Anti-Genesis: From the Flames

"Have pity on the Master."

Writer: Nicholas Briggs

Format: Audio

Released: December 2019

Series: War Master 4.01

Featuring: War Master

Synopsis 

After the Master's TARDIS returns his remains to Gallifrey, in accordance with his final wishes, an intricate plot begins t change the nature of the universe forever. But even in death the Master threatens life. And only CIA Coordinator Narvin can hope to stop him.

Verdict 

From the Flames was an excellent start to the Anti-Genesis fourth series of adventures for the War Master! It’s been a long time coming to get to this boxset after finally nearly catching up with the Time War stories of the Gallifrey spin-off, and the wait was certainly worth it if this opener is anything to go by! I really thought this was a tremendous episode and was just a brilliant way to start a series. There was a lot going on and starting with the Master basically faking his own death by actually dying and having some dragon venom injected in him was fantastic. If that’s not a Master plan then I don’t know what is. Crazlus was a fun character to have and his referring to Narvin as ‘master’ did not go down well. I suspect that would be because of what has happened to Leela, but also the reputation of the renegade Time Lord isn’t exactly one to shout about. I liked the continuity with the Gallifrey spin-off series with Livia featuring as President and the idea of her actually wanting to give the Master a full honours burial service was a big surprise and met with abhorrence from Narvin. The very concept of him being used as a martyr to inspire the war effort on Gallifrey was audaciously brilliant. Given his history and reputation, I’m not sure how convincing it would be for the Master to be said to have ridded his old ways and died fighting for the Time Lords. It was bold though, I’ll give Livia that! The description of the Master’s body actually being disintegrated into nothingness in flames was superb and it worked well that Narvin needed to be absolutely sure the Master was dead. He has a track record of surviving impossible situations so the CIA Coordinator didn’t want any repeat of that. Of course, that’s exactly what he got! Derek Jacobi was terrific back as the War Master here and I loved how he was always in control. Hearing the crazed Crazlus aiding his cause as an acolyte was great stuff. His using of Narvin was good and planting the seed of the Anti-Genesis codes set up the series nicely, although a little more explanation regarding them and what they could do wouldn’t have gone amiss. Narvin’s reaction to the very name of the codes sold their significance and I look forward to hearing how they play out given what went down on Skaro. Narvin explaining an unwritten rule amongst the Daleks and Time Lords seemed odd given the scale of the Time Wars, yes that’s plural as Narvin put it, but both sides had seemingly agreed not to try and wipe out the other at their genesis. That stemmed from Genesis of the Daleks and a failed attempt to stop the Daleks’ creation at its source, a catalyst for the War. That reference is always fun, but the Master was going one step further. He was on Skaro at a time before the Daleks were even contrived, posing as the uncle of Davros! That was sensational and something I certainly didn’t see coming. It was audacious and quite the effort from the Master. In order to wipe out the Daleks from the start, killing their creator seemed a foolproof way to do it! Luring Davros out of his bunker and into the one weak spot as the Thal bomb would hit was fantastic and tied in nicely with what we heard in the I, Davros spin-off series. I loved it and I’m intrigued to hear if the Time Lords will actually condemn him if the Daleks would cease to exist. I’m sure it will cause damage to timelines though which will impact the direction of the Time War. Speaking of timelines, the extent to which Lamarius would go to save her loved ones was extraordinary! She was horrified to learn that her family had perished in a Dalek attack and her resolution being to take that planet out of space-time before the event would be catastrophic to the fabric of reality, but that mattered not if it would save her family. Of course, that meant she was sentenced to dematerialisation but Narvin intercepted her at the point of death, realising the potential of using her as an agent if she would go to such lengths. Tasking her with obtaining the Anti-Genesis codes from Skaro’s past was really good and I’m excited to hear what comes next in this series! Overall, a very strong start. 

Rating: 9/10

Trap for Fools

"It's always the class clown."

Writer: Stephen Fewell

Format: Audio

Released: May 2018

Series: Short Trips 8.05

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Turlough

Synopsis 

'...St. Neot's Refuge was founded in 3016 for the education of young men to the service of empire and state. In the quiet shade of Diaz' world, each boy can develop that true sense of self-worth which will enable him to stand up for himself, and for a purpose greater than himself and, in doing so, to be of value to society; to be a man...' School Prospectus

'Want to change the future, Turlough? Use a school,' The Doctor

Verdict

Trap for Fools was a bit of a mixed bag of an audio adventure! This was a Short Trip that didn’t quite deliver on all fronts and a frequent irk of mine is the length of the format of this range but I don’t think that really played any part here. I must admit that I’m not the biggest Turlough fan and whilst Mark Strickson was absolutely fine with the narration, his character very much ranks lowly on my favourite companions list. It was good to establish that Turlough was still new on board the TARDIS but without any other companions featuring, I’m not entirely sure how accurate that was given when Tegan departed in Resurrection of the Daleks compared to Turlough’s arrival in Mawdryn Undead. He was immediately in danger which was fine but shifting things into a school setting didn’t fit too well with the stakes established at the start. Turlough was not fussed on being a pupil again which didn’t surprise me given the use of a school in his introduction to the TARDIS, but it was quite fun for him to be giving out snobby nicknames to his fellow students. I’m not entirely in agreement with the fact he was a red head being used against him and I thought that was a bit of a stereotypical school inclusion. I did like that students from across the Galaxy were at the St Neots Refuge and that as a whole had potential for a strong setting, but Turlough didn’t really inject much excitement. I think that’s my main brunt of disappointment with this story is that it was just pretty boring. It didn’t exactly do anything majorly wrong, but it just didn’t pull my interest for the duration. The mystery of Williams going missing didn’t have much attached to it and the fact that eery music accompanied the finding of a ruler with his initials in it was almost laughable. The scale was just off. The Refuge being hidden away in shadow and feeling futuristic was great and I really enjoyed the Doctor being there as the groundsman. He relished that role and was keen to iterate that you need to attack weeds and so on at the root! That was fun characterisation of the Fifth Doctor. The teacher calling Turlough as Tur-Log was magnificent and honestly might have saved the entire audio for me. For whatever reason, it tickled me every single time and made me smile like an idiot on a packed train. The Doctor’s speech on changing the future was a nice moment even if I’m not sure that a school would be more beneficial than a literal time machine when it came to impacting the future. That was just a little bizarre. The importance of the Refuge was sold well and I liked that a number of top figures in the galaxy had studied there in the last. Williams having left without his possessions was slightly interesting but one thing I really enjoyed was Turlough’s anger at the Doctor’s absence and his obsession with maintenance on the sports pitch! He was honestly outraged and that was tremendous. That’s where Turlough can shine. The police box being the groundsman hut rather than the TARDIS was also a tremendous moment with Turlough very much outraged! The TARDIS had vanished and returned without being bigger on the inside and I felt the audio was itching for that to be the focus. That was so exciting but it seemed over in a flash. The Entitlement as gestalt and sentient dimension was intriguing and as a concept it was brilliant, but it was just utilised rather boringly. The idea of them snatching at any chance to claim and consume was fantastic and I loved the explanation that it was a place where nothing existed so it had a natural need to annex. I thought that was tremendous and so much more should have been focused on that. Williams being part of the Entitlement was good stuff and other schoolboys being apart was pretty eery as the episode kicked into gear for the finale. The resolution being the Doctor repurposing the sky window and linking with the HADS to get rid of the Entitlement was pretty good and certainly a sudden way to see things off. Concluding with the Doctor reiterating that you needed to attack the root was delightful. Overall, an audio with some strong ideas but in need of excitement.  

Rating: 6/10

The Vigil

"You will never be enough."

Writer: Lou Morgan

Format: Audio

Released: September 2019

Series: Torchwood Monthly 31

Featuring: Tosh

Synopsis 

Sebastian Vaughan is the brightest, newest recruit to Torchwood. He's come from a very good family, an excellent school, and with a degree from the finest College. He's the kind of person bred for Torchwood. 

