Voyage to the New World

"We are all dead."

Writer: Matthew Sweet

Format: Audio

Released: December 2012

Series: Jago & Litefoot 4.06

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis 

Roanoke Island, 1590.

The TARDIS materilaises in the past, and the Doctor's companions, Professor Litefoot and Henry Gordon Jago, find themselves prisoners of the natives in the New World.

But there's something strange here – stranger than even the colonists, led by Englishman John White.

What are the ghostly children? And who is the Old Man of Croaton?

The travellers are about to discover the secret of the lost colony... and it may cost Jago's life.

Verdict 

Voyage to the New World was a good audio to continue, and seemingly conclude, the adventures of the Sixth Doctor alongside his old friends Jago and Litefoot. This followed on nicely from the cliffhanger at the end of Voyage to Venus as we arrived in a new world, and I am a big fan of the voyage theme continuing. It works well for consistency and just seems like the right word for these pair of stories. I do hope we haven’t heard the last of Jago and Litefoot with the Sixth Doctor, or any incarnation for that matter, but it was certainly fun while it lasted if that is the case! I thought the 1590s setting was really good and I enjoyed having Jago and Litefoot in an unfamiliar time on a familiar planet. The world is such a different place in the 1590s compared to the 1890s that Jago and Litefoot are used to, and we got some good interaction with that. The theme and issue of slavery was explored pretty well, albeit perhaps not enough. It seemed like a little bit of a clunky start as we reverted back five centuries with Walter Raleigh and him naming the TARDIS. The significance of that would only be learned later in the story and I did like the idea of him utilising the fast return switch. It would set in motion the story to come but by the ends nearly all of the events didn’t actually happen! Wanchese was a decent character and I liked the threat he provided at the beginning as his daughter had died and the blame was placed at the foot of the Doctor and Litefoot. They were medical men but had not been able to save her. Obviously, Wanchese wasn’t in the best mental state given the emotional toil that must have had on him, but he was actually trying to use them as cover for the truce not actually being a success. That worked well. Jago underwent quite the ordeal throughout this episode and at one moment he was literally fading away! Litefoot was understandably concerned when he tried to read his pulse but just passed straight through him. Jago was surprisingly pretty calm about that whole situation! Croaton island was a fascinating place and I thought its significance was very intriguing. The Doctor’s suggestion to actually claim it was not something I expected though! I could see Jago being very much on board with that. Instead, it was actually John White who came bundling his way to claim the land in brutish fashion quite typical of the military. The Doctor had to interject and apologise which was a fun moment. The prospect of Croaton being a cannibal island was good stuff and I liked how Litefoot realised it couldn’t be a human zoo due to the height of the restrictive fencing. So, what was keeping them kept put? I thought Jago’s encounter with the old man we would learn as being Raleigh was nicely done and the fact he had been there for 498 years was impressive! He also seemed familiar to the Doctor which was good to explore. At one point it seemed like it might be the Doctor himself! Jago’s reaction to that prospect was amusing. He really was a highlight. The image of the TARDIS being encrusted was brilliant and something I would have really liked to have seen. Raleigh having the key and reverting back to the moments we heard repeated in naming the TARDIS was pretty good, although I do think the conclusion was perhaps a little impatient in piecing everything together. It felt slightly rushed which was probably unnecessary. Roanoak being founded by Raleigh and knowing what he became was an emotional tale and the sheer scale of his existence was fascinating. The way the Doctor and company were able to change the past from the future was good and Jago still not understanding the perspective of time was joyous. He was ready to return home though and that’s a bit of a shame. I liked that the children sensed that history was to be undone but for some reason that didn’t feel quite so significant in the grand scheme of things. Regardless, it worked well and was still a fine adventure. In regards to where things are left for Jago and Litefoot, having the Doctor drop them off in 1968 was magnificent and really sets up the fifth series of their spinoff! I cannot wait to listen. Overall, a very decent listen. 

Rating: 7/10