The Entropy Plague

"If it means getting my friends home..."

Writer: Jonathan Morris

Format: Audio

Released: March 2015

Series: Monthly Adventures 197

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan, Turlough

Synopsis

A Great Darkness is spreading over E-Space. Entropy increases. In search of a last exit to anywhere, the TARDIS arrives on the power-less planet of Apollyon, where the scientist Pallister guards the only way out –  mysterious portal. But the portal needs power to open, and the only power Pallister can draw on is the energy contained within the molecular bonds of all living tissue...

The Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan and Turlough soon learn that neither Pallister nor his ally, the space pirate Captain Branarack, will stop at murder to ensure their escape. But they're not the only menace on Apollyon. The Sandmen are coming – creatures that live on the life force; that live on death.

Death is the only way out into N-Space. Death, or sacrifice. 

But whose death?

Whose sacrifice?

Verdict

The Entropy Plague was another excellent Monthly Adventures audio! This was an emotional tale that saw the conclusion of the Fifth Doctor’s E-Space trilogy. I really liked the parallels with Warriors’ Gate and how the Doctor remembered walking in the castle grounds of which the insert was from Powys Castle in my own place of birth in Welshpool. That provided a smile as I heard the Doctor reminisce on that and personally provided some strong imagery in my own visualisation of the story. I liked how this followed on nice from where Equilibrium left off with Tegan having been kidnapped and that cliffhanger is pretty much responsible for why I listened to this audio today to round out the trilogy immediately. I was excited to hear what direction things were take and they soon became pretty powerful. The Apollyon setting was really good and the preparation for the end of E-Space put things in quite a daunting position. Entropy itself playing a role in the plot was excellent and it’s a concept that is just fascinating. It’s obviously damaging and this story quickly becomes all about Nyssa. She made a huge decision back in Terminus to depart the TARDIS on the first occasion on screen, but now we see her make an altogether more difficult and emotional decision to leave again. The circumstances were completely different here and I thought it was fantastic for the exposure to entropy to reverse the events of The Emerald Tiger and her rejuvenation. The shock that came from her wrinkled skin and grey hair really did set the tone for her fate. I mean, given the format of the story and how it was being recalled to her son Adric her fate was sealed right from the off. As soon as it was mentioned that a tribute was required for entry to the portal then I knew Nyssa would be sacrificing herself. Thankfully, she wouldn’t perish and would survive but for how long we don’t know. She stabilised E-Space for a few hundred years at least although that wasn’t much of a consolation to Adric. I wonder if we’ve heard the last of him as he wasn’t exactly happy with the Doctor despite it being Nyssa’s decision. I liked how she wrote a letter at the end to make sure the Doctor was absolved of blame and her children might one day know it was her choice alone. The hunt for Tegan was pretty amusing and I was almost stunned at how lacking in concern the Doctor was for her safety. I know she’s a loudmouth but even for him I was stunned! The concept behind the Sandmen was good as well and the revelation regarding how they were created with the tributes was superbly horrifying. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, sand to sand indeed. Pallister’s obsession throughout regarding the entropy and the gateway was intriguing and the Doctor was almost on a similar level. His desperation was clear in how much he wanted the TARDIS on the ship to get through the CVE even if tributes were required. Turlough thought similarly but just as long as it wasn’t one of the companions. Of course, Nyssa took her own initiative as she knew she could help with the entropy as well. It was a noble second departure for one of my all time favourite companions! Overall, a fantastic audio adventure! 

Rating: 9/10

Equilibrium

"We do not question the balancing."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: February 2015

Series: Monthly Adventures 196

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan, Turlough

Synopsis

Still looking for a way out of E-Space, the TARDIS crashes to Isenfel – a realm of snow and ice. Snarling beasts stalk the frozen plains, a feisty princess leads the hunt, and a queen in an ice palace rules over her loyal subjects. 

But this is no fairytale kingdom, and everyone in Isenfel knows the price of survival. While Nyssa and Tegan uncover deadly secrets hidden in the palace, Turlough flees for his life across the tundra. 

And as for the Doctor... he only ever wants to change things for the better. But in a world such as Isenfel, such a hope may not even be possible.

