Devil in the Smoke

"How can a dead body just appear inside a snowman?"

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Novella

Released: December 2012

Printed in: Summer Falls and Other Stories

Featuring: Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

On a cold day in December, two young boys build a snowman – and are confronted with a strange and grisly mystery. Their snowman begins to bleed... 

The search for answers to this impossible event will plunge Harry into the most hazardous – and exhilarating – adventure of his life.

Verdict

Devil in the Smoke was an excellent novella to continue my way through the Summer Falls and Other Stories collection! This was easily the best of the collection thus far and I was actually a tad surprised to find that it had been released as its own ebook prior to the airing of The Snowmen back in 2012. I have no memory of ever hearing about it which is a shame as it would have been pretty cool to read the story when it was released and experience it as a true prequel. It serves as a magnificent introduction to the world and time in which the aforementioned Christmas Special would be set whilst giving us just enough of a subtle hint regarding the threat to come. Highlight the Paternoster Gang here was just brilliant and they are a tremendous trio. I have loved their further adventures with Big Finish, but honestly I feel like they work even better in prose! Maybe that's just testament to the writing of Justin Richards here because he absolutely nails the dynamic between them all. Referring to them here as the Lizard Woman, Parlour Maid and the Troll is quite amusing but it's a pretty apt description! Strax might just be one of my all time favourite characters because he's just so wonderful ridiculous. No matter the format, he just works. He's so funny! A good Sontaran is not something that should work – especially alongside two female characters! – but he just does. He's tremendous. The humour he presented here was once again marvellous with his insistence on using heavy weapons, thinking Cockney dialect was code and accepting their retreat as regrouping. The technicalities of a war-bred species! His offering to be the subject of court marital and summary execution when failing to wholly act out the requests of Vastra in bringing Felicity was hilarious too. Her fate was not though. The story behind Harry and Jim was quite a sad one as they were only young boys building a snowman. What else would youngsters do when there's a white covering? I thought the fact a dead woman fell out of their snowman was a horrifying good image and one that I think would be superb on screen. I initially thought that this was going to be connected to the glass woman and the Great Intelligence with the use of the smoke, but they were just striking similarities. That wasn't a problem at all and whilst we didn't get a name for the smog creature that often took on the form of Able Hecklington, I liked the way it was defeated in having a covering of snow basically absorb the creature in its steam form. That was pretty effective and I like to think it would go on to conjoin with the Great Intelligence to soon do battle with the Eleventh Doctor. I thought the way that creature was presented was fantastic and the prospect of it wanting to consume the world and even the sun when whole was superb. The use of the toffee tin was really effective actually in keeping it separate and Strax was actually pretty useful there. Even Vastra admitted as such! The cauldron sequence was pretty incredible with the threat of Harry being taken down into the smoke, but once again Strax was on hand to use the weapons he oh so loves to save the day. Jim being forced into tricking Harry to getting there in the first place was a shame, and his ultimate fate was a sad one for a child! The Victorian setting was there in abundance in knowing that Harry was from a workhouse which made Jenny's offer at the end a nice touch. No Sontaran military training for the young lad! As a whole, this was a fantastic prequel whilst serving as its own story at the same time which is an impressive feat. There was so much to like. Great detective work and a terrific little mystery that was genuinely gory and interesting. A fantastic read! 

Rating: 9/10

Strict Machine

"A punishment unlike anything we had known."

Writer: Stephen Cole

Format: Short Story

Released: July 2024

Series: I, TARDIS: Memoirs of an Impossible Blue Box 03

Featuring: Third Doctor, Liz, Jo, Sarah Jane, Brigadier

Synopsis

The Doctor has a unique bond with their TARDIS. They've always loved the 'old girl' for the way she's gone looking for trouble anywhere in the universe. The Doctor says they stole the TARDIS from Gallifrey. The TARDIS disagrees... she stole them. She hasn't always taken them where they want to go, but she's made sure to take them where they needed to be.

For the TARDIS is dar more than just a time machine crossed with a spaceship. Her life reflects the Doctor's life – a shared wanderlust and longing to explore. Now you can revisit the Doctor's adventures as seen through the eyes – or the flashing rooftop light, at least – of the TARDIS. From the time the Doctor stole her from Gallifrey to her latest adventures with the Fifteenth Doctor, the TARDIS reflects wittily on her epic, incredible history – past, present and future! 

Verdict

Strict Machine was a great little story to continue my way through the I, TARDIS: Memoirs of an Impossible Blue Box collection! I haven't been overly excited with this book judging by the first two adventures as I don't feel like I've learned anything new from the accounts of the TARDIS's time during the First and Second Doctor eras. I haven't felt that the book being from the perspective of the TARDIS has been utilised as well as it could have been, but thankfully here that all changed. I was worried that this would continue the trend because a large chunk of the Third Doctor era sees the Doctor exiled to Earth and his knowledge of time travel taken away from him! As mentioned on numerous occasions in the story, the TARDIS just sits in a corner in UNIT HQ! Oh the laboratories it will have seen. That was rather humorous. There was the usual (and frankly tiresome) reference to not being sure if events had taken place in the 1970s or '80s, but other than I thought this was an excellent way to explore the relationship between the TARDIS and the Doctor. The TARDIS hadn't exactly done any wrong but was still inadvertently punished by the Doctor's sentencing given in The War Games being exile. Not only that, but his knowledge of time travel was literally taken from him and that was almost frustrating for the TARDIS because she just wanted to travel. I thought that was marvellous to explore and it's not something I've really considered before. It's clear that the Doctor goes through a great deal emotionally in being contained to one planet, but so does the TARDIS! She's just stuck, experimented upon, and she was actually quite hurt by the Doctor removing the central console from inside of her. The Third Doctor certainly does do a lot of tinkering to try and get back to having his freedom. I thought the focus on The Three Doctors in this story was important because that is a pretty monumental milestone for the Third Doctor (and subsequently the TARDIS!) It's wonderful for the secrets of the TARDIS to be restored to him after the help in defeating Omega, although I do think the overuse of capital letters and numerous exclamation points does make the TARDIS seem slightly immature. I think it's a tad over the top and whilst I can understand Idris in The Doctor's Wife being the inspiration as she was quite playful and childish, this just goes a tad too far for me even if freedom is so exciting. I thought touching upon the TARDIS helping the Doctor traverse universes to reach the parallel world of Inferno was nicely done and I also liked how in the sillily named Stray Files that the TARDIS wished Liz had stuck around more. Don't we all! Such an underrated companion. It was nice to see the TARDIS acknowledge how much the Doctor admired both Jo and Sarah Jane, as well as importantly including the Brigadier even if he wasn't always believing what the Doctor was saying about his ship! That was good fun. I thought the Journey Log section was absolutely fine this time around and there wasn't much to jump around for a lot of the era other than different sections of UNIT buildings, although the inclusion of The Monster of Peladon was hardly worthwhile! I must also say the cheeky little mention of the Doctor thinking he was in control in off-Earth trips prior to the tenth anniversary special was fun too as the TARDIS knew all along it was the Time Lords. I don't think the Doctor would be too happy with that! I thought the accompanying pictures in this book were nicely placed too and really helped add to things and illustrate the era. Overall, easily the best of the collection so far! A terrific little read.

Rating: 8/10

Agent of the Daleks

"Time does not forget."

Writer: Steve Lyons

Format: Audio

Released: March 2025

Series: BBC Audio 28

Featuring: First Doctor, Vicki, Steven

Synopsis

On a radioactive moon on the outskirts of the Fourth Sector, the occupants of a besieged power station try desperately to hold the Daleks at bay. To this end they have apprehended a saboteur, spy, and traitor to the human race. His name is Steven Taylor. When the Doctor, Vicki and Steven first landed on the station, they little suspected the chain of events that would lead to Steven's arrest. Now he must convince a young nurse, Chayla, and the station's brutal Security Chief, Finn, that his intentions are honourable. But with every second wasted, the Daleks are gaining ground. With the Doctor and Vicki seemingly powerless in the TARDIS, Steven must prove once and for all that he is not an agent of the Daleks. Can anything be done to prevent the Doctor's old enemies totally exterminating everyone on the station?