Sebastian Vaughan is exactly the person Torchwood needs. He's charming, he's smart, and he's good in a fight. He's taken Torchwood's other new recruit under his wing. With his help, Toshiko Sato will make something of herself and fit in at Torchwood. 

Sebastian Vaughan is dead. Toshiko Sato's been given permission to bring his body home to give him the send-off he deserves. How will Torchwood cope without him?

Verdict 

The Vigil was a really strong story to continue my way through the Torchwood monthly releases from Big Finish! I’m a big fan of Tosh and I’m thoroughly enjoying her character development when taking centre stage in this range as a solo main character. That really benefits her and allows her to shine. She was put down a little bit here which was sad to hear and I have to say I was not a fan in the slightest of Sebastian. He was pretty rubbish as a member of the Torchwood team and I can only describe him as a bit of a snobby knob. I really hated him to be honest and whilst that’s what I assume the intention was, I couldn’t help but want Tosh to just slap him! He deserved it as whilst it was clear that Tosh was quite new to the Torchwood team at this point, he just kept putting her down. He really did and that was a shame because she offers a lot and was a valued member of the team. Her investigation into the Cortex Leeches was good and the threat they provided was intriguing and never really came into fruition until late in the story. That was fine because Sebastian’s mother was scary enough! Madeline Vaughan was a frosty character and she wasn’t too happy with Torchwood. The Torchwood protocols of keeping one’s body after death was fantastic to play with, so having a family tradition where all members were buried at the same place proved a little bit of an issue. It was nice that even after the way he had treated her, Tosh was doing everything she could to uphold the Vaughan family tradition. The relationship she had with Madeline was touchy to say the least, especially when her son’s body had vanished! The flashback format mixing in with the present was pretty good and I liked shifting between clearly different times. Tosh was noticeably more confident without Sebastian around and she really came into her own as she immediately owned the field as an instantly more senior member of the team. I think this definitely could have been aided by having a few more members of the team featured, but just getting mentions of Suzie and Ianto were really nice. I’d love for there to be a Big Finish series set during this timeframe as I think there would be a lot to offer and explore, but just getting stories like this into the era is more than welcomed for now. The action and excitement that came from Sebastian being reanimated by the leeches was good and it was clear that his mother was not going to listen to Tosh. She soon shifted in blaming Torchwood for her son’s body disappearing to being overjoyed that he was back alive, despite him obviously not being himself. The fact he killed his beloved dog was answer enough of that, but she wasn’t having it. Tosh having to use a gun was an emotional moment and Sebastian even taunting her after death that she didn’t have it in her was incredibly powerful. It’s nice to see Tosh a little vulnerable here as we know she will actually go onto die for Torchwood which is a fine example of her character development. Finishing the story with Sebastian’s message after death as we would see in the tv series was a nice touch and a strong way to further continuity. Overall, a great adventure!

Rating: 8/10

The Ruthven Inheritance

"I am the wolf and you are the lamb."

Writer: Andy Lane

Format: Audio

Released: January 2011

Series: Jago & Litefoot 2.04

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis 

The pathology skills of Professor Litefoot and Dr Sacker are called upon by Lord Ruthven, who asks them to catalogue a cache of bones beneath his country estate. And so begins the endgame... as a plan long laid comes to its glorious fruition.

Verdict

The Ruthven Inheritance was a very good story to conclude the second series of Jago & Litefoot! This has been a splendid listen and a really strong follow up to the impressive debut series. It’s no surprise that this episode leaves us heading straight into a third series as this rounded out a strong story arc that built very nicely over the course of the series. I must say that I continue to love the Victoria era setting and the pairing of Jago and Litefoot just seem to be getting better and better. They compliment each other so well and this was no different here. It almost felt like the first time this series that we’ve had them fully on the same page and a lot of that was to try and help Ellie’s situation and cure the vampirism in her. Litefoot was going to extraordinary efforts to find that cure and despite funding not exactly being an easy thing to come by, he was using every resource possible. So the worst thing that could happen was he lost his job! The reasoning given by Quick was intriguing as it seemed he had been dobbing in that he was inhabiting his home with a woman outside of marriage. That was a stark reminder of society at the time and the outrage from the professor was hilarious, especially when he tried to convince that he only had a housekeeper! Of course, Ellie was being kept for her own safety and that was never going to stay the case when Jago was instructed to look after her. He’s not the most responsible of men! That was clearly evident from the fact he signed over the ownership of the New Regency Theatre without properly reading the contract! He seemed happy enough with the price, but he read the fine print then and the exact asking price was what he owed the bank, and the new owners wouldn’t be taking on the previous debts! His reaction to that truly was priceless. Jago very much at his best. I thought the Ruthven family were an interesting element of the story and whilst I think it would have been better served to have them featuring a little more in previous episodes, the long plan of Sanders was admirable. Ruthven actually being in league with Sanders was good but he was more so an unknowing servant. The evolution that he had been experimenting on the family for over a millennia was not what I expected from this finale, but it worked well and fitted with the lifespan of a vampire who was simply bored. Digging up the bones and seeing this on show was rather grotesque, and hearing the recording by Litefoot and Sacker was very interesting. The use of running water and the myth of vampires not crossing them seemed a slightly underwhelming way to draw him to an ultimate demise given that he was engulfed in flames at the end of the series opener, but I appreciated playing on mythology. It just didn’t seem so emphatic. Ellie having escaped was fun and I maintain my hopes that she will become a series regular moving forward. She has a huge amount to offer in my opinion! The gag from Jago regarding the report they had and it being a job for Jago and Philips was a truly magnificent gag. The serious silence that followed really made the difference. But we weren’t finished there as a very important and esteemed guest arrived to enlist the help of Jago and Litefoot. Leela arrived with a stark warning that Earth was going to split apart and a new trio was on the case. What a brilliant way to set up the third series! Overall, a fine finale. 

Rating: 8/10

The Theatre of Dreams

"You will not harm it, it's dead already."

Writer: Jonathan Morris

Format: Audio

Released: January 2011

Series: Jago & Litefoot 2.03

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis 

"Roll up gentlemen and ladies, roll up! Welcome to Deuteronomy's Theatre De Fantasie, the show where your dreams come true!"

Henry Gordon Jago believes he has made a killer booking for the New Regency Theatre. Unfortunately, he is absolutely correct...

Verdict

The Theatre of Dreams was an outstanding story to continue my way through the second series of Jago & Litefoot! This truly was brilliant and must go down as the best in the spinoff range yet, definitely the best of this series! Right from the off I felt slightly disappointed that there was no immediate follow up to the cliffhanger at the end of The Necropolis Express with Gabriel Sanders making an emphatic return to confront Ellie. He didn't really play much of a role in this episode which is something I didn't expect, at least until the end that was, but this took a welcomed break from the ongoing story arc with a wonderful adventure in the mind! I thought this was so unique and I am a sucker for new which this certainly felt like. Deuteronomy was a sublime villain and I really enjoyed how she was able to offer both Jago and Litefoot what they dreamt of. For Litefoot, that was curing Ellie which I thought was really nice, and for Jago that was the New Regency Theatre bringing in lots of money and acclaim for their performances. I thought the cheeky reference to The Talons of Weng-Chiang by Litefoot regarding the history of Jago's acts was wonderful as he just couldn't see that he had been given what he wanted in very suspicious circumstances. It was too convenient that Deuteronomy had offered Jago what he dreamt of most, and then all of a sudden he had it! The passage of time in the story was really intriguing and I liked that Litefoot was aware of it and was able to help Jago that everything was far from it appeared. It was fun to have them playing the game of Deuteronomy and without actually doing an awful lot, she was firmly in control. Playing around with the concept of them never actually leaving the stage was excellent and I absolutely loved how uncomfortable and strange the background applause and laughter was. That was so good for the audio format and really added a lot, especially when Jago and Litefoot seemed oblivious to it happening at the start. The fun twist later on with the potential of them still being in the performance was great stuff. I like the importance being placed on Ellie with the looming threat of Sanders, and her desire for blood was uneasy. She even knew that Litefoot had shaved that morning! Black pudding just wasn't cutting it so her escape and roaming around London was exciting for what is to come for her. I think she is going to play an important role in the finale. I loved how the resolution for Jago and Litefoot was literally breaking the fourth wall as not only did that fit in with the plot, it worked perfectly with the listener experience too. Litefoot really taking it to Deuteronomy was fantastic as she didn't even knew what country she was from, letting it revealed that she was part of the game too. The way the episode shifted at the end with Sanders arriving at the Red Tavern to buy Jago and Litefoot a pint was brilliant and there was an immediate shift in tone and atmosphere when he arrived. He was not done with them yet and that sets us up for what looks to be a fantastic finale! But for now, this was just marvellous. 