Verdict

Equilibrium was  a superb story to continue my way through the Monthly Adventures and serve as the middle instalment of an E-Space trilogy! This followed on very nicely from the climactic cliffhanger of Mistfall which saw Solas take the TARDIS interface stabiliser and leave the Doctor’s trusty time and space machine pretty vulnerable and not exactly easy to steer! I thought that was a strong basis to start the story and just being in E-Space is fascinating. I like the idea of it being a much smaller universe than N-Space which actually helped the TARDIS troubles this time around! There’s a lot of potential in another universe and the icy landscape painted quite an image. I thought the white camouflage of the foxes in particular was brilliant and I liked how they really couldn’t be seen. The Doctor and company being on the hunt for the stabiliser was good and I like that there was an end goal for their presence on Isenfel. The world that they would become encountered with though turned out to be something quite spectacular! This was a stunning example of world building and whilst it’s not original to have the people within being an abandoned science experiment, the world within was certainly unique. Karlina was a strong character as the Queen ruling over the realm and I must say I thought the entire guest cast of characters were fantastic. The Balancer was an intriguing concept and the way it was drip fed just what equilibrium referred to in Isenfel was quite horrifying. There had to be a balancing of lives and that meant grandparents sacrificed themselves for their own children to have babies. Not even the royals were exempt, although the palace was something of a haven against the black snow. The concept behind that as a means of matter dispersal was pretty gruesome but certainly effective. It also sounds tremendous as a threat. I really liked the characters of Jesper and Romy as two who were on the side of life and slightly upsetting the balance of equilibrium by trying to keep just a couple of babies safe and hidden to ensure no others had to die for them. But when the threat of nothingness and the end of the world came the active of Jesper was a powerful moment that bought her loved one and the rest of her people some time. I thought it was good to take Turlough out of his comfort zone a little here with Inger taking a fancy to him and the kiss at the end seemed to get his internal wheels in motion. Even the Doctor and Tegan could see she felt something for him and the latter’s comment about her eating him alive was glorious. I think Nyssa had an intriguing story and it’s often quite easy to forget this is not the version we saw on screen. She’s much older despite her rejuvenation and it’s interesting to hear her be so open about wanting to stop her travels. I sense an end is coming for her soon (again), especially with the discussions on the loss of both Adrics. Her appeal to the Doctor about his own equilibrium and only being on the side of good was wonderful though and a real story highlight even if the Time Lord struggled to believe it. The reveal of the Balancer being part of the System was really good and his emotional wellbeing was compromised with the knowledge of sending so many to their deaths. The Doctor reestablishing the boundaries of the experiment was good and I thought Skaarsgard secreting himself to save Isenfel at the end was a fitting conclusion. The threat of the TARDIS being swallowed up by the ice was magnificent although I think more could have been done to sell the jeopardy. The Doctor never seemed worried about retrieving it. I thought the story having another cliffhanger was good and I felt sorry for Tegan with how she was almost forgotten about! The Doctor was enjoying the silence before Turlough found out she’d been kidnapped. Overall, a fantastic listen! I’m very excited for the trilogy’s finale.

Rating: 9/10

Faithful Friends: Five Hundred Ways to Leave Your Lover

"He's about to dump the Doctor."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: January 2025

Series: Classic Doctors, New Monsters 5.04

Featuring: Eighth Doctor

Synopsis

Chris is on a date. But it isn't working out. Perhaps he'll end it over dinner. Or on a cruise. Or in a lunar spa. But who are these figures in red? And why are they so invested in his relationship?

All of reality might be at stake, and the Monks will pursue Chris wherever he goes – but as long as he manages to break up with his boyfriend, the Doctor, everything might be saved...

Verdict

Five Hundred Ways to Leave Your Lover was an excellent episode to conclude the Faithful Friends fifth series of Classic Doctors, New Monsters! I must say I wouldn't have the Monks on my bingo card when it came to the choices of monsters from the modern era that I would choose to encounter Classic Doctors, but after this story I think it was a stroke of genius as this might just be the best episode in the entire boxset! I thought it was fantastic from start to finish and whilst staying true to the Monks that we saw in a Twelfth Doctor trilogy, it wasn't repetitive and still peaked my interest. I think the Eighth Doctor was the only choice when it came to deciding which Classic incarnation would be best placed for this episode as I just cannot envisage any of the previous seven being on a date with Chris. Referring to the Doctor as his boyfriend was really intriguing and with the Eighth Doctor being a more modern incarnation, he was the perfect candidate. I liked the atmosphere right from the off in how things had an enigmatic feel and kudos must go to the sound effects for capturing that. It wasn't revealed until relatively late on that things were all a simulation, but that had felt like the case from the start and that was really impressive. Chris was a likeable enough character and the episode would basically be focused on him as the heart of the simulation. It was left a little ambiguous as to why it was him that was so important for the Monks and their need for consent when it came to their invasion plans which is probably why this story escapes a perfect rating, but the Doctor acknowledging that makes it better as at least he is aware and this sets up the Monks to return in Extremis and beyond. Keeping that Italian style accent for their voices was the right call and I think it was correct to have them speak sparsely. Part of their charm and appeal is in their mysterious nature lurking in the shadows. Chris repeatedly spotting them in their red robes was good but a highlight was when one was in a red towel in a sauna! The sound effects of Chris and the Doctor having a couples massage was not exactly something I was expecting in this adventure but it was fun! Chris trying to break up with the Doctor throughout the different scenarios was quite amusing and that being an important part of the simulation was fascinating. Poor old Doctor! Mark's arrival into the episode claiming to be the true boyfriend of Chris was interesting but I was never convinced that was the factual situation. He just felt off which I'm sure was absolutely the intent and worked well. He was almost desperate when it came to wanting that consent for the Monks in their desire for truth to allow them to invade. It was quite the set up and the confidence the Doctor showed in trying to appeal to Chris about what was the truth was wonderful. This was a stellar Paul McGann performance and I maintain that it is absolutely criminal he hasn't had his own spinoff series on television. He more than deserves it. I thought Chris realising the importance of his individuality was a nice way to finish things as he realised he really didn't need anyone else to get by in his life. He was just fine by himself. I thought the twist of the Doctor also being a simulation was fantastic and something I really should have seen coming! It was really nice for Chris to realise that he even didn't need the Doctor in the end. He did it all by himself. The Doctor not knowing where the Monks had got to left things open for their return in the modern era which was great stuff and overall just a wonderful way to round out what has been a pretty strong series! Keep them coming. 

Rating: 9/10

Doctor Who and the Planet of Evil

"The planet was alive – and it was a killer."

Writer: Terrance Dicks

Format: Novel

Released: August 1977

Series: Target 47

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Sarah

Synopsis

A survey team of eight men from the mighty Morestran Empire lands on Zeta Minor, a remote planet on the fringes of the universe. Before their expedition is over, seven of the men are mysteriously and horrifically murdered. 

A distress signal brings the Doctor to the planet – but his good intentions are not appreciated. The commander of a Morestran rescue party, sent to investigate the disappearance of the survey team, is convinced the Doctor is the killer.

