Tales from the Vortex: When I Say Run...

"This definitely isn't an interactive event."

Writer: Ben Tedds

Format: Audio

Released: April 2025

Series: Short Trips 13.02

Featuring: Tenth Doctor

Synopsis

You love listening to these audio stories as you go about your daily routine, so it's awkward when an alien entity takes control of you during your morning run. Maybe the Doctor can have a word in your ear?

Verdict

When I Say Run... was a good little story to continue my way through the Tales from the Vortex thirteenth series of Short Trips! I was a little sceptical going into this story from the synopsis description describing it as a story for 'you and the Tenth Doctor' because I'm not a massive fan of the format of involving the listener in the adventure. I think it works for a younger audience perhaps and I know the Short Trips range isn't exactly the most complex and is one of the more accessible with them largely being standalone adventures, but especially with it being the Tenth Doctor I think I was getting strong Decide Your Destiny vibes in audio format! It wasn't quite like that as the decisions were all made for us and I don't think the character that was addressed as if it was the listener actually felt that way. It was just a different kind of perspective which was pretty intriguing, but I'm not really sure it was necessary. It wasn't bad at all but I don't think the adventure actually gained anything from utilising this approach. I thought the story itself was actually pretty good and it certainly felt modern which is good when including this particular incarnation of the Doctor. I don't think Clare Corbett's impression of the Tenth Doctor was anything to write home about and that's no big surprise or problem, but I have high expectations after recently listening to The Wednesday That Wasn't and her tremendous take on the Thirteenth Doctor! The Elekron app was a good basis for much of the story and that's where acting as a character for the listener came into play. I am someone who has sporadically taken up running in the last couple of years and recently completed the Nos Galan road races on New Year's Eve in my home town, so hearing some of the motivational speech and comments felt very familiar. I must be honest though, if I had an app in my ear with an artificial intelligence giving me encouragement or updates I think it would drive me bonkers. I like a good podcast when running and I think the app was a little conservative in building up to a 5k. I don't think that's too long at all! The Elekron feeding off the energy of the app users was intriguing but once the Doctor arrived they felt incredibly inferior. That showed just how much of a presence the Doctor has as a Time Lord and with the Elekron home world perishing in the Time War, they were no match for the Doctor. They actually seemed to quiver when inside the TARDIS but they were audacious in planning to infiltrate the console to go back in time to their home world and prevent its destruction. I thought them challenging the Doctor that he wouldn't rather than couldn't save it was bold, but they just ended up taking him up on the offer of a new settlement which felt a little underwhelming. The Doctor pondering on not getting to do the whole one chance line was fun stuff and it's actually a shame I felt that we didn't get a little more exploration of the Elekron living dormant within the app of a phone. I find that really interesting rife with potential, especially with AI as this world gets more and more technologically reliant and advanced. No such worries in the TARDIS though! And just a final note, how can we have a story named as this one and it not feature the Second Doctor? That feels like a missed opportunity, but that doesn't have an impact on the adventure! Overall, a solid listen indeed.

Rating: 7/10