The Dark Planet

"The eternal dawn arrives!"

Writer: Brian Hayles (Adapted by Matt Fitton)

Format: Audio

Released: September 2013

Series: Lost Stories 4.01

Featuring: First Doctor, Ian, Barbara, Vicki

Synopsis

Somewhere far back in the early days of the universe the TARDIS lands on a world lit by a dying sun. Missing from the Doctor's star maps and dotted with strange crystalline statues, it is a world ripe for exploration. But it is also a world of destruction.

Venturing out onto its surface, the time travellers find themselves drawn into an age-old conflict between the two species residing on the planet – people of Light and Shadow. Proving a catalyst for the escalation of the conflict, the Doctor and his friends need either to create a peace or to pick a side.

Because in times of war, nothing is ever black and white.

Verdict

The Dark Planet was a great Lost Stories adventure! This was pretty damn long clocking in at close to three hours, but I don't think it overstayed its welcome in the slightest which right away is a huge compliment. I was actually listening to this adventure as I was having an overdue sort out and clean of my extensive figure and figurine collection, so it was nice to be in theme! I think the team of William Russell and Maureen O'Brien is just tremendous and they did a fine job in recreating the second ever TARDIS team. This felt like it was so authentic and certainly the early parts of the opening episode were everything I would imagine a 1960s story sounding like. Even the terminology acknowledged within the TARDIS and the Doctor referring to his own star maps was brilliant. It was so perfectly a Lost Story in that regard which immediately makes me happy. I could easily imagine seeing this on screen and whilst I'm not sure on the background of why these scripts never made it to screen, I think the budget at the time would have been impossible to do this story justice. There was so much going on and the visuals that came from the descriptions of the battle between Shadow and Light were stunning. I'm not convinced there would have been the means to present this well ons screen during Season 2. In that regard, perhaps it's better we just get an audio version? I think taking the TARDIS to a very early point in the universe's creation and actually being in the first segment of time was intriguing to say the least. Things were a little different here and the Doctor was soon able to utilise that with his knowledge of stellar engineering. I liked how that was almost ridiculed by Ian but the Doctor was serious indeed. Vicki was shown to be very intelligent in the story which was really nice and I like how Ian mentioned he should get a science lesson from her. The conflict on the world of Noumeia was really interesting and it was a strong thread to carry though the lengthy adventure. Learning of the differences each side felt towards each other was good and the use of past dialogue as a means of encouraging more in the future was good. How else would a species name be shared as the title across both sides? There must have been some sort of communication. The theme of light in particular was handled very well and blindness hitting more than one companion was fascinating! I don't think that has happened before so that was something new and a strong sense of vulnerability. That also came when the TARDIS was not viewed as a safe haven. It was pretty surprising to hear it infiltrated but I was a big fan of it because it made such an impact. The fact it rarely happens is why that was so surprising. I thought Vicki's relationship with Elise was fantastic and the heartbreak she had when she realised the truth and how they were sacrificing themselves was powerful stuff. Krogor didn't seem like the best of enemies at the start of the story but he grew into a strong monstrous type by the end which I enjoyed. I thought the rush to the TARDIS at the end of the story was good and authentic with what happened often on screen at this time. It was also good to get so many strong cliffhangers. Again, they felt exactly like ones that would have happened on screen. Dark and light against each other, and then coming full circle with Vicki looking on and seeing light travelling in space with shadow was tremendous. She liked to think their efforts weren't in vain and perhaps they did make a change. But we'd never know. That was terrific. Overall, a really strong adventure! One I could definitely have seen fitting in during Season 2.

Rating: 8/10

Kept Safe and Sound

"The plight of the talking dog."

Writer: Paul Magrs

Format: Short Story

Released: April 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Companions 06

Featuring: K9

Synopsis

Adventures in time and space are no fun if there's no one to share them. the Doctor has taken along many people on his travels – humans, aliens and robots. Did he really care for any of them? What in their previous life fitted them for the role of companion – and how did they cope after they left the TARDIS?

These seventeen stories look at the Doctor's trusty companions, before, during and after their travels with the eccentric Time Lord. Discover the truth about Romana's regeneration, find out what happened when Zoe encountered the Doctor again, and learn which of his companions the Doctor cared for the most...

Verdict

Kept Safe and Sound was an intriguing little story to continue my way through the Companions volume of Short Trips! I think I have perhaps been slightly harsh in the rating I have awarded this story but some things just didn’t quite work for me. I think the idea of having K9 as the lead companion is completely fine and there’s some much potential with his character and the nature of him being a robot dog, but why was he just referred to as such? We didn’t get the name K9 mentioned at all which is a huge shame because that just feels like such a missing element. It’s so obvious which companion this is, but perhaps it was a naming rights issue? I’m not entirely sure. I couldn’t find anything more in that regard in my brief research on the adventure after reading but it would make sense. I just don’t know why else you wouldn’t name such an iconic character! I thought it was actually a bit of a sad story all in with both K9 and Jack’s widowed mum going through a lot. I would like to know how this version of K9 came to be in the state of disrepair that he was, and how he ended up straddled alongside the owner of a secondhand bookshop. A large number of my entires on this blog over the years have been sourced in secondhand bookshops and I certainly remember the thrill of finding new copies of Doctor Who books in particular. The joy I had when finding copies of Doctor Who and the Keys of Marinus and Galaxy Four as the first original Targets I’d located is a memory that will last with me forever. So whilst Jack in this story wasn’t collecting Doctor Who stories, his hunt to complete the set of twelve volumes of the Books of Mayhem was fascinating. There was a lot to appreciate in the story, but I think the OCD in me was a little flustered by the fact Jack had read volumes seven to eleven before having volume six in his collection! I just would flat out refuse to jump ahead before reading the others. I’m sure there are numerous blog entries that contradict that statement but I think the vast array of Doctor Who content gives me some leeway! I thought more on Jack’s mother as a widow would have been beneficial as her state of grief was certainly something to relate to. She was devastated at losing her husband and I loved that it was as a result of the events of Invasion of the Dinosaurs. How could you cope in the twentieth century in knowing that your loved one was eaten by a Tyrannosaurus Rex! It would obviously hurt more than a traditional or ‘normal’ death. How could you try and get over that? There’s so no rational explanation. She had turned to drink and that was having an impact on Jack as you would expect, but I wanted more on that. I didn’t actually care all that much about the continued ventures to the bookshop. The owner was clearly whacky and could have got a lot more than a solitary pound for the fabled twelfth volume, so I appreciated he stuck to the price despite knowing how sought after the copy was. Jack dealing with some internal dilemma of if he should actually finish the book was baffling to me. Of course he should! With no hesitation. Get it read and completed. Complete the set and then read it again and again. I fully appreciated that he went have the thrill of stories like it again, but there’s a sense of achievement in finishing things. I thought the slow way K9 was broken down for bit parts was sad and I wish I knew why. It was pretty generic and how did a mere bookshop owner have the technologist know how to strip a robot dog from the year 5000? These were the burning questions I wanted answers to. Jack taking the brain device of K9 at the end was weird but I liked that with his mother buying blank CDs, K9’s memory could be hooked up and transferred to it to preserve him. And the stories he’d be able to tell! That was a nice way to finish things. Overall, a rather whacky adventure which is no surprise given the author, but some strong ideas and certainly emotion aplenty. 

Rating: 6/10

Warbringer: Saviour

"One day to save the world."

Writer: Jonathan Morris

Format: Audio

Released: December 2021

Series: The War Doctor Begins 2.03

Featuring: War Doctor

Synopsis

The truth of how events on Tharius were set in motion is revealed. On a mission to destroy a Dalek Harvester vessel, the War Doctor discovers a new breed of Dalek. 

