Barrister to the Stars

"I've already been murdered."

Writer: James Kettle

Format: Audio

Released: January 2020

Series: Diary of River Song 7.03

Featuring: River

Synopsis

River stands accused of murder. Her one hope is being allowed to choose the legal system under which she'll be tried.

Enter Roger Hodgkiss: curmudgeonly barrister, plucked from a 20th Century English courtroom. He may be out of his depth, but he'll always stand up for the underdog.

Verdict

Barrister to the Stars was an excellent episode to continue the seventh series of The Diary of River Song! This was definitely my favourite of the volume so far and it was just a lot of fun whilst being a very unique kind of adventure. Of course, a trial is not new to the Doctor Who universe but inserting River was certainly a different approach and her arrival was emphatic. The idea of there being justice technology in the 32nd century was intriguing and River had identified Roger Hodgkiss as the barrister she wanted to defend her. Why did she need defending? Well, she was accused of murder of course! I loved the idea of her being tried by any legal system of her choosing and that was such a fascinating element of the Institute of Reconciliation and Restitution. She had chosen English law at the turn of the millennium because she needed time, and that famously always took the longest! I thought that was very amusing. The Contingent made for a strong character and it being a telepath communicating with Roger was amusing with his attraction for her being appreciated. River needing to find the true killer of the Duke of Ferrox was a good direction for the story and being able to communicate with him in a digital afterlife was an unexpected treat. Having a Scottish accent for a warrior species worked fantastically, especially with the Queen at the end! Rodger being confused by River's romantic comments was a fine moment too. The Integers were a fun element of the story with them doing all of the jobs on the Institute and Roger's relationship with them had a big impact on their evolution by the end. River explaining that she chose Roger as her barrister because he always stood for the accused no matter what was a terrific reason! The Integers suggesting that the last of the Unnatural Children - a brilliant name - saw them prior to the crime was very good and it was clear that they knew it wasn't River who was the killer. Stark as another Ferrox was a fine character and his anger at his master being taken was brilliant at the start. He didn't like River and Roger investing the crime scene and them finding the works of Wordsworth was not expected! The humour of the incomplete quatrain revealing that the Duke was one for poetry despite being a warrior was tremendous. The Unnatural Child existing out of time and being half an hour behind was a lot of fun and actually became helpful in identifying the true murderer! Hodgkiss trying to use the Contingent's telepathic ability to prove River's innocence was admirable but that had no place in English law. The Contingent actually getting into his mind provide comical scenes in the courtroom as well as Hodgkiss fought with his inner self. The reveal that the Contingent was having a fling with the Emperor of Eternal Abundance was fun given the two make ups of those species and hearing River's delight in being the one to spill it was fantastic. Roger confronting the Duke on actually being a warrior seemed strange, but it was all a fine ploy to show that it was Stark who killed him because his love for poetry! I thought that was brilliant. River suspecting this all along and being one step ahead in ensuring Stark's weapons were turned on himself to kill hm was very Doctor-like in not revealing the truth which I appreciated. Integers gaining independence was a fun aspect of the conclusion, as was the Duke's suggestion he would read Wordsworth slowly to Stark over and over through the afterlife. Overall, a fantastic audio! 

Rating: 9/10