Verdict

Agent of the Daleks was a great BBC Audio original! There’s always something special about the First Doctor encountering the Daleks and whilst they were relegated to a more minor status, their presence was still very much felt. I like that Steven in particular has a significant history with the Daleks and there was some good linking back to The Chase with the proximity of this very space station both in time and physical space. That was really good and it allowed for some more background to Steven as a character, not that we really need it in 2025! But I’ll absolutely take it. He’s such a strong companion and he just continues to shine. He isn’t afraid to challenge the Doctor which is quite rare in this first incarnation, so the age old battle of meddling with history came into fruition in a strong way here which made for fascinating listening. Steven’s knowledge of events at the power station meant to them they were fixed and the Doctor was in full The Aztecs mode from there on in. Not one part of history could be changed despite that meaning the occupants of this station would all perish at the hands of the Daleks. I think doing a Dalek story in space feels big and the futuristic setting just adds to the dark atmosphere. Kudos also must go to the cover art for the story as that really helped with the atmosphere and tone. That’s important and the black is striking in establishing what kind of adventure this would be. I thought Maureen O’Brien did a wonderful job with the narration for the story and whilst she certainly sounds a little older than her character Vicki at this point in time with it being stated she was fifteen, she did a magnificent job in her impressions of the First Doctor and Steven. It really didn’t feel like there was just one actor performing which is credit to the actress. I was mightily impressed. I thought Finn was a typical hard knocks kind of character as the Security Chief whilst Chayla was a little calmer despite her accusations that Steven was an agent of the Daleks. The way the title played into the episode’s events was fun as Steven did admit to sabotaging the station’s force fields, but he was far from aiding his old foes. His acting under strict instructions from the Doctor was terrific. I thought the format of the story with the flashbacks worked pretty well and would have been well suited if this was a Companion Chronicle. The little flashback sound effect was a nice little quirky bit of fun. I thought the use of a Dalek robot was marvellous and the reveal of who that was didn’t come as a huge surprise as there was only a small pool of potential culprits, but it was still a nice moment. I think it’s fun that after the events of the Daleks chasing the Doctor and his companions around space that the Time Lord had created an override if the situation ever arose again. The Doctor’s comments about the likeness not being all that was a fun bit of tongue and cheek! The essence of William Hartnell was brilliantly injected into the writing. I thought the action in the story was good and whilst it didn’t feel like there was any new Dalek dialogue and it all being archive sound, it was great to actually get their voices. They perhaps didn’t sound authentic of the era but that’s no major issue. I loved the idea of Steven prying and pondering on the possibility to contact his younger self, but alas he would resist. I liked how Steven managed to impact some form of history in defeating the Daleks and therefore saving people whilst keeping history on course and therefore the Doctor was happy. Overall, a great little listen! Massive thanks to Gemma for the Audible credit. 

Rating: 8/10

The Robot Revolution

"We need you as our queen."

Writer: Russell T Davies

Format: TV

Broadcast: 12 April 2025

Series: 15.02

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda

Synopsis

When robots from outer space kidnap nurse Belinda Chandra, the Doctor embarks on an epic intergalactic quest to get his new friend back home to Earth.

Verdict

The Robot Revolution a great start to the brand new series of Doctor Who! I have been quietly anticipating the debut of what is (incorrectly) dubbed Season 2 and despite all the negativity in fandom about when a new series will air, I’ve been keen to just sit back and enjoy! That’s exactly what I did this morning as I watched right on cue for the 8am drop on iPlayer. My three-year-old boy was also in the room and whilst he was more interested in watching Blippi on his tablet, he did take an interest in the Missbelindachandrabots and their spaceship which is a memory I will hold forever. I hope he now becomes a fan and think the nature of what’s to come next week might help in keep him having an interest. The robots themselves look perfect for children and there’s bound to be a figure produced of them! Their name is just too long to keep typing out but I think the concept behind them and the episode is a little silly but it works as great fun. In terms of the companion story, this is a sublime introduction for Belinda Chandra. I feel like I know her well already given the nature of the promotion of the series and the fact we’ve already seen Varada Sethu in Boom, but this was just excellent. After just one episode I think she’s absolutely brilliant. Her maturity is fantastic and she is such a contrast to the Doctor. She isn’t interested in travelling in the TARDIS and just wants to get home. That’s admirable and she owns her name in this episode after the death that occurs in it. She is no monarch and doesn’t want to be married in the slightest, but when she realises what is happening to innocents she knows what is required. I think the Doctor looking out for her is intriguing and I hope we find out who gave him her name. I got strong vibes of Smith and Jones with this outing with Belinda being a nurse and the hospital backdrop before having her transported elsewhere with some very intriguing law enforcement! The history behind Belinda being gifted a star by Alan becomes very powerful for what is such a sweet and awkward moment seventeen years prior. The Margate and Stargate confusion is quite amusing although the AI Generator actually being AL and Alan returning to try and weld with Belinda is baffling. It’s probably a bit too silly but Belinda sells it so well. The time fracture on the border between Earth and Missbelindachandra One is a really good concept and I was surprised that this wasn’t the cause of the repellant at the end of the episode. I’m a huge fan of the Mrs Flood cameo and it’s such good fun that she is now Belinda’s neighbour! Her breaking the fourth wall to the viewer and hiding from the Doctor is just sensationally naughty. It’s breaking all of the rules and that’s what makes it so exciting. I can’t wait to find out all about her as the series goes on! There’s so much potential. I thought the way Alan was defeated by having the two same versions of the star certificate touch from different points in time was good and the Doctor helping Belinda in being a Time Lord to take the timey-wimey load was very well done. Belinda’s retort to that phrase of her being six hit me hard though! I felt offended. I’m twenty-eight and love those two non-words. The way Alan was then polished up by the cleaning bot was very humorous, so much for being a sperm and an egg! I like how now with the Fifteenth Doctor being very established he almost feels like he’s in the background with Belinda the standout. She absolutely shines and the way she challenges the Doctor about what happened to Sasha 55 after she trusted him was such a change of tone. Her reaction to the TARDIS interior was wonderful but she wasn’t one of the Doctor’s adventures. That was so powerful. She was offended at the Doctor taking her DNA without permission and it’s really interesting that Mundy is her descendant. The Doctor seems to think it’s destiny that they met and now he can’t get her home as intended for her shift. I’m fascinated to explore their connection moving forward, especially with the Doctor seeing her entire life. The debris in space containing iconic landmarks points towards Earth being destroyed, now I look forward to finding out how! And who put the star certificate into the future? The time fracture to see how it became loaded in myth and Alan sparking the revolution was really good, but there’s just so much more I now want to know. Having that with a stellar companion introduction makes for a fun season opener! Overall, no complaints. Let’s get Belinda home!

Rating: 8/10

The Price of Paradise

"These people saw the planet as a goddess."

Writer: Colin Brake

Format: Novel

Released: September 2006

Series: NSA 12

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

Laylora – the Paradise Planet. A world of breath-taking beauty, where the peace-loving inhabitants live in harmony with their environment. Or do they? The Doctor and Rose arrive to find that the once perfect eco-system is showing signs of failing. The Paradise Planet has become a death trap as terrifying creatures from ancient legends appear and stalk the land.

Is there a connection between the human explorers who have crash-landed and the savage monsters? And what price might one human have to pay to save the only home he has ever known?

The Doctor and Rose are in a race against time to find a cure for a sick planet.