Whatever action he takes next, we have seen the consequences – and they are devastating for everyone.

Verdict

Saviour was an excellent episode to conclude the Warbringer second series of The War Doctor Begins! I thought this was superb story and easily the best of the boxset. They were certainly saving the best until last! I really liked how things tied together and came full circle, even going before the events of the first episode in Consequences. It was very nicely done and became quite an emotional tale in the end for poor old Case. We see how her name originated from the Doctor as she had to deal with who she now was, rather than who she previously had been. That would be tough for anyone to deal with and it's no surprise that she's a little irate and just generally peeved. I think it would be fair to say that this was her demeanour for much of the series but who could really blame her? Being turned into a cyborg Dalek berserker wouldn't exactly be high on my wish list. I really liked the format of this story in how we spent a good chunk of time learning the truth about Case as promised at the end of Destroyer, before having her fully integrated and playing a role in the Dalek demise. The Doctor also goes through quite a lot here and I was surprised once again by how easily he still accepts being referred to by that name. It feels a little strange, but I guess he's still at the beginning of the incarnation so there's still plenty of time to go. There were definitely traits of more unfamiliar elements to the character we are more familiar with which was great and that largely came down to what he really knew about Case. He knew already that they were on a Dalek harvester and what that meant when it came to her abilities to interact with the Dalek web. She was on hand to basically be a quick hack and that proved very useful! I thought it was a delight for her to convince the Daleks through their systems that it was one of them that allowed the Doctor and company to escape, and even more so when they were tricked into believing their twelve versions of the Doctor present! That was quite the image and something we can only dream about. An extended full cast version of Daleks under siege by twelve Doctors would be pretty incredible! I'm all here for it. Seventieth anniversary: make it happen! The Doctor describing that as the Daleks' worst nightmare was good stuff and Case not understanding how they thought it was possible was intriguing. Little does she know of Time Lord biology. I felt like Veklin was a little out of the focus in this episode which actually worked well in my opinion as it didn't feel like the Doctor had any restrictions or strict instructions to follow. By this point he was acting for the best interests of the common goal. His inability to stop the ship crashing into the planet felt like quite a shock for him to admit, but when his solution was to cheat a little bit and go back in time to evacuate the planet a day early, I was pretty impressed! A different Doctor indeed and it was something that played out nicely. The Daleks were fantastic in the story as they basically seemed to fussy around in a wild goose chase whilst expressing their disbelief at being thwarted. That was very fun. I thought it was good to acknowledge that Case would not be left behind and her actually being responsible for the saving of several was a lovely nod. She's not quite a companion in my eyes but I like the idea of her sticking around as this series goes on. Overall, an excellent listen to conclude the series! 

Rating: 9/10

Warbringer: Destroyer

"You have no choices."

Writer: Andrew Smith

Format: Audio

Released: December 2021

Series: The War Doctor Begins 2.02

Featuring: War Doctor

Synopsis

Trapped on a world that worships war, the War Doctor finds himself fulfilling an ancient prophecy – could he be the Warbringer of legend?

His new ally Case is testing her abilities, too. And both will be called on to fight when the Daleks come...

Verdict

Destroyer was a decent episode to continue my way through the Warbringer second series of The War Doctor Begins! This almost felt like an immediate part two to the Consequences opener with the follow up to the cliffhanger seeing the potential bringing of the end of the world. It was good in that regard and Belus confronting the Doctor and having him prove he was the Warbringer he claimed to be was fascinating stuff. I did though feel like things moved backwards a little with this episode because it was already clearly established that the Doctor was not who he claimed to be, but then he just once again started claiming to be the Warbringer. It's a fun concept to have the Doctor as someone worshipped where war is revered because typically that goes against everything in his nature, but in this incarnation things are slightly different. The rulebook can almost be thrown out of the window as evidenced by the ending. That was quite a shock and I liked how the actions of the Doctor as a warrior here were met with shock amongst others. That was really good in selling the difference of this incarnation of the Doctor which I think is part of the fun of this series. We're seeing the Doctor delve into being a warrior and that's exciting! It's so different, but there's still all those noticeable traits of the Time Lord hero we know and love. He knows things aren't going to end well here but that doesn't prevent him trying to save people. It's engrained in his nature and there's just no other way for him to act. It's actually fun for Veklin to even fall into the trap of being convinced of his nature, whereas Tamasan is a little less prone to the Doctor's influence. She made it clear that she only wanted Veklin and the Doctor returned in the Battle TARDIS she would send. That didn't mean any locals. I thought the presence of the Daleks was great and it's always good to have them present within the Time War. Their interaction with Case was intriguing stuff and I'm very interested to hear where things will head in the finale regarding her. I liked that she was confronted by the Daleks and she wasn't exactly pleased to be regarded as one of their creations. She was a new Dalek creature in the form of a berserker which sounds exciting and incredibly dangerous! I thought the twist of her not wholly being on the Daleks' side was slightly predictable, but her helping save meant she had a lift back to Gallifrey to learn all about herself. I thought it was strong to see the emotional toll she went through across the episode which is quite ironic given her nature as a cyborg! The death of Belus halfway through was a little strange as he was the complete focal point of the story with his suspicions on the Doctor. That didn't quite work for me but I liked his inner conflict. He knew deep down that he wasn't the Warbringer and he even found the truth about how he stopped the ship by freezing it in time as just having far superior technology. That's literally exactly the situation he found himself in! Case remembering what happened in the previous episode was something I was expecting to be dwelled on a little more given the death that happened there, but there's plenty of that to come in the finale as she learns about herself properly. That's a strong enough lead into the finale that keeps me interested and there's something exciting about having this incarnation of the Doctor on Gallifrey. I hope that's where things stay, especially with Case's arrival seeing her refer to Tamasan as a Dalek! Overall, a decent listen! 

Rating: 7/10

Warbringer: Consequences

"I remember the bit where I don't have a memory."

Writer: Timothy X Atack

Format: Audio

Released: December 2021

Series: The War Doctor Begins 2.01

Featuring: War Doctor

Synopsis

The War Doctor and Veklin crash on a ravaged planet. On the fringes of the Time War, this world has its own battles raging. Elsewhere, a survivor works out how she came to be here.

But these newcomers are harbingers of something terrible, following in their wake...

