Water Worlds: The Rotting Deep

"There are seven of us left alive."

Writer: Jacqueline Rayner

Format: Audio

Released: May 2022

Series: Sixth Doctor Adventures 1.01

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Mel, Hebe

Synopsis

A mysterious SOS summons the Doctor and Mel to an oil rig in the North Sea where a dwindling group of survivors awaits rescue from a lethal menace. One of their number is Hebe Harrison, a wheelchair-using marine biologist who is definitely more than she seems. Can our heroes escape the rig? And just what is killing off the rig's beleaguered crew?

Verdict

The Rotting Deep was an outstanding start to Water Worlds and the Sixth Doctor Adventures! It's always fun when we get a new companion, especially for a Classic Doctor, as that really does open up a whole new world for a specific incarnation that is not limited by what we know on television. This really did feel like a fresh start and any range being produced by Jacqueline Rayner is going to go down well in my book! I really do like the idea of introducing Hebe as a companion and having her as a wheelchair user is good representation for disabled people and I was impressed with how well that was utilised for both humour and deep discussion. I think it's important that Hebe herself was able to play with the comedy aspect of her messing about sometimes when seeming offended by being told to run, but then the seriousness of her conversation with the Doctor at the end after she was manhandled just because her body didn't work in the same way as most other people was tremendous. I was a big fan of hers and I thought Ruth Madley did a tremendous job in her debut. I really do look forward to hearing where things go for this new TARDIS team and how Hebe's limitations might have an impact. I thought it was hilarious for Mel to think she might be a Dalek when just hearing something gliding once arriving in the oil rig! That rig setting was excellent and it was a nice touch for the Doctor and Mel to be answering an SOS call and it certainly didn't take long to establish why help was needed! The barrage of seagulls at the windy rig really set the scene well and it got to the point of being uncomfortable and disturbing. Very few things annoy me more than seagulls so I was put off as a listener but in the absolute right way. It did its job brilliantly. I thought it was eery to have Hebe as the lone survivor of the crew at the rig after starting with seven when the Doctor and Mel arrived, but it showed the scale of trouble at hand. I thought some of the other crew members were good with AM as the cook having a terrific link to poetry with the rig being named the Albatross and the belief of it being cursed. Jonah was a humorous character as despite everything that was going on, he was only concerned with creating a documentary about what was happening to sell once he reached safety! Unfortunately, he wouldn't get the chance to make that pitch after drinking the contaminated water. Sky being the main culprit in killing the rest of the crew with her having been infected for a long time was excellent and the fact that she was doing so because they may recommend that the rig be discontinued was just great. Hebe as a marine biologist was actually on the side of maintaining it, at least below the sea, which was good stuff. I loved that Hebe wanted to travel with the Doctor and Mel after overhearing their conversation about aliens, with Mel having to convince her that she was actually born in the 1960s despite appearing a similar age. Hebe's reaction to the TARDIS interior was magnificent and I adored that the SOS call was made from her after being given the device by an old friend in the form of Evelyn Smythe. A really nice touch! Overall, a sublime start to the series!

Rating: 10/10