Verdict

The Price of Paradise was an excellent New Series Adventure novel! At long last I have completed the original novel run for Rose as companion and it only came nineteen years after the book was released. I thought this was excellent from start to finish and whilst absolutely fitting into the feeling and era of Series 2 – which is a huge bonus – this felt so unique and different with the alien planet setting. It's actually staggering to think how little Rose actually travels on screen away from Earth and even if she does, it's very rarely on an alien planet! That's all thrown out of the window here and the Paradise Planet of Laylora really is spectacular. I was a massive fan of this setting and that was before we learned more about it and its reliance on equilibrium. The idea of sentient planet isn't a new one but this one did have a different feel to the likes of Planet of Evil and I think that was because of the need for balance. The analogy to the internal makeup of a human was great too when describing the Witiku as almost the planet's antibodies. The truth behind them in being the missing people was really good and Rose accidentally stumbling upon a method to return them to their normal selves was quite amusing. When in danger, throw a cuppa over the enemy! I actually listened to the Power of Three podcast episode focused on this novel the same as I completed the book which was fascinating and whilst I'm unaware of the Star Trek; New Generation influence because I haven't watched a second of it, it's intriguing that another sci-fi franchise is where inspiration came from. I liked the dynamic of the story with the three pillars of the local inhabitants, the TARDIS arriving, but then also the crashing of the Humphrey Bogart. The crew that made up the travelling party of that ship were fantastic but the obvious highlight has to be Professor Shulough. Her emotional journey over the course of the novel was really nice to read because she starts off so uptight and not giving much away to showing compassion by the end. It's really good to see her desire to have found Laylora but she is clearly hurt by some past trauma. We learn that this is the death of her parents at a young age which is completely understandable and her connection to Guillan that came was not wholly unsurprising. I must admit I thought she was actually going to turn out to be Rez's birth mother but it finishes nicely with her taking on the role as his guardian in order to take him away and restore Laylora's balance. I like that Guillan realised the effect their presence was having on the planet and left, but the mythical status of the Paradise Planet being found true was wonderful. I really liked the deep-rooted history in finding it. The pace of the novel was terrific and I was a big fan of the longer chapters. I think they actually really help with flow as you're not often stopping and I was just engrossed. It was a joy to read. I thought the earthquake that came towards the conclusion of the book was a fantastic inclusion as just when you thought things were wrapping up, a natural disaster like that came and really shook things up! Rez knowing that he was the gradual cause of all of the bad weather and phenomena that was new to Laylora over the last fifteen years was powerful stuff because there would only be one way to restore paradise. He would have to leave the only home he had known. I thought finishing with Shulough wanting to help him find his parents as a new quest was a nice touch and gave her a rare smile. The death of Jae Collins was a shocking moment I need to mention also as I didn't quite see that coming. Overall though, a magnificent read that was full of superb world building and a fascinating concept at its heart. Perfectly of its era.

Rating: 9/10

The Abominable Snowmen

"I have brought the world to its end."

Writers: Mervyn Haisman & Henry Lincoln 

Format: TV (Animation)

Released: September 2022

Season: 5.02

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Victoria

Synopsis

In the 17th century, an old Tibetan friend of the Doctor's reached out and touched the mind of an alien disembodied energy, known only as the Great Intelligence, giving it a conduit to Earth.

300 years later, the Doctor revisits the Himalayas because he wants to return the Holy Ghanta, an ancient relic he was given many centuries ago by the grateful monks and their master, Padmasambhava, at Det-Sen Monastery. On arriving however, the Doctor is treated as a villain – blamed for a series of brutal murders in the area. Jamie and Victoria meanwhile discover the true culprits – the previously peaceful Yeti that live in seclusion on the mountainside have apparently turned violent. 

The Doctor must convince the monks that not only is he not their enemy, but the real foe – and the power controlling the Yeti – is living amongst them.

Verdict

The Abominable Snowmen was a decent animation of the mostly missing classic serial from the fifth season. This story has something of an iconic status and to be honest I think it might be slightly overrated. It's been eleven years since I watched the Loose Canon reconstruction of the story accompanying the soundtrack and while at the time that was incredibly welcomed as a way to cover the adventure, I think animation does a really good job in bringing missing episodes to life. It's important to note that this is a completely new interpretation of the story because the animators have free reign and I think it's the right move to try and modernise things and take advantage of not being constrained by the tight studios of 1960s BBC. This is bold and it's wonderful to be able to watch the whole story in a complete form, even if it is different to what was broadcast six decades ago. The essence is still there. I would say the novelisation is probably the most complete form of capturing this story as intended now and I definitely enjoyed it a lot more than this version! I just think it drags a little over the six episodes and with it being quite slow, the animation felt like it was just waiting around on a large number of occasions. For the most part, the animation was really good and I loved the injection of colour into the serial. It absolutely works and the setting of Det-Sen certainly benefits. It's also expanded very nicely and the symmetry across the monk attire was striking. I don't think the Doctor's infamous wooly coat was quite bulky enough compared to the images and that of which he was wearing in The Five Doctors, but I thought the way Jamie and Victoria were presented was really strong. It was one of the best from the companions across these animated reconstructions. One thing that I think lets the animation down is actually the animation of the Yeti themselves. They're an iconic monster and I can't believe there hasn't been a Character Options figure yet, but they look so much better in black and white in costume. I think they just come across looking a bit too cartoony which I know shouldn't be a problem in animation, but unfortunately it just does. They lose all kind of fear factor of what made them so iconic which I think is then detrimental to the story. It's a massive shame as on the DVD cover art they look magnificent! It's when they get moving that things go south for me. One big benefit of the animation that couldn't be captured back in 1967 was the use of Padmassambhava. He was almost mummified in being animated by the Great Intelligence and that was something that came across as being eery. I was a big fan of that. I particularly appreciated the flashback sequence of how he came to be in contact with the Great Intelligence and lured him to Earth by accident after communicating on the astral plane. I thought that was magnificent. The animated effects of the Intelligence's web spreading out of the caves for the part five cliffhanger was also really good. I understand the animation only has a set budget, but I do think more could have been done to fill the gaps that come from the slow dialogue or just lengthy gaps. There was just so much standing around and it almost felt like Patrick Troughton was ill in filming this serial. He lacked a lot of enthusiasm and energy which is a shame and the animation doesn't do much to combat or hide that. The one moment of zooming in on his face when he doesn't say anything is just strange. I chose to watch the colourised version of the animation but I wonder if the Yeti come across better in black and white? Overall, a superb thing to have animated this classic and be able to view it in a completed form with some impressive set redesigns and expansion, but it falls slightly short of its status amongst fandom for me. Six episodes was just too long and animation wasn't all that suited to the story at hand. Still, I'm so glad I've watched it. Oh, and a special moment to the sequence where the Doctor is trying to reverse Victoria's hypnotism and Jamie starts falling asleep! Glorious.

Rating: 7/10 

Genesis of the Cybermen

"There are such things as miracles."

Writer: Gerry Davis (Adapted by David K Barnes)

Format: Audio

Released: March 2025

Series: Lost Stories 9.01

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Adric, Nyssa, Tegan

Synopsis

A King lies dying in his castle. His eldest son Prince Sylvan is an artist with no desire to inherit a kingdom, while Prince Dega toils in his laboratory, dedicated to saving their dying people from extinction. They will all burn unless he succeeds. 

When the TARDIS arrives, its crew believe the can help. But this planet is Mondas. And this is the Genesis of the Cybermen...