Verdict

Consequences was a strong start to the Warbringer second series of The War Doctor Begins! After a very strong Forged in Fire opening series, this seemed to take us in a slightly different direction which I'm all for. It's really terrific to flesh out both the Time War and this incarnation of the Doctor. There's so much potential with this version of the Doctor and we know the Time War is extortionate in length and depth, so to get the younger version of the War Doctor we saw glimpsed on screen in The Night of the Doctor is magnificent. I think Jonathon Carley is absolutely tremendous in the role and he really is uncanny in his portrayal. I wouldn't bat an eyelid if somebody told me this was John Hurt in the role. It continues to be that good. The story itself was very interesting and I liked the female focus in the lead characters. We have a familiar voice in the form of Veklin accompanying the Doctor, but she never feels fully in control when the Doctor is around. He didn't dispute his name too much here which was a little bit of a surprise, but I guess it's still early in the incarnation and he still has so much time to do so much of what he deems wrong. I thought the introduction of Case here was strong and her realisation at being transfigured was quite horrifying. Imagine having to utter the question in wondering who took your eye? And why was her arm aluminium? They were rather scary questions to have to ask and something that would be incredibly scary. The toll she took over the course of the episode was actually quite extraordinary and her role in the conclusion was frightening. She was responsible for death on a horrific scale and she didn't want that to be the case. She was weaponised and that was used against her. She was devastated as you would expect. I liked the character of Iansa and her interactions with the Doctor were fascinating. He took on the role of the titular Warbringer which was intriguing but she was just inundated with a desire for war. Her almost demise and compete miscomprehension at the prospect of not fighting was strange. Veklin knew that when the Doctor learned of this, he wouldn't be able to help himself in putting it to a stop. That was not something Iansa wanted and seemed frightened and disappointed by the prospect. The moment at the end regarding the sacrifice to the Warbringer was pretty sad as the Doctor had to admit he had just lied to gain her trust and would not accept her offering of death, but Veklin took no hesitation and shot her plain dead. That was devastatingly impactful! Belus looked on bemused as well and almost offended that the Doctor wouldn't take her life. He'd gone through enough in literally freezing the war in time to save people, but even that wasn't wholly enough to prevent Case. I thought the discussions between Case and Oya were good and I liked how there were partial truths. It certainly helped to have the truth confirmed or not. I thought Case not understanding the word Dalek was interesting and surely something to continue as the series goes on. I thought things got a little too dialogue heavy towards the middle with some perhaps over explanation instead of some action amidst war, but I liked the cliffhanger finish sending us right into strong issues as the Doctor proclaimed the end of the world! Case is clearly going to have a big role to play moving forward and I'm intrigued to hear the truth regarding the Warbringer. It's obviously not the Doctor, but it should be fun to build towards going forward. Overall, a strong start to the series!

Rating: 8/10

The Roots of Evil

"What's Chase gonna pay us for a dead plant?"

Writer: Steve Cole

Format: Short Story

Released: October 2024

Printed in: The Adventures Before 02

Featuring: Harrison Chase

Synopsis

Discover what happened before...

What did Osgood do the morning of The Day of the Doctor?

What happened to Tegan before Arc of Infinity, and why does it involve strange sentient lights in the Australian outback?

What was the Tenth Doctor doing in a hall of mirrors, right before Planet of the Dead?

Answers to all these questions lie in an incredible collection of new Doctor Who short stories that give a glimpse into the moments just before we saw the Doctor step on screen.

From Skaro to Apalapucia, from a shop front drained of colour to Rassilon's tomb, join a host of incredible adventures across the universe with Doctors, companions, friends and foes.

Verdict

The Roots of Evil was a terrific little short story to continue my reading through The Adventures Before set of prequels! After a very strong opener in the form of The Boy and the Dalek as a prequel to the legendary The Daleks, jumping forward to The Seeds of Doom is a great idea. It’s another iconic adventure to present a prequel for and this was done in something that I would describe as a traditional manner. There was no Doctor or companion present which on the face of it did feel like a missed opportunity given how the collection started, but once I’d finished I really appreciated what I’d read. It really compliments the televised story by giving some more depths to some familiar characters from the serial. It was really good to get that dynamic between Latz and Scorby and it was great fun to have them essentially trying to rob some alien artefacts from UNIT! The concept behind what was dubbed the Junkyard amongst the soldiers was good fun and the items within were exciting! A little more detail on what was within would have been good but at the same time whilst it was amusing to touch upon Day of the Daleks, it didn’t hamper the story to not reference more. I thought their discussions about UNIT were intriguing and in particular the talk about the events of The Web of Fear were fantastic. It was interesting to learn about the cover stories out there and it was good to know that UNIT was doing its job! I liked the floral theme within the story and the focus on the eloko in particular was very good. Harrison Chase was presented very well here and you could see the makings of a fine villain that would transpire on screen. He was devious and the right level of controlled deranged. It was nicely done. I thought the mention of Osgood was good continuity and I honestly wasn’t expecting such UNIT reference but I absolutely welcomed it. It rounded things out very nicely. I liked the threat that came from Latz being cut by the cactus and knowing what we know from the televised serial, he was pretty much doomed. Of course, there was no specific mention of Krynoid but seeing the mind of Chase tick when the plant took Latz’s form was brilliant. That evil flourish was there in just the right amount. I thought the build to the conclusion was handled very well and the pace was really good throughout. It was an engaging read from start to finish and finishing in literally explosive style was great stuff! I thought it was pretty emphatic to have both Latz and the Eloko blown up but it was a neat and tidy way to finish things off and set things up nicely for the televised serial. I thought Scorby’s reaction to his partner perishing in pretty gruesome style was fantastic because he literally didn’t care. He was just happy to take his partner’s share of the purse now! Setting things up there with having him in an employ agreement with Chase and them coming to an understanding was good stuff. It was a strong little setup. Overall, a great little read! 

Rating: 8/10

The Angel's Kiss: A Melody Malone Mystery

"Not everyone in this world wants to be a famous movie star."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Short Story

Released: October 2012

Printed in: Summer Falls & Other Stories 02

Featuring: River

Synopsis

Movie star Rock Railton thinks someone is out to kill him – and detective Melody Malone is on the case. At the press party for Railton's latest movie, studio owner Max Kliener invites Melody to become their next star. But the cost of fame is greater than she could possibly imagine.

Verdict

The Angel's Kiss: A Melody Malone Mystery was a great short story to tie in with the broadcast of The Angels Take Manhattan concluding the first half of Series 7. I think it's a really strong idea to have books within a Doctor Who episode and then release them, or at least something close as is the case here, for the consuming public. It just works a treat. I think this was far superior to Summer Falls which I also read recently that ties in with The Bells of Saint John because despite there being no Doctor present, this felt very much like a Doctor Who adventure. Of course, the story is told with Melody Malone as the narrator which is good fun and the cover enough tells us who this woman really is. Whilst she is never referred to as such, it's tremendous to be getting a full River Song prose adventure. I think it serves well as essentially a prequel to the aforementioned mid-series finale in which the Weeping Angels take over Manhattan, and having them present is really good. I think it's clever to not fully utilise them or alert their presence to things until quite late on as it would be the television episode where they would make their mark fully. But River is very much aware of their presence in Manhattan and it's pretty dangerous! It's also incredibly widespread. I thought Melody alluding to the difference between doctor and Doctor was very amusing and getting a quick glimpse into their past from her perspective was terrific. I was amused with how cheeky this story was and definitely aimed to the older reader. I guess this is a detective story after all but I didn't think I'd be reading the word cleavage in a Whoniverse published story! And River was making more than one reference throughout on how she was presenting her own cleavage. Unbuttoned and pushed up. It was rather detailed! But that is the River we know. She's not a companion for the children and I think she's presented in a very real way here. Her flirting was on point and I loved the idea of her having a detective agency. I thought some of the characters in the story were good and it was amusing to have multiple versions of Hank. His surname was ludicrous though and I liked how he was on hand to reveal to River that there were more of him. I thought Kleiner as the studio owner revealed himself as a strong villain in his merry-go-round of movie stars on repeat, but River knew right away that there was more than met the eye when it came to the glass jars. She had experience with the Weeping Angels and she knew they were present. That immediately brought a sense of added danger to the story which was terrific. I was a big fan of the touch of an Angel being referred to here as a kiss as it just sounded a little more poetic. It was very nicely presented and just feels the right kind of thing for Melody Malone. Her allusions to her own name in the story was also brilliant as she basically admitted openly that this was not her name. I liked the simplicity of the conclusion and it seemed pretty fast paced once all the details were out, but that was always going to happen with the nature of the story being a prequel for River. We know where she'll lead. It's a shame this wasn't the actual book the Doctor was reading as I think the prose of her encountering Rory and then the goodbye of Rory and Amy with the last chapter title and goodbye would have been sensational. But I understand why repetition from what we heard on screen wasn't preferred. Overall though, a really strong read! I'd definitely read more Melody Malone mysteries. 