Rating: 10/10

The Necropolis Express

"You will not harm it, it's dead already."

Writer: Mark Morris

Format: Audio

Released: January 2011

Series: Jago & Litefoot 2.02

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis 

Strange things are happening in the pauper's graveyard at Charnel's End. There are hideous creatures in the undergrowth, a mysterious light emanating from the church, and something deadly beneath the ground itself. Someone from Litefoot's past has come back to haunt him, and things may never be the same again...

Verdict

Litefoot and Sanders was an excellent episode to continue my way through the second series of Jago & Litefoot! This was a sublime follow up to Litefoot and Sanders and following on from the cliffhanger with Ellie being murdered at the hands of Gabriel Sanders and his vampire doings, Litefoot was already on the case to ensure that the trusty barmaid was going to stay dead and not return as a terrorising vampire from beyond the grave. That was such a dark premise for an audio adventure but it worked well and was really good in capturing reality. Litefoot was no stranger to dealing with the dead given his profession, so he was able to see past Ellie being a friendly companion and realised the importance of her staying dead. The science behind trying to get her buried in consecrated ground was excellent and it was just lovely, despite the uncomfortable surroundings, to hear Jago and Litefoot back as a team investigation infernal instances. They’re so good and I’m so glad I’ve delved into this spin-off range now as it’s quickly becoming a favourite of mine. The titular necropolis express was very eery and I loved that it wasn’t an official train. Litefoot had pulled some strings to get them on board, but this was no train with first class seating. They had to just stand amongst the corpses and find Ellie themselves. That was a pretty daunting prospect! It was brilliant to hear them rummage through the express though and I was impressed with how chilling the atmosphere was created. It felt like the night and with me listening at 7am this morning following an early walk, that was a fine achievement! Sibelius Crow was a fantastic villain for this episode and I loved that he had history with Litefoot having attended university with him. It was nice to explore some of that background for his education and there was definitely a sense of rivalry and respect between both. Crow was up to something pretty dastardly though as he hoped to use the dead arriving on the necropolis express to bring them back to life and stock the British’s man power! He wanted them as resources amidst the ever expanding British Empire which was just horrifying, but something I loved! It was unique and just an incredible aim that really fitted in with the Victorian era. Of course, the feasibility is more than sketchy but I could get past that. The connection with Sanders was unexpected but I loved keeping that continuity. He was set up by Gabriel to do his work and given what came at the end in the tavern, Sibelius was right to almost mock Litefoot for suggesting Sanders was dead! Ellie’s return to life with vampirism was really done well and it was lovely to have her in a more prominent role. I hope that happens more moving forward as she certainly seems to be able to offer more than pouring a drink! She was very much taken aback at the episode’s conclusion though as a burned and almost deformed Gabriel Sanders made an emphatic return! I didn’t see him surviving being engulfed in flames, but alas here he is and I’m hugely excited for what comes next! Overall, a brilliant story to continue the series.

Rating: 9/10

Litefoot and Sanders

"It is most definitely the work of a vampire."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Audio

Released: January 2011

Series: Jago & Litefoot 2.01

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis 

Women are being killed on the streets of London, and the evidence points to it being the work of a vicious vampire. This should be a case for Jago and Litefoot but – to the astonishment of Jago – the esteemed investigators of infernal incidents have gone their separate ways. It's now a case for Litefoot and Sanders – but Jago isn't going to go away quietly...

Verdict

Litefoot and Sanders was a really fun story to kick off the second series of Jago & Litefoot! This followed on almost immediately where the first series finished with there seemingly being some fractions in the relationship between the titular characters, but the truth about that came full circle in a really nice way. On a personal note, it was just lovely to head back to Victorian England and have Jago in the pub talking to Ellie. I think she’s a severely underrated element of this spin-off range at the moment and she really does add a lot despite just being a barmaid and not offering too many lines other than drink orders. Her importance was clear by how significant the cliffhanger was in which it appeared that she was killed! That was something I didn’t expect but it has immediately peaked my interest in the series moving forward, whereas this opener still felt like it was finishing elements of the first series. The idea of a vampire at large in Victorian London was excellent and I was impressed with how well the atmosphere was captured. It really did feel like a scary kind of adventure but it also felt extremely real and believable. That’s some feat for a vampire story! I thought it was pretty predictable that Sanders was the one who was doing all of the murdering and the intentional slip of him knowing that the culprit was a ‘he’ told the listener everything they needed to know. It was clear that Litefoot was playing the long game and getting close to the man he knew responsible, but he had to convince him and that meant not letting Jago in on the act. I mean, given Jago’s reputation I could hardly blame him for going solo on this one! Jago felt hard done by which was completely understandable and it was especially fun to hear him put on a tramp disguise. The comment about the smell even being authentic was childish but the seriousness of Jago’s retort really makes it special. It’s just a lot of fun. The pair work so well together and whilst we didn’t get that here, the interaction was there and I can’t wait for them to be back solving mysteries as the series goes on. Vampire methods of killing were abound here and finding bloodless victims wasn’t even new for Jago and Litefoot, but it was a disturbing prospect and the imagery was painted perfectly. I thought the setting was utilised well and Mags was a really good character as a match girl posing as being blind. That worked well for audio and it was a brilliant way to reveal Sanders as the murderer. The way he confronted her was pretty horrifying and the use of the insects to kill her was grotesque. The sound effects of the smaller creatures following around him was good and really told you he was disturbing. He was a fine villain for this opener. The use of the matchsticks to be rid of Sanders was really cleverly done and brought the episode full circle really nicely. The aforementioned cliffhanger was brilliant though and soon shifted tone so I’m very intrigued to hear where things go from here! Overall, a fine start to the series if not a predictable twist.

Rating: 8/10

Primord

"They escaped only to be imprisoned again."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: May 2019

Series: Third Doctor Adventures 5.01

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo, Liz, Brigadier 

Synopsis 

Prisoners are escaping from incarceration all around the country and UNIT have been called in to aid in the search. But the Doctor is unwilling to agree to the Brigadier's request for help as he and Jo have opted to take a holiday – they're going to visit his old assistant Liz Shaw, now working in Cambridge University.

But, unfortunately for Jo, the Doctor can't relax for very long. Soon the Time Lord and his friends are facing an old enemy – creatures they'd long since thought they'd put to ground. 