Verdict

Genesis of the Cybermen was a really strong Lost Story! It's a shame that this one never made it to screen because I think it would have worked even better in the television format than it came across on audio. Whilst being strong as my rating reflects, I think this release is possibly slightly hampered by Spare Parts and that story having iconic status in kind of showcasing the same events from a slightly different perspective. Of course, The Doctor Falls establishes that parallel evolution takes place with many origins of the Cybermen but two different stories on Mondas means to me that this is firmly a lost story and not really a part of established continuity. It's a shame that this wasn't even considered for production back during the Fifth Doctor era because I think it would have worked. I'd be so fascinated to see what a 1980s take on the design of the Cybermen from The Tenth Planet would have been like. That first glimpse of them in World Enough and Time is incredible so I'd love a Classic version. I think this is a wonderfully strong idea to have a prequel to the original Cyberman story and show just how Mondas came to be where it was and what was happening. It was a little difficult to kind of retcon that this was the first encounter of the Cybermen for all of the companions and that might be down to the huge impact that Earthshock has with Adric dying. The original tale being written for the Fifth Doctor and a generic female companion makes me think it might have been better to go with Peri as the companion later in the timeline, but it's no bad thing to include more companions! There was the ability to play around as well when it came to Adric's involvement in the calculations that would set the power loop for Mondas and draw the energy from the planet. Adric getting to complete those calculations was a nice touch knowing what became of his character. I thought Nyssa had a really strong story and the suggestion of her being deeply involved in the origins of the Cybermen was tremendous. She felt so guilty by her scientific aid in the story which was understandable despite the Doctor's reassurances that he had already seen the fallout from these events and encountered the Cybermen numerous times. They always came back. They were inevitable. I thought the exploration of Mondasian society was intriguing and in part one the planet was just known as the world! It was intriguing and despite being technologically more advanced than humanity, or at least being at a further point forward, they didn't seem to have much of an expanded horizon. The TARDIS arriving in the middle of a show was quite fun and I like that it was an unexpected one with the later explanation of the planet's orbit shifting meaning it shouldn't have been in the time and space machine's path. I was a little surprised by the royal focus with Prince Sylvan being the one advocating for replacement parts and being so consumed by his reputation in the future that he forced himself upon the TARDIS. That was brilliant because then he'd vanished from his own planet for thirty years before returning to see that Dega was King now. King of the Cybermen. His position as Controller was fantastic and I like that designation being used. It was also superb continuity to have one of the Cybermen be Krail. Hearing the Cybermen still with emotion before they were complete was eerily stuff and just having one say thank you was uncomfortable. They were still very much in development. With this being a prequel. the build to reach them setting off for Earth in 1986 was an easy way to finish things as history took its course. Overall, this was a really enjoyable Lost Story that I would love to have seen on screen, but in audio it felt like it's been done before slightly which takes some of the shine off. 

Rating: 8/10

The Odds Against

"If the Nine is dead, how can the Eleven still be here?"

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: April 2019

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures: Ravenous 3.04

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

The Doctor, Liv and Helen have landed near an abbey housing the gateway to the dimension in which the Ravenous were originally imprisoned. 

But their plans to enlist the inhabitants' help in defeating their pursuers are disrupted when they stumble over a dead body. Strange creatures roam the corridors and something monstrous may be awakening beneath their feet.

Verdict

The Odds Against was an excellent conclusion to the third Ravenous series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! Whilst feeling like a finale this also did a really good job in setting up the final boxset which I am incredibly excited for. The idea of exploring where the Ravenous were initially imprisoned was terrific and I loved the eery feel throughout. I think the cover art does a really good job in helping establish the atmosphere and there was definitely a dark feeling throughout the episode which definitely helped! I thought the Time Lord outpost made for a strong setting and why wouldn't that be the place for a Ravenous prison? I almost thought we were going to get a return of the Master alongside the Eighth Doctor when we were introduced to the Abbot of the Ix as that just felt like the perfect kind of disguise for him, but alas I think the twist actually worked even better in it being the Nine. I must admit I didn't see that coming but all of the clues were there from the off as the Doctor pointed out. He'd basically created the unsolvable mystery for the Doctor and Helen to go on but Liv staying behind was a big mistake. The reveal coming from the Nine to his future self in the form of the Eleven was fascinating and the convoluted timelines coming into play with two different versions of the same Time Lord playing off one another. Hearing the previous incarnations through the different frontal incarnation was magnificent too and a fun way to explain the slight change in voices when we interact with different versions. He's an incredible villain and finding out that he was immune to the Ravenous really sets things up nicely for the finale. That's such an advantage and it was also fascinating to learn that it was the regeneration energy specifically of the Time Lords that the Ravenous fed upon which does make sense. However, with his condition the regeneration energy of the Eleven gets trapped and so he isn't exactly a tasty snack. The Nine finding that out and actually working with the Ravenous is quite the combination, but the Eleven wanting to utilise that against the Doctor is equally as devious. The Eleven definitely feels older and more desperate which makes him so dangerous and I can't wait to hear what he has in store for the final series. Liv continues to show absolutely no remorse to the Eleven which is getting quite amusing now so I'm intrigued that she still feels that way even after he technically saved their lives. I mean she doesn't know he has a much bigger plan at play and the Doctor being who he is obviously wants to return the favour. The Doctor and the Eleven actually drawing the Ravenous to the Nine in the cell was a fun little grandfather paradox and I really like how the Eleven briefly didn't have the Nine within him suggesting he was consumed by the Ravenous. But that goes even further with how things concluded and the Eleven claiming to have been cured of his regenerative cognition after the interaction with the Ravenous. I can't envisage a world in which he is able to hide that from the Doctor, but I'm certainly going to enjoy listening to him try! Overall, I thought this was a superb finale that delved further into the lore and history of the Time Lords. Roll on the concluding series!

Rating: 9/10

L.E.G.E.N.D

"Stories contain a blueprint for utopian society."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: April 2019

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures: Ravenous 3.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis 

Over years of study and research, the Brothers Grimm built a compendium of folklore: stories of witches and wizards, magic and morality, strange creatures and treacherous forest...

Professor Marthanga does much the same, on a universal scale. But her methods are rather less rigorous, using technological shortcuts to fill her intelligent database: L.E.G.E.N.D.

When worlds collide, the TARDIS crew discover that fairy tales can become real. And the Doctor's latest companion is put to the test. Will the Eleven be an asset, or one more monster to defeat?

Verdict

L.E.G.E.N.D was a decent episode to continue my way through the third Ravenous series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! This felt like a little bit of a sidetrack from the overall arc which is absolutely fine, but I didn't find the episode to be incredibly exciting. I think a lot of that might have been down to Marathanga as I wasn't much of a fan of this professor at all. I didn't mind her creation in the form of the titular L.E.G.E.N.D and it was fun for Liv to reflect that the artificial intelligence was often a reflection of its creator. She made use of her technological skills rather nicely and there was a whole lot going on here. I found it fascinating that the Brothers Grimm were to be a focus of the episode but I liked the unique nature of it! Heading to Germany in the nineteenth century was pretty fun and not quite the place I was expecting the Eleven to end up. I thought the follow on from the end of Companion Piece was quite predictable with the Eleven being the one that Liv and Helen showed distain for the Doctor working with, but it still works well! The dynamic the Eleven brings to everyone is fantastic and I really like how much Liv does hate him. She is willing for him to be deceased by any means and suggested feeding him to the Ravenous to see if he would fill them up. It's not actually that barmy of an idea in my estimation! It could work? I don't think that's where things will lead but I wouldn't be mad if it does. I thought exploring the world of fairytales was fascinating although the means in which it occurred here felt strange. It just felt like a mixture of technology and whimsical wishes. The fate of Helen in becoming an eel was really strange and I feel like something as tormenting as that should have had more of an impact. I did love how even without being able to talk properly you could hear how ridiculous she thought the Doctor was in trying to return her to her normal self by rhyme! It was effective though in this fascinating little world of wonder. The folktale vibe was really good although I think with the backdrop of the Ravenous it didn't quite seem to be in place. I feel like if this was in a totally different series and given a bit of a lighter tone then it would have worked even better. As my rating reflects, I did very much enjoy things. I thought the use of L.E.G.E.N.D to obtain information on the Ravenous was really good and I'm intrigued to discover just what that might be in detail. The Doctor joining forces with the Eleven is such a good dynamic and there wasn't much hint of the latter turning this time around which was a welcomed surprise. I thought the mirror, mirror sequence was terrific stuff and just hearing that shouting and dark tone of the Eleven in asking who was the sanest of them all was a stark reminder of who he really is. Helen knowing all about the Brothers Grimm and the lasting legacy they will have in the world of storytelling was really nice and she didn't exactly hide that fact to them! Liv not knowing who they were at all showed all about her colony world and where she came from, and it's such a fascinating TARDIS trio we have at the moment. I am such a big fan! I didn't think there was an awful lot in terms of building to the finale, but so much has been happening over the course of the boxsets in this series thus far that I'm not entirely sure it needs it! Overall, an intriguing tale and a more than decent continuation of the series.