And while the Doctor is kept prisoner and powerless to act, the merciless hell-planet claims even more victims...

Verdict

Doctor Who and the Planet of Evil was a great novelisation of the Fourth Doctor serial (almost) baring the same name! I must admit my memory of this serial on screen was not exactly strong so I was looking forward to reading the novelisation as a way of taking me back. I love the pairing of the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane and I think it's been an awfully long time since blogging any of their adventures as a sole pairing. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of Harry but there's just something special about this pairing. I don't think their chemistry was wholly exploited in this book, but it's still a delight to read them together. Sarah's frustration at the Doctor always changing the subject or avoiding questions was marvellous and you could just feel that Tom Baker grin in the writing. That aspect was certainly exciting! I thought the way Terrance Dicks opened the book was just brilliant and really set the tone. It captured exactly what it said on the tin in terms of the planet being evil, although I'm not entirely convinced that was the case. I wouldn't argue that the planet was evil in the slightest and with it existing on the edge of the known universe, the pathway to the world of anti-matter was logical. Sorenson was the one who I would deem the villain of the piece, even more so than the anti-man which was a fun dubbing by the Doctor. I know they were essential a hybrid but it was Sorenson's choice to consume the liquid and for him to not have a care in the world that seven of his fellow scientists had perished in the work to find an alternative energy source for the Morestran Empire as their sun was dying. He thought he'd found it with the veins of anti-matter, but the planet wasn't having any of it. They couldn't leave. Literally. I thought that was a fascinating concept and the Doctor having deduced it pretty early on put him in a powerful position of knowledge. I could certainly see why he and Sarah were being blamed for the deaths that had occurred given they were recent arrivals, and that was a fact that the companion was not too thrilled about. The continuity with Doctor Who and the Loch Ness Monster was lovely as Sarah hoped to just avoid a train journey back to London but instead found herself over 30,000 years into the future and at the edge of the universe! It's a shame we never get a reference to Omega as this story seems perfect for him, but I do enjoy more delving into the world of anti-matter. It's a fascinating concept and trying to comprehend something that is the opposite to matter messes with my head. The power source there is incredible and even I was impressed by the prospect of six pounds resulting in centuries' worth of solar power equivalent to a sun. No wonder Sorenson was so desperate to maintain his studies and findings. These kind of riches weren't to be sniffed at! I thought the pace of the book was really strong and whilst it did go a little quickly, the excitement was there. Maybe a little more room for development beyond what we saw on screen would have improved things, but that not being there didn't take anything away from the story. It was a terrific novelisation. I thought the dark atmosphere was very well captured and I must say you really do feel how many times the hatchways are opened and closed when reading! I thought the ending was pretty frantic with the Doctor chaining the multiplied anti-matter creatures, and the predictability of Sorenson leaving the anti-matter from within him behind was still good. I like the idea of a Time Lord promise holding sway with the anti-matter creature, although it's a missed opportunity to have not dived below the Black Pool. Overall, still a terrific read! 

Rating: 8/10

Blind Terror

"He would meet his agent face to face and he would defeat it."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Short Story

Released: July 2008

Series: Doctor Who Files 13

Featuring: Sontarans

Synopsis

On the trail for the final of four attacked Rutan ships, Commander Churl and Lieutenant Stavv are on the hunt. For victory! For Sontar! 

Verdict

Blind Terror was an excellent little short story to continue my way through the Doctor Who Files! I’m keeping my local library busy with this one as I requested to reserve the copy of the Sontarans purely for this adventure. They got it out of reserve stock and it seems that despite being released some seventeen years ago, I am the first borrower! To tell you something about the age range for the target audience from this collection, the librarian thought I was taking the book out for my newborn daughter who was strapped to me. Six weeks old she was when I took this out of the library! To be fair, I can’t fault her for thinking this book wasn’t for the twenty-eight year old man in the room but content is content and I’m a massive fan of the Sontarans so I was keen to read an adventure where they were the main focus. It’s an easy and obvious route to go down, but I was thoroughly delighted to be reading them on the hunt for Rutans! The endless war between the Sontarans and Rutans was established way back in The Time Warrior and reaffirmed in the modern era during The Sontaran Stratagem, so to actually get a taste of it in the modern era feels important. Just getting a description of the Rutans was delightful and I’m sure the first time any modern only viewers could get an impression of the Sontarans’ eternal enemy. I do wonder how many will have watched Horror of Fang Rock to see the Doctor take on the Rutans? I must say they did feel a little inferior to the Sontarans here but given the focus of the book that’s not massively surprising. It also tailed the back of the Sontarans taking down three of four ships and them finishing the job. I thought the unnamed but titular blind girl was a fascinating character and it was excellent for Churl to think her dishonourable and not worthy for losing her sight to illness. That was no battle wound! She did know about the Rutan ‘animal’ though and that worked nicely in saving her life. I thought the attack on Stravv was good and the girl shooting the Rutan was unexpected! Churl was quite satisfied with what went down though which was a nice way to finish things purely from a Sontaran perspective! Back to war he went as the Rutan scum lived on. I thought that was a nice touch as he didn’t seem like the main Sontaran in command from the off. There was definitely something of the Zygons in the Rutan’s new gained ability of metamorphosis. Just needing a little bit of tissue to replicate was definitely the orange sucker speciality! The blind girl having lost her dad to the Rutan was a shame and I was almost laughing at the lack of Sontaran sympathy. The idea of Sontarans being aware of human girls from their combat training is also quite incredible! There’s a lot to love about them and exploring them in detail here was a delight. I’m all for them hunting Rutans and I still can’t believe that war hasn’t been depicted on screen. We’ve had a Big Finish series and now this short story here from the modern era, but still nothing on screen. Maybe one day. For now though, this was a fantastic little read!