The Primords have returned – and this time the danger may strike very close to home.6nu cxm b

Verdict

Primord was an excellent story to kick off the fifth volume of Third Doctor Adventures! This was really fantastic from start to finish and was ever so close to receiving a perfect rating from myself. There was just something nagging in my mind to prevent that, but it was still a sublime start to the series! I loved that we would be getting a return for Liz but not set during Season 7 so we got a delightful pairing of both Liz and Jo! That really is a dream combination and the humour that came from their conversation about the Doctor was reminiscent of what happened when Donna and Martha met in The Sontaran Stratagem. It was good fun, but the Doctor didn't exactly see it that way! The excitement in the Doctor's voice was clear when it came to him arranging a visit to Cambridge to see his old companion and it was rather fun for the Brigadier to be a bit miffed at not getting the invite. The moment the pair saw each other again was lovely and I really liked how there was a reference to The Sentinels of a New Dawn as their last encounter. Great continuity across the multiple ranges of Big Finish. I thought it was hilarious to hear the Doctor actually thinking he would have a holiday in Cambridge alongside Liz, and whilst he did get something close on the first night there as they enjoyed a bottle of wine, things soon moved into normal territory. The Brigadier also heading to Cambridge with UNIT being seconded to deal with a large number of escaped inmates was great and it was clear that events would soon bring everyone together. I just was not anticipating that Liz would be the culprit! Hearing her have a Primord in her laboratory was a good surprise and I was really intrigued to hear what she was up to. I loved the idea of the Primords returning as they were a very memorable element in Inferno with the Doctor literally seeing a world end the last time he encountered them. Liz's involvement there made her position all the more surprising, but then we discovered that the Primord she had under control was actually her fiancé Michael. The Doctor's approach to her and the experiment changed instantly which was nice to hear. Of course he would help with a cure! Jo feeling a little insecure around Liz because of her lack of scientific knowledge was a little sad, but she got to flaunt her charm later on to seduce Callahan and get her and the Brigadier past the red tape. General Sharp was a very good villain and the bravado between him and the Brigadier was terrific. Sharp's reaction when he was relieved of command was marvellous. The Doctor suffering from headaches because Liz had actually infected him with their handshake was a nice touch and her being a Primord all along was an unexpected revelation! It worked very well. The threat of the Primords without them actually doing an awful lot was a clever approach and the Doctor having had a cure all along was a clever conclusion that complimented the action well. The ending with Michael being shot by Sharp was a horrifying moment for Liz and the Doctor, especially after the cure and the latter even commenting on how rare it was for everyone to survive. Overall though, a superb audio!

Rating: 9/10

Deadly Download

"Is this an invasion of Earth through the internet?"

Writer: Jason Arnopp

Format: Audio

Released: February 2010

Series: SJA 07

Featuring: Sarah Jane, Luke, Clyde, Rani

Synopsis 

Sarah Jane and friends battle a deadly computer virus. 

Sarah Jane is in Christmassy mood, but her cosy afternoon listening to carols is interrupted when Mr Smith suddenly announces that danger is imminent. The supercomputer as detected abnormal internet activity in the vicinity of Bannerman Road. Something alien is downloading into two PCs on the street – a computer virus over fifty times more destructive than any other on the planet. 

Both residents were chatting online when they started the download: but who were they chatting to? And what does the mysterious chatterbox want? It is up to Sarah and friends to find out, before the deadly download takes over the world.

Verdict

Deadly Download was a good little story to continue my way through the audio adventures of the Sarah Jane Adventures! I am listening to the collection on Audible that has every release and it is rather fun to hear things develop. By now, the audios are alongside the third and fourth series with this one being somewhere in between and that is clear to hear with Rani very much established and settled down in the lead cast, and the general older ages of Luke and Clyde alongside her. It is not exactly new to have a story based on the internet or something similar like with the Vardans or the Wire in The Invasion of Time or The Idiot's Lantern respectively. This was hardly as memorable, but it was an admirable attempt and a good utilisation as the internet as a potential means of invasion. I was impressed with that and it was a solid approach for the Sarah Jane Adventures. Given that three of the main cast are younger and still in school, it makes sense to utilise their extensive use and almost reliance on the internet. I thought t was wonderful to finally get the sound effects of Mr Smith opening up and something that simple really did help with making the story feel authentic and genuine. I have felt that is something that was missing in previous audios from SJA, so on a personal note that was a very welcomed addition. Sarah Jane enjoying the Christmassy winter setting was nice as well and it is a sentiment I very much am in sync with her about. There is nothing better than a winter night with a hot chocolate! Clyde was very humorous in this story as he bantered with Rani over his chasing after Sonia in the netball team. It seemed like she was far from interested in him, but he claimed that she was secretly in love with him. According to Rani, she ket it a big secret! I enjoyed that. Pouncing on that relationship and the Umorgus using Clyde's gullible nature to get him to open a download containing cinema listings for a potential date was amusing. It made Clyde seem really dumb as surely with an enemy that was using downloads and the internet, even he would be clever enough to realise what was going on when she hadn't ever given him the light of day? Ian Webster as the IT technician at Stone & Parsons was a good villain and he was clearly lacking any kind of self control. It seemed relatively simple with him not enjoying his day job due to the mundane requests to fix things on computers he constantly received. But that is the memo, so what is to complain about? He was bullied as a child and Sarah realised that as it turned out he grew up on Bannerman Road which was a good rationale for events happening on the street. I was a little confused as to how Mr Smith could detect something bad with the internet and two people conversing in chatrooms, but could not work out which house it was! That was baffling. Overall though, with Rani and Clyde freed from control and lead used to blog all signals, Sarah Jane sent the Umorgus packing whilst Ian was arrested. A decent little adventure, if not a little long.

Rating: 7/10

Doctor of War: Destiny: The Key to Key to Time

"Half a Dalek does not make for a fearful foe."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: September 2022

Series: Unbound 10.03

Featuring: Warrior

Synopsis 

As battle continues to rage across the history of the cosmos, the White Guardian opts to provide the Warrior with a way out... located at the end of the dangerous quest, with an even more dangerous companion. But can a Time War ever truly end?

Verdict

The Key to Key to Time was an excellent episode to conclude the Destiny second volume of Doctor of War! I do hope there is a lot more to come from the Unbound series as the potential really is endless with so many different moments you could take in a different direction. I was intrigued that a lot of this particular adventure mentioned that this was a deviant timeline and the Warrior having flashing memories of what never was with the likes of assembling the Key to Time and the name of Romana was really intriguing. The Time War that ravaged in this timeline was on a huge scale and here we actually got a depiction of it destroying everything. It was good to have Time Lord involvement on Gallifrey and the President looping in with the White Guardian was an unexpected partnership. I was worried that we were going to squeeze the quest for the Key to Time into one short episode but with the separation of parties to get there and them literally splitting off helped. The idea of pairing the Warrior up with Davros was excellent and it never crossed my mind that they would not be aware of each other given how events deviated from Genesis of the Daleks. That was really clever and a unique approach to their relationship. They worked very well together and the more sinister traits of the Warrior's personality were on show as he almost ridiculed Davros as half a Dalek. The creator did not take too kindly to that and he boomed with pride how he was the Daleks as without them they wouldn't be anything. The Daleks later in the episode not recognising him nor that they had a creator was brilliant as to them, the Daleks had always been. That was not logical, but it presented a fun dynamic between Davros and his creations. The interaction between Davros and the White Guardian was fun as the latter was only wanting to be communicated in an emergency. The sound effects in this one were really strong in setting the atmosphere, especially when all of creation was destroyed and we were in the realm beyond Time where even the Guardians had gone to escape the threat of the Time War which had completed ravaged creation. That was interesting and fun to try and comprehend, but I loved that it was actually this fragmented and distorted version of Romana that gave the ignition required to destroy the universe. The different segments of the Key to Time not fitting because they were actually from different Keys was something I didn't expect, but it was a fun idea. The Warrior and Davros themselves possessing the power of and therefore becoming the Key to Time was a brilliant idea and with them linked as always the genesis and conclusion of the War, the only solution was to rid them both from reality. The Collective Victorious was superb and I loved the idea of Time Lords, Daleks and who knows what else joining together now that Time had fought back. A little more on that would be welcomed, but the extent at which the War had gone on now was clear as the Warrior had aged and was getting on now. The fact he revoked that title and returned to being the Doctor was nice, and concluding things by bringing us back to the events at the start of Dust Devil with the Doctor reunited with Sarah and Harry was lovely. Overall, a fantastic finale!