Rating: 7/10

Companion Piece

"Every companion the Doctor's ever had in my own private museum."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: April 2019

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures: Ravenous 3.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen, Charley, Bliss, River

Synopsis

When the evil Time Lord known as the Nine comes across a rare and valuable item floating in the space-time vortex, his acquisitive nature means he can't resist the urge to complete the set. 

Soon a wicked scheme is underway. Only the Doctor's friends – past, present and future – will be able to stop him.

But without the Doctor around will even the combined skills of Liv, Helen, River Song, Bliss and Charley be enough to save the day?

Verdict

Companion Piece was an excellent audio to continue my way through the third Ravenous series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! As irony would have it though but not a huge surprise given the episode's title, this barely featured the Eighth Doctor himself but he wasn't missed! That goes to show the strength of his friends because the Eighth Doctor's companions in particular combined very nicely here to take on a quite deranged and tyrannically obsessed villain in the form of the Nine. He almost seems a little madder than the Eleven who has come to be the main incarnation faced of this regeneratively challenged Time Lord and that was actually quite exciting. Playing into the events of Doom Coalition was really good with the Nine having the Clocksmith's TARDIS and disguising the exterior as the blue wooden police box most famously associated with the Doctor's version was just wonderful. What better way to obtain the Doctor's companions? The premise behind this story is quite extraordinary but it really works because it's not just being done for the sake of it. The Nine is evil but he has a collective nature about him which I quite liked. He was also prone to stealing but in being something of a completist, he couldn't go about just having a couple of the Doctor's former companions kicking about the place. He needed the entire set! Now, I'm sure there would be some deliberation on that but there wasn't much argument to be had with some of the cameos we heard! They were quite delightful. The agony of Jamie saying he only met the Doctor and didn't know him that well was a stark reminder of just how damaging his fate at the end of The War Games is and I loved the playful jabs that came from Romana II being captured. The Nine wasn't all that comprehending of Gallifreyan chronology which is quite fair and I loved how he asked Romana how she managed to get out of E-Space. Staying ambitious there was the right move for sure. I liked Liv and Helen's reaction to seeing that the Nine was the one who had 'rescued' them because it didn't exactly improve their circumstances, and it was wonderful for them to meet Charley initially. Her being there as an earlier companion of the Eighth Doctor was terrific and I liked the C'rizz mention. The Nine didn't seem all too keen on obtaining him for the collection just yet! Charley being moved around corridors and essentially displays of each incarnation was quite amusing, although a little namedrop of who else she had encountered there would have been such a simple improvement. River kind of steals the show here and to be honest, when doesn't she? Her aiding of the Nine whilst under duress was fascinating and I was surprised that it was her who threw Bliss into the equation. Hearing her outside of the Time War was brilliant and her expertise were well utilised, even if they weren't quite the ones River was expecting. She had been taken prior to ever meeting the Doctor! Her continued lack of understanding of who the Doctor was and what Time Lords were made for some good entertainment, and it was a delight to learn that River was assembling the perfect team for an escape. The Nine initially took great pleasure in witnessing an escape attempt but that soon died out when Charley was shot by a droid. The concept of their guns increasing in damage levels up to fatal with each shot was pretty daunting! River also buying the companions more time by sending the Nine on a wild goose chase against her younger self was tremendous and if there was a companion who didn't care about timelines then it was her! Although, is River really a companion? The suggestion that she wouldn't be doesn't quite sit right with me but it prompted some very fun discussion! Would the penguin (Frobisher) really count? River seems to and that's all the confirmation I need. I thought the way things ended was unexpected but the suggestion of Katarina being the one from within the Vortex and having a brief return to life that saved the day was quite incredible! She's certainly not the source of companion I envisaged saving the day, but it caught me off guard in a very positive way. As did River being disappointed she didn't have to use her lipstick on Liv and Helen to ensure the safety of the timelines. Overall, an excellent listen! 

Rating: 9/10

Deeptime Frontier

"I'm in the mood for a good story."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: April 2019

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures: Ravenous 3.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

Stranded on a desolate world by a dead TARDIS, the Doctor and his friends are trapped, surrounded by creatures from Time Lord nightmares - the Ravenous...

Elsewhere, on the edge of the vortex, a Gallifreyan research station takes on board an extremely dangerous artefact. Are the Time Lords sowing the seeds of their own destruction?

And if one Ravenous creature rattles the Doctor’s nerves, what will happen when the whole clan is hunting him?

Verdict

Deeptime Frontier was an outstanding start to the third Ravenous series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! After a fantastic finale to the second box set in the form of Seizure, this was a fantastic way to kick off the next box set! It didn’t surprise me to learn after listening that this was actually set to be the second box set’s finale but had to be delayed due to a bereavement of writer Matt Fitton. It was just brilliant and after a relatively slow build up towards the Ravenous, this one went into so much detail on their origin and background! I absolutely loved it. It was a phenomenal description of what the Ravenous are and their historic link with the Time Lords. I loved the idea of all Time Lords subconsciously being scared of them because of early Gallifreyan interactions with them and the prospect of the high and mighty race being scared of anything is just fascinating. I loved the idea of them looking slightly like clowns too with that white providing a quite horrifying image. The idea of clowns in numerous societies developing from the lore of the Ravenous is really good and just works. I thought the resolution to the cliffhanger at the end of the last box set was quick with the Doctor, Liv and Helen stuck on a planet with no TARDIS that was due for vaporisation and surrounded by Ravenous. Rasmus was on hand to transport the trio and the Time Lords getting involved in Ravenous business again is exciting. I thought incorporating Liv’s medical expertise was really good in dissecting a Ravenous corpse but she could find no apparent sign of death. That was intriguing but then it turned out it wasn’t dead at all! The concept of the Ravenous all being one clan works well, but I love the history and potential of that not always having been the case. The Doctor suggesting that one clan was allowed to survive by the Time Lords out of guilt was excellent and no wonder they were ravenous for the species. Why consume a puny human when you could have a Time Lord to feast upon? The story behind Brallix was really intriguing and I loved the idea of them being moved mid-regeneration. The fate of having a Ravenous within was quite spectacular and from there she was consumed. Talk about living up to their name! Visteron was another really strong character and her foreshadowing of events for the Time Lords and ambiguously alluding to the Time War was good stuff. The discussion on dark chronons and the search for an alternative fuel source was a strong incentive for the Gallifreyan presence. Why wouldn’t they take the opportunity to find a potential replacement for the Eye of Harmony? The Ravenous laying a trap and actually being hidden within the darkness that the Time Lords were mining was brilliant and I thought the cliffhanger finish was really strong. The Doctor had gotten to engrossed in what was happening and was convinced the Ravenous would follow him so he just left his companions behind! That was quite surprising, but even more so when the truth about Daria came out in her feeling responsible. I liked the idea of it being a Time Lord problem to solve but the Ravenous seemed to be one step ahead which angered the Doctor. Things are a bit of a mess for him at the minute now separated from companions and the Eleven having his TARDIS. It could definitely be going better! But what a way to set up another series. I’m very excited to listen moving forward! Overall, a sublime series opener. Just excellent. 

Rating: 10/10

The Celestial Toymaker

"If you don't abide by the rules you can't possibly win the game."

Writer: Brian Hayles

Format: TV (Animation)

Released: June 2024

Season: 3.07

Featuring: First Doctor, Steven, Dodo

Synopsis

The Doctor and his companions are separated when they come up against the Toymaker.

While the Doctor play the Trilogic Game, Steven and Dodo are forced to play their own seemingly childish, but ultimately dangerous games, with the aim of being reunited and getting back to the TARDIS. Who will be the first to make a false move in this battle of wits, and will the TARDIS ever escape the Toymaker's snare?