Rating: 9/10

Faithful Friends: The Krillitane Relic

"It's like stasis, but in the stars."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: January 2025

Series: Classic Doctors, New Monsters 5.03

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ray

Synopsis

The TARDIS brings the Doctor and Ray to a space station cryogenic facility, where interplanetary VIPs are stored pending medical cures.

There is a familiar face here too – someone the Doctor remembers, but who does not remember him...

Verdict

The Krillitane Relic was an excellent story to continue my way through the Faithful Friends fifth series of Classic Doctors, New Monsters! I must admit I wasn’t too surprised to hear that this was a direct sequel to the series opener of The Krillitane Feint, but the way in which it was just worked so brilliantly and was a tremendous twist. Knowing that this story was the turn of the Seventh as the Classic Doctor featuring in the episode, I was quite taken aback to hear Wendy Padbury open proceedings in a fascinating pre-titles sequence! It was tremendous and the prospect of encountering a Zoe post-The War Games was delightful. The Doctor recognised her right away which was lovely but she was less sure on who he was. That was of course understandable given he’s regenerated quite a few times since she last saw him! I thought the references to The Wheel in Space were delightful and it’s just another reminder of how soul destroying the fate of Jamie and Zoe is at the hands of the Time Lords. As the Doctor explains to Ray, her memories of their travels together are wiped apart from her first one and that just isn’t fair. The Doctor wondering if the Time Lords actually botched the job here was excellent and more than feasible! I really liked the continuity with Zoe’s numerous Companion Chronicles adventures and the humorous line about the originality of the Company’s name being just that was fantastic. It wasn’t exactly creative! Acknowledging that was a nice touch. I enjoyed the pace of the story and whilst the Krillitane would become the focus given the huge twist, at its heart this was actually a Zoe story that brought out a touching side to the Seventh Doctor. His pondering on if he should have gone back and visited his former companions to check in after everything that had happened was powerful stuff. It’s not often this incarnation of the Doctor has a guilty side. Of course, he would actually have no reason to as the truth about ‘Magdor’ was revealed as a leftover Krillitane from the Second Doctor’s encounter with the race in this boxset’s opener. The Doctor thinking she would die within hours was actually a bit harrowing but it showed what he thought of the Krillitane. This episode really sold just how well the Krillitanes can adapt and take on another’s form as the Doctor was convinced he was encountering his old companion. I thought Peacock deducing and tracking down the real Zoe based on the Doctor’s description of the Wheel and Cybermen was impressive and gave the game up. The Krillitane was outed and her innocence in reacting to the monstrous claw marked deaths in the episode became even more callous. Given the name of the episode and the connections with cryogenic technology it was clear early on what truth lay behind ‘Zoe’, but that really didn’t take anything away from the reveal. It was just wonderful. The plot had natural similarities with the series opener and that was fine, and I was quite impressed with how impactful and quick the Krillitane were dealt with this time around. Now, the only problem I had with the episode was Ray. That sounds harsh and whilst I was delighted to hear her again after making such a strong impression in Delta and the Bannermen, I just wish we had an explanation for her presence! I thought I may have missed something in the Monthly or Seventh Doctor Adventures but research tells me this is her first Big Finish appearance! And she’s just already a companion? Some sort of origin for her being reunited with the Seventh Doctor would have made this a perfect rating for me. She was wonderful to have around and I adore how Welsh she is, but I’d just like to know why. Overall though, still an excellent episode and magnificent listen!

Rating: 9/10

Sightseeing in Space: Terminal of Despair

"They've made us afraid to hope."

Writer: Steve Lyons

Format: Novel

Released: October 2011

Series: 2 in 1 4a

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Amy, Rory

Synopsis

The TARDIS crew is quarantined in Terminal 4000, where the hideous Desponds have destroyed the hopes of all awaiting passengers. Can the Doctor and his friends help them escape without succumbing to despair themselves?

