Physician, Heal Thyself

"The Dalek gods are born! Your failure is complete!"

Writer: Si Spurrier

Format: Comic Strip

Released: 25th May 2017

Printed in: DWC: Tales from the TARDIS 18

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Alice, Abslom Daak, River Song

Synopsis

With a trail of temporal devastation in his wake, and casualties mounting among his companions, can the Doctor find the truth at last about his Time War crime? And will that truth, once won, prove to have been worth the cost?

Verdict

Physician, Heal Thyself was a very good comic strip adventure that has brought to an end the second year of adventures for the Eleventh Doctor. It has been an eventful ride and I must say that it has required a lot of thought and attention given the timey-wimey nature of events. I must admit that despite how highly I have often rated the stories from this run that I do favour the approach of the Tenth and Twelfth Doctor segments of these comics in not having no continuously overriding story arc. This method was used for the Eleventh Doctor and Alice in the first year of stories and I was hoping for a change this time around but that was not to be the case. I was also saddened that we did not get pure adventures with just the Doctor and Alice but despite another packed TARDIS crew, I thought Alice massively improved this year. I am intrigued to see what the third year of adventures has in store for us but it seems that I have to wait until August to find out as there is another hiatus from DWC which is a real shame. I have jumped ahead an issue to read this story because it just seemed to make sense having read Gently Pulls the Strings yesterday and it is something that I have done before. I thought the pace of this one was very good and improved upon its predecessor in providing the reader with some answers as to what had happened. The Doctor mentioning that he knew about the Squire for some time now was unexpected but hardly surprising and I liked how moments from past stories concerning the Squire were flashbacked to. They revealed where the clues lay and I am sure that if I reread the entire second year, things would make a lot more sense but I currently have no intention of doing so. The Doctor seems to have taken a backseat in recent stories which is ironic given how the whole story arc is about clearing his name of genocide and that was sort of achieved here. I was a little sceptical at how loose all the knots were tied but that didn't take away from this individual story but was rather a criticism of the plot as a whole. The characterisation of Matt Smith's incarnation here though was excellent which is always great. I was quite surprised by his initial plan that involved killing the Squire. That was quite shocking but it did highlight just how desperate the Doctor may be when it comes to the Time War. Abslom Daak actually had a bit of an emotional moment which was a first and I loved the comment from Taiyin when she said how Daak could never imagine actually talking to her. That was very poignant. His obsession with killing Daleks is a bit obsessive and can sometimes go over the top but I thought it was a nice touch to place him in the Time War alongside the War Doctor to finish the story. That pretty much ends his association with the Eleventh Doctor which is absolutely fine by me. The reemergence of River Song was most welcomed and I loved how the relationship between her and the Doctor was effortlessly captured on the page in such short space. She's a wonderful character and I have enjoyed her inclusion in these stories. The connection between Alice and the Then and the Now was quite a surprise but it did actually seem to make sense amongst all the chaos that was ensuing in the resolutions. Overall, a very good story that saw some great characterisation and despite having a lot going on, it managed to neatly wrap things up for the second year of Eleventh Doctor adventures.

Rating: 8/10

Gently Pulls the Strings

"Why were the Daleks so terrifying?"

Writer: Si Spurrier
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 27th April 2017
Series: DWC: Tales from the TARDIS 17

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Alice, Squire, Abslom Daak

Synopsis

Armed with revelations from the Time War, but challenged by resistance within his own ranks, the Doctor faces his most difficult hour yet as he battles to clear his name! Having plunged into the depths of darkness in his quest for the truth, can he re-emerge triumphant?

Verdict

Gently Pulls the Strings was a decent comic stirip adventure but I must admit that after the epic that was Fast Asleep, I was hoping for a bit of a better follow up. Now it has been quite some time since I read the previous story but due to a busy finish to second year at university and some serendipity in my personal life, blogging has not gone to plan in the last few weeks or so. Again, that is not a problem to me but I have been hoping to do a little more than just the weekly episodes that have been broadcasting recently. I have since picked up the latest issue of DWC but I am in need of some catching up so that begins here! Now this story had a lot of potential and despite having a fast paced which is something I am usually a big fan of in a comic adventure, this just seemed to be a bit of an information overload in places. I think it tried to accomplish a little too much in a short space of time and when even the Doctor is confused, you know there's a little trouble with the overarching plot. Sometimes, things should just be kept simple and despite including a Time War storyline, I do think it could have been achieved in a more gradual and rewarding way in this second year of Eleventh Doctor adventures. Obviously based on the ratings I have been giving this stories, that is no reflection on the overall quality but stories like this one will suffer which is a shame. I was quite surprised that Abslom Daak had survived the events of the previous comic strip but I was glad to see that he had. He still remains a character I need to do some catching up on with the DWM comic strips of the Classic era but I have really enjoyed his return alongside the Eleventh Doctor. Alice was probably the highlight of this story for me and that is not something I have often stated! I have grown to like her this year after a wobbly start but here she really did shine as she managed to work things out. She was the one that had been to the Time War and seen the extent of the damage that everything involving the Daleks, the Cyclors and the Overcaste entailed. The Doctor's reaction to hearing of Alice seeing the Master was intriguing and I was also quite surprised when he mentioned the Psilent Songbox. The impact of that was something I did not expect to see in this story but the Squire, in her Dalek possessed state, was quite whacky and loony but did seem to be acting in accordance with a plan of some sort. It was all about serving the Dalek interests in the Time War and I bet the Eleventh Doctor was not expecting that in his current incarnation. The Squire really was quite ruthless but I liked how the Doctor felt sorry for her and was determined to think that she was not wholly Dalek. She still had feelings, something that is alien to the Daleks. The Doctor's speech about what makes the Daleks so vile and detestable at the start of the story was superb but from there on things seemed to jump a little too fast. That was a little annoying as things have been building up for so long and I was kind of expecting to be a little more impressed by the big revelation. I did think that the cliffhanger was good and it sets up the year finale nicely with the threat of Dalek Gods. Overall though, a good comic strip but it could have been a whole lot more!

Rating: 7/10

The Pyramid at the End of the World

"The end of your life has already begun."

Writers: Peter Harness & Steven Moffat
Format: TV
Broadcast: 27th May 2017
Series: 10.07

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill, Nardole

Synopsis

When a 5000-year-old pyramid appears, literally, overnight, Earth's military leaders are baffled. But there are far more serious implications for the planet, which soon become apparent...

Verdict

The Pyramid at the End of the World was an excellent episode of Doctor Who! It picked up where Extremis left off in great style and it was good to see the Monks in full action after their introduction in the previous episode. Despite this story following on from the previous episode, I am in firm favour of arguing that this is a separate story and is not any sort of two or three-parter. The different writers would be an indication of that and I would instead argue it as being a trilogy, similar to what we saw in the 1980s with The Keeper of Traken, Logopolis and Castrovalva. Placing a trilogy midway through a series is an excellent idea and I really like the contemporary feel that has come with it. Obviously events here were triggered in Oxygen with the Doctor getting blind, something that was referenced as you'd expect, and then we saw the simulation of the Monks invading Earth last time out. That was described to us very nicely in the opening scene through Bill telling Penny what the Doctor had told her. Then we kicked into action and the Doctor's status as President of Earth was put into action once again, following on from Dark Water/Death in Heaven and The Zygon Invasion/The Zygon Inversion. I really liked the continuation of the Turmezistan setting and the position that was in was really intriguing with the involvement of the world's three most powerful superpowers. I liked how this episode really carried modern day feelings with the inclusion of Russia, America and China and the possibility of international conflict. World War Three getting mentioned really brought home how powerful these countries are and with modern technology, who knows what is possible. The arrival of the pyramid was brilliant and I just loved the whole premise that surrounded it. It was impossible and impossible is something that I like in Doctor Who. Peter Capaldi has been doing a stellar job as the Twelfth Doctor in this series thus far and tackling his problem of blindness has been superb. Bill was once again wonderful and I really am loving her as the companion. She's such a breath of fresh air and now she's really acquainted with the Doctor and her actions and at the end of the episode demonstrate that. Nardole is also terrific and despite my initial scepticism when I discovered he'd be returning permanently, I have been very impressed. I do look forward to finding out what caused him to be knocked out inside the TARDIS though when the Doctor needed him. The way the Doctor and co worked out what it was that was about to destroy the world was fantastic and I really liked the use of the camera hacking to work out the location. Erica and the Doctor got on splendidly and once the Doctor had basically saved the world, his blindness came back to haunt him as he couldn't calibrate a simple keycode. He simply couldn't see and if he didn't get out he would be blown to smithereens. That was where Bill came in. After an episode of the Monks wanting genuine consent out of love, she was able to provide it in return for the Monks giving the Doctor his sight back. With his sight he could survive, but Bill signed away the world as the price. She must have serious confidence in the Doctor's abilities to put things right, especially when it wasn't even known what consent entailed, but it looks like we have quite an episode on our hands next week to tie up all the loose ends! Overall though, an excellent episode!

Rating: 9/10

Extremis

"They read the Veritas and choose Hell."

Writer: Steven Moffat
Format: TV
Broadcast: 20th May 2017
Series: 10.06

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill, Nardole

Synopsis

There is a text buried deep in the Vatican. A text older than the church itself. The language is lost - but thanks to the works of an early Christian sect, the title has survived: Veritas. All copies of the sect's translation disappeared, shortly after their mass suicide. But then, a few months ago, the Veritas was translated again. And what does it say? No-one knows. Because everyone who worked on the translation is now dead, by their own hand. All bodies recovered. All except one...

Verdict

Extremis was a very good episode of Doctor Who and despite its obvious qualities, I cannot help but be left wanting more! I mean, I guess that's a good thing actually as it shows that I care about the story and the direction of this tenth series so kudos to Steven Moffat for that but damnit I need answers! After the build up of the first five episodes regarding the Doctor's oath and his guarding of the Vault, the revelation that it is actually Missy who is inside was a little bit of a let down I must say. I can't wholly judge on that yet as the purpose of her being inside is far from being revealed but I was hoping for a bit more of surprise. Speaking of Missy though, it was wonderful to see Michelle Gomez back again as the female incarnation of the Master and the fact that the Doctor was serving as her executioner was rather intriguing. I'm not sure how long after the events of The Magician's Apprentice/The Witch's Familiar this is for our wacky women but I don't think that really matters. What matters is that she is back and Michelle Gomez was as wonderful as ever. I really do love her because she is just an incredible actress. The theme of friendship between the Doctor and Missy is really intriguing and they seem to be working together here which is interesting. I look forward to discovering just why that is in the future but for now the world is quite under threat. Oh, and the Doctor is still quite blind. The continuation of the cliffhanger finish of Oxygen was very well done and I like how stubborn the Doctor is in not wanting Bill to know about his condition. The use of the sonic sunglasses to aid the Doctor was good though. When I read the DWM preview of this episode earlier today, I was rather surprised to read that the Pope would be appearing in the episode. With that expectation, I did not then expect him to interrupt Bill's date in her own home. It was just barmy and ludicrous and where else other than Doctor Who can something like that happen? This script was undoubtedly a little confusing in parts but with the overall story still incomplete, it would be unfair to wholly judge. The Monks seem like a very intriguing species and the fact that they've gone through the time and effort of conquering Earth via a simulation shows that they will most definitely be prepared for the real thing. Their appearance was quite disturbing and the connection they had with the Veritas was rather intriguing. The idea of those who had worked on the book and translated it then going on to commit suicide was quite horrifying but the truth would soon be revealed. Nardole showed a lot of character in this episode and it was probably his best showing so far. He worked out that everything was just a simulation and that he and Bill were a part of it. That is where things got confusing for me and it seemed a bit similar to Last Christmas in what we saw didn't actually happen. I'm not a great fan of that but the idea of a Doctor Who episode being based off of a video game really did work for me. I loved the reference to Knock Knock and I also liked how we got some answers as to just what Nardole knows and why he was reunited with the Doctor when we saw him in The Return of Doctor Mysterio. The Doctor working out things in the simulation and warning his true self was great and I like how he told Bill to call Penny that night. Things have been nicely set up for next week and I just can't help but want more, despite some slight confusion in parts. Overall though, a very good episode!

Rating: 8/10

Oxygen

"You realise life can be so brief."

Writer: Jamie Mathieson
Format: TV
Broadcast: 13th May 2017
Series: 10.05

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill, Nardole

Synopsis

Space Station Chasm Forge is cold and airless, but not empty. The Doctor, Bill and Nardole answer a distress call and find four survivors - plus another three dozen walking dead, a relentless space-suited army seeking to claim more lives. Can the Doctor and his party stay one step ahead of the horde? In a future where oxygen is currency, save your breath - it could make all the difference.

Verdict

Oxygen was another excellent episode that has continued this tenth series of Doctor Who in some style. The standard for the series really has been quite high thus far and when I was reading the preview in DWM and saw that Jamie Mathieson had written the script, I just knew that what I was going to watch would be brilliant. He's a favoured writer of mine ever since his superb Mummy on the Orient Express and his two episodes since then didn't fail. This is another great one to add to the list and it definitely lived up to its preview. I thought setting a story in space was excellent and using the Doctor's position as a lecturer at the university to explain its dangers was a really good inclusion. The Doctor as a lecturer definitely works and I liked the scene in the TARDIS where he goes against Nardole's instructions, that were actually given to him by the Doctor himself, and goes offworld and answers a distress call. It was good to actually get Nardole in a companion role for the first time of the series and I really did like the change in dynamic with his addition to the TARDIS trio. He was actually quite funny, as you'd expect with Matt Lucas, but I also liked how angry he was with the Doctor once they were back on Earth. The idea of a future where oxygen could only be obtained by payment was really quite extraordinary but it's something I won't be surprised to see happen in the distant future. Capitalism in space is such a great concept and Mathieson pulled it off brilliantly. Bill's reaction to the realisation that the TARDIS had flooded the ship with unauthorised oxygen was terrific and I really must say that Pearl Mackie has been outstanding in her first five episodes. The crew's reaction to seeing the Doctor and co was good and I liked how the Doctor utilised the psychic paper to justify that they had answered the distress call. Bill getting a faulty spacesuit was a good plot twist, especially once her helmet was off. The Doctor sacrificed his own and somehow survived but he did so at an extraordinary and unexpected cost. The Doctor was blind! That was something I really did not expect and I must say I thought it was superb. His confidence in how it wouldn't stop him from resolving things was wonderful and his comment about how unbearable he'd be when he solved it is my favourite line of the series so far. Pure brilliance that suited Peter Capaldi's Doctor perfectly. The way he worked out that human life was seen as worthless on the ship was brilliant and the suits had been programmed all along to get rid of the organic components. The Doctor though had linked that to the ship and if they died then the whole ship went with it. The incoming replacements would have no destination and the expense would be heavy. This story was all about greed and money and I thought that was a fantastic theme for an episode set in space. The resolution really was great. The ending of the episode though really shocked me which was great! The Doctor's blindness was not cured as first thought and where that leaves things for the future, I'm not too sure. I'd like to think it's cured before the Twelfth Doctor regenerates but this has set things up in a very intriguing way for the future! Overall, another superb episode from Jamie Mathieson and I really do hope that we see more of this writer once Chris Chibnall takes over the helm.

Rating: 9/10

Terror of the Cabinet Noir Part 3

"Do not seek to judge the darkness. You know nothing of our existence."

Writer: Robbie Morrison
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 27th April 2017
Printed in: DWC: Tales from the TARDIS 17

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor

Synopsis

A French swordswoman, dark matter monsters, alternate universes, swashbuckling adventure and symbiotic intrigue - all just another Wednesday for the Doctor! But when you throw in secret police, an alien takeover of the aristocracy, a villainous Count, the inquisition, and alchemical discoveries... well, then it gets interesting!

Verdict

Terror of the Cabinet Noir concluded in great style with this terrific third part of the comic strip! I actually thought this was the weakest of the three parts that made up the story but that's not saying it was bad by any stretch of the imagination. I think that just goes to show how much quality this story has but despite that there was still something missing from it that prevented it from getting full marks. I can't quite put my finger on what but it missed out unfortunately. Doorway to Hell is still going to take some beating when it comes to crowning the best Twelfth Doctor comic adventure but DWC is definitely more than capable of taking that crown from DWM! It was quite intriguing to be reading a story featuring the Twelfth Doctor that didn't feature Bill and I like how that was different because it shows how familiar she is coming. I am enjoying that a lot of my blog lately has been taken up by the Twelfth Doctor as it means I'm keeping up with everything that is going on with the current incarnation. I have purchased the three new novels but I think they are going to have to wait until after exams season. I enjoyed the setting of France in 1695 once again and I liked how this part really was about tying up all the loose ends and leading to the resolution. I thought some parts were ever so slightly rushed but I do appreciate that there are only so many pages to play with. The Doctor and Julie getting split up seemed to just happen out of nowhere and there was significant story advancement between turning the page which seemed a little odd but it did make for quite the exciting conclusion which is a positive. Just when it seemed that Julie's fate was sealed and she would be going to the guillotine, the Doctor pops up out of nowhere to reveal himself to be the would be executioner. Quite the perfect disguise and the Doctor was quite impressed by his timing as well! The whole plan of Richelieu and the Cabinet Noir's darkness inside him revolved around the impending eclipse in which darkness would takeover France. This is where he planned to strike and eradicate the population. The Doctor's anger at his failure to educate instead was excellent and I really enjoyed the mentions of the way beings of dark matter saw our universe. Where we look at them with darkness, they looked into us and saw light. I really liked the imagery that accompanied that. I must say that I thought the artwork was once again spectacular and the Twelfth Doctor segment of DWC is certainly leading the way when it comes to the art quality in Doctor Who comic strip adventures. It really is a joy to read. The characterisation of Peter Capaldi's incarnation was very good and that also makes for better reading. I really am loving his Doctor across all of the formats at the moment. The ending was quite dramatic and extraordinary with the Doctor conjuring up light and time tunnels to eradicate the darkness but he got the job done and France was saved. What Richelieu's existence fifty years after his death means I'm not so sure, is history restored? The ambiguity regarding Julie joining the Doctor on his travels was interesting and I would like to see her get at least one trip in the TARDIS. I don't think it'll happen though. Overall, a brilliant comic strip story!

Rating: 9/10 

Knock Knock

"Are you looking for somewhere to live?"

Writer: Mike Bartlett
Format: TV
Broadcast: 6th May 2017
Series: 10.04

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill

Synopsis

Bill is moving in with some friends, and they've found the perfect house! So what if it's strangely cheap to rent, and the Landlord is a little creepy? The wind blows, the floorboards creak, and the Doctor thinks something is very wrong. What lurks in the strange tower at the heart of the building - and why can't they find any way to enter it...?

Verdict

Knock Knock was an excellent episode of Doctor Who and Series 10 really is coming along rather nicely now! It definitely does feel like we're in the middle of the series now which is a good sign and Bill is absolutely familiar as the new companion. She continued to be absolutely wonderful and I don't even mind that we're seeing her life outside of the TARDIS, something I was quite against when Clara was the companion. I think the reason for that is because the Doctor is also spending a lot of his time on Earth in the same time period with the guarding of the Vault. More on that later. I thought the story was brilliant and I think I actually had quite a lot of personal connections with the episode given my current education status. The setting was in a student shared house which was great and as I currently am living in a student shared home in Bath, I could relate quite a bit. The idea of there being an explanation for why the floorboards in our homes creak was scary and I think Doctor Who works best when there's a fear factor involved, especially one in which the viewers recognise as an everyday occurrence. Creaking floorboards is something that just happens and we accept that but Mike Bartlett lives up to the DWM preview in giving us an episode full of spooks. I really liked Bill's arrival into her new home and the way Paul was into her, only for him to find out she was gay, was terrific. I thought Peter Capaldi was on top form again as the Twelfth Doctor and the more I see of his incarnation the more I love it. The Doctor's reaction to Bill claiming he was her grandfather was fantastic and I loved the comments in DWM about the Doctor being called grandfather once again. I thought all of the students as Bill's housemates were good and it is a shame that the comment about Harry being the grandson of Harry Sullivan didn't make the cut. That would have been a lovely nod to the past but that didn't really matter. I liked how Bill was trying to convince herself that there was nothing weird about her new home and with that came good references to The Pilot, Smile and Thin Ice. Of course, she turned out to be wrong and just as she wished him gone, Bill was calling for the Doctor's help. He hadn't left, he hadn't even planned on doing so, and once the house apparently became alive he was set. Doors were closing flaps were drawing. The house was becoming an entrapment and Felicity managed to get out, but the creaking tree didn't provide her with a better alternative. Bill and Shireen finding Pavel halfway into becoming part of the wood was a disturbing image and the revelation regarding the music was well-timed. The Landlord was an excellent character who was superbly played by David Suchet and the reveal regarding the truth about Eliza was most unexpected! That's usually a good thing and that was the case here. She looked rather creepy and not exactly healthy in her wooden state and the flashback to what was presumably the 50s and how this whole situation came to be was very good. The explanation regarding the alien insects made sense and I liked how it was resolved. It was a surprisingly emotional ending and I don't envy Bill and her housemates being back looking for a house. It's a killer of a process. Nardole had another cameo regarding the Vault and I must admit I'll be surprised if the prisoner doesn't turn out to be the Master. The piano playing was a little surprising but I'm now looking forward to the reveal! Overall though, a terrific episode!

Rating: 9/10

The Soul Garden Part 1

"You must be weeded!"

Writer: Scott Gray
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 4th May 2017
Printed in: DWM 511

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill

Synopsis

The Twelfth Doctor and Bill continue their travels as they head to Titan, a moon of Saturn. The Doctor promises to get back to battling evil on their next trip and doesn't expect to be troubled on this adventure. That is until a ship nearly takes their heads off! Once boarded, the Doctor meets a familiar face en route to the Soul Garden...

Verdict

The Soul Garden started off in brilliant style and served as a great welcome for Bill to the comic strip format! The adventures continue off screen even when there's a new series on and I love how the television series isn't all that we get to see of the Twelfth Doctor and Bill. Now, I'll get to the comic strip story itself shortly but as per usual for my blogging of the Doctor Who Magazine comic stories, I'll talk about the magazine itself and it definitely looks like it's a good one! DWM usually is excellent but that is even more so the case during the broadcasting of a new series. We get to look back at the episodes that have already aired whilst still getting excited about adventures to come. This issue has previews of the next four episodes which is really exciting and I'm also looking forward to seeing the magazine's readers views on The Pilot, with the two following episodes to come next month. Galaxy Forum usually does play catch up but after a quick glance I'm also looking forward to seeing the response to Doorway to Hell, which was in my opinion undoubtedly the best Twelfth Doctor comic adventure yet. Yes, that includes DWC as well. I like how this issue has interviews with both Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Sarah Dollard after their recent episodes aired and I'm also looking forward to David Suchet's interview ahead of tomorrow's airing of Knock Knock. That does look to be a brilliant episode. The Lawrence Gough interview should also be a good read and will be a nice little change from last issue's take on the producer by moving to the directing side of the show. The reviews of the first three episodes of the series should be great and I'm also intrigued to look ahead to the Ninth Doctor Chronicles audios. They are something that interests me despite the lack of Christopher Eccleston himself. Anyway, back to the comic strip now and I was delighted to see that Scott Gray was back penning the stories! He is a favoured writer of mine and quite renowned in the comic world and I think a fresh writer was needed with Bill arriving on the scene. I enjoyed the references to Smile and Thin Ice very much and whilst it's probably clear that this story doesn't fit in immediately after last week's episode, it must be quite soon following. Obviously, by the time the next part airs we'll have had four new episodes and we'll be accustomed to Bill so I'm intrigued to see how that pans out. I do wonder if Nardole will join the comic strips at some point as well. The setting of Titan was great and I loved Bill's reaction to seeing Saturn from the view that she had. It was almost like the Doctor was showing was off which is something I always tend to enjoy. The return of Rudy Zoom was quite unexpected and I liked the obvious reference to The Eye of Torment that came with that. He was funding this exhibition to fulfil Lady Takashi's dreams but she was an intriguing character in her own right with her psychic abilities. Bill was certainly impressed and I must say that I thought Gray did a fantastic job with her characterisation. The artwork was also very impressive throughout the whole story and I loved the idea of the Soul Garden being in a greenhouse on one of Saturn's moons. Where else but in Doctor Who are you going to find that? The Keeper was quite humorous for the page that it survived and I thought the cliffhanger was strong with the reveal that some elements of the garden were very much alive and were quite hostile to fleshlings. Overall, a great start to Bill's comic strip adventures and I look forward to reading the next part! (Finally a DWM blog on time!).

Death and the Queen

"Death is coming. I have to see the Queen!"

Writer: James Goss
Format: Audio
Released: May 2016
Series: TDA 1.03

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Donna

Synopsis

Donna Noble has never been lucky in love. So when, one day, her Prince does come, she is thrilled to have the wedding of all weddings to look forward to. Though the Doctor isn't holding his breath for an invitation. And her future mother-in-law is certainly not amused.

But on the big day itself, Donna finds her castle under siege from the darkest of forces, marching at the head of a skeleton army.

When it looks like even the Doctor can't save the day, what will Queen Donna do to save her people from Death itself?

Verdict

Death and the Queen was an excellent audio to conclude the first series of Tenth Doctor Adventures from Big Finish! This trio of stories really has been a delight and I really do hope that there are more to come in the future because it was terrific to get brand new performed stories from the modern era of Doctor Who that actually featured the lead cast. David Tennant and Catherine Tate were wonderful once again here and I'm sure this isn't the last we will hear from them. At least, I'd like to think not. James Goss penned an excellent story to finish the first batch of Tenth Doctor audios and I think this does go close in rivalling Technophobia as the best of the range so far. I do like a historical setting and the 1780s seems as good a place as any to set an adventure, particularly one revolved around royalty. The setting of Goritania was shrouded in scepticism from the moment the Doctor mentioned he had never heard of it and I liked the mystery surrounding it for the duration of the audio. The customs of the kingdom seemed quite normal and customary but the way the audio started meant that wouldn't be the case. We had the Doctor arriving in some distress at the feet of Goritania's Queen who of course would be Donna. That was a brilliant way to start the adventure and I liked the backtracking on how events led up to that scenario. The fact that there was an angry talking cloud disturbing the kingdom was terrific and Donna blaming that on the Doctor was absolutely brilliant. It was great writing and it really did capture their relationship and the feel of Series 4 perfectly. The Doctor then threw things back at her when it came to Rudolph and how he was shooting arrows at a cloud. She conceded his point but at least she had her a fiance who was a prince. The fact that the coronation and wedding would take place in the same ceremony was rather unusual and it wouldn't be long before we saw why. I was quite surprised that the Doctor didn't attend the whole wedding ceremony but he managed to actually recruit Hortense as a temporary companion that he actually very much liked! She was fantastic. When the Doctor figured he would be losing Donna as a companion, his statement about his companions leaving never getting easier was really heartfelt and there was also a wonderful mention of The Invasion of Time and Warriors' Gate in the Doctor acknowledging K9's departures. He also referenced Army of Ghosts/Doomsday which was good and I also liked the expected reference to The Runaway Bride, as after all, Donna was getting married. There was also a subtly beautiful foreshadowing of The End of Time in the Doctor expecting that he'd be at Donna's next wedding. That was a really nice touch. Doctor Who having a character of Death was intriguing and whilst it was the conventional portrayal, the appearance would have you believe differently. Of course, it turned out to be a massive con at the hands of the Mefistoles. The Doctor thought it was all about him which wasn't actually the case and I liked Donna's reaction to that. The resolution being that she had the ancient flag of Goritania sewn into her pants was rather unexpected and the irony of Death not being able to get into her pants was some serious innuendo for a resolution. I did like it though, even if it was perhaps a little silly. The Doctor had worked out what the untranslatable motto of the flag meant but Donna worked out how to free Goritania from its evil binding. Overall, a terrific audio adventure!

Rating: 9/10

Time Reaver

"It leaves every civilisation it touches in a blasted heath."

Writer: Jenny T. Colgan
Format: Audio
Released: May 2016
Series: TDA 1.02

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Donna

Synopsis

Calibris. The spaceport planet where anything goes. Where anyone who doesn't want to be found can be lost, and where everything has its price. Where betentacled gangster Gully holds sway at the smugglers' tavern, Vagabond's Reach.

The alien Vacintians are trying to impose some order on the chaos. Soon the Doctor and Donna discover why. An illegal weapon is loose on the streets. A weapon that destroys lives... Slowly and agonisingly.

Verdict

Time Reaver was a very good audio adventure that has continued along my listening of the Tenth Doctor stories from Big Finish rather nicely! It wasn't quite as good as the opening story of Technophobia and the nostalgia of hearing David Tennant and Catherine Tate had slightly worn off but I am glad that the quality of the story was still very high which meant I had a very enjoyable listen. I'm usually a big fan of stories that focus on time and as the title would suggest, an aspect of it appeared in this one. The time reaver was quite a horrific weapon and the Doctor's initial reaction to hearing the news of their presence on Calibris was more than enough to sell that fact. He was very concerned indeed and a routine maintenance stop would turn into something much more inconvenient. It nearly cost Donna her life and the Doctor a regeneration, but eventually normality was restored to the planet of mechanical chaos. The Doctor being reunited with his old friend of Soren was good and I like how he had clearly visited this place before. Donna was quite surprised by how comfortable he was in the rowdy tavern but I loved how she caught the Doctor out in how much he prided the TARDIS of being the greatest ship on the planet. He really does love his time machine. Cora was a very good character and I liked how it turned out that she was the one who had actually broken in and stolen the time reavers, causing much of this story's plotline. Rone was another good character and the revelation that Cora was his daughter was quite unexpected, something I always like to happen! The Vacintians as a whole were a very intriguing species and the way they adhered to law and order really reminded me of the way the Judoon acted on Earth in Prisoner of the Judoon. However, the Vacintians were very different and tirelessly followed the rules. They had come to this planet of chaos and their presence really wasn't making things better. There are some places where rules just should not be present and this was certainly one of them. The Doctor acknowledged that and I must say that once again David Tennant reprised his role as the Tenth Doctor superbly. I also thought that Catherine Tate was wonderful and this was actually a better performance for her than in the first audio of the range. The way Donna dealt with having the bomb attached to her back was terrific but that would also end up with an emotional moment for Rone and Cora as the bomb had to explode for someone. Gully was a decent villain but I must say I couldn't help think he sounded a little too similar to Sil, who we of course first met in Vengeance on Varos. Donna's complaints of the TARDIS wardrobe were wonderful and the wench comments were quite humorous, especially as the Doctor couldn't help but agree with the clothing. I really loved the mention of Donna having something on her back which would come into fruition in Turn Left. The resolution was an unexpected one with the Doctor actually shooting himself with the time reaver guns to absorb every last molecule but it seemed that his Time Lord privilege meant it didn't have quit so a disastrous effect on him. The way the story finished and led into Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead was excellent and I just love that there was some continuity between this audio and Series 4. I hope there's more of that in the final story but for now, a terrific audio adventure!

Rating: 8/10

Technophobia

"Don't be scared. You can really have fun with technology." 

Writer: Matt Fitton
Format: Audio
Released: May 2016
Series: TDA 1.01

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Donna

Synopsis

When the Doctor and Donna visit London's Technology Museum for a glimpse into the future, things don't go to plan.

The most brilliant IT brain in the country can't use her computer. More worrying, the exhibits are attacking the visitors, while outside, people seem to be losing control of the technology that runs their lives.

Is it all down to simple human stupidity, or is something more sinister going on? Beneath the streets, the Koggnossenti are waiting. For all of London to fall prey to technophobia...

Verdict

Technophobia was an excellent audio adventure that has kicked off my listening of the Tenth Doctor Adventures in quite some style! It has nearly been a year since these audios were released and I have been looking forward to listening to them for quite some time! I finally took my chance today to start the range and I must say I was absolutely delighted with what I heard. To get a set of brand new performed adventures featuring the Tenth Doctor and Donna is simply wonderful and I must say that both actors were on stellar form and it was as if neither had stopped playing the role! I really did love it in the opening sequence when the Doctor arrived on the scene as it was just superb to be hearing brand new dialogue from the Tenth Doctor. As David Tennant was the Doctor when I first got into Doctor Who back in 2007, I have seen the majority of his episodes countless times but this story is fantastic because it's fresh and well, brand new! I really do hope that this is just the start of performed adventures with modern Doctors and given how much Tennant loved playing the Doctor, I'm sure he'll be back at some point. As if having David Tennant and Catherine Tate back wasn't a treat enough, Matt Fitton provided us with a stellar script that I was very close to giving full marks to! I really was impressed and I just loved the technological theme. I liked how for the companion of the story, the adventure was set in the near future but for the listener and the time of release, that was some five or six years ago in the past. That allowed for some clever writing with mention of a royal wedding but technology hasn't grown massively since then in my opinion, in terms of usage anyway. The fact that technology was actually making people stupider, or so it seemed, rather than helping with their everyday lives was a good plot to play on and I really liked that London's Technology Museum was the main setting. Now, I've never actually been to London city centre so I can't appreciate it too much but setting a story in a museum is good in my books. Bex was a lovely character and I liked how she and Donna managed to instantly get on. Their shared humour about the Doctor's appearance was good and I liked how the fact both had been out of the country for quite some time would lead to the Doctor discovering how to defeat the Koggnossenti. They were an intriguing villain and I did like how their voice suited the theme of the audio. Their plan of making the human race stupider by interfering with brain patterns through infrasound was terrific and that is certainly a unique mode of invasion in the Doctor Who universe! I really liked it. Kevin was also a good character and I liked the humour that he shared with Donna. He really helped things as he was one of the 1% that the infrasound didn't have an effect on and would also drive a train into their signalling device on the Underground. That would prove vital as when the signal was jammed and everybody was coming to their senses, the Doctor would show his genius whilst suffering the effects of devolution. He had reversed the signal which meant that it was actually the Koggnossenti who would become stupider, to put it crudely, and the Doctor's reaction to making that happen was brilliant. He was very proud and had saved Julie Meadows and co from being scared of their own inventions. Overall, a fantastic audio adventure!

Rating: 9/10

Terror of the Cabinet Noir Part 2

"When I'm an old maid in my bed, I'll take up reading. For now, I'll stick with sword-fighting."

Writer: Robbie Morrison
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 30th March 2017
Printed in: DWC: Tales from the TARDIS 16

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor

Synopsis

The Doctor finds himself teamed with a rebellious French swordswoman to battle the infamous Cardinal Richelieu and his secret police! But it's not just the Cardinal they have to worry about - it's his allies, who definitely aren't from around here...

Verdict

Terror of the Cabinet Noir continued in excellent style with this terrific second part of the comic strip adventure! I really was impressed with part one and after rereading it those thoughts definitely did not change. It has taken me a little longer to get around to reading this middle installment of the story than I would have liked but I am quite pleased that this month I have gotten somewhere close to the days of old on this blog with the most monthly entries of the year so far. The next issue of Doctor Who Comic is actually out now and I will be looking to purchase that tomorrow and hopefully not take so long in blogging its contents as has been the case with the last two issues! I really liked the continuation of the late-17th century French setting in Paris and the continued mystery surrounding Richelieu still being alive fifty years after his historical death. That explanation was given to us in some style with a wonderful flashback scene at the hands of Bishop Mazarin. I liked how easily the Doctor managed to get the information from him and he now knew some key details about the Cabinet Noir and what it would mean for France's future. The theme of religion has been very good and it's not often that you'll get me praising it so there's a rarity! But the theme is definitely in line with the time of the story's setting which was a big positive for me. I thought Julie was once again magnificent filling in for the companion role as this story is of course set prior to the events of The Return of Doctor Mysterio and all the connotations with Series 10 that is currently in the middle of being broadcast. I do enjoy doing stories of other mediums whilst the series is ongoing with that current Doctor, even if it isn't set alongside the new episodes, and that was realised here with the way I was reading the words of the Doctor. The characterisation of Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor really was brilliant in this part of the comic strip and I have always said that it makes for much easier reading and usually a better appreciation for the story when that is the case. His relationship with Julie has been terrific thus far and she definitely is quite different to the friends he is used to. The use of Gargoyles as minions in this story was unexpected but definitely something I approved of! I really did like it, especially when they could speak. They mercilessly arrived into the Doctor and Julie's presence by killing Mazarin in gruesome style and that didn't sit well with Julie as she declared a fight. A fight with gargoyles who already wanted to kill her. The Doctor though had information already about the secret dark library and the whole idea of darkness shining through in this comic strip is very good. What lies in store for the eclipse is something I'm sure we'll find out in the final part and that is something I am looking most forward to. The Doctor and Julie arriving at the Palace of Versailles only to find that King Louis XIV himself was part of the same eminence coming from the Cabinet Noir was unexpected but provided a fantastic cliffhanger! It really has set things up nicely for a fast-paced conclusion to the story and that is one which I am very looking forward to reading!

Thin Ice

"Plan: let's get eaten." 

Writer: Sarah Dollard
Format: TV
Broadcast: 29th April 2017
Series: 10.03

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill

Synopsis

4 February 1814. The Doctor and Bill chill out at the last great frost fair on the frozen Thames, enjoying the carnival atmosphere and eating pies. But sinister lights are swarming beneath the ice, luring people to their doom in the black depths of the river - and as the Doctor gets on the case, a desperate band of local urchins could provide the clues he needs. Someone powerful and ruthless is plotting to attract as many people to the fair as possible... but why? And what lurks at the bottom of the Thames, waiting implacably for the first ominous cracks in the ice?

Verdict

Thin Ice was a great episode to continue along the tenth series of the revived Doctor Who! After an incredible debut in Face the Raven, Sarah Dollard was back to treat fans with another script and whilst she failed to replicate the astounding success of her first episode, a task that was always going to prove difficult, she still produced a very good story. It was definitely an improvement from last week and I must say I really was a big fan of the historical setting. The last Frost Fair of 1814 is a good place to set a Doctor Who story and I liked that the Doctor's past visits to the event were briefly referenced. The Georgian period is a time that I have studied in quite some depth and although it isn't my favourite I still found it very interesting so a Doctor Who story set there in Regency England is a good thing in my book. The Doctor and Bill certainly dressed for the occasion and I really must say how much I am enjoying the latter as our new companion. She really is a breath of fresh air and I just love how full of questions she is. This was her first trip to the past and her queries about changing it were wonderful. The Doctor dismissed that brilliantly though my mentioning how the decisions she made in her own time would have just as much of an impact on her own personal future. Bill's reaction to seeing Spider die was excellent and the way she challenged the Doctor about death was superb and probably my favourite moment of the episode. The Doctor definitely did care about those that died around him, and those that he had killed, but his way of coping was to move on. And to do it quickly. Bill will soon understand that. I love Pearl Mackie though and there's something about her voice that makes her queries just that more interesting. The mystery of the lights under the ice was intriguing and I loved how the Doctor had noticed them too without even saying a word. He knew the TARDIS had brought them to the fair for a reason but he wasn't too keen to get to work right away. The reveal of the creature under the ice was good and its size was quite extraordinary! How it came to be in chains was never really answered but the secret of the Sutcliffe family was rather sinister and the Doctor wasn't a fan of that. The creature needed people to produce interstellar fuel and at the end of the day, the family had been killing people for a profit. A horrific principal and way of living. I did like that the Doctor made Bill give him an order about what to do in the situation and acknowledged that despite everything he has done for Earth, it was not his planet. Right now, it was Bill's and the decision was hers. She made the right decision of course and the way the Doctor freed the massive creature before Sutcliffe could blow up the ice was great. Bill, along with Kitty and co, evacuated the ice wonderfully and the problem was quickly resolved. The mystery of whatever is in the vault was enhanced further in this story with Nardole's cameo and he wasn't too pleased that the Doctor and Bill had gone off travelling. Just why the Doctor took an oath and what exactly is in the vault is yet to be seen but I do look forward to finding out! Bill's disbelief at no recording of the creature being made in history was wonderful and I love how much she is loving learning from travelling with the Doctor, Overall, a very good episode!

Rating: 8/10

The Indestructible Man

"Internal strife and divisions had been almost entirely overcome, as had the pernicious superstition of religion."

Writer: Simon Messingham
Format: Novel
Released: November 2004
Series: PDA 69

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Zoe

Synopsis

The Myloki. Mysterious aliens from beyond Space and Time.

Their target: EARTH.

The human defenders of PRISM are enmeshed in a doomed interstellar war against an unknowable invader armed with the power to possess, duplicate and destroy from within.

Only one man stands in their way. A man destiny has made indestructible.

Against all odds the legendary Indestructible Man saves the Earth but victory comes at the highest price. The world economy collapses, governments crumble and PRISM itself is torn apart by a best-selling expose.

AD2096; PRISM has gone underground, becoming the clandestine SILOET headed by new commander Hal Bishop.

Bishop receives an urgent summons to his headquarters. An infiltrator has been unmasked and captured in the heart of SILOET itself. Fatally wounded, the infiltrator makes a miraculous recovery. It appears he is indestuctible.

The implications are terrifying.

The Myloki may just have returned. And who is left to stop them? 

Verdict

The Indestructible Man was a very good novel and after a break of over six months I am delighted to have read a feature-length Doctor Who novel! It really does feel like forever since I blogged Dead of Winter but finally I am able to be back with a book and although I did read Doctor Who and the Nightmare of Eden last week, there's nothing quite like a full on novel. It was eventful, intriguing and full of mystery and really did challenge each of the main characters in very different ways. We had the Doctor nearly suffering a regeneration, Jamie mentally broken down and Zoe pushed to her limit as she watched the man she agreed to marry shot before her very eyes before being forced to help the man who did the killing. The 2096 setting was very interesting and I am quite surprised at Simon Messingham's depiction of planet Earth in the late 21st century. Will Earth really be as this book lays out? I guess only time will tell. One thing I do hope happens though is what is said in my quote for this story and that is that religion is realised as being mere superstition. Earth becoming secular would be a dream. I liked how this story followed on from a war thirty years previous that the Doctor had no involvement in and I also loved the abundance of past story references. The Doctor's reputation was huge in this novel and his connection in the events of The Tenth Planet, The War Machines, The Invasion and The Claws of Axos getting mentioned was fantastic. I also loved the reference to Spearhead From Space, which is of course later in the Doctor's timeline than this story takes place, when it came to regeneration. I liked that this book should have served as the Second Doctor's regeneration story but thanks to some Myloki intervention in the Doctor's DNA, he was spared a change of appearance, something he was rather surprised about. I thought the characterisation of Patrick Troughton's second incarnation was pretty good throughout the book and I did like that his friendship with Jamie was really highlighted. Zoe seemed a little separate from events at times which in itself was interesting but she was brilliant in her own technological way. There was more than one reference to The Wheel in Space too which was great. The Doctor mentioning the events of An Unearthly Child, The Gunfighters and The Web Planet when asked about his former life was superb and I also enjoyed the mentions of The Macra Terror, The Abominable Snowmen and The Moonbase. Bishop was a good character and I did like how stubborn he was when it came to dealing with the war against the Myloki and the issue the Indestructible Man provided in being the key to the solution. Captain Matthews reforming after being obliterated to dust was quite reminiscent of Captain Jack's survival following his explosion in Children of Earth: Day One. He really was indestructible. He was half human and half Myloki but had been created all at the same time. A perfect copy. Too perfect. The destruction of Taylor earlier on in the story had us believe that Matthews was destroyed but that wasn't the case. The Doctor working out just why the Myloki had returned and what they were was good to see and the gradual reveals worked well. I liked the inclusion of extracts from Verdana's book throughout the first half of the novel and the switch in setting to Barbados halfway through was good. Of course, a lot of the story also took place on SKYHOME which played a big part in the story's events. Our author did enjoy his acronyms and capital letters with PRISM also playing a crucial role. I was surprised every letter of Global Response wasn't mentioned as a capital. Alex Storm was a good character and his relationship with the Doctor was very cagey which made for good reading. I was quite shocked at some of Jamie's actions in the novel but that just emphasised the emotional trauma he had gone through in rightfully believing the Doctor had survived what was described as a graphic gunshot. The ending was quite sombre given the build but it did work quite well despite it being calmer than expected. The war that the human race didn't even know about had returned and was settled without them knowing about it again. The Indestructible Man entered another realm and to the Doctor's envy would be at one with himself. Overall though, a very good novel!

Rating: 8/10

The Happiness Patrol

"Happiness will prevail."

Writer: Graeme Curry
Format: TV
Broadcast: 2nd-16th November 1988
Season: 25.02

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

On the planet Terra Alpha, bright fluorescent lights and garish candy-striped colours are abound. The population constantly display happy smiles. There's no sadness on Terra Alpha. Anyone feeling remotely glum disappears. Quickly. Having heard disturbing rumours, the Doctor and Ace arrive to topple the entire regime overnight.

But they haven't reckoned upon the varied punitive measures enforced by colony leader Helen A. There are many delicious ways to vanish on Terra Alpha - you can be hunted down by the omnipresent Happiness Patrol or mauled by Helen A's ravenous pet, Fifi. But an especially unlucky few will themselves in the sweetie factory manned by Helen A's psychotic henchman - the Kandy Man.

This time, happiness will prevail...

Verdict

The Happiness Patrol was a bit of a mixed bag in terms of its quality and although I did very much enjoy the story, the bad elements really did bring down the rating of the story and prevented it from being something brilliant. I thought the initial concept surrounding the Happiness Patrol was excellent and although the uniforms were a little questionable, I must remember that this story was produced during the 1980s so I don't think my thoughts would have been the same regarding them had I watched this story on its original broadcast. Unfortunately, I was not alive to witness it. This was the first time I have watched a story with my young cousin for quite some time and this was one adventure that he requested we watch together as it is one that doesn't get shown on television for him to watch. I am sure he now realises why as I could tell he didn't enjoy the story much and gave a rating of two marks less than what I did. I might have been a little generous but I do appreciate the good elements of this story. I really did like the concept of unhappiness being eradicated and as fate would have it the story wasn't actually too dissimilar to this past week's new episode of Smile. It's quite ironic that both adventures get the same rating. I thought this was one of Sylvester McCoy's best performances as the Seventh Doctor and whilst I far from dislike his incarnation, I often voice his Doctor as my least favourite but this story had me questioning that which was terrific. This is only the second time I have seen the serial and the first was five years ago so it's fair to say I couldn't remember too much about what happened. Ace was pretty good and whilst I'm not a fan of hers I thought she was more than tolerable which was a bonus. It still does irritate me a little bit though when she refers to the Doctor as 'professor'. I liked that the Doctor arrived on Terra Alpha for a reason rather than just coincidentally and his encounters with numerous sections of the Happiness Patrol were very good. He and Ace's attempts to get arrested were quite humorous, especially when they failed at the first attempt. Ace creating a relationship with Susan Q was good and I liked how well they got along during the story. The concept of a prison that was just a waiting zone was good too. I thought Helen A was an excellent villainess and her character really did suit being an enemy of the Seventh Doctor. Their final conversation was a really good way to finish. One thing I wasn't so keen on though was her fondness for the fondant surprise. This is where the story got a little silly for me and the concept of the Kandy Man was just quite ridiculous really. The costume, for what the character is, is actually brilliant but the character itself is just ludicrous. A being made of sweets? Even in the Doctor Who universe, that's a little far fetched in my book. I mean, it could be stopped by lemonade! What kind of threat is that? Its demise was probably expected and when the crumpled heap exited the pipes I couldn't say I was too surprised. The way the Doctor solved the overall problem on Terra Alpha was good and his way of portraying excessive happiness really did put him in a good position which was great. Overall, I honestly believe it is better than its reputation would have you believe but it certainly doesn't come without its flaws.

Rating: 7/10

Smile

"You've got to keep smiling."

Writer: Frank Cottrell-Boyce
Format: TV
Broadcast: 22nd April 2017
Series: 10.02

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill

Synopsis

The Doctor takes Bill to the colony world Gliese 581 D. It's a bright, sunny world, tended to by the tiny bird-like Vardies and their user interface - the Emojibots. There's just one thing missing: the colonists. As the Doctor and Bill investigate, they discover that to keep smiling is their only hope of staying alive...

Verdict

Smile was a pretty good episode but I must admit I was hoping for a little better to follow on from last week's stunning opener. I thought it was an interesting move to announce this as being Bill's first 'proper' trip in the TARDIS and although that is probably referring to the events of The Pilot, it could also be used as an opening for comic strip stories and novels to fit in. I am looking forward to new prose with the Twelfth Doctor and Bill but I think I will have to wait until after university finishes for the summer to read them, which will hopefully still be whilst the series is on television. It was great to just have a new episode the week after the last one and I must admit that after reading the DWM preview I was a little sceptical coming into this week's viewing. I was surprised with the direction the episode went in and I think the main thing that didn't work for me was the lack of other people for the Doctor and Bill to interact with. I thought the pair were brilliant together once again and I liked that we got to see them together for quite an extended period of time but there is only so much bouncing off each other that could be done. The Emojibots were intriguing and I do like the concept of a future colony being ran and aided by robots who can speak emoji. It was very cheesy though and even though I frequently use emojis when I message on social media, I really wasn't sure how feasible it was that they would survive. I think they'll adapt significantly in the short term so I really don't know what they would be like at a time where the human race was on its last legs. Bill's reaction to seeing the traumatic events that lay ahead in her planet's history was excellent and I really did enjoy her once again. She's just very fresh and vibrant and I love how she's questioning the Doctor. She really is probing him about the TARDIS being stuck as a police box which I love and I like how she thinks she's worked out why the Doctor keeps it that way. Her comment about the chairs in the console room was also wonderful. The relationship between her and Nardole, who barely featured, seems a little frosty at the minute but I am sure that will improve given time. I'm now intrigued to see what is so important in the mysterious vault that it has the Doctor staying on Earth but I don't think we will get any answers regarding that for quite some time yet. The Doctor playing Bill along a bit was good and I really am enjoying the teacher-student dynamic that is going on between the pair. The revelation that the human setup team was being used as garden fertiliser was pretty grim but it did provide us with the necessary threat in the form of the Emojibots. The fact that they were actually alive and learning was a good revelation and I thought that the way they adapted their understanding of happiness was actually quite good. It was reminiscent of the Nanogenes in The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances in what they thought healing was so that was good. The Doctor explained things well to the future gun-happy colonists but the revelation was actually quite poor for my liking. I know a number of problems are solved by simply turning things on and off again, or simply hitting the reset button, but in a Doctor Who story? Nah, I'm not having that I'm afraid. That was quite a cheap way to make everything okay again but I did like that the story finished on a positive note with an excellent lead in for the next episode. Overall though, a bit of a mixed bag but thanks to the brilliance of Capaldi and Mackie I've probably been a tad generous with my rating.

Rating: 7/10

Doctor Who and the Nightmare of Eden

"Of course we should interfere. Always do what you're best at, that's what I say!"

Writer: Terrance Dicks
Format: Novel
Released: August 1980
Series: Target 45

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II, K9

Synopsis

A freak accident locks two ships together in space - and a distress call brings the Doctor, Romana, and the faithful K9 onto the scene. The Doctor's efforts to separate the two ships involve him with treacherous drug smugglers, ferocious monsters, and a savagely dangerous planet called Eden...

Verdict

Doctor Who and the Nightmare of Eden was a brilliant little novel! I was so happy to be back reading a book once again and this was actually my first experience of prose Doctor Who in nearly six months. Travelling on what was the usual train journey from south to mid-Wales and with all my university work for the Easter holiday completed early, reading a Who book was the only option to pass the time. My choice was quite random and despite the lengthy break in reading anything Doctor Who, I was quite pleased that this particular book was quite short at 111 pages. I finished the story nearly an hour before my venture concluded and that was positive for me as I am now typing this blog on the final stages of my journey. I thought the story started off well and that usually is the case with a book penned by Terrance Dicks. No matter what story he seems to take on, his writing always captures the reader. At least, when that reader is me. The setting of the Empress spaceship was excellent and the whole idea of hyperspace travel was really intriguing. The concept was explained well but I did have a little chuckle when the passengers of the far future were said to be enjoying video cassettes as their in-flight entertainment. Who knows, maybe there’ll be a retro revolution in the future when hyperspace travel is feasible. The way that the Empress and the Hecate became intertwined with each other and I also really liked that the Doctor’s arrival actually was not coincidental. He had received the mayday call of Captain Rigg after the special clash and had responded promptly. The characterisation of Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor was excellent and I was delighted to be reading an adventure with my all-time favourite companion Romana II. Lalla Ward’s likeness was effortlessly captured by Dicks and she really was fantastic in this story. Dicks recreated the wonderful relationship between the pair superbly and that was a real highlight of the book. Tryst was a good villainous character and I liked the whole concept behind his CET machine. Romana knew immediately that it was not as safe as its owner thought it was and that would soon be realised with the more pages I turned. The story’s main focus being centred around the drug of vraxoin was good, although I did feel that the way it had been smuggled onto ship was a little obvious. It did take a while for the Doctor to admit that it would have to have come aboard through the CET machine and that obviously placed Tryst as a prime suspect when it came to the drug smuggling. Dymond’s involvement in that trade was something I did not suspect though so that revelation was very much welcomed. Fisk was quite a humorous character and it was funny to see how little he regarded people’s lives if it would mean a promotion. The Doctor’s disgust at people making a profit out of human misery was excellent and that really did highlight his character very well. The way Dicks captured the humour and seriousness of Baker’s fourth incarnation was fantastic. K9’s inclusion in the story was brilliant and he really did provide something very different. His logical replies to the Doctor always infuriate him which I love and I also enjoyed how he apologised for saving Romana’s life. The Mandrels provided a threat but they really were quite pathetic when it came to stopping them. Even K9 had no problem but their role in the story would actually be much more significant as they were revealed as the source of vraxoin, when burnt to a crisp that is. That was a great revelation, though I did feel it came a tad too early. The ending was very exciting but it almost seemed to come a little too quick and easy. The Doctor’s way of using the CET machine to capture Trysk and Dymond though was a hilarious way to leave things which I couldn’t help but enjoy. Overall, a very good novelisation!

Rating: 8/10

The Pilot

"Time And Relative Dimension In Space. It means life."

Writer: Steven Moffat
Format: TV
Broadcast: 15th April 2017
Series: 10.01

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill, Nardole

Synopsis

Two worlds collide when the Doctor meets Bill, and a chance encounter with a girl with a star in her eye leads to a terrifying chase across time and space.

Verdict

The Pilot was an outstanding episode to kick off the brand new series! Series 10 really has started with a bang and I was absolutely delighted with what I watched. I thought this was a perfect introduction for Bill as the new companion and I really loved how the very first scene was her formally meeting and conversing with the Doctor for the first time. Despite Nardole already being an established companion now, I liked how his presence was somewhat minimal whilst we were introduced to Bill. I must say that I have already fallen in love with Pearl Mackie as an actress and I really do think that she and Peter Capaldi will be terrific together. Matt Lucas being there will just add humour which is fantastic. I really am looking forward to the rest of the series after this superb opener. I think this episode has to go down as my favourite one that sees a companion introduced and I loved how it was all about her. For any new viewers to Doctor Who, this was a perfect jumping on point as everything was explained to her but for longtime viewers like myself this was also a real treat as Bill provided a unique take on being let into the Doctor's world. Her reaction to the TARDIS was probably one of my all-time favourite scenes and Mackie's expression was just delightful. The comments about sci-fi before she was let into the world of Doctor Who were magnificent and I just love everything about Bill. I like how she's working in the university rather than actually being a student but the reputation that the Doctor's lectures carries sees her go. And based on the snippet that we got I can see why! His explanation of time was fantastic and the line I have taken as my quote for the story was simply beautiful. When I read it in the DWM preview I thought it was astonishingly good and hearing the Doctor say it made it all the more better. As well as introducing us to a new companion, this episode also actually had a really great plot! The quality of a story can sometimes be forgotten when a new character is being introduced but there was no such problem here! Heather was a really intriguing character from the start but the life she was surrounded by was very familiar to me as I am a second year student at university, and I'm only nine miles up the road from Bristol. The way she and Bill clearly attracted each other was very good but I liked how there was something more there once the revelation of the puddle was realised. The resemblance the puddle had to leaked oil from a car was good and I liked how Bill quickly picked up on the fact that it was the spaceship equivalent. I liked how Steven Moffat returned to the idea of using water as an evil intelligence and it was used, albeit in a very different way, in The Waters of Mars. Heather chasing Bill across time and space because of the promise she made whilst in her human conscious was quite incredible and I loved how the power of a thought and crush was fully realised. We went to Australia and even in the midst of the Dalek-Movellan war which was quite incredible. The Movellans getting a return, no matter how brief, was wonderful and it was a really nice throwback to Destiny of the Daleks. I must also mention a couple of other nods to the past with the collection of sonic screwdrivers on the Doctor's desk really putting a smile on my face. I also loved how the two people he had photographs of on his desk were River Song and Susan. The way he talked to those photos after he realised he'd be letting Bill join him on his adventures was fantastic. Bill refusing to let her memory be wiped was brilliant and I liked how that would lead to the Doctor changing his mind about travelling with her. I can't wait to see Bill establish herself as the new companion and I think alongside the Twelfth Doctor and Nardole, we have a quite terrific TARDIS team on our hands for the new series. Overall though, a simply stunning series opener!

Rating: 10/10

Doorway to Hell Part 4

"We are all lost here."

Writer: Mark Wright
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 6th April 2017
Printed in: DWM 511

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Jess

Synopsis

With the Master holding all the cards over the Doctor and the Collins family trapped in what appears to be Hell, will this finally be the moment the Master is victorious over his greatest adversary? Time spillage and emotions are flying everywhere, and one Time Lord won't escape with his life intact...

Verdict

Doorway to Hell concluded in stunning style with this fantastic fourth and final part of the story! This comic strip sees an end to filling the void between the TV series being on and off air and Bill will soon be joining the Twelfth Doctor on his comic travels in the next issue. But we have to meet her on screen first and it really does feel like an eternity since her casting was announced and that brings me to my little preview of this month's edition of Doctor Who Magazine. Now, I only finished the last issue today which I thought was brilliant but I am now looking very forward to being formally introduced to Pearl Mackie! Bill looks set to be a terrific companion and I can't wait to watch The Pilot tomorrow evening. I am looking forward to the preview in this issue, along with the two episodes that follow it, but I must say I really am not a fan of the title of episode one. I am sure I'll talk more about that in tomorrow's blog though. This issue really does look set to get me in the mood for Series 10 and I really am anticipating its arrival! The interview with Pearl herself should be great and I like how she is taking the centre of attention for this issue, which is absolutely right. The cover looks wonderful too. The Art of the Producer interview also looks set to be good and I like how the magazine now seems to be all about the current product. It's exciting to have Doctor Who back on our screens again and this issue will definitely add to my excitement. Now, to the comic strip itself and I must say I adored every part of it! This is definitely the best Twelfth Doctor comic story to date from the pages of Doctor Who Magazine and I am glad that the hype of the inclusion of Roger Delgado's original incarnation of the Master was lived up to. For me, the story was all about the Master and as he is my all-time favourite Doctor Who villain, I was delighted to have a full story with the original incarnation up against the current Doctor. It really was wonderful to see and just highlights the beauty of the comic strip format. Just about anything can be done and it's delightful to read every month. But this story didn't just include the original incarnation of the Master, it actually served as his regeneration story which was something I did not expect! Now, we saw the Master regenerate at the end of Utopia but a Classic era incarnation getting a regeneration in 2017 was just so unexpected! It worked wonderfully though and I liked the ambiguity surrounding just what the next incarnation of the Master looked like. Was it one we have met before? Unlikely but I think it's good that they kept it hidden. It's nice that we have a bit of closure for this incarnation of the Master though as that was not able to happen with Delgado's untimely passing. I thought the relationship between the Doctor and the Master was superb in this part of the story and once the Doctor worked out what the Master was after, he absolutely went to town on ridiculing the threat he provided him. He made the Master sound miniscule which was just incredible. The Master's reaction to the Doctor announcing his age was brilliant and I liked the continuity from Heaven Sent/Hell Bent. The way the Master's regeneration was triggered was terrific and put an end to the plot hole of the story excellently and I also loved how the Doctor did admit that the Master truly has mastered the art of survival. The way the Doctor departed from the Collins family was quite emotional but I liked how it brought a clear end to the story arc and saw thing all caught up ready for the new series. Overall, a simply superb comic strip story!

Rating: 10/10

Old Girl: Aftermath

"You have many friends, you're well-loved, you attract only the best and most well-intentioned..."

Writer: Nick Abadzis
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 30th March 2017
Printed in: DWC: Tales from the TARDIS 16

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Gabby, Cindy

Synopsis

Tested by Anubis at the far reaches of the universe... is he following in the genocidal footsteps of his father?! Reality invaded by the old. angry gods of Primeval Time! The Doctor, Gabby and Cindy have their work cut out for them, as the endgame of Year Two begins!

Verdict

Old Girl started off in terrific style with Aftermath serving as a stunning opening part of the story! This one really does look to be an epic and at five parts, with a year's worth of build, I really am hoping for big things from this second year finale of the Tenth Doctor comic adventures! I do hope that the current TARDIS trio remain in place for the third year of stories, or at the very least Gabby remains, as the team are brilliant together and that was highlighted in this comic strip. Cindy was still very much feeling the effects of Roscoe's death in The Jazz Monster/Music Man and she does seem devastated that she can't go back and change things. Gabby knows how she feels after meeting Jamie in The Weeping Angels of Mons so it's good that Cindy has someone who knows how she's feeling. I really liked the opening of this story with Maria reading the Doctor's palms. I am quite surprised that he let her do that but some of her comments were wonderful. I really liked her description that I took as my quote from the story of the people the Doctor meets and takes on his travels. I also found it interesting to see how much trust Maria has placed in the Doctor without him even knowing it. He can't go telling the whole truth about where he and Gabby go but she knows that he has good intentions and it won't be his doing if Gabby isn't safe. This story has been building ever since The Fountains of Forever/Spiral Staircase/Sins of the Father and I am glad that the Doctor is now finally dealing with his luring promise to Anubis. The fact that he is the son of Sutekh always leaves the possibility open that his intentions are actually evil but the cliffhanger has really got me thinking now, which is an excellent thing. The Shining Horizon setting was brilliant and it was great to see Dorothy Bell once again. Her relationship with Gabby in this part of the story was a particular highlight but I was also intrigued by her interaction with Anubis. It quickly turned from being the peace-loving conversing it initially appeared to be. The idea of looking into parallel universes and picking the best possibilities really struck me as an intriguing concept but Cindy and Gabby hearing Roscoe's jazz through one made me think the windows aren't all they're set out to be. Cindy wanting to go with the Doctor to the Primordial Universe to Amenthes was good but just what they'll find on the power facilities of the Osiran's homeworld in ancient times I'm not too sure. That is, if they get there at all. The Tenth Doctor having another 'impossible!' remark moment was fantastic and I like how that signifies real danger. His explanation that the map of time and space had literally changed before their eyes was superb and I can't wait to see how that is explained and put right. Gabby being shown the statue of Sutekh by Dorothy was very good but I liked how she wasn't just happy with seeing the front. She wanted to go all the way around and view it from all angles. Except, she got a bit more than she bargained for as all was not as it seemed on the Shining Horizon. Sutekh's statue had been graffitied with a number of statements. The general consensus being that Sutekh lives and will soon arise. An excellent cliffhanger to a brilliant opening part of the story!