Verdict

The Celestial Toymaker was a wonderful animation of the mostly missing third season serial! It's a shame this release didn't coincide with the broadcast of The Giggle in 2023 in time for Christmas because it really is spectacular. This is the third different version of the story that I have blogged across an eleven year span and this is by a country mile the best version. It isn't even close. The story itself just comes across so much better with the kind of special effects that this animation went for. Make no mistake about it, this is nowhere near an authentic recreation of what would have aired in 1966 and whereas in the past I think I might have disliked that approach because I would favour staying as true as possible to the original, but I've come around to a different way of thinking now. I see this as almost an entirely new interpretation and version of a Classic. Much like the recent colourisations, this is an alternative to the true article and it absolutely works. I'm quite baffled as to why anybody would choose disc one of the DVD for their viewing and watch animated black and white when the colour version is just so vibrant. It injected so much energy right from the off and gave so much credence to the world and realm of the Toymaker, His abilities were heightened and the depth and scale of his games and power really added to the character. Against the Fourteenth Doctor the Toymaker felt like a much bigger threat, but in the original version I didn't quite get that feeling. However, that all changed with the way the Toymaker was presented here. The booming presence of Michael Gough in animation was superb with his literally towering presence and giant form. It was really good to keep things moving and I thought the directing was also brilliant in bringing the games to life. The new take on blind man's buff in particular was just stunning and I loved how topsy turvy everything was. This just wouldn't have been possible on screen in 1966. The colours as well were just magnificent and really brought everything to life in a special way. Even the way the Doctor is written out of most of the story owing to William Hartnell's absence at the time of filming is presented in a much better way here. The invisibility is really good and I like the use of just one hand when playing. the Trilogic Game. The move-o-meter that dominated much of the story was really impressive and I like how that added to the significance of the Doctor completing it before Steven and Dodo finished their own games. The animation for Steven was probably my only slight negative about the release, but the work on Dodo in particular was outstanding. I was so impressed with that. Her character though is too gullible and I loved how serious and on the ball Steven was throughout the serial. He understood the task at hand and that everything was a product of the Toymaker. The electrocution of Cyril in the final game was gruesome though and I was quite stunned by what I witnessed, even if it was animation! They didn't hold anything back there and I loved it, even with the state of his corpse in being burned. I knew what we were going to get at the end with the Doctor talking in the voice of the Toymaker and them actually inputting Michael Gough's voice, but seeing that final piece of the Trilogic Game move and the Toymaker's domain obliterate into nothingness was tremendous. I still can't believe nobody has written the Doctor's first encounter with the Toymaker, but the foreshadowing in this one with the threat of another meeting is extraordinary given how long it took for an on-screen rematch. Overall though, such a strong story that just felt completely reinvigorating with this reimagining. I was so impressed. I loved every second. By far the best version of this adventure! 

Rating: 10/10

Real Time

"The Controller wants the Doctor to succeed him."

Writer: Gary Russell

Format: Webcast

Released: August-September 2002

Series: Webcasts 02

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Evelyn

Synopsis

On a planet known only as Chronos, two scientific survey teams have vanished. Inexplicably. Without warning. But with just one clue supplied – a single screamed word: "Cybermen!"

The University of they worked for has called in the Earth security forces who despatch a third team, a mix of military and scientific might, under the auspices of a University Administrator. If the kind of volatile grouping isn't bad enough, three strangers have been added to the mix – a young human expert in Cybermen and a mysterious traveller in space ad time, the Doctor, along with his companion, Dr Evelyn Smythe.

But can they solve the riddle of the vanished survey teams before the Cybermen harness Chronos' unique temporal gifts and rewrite the history of the galaxy?

Verdict

Real Time was a solid story and an intriguing watch! I say watch as the only option for me in covering this adventure was by webcast. Considering it was released some twenty-three years ago now, it's not a massive surprise that it is currently inaccessible on the now archived BBC website where it was hosted. Thankfully, all six episodes are remastered on YouTube to my delight and in case they got taken down I made it a priority to watch almost right away. This has long been on my list of stories to cover but I've always wanted to ensure it was the webcast version as I deem that the 'true' version. When I was listening I was fascinated that this was claimed to be listened to as an audio or watched as a webcast regardless. I'm not so convinced. I don't think I would have enjoyed or even had a full understanding of what was happening without the visual aids. I must say, I love the idea of providing animation for Big Finish adventures and it's a shame that there are yet to be any further webcasts after Shada (another on my list to cover soon and I've found source!). I thought the colour and the animation style was excellent and whilst this is clearly nothing similar to the animation reconstruction of my recent The Celestial Toymaker watch, you have to take it for what it is. There's no mouth movements which is fine and whilst some of the directorial choices were a little odd – why so much focus on the cat brooch of the Doctor's? – it was really great to watch. I'm not sure why but this feels like something of a hidden classic so it felt like event viewing in my kitchen as I was rocking and keeping my ten-week-old daughter asleep! I thought the design of the Cybermen was excellent and just perfect for an animation of this kind. This is where things could get really creative so the idea of them only being half converted just added to their nightmarish nature. I thought the graphics when the history of the Cybermen was being described was magnificent with the different designs ranging from The Tenth Planet to Earthshock and beyond all evident in the background. It really added a lot. The story making references to Sword of Orion and the wars that came there was magnificent continuity with Big Finish adventures in the Cyberverse. The Cyber Controller looked absolutely superb. It was a wonderful redesign and the animation just enhanced the quality. He took up the whole screen on something that was akin to a throne and why wouldn’t that be fitting for the head honcho of the Cybermen? The prospect of him being so far in the future that time didn’t measurements didn’t quite matter was fascinating and I liked the use of the time portal found at the Chronosphere. Getting the visual for that was really good. Speaking of visuals, this story has become something of a famous one for the attire of the Sixth Doctor. I think it really suits him and whilst I understand the decision was made due to logistics as the traditional multi-coloured coat would be difficult and time consuming to illustrate, I think it’s a good representation of the softer Sixie that has been present in the Big Finish version of the incarnation. It’s really striking and I can finally say I’ve seen the story for which I have the action figure from! There are actually two versions which is just baffling (and an Eaglemoss figurine!) but I’ve got the original release and it certainly stands out. I thought Savage turning into a Cyberman after going through the portal really set the tone for the story and Goddard was an intriguing character. There was always going to be something more to him, but I’m not sure him being a Cyberman on the inside entirely worked. It almost felt like a little too much was being done with the Cybermen in this adventure. I also felt like we were missing a part as the way we just dive into the story felt a little rushed. There was no TARDIS interior or arrival scenes and the Doctor and Evelyn were already apart! I appreciate delving right into the action but there’s a pace required. I thought the plan of the Controller was admirable but attentions soon turned to Goddard when he has the virus that the Cybermen used in his timeline to subject the human race to death, eradication or conversion in 1927. He was just four days old but he’d now brought about a grandfather paradox which is fascinating! The cliffhanger finish is tremendous and it’s such a shame that it won’t be resolved. The idea of Evelyn going on to become a Cyberman is incredible and her being injected with the virus as the Controller had actually reversed it was superb. Goddard did try to warn the Doctor before obliteration but it was too late. And off they set to 1927 to set the whole thing into motion. But up until now it’s gone completely unresolved which is a shame, other than a little hint in Spiral Scratch which is better than nothing I suppose! I do think there was probably a bit too much going on by the end and things got confusing timeline wise, but I love the concept. The animation works well for me and I love the design and use of the Cybermen for the most part. Overall, a fascinating watch! It just needed a bit more pacing out and some extra elaboration. But an absolute joy to have ticked it off!

Rating: 7/10

The Defectors

"I'm guessing I'm not quite the Doctor you were expecting."

Writer: Nicholas Briggs

Format: Audio

Released: April 2015

Series: Monthly Adventures 198

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

Jo Grant is shocked to find most of her colleagues are missing. Then she discovers that the Doctor has inexplicably changed.

But there's no time to worry about it, as she and her misplaced Time Lord friend are whisked to the mysterious Delphin Isle on a matter of national security. There, they encounter a disturbingly odd form of local hospitality and learn of a highly classified incident that took place during the Cold War. 