Rating: 9/10

Doctor of War: Destiny: Time Killers

"We are everywhere at all times."

Writer: Lizzie Hopley

Format: Audio

Released: September 2022

Series: Unbound 10.02

Featuring: The Warrior, Master

Synopsis 

Arriving on Marinus in search of a temporal weapon, the Warrior and the Master are confronted by a place where time literally is money. As the Master finds himself in changed circumstances, the Warrior finds himself with a deadly decision to make.

Verdict

Time Killers was a decent story to continue the Destiny series of the Doctor of War Unbound adventures! It still doesn't feel like this range has quite achieved what it wanted to do as there seems a lack of consistency amongst each episode, with no real overarching aim and that can be fine as standalone work well, but there is not a huge amount of actual exploration of the Warrior incarnation. There was so much potential when we heard that revamped regeneration as an alternative ending to the events of Genesis of the Daleks back in Dust Devil, but we don't really seem to have advanced the character or incantation a great deal since then. It was nice for him to actually take centre stage here after the very Master-focused opener of Who Am I? and exploring the relationship between the Warrior and the Master was terrific. I liked how the remnants of the Doctor we know were still there as he took offence to the Master being referred to as his companion, and it was just nice for the renegade Time Lord to still have his own desires in coming to Marinus with the Warrior. He was all about destroying both the Daleks and the Time Lords, going to any means necessary to achieve it. I thought the idea of Marinus as a setting was brilliant and the subtle Cyber references with the planet now being upgraded was fun. However, I would have much preferred visiting Marinus at a time more similar to what we saw in The Keys of Marinus. The Voord featuring would have been fantastic! Instead, this was mostly just any other planet but with a name we knew. In saying that, I did appreciate the acid rain being used as an explanation for the Master's emaciated condition and appearance, but it got a little convoluted with two different versions of him. I thought Geoffrey Beavers was fantastic though in alternating between both. Colin Baker was in fine form as the Warrior too, but it does feel strange to hear him playing the lead role that is evil. Horol was an intriguing character and she made for a good villain by the time the episode was finished. The multiple versions of her was an interesting makeup and her position on the planet where time was now currency was really good. I loved that concept and the Warrior and Master being taxed with 15% of their lifespan taken really set the tone for life on Marinus now. Everything happening all at once was a little difficult to try and imagine, but the descriptions and sound effects did a good job in presenting that. I thought the Warrior's lack of remorse was telling at the story's conclusion, and throughout to be honest, as he refused to leave Marinus without whatever was causing the time disruption there. He wanted it weaponised. It was strange to hear the Master as the one showing compassion at the end as after the Warrior used the dematerialisation of multile TARDISes to free the time field of Marinus and cause the paradox in the first place, he shoved the Master out of the TARDIS as he was no longer needed. And then, with Marinus almost certainly being destroyed if he dematerialised a final time, he did so with little regard for the planet or his old enemy. That was a fantastic ending and more of what I would expect from the series! Overall, a good story but I still want more from the Warrior. 

Rating: 7/10

Doctor of War: Destiny: Who Am I?

"They question the word of their god."

Writer: Nigel Fairs

Format: Audio

Released: September 2022

Series: Unbound 10.01

Featuring: Leela, Master

Synopsis 

The Tesh and the Sevateem are at war, obeying the orders of their God Xoanon. But they cannot know their battle has a higher purpose, one led by the Time Lord responsible for Xoanon's condition. A Time Lord called... the Master.

Verdict

Who Am I? was a very strong and intriguing start to the Destiny second volume of Doctor of War boxset! This series of Unbound really is fascinating and this was far from the start I was expecting as the titular Doctor of War, now known as the Warrior, didn't really feature apart from an extremely brief cameo at the end and with his voice imprint as part of Xoanon. I mean, that wasn't a big problem as I thoroughly enjoyed the 69 minutes that followed, but it just seemed an odd choice to go with given that there are only three adventures in the boxset! Having Leela encounter the Master is always brilliant and whilst in this timeline she never actually set off on her travels with the Doctor, he was still thought of as the Evil One which was really nice to play back on their encounters in the Fourth Doctor Adventures. I like the idea of the Master appearing in this series and it is a bit of shame we didn't get more interaction between him and the Warrior. The Master still referred to his arch nemesis as the Doctor which was good and his whole scheme seemed a little complex and barmy even for the Master! The insinuation that the entire history and backdrop of Leela's people was all the Master's doing was great stuff as he always is in it for the long haul! He was a little harsh in his comments about the human outpost and how the Survey Team became the Sevateem and the Tog Zik waters were obviously toxic resulting from Leela's ancestors jettisoning the fuel. The Master mentioning that he didn't see the appeal of procreation himself was very interesting, but his whole scheme centred around Leela and Gentek having their own children. The Master had orchestrated events to ensure Leela and Gentek, a member of the Tesh, were pair bonded and that was something that horrified Leela's father. I thought it was excellent to meet Leela's father and their relationship was really good to explore. I was hoping for some interaction between the Warrior and Leela, as I think it would be fun for Leela to meet the Doctor in a more warrior-like incarnation. I do wonder if there would be any respect. Alas, it was a large scheme of the Master's but one he was actually sent on as a mission from the Time Lords. Of course, they weren't aware that after the Master planned on creating the Seva-Tesh to wipe out the Daleks, that his own race would follow. He wanted to be Master of all universes which was quite a bold aim! But it was the Master at his crazy best. Leela being pregnant with twins was really nice and it is so sad to think of how the Master wanted to use her offspring! Hearing the Warrior along with the Master as part of Xoanon was great and I loved how they interacted and judged their worshippers almost as idiots. They were firmly in control. I like how with this series and the Unbound element that there is no obvious way that episodes will conclude. Normally, the Doctor would save the day but there would be no such instance here as we actually heard the Master and the Warrior together in a TARDIS at the end reflecting on a mission. It is so different and works well. As a whole, a really intriguing episode to kick off the series! 

Rating: 8/10

The Tyrants of Logic

"We are human with the right to survive."

Writer: Marc Platt

Format: Audio

Released: March 2018

Series: Third Doctor Adventures 4.02

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis 

The Doctor and Jo land on Port Anvil – a bleak, abandoned mining colony on the remote planet Burnt Salt. A huge armoured crate has recently arrived in the almost derelict Spacehub. No-one knows who it's for. No-one knows what it contains.

Strange creatures lurk around the outskirts, and a rag-tag population of misfits inhabit what is left of the town: a soon bar owner, a literal one-man band and a hunter of very unusual prey. If they want to survive the night, they're going to have to work together.

Because the Cybermen wants the contents of the crate. And they will stop at noting to get hold of it.

