Survivors in Space

"We're all having bad dreams."

Writer: Paul Magrs

Format: Audio

Released: January 2012

Series: Serpent Crest 05

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Mrs Wibbsey

Synopsis 

It has been three months since the Hexford catastrophe, and Mike Yates is trying to show strength of leadership to the villagers. But with morale low and supplies running out, it is increasingly difficult to keep his own hopes up. Unless somebody finds them soon, the future looks bleak. 

So when the TARDIS materialises on the village green, it seems that help has arrived at last. But with two Doctors apparently at large, there is still the small matter of what was buried under Nest Cottage – not to mention who is clamouring to break through the protective force field. Soon Hexford is under siege once again, and this time an ancient hunger will be sated. Time has run out for the keepers of the Skishtariegg

Verdict 

Survivors in Space was a strong conclusion to the Serpent Crest third anthology of Nest Cottage Chronicles! This has been a fascinating journey through the chronicles of BBC Audios at a time before Tom Baker seriously took on the role of his famed and adored Fourth Doctor for Big Finish. This is a strong finale and rounded out the story arc very nicely. In another time jump in similar vain to The Hexford Invasion, events carried on here three months after they left off with the entire village of Hexford being transported through the wormhole into space. It had been three months of captivity and being stuck in the domed village which just had to be tough. The fact that it was always night must have been incredibly disorientating and it was nice to acknowledge that the village clock was able to help maintain some sort of daily schedule. I can’t imagine living in perpetual darkness and the potential effects psychologically. It was really strong to have Mike Yates in the narration role and it was important to get that perspective from the Hexford side of things. The imposter Second Doctor was fun this episode with us knowing he wasn’t the real article. He did a decent job in convincing Yates that he was the Doctor whilst other villagers remained somewhat sceptical. Yates was actually quite saddened when the truth was revealed. I thought the fake Doctor’s continued messages being sent out to the Skishtari were good and it was fun that it was actually one of these that helped the Fourth Doctor and Wibbsey to find where Hexford had been transported to. Wibbsey’s suggestion that it had taken umpteen months was good because that opens potential for future adventures with her in the TARDIS during events preceding this episode! She’d make a decent full time companion and I was surprised she almost seemed saddened at the end when the Doctor dropped her back to Hexford when it was returned to its rightful place. I thought how that happened was really good as just when the imposter Doctor thought he’d fulfilled his mission, it turned out to be his downfall. The way he was eavesdropping on the Fourth Doctor’s conversation with Yates about the gene egg and it being in the TARDIS was great as that set about a method of getting the key in a very brutish fashion. The imposter physically taking it from Wibbsey’s cardigan pocket was almost uncomfortable as she was pretty much helpless! The imposter obtaining the egg within the TARDIS was good but it starting to hatch after he sent news to the Skishtari was exciting. The Doctor knew of the danger it entailed. I thought the return of Alex some twenty years older and a grown man was excellent and it was nice to know that he was installed as Tsar and had brought peace in the Robotov Empire. The robotic guards arriving on the scene here was great and really helped round out the boxset. The turmoil in the village as rumours of supplies dwindling was good and a big threat, and it was fun for a lot of them to be sceptical of the Doctor’s ability to get them home. But get them home he would. Alex was able to command the Skishtari egg given that it was taken from within him and the connection built meant it acknowledged him rather than the Skishtari as a whole. They were rather shocked by that! Alex was able to command it to eat the Skishtari and do that they did! It was a fitting end and the image of the serpent eating itself was visually presented here. That was cleverly done. Using the trees and the imposter Doctor realising that he was never going to have his wishes adhered to as a clone meant that Hexford would be returned. Overall, a strong conclusion! 

Rating: 8/10