Verdict

Terminal of Despair was an excellent novel to kick off my reading of the Sightseeing in Space book! Another in the 2in1 collection I have finally succumbed to as part of my local library and honestly I am annoyed at myself for leaving this range for so long. I thought it was going to be too child oriented but I was so wrong. Sure, this is aimed at a slightly younger audience but as a twenty-eight year old man reading this I could appreciate the excellence in the story being told. I am a big fan of when adventures go to space so the umbrella title for the book excites me, although I wouldn't exactly say a spaceport terminal qualifies as sightseeing! That's coming from me as well who is a notorious tourist whenever I go abroad I make sure to see all of the touristy sites and some of the off the beaten track attractions as well. For example, when visiting Bratislava I went to the Museum of Clocks despite having little knowledge or interest in the time mechanisms! A terminal though is something I think I might draw the line at so I was surprised that on arrival Amy was so keen to explore. I get the attraction though with the setting being the future so she wanted to see what duty free was like in space. I thought the Doctor jumping around with boredom was fun and strong characterisation of this eleventh incarnation. When Janie was introduced to the story I loved how her question to the Doctor about not coming to save them then changed the entire dynamic of the novel! His approach to things shifted enormously and he was horrified to find that the passengers were all delayed by five months. That's some waiting time. His discussion about places that you just wait was terrific too and they really are quite boring places at times. That's why I usually have a book when travelling to keep the time productive. I thought the concept behind the Desponds was fantastic and the prospect of them taking all hope away from someone they latched onto was powerful stuff. I can't imagine what it would be like to have all hope eradicated! Seeing the Doctor become subjected to that was a bit of a surprise to be honest, but the result was incredible. This wasn't the Doctor we knew at all anymore as he was happy to just leave. Amy came into her own as the companion here and her appeals to him were just wonderful. Telling the story of The Eleventh Hour and her Raggedy Doctor was sublime and I like how she appealed to the 160 odd stranded passengers that they had hope and this was represented in the Doctor. His exiting the TARDIS to applause kicked him right back into gear which was just tremendous. That was a stellar image as the Doctor returned to his incredibly hopeful self that we all know and love. I thought the sub-threat of Roger and the Cap was strong and Rory getting mixed in with them because they thought he was an engineer after he accompanied the Doctor in repairing the vending machine was amusing. It was less so when he was pushed out into space helplessly! The use of his own oxygen tube to get back to the ship was impressive stuff from Rory though. There was a lot of jeopardy in this book which was fantastic and I liked how the Doctor tricked the computer systems on his way to getting things back up and running. The sonic never finding the frequency to hurt the Desponds was amusing especially when he had found the one to attract them. Roger being responsible for the Desponds in the first place was a good revelation and explanation of how things came to be in a quarantined knockdown and him accompanying Amy in the TARDIS at the end without her knowing what he'd done to Rory was tremendous. Her shift in wanting him to tell the authorities everything was marvellous. I like that the ships all set off as the Doctor and Rory sacrificed themselves, before Amy took it upon herself to move the TARDIS despite the word not coming due to the Doctor being out of credit! That was a sublime chapter cliffhanger. Overall, a terrific read! 

Rating: 9/10

War Room: Manoeuvres: Ambition's Debt

"Obliterate me!"

Writer: Katharine Armitage 

Format: Audio

Released: September 2023

Series: Gallifrey 14.04

Featuring: Leela, Narvin, General, Rasmus, Veklin

Synopsis

Tensions run high in the War Room as the battle for control intensifies. A world has gone missing, the Daleks are too quiet, and something new lurks in the shadows... A dangerous plan is set in motion with the potential to change everything. 

Verdict

Ambition's Debt was a great episode to conclude the Manoeuvres fourteenth series of Gallifrey as the second instalment of War Room! This has rounded out what was a really strong and consistent series. Despite my high rating and enjoyment of the series, I do think this could have been even better and more climactic in terms of a finale. That’s not a problem though and it does seem to just be a middle boxset in a much wider arc. It’s a shame there was a year delay to the third boxset but it means I’ll be able to pre order and listen on time! I’m all up to date with Gallifrey now which excites me terribly and I can’t wait to hear how Ollistra takes to essentially being second in command to Rassilon. I would have liked some appearance from the President Eternal in this series given everything that’s happened with Romana and the mission of Leela and Narvin to save her, but I suspect that’s building as the series goes on. I thought the link back to Collaborators was excellent and the continuity with what had now happened to Orrison was terrific. It was no surprise to find that the same writer penned the opener and finale and that worked out very nicely. Narvin felt a little absent from the episode which was a shame, but his reaction to finding out that the Daleks had taken the planet and repurposed it for their own gain as part of the Berserker programme was palpable. He was devastated by his previous actions in the decision made for the planet and now the Daleks were using the bolt for their own preparations. The Berserker class Daleks were explored further here which was intriguing and the concept of them repairing themselves from any materials around them is frightening. The fate of those met in the series opener with Leela encountering Ferdi now converted as a Dalek was horrifying! The battlecry of obliterate was scary when he wanted it done to himself. Even Leela tried to detonate him but he just started repairing himself from the surrounding materials. I thought Clemantia was really interesting here and her explanation to Leela about the siphoning of time was fascinating. Comparing time to energy was mightily intriguing and I love the idea that if there are still points then that excess time needs to go somewhere and that’s where the flowers came in as an organic component. I thought that was terrific. Ollistra was in superb villainous form here with what happened at the end in the revelation that she had basically orchestrated the entire thing for her own political gain! The scale of Time Lord sacrifice here and the fake battle plans was shocking as she outed them and manipulated them into aiding her control of the War Room. It was cunning stuff! It puts the War Room in such a perilous yet interesting position ahead of the next boxset! I can’t wait to hear where things go from here. Overall, a very strong episode to conclude a great and consistent series!

Rating: 8/10

War Room: Manoeuvres: Transference

"All crimes have motive."

Writer: Fio Tretheway

Format: Audio

Released: September 2023

Series: Gallifrey 14.03

Featuring: Leela, Narvin

Synopsis

When a promising scientist is injured and his new technology stolen, Ollistra sets Leela on the trail. Her hunt takes her outside the Citadel to Lowtown, where a shock awaits. Narvin has returned to Gallifrey. But in trying to help his kin, he risks more than he knows.

