The Morton Legacy

"We can't profit from the legacy until we prove it is rightfully ours."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Audio

Released: May 2020

Series: Early Adventures 4.03

Featuring: Second Doctor, Polly, Ben, Jamie

Synopsis

When the TARDIS lands in London, Ben and Polly are initially delighted to be back home – until they realise that they've a hundred years too early. But this is nothing next to how the Doctor and Jamie feel when the TARDIS itself vanishes!

Their attempts to locate their ship lead them to an antiquarian, Josiah Morton, possessed of a most unusual collection that is currently subjected to a legal dispute. But they're not the only people interested in him. Dangerous criminals watch from the shadows, waiting for a moment to strike. And the police are calling too – accusing him of murder.

An unusual series of deaths have been occurring across the capital, and all sings point to Morton as the culprit. But is he really a killer? Or is there something else at large in the city? Something... alien?

Verdict

The Morton Legacy was an excellent Early Adventures story! I’m a huge fan of this range and this fourth series has basically been a mini series within Season 4 for the quartet of the Second Doctor, Polly, Ben and Jamie. I’m a huge admirer of them and I think it’s rather fitting that we get three stories in a row featuring them. It’s a foursome that I think don’t get enough credit and it’s such a shame that so many of their episodes are missing. This series in particular has done a good job in rectifying that and this was a strong story from start to finish. The Doctor trying to get Ben and Polly back to the 1960s was rather fun and reminiscent of adventures from the very first season, but of course the TARDIS didn’t quite do the trick. It got to London no problem, but it was a century too early. That was typical and brilliant so after a quick half an hour jaunt of exploration, the Doctor was keen to get back to the TARDIS and just move forward in time whilst staying in the same space. So when the TARDIS was missing that set us off into a really strong and fun adventure. I’m always a big fan of the Doctor and companions being separated from the TARDIS because that provides a strong sense of vulnerability that is difficult to replicate. It’s the safe haven and somewhere they can always run off to so when that’s taken away I like the danger and potential for the future. This was sublime for the part one cliffhanger where it looked like Morton was going to be arrested without revealing the location of his museum workshop where his new blue box acquisition was stored. The desperation in Ben and the Doctor’s voices when he was on the verge of being arrested for murder was terrific. Polly pointed out they may have helped a murderer, but they were confident he didn’t have those vibes. I liked the trial concerning the inheritance that meant nobody could visit the Morton museum that the TARDIS was intended for, but of course the Doctor was able to talk himself into confidence and eventually a look around the museum. I thought Morton was a good character and I liked how things turned in his favour with the deaths that were happening. The way it was revealed that the culprit was actually Blazzard was really fun and the butler even sacrificed himself for his boss when Copeland went to kill him. That was admirable and whilst I agree with the Doctor’s comments about him taking human life, they were a little dark and potentially ill-timed. Copeland along with Dexter made for strong villains and whilst the former was clearly in charge, their desire to destroy Richard and take his artefacts for a pretty penny was an easy but believable motive. the confusion regarding the necklace and the fact it needed to be covered in a liquid bordered incoherence, but the moment Blazzard knew which liquid would do the trick all became clear. I liked the moment at the end with the TARDIS departure and Morton reacting to their goodbye. Overall, a fantastic listen!

Rating: 9/10