Rating: 8/10

The Boy and the Dalek

"The only fruit the Daleks should harvest is death!"

Writer: Mike Tucker

Format: Short Story

Released: October 2024

Printed in: The Adventures Before 01

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Victoria

Synopsis

Discover what happened before...

What did Osgood do the morning of The Day of the Doctor?

What happened to Tegan before Arc of Infinity, and why does it involve strange sentient lights in the Australian outback?

What was the Tenth Doctor doing in a hall of mirrors, right before Planet of the Dead?

Answers to all these questions lie in an incredible collection of new Doctor Who short stories that give a glimpse into the moments just before we saw the Doctor step on screen.

From Skaro to Apalapucia, from a shop front drained of colour to Rassilon's tomb, join a host of incredible adventures across the universe with Doctors, companions, friends and foes.

Verdict

The Boy and the Dalek was a great story to kick off my reading of The Adventures Before set of prequels! The idea behind this book is right up my alley as I'm a sucker for any kind of continuity when it comes to Doctor Who adventures. I think it works well to split between the classic and modern era and you can't get much more Classic than doing a prequel to The Daleks! I think it's such a good prospect and whilst I would define this as something of a loose prequel, it didn't make it any less enjoyable! I was pleasantly surprised to see that this was a Second Doctor story and his reaction to finding a Dalek in the crashed ship was fantastic. I did think it was a little strange for him to proclaim that he hadn't visited Skaro in quite a long time considering that his current companions of Jamie and Victoria were there with him during The Evil of the Daleks. That must be set before this story as that's where Victoria made her debut as companion., but other than that I thought this went by very nicely! I thought the TARDIS reacting to a distress call and having a somewhat annoying tone in doing so was fun although it didn't quite feel befitting of the era. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Emperor Dalek featured in a prominent way and the description of the golden dome was another treat. We never got that version on screen and it returned in all its glory a few years ago for the Time Lord Victorious saga, but for it to feature in official prose was a nice treat. Its thoughts towards Dalek 444 as a designated scientist were intriguing and that Dalek became the central character pf the piece. It was a fascinating insight into what the Daleks could be at this early stage in their development. Clearly from the reactions of the scientist and Emperor, they hadn't yet ventured into space travel but that was something desired. Finding Harrison and his ship would potentially give them the means, but 444 saw the potential in cooperation with other species. That felt very un-Dalek like. Almost disturbingly so in how good this Dalek was. I loved that the Emperor thought he'd been lied to with 444 previously stating that its vision was not impaired, but how could it not be with the attachment built to Harrison? That attachment was almost literal too when it exterminated two other Daleks after they questioned its claim of Harrison being a scientific and experimental attachment. That was quite amusing! I liked how the Scientist was pondering on the potential of engaging with other races but actually sacrificed the potential of Dalek space travel by helping Harrison get home. It had been space worthy all along and after seeing the actions, the Dalek Emperor wasn't having it. I thought the twist of the Dalek casing being opened and Harrison actually greeting the Doctor, Jamie and Victoria was brilliant and something I must admit I didn't see coming! The fact it offered up its casing as safe passage for Harrison given the experimental plant sap that made it immune from extermination was quite something. It painted quite the picture and showed just how different the Daleks could be at this point. I thought Jamie and Victoria were a little too keen to show a Dalek mercy and compassion, but it worked well. The description of the agonising crawl of the Dalek mutant creature into the petrified forest worked well and I also loved that we had continued mentions of the menace that was the Magnedon. That was really strong continuity that I greatly appreciated! The mutant being on the verge of death and believing itself hallucinating when it came to the materialisation of the TARDIS and the arrival of the First Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara was very well played. Before that I was wondering how this was a prequel at all! Overall, a very strong outing to kick off what looks set to be an exciting collection.

Rating: 8/10

Lost in Translation: Gallifrey

"I'm about to watch my best friend die."

Writers: Guy Adams & AK Benedict

Format: Audio

Released: September 2020

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 6.04

Featuring: Unbound Doctor, Benny

Synopsis

The Doctor has come home. But he doesn't belong here. And Bernice thinks there's something very wrong with Gallifrey.

Verdict

Gallifrey was an excellent episode to conclude the Lost in Translation sixth series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! After a strong gradual build over the course of the series to send the Unbound Doctor to Gallifrey, this was a fascinating tale. The Time Lords were far from happy to see this version of the Doctor and they almost spat in the face of Benny when she referred to him as the Doctor. They only saw him as the Abomination which was rather harsh, but it soon made sense when we learned that Gallifrey wasn't quite itself. I'm not entirely sure where this episode fits in terms of the continuity with the Gallifrey spinoff series, but I would assume it would be very early on. Maybe even prior to the first series! It was lovely to hear from Narvin again but he was a little more callous and egotistical than the version we saw accompany Romana II and Leela across an ever changing Gallifrey. It didn't make it any less interesting though! It was a really fascinating listen. I loved that Narvin was the prosecutor coming forward against the Doctor and it was quite fun for Benny to be appointed as the defence for her best friend. She wasn't entirely thrilled with that at the start, but instead of using the four hours recess given to prepare her case to say her goodbyes, she actually went ahead and would provide a legal argument! I mean, the whole trial was a little odd considering it was there purely to prove the existence of the Abomination. I mean, he was right there. What was there to defend? That came into play nicely at the end though when the Doctor's execution by dispersal chamber had been carried out. Benny had found a backdoor though which was very amusing and lovely to hear. The image of the Doctor getting comfortable under the bed when she went to greet him after his sentence was carried out was hilarious! What were his plans for escape? We'll never know, but it was brilliant for Benny to play into the fact that by Gallifreyan law this Doctor was dead. And you couldn't prosecute or execute a dead man! She shone there which is absolutely right given this is her spinoff series. I was so impressed with her in this episode and it's no surprise she has such an expanded run across numerous forms of media. I've so much to catch up on but I love filling in some gaps here. I thought the Doctor being blamed for what was happening on Gallifrey was really good and logical, but the truth being the Now was terrific. It came around full circle in a great way with the Doctor hearing the Gallifreyan morse code being knocked to spell out 'now', but he found that message a little useless. His realisation at the end of the significance though was very good. I thought Benny witnessing the effects of the Now was rather horrifying as regeneration was actually fatal. That sounds rather contradictory! But the imagery of endless regeneration as the cycle was exhausted before literally bursting into flames was quite spectacular and frightening. The Doctor was rather stunned by this revelation, but not as much as he was by the actions of Narvin in defeating the Now. I thought Benny's plea to the Inquisitor about asking the Doctor for help against the true problem was tremendous and whether they liked it or not he would take up the task. He knew that to revert the Time Lords meant genocide towards the Now and that wasn't something he was going to do because of how much sacrifice was required. Narvin took no such qualms which was a considerable surprise and it really was shocking! The ego spook. The Doctor was disgusted and was quick to point out that he would not consider this version of Gallifrey as anything close to home. I'm intrigued to hear where this Doctor and Benny go forward from here, but it's exciting times! Overall, a fantastic ending to what has been a tremendous series! 

Rating: 9/10

Lost in Translation: Inertia

"It's just another roll of the dice."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: September 2020

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 6.03

Featuring: Unbound Doctor, Bernice

Synopsis

A remote island on a dull world. Some boring natives, some uninteresting ruins. Can two time travellers manage to do nothing for a month?