Verdict

Transference was another great episode to continue my way through the Manoeuvres second instalment of the War Room for Gallifrey's fourteenth series! Wow, I'm nearing the end of the fourteenth series which is some going for an audio spinoff but it really does show no sign of letting up which is testament to the depth of storytelling and the characters created. As I mentioned in my blogging of Remnants yesterday, I expected this episode to be focused on the Resistance and that was certainly the case as Narvin and Leela returned to the forefront of events. I loved Leela's reaction to seeing that Narvin was back on Gallifrey and her shock showed just how dangerous his presence could be. His position in the Resistance now is huge and if he was caught the punishment would be catastrophic. It's one thing for them to be conversing but physically meeting like this was a nice little reunion. I loved that the pair are still set on freeing Romana from her pocket dimension detention but there's a long way to go to reach a point of being able to do so. The ruthless nature of Cardinal Ollistra was in full show here and it almost felt a completely different side to her. She was just outright mean and showed no compassion when it came to Helico and Lenaris. The latter being Narvin's cousin was a nice touch and I enjoyed Leela's reaction to finding out that he had a family. He never talked of them – as you might expect! – and that didn't please Lenaris all that well. Her brother being Helico was a fun revelation after the attempted assassination on his life when showcasing his new MT weapon to the War Room. Leela catching on that things were not right when she could see what turned out to be Lenaris approaching was excellent and sent her right back to her predatory instincts and savage ways. Even having her alluded to as a savage by Narvin when it came to their meeting in Lowtown was a reminder of just how far she has come since departing the Doctor. I really appreciated the references to The Invasion of Time in having Leela back outside of the walls of the Citadel and outside of the Capitol it almost feels wrong that Gallifrey has dwellers ruled over by criminals. It was interesting to explore more of that hidden side of the Time Lord planet. Where do they stand in the Time War? It didn't feel like they were granted much protection. The concept behind the MT and its connection to the Matrix was intriguing, although I feel like having that kind of direct connection would have been something the Time Lords would already have. It was dangerous though and Ollistra having no qualms in testing it on Lenaris was brutal. She was all for the war effort and cared little about anything else. She knew the connection with Helico would also see him affected and did it anyway because promises to what she deemed a traitor were not valid. It was horrifying villainy and put her on Rassilon's level in my opinion. She was that ruthless and callous. The reaction of Narvin when Lenaris was left as nothing was incredibly emotional and I felt so sorry for him. Leela keeping a level head and thinking of the bigger picture was brilliant as she rendered him unconscious to ensure he wouldn't give up his presence with the microspans of his TARDIS shielding counting down. I suspect big things are brewing ahead of the finale given Narvin's feelings increasing against Ollistra and the War Room, and I can't wait for it! Overall, another very strong listen.

Rating: 8/10

War Room: Manoeuvres: Remnants

"They repair themselves from the surroundings."

Writer: Georgia Cook

Format: Audio

Released: September 2023

Series: Gallifrey 14.02

Featuring: General, Rasmus, Veklin

Synopsis

A distress call from a Gallifreyan outpost brings the General, Rasmus and Veklin into contact with weapons of the Time War from both sides. Trapped, young Time Lord Cresta fights for her life against a relentless foe.

Verdict

Remnants was another great episode to continue my way through the Manoeuvres fourteenth series of Gallifrey and second instalment of the War Room! This was a little different from what I was expecting as the episode focused away from the core characters of Narvin and Leela, but that was no issue at all as we got into some juicy Time War action. I thought the trio of the General, Rasmus and Veklin really did a strong job in carrying the episode and I liked how this was very much a story for the War Room. A clear objective in hand with a good familial connection that was exploited. It certainly ticked a lot of boxes in my opinion. I was delighted that the episode featured the Daleks as ever since Gallifrey ventured into the Time War for its ninth series and onwards, I don’t think we’ve had enough of them! They’re literally the opponents in war so it makes sense that they should be a regular if not permanent feature. The garbled message coming from Cresta was good and I liked how the General was hiding the fact he was her uncle. She didn’t exactly do a stellar job in keeping it hidden that she was his niece with how many times she referred to him as uncle, but it was excellent for Rasmus to exploit! He’s out to gain an advantage and I can appreciate that. He knows the value of having something on someone in the position and rank of the General. I thought the reminder of the General’s changing gender was a nice touch and a good foreshadowing of what would happen to him during Hell Bent. I wonder if Cresta would announce her as her auntie so freely still! I thought the presence of a Berserker Dalek was intriguing and I like the mythical status behind them. At one point they were just myth but then they weren’t. That’s such a simple explanation but given the scale of the Time War, that kind of thing can happen. The concept of them using the materials around them to repair themselves is excellent and I love the fear that comes from a Dalek that is basically always on the mend. It’s also exciting for the scale of the destruction because the Daleks in general are bad enough but this particular class are all about wiping things out and quickly on a grandiose scale. That’s deadly! I thought the science division being recognised on the Dalek saucer was impressive and those that were left to research were quite saddened by the fact the Time Lords weren’t coming to rescue them. They were only after the resources of the Bezerker Dalek. The use of the inhibitors to stop them was good and I loved the simplicity of their original use to be preserve food. So the organic systems within the Dalek were frozen and it became quite an effective weapon! Teblin was a pretty unlikeable character but I couldn’t blame his stance towards the War Room. He’d dreamt of climbing the ranks to serve in the War but after seeing it in action he wasn’t pleased. His actions in wiping out the Dalek saucer was literally an explosive ending as they disintegrated into nothing, but he wanted his name to go down in history. The first Time Lord to wipe out a Berserker! You couldn’t disagree with the history. Overall, a strong episode to continue the series! I sense we may now have a Resistance focused episode before the finale. 

Rating: 8/10

War Room: Manoeuvres: Collaborators

"There is a war on your doorstep."

Writer: Katharine Armatige 

Format: Audio

Released: September 2023

Series: Gallifrey 14.01

Featuring: Leela, Narvin

Synopsis

Gallifrey and the Resistance are in a race to secure a vital alliance. But playing politics means secrets, lies and betrayal... and Leela, caught in the middle, must try to rescue honour from chaos.