Verdict

The Tyrants of Logic was an excellent story to conclude the fourth volume of Third Doctor Adventures! I am such a big fan of this range now and it's a shame that we don't get even more as two stories per series just doesn't seem enough, but they are two-hours long so I cannot be too picky! When the Companion Chronicles range was first released, Big Finish wasted no time in giving us something that was missing from the Classic run on television and that was an encounter between the Cybermen and the Third Doctor. Now, I thought The Blue Tooth was a decent adventure but that never felt like the story we had been waiting for. This one was sublime though and more than filled the gap between The Invasion and Revenge of the Cybermen. I thought that was really well done and the Cybermen acknowledging that the Doctor's appearance had altered again was really good. It fitted in seamlessly with the TV run and it also saw Jo get to tackle another of the biggest enemies from the show which was delightful. I thought the Spacehub setting on Burnt Salt was tremendous and worked so well. It was nice to take the Third Doctor away from Earth as that was the bulk of his era and having Jo on a spaceship worked well as well. I enjoyed the dynamic and the timeline of post-Cyber war was fantastic. The mystery of what was in the crate was excellent and I loved the reactions of those on the hub when the Cybermen, long thought extinct, emerged for what was inside. The idea behind the Cyber Leveller was fascinating and I liked how it was basically a Cyber Planner with weaponised elements. It was good to expand on the Cyber hierarchy and that started with the Cybermats being the first to feature. That's always fun and even though the cliffhanger for part one was incredibly predictable, it was brilliant. The emergence of the Cybermen always works when done well and this was no exception here. I thought some of the characters in this one were actually tremendous with Gusto an obvious standout. The fact she was only partially converted was intriguing and having part-Cyberman humans take on the Cybermen themselves really added to the dynamic of the newly reborn Cyber Wars. I wasn't a huge fan of the Lamuri in the story and it was a bit harsh to hear how they were treated, but even they were worried by and could feel the incoming presence of the Cybermen. Schaeffer was a strong character too and her luring the Cybermen to the Hub in order to enact revenge on the conversion they had forced upon her husband was questionable whilst admirable. She had balls for sure! The Doctor didn't exactly approve. I loved the use of Cyber smoke to start the conversion process and hearing that even take over the Doctor momentarily was superb. It was clear that the Doctor was playing along, but he did so tremendously well. I thought Tim Treloar was outstanding once again as the Third Doctor and he really has settled into the role wonderfully well. It's an incredible recast and does so much to honour and continue the legacy of the incarnation. Chad's death was a shocking moment and just the concept of a one-man band and the sound effects that went with it was barmy. But it somehow worked. I loved the Doctor challenging the Cybermen on their very nature and ambushing them vocally with how they couldn't escape being partially human was superb stuff. I was a huge fan of that and the Cybermen were never fully alive or dead, just always wounded. That was incredible to think about really. The conclusion was good and exciting with a decent move with the cure being fed through to ensure the Cyber smoke was no longer an issue. Overall, a really great audio! 

Rating: 9/10

The Revisionists

"You too are a warrior."

Writer: Andy Frankham-Allen

Format: Audio

Released: January 2019

Series: Short Trips 9.01

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela, Brigadier

Synopsis 

Guests at the Hotel de Rois are being haunted by ancestors that never existed. The Brigadier was only in Geneva to finalise his retirement, but how could he resist? Investigating, the Brigadier quickly finds something unusual. A warrior in leathers. A warrior called Leela...

History is about to catch up with both of them. History that neither of them thinks is real.

Verdict

The Revisionists was en excellent Short Trips audio! I thought this was really strong from start to finish and had such an exciting premise of the Brigadier encountering the Fourth Doctor once again, along with Leela for the first time. With Louise Jameson as the narrator, the focus was more so on Leela and that was actually tremendous. The humour that came from her pronunciation of hotel with the emphasis on the ‘Ho’ as the letter ‘O’ was really good and just great characterisation of her character. The comic value of the Tesh laser not being allowed by the Doctor was good stuff and I really liked the Geneva setting. We’ve heard that Swiss city mentioned countless times as the home of UNIT worldwide and actually encountering the Brigadier there was just brilliant. It’s about time! Leela being stumbled upon by the Brigadier was a lovely moment and I’m so glad that we now get an adventure with the Brigadier and Leela meeting. Instantly she knew that he had the baring of a warrior and the Brig thinking she was from the Congo because of her leathers was just marvellous. It’s exactly what I’d expect the Brigadier to say in his reaction! I thought it was a nice touch that Leela recognised the title of Brigadier and he was far from surprised to find the Doctor had some involvement. It had him written all over. The eery feel of the audio with the haunted hotel was good and I really liked the focus on ancestors coming back. The memories seemingly resetting was intriguing and had me very interested right from the off. The respect on show between the Brigadier and Leela was honestly a delight, but she was keen to emphasise that she was no ‘young lady’ which was magnificent. That was really good characterisation of both characters who were written so well. Somehow someway, a spin-off or just further meetings between these two would be most welcomed. The spirits of the dead being in the hotel provided a chilling atmosphere and it was really effective to have very little background music or sound effects. For a lot of the story we were just listening to a conversation and that was such a good approach. It helped that the Doctor’s whereabouts were unknown as the focus was firmly on the solider and the tribeswoman. The older woman of the Sevateem showing up as Leela’s ancestor was such a strong moment, and her being the High Priestess Beteema and one of the most esteemed of the tribe was really good. I loved the simplicity of Leela bowing and there really was a sense of power there. Leela believing there to be no threat at the hotel was good and I really enjoyed that she was honoured to be visited by the spirits of the dead. The shock of Beteema when Leela revealed the truth about Xoanon being a computer was excellent and she thought it was heresy after serving him all of her life, and thereafter. The concept of memories vanishing was strong and it turning out that they weren’t just forgotten, but were actually stolen! That kept things rolling nicely. The Brigadier encountering his own ancestor in the form of Henry John Lethbridge-Stewart was really well done and I liked how he was the first Lethbridge-Stewart. He was a royalist and proud and that didn’t surprise me when it came to the family position and pride they felt for their country. The Doctor emerging once the Brigadier’s memory vanished was welcomed timing and the dropping of a number of references to the likes of encounters with Yeti and Cybermen was terrific. The Doctor’s memories about being UNIT’s Scientific Advisor getting stolen was such a fun moment as his reaction to the suggested he worked for them was exactly what you’d expect from the fourth incarnation. The reveal of the Molai as the culprits was underwhelming at first as they sounded small and not exactly imposing, but I was glad we didn’t get to hear too much from them. They were peaceful and claimed to have borrowed the memories of ancestors because they were the victims of a hidden war that was severely impact smaller species. The memory of their race was wiped out as this faction was off world when the impact hit, and with them having a group mind they forced the rest of their species into a sleep in order to find a new revised history to feed into their race memory. That was a convoluted but very interesting concept that I thoroughly enjoyed! The Doctor saving the day by planning to teach them to copy and return memories, in return for giving them his entire memory as a copy to form quite the species history! That would be entertaining for sure. The Brigadier being somber on his pride for national service was a really nice way to finish things and mentioning that stories about ancestors kept them alive was lovely. Overall, a fantastic Short Trip! 

Rating: 9/10

The Hope

"Aren't you afraid of dying?"

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: August 2019

Series: Torchwood Monthly 30

Featuring: Owen, Andy

Synopsis 

Megwyn Jones is one of the most hated women in Britain. She used to run a home for troubled children in an isolated part of Snowdonia called The Hope. For a long time there were rumours about what was happening there, and then one day it was realised that the children had gone missing. 

Ever since, Megwyn's kept her peace. Is she innocent? Is she guilty? Where are the bodies?

The years have been long and hard on Megwyn and on the families of the children. But now Megyn's dying, and she's agreed to go back to The Hope, to reveal the horrible secret she's kept all these years. 

Verdict

The Hope was an excellent story to continue my way through the monthly series of Torchwood from Big Finish! I can't quite believe I have managed to reach the thirtieth release already as it seems to be absolutely flying by, and there's no sign of letting up as I have just purchased the next six instalments in a recent sale. I am very excited by what's to come and this format really allows for an individual character of the traditional main cast to develop and shine. We haven't heard a huge amount from Owen thus far in the Torchwood series so this a great opportunity for him to showcase. Pairing off Owen and Andy was a lot of fun and they worked really well together which on paper might not seem like the most obvious match. Andy was fully aware of Owen's inability die which placed this adventure somewhere after Reset and the relevance of that would soon be felt as the truth of the ground at The Hope was revealed. It took a while for us to get there though as we were introduced to the slightly disturbing Megwyn Jones in the prison. She was a fantastic character because she was just awkward and had such a horrifying vibe with her chilling personality. Considering the crimes she was accused of, it was a little difficult to listen to the concept of children going missing at The Hope. Megwyn seemed to have absolutely no remorse and whilst it wasn't ever proven that she was guilty of all of the children going missing, and potentially dying, she was clearly in the know. That added to the disturbing nature of her character and just hearing her converse was excellent. The fact that she was dying and now was willing to go back to The Hope to reveal the truth about the bodies and where they were buried was quite horrifying, especially when she wanted one of the victim's siblings to dig them up! That was such a powerful moment as we realised that the 'kind' ground of The Hope was actually covered in Rift energy and ended up as a temporal flux that kept those buried within as they were when they entered. That was quite something, but making use of Owen being dead and the ground giving life was outstanding. I thought that was brilliant to play with and the brief moments where Owen got to be alive again and hear his heartbeat was tremendous. The humour that came from him being able to eat and revelling about crisps, only for Andy to have ready salted flavour was a good injection of comedy in what was a very serious episode. The interaction between Owen and Megwyn was sublime and they really had a strong dynamic. The insinuation of Owen being different was good but I don't think Megwyn was expecting the truth about him being he wasn't dead. Owen sacrificing himself to stop Megwyn's long scheme of an insurance policy of immortality was really well done and Andy getting to be there in a serious moment at the end to console him about the loss of life once again was fantastic. Overall, a really eery story with a wonderful setting and just chilling. Great stuff!

