The Beast on Scar Hill

"You all need to get out of sight."

Writer: Mark Wright

Format: Audio

Released: September 2023

Series: BBC Audio 18

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

High on the summit of a bleak Yorkshire moor, the Scar Hill Hotel is used to bad weather. Yet, on a dark afternoon in January, the ferocious snowstorm that engulfs the hotel surprises even its managers, Mike and Jess. 

Also caught off guard are the handful of paying guests, all now stranded until rescue teams can get through. When Mike doesn't return from a recce, and two new arrivals introduce themselves as the Doctor and Rose, a night of terror begins. 

Something is out there in the snow, hunting. Old Wiggins believes it's the fabled Beast of Scar Hill, the same creature that's done for his sheep. The Doctor's keeping an open mind, as he and Rose fight a losing battle to keep everyone safe. 

Someone knows the truth behind the attacks, and the secret that lies out on the moor. But who?

Verdict

The Beast of Scar Hill was was a somewhat average story for the Ninth Doctor and Rose from BBC Audio. I think my rating for this one honestly might be a little generous too which is a shame as I’m a massive fan of getting more material with this pairing. I would absolutely love for Billie Piper to do some Big Finish alongside Christopher Eccleston for some authentic Ninth Doctor Adventures, and I do think that will happen in the future, but for now the BBC Audios filling in the gap for further adventures during Series 1 is all good with me. I was quietly optimistic to see that Mina Anwar was the narrator for this story as I think she’s a really underrated talent in the Whoniverse. She’s quirky and just injects some energy and fun whenever she performs. So it was a big disappointment to find that this particular episode was incredibly slow paced. In that regard she wasn’t the right fit. There was a severe lack of incidental music and atmosphere which was weird and a shame considering the image and setting that was created in the pre-titles. I enjoyed the concept of a group of people being snowed in, even if it seems somewhat improbable in this day and age. At least one of their phones would have worked I’d imagine! I wasn’t buying that but I could let it pass for the purpose of the story. The arrival of the Doctor and Rose felt a little too late as well. I’d have appreciated a little TARDIS scene at the start to establish the episode instead of a bit of character overload with all those we would come to know. Mike and Jess were good as the hotel operators and the latter had to take the limelight when Mike didn’t return from his little recce and the death started. That did inject some seriousness into the story which was needed. I just felt the true intentions of the story came a bit late. I liked that Trevor was not all that he seemed but his revelation as actually being Tarvin didn’t mean much to me. There weren’t any stakes and he wasn’t a returning villain or anything so it meant very little. It was difficult to care in that regard. Darno investigating him was a good way to tie things up at the conclusion, but more focus on the teardrop of perpetuity which he was being hunted for in the first place would have been better. I enjoyed exploring the mythical nature of the Scar Hill beast, especially when it came to the claim that only its eyes had been seen. That’s a very unique and specific body part to see! It painted a decent horror picture which was great. I thought the narrator did a fine job in differentiating the characters for the most part but her task was made more difficult by so many of them featuring. I think in this range when you know there’s only going to be one actor performing the story, it works best to keep characters to a minimal. The less the better and more intimacy allows the narrator to really shine and dive into the characters. But there were just too many at the hotel here. Jess was the highlight. Rose not being startled by aliens was good and whilst I appreciated the references and continuity to the likes of The End of the World, Aliens of London/World War Three and Dalek, it did go a bit far. She obviously doesn’t have the Moxx of Balhoon on speed dial! That line felt a little forced and just silly. Overall, some good ideas, a great narrator and fine setting but there was just a bit too much going on with the stakes at the conclusion coming too late.

Rating: 6/10