Verdict

Collaborators was a strong start to the Manoeuvres second series of Gallifrey's War Room and the fourteenth series overall! I am quite impressed with myself now that in a few days' time I will have caught up with the Gallifrey series as I was actually quite daunted by the sheer depth and levels of the series when I started the first series way back when around five years ago. We've come a long way since then and Romana is trapped in a pocket dimension by the current resurrected President Rassilon. It's quite the basis for a boxset set during the Time War and it certainly has the appearance of being a desperate time on the planet of the Time Lords. Orrison would become the basis of that on both a macro and micro scale which was terrific to hear. At the front, both the War Room and the Resistance were after the planet's nutritious resource of boltaric acid. I thought that also the secret meetings between Leela and Narvin were fantastic and it's lovely to hear them together again despite them being stuck on each side. There's a vibe that they just want to be together and put the Time War behind them and rescue Romana, but the delays there are becoming frustrating for them. I do hope they will work towards rescuing her ahead of the next boxset later this year. But I'm getting ahead of myself there! I think it's wonderful that we get to hear more of the new incarnation of Ollistra and after the impact Jacqueline Pearce made alongside John Hurt's War Doctor, it's only fitting that the character lives on in a new regeneration. I thought Eris as part of the Resistance was decent and I liked the interactions he shared with Narvin. The former was very much in position as the leader but it didn't feel like he had too much seniority when the latter was around. His diplomacy was hardly respectful or confident when it came to the negotiations with Prince Ferdi about the bolt supply. The General on the other hand was much more experienced in this kind of thing and was open to their concerns. I thought the time winds seemed like a great defence mechanism as it was and whilst I do appreciate the might and force of the Daleks, especially during a time of war, the fact that even the Time Lords needed permission to be let onto the planet made me question why they were negotiating in the first place! I thought Ferdi's position as a prince and needing to gain the approval of his people before being promoted to king put him in a difficult position so it wasn't too much of a surprise when he tried to play both sides and agreed to the terms of both the War Room and the Resistance. That didn't go down well with either side! I liked that Leela and Narvin could essentially play both sides against each other and the General in particular condoling the former's behaviour and the way she talked in particular was excellent. She wouldn't lie, but he knew she was basically working against the War Room. That was a fun dynamic. I thought the War Room not settling for half of the bolt when it came to access to the planet was pretty shady and certainly cemented them as the enemies of the series. Not all Time Lords were good, even if they were fighting the Daleks. Their actions in using the access granted to take Orrison's bolt supply didn't go down well and that leading Ferdi to seemingly side with the Daleks in the Time War will surely come back to bite the Time Lords in the future! Overall though, a really strong start to the series! A great listen.

Rating: 8/10

The Secret of the Stones

"To observe is to change."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Short Story 

Released: August 2007

Series: Doctor Who Files 12

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Martha

Synopsis

Martha Jones wants to visit history's greatest mysteries. The only problem is, the Doctor has been to most of them. But a request to see how Stonehenge was built is granted and the Doctor wants to know its purpose...

Verdict

The Secret of the Stones was a great little story to continue my way through the Doctor Who Files! I'm not quite done yet but this is the last of the original releases that came alongside Series 3's broadcast so it certainly makes sense for the adventure to feature the contemporary TARDIS duo of the Tenth Doctor and Martha. I do think this is a pairing that often gets overlooked due to the emotional attachment of Rose and the comic value of Donna (heightened by her return in the sixtieth anniversary specials), but I would say overall that Series 3 is the Tenth Doctor's strongest. So it was nice to revisit that era and I wasn't sure what kind of story we would get when I saw that the Doctor Who File was focused on the TARDIS. It is an obvious candidate to have as a title in this range and I think the significance of the story is one that could quickly be overlooked. I don't think this range is anything to take seriously but I love the implication of the TARDIS being part of the reasoning for why Stonehenge exists. Annoyingly, I am still yet to visit the historical site and considering I spent three years living in Bath and a year in Bristol which aren't exactly far away from Salisbury Plain, it is high on my bucket list to tick off. I am fascinated by the construction of it and I like that the Doctor was also really interested in the why. What does it actually do or mean? The idea of Martha wanting to solve some of history's greatest memories is sublime companion quality and I think it's something I would certainly be invested in if time travel were possible. I think the reference to The Chase was delightful when it came to Martha wondering on what happened to the Mary Celeste, and it's not the first time it's been referred to in this range which is fun! I thought the use of the TARDIS and seeing year by year how Stonehenge came to be constructed was intriguing and not exactly a typical way of exploring the past. I liked it though and appreciated how unique it was. The snapshot feature was what I initially was expecting the story to focus on in regards to the TARDIS, but it was so much more! The Doctor's whole spiel about not interfering with history even just by observing was very amusing given the fate of his actions in the story. For so many years, at the same point every year, the TARDIS arrived to take its snapshot and check in on the progress of Stonehenge. And unbeknownst to the Doctor, it was the TARDIS that was becoming the inspiration for the entire site! I think that's delightful and the use of Mangoor as a scavenger that looked upon the TARDIS and saw it as a column shape within the sun's rays was great stuff. I think this story will be at the forefront of my mind when I do eventually visit alongside that of The Time Meddler. I really appreciated the gravitronic beam reference when it came to getting those massive stones on top of one another with ancient technology. The Doctor being perplexed and none the wiser by the end of the story as to why Stonehenge was built was lovely stuff. Overall, a really strong and intriguing story! Honestly, it just seemed to end a little suddenly and a tad more Mangoor would have been really beneficial. But still, a fantastic little read. My rating almost seems harsh!

Rating: 8/10

Run

"They say magic happens on the in-between day."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Comic Strip

Released: January 2025

Printed in: DWM 613

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor

Synopsis

The Fifteenth Doctor is getting to grips with travelling alone, and stumbles upon a world with two dawns once every forty-seven years. It holds a secret, and he's going to tell Ruby about it anyway.