Verdict

Inertia was another very strong episode to continue the Lost in Translation sixth series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! This feels like something of a pit stop ahead of the finale because given how things ended at the end of the previous episode of The Undying Truth, I thought we head straight into a double billing of the Unbound Doctor involved with the Time Lords. Of course, this entire episode was having the Doctor and Benny deal with being on the run from the Time Lords, but it wasn't until the end that actual involvement would be heard. It's set to be an explosive finale which I am incredibly excited for, but this was a decent way to stall and keep the listening wanting more. The umbrella theme was utilised very well in having Benny try and use her archaeological skills to decipher the story of the planet they were on. I thought the Doctor switching the TARDIS off completely was exciting because that provided a strong sense of vulnerability. The Doctor without the TARDIS as something to fall back upon feels a little wrong and a tad scary. I like that a lot. I thought Benny wanting the TARDIS on for the help it would provide in her research was fun but the Doctor was having none of it. He wouldn't even have the heating on, but he would pop back for a wooly scarf which was quite amusing. I liked the logic though in not wanting the Time Lords to be able to track them. That was felt more especially at the end with the Doctor being referred to as an abomination! That was quite a drastic tone and it's clear the Time Lords mean business here. Benny knows of them as the most powerful species in creation so having her involved will be fun too. I thought the premise of the episode from the synopsis actually sounded quite boring and whilst it was basically what it said on the tin in having the Doctor and Benny sitting around twiddling their thumbs, that became very entertaining! Just days and days of the Doctor and Benny playing board games was hilarious with the former always cheating or changing the rules to ensure he won. Even at snakes and ladders he was inventing new rules when it came to rolling a double. Of course it would mean you go down a snake! It was really good though and the dynamic between this pairing is just good fun with them bickering. I thought the song of the natives was intriguing and it was fun to learn right at the end thanks to Benny's deductions that they were counting down. This society would not advance by choice and I liked that it was because of alien involvement in their history and the destruction of a spaceship causing explosive and widespread damage. It happened twenty-seven days after the aliens arrived, so their society would only tolerate outsiders for that long. And Benny just so happened to work that out on day twenty-seven. That was a little too coincidental for my liking, but the concept was unique which I always appreciate. It was a very different kind of translation! I thought the way things ended in being extremely reminiscent of The War Games was fascinating as the Doctor called in the Time Lords for a cleanup job whilst knowing full well that he would be captured in the process. But he was expecting this. He'd actually planned for it. There's something more at work for the Unbound Doctor and I'm very fascinated by that! I can't wait to hear this version of the Doctor on Gallifrey and it's great to have Narvin featured as well. I can't wait for the finale! Overall, a really strong listen as the series heads to a close.

Rating: 8/10

Lost in Translation: The Undying Truth

"The hands of the dead pulling me down."

Writer: JA Prentice 

Format: Audio

Released: September 2020

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 6.02

Featuring: Unbound Doctor, Benny

Synopsis

A mysterious mission has discovered a body, one that should never be found. Can the Undying really be dead after all?

Verdict

The Undying Truth was another great episode to continue my way through the Lost in Translation sixth series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! This was a very strong follow up to an excellent opener and I was a big fan of the vibe once again. This series feels much grittier than all of its predecessors and that suits this alternate incarnation of the Doctor right down to the ground. It's a good vibe and judging by how things concluded, we're about to get a whole lot more exciting. Before we get to the end though we had a damn good story to last the course of an hour or so. I thought the setting was strong and I liked the mystery behind a figure being found. That felt right up Benny's alley given her position as an archaeologist and it just worked well. I thought the guest characters really complimented the story as well. They were hugely impressive and I was honestly stunned by how Vikram was killed off pretty early on. He was literally squelched to death as he fell below the sinking mud and the audio effects there conveyed it fantastically. It was gruesome stuff and considering I was listening before 7am, it was a startling beginning to my morning! It had a lasting effect on me for the rest of the episode though and I couldn't not use the quote I selected. It was just eery and that works for me. I like that kind of dark art feel and this had it in abundance. I thought Arn was a strong character as well as the local and she was actually quite unfazed by what had happened. Nobody went after those that sank because there was just no way back. It was an awful way to die! The helplessness must be horrifying but it can't be a quick death either. Some nice thoughts here! Euphemia was another strong character and I liked how she developed over the course of the episode. We had heard about the legend of the Undying and with it being named as such, it was fun to ponder on whether it was actually dead. Her accusations towards the Doctor actually did seem to make something of a logical sense as far as the traits of the legend were concerned, but he didn't do himself too many favours by denying it as ridiculous. He was a little too dismissive which meant he was still going to be suspected. The true nature of the Undying as a fungus was intriguing and hearing that have the effect it dod on Euphemia was good stuff. I liked that a legend was actually natural and whilst there was credence to the story, it was great to have an actual scientific and logical explanation. There didn't seem to be anything fancy about it whilst maintaining a strong threat. That worked well for me! I thought the means of tackling it at the end by fire and heat was pretty good and it was certainly effective! It was dealt with quite hastily and suddenly which certainly had a big impact. It didn't take long at all once the resolution was found. I liked how things ended for the Doctor and Benny moving forward also as the conclusion was rather reminiscent of The War Games as the Second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe struggle to make their way to the TARDIS. Having the Unbound Doctor go to Gallifrey is incredibly exciting and it's happening an episode earlier than I expected going off the story titles! It's no secret we were heading in that direction with the series cover art and Benny wearing an infamous collar, so I'm incredibly excited and intrigued to hear where things head from here! Overall, a really strong listen to continue what has been a terrific series thus far! 

Rating: 9/10

Lost in Translation: Have I Told You Lately

"Open up you blasted thing."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: September 2020

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 6.01

Featuring: Unbound Doctor, Benny

Synopsis

Bernice and the Doctor find themselves lost in the dark with the only clue to their surroundings a mysterious voice.

Verdict

Have I Told You Lately was an excellent start to the Lost in Translation sixth series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! I love the dynamic between Benny and the Unbound Doctor with them constantly bickering at each other and having a tetchy atmosphere within the TARDIS. Despite it sounding rather negative it actually works brilliantly well. This was an intriguing tale following on from the Buried Memories series and we see the Doctor in an emotional state perhaps like never before. Certainly not in this alternate incarnation. It is quite easy to forget that this Doctor is from a different universe. And not just a different one, but one that was literally dying. Considering the nature of the Doctor and how he strives to save people, even in this seemingly grumpy incarnation, having him deal with the literal end of his universe will obviously take its toll! Hearing him express that here was fantastic and really allowed us to open up into the character which I absolutely welcomed. I thought the format of the episode was very unique and very clever. It was different and unlike anything I'd heard before so I appreciated the effort there. I thought the Ark of Whispers was a strong setting and the way words literally developed over the course of the story was terrific. It was fun for Benny and the Doctor to communicate in unusual means through the Speaker and that form of artificial intelligence was learning through them. Their language was quite amusing and I couldn't believe how many times I heard the phrase I took for my opening quote! Hearing Benny mimic the Doctor and it actually open the door because of what the Doctor had programmed through his speech was delightfully amusing. The Speaker just referring to Benny by her surname because of how the Doctor addresses his companion was a nice touch and a good confirmation of how Benny knew she was communicating with the Doctor through it. Albeit in very unusual circumstances! I liked that the Doctor and Benny were separated and the vibe of the episode was dark. Not in terms of tone but literally in atmosphere and that's impressive to portray on audio. It was deliciously gritty. The fall from the TARDIS at the start of the episode with the Doctor warning Benny not to follow him was good because obviously that would not happen! Hearing how the Doctor and Benny got closer and closer through their communication was good and it was on obvious place to build towards throughout the story. I really liked how we heard each of them working out what was occurring and having them finish off each other's sentences as far as the listener was concerned. That was unique and just a bit of fun. I liked how this episode played into the umbrella title of the series with the play on words, and just having a story with a dialect dampener is quite impressive! That's a fun concept and I was glad that Benny could work it out. She feels much more on the Doctor's level here than the usual companion dynamic. I suppose that should be the case though given the title of the spinoff series! I liked how things ended with the Doctor admitting that he should talk to Benny about his feelings, but not just yet. They wouldn't quite venture to the end of the universe yet to be reunited with the Speaker. They'd do some of the fun little things first. That was a nice touch. Overall, a fantastic start to the series! 