Rating: 9/10

Island of the Fendahl

"Imagine something so black that the Daleks call it darkness."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: July 2019

Series: Further Adventures of Lucie Miller 1.04

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Lucie

Synopsis 

The Fendahl is the death of evolution, the horror that lies in wait at the far end of the food chain.

The Fendahl is death itself.

And the Fendahl is dead. The Doctor destroyed it many years ago, in another incarnation, when he encountered it in a place called Fetchborough. 

But if the Fendahl is dead... how can it live again, on the remote island of Fandor?

Verdict

Island of the Fendahl was a really good audio to conclude The Further Adventures of Lucie Miller! I really hope this is not the last we hear of the Eighth Doctor and Lucie together, but this rounded out a really strong boxset and a fun unheard gap between their early series together. I liked how all four seemed to follow on from each other and the way their recent destinations such as Horton's Orb and Canthares linked to form a pentagram was excellent. I think the Fendahl has a lot of potential and whilst the story in which it debuted, Image of the Fendahl, perhaps leaves a lot to be desired, the idea of its framework for Earth and the human race is really strong. I think a little too much was relied on when it came to previous knowledge in this story, but it was good that I have recently read the novelisation and also had the knowledge from the fantastic Night of the Fendahl. This didn't live up to the heights of that sublime Torchwood audio, but it worked well. It was one that probably could have benefitted from a little more time as the reveal of the Fendahlman surname was a great moment with Lucie being none the wiser as to its meaning, and whilst it took a few seconds for it to click in the Doctor's mind, the moment it did things really clicked into gear. I was a big fan of the setting of Fandor and after listening, research telling me that this was a gag on a misreporting in a fanzine at the time was a lot of fun. Credit to Alan Barnes for that! I thought that was a lot of fun. The Fendahl didn't really appear much outside of being a skull, but that worked well with the audio format and I loved how things tied back to The Dalek Trap. That was really clever as it turned out that the supernova there was the one the Fourth Doctor had deposited the skull of Fendahl into, but the Daleks were now taken over from it. It was the Fendahl that they referred to as the Darkness which was excellent. I thought the power of my quote was really impressive and did a stellar job in selling just how dangerous it was. Dieter was a terrific character and it was fun to hear how much his relationship developed with Lucie despite it starting with him kidnapping her and knocking her out with chloroform. He didn't seem too fussed by the cosmic occurrences and the concept of cosmic pentagram was something I thoroughly enjoyed. The TARDIS had worked out what was happening which explained its nonconformity at the end of The House on the Edge of Chaos, as one more journey back to Canthares would have completed the pentagram for the Fendahl. Lucie having a lookalike in the form of Maxine was good and something I think would have benefitted from more time. Howard as the detective was a fantastic character too and I really enjoyed the relationship she garnered with Lucie was a lot of fun, especially that fake bike chase! The use of the HODS was probably a little bit silly, but Lucie using the sonic to open the TARDIS and have the skull thrown out of the TARDIS and make contact with its earlier version to cause an explosion and the supernova itself tied things up nicely! Overall, a really strong audio to round out the series! I do so hope there is a second volume in the future.

Rating: 8/10

Other Worlds: The Rogue Planet

"My universe is in danger, and so is yours."

Writer: Emily Cook

Format: Audio

Released: October 2022

Series: Rose Tyler: The Dimension Cannon 2.03

Featuring: Rose, Jackie, Clive

Synopsis 

Rose finds herself closer to home than ever – but she's in for a shock. 

Meanwhile, Jackie is a hit on daytime TV and Clive is a professor, but nobody seems to realise how much danger the world is in.

Verdict

The Rogue Planet was a good story to conclude what has been a fun and enjoyable Other Worlds second series of Rose Tyler's The Dimension Canon! Whilst this was slightly the weakest of the episodes in the boxset, it has been a really fun exploration of Rose's efforts to find the Doctor across multiple dimensions and this was perhaps the most dangerous. The idea behind it was really good and it is just lovely to have Emily Cook writing an audio! She's a delightful figure in Doctor Who folklore after the Tweetalongs and everything she has done in Doctor Who Magazine, so having her write for Rose was a really nice thing to have. She did a more than solid job and it was fun for her to be able to pay homage to the modern era. Having Jackie as a famous TV presenter on the Prime Time show was magnificent and in this universe I bet she was having a whale of a time! The idea of Jackie being a celebrity was very amusing and a role she would have revelled in. She was able to decline autographs and whilst there were clearly similarities with the Jackie we know, this dimension's version was very different indeed. It was a breath of fresh air to have an alternate version of Rose in the form of Rosie, but I have to say that without visual aid it got a little clunky to have two different versions of both Rose and Jackie. There was not a lot to differentiate between them which did get somewhat confusing, but it was nice to finally have Rose come up with another version of herself. That is, a human version! The namedrop of Adipose Industries was really nicely done and I do wonder what position this version of Earth will be in should the fat start to walk away! But there were more pressing issues at hand with the Prophecy at hand. Clive being a respected scientist was good fun and I enjoyed the paper on the Three Comets. Danger was coming, it was told, and that tied in nicely with the dire state of the multiverse as barriers between dimensions were breaking down. Rosie having a baby in this universe was really good and hearing Billie Piper as a mother in character was good. Her boy being called Jimmy was fun when the reveal of the father was told and Rose couldn't believe it! Good stuff. I thought it was great to have Donna name dropped as part of the prophecy and Rose's reaction to that was brilliant. She knew that would get her close to the Doctor. It was some blonde woman who had told of the dimensions breaking, and she called herself the Bad Wolf. Time was catching up with Rose as reality was falling apart, and the coming of the titular rogue planet was going to prove catastrophic. This world didn't have any time left as the prediction of a year left was completely wrong with Clive revealing that it was just hours. It was too late to save anybody on this Earth which was difficult for Rose to accept, especially with the connection she had with Rosie's baby, and the mind playing tricks happened to Jackie too as she offered to stay behind, much to Rose's chagrin! Jackie did get back, but in a strong cliffhanger Rose was left trapped behind all alone and the signal was gone to lead us into the next volume very nicely indeed! Overall, a good story. 

Rating: 7/10

Other Worlds: Now is the New Dark

"Only the angry kill."

Writer: AK Benedict

Format: Audio

Released: October 2022

Series: Rose Tyler: The Dimension Canon 2.02

Featuring: Rose, Jackie, Clive

Synopsis 

On an Earth where science never advanced from the Dark Ages, Rose and Clive find themselves under suspicion. 

Someone is killing the Melancholics, but apparently, there's a Doctor here who can help...