Why exactly have they been brought here? And what is the truth concerning the bodies in the harbour and the vast project being undertaken beneath a cloak of secrecy?

Verdict

The Defectors was a strong story to continue my way through the Monthly Adventures! This is something of a slight personal milestone for me as I remember when this was released and being quite gutted at how far behind I was in what was then the Main Range. I love the idea of matching up wrong Doctors and companions so I'm very excited about the prospect of an entire trilogy. I do wonder if they will be related as we didn't get a firm explanation as to why the Seventh Doctor replaced the Third at this point in time with Jo and UNIT, but I quite like that ambiguity! I thought the opening two parts in particular were excellent as we explored the mysterious setting of Delphin Isle and it was clear right from the off that things weren't as they seemed. The posh nature of Captain Cornelius and Commander Wingford added a lot and it just added credence to the involvement of the British Government. I thought the continued use of things being a matter of national security was great and that served as a really good perception filter from the truth behind what was happening. I liked Jo's reaction to UNIT essentially being pushed to the background and the new crew in charge seemed to know a lot more than they should. Their recognising of the Doctor also gave them away as this was not the incarnation that should be present. With this featuring the Seventh Doctor, I thought it was quite fun to essentially still treat this as a Third Doctor tale. I mean, they even used that era's theme! That was a cool little nod and it caught my attention immediately. I thought the brief use of the Brigadier as a trick was good and the muffled signal just about did enough to conceal and convince at the same time. It could be viable that he was present, but the Doctor knew better. His gag to himself in claiming to have an in-joke with the Brigadier was a neat way to confirm he wasn't actually present at all. I thought the Europans revealing themselves actually harmed the story slightly as I did get the feeling this could become something of a classic, but they just became a bit annoying. In principle, I like the concept behind them and their position not being one for invasion or killing certainly took Jo by surprise. But it was just slightly difficult to take them seriously with their silliness regarding being grossed out by humanity. It wasn't even anger or frustration with them being tested on by humanity when they were first discovered which would have worked better as a motive. I'd be more on board with that. However, I can appreciate that they also just wanted to leave and go home. That felt real too. I liked the Doctor's stance on being in the wrong place and body with a possible suggestion that in the seventh incarnation he might act differently and as needed compared with his third self. That playing a part in Jo costing the Europans and the island their existence was quite shocking actually as she didn't want the TARDIS depleted of its energy source because of what that would mean for the Doctor's own future. The scale of death and destruction at the end was unexpected but I really liked the impact it had. The Europans were going to destroy the island in taking off anyway but Jo inadvertently helped them to destruction, or so it seemed. I thought their quick return only to be wiped out by UNIT at the end wasn't exactly necessary, but the appearance of the Third Doctor returning and her forgetting ever encountering the Seventh is fascinating. Even Shedgerton forgot him too! He was a strong character and his being the focal point for the explanation on what was happening with the Defectors and the blue liquid was terrific. Having them sleeping face down in water was quite an image! Overall, a really strong start to a fascinating trilogy. I still think there was room for improvement but a very good listen nonetheless!

Rating: 8/10

Time After Time

"When the Doctor's body wore thin, I helped him to renew himself."

Writer: Stephen Cole

Format: Short Story

Released: July 2024

Series: I, TARDIS: Memoirs of an Impossible Blue Box 02

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Victoria, Zoe

Synopsis

The Doctor has a unique bond with their TARDIS. They've always loved the 'old girl' for the way she's gone looking for trouble anywhere in the universe. The Doctor says they stole the TARDIS from Gallifrey. The TARDIS disagrees... she stole them. She hasn't always taken them where they want to go, but she's made sure to take them where they needed to be.

For the TARDIS is dar more than just a time machine crossed with a spaceship. Her life reflects the Doctor's life – a shared wanderlust and longing to explore. Now you can revisit the Doctor's adventures as seen through the eyes – or the flashing rooftop light, at least – of the TARDIS. From the time the Doctor stole her from Gallifrey to her latest adventures with the Fifteenth Doctor, the TARDIS reflects wittily on her epic, incredible history – past, present and future! 

Verdict

Time After Time was a somewhat average continuation of the I, TARDIS: Memoirs of an Impossible Blue Box collection. I remember being worried in my blogging of The Answer's at the End as the book's opening story that I was worried for the direction of the stories moving forward and I think they were justified after reading this adventure. I say adventure, I'm not entirely sure if these would actually constitute bloggable entries but now I've started I feel like it is too late to go back. I just don't feel like I am really getting anything new with things being from the perspective of the TARDIS and it's basically just a recap of in this case the adventures of the Second Doctor. I don't really find the nicknames of the companions all that amusing and I think referring to Jamie as 'Kilt Boy' and Victoria as the 'Screamer' are awfully harsh and don't really do justice for the contributions they made whilst travelling in the TARDIS. I do like that the TARDIS recognised that Jamie stayed travelling with the Doctor for a long time and if it wasn't for the Time Lords during the events of The War Games then he might have stayed forever. Touching upon the Second Doctor's finale was strong and it was fun to hear the TARDIS recall trying to evade capture from the Time Lords even if it was useless. They were always going to find the Doctor once he had called them in. I must say, given that this was focusing on the Second Doctor in the TARDIS it didn't much feel like he was the focus of the recollection. Perhaps I have misinterpreted the meaning of the book, but all of the photos were from this era! I think the design of the book is gorgeous and that continued here as I do think the images add something to the recollection, but perhaps more of them could actually be inside the TARDIS? I think this segment missed a trick in not delving deeper into the TARDIS's experience of the events of The Mind Robber in the Land of Fiction. That was a big missed opportunity. I did though enjoy the discussion on the HADS in some fun The Krotons memories. That was a good use of a TARDIS component. My favourite aspect of the story was the insinuation that the continued arrivals on Earth and predominantly being in the 20th century was out of habit from trying to get Ian and Barbara home. That was lovely and I really like that as an explanation of why it would keep happening with future incarnations. There's something really poignant about that and trying to give some sort of in-universe rationale for the frequency of visits is all good in my book! I wasn't a fan of the journey log section in this story because it really did seem to be a mad dash across the Second Doctor's era. There was barely a line on classics such as The Power of the Daleks and The Abominable Snowmen. I also thought the mocking of the claw cliffhanger leading into The Macra Terror was just a bit silly and for an incredible space and time machine like the TARDIS, she didn't half feel juvenile! I know we saw her be a bit whacky in The Doctor's Wife but there's a difference between that and just sounding immature. Just look at the Eleventh Doctor. This perspective of the TARDIS felt slightly off, but the rating comes from the bulk of the Ian and Barbara explanation and the accompanying imagery looking wonderful. 

Rating: 6/10

No Signs of Life

"It had become death."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Comic Strip

Released: March 2025

Printed in: DWM 615

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor

Synopsis

The Fifteenth Doctor answers an SOS, only to find a hospital city seemingly abandoned with nobody left alive. That is until his life signs are detected and animated suits want to extract life in the name of Gothar...