Rating: 9/10

Restoration of the Daleks

"It's like they were never gone."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: September 2020

Series: The Eighth Doctor: Time War 4.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Bliss

Synopsis

The Dalek Time Strategist restores the Dalek armies to the universe but wants to dispense with Davros.

Verdict

Restoration of the Daleks was a great episode to conclude the fourth Time War volume of Eighth Doctor Adventures! I'm not really sure why but I did expect this to have more of a finality in its feel, but I think that really was kind of impossible. We know the Time War goes on for quite some time yet and we don't even have the Doctor in his War incarnation yet, and here we are having the Daleks restored to the universe after the Valeyard had already ended the Time War and wiped out the Daleks from memory. The scale of this conflict really is stretched and I'm loving what Big Finish are doing in filling in that gap between The Movie and Rose. There's so much life in the Eighth Doctor and whilst this would take us somewhere close to the end of his incarnation, it's nice to know that at this point he remains committed to not entering the frontline of the Time War. He doesn't want any part despite doing what he can to help the Time Lords. Of course, Bliss was against him not helping as that's literally what he told him he does where he can so when the people of Cosca needed him, he didn't take too much convincing from his companion. I thought the dynamic between Bliss and Rasmus in particular was intriguing and whilst I'm not sure how Bliss will end her story, it's good to know that she has a place on Gallifrey. I did like that she felt her place was alongside the Doctor for now though. Davros being the link that the Dalek Time Strategist was drawing upon to restore the Daleks to the universe was good and I loved that we got some more Dalek civil war. In tapping into the multiverse, the advantage the Daleks had on the battleground was paramount as the number of casualties they were suffering simply didn't matter. More and more versions continued to come. Whilst I'm usually a huge fan of the interaction between the Doctor and Davros, it was actually the former's conversation with the Dalek Time Strategist that I found most intriguing in this episode. The prospect of the Strategist being scared of killing the Doctor because of his position in their future history was excellent and we got some incredible namedropping of the likes of the Cult of Skaro, Dalek Caan and even the New Dalek Paradigm! That's some future. The Strategist foreseeing the fall of Gallifrey was not something the Doctor was happy with as you might expect, but he couldn't deny that he was entwined with the Daleks. They were a necessary evil. I thought the restoration of the Dalek Emperor was fantastic and I wonder if that was intended as a way to explain his presence in The Parting of the Ways following on from the Time War. I found the dynamic between Davros and the Emperor fascinating and the creator of the Daleks being labelled as false seemed odd because he literally did conjure them into existence, and his position in this episode of extracting the Dalek in every species was something I'd have liked more time spent on. That was a brilliant concept. Bickering between different sets of Daleks basically causing their downfall here was interesting and did work, but it just felt slightly quick after a lengthy buildup and story arc. I feel like this boxset could have done with an additional episode to really flesh things out, but what we got was still really great. The Dcotor being enticed with his own family connection in the form of his great-grandson Alex was excellent and completely unexpected, but a fine addition. The impact of To the Death on this incarnation of the Doctor will never be forgotten so to have it come into play here was really well done. I thought Davros at the end after being thwarted was maniacal as ever and his laugh of almost relief and joy at being kept alive and needed by his children was eery and just fantastic. Overall, a really strong finale to what has been an incredible run of Time War adventures! And we're far from over.

Rating: 8/10

Dreadshade

"Imagine forgetting the Daleks."

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: September 2020

Series: The Eighth Doctor: Time War 4.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Bliss

Synopsis

The Time Lords, including the General and the Twelve, adjust to life after the Time War, until the Doctor and Bliss return with a warning.

Verdict

Dreadshade was an excellent episode to continue my way through the fourth Time War volume of Eighth Doctor Adventures! This was a triumphant follow on to Palindrome as a double length opener and really did follow up the climactic events of The War Valeyard in the previous boxset finale. It was incredible to think that at this point in time, long before the War Doctor was even a factor, the Time War was thought won. The only issue was that the Time Lords had forgotten who their opponents had been! That was a really fun situation to be in and with the trip from the portal playing havoc with the memory of the Doctor and Bliss, it was only the Twelve being in stasis that provided them with the answer. She revelled in that answer though and this was a tremendous outing for the female incarnation of this whacky and wonderful Time Lord. This is what I was hoping for coming off her previous appearances in the story where she wasn’t appearing to be wholly evil. She was the villain of the piece here which was delightful. I thought the Doctor and Bliss forgetting each other provided a fun dynamic with the latter’s reaction to being labelled a companion very amusing. Her questioning what the Doctor did with these companions and how many he had at a time was a delight. It was such good and innocent fun. The General playing a major role in the story was fantastic and he’s such a booming presence. His description of events to the Doctor was great as he revealed that the Time War was over. Except they had no idea who they had been fighting. The description of the scale of conflict was amazing and I love the prospect of them being in a state of decommission ahead of the Daleks returning for restoration. That’s going to be a big surprise for sure! Despite being completely forgotten, it now feels like it’s advantage Daleks. That’s really fun. I thought the titular character of the Dreadshade was a really intriguing concept and the desire of the Time Lords to fill it with complete fear of the Daleks was horrifying. The weaponisation of a being like that showed the lengths the Time Lords were going to and throwing her into a bunch of them and petrifying her into destroying them was quite something. I certainly appreciated the unique nature. The Doctor understandably wasn’t impressed, but once he returned she had forgotten what she was scared of. The Twelve pouncing on that and injecting her with fear of the Time Lords was tremendous. She wanted to force her way onto the High Council which was an interesting career aim and I appreciated the effort. The General retorting how you had to earn your place on the Council was fantastic. The Twelve joking around about being the only one to remember the Daleks was good fun and her exterminate mock impression was a delight. I think this was definitely the best episode yet for the Twelve in this incarnation, although I must admit I much preferred the interaction with the previous incarnations within her mind in the previous incarnation. It doesn’t quite feel the same but I guess that’s down to the inhibitor. The way she sparked the Doctor and Bliss’s memory was good stuff along with the Dreadshade was a fine way to end things and wrap things up, as we head into what is sure to be an explosive finale! A fantastic listen. 

Rating: 9/10

Palindrome Part Two

"I must turn my people into Daleks."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: September 2020

Series: The Eighth Doctor: Time War 4.01b

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Bliss

Synopsis

In an alternative universe, Davros lives in peace, until the Doctor and Bliss arrive, and the Daleks emerge in a new reality.