Verdict

Run was a great story to continue the comic strip adventures of the Fifteenth Doctor! I am glad that many months after the airing of Empire of Death, the comics have caught up with the current era and have the Fifteenth Doctor travelling alone as we saw recently in the Joy to the World Christmas Special. It makes sense for the comics to run concurrently with what is happening on screen so whilst I am very much a fan of Ruby Sunday as companion, I'm quite glad she wasn't around for this adventure. It's still quite fresh for the Doctor though as was evidenced by him wanting to show off the marvel that was the double dawn on the grey grieving planet. I thought that was a fun concept and that allowed for some really strong colourisation for the rest of the comic strip adventure. That orange haze of the in-between day with it not being night nor morning was excellent and really set the vibe. It somehow just suited the Fifteenth Doctor as well and his vibe, although as the image suggests the artwork for his hairline in particular was a tad questionable throughout this adventure! It wasn't a problem of course but just something I found a little amusing. I thought the idea of the Doctor telling the story of what was happening to him to Ruby was decent although I was less of a fan of when the words that represented her were talking back and basically being a companion. It was almost as if she was written into the story and then quickly removed with her dialogue remained. Just let the Doctor travel solo! It happens and has happened. We know Ruby is returning is well so I thought it would be better to just let this be pure Fifteenth Doctor. The characterisation was strong throughout and I really enjoyed the plot. At just six pages, I was impressed with how much was done and the depth that came from the story whilst not feeling like an overload of information. That was really impressive. I thought the Glimmering was a fitting name and the mark was very reminiscent of Face the Raven which was a fun recycle. I'm all for that in a short comic strip story like this and the Doctor taking on the mark wasn't a surprise, but his reaction to the original holder being consumed by the hound was a little shocking! He didn't seem to hold a great deal of remorse purely because he'd given a warning that you could not make a deal with the non-corporeal beast. The transition of that into being corporeal was excellent and I liked the hunt mentality that came with the threat. The Doctor knew the mission at hand which was good and if any Doctor could out run a mysterious hound then this one of the incarnations I would bet in favour of doing so! He almost enjoyed the thrill which felt in line with his personality too. The reveal that the Grey Grievants had actually used the shadows as a means of protecting the hound species was good and worked well, and the confidence that came from the Doctor's leap of faith was brilliant! Talk about being brave. I thought outrunning until sunrise was pretty fun and I liked the revelation of there being many protected beasts from the time of the Glimmering. The hunters were soon outnumbered and on a retreat. There would be no longer just one chance to hunt, it was to save. Overall, a terrific little comic strip story!

Rating: 8/10

Most Wanted: The Dimension of Lost Things

"Are they dreams or memories?"

Writer: Lisa McMulin

Format: Audio

Released: January 2025

Series: Fugitive Doctor Adventures 1.03

Featuring: Fugitive Doctor

Synopsis

Fleeing Cosmo through the Vortex, the TARDIS gets sucked down a temporal plughole, and the Doctor emerges into a weird landscape. Finding other lost souls in the form of mountaineer George Mallory and scavenger Athelia, the Doctor soon stumbled across another, more surprising denizen of this strange dimension – herself! 

With Cosmo still in pursuit and memory-stealing winds threatening to wipe her mind for good, the Doctor senses a complex trap in action. But whose trap is it, and how can she possible escape?

Verdict

The Dimension of Lost Things was a decent episode to conclude the Most Wanted first series of Fugitive Doctor Adventures! This wasn't quite the finale I was hoping for after two excellent episodes to kick off the series, but judging on its own merits this was still a good story as my rating reflects. I thought the concept behind the titular lost dimension worked well and whilst the gags about lost keys and phones was a little on the nose and shake your head worthy, the other contents of the dimension were really intriguing. I thought Sandy was a terrific character and the highlight of the piece to be honest as I thought it was brilliant to touch upon his efforts with George Mallory in scaling Mount Everest. It's an incredible task and feat and for them to actually do it here is so impressive, but unfortunately history won't write them as victors on their ascent as it is unknown if they ever reached the summit because they didn't make it back down. That's pretty sad and hearing how George's body was recovered in 1999 was a bit of a shock, and Sandy's never was! That must be the worst way to deal with a death as without that evidence of a body the hope must be there that somehow you had survived. Sandy would head off with Athelia which was a nice end to his character, and her position as a scavenger was pretty fun. I thought Jo Martin was excellent again as the Fugitive Doctor although I am not sure having to tackle playing two different versions of herself works all that well on audio. This is not something new and I have mentioned it before that without the visual aid having two different versions of the same character becomes a little frustrating as a listener. I do like the concept behind what was happening here though with Cosmo not being the only Time Lord out to capture the Fugitive Doctor. The alternate version of the Doctor posing as her future self was fun when it was revealed that she was actually her past self working for Division. I think some fans might be disappointed by the lack of lore and answers regarding the Fugitive Doctor's time at Division, but I think it's great to delve into that mystery and explore her being sent on a mission to capture her future self. As Cosmo stated, it wasn't exactly logical as if they had the past version then surely she would just become the version they wanted, but things were a little more complicated than that! I thought the threat of memory winds and time storms was pretty good although I was never actually worried that they would be hit. Bevan's fate was a little horrifying though! I enjoyed the Doctor's defiance towards Cosmo although another side of her character in this incarnation was clearly revealed as she looked to break apart the Time Vortex if it meant avoiding capture. That was telling. The chameleon circuit playing up and not always being a police box was very interesting and I do wonder if