wondering what would be left for them later in the episode. The Earth presented here was completely desolate and destroyed thanks to Sutekh with very little life to rule. That was a lot to take in for Ace and Benny. I was also a little surprised that the Doctor seemed so accepting of defeat, but he had a larger plan at work which was fun. I've certainly come to appreciate the manipulative nature of the Seventh Doctor by now after not getting on with him too well for a very long time. Isis appearing and also seeming to accept that her brother was victorious was good and sold just how desperate times were. I thought Russell trying to rally the troops as they started to question was amusing and the lack of Sutekh arriving led to several of them losing faith. Susannah telling Russell what to say to keep the following was very amusing at times and good comedic value. Benny's outbursts to the followers of Sutekh was a standout moment for her as a companion and showed just why she had her own series. She tried to explain that the acolytes would just be next for the God of Death and that proved right as he arrived to devour them in person. Some reward! The Doctor wanting to believe without Benny was a surprise but that allowed Ace to refuse and ensure her friend was also safe. Alyx was a very good character as the adopted daughter of the house and giving herself as a sacrifice to Sutekh was a surprise. Isis emerging and Sutekh killing her was chilling, but the calm nature in which he just despatched of Russell and Susannah when they were arguing over who should be sacrificed was incredible. The Doctor getting the upper hand on Sutekh when revealing that they were actually in the 29th century, where humanity had already fled Earth from solar flares, instead of the 21st was terrific as this Earth was already scorched and defeated. Sutekh was not in control. The fact that he then took the Doctor's body and the pair went back in time to the events of The Pyramid of Sutekh was excellent and Benny had already met this version as Sutekh was trapped in a loop. That was a fitting way to defeat a god! Alyx as a fragment of Isis reaching into the storm to pull the Doctor out was great and using her tears as the God of Life to bring the gift of life back to humanity was superb. Overall, a brilliant story!

Rating: 9/10