Verdict

Palindrome concluded in excellent style with this second part! This has been a fascinating listen over the course of two hours and really did spread the Time War far and wide which I'm a huge fan of happening. The fallout from The War Valeyard continues and it actually only seems to have made things worse. Eradicating N-Space of Daleks on paper sounds like a good idea and certainly a surefire way to end the Time War, but when the Dalek Time Strategist looms large and escaped, he would concoct some whacky way to restore the race. They are never truly dead and we've seen that countless times before and after the events of this story, but at least we did get some means of their return. The Time Strategist was building something here and linking with the portal to merge both time and alternate reality was spectacular! I thought the opening was good in starting at day one in using the portal and with the first part going backwards, time was somewhat on track here as the Doctor had said would happen. Davros believing himself to have awoken from a dream was fascinating, but his conversation with the Strategist was even more so. That purple Dalek was able to show Davros the extent of his existence and convinced him that in order to save his wife Charn, he had to die. He saw that and accepted it, welcomed it even, but the toll that he went through was extraordinary! Of course, the cover artwork gives things away a little with the altered appearance from any version we've seen on screen before, but I loved the concept behind an amalgamation of alternate versions of Davros. The version in love with his Thal wife was still the base line, but he became something like the version we know. I like that with the Time War setting the appearance of Davros resembles the casing seen in The Stolen Earth/Journey's End onwards, and also hearing a glimpse of his fate at the hands of the Nightmare Child as referenced in that story was excellent. I almost half felt like the finale of this boxset would showcase that, but some things are better left to the imagination. Especially in the unknowably bad Time War. The relationship between Davros and Charn was explored in a strong way and when the merging was happening it was something that helped keep him strong. The Davros that we know being sickened by the very idea of the pair sharing blood due to their Kaled and Thal species makeup was magnificent. It was quite fitting that the Daleks exterminated them both at the end at the behest of Davros without him ever actually realising who they were and what they meant. That was fun stuff. I thought the Doctor and Bliss being absent for a large chunk of the story was actually a good decision and the companion wanting to eradicate Davros was impressive! She actually shot him twice, but the Doctor being on hand to explain his life support systems as a means of survival ever since Genesis of the Daleks was fun stuff. But the Doctor and Bliss were actually immune too as numerous realities were merging where all kinds of possibilities existed and overwrote. That was good and something that Bliss realised could be used to their advantage. Davros was rather pompous in his ability to survive, but the Doctor knowing that he could die if taken away from the portal was great. The Time War beckoned. Overall, the two parts comprise one really clever story. It's incredible how much emotion there is here given Davros as the main character, and I liked that the Time Strategist sought out the Dalek creator to provide an amalgamation of the best of the Dalek race in preparation for their restoration. And here they were. This sets things up very nicely moving forward! Overall, an excellent episode! 

Rating: 9/10

Palindrome Part One

"Your first death unwrote your second."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: September 2020

Series: The Eighth Doctor: Time War 4.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Bliss

Synopsis

In an alternative universe, Davros lives in peace, until the Doctor and Bliss arrive, and the Daleks emerge in a new reality.

Verdict

Palindrome started in excellent style! Kicking off the fourth Time War volume of Eighth Doctor Adventures in this style was not something I expected, but I absolutely loved it! It was an incredible take on Davros and a different reality to say the least. The creator of the Daleks joining the fight within the Time War is incredibly exciting, but this is fat from what I was expecting! This was a very different Skaro from the one in the Doctor's universe and the audacity of the author in having Davros living a happy life married to a Thal was extraordinary. When the version we are more familiar with came into play, I was surprised he could even acknowledge this alternate version of himself! The alternate version referring to the creator of the Daleks as a half man was excellent stuff too. There was so much going on here and it was just richly filled with emotion and intrigue. I just loved how different everything was. Davros living an ordinary-ish life with his wife and showing compassion and love. They're not exactly traits he would pass onto the Daleks. Charn was a really nice character and Davros having to toy with the idea of losing her was something he couldn't face. This was so different to the Davros we knew and whilst we have seen a much younger version in The Magician's Apprentice, this was altogether different. This felt wrong and yet somehow absolutely the same man. I can't quite place my finger on how that was the case, but I must give kudos to the writer for capturing that essence. It's not an easy character to change! The use of the portal on Skaro was really good and would prove an important access point. The Time War spilling over into different universes is tremendous and as we build to something of a crescendo for these Eighth Doctor Adventures, it feels right that it's happening. It's such a big event that it cannot be contained in just one universe. Hearing the Doctor and Bliss be on friendly terms with Davros and Charn was intriguing, although the relationship with the former in particular just felt off. In the best way possible. The Doctor and Davros shouldn't just be having casual conversation! But I absolutely love it. I liked how knowledgeable and mature Bliss felt in the story and it's easy to forget just how long she has been a companion now. And it might be even longer given the temporal nature of the Time War. Is time linear within it? I think that's inconclusive. I thought the Doctor's reaction to seeing the version of Davros he knew and had fought for the first time in a long while was magnificent and really sold just how much distain he had for the Dalek creator. If anyone didn't know, the history between them was rife. I thought the alternate Davros having to battle with the survival of his wife or the universe was a situation where he couldn't win, and just hearing the two versions of Davros converse was brilliant. The trust there must come from them technically being the same person and it provided us with a strong cliffhanger going into the second part as the Doctor and Bliss would be emerging from the portal, but the creator entrusted his alternate self. It was excellent stuff and now I really can't wait for the second part to conclude the story. That's where the final rating will come as I'll judge the two parts as one despite the separate blog entries, but for now this was an excellent opening half! I can't wait for more. I love me some Davros so having him arrive in the Time War is incredibly exciting! Overall, a terrific listen. 

A Boy's Tale

"I wanted a pet."

Writer: Gary Russell

Format: Short Story

Released: April 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Companions 05

Featuring: Adric

Synopsis

Adventures in time and space are no fun if there's no one to share them. the Doctor has taken along many people on his travels – humans, aliens and robots. Did he really care for any of them? What in their previous life fitted them for the role of companion – and how did they cope after they left the TARDIS?

These seventeen stories look at the Doctor's trusty companions, before, during and after their travels with the eccentric Time Lord. Discover the truth about Romana's regeneration, find out what happened when Zoe encountered the Doctor again, and learn which of his companions the Doctor cared for the most...

Verdict

A Boy's Tale was a great adventure to continue my way through the Companions volume of Short Trips! This was a fantastic use of Adric as a character and it was a really fun dynamic to have much of the story in the form of a letter. That is something I usually enjoy and it certainly worked well. I’d have been absolutely fine if the entire story was presented in the letter italics, but alas it was good to get those interludes throughout the actual story. I thought having an Adric story prior to the events of Full Circle was very exciting! It was also excellent to establish the point in which he was writing the letter as being between The Keeper of Traken and Logopolis. I liked that a lot and it was nice for Adric to touch upon how much he enjoyed Nyssa. It’s nice to know for him that she will shortly return and join Adric and the Doctor on their travels. The form of the letter was good and I liked that Adric was using the TARDIS databank to write the message. His feelings towards the Fourth Doctor in particular were intriguing to read as he seemed to think he was quite grumpy and not affectionate. That’s not wholly incorrect of the Season 18 version of this incarnation of the Doctor and it provided a good sense of vulnerability towards Adric. I’m not a bit fan of his as a companion in the slightest, but I found myself feeling rather sorry for him. That was good in terms of an emotional pull and I was engrossed in the content. I just loved learning more about Alzarius and it is always fun to encounter a companion before they met the Doctor. We get to know more about their history and their true personality as obviously things will change considerably once they join up on the TARDIS! I thought his fascination with learning was clear although he didn’t strike me as the kind of person to be fascinated by dogs! I wouldn’t have Adric down as any kind of animal person but he was determined to learn about them here. Specifically about the concept of a pet and why people had them and cared for them. They even named them! That was fun stuff and I liked how Adric enlisted Zayn to help him on the way. He wanted physical books and not just electronic means of education which I could appreciate, but the dangers were clear to see. I loved that his entire world was opened up once he met up with Marie and she could show him that there was far more to the world on Alzarius. Even the First Decider in Draith was part of the secrecy which was great. I liked how he came to a mutual understanding with Adric about neither party seeing each other involved on the south side. Adric was rather shocked that someone as high ranking was involved in fabrication. His planet wasn’t all he thought it was. I liked how things ended with Draith actually helping Adric escape and sort things out for him whilst he was being looked for by family and friends, and that little nod of understanding with Zayn was a nice touch. There was a good degree of caution there. I thought the revelation at the end of the letter with Adric having actually written to K9 was hilarious because I just completely assumed he was writing to Romana! But it went right over my head with his focus to learn about dogs. Of course he was addressing K9! That really did make me laugh because it was so obvious and I couldn’t believe I’d missed it. Overall, a really strong story to continue my way through the collection!