Verdict

No Signs of Life was a great comic strip to continue the brief solo adventures of the Fifteenth Doctor! After a bit of a shaky disappointment in the form of Dance Till You Drop in the previous issue, this saw a welcomed return to form. I assume this will be the final singular issue comic strip with the Fifteenth Doctor travelling solo as b the time the next issue of Doctor Who Magazine is released The Robot Revolution will have been broadcast and we will have met new companion Belinda! I'm very excited for her to join the TARDIS in a reluctant manner and having her in the comic strip will be a delight. I hope they nail her likeness as much as they did for the Fifteenth Doctor here. The artwork was very impressive although I do think the characterisation was slightly off for the latest incarnation which was a little surprising as that has been a massively positive element of this Doctor's  comic strip run. I was also pleasantly stunned to see the word gravity appear in the strip! I think the whole mavity replacement has become a bit too much of a gag ever since Wild Blue Yonder and I've found it a tad tiresome with it appearing in all kinds of media! I'm sure this was just a glaring omission, but it was just great to read that word again! I thought the story itself was really strong and intriguing. There was a mysterious atmosphere right from the start which was impressive and that comes from the Doctor arriving to nothing. There's always something fascinating about that because despite appearances, he usually isn't actually alone. That was the case here as he was approached by the suits with nothing in them, but they wanted his life! Detecting signs of it for them set them into motion which was good fun and the Doctor's reaction to the goo in particular was rather fun. The concept behind it with the nanobots was good and there was a lot packed into the six pages! It didn't feel rushed either and I liked how this had a similar feel to Run with the Doctor alone. What I wasn't expecting in this comic strip run was for a prequel to one of the earliest stories within the magazine's run! But that's exactly what we got here with the ending telling us that the story would continue in the issues correlating to The Time Witch. I must admit, I don't have much of a memory of that particular tale but after reading my blog entry from nine years ago when I read the comic strip, I was delighted. It was a fascinating tale and this is a fun way to set things in motion there. The concept of a cure for death is excellent and getting a glimpse of how things came to be where life was also extracted as a taste for more death was really well done. It's absolutely horrifying and even the TARDIS was vulnerable as they could sense it was alive! That was a nice little element that added a good sense of threat to the Doctor, if extracting his life wasn't enough! I thought the resolution was pretty simple in the form of emitting a brainwave and whilst things weren't finalised, that's always the nature of a prequel! The Doctor recognising things as the Deathsmiths of Goth and what would become the Ultimate Weapon was a nice touch. Overall, a really strong little comic strip! I've enjoyed having singular issue stories for the last couple of months, but I'm now excited for Belinda to join the fun. Onwards!                                                                                    

Rating: 8/10

Dance Till You Drop

"Let's just pretend all this makes sense."

Writers: Jason Quinn, John Freeman & Mike Collins

Format: Comic Strip

Released: February 2025

Printed in: DWM 414

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor

Synopsis

The Doctor joins forces with the Hypnotising Cat to defeat Beanie in a dance off with the world at stake.

Verdict

Dance Till You Drop was not the best of comic strips to continue the adventures of the Fifteenth Doctor in the pages of Doctor Who Magazine. I feel harsh with my rating as it wasn't until after the fact that I realised the ideas of the Hypnotising Cat and Beatie were from children who had won a competition, but I'm sticking with it because I felt like the story was just a bit of a mess. I am quite excited by the prospect of a few one-part adventures for the comic strip in the run up to the new series airing on television but there's not a lot of room to really dive in which I think was a big problem here. I was so impressed with Run in the last issue as that did so much with just six pages, whereas this one was just a jumbled mess. Considering there were three writers for this adventure it didn't look like an awful lot of thought had gone into the plot! Right from the off things feel a little ridiculous with a Hypnotising Cat taking the reigns as the central character for the story and whilst I'm jumping ahead a little bit, the ambiguity moment at the end shared between the feline and the Doctor was just awkward. Was the Doctor really required to be on hand to save the day? It didn't really seem like it. I thought the concept behind Beatie in coming from the Dimension of Dance was pretty average and whilst the artwork and colour for its appearance was impressive, I wasn't fussed on the design at all. I mean sure it certainly jumped off the page and was eye catching but it just looked like a bad mashup of a Minion and Sponge Bob Square Pants. There's a character from my childhood I didn't think I'd be writing about in a 2025 blog entry but here we are! I thought the actual plot was just ludicrous and so rushed with the proposition that all of the world leaders had been danced into the tomb. All of them? Really? Even those from the likes of Iran, North Korea and Russia? And what tomb? It must be some assembly of personalities there with the likes of Putin, Trump and Starmer coming up against the other leaders of the world. Now that's something that would be fun to read! But alas, it didn't have too much credibility in my eyes. I just can't imagine those kind of figures being lured and defeated by dance, no matter what kind of dimension this Beatie was from. The name is a nice touch though and certainly something I can appreciate. I think it's fair to say that this is a comic strip made for the Fifteenth Doctor. I could maybe see the Eleventh or Thirteenth Doctors taking on the task of a dance off to the death, but this latest incarnation is certainly the one I would be most confident with. I enjoyed the imagery that came from his dancing and whilst I think some of the characterisation is a tad forced in the comic strip with the use of 'babes', this Doctor letting his hair down and enjoying himself with a dance is nice to see. It also plays nicely into his first full adventure on screen in The Church on Ruby Road where he was also travelling solo. I think the involvement of the Hypnotising Cat at the end kind of hurts things further than the already ridiculous nature of the comic strip, because it just takes away from the Doctor. The attempt to disorientate the reader at the end by suggesting that the story's events might not actually be real or have even taken place is just a bit naff to be honest. I don't think it really adds to the mystery of the story and just highlights how ludicrous things were. The quote I chose was not by accident! It really was a bit of a jumbled mess. Shame to say, but this goes down as my least favourite Fifteenth Doctor story of any format. 

Rating: 4/10

Inner Demons: The Good Life

"Be careful what you wish for."

Writer: Una McCormack

Format: Audio

Released: February 2025

Series: Call Me Master 1.03

Featuring: The Master

Synopsis

On a distant island, a group of holy men and women work together to keep the Balance. Elta, one of the Shore-folk, has come to learn. But there's a new man on the Island – the first in living memory – and it's not clear whether he's saint or sinner.

Is it only coincidence that the weather seems more changeable these days? That people are angrier and turning to violence? Where, wonders Elta, is this all heading – and does the stranger even know himself?

Verdict

The Good Life was another excellent episode to conclude the Inner Demons first series of Call Me Master! I think this has been a stellar trio of adventures for one of my very favourite incarnations of my favourite villain. Sacha Dhawan absolutely shone and after an opening where this Master found himself with some Self-Help and then parading around The Clockwork Swan in a blatantly bad disguise, this saw him in a more sinister tale. It was really different and whilst he was basically masquerading around, the method and end game felt much more evil. That was honestly quite delightful and it was magnificent to see that side of this Master. It definitely happened on screen but probably not for an entire story opposite the Thirteenth Doctor, so for him to really dig deep into the methodical nature of the Master was superb. I thought Elta was a very strong character and her desire to learn was really good. I appreciated that about her and where better than for the teachers on the island to educate her? Except the newcomer claiming to be able to offer teachings preferred to be called master. That was really good and their dynamic was brilliant. Subtly over the course of the episode the true persona of the Master was seeking out as he got frustrated with the Balance. This reminded me a little of the Source that he tried to obtain in The Keeper of Traken to replenish his decayed body. The concept of Balance itself was really good and the significance of the stones gave this almost a historical feel. It felt like a world that hadn't developed much but with such reliance on maintaining balance, it wasn't a huge surprise. Ghetta was a strong character as the Weather-Worker and his knowledge and teachings of the Balance came into play in a big way. I really liked the societal makeup of the island and its vicinity with Elta being one from the shore. I thought it was amusing to call her a Shore-folk and it was a fascinating little place the Master found himself in. Elta's disbelief at what the Master was doing when it came to the Balance and those he killed was extraordinary. It was almost unfathomable and the selfish nature of the Master meant that if he couldn't have it, nobody could. He almost found the whole incantation and humming that was so significant to the stones to be ridiculous, but the way things came full circle with his flute playing was terrific. His anger towards Elta when she had decided to go back to the Shore was also incredible as when she had just come to learn, the Master had only had her gardening! That wasn't much of an education and he was keen to keep her around. She almost had a balancing effect on him which was fascinating. The Master's interference on the Balance itself made for a strong conclusion and the anticipation over what would happen was excellent. I really liked that the old father was on hand to try and keep some semblance of balance so that Elta could restart once all was lost, but the Master's threat of arriving again in a few hundred years when nobody would have any living memory of these events and do them all again was sublime. It was horrible, but that was part of this Master's more sinister side. It was an incredible hour or so that was so well paced and enthralling, inviting the listener in as events developed. A fitting finale!

Rating: 9/10