Time War: Dissolution

"Gallifrey will fall to my empire."

Writer: Lou Morgan

Format: Audio

Released: February 2021

Series: Gallifrey 12.02

Featuring: Leela, Narvin

Synopsis 

With young Rayo in tow, Narvin looks for respite in an ancient bolthole and turns to an old mentor for help. But a Dalek has been hunting him through space and time, and it will not give up his trail so easily.

Verdict 

Dissolution was a good episode to continue my way through the fourth volume of Time War and the twelfth series of Gallifrey as a whole. I must admit I found this one slightly odd in how it followed on from Deception as it didn’t seem to quite add up with how that one ended, but it still worked well. It started full of action with the shields being down and a Dalek ambush ensuing that meant Leela had to be left behind. She knew Narvin had a secret but I was surprised that after all of the efforts to find her again, she was left so easily. That wasn’t strong continuity. The Micallon setting was decent and I liked the Apothecary a great deal as an old friend and cosying of Narvin. He was a reluctant member of the Patrex Chapter and this planet was a retreat. That didn’t seem like Narvin’s idea of fun! But Rayo was injured and shocked so he didn’t have many other ideas, especially with the TARDIS seemingly dying! The sound effects for that were brilliant. Getting a conversation between the Emperor Dalek and Dalek Supreme was a real treat and they weren’t best pleased that Narvin had escaped, especially at it seemed he had information useful to the Dalek cause. The retreat on Micallon being designed for the contemplation of beauty for the Patrex Chapter was nice and sounded good, but something that wouldn’t be favourable to Narvin. No wonder he got on better with the likes of Romana! Rayo is not my favourite character to be honest and I already think he’s outstayed his welcome. He just doesn’t offer a lot in my opinion and is pretty boring. He doesn’t seem to fit a temporal war the scale of the Time War. His efforts to steal the damaged TARDIS didn’t make much sense but he was committed to the Resistance and wanted to get back there. His discussion of the plans to make the Vortex unusable was good and does sound like a logical way to end the Time War. The Hunter Dalek was a fun category of Dalek and I liked the action that came from one being on Micallon. It was seeking Narvin but the Time Lord was quick to make himself a distraction whilst Rayo and the Apothecary would find a way to defeat it. What trouble could one little Dalek possibly cause? The way Narvin stood up to the Dalek was fantastic character moment and he knew the threat of surrender or extermination was an empty one because if it was the latter they’d have done it already. He was needed and used that to his advantage for Rayo to arrive on the scene armed and deal with the Dalek. I was a little confused that Narvin seemed unaware of the plan to position the Vortex through the Untempered Schism given the ending of the previous episode in needing to return to Gallifrey, but maybe I missed something? I’m not sure but it didn’t feel right. Narvin telling Rayo the truth about Romana as his secret was good and Leela knowing something was hidden from her was good, and now Rayo knew what it was. Romana had faked the chameleon arch change to get Leela to leave. Rayo staying on as the Apothecary’s apprentice was decent and I do hope this is where he stays! Narvin heading to Gallifrey and knowing of what Eris may try is great and sets us up nicely for a showdown. The cliffhanger finish going back to the moment where it seemed Romana was to be exterminated was great as she was saved at the last moment by Braxiatel! That was someone unexpected and his comment about hurrying her up before they came around the back was very funny. I’m excited for where things go next but as a whole this was a decent, if not a filler, episode! 

Rating: 7/10