Rating: 8/10

Apocrypha Bipedium

"I come from the future and know all sorts of things."

Writer: Ian Potter

Format: Short Story

Released: April 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Companions 04

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Charley, Vicki

Synopsis

Adventures in time and space are no fun if there's no one to share them. the Doctor has taken along many people on his travels – humans, aliens and robots. Did he really care for any of them? What in their previous life fitted them for the role of companion – and how did they cope after they left the TARDIS?

These seventeen stories look at the Doctor's trusty companions, before, during and after their travels with the eccentric Time Lord. Discover the truth about Romana's regeneration, find out what happened when Zoe encountered the Doctor again, and learn which of his companions the Doctor cared for the most...

Verdict

Apocrypha Bipedium was an average little story to continue my way through the Companions volume of Short Trips! This was certainly an intriguing little tale and whilst on paper the ingredients all seemed very positive and very good, the format is probably the main thing that I had an issue with. Using source material as a means of storytelling is not new in these kind of releases, but for whatever reason it just didn’t quite click for me. It felt overlapping and confusing. I thought the jumping back and forth with numerous sources being just from one of the main character’s perspective was a little off putting. I’d have much preferred if each source was more varied. It was only really the point of view of young Shakespeare that was what I liked because of how different it was. I thought it was quite fun to have him as his younger self on his travels with the Eighth Doctor and Charley, playing nicely into the events of The Time of the Daleks. It seems a very long time now since I listened to that adventure early on in the Eighth Doctor and Charley run, but its impact is certainly long lasting. The use of the format as if it was a play was the best one by a country mile and I really appreciated that things rhymed. If the entire story was like that then I’d be well into it! Alas, it was not to be. I thought the other sources from the perspective of the Doctor, Charley and Vicki were less impactful. That was particularly the case for the former as I don’t think his voice was well captured in the prose. It didn’t feel like a diary extract or anything close for the Doctor. I wasn’t all that more impressed with Charley’s diary either, and the insistence on calling it a dairy got tiresome very quickly. Now, the inclusion of Vicki was terrific and I thought the central premise for her character here was a delight. I loved that she was older now but saw the Eighth Doctor’s arrival as a younger version of the Doctor she knew. Of course, the First Doctor is considerably younger than the version in this story and having the Eighth refer to his elderly incarnation as being young was very fun. The Doctor’s efforts to prevent a bootstrap paradox was fun and it was clear that he was never going to succeed. He basically gave up by the end which was amusing. The Time Lord inclusion of the source material from Flavia disapproved which was good, although some of the language throughout was lacking. The Doctor referring to the time and space visualiser as the telly didn’t seem correct, although I did like the continuity from The Chase in having the Doctor worry about the fact Vicki had seen Shakespeare on the screen. Going beyond The Myth Makers for Vicki was lovely and it was fun for the legends to have her in love with Diomede as that’s who Steven claimed to be during that story! The Doctor questioning her about their relationship was unexpected and it seems like it was something that had happened on numerous occasions with her reaction! She insisted there was no romance there. I was also shocked that the Doctor kissed Charley to basically shut her up. That felt awfully out of character despite what happened in The Movie with Grace. I liked that this was a pure historical and essentially served as a reunion and little catch up for the Doctor with an old companion, but for me the format needed to be better. It was trying too hard to be funny and just came across a little clunky for my liking despite a strong idea at heart. A worthy read nonetheless. 

Rating: 6/20

Summer Falls

"She was alone in a world that was a dream."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Short Story

Released: April 2013

Printed in: Summer Falls and Other Stories 01

Featuring: Amy

Synopsis

"When summer falls, the Lord of Winter will arise..."

In the seaside village of Watchcombe, young Kate is determined to make the most of her last week of summer holiday. But when she discovers a mysterious painting entitled The Lord of Winter in a charity shop, it leads her on an adventure she never could have planned. Kate soon realises the old seascape, painted long ago by an eccentric local artist, is actually a puzzle. And with the help of some bizarre new acquaintances – including a museum curator's magical cat, a miserable neighbour, and a lonely boy – she plans on solving it. 

And then, one morning Kate wakes up to a world changed forever. For the Lord of Winter is coming – and Kate has a very important decision to make.

Verdict

Summer Falls was not the most enjoyable of stories unfortunately. There was enough about it to appreciate what was tried but at the end of the day I thought this was just pretty jumbled and clunky. I'm not entirely sure the story was actually long enough for what was trying to be presented, and it seems the author started rushing towards the last third of the adventure. Of course, in universe this book is glimpsed in The Bells of Saint John as a favourite of Clara's to read. However I am a little sad to say I don't know why it would be! Especially with her being a teacher of English literature. I don't think it was the most well written story and it was just all over the place. I thought it was a good setting and the wintery feel was nicely presented which I would have expected given the name of the story and the synopsis promising the coming of the Lord of Winter. It all sounded very Game of Thrones style which was good, but the quality was so far removed from that incredible series and universe. One thing that really put me off was how the comment from Clara in the aforementioned television episode about chapter eleven being sad never really felt like it had credence. Was it really that sad? I'm not so sure. It wasn't all that long either. I think the story needed to have more chapters because the second one in particular was excessively long. Clara's comment in the episode didn't feel like the eleventh chapter was the penultimate one and her comment would seem to be more indicative of a mid-story twist. I didn't get that feeling come across here which is a shame. Kate Webster wasn't the most enticing of characters but she was just fine in doing the job. I think a bit more personality would have been welcomed but I did like the relationship she built with Armand as she was the new girl in a new town. And the prospect of a new school season was in order and she wasn't all that excited. She wanted to enjoy the last week of holidays. The quest format within the world of the Lord of Winter was strange and I just don't think we had enough clarity on where we were or what was happening. The puzzle within the painting sounded good on paper but it just wasn't clear enough. It seemed rather rushed at the end then when the Lord of Winter actually arrived with not enough time for him to make a big impact after all of the buildup. That was a bit of a shame as the concept behind him was actually pretty good. The way he would return was a little clunky and odd with the puzzle in the artwork, but the shift in seasons was very exciting. That was such a big change in dynamic and showed some immense power! I thought the character of the Curator was undoubtedly the highlight of the story and it's intriguing to think that this was released prior to the broadcast of The Day of the Doctor where this mysterious version of the Doctor was revealed. It's clear from the description of the 'shed' vanishing representing what was said in The Doctor's Wife and just the general clumsy nature of the man called Barnabus that Amy as author would have based him on the Doctor. It is good to think that the Doctor will feature in some regard despite him not always finding it easy to gain access to help Kate in her mysterious wintry domain. The twist regarding Milo felt a little off with him actually being Mr Stevens and shifting from a child, and the moments with the cat just didn't do anything for me. I'm not sure if they were meant to be funny but they just seemed to get in the way which was a shame. Overall, not the best read for me and I think it's because it was halfway between actually being a Doctor Who adventure and not. I love the idea of presenting this from the in universe perspective, but it falls a little short for me. 

Rating: 5/10