Verdict

Now is the New Dark was another great audio to continue my way through the Other Worlds second volume of The Dimension Canon for Rose! Despite the fact that the universe, all of them, are literally falling apart and Rose is on the hunt to find the Doctor, this series feels a bit chilled as we already know that Rose finds the Doctor in The Stolen Earth after a long series of events in Turn Left. This allows for some strong exploration of other worlds whilst adding to the depth of Rose's struggles to actually get to the Doctor and the universe from which she came and was cut off from in Doomsday. I think that's really interesting to explore, as was the world in which Rose and Clive visited here. The concept of an Earth that hadn't evolved from the Dark Ages was very exciting as it did still have some modern quirks, but the population seemed to be very much aware that they had been stagnant in their development for half a millennium! That was a staggering concept and it was really fun to hear Clive argue with the Assessor about their beliefs. This version of Earth had not yet accepted germ theory which is quite incredible to actually comprehend, and having him assessed as a Melancholic was a lot of fun. With a murder having occurred, Clive was in the wrong place at the wrong time and his passionate personality meant he was soon deemed the murderer! The logic in which that was deduced was far from sound, but it was really amusing as he struggled with this planet's lack of understanding scientifically. The humours being a strong belief here took me back to my university studies of the Tudor and Georgian eras which was delightful, and I liked the suggestion of Rose having a balanced make up. She was genuinely concerned for Clive which was lovely to hear, but she was also able to utilise her position as Jackie's daughter with the alternate version of Jacqueline here. She was still a Prentis in this reality which was fun and the interaction with her alternate daughter was really well done. I was a big fan of hers and it was nice for Camille Coduri to get more to do in this episode after a quiet opener. I loved how Clive really stole the show when it came to working out who the murderer was, as it was not actually a mysterious Shadow. The myth that had been built up about the Shadow was great but Clive was having none of it as he presented the evidence required to show that the Assessor looked much more guilty than he did! It was very nicely done and some strong comedy as the tables turned on the Assessor, especially after she informed that the truth be told and then it very much went against her. She wanted to punish the Melancholics and her being the link between all of the victims was a nice catch from Clive. This was probably his strongest episode so far which was wonderful, and after initially I was a bit sceptical of him having a prominent role in the series, he more than warrants his place. There's still some work to be done on the chemistry with Rose, but it's shaping up to be quite a fun pairing! Overall, another great little audio and an intriguing world to explore. Rose didn't get the doctor she wanted which was hilarious when Jacqueline didn't even say his name, but the search goes on. 

Rating: 8/10

Other Worlds: Saltwater

"I need to talk to the President."

Writer: Alison Winter

Format: Audio

Released: October 2022

Series: Rose Tyler: The Dimension Canon 2.01

Featuring: Rose, Clive

Synopsis

Rose finds an Earth under threat, as something steals the salt from the oceans. 

As global tensions escalate, Rose wants to make those in charge listen, and finds an ally in the shape of another Clive...

Verdict

Saltwater was a great audio adventure to kick off the Other Worlds second series of The Dimension Canon for Rose Tyler! It's no surprise that Rose gets a second series (and a third to come!) and I enjoyed the first series very much so it was a no brainer to get this one on pre-order. With the first series already establishing the style and format for this spinoff series, this episode wasted no time in getting Rose onto another version of Earth. It felt very dark and with Rose arriving on a world where her parents had been murdered by pro-war activists, it was clear this was a very different universe indeed. The Iron Curtain had not been lifted on this version of Earth which was a really fun idea and I'd have liked a little more of history catching up in present day of this alternate reality. I thought the news broadcast was a good use of that, but there was definitely more potential there. It seems that Pete will be absent from this series which is absolutely fine and I liked the quick reference from Clive explaining that he'd been shown all of the codes by him so knew what he was doing in control of the Dimension Canon. Jackie was a bit of a bit part player in this episode and that was fine, but she did provide strong humour particularly when Rose had been arrested. She's still getting to grips with the whole jumping around the multiverse thing, but I loved her comments about the Doctor and how he saw something in Rose. That was a really nice mum moment for her to show her daughter just what she could do. If the Doctor had entrusted her, then she must have something to offer! Clive was excellent in this story and it really is incredible to see how far the character, albeit an alternative version, has come since his appearance in Rose. It's a lot of fun and having two versions meet over the phone here was delightful. I thought the concept of technology that was faster than the speed of light was brilliant and there's no real restraints when it comes to the multiverse. Who's to say that technology was beyond capable developments in this reality? Except Clive had realised that the stars were going missing and dimensions were breaking down. I thought that was excellent foreshadowing of The Stolen Earth/Journey's End. After all of her efforts, Rose had just condemned the people of that Earth to a slow death. They only had around five years left, but Clive was quick to point out that she'd given them more days to live and provide hope. She had to hold onto that. I liked the idea of the President providing a false position on their power and ability to deal with alien threats, and the concept of aliens coming to Earth to mine salt because of deteriorating resources across the universes was really well done. I thought it was good that Clive realised there was no malice in the aliens' intent as they didn't know Earth was populated, so Rose realising that light was needed instead of sound to contact with them and show that the planet was inhabited was more than decent. It was a neat and tidy resolution to what was as a whole a strong episode! A great start to the series. 

Rating: 8/10

The Everlasting Summer

"They can't cope with the passage of time any more."

Writer: Jacqueline Rayner

Format: Comic Strip

Released: July-October 2022

Printed in: DWM 580-583

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, Dan

Synopsis

When the Doctor gets suspicious about a retreat brochure, the TARDIS trio take a visit to the Gardens of Everlasting Summer. Once there, they find the gardens are very private and the means of the everlasting summer are far from moralistic...

Verdict

The Everlasting Summer was a decent little comic strip adventure that certainly had its moments, but was not wholly to my liking. Unfortunately, this is the case for much of the Thirteenth Doctor's comic strip run and I think things have been really hurt by the reduction of pages to six. It really is such a small number and by the time a part seems to get going, we already reach the cliffhanger. It's a shame as the format has so much potential with what is essentially an unlimited budget but it all seems a bit stop-start. I'd honestly much prefer if we just got the first six pages of a 24-page story without the cliffhangers as I think there just isn't anytime to build. That was the case here which is a shame as I was actually a huge fan of the cliffhanger where Yaz was being aged by the time storm, but the resolution was just far too quick for the impact to be felt. I thought the setting of the Gardens of Everlasting Summer was actually decent and I really enjoyed the way things started with the Doctor feigning to be a granny to get in and investigate. It was clear that Jinpar was trying to prevent the TARDIS trio from seeing the gardens and when the Doctor isn't allowed to go in somewhere amidst mysterious circumstances, she's always going to get her own way and find a route in. That was fun and the moment where she jumped up out of the wheelchair to save the day was very good. I thought it was a nice touch for the Doctor to mention that not everybody in wheelchairs was immobile. That was a good distinction. I thought Gebra and Herum were frankly rubbish characters and they sparked a semi-interesting cliffhanger as their beaks emerged at the end of part one, but I didn't like the idea of the Doctor not even remembering the chaos and destruction she caused to their home planet. The Doctor has incredible recall and going back as far as The Daleks' Master Plan with a panel flashback showing Sara Kingdom was absolutely brilliant, so I didn't understand the concept of her forgetting especially when she was recognised in this incarnation. That didn't sit well. I did enjoy the continuity from The Foe From the Future with the warning of wasps, but that stark reminder didn't really feel like it was too dangerous here. The beelings had become injected with a waspish element, but the time storm and the entire makeup of the Everlasting Gardens seemed a more serious threat. I liked the concept of the reset and with it all catching up after a century, time basically burst and anyone caught was doomed as happened to Yaz and was threatened to Dan. I thought the artwork in this one was bright and colourful, but there was one panel at the start of part one where the likeness of Dan was unrecognisable! I thought this was a nice touch with the ending and the Doctor and Yaz reflecting on a lot of life left to live, and at the time of reading I am yet to see The Power of the Doctor so I don't know if this is also the end of the comic strip road. If it is, it's nice for the Doctor and Yaz to share a nice moment together. Overall, some bright ideas but a very quick resolution and too much of a stop-start. 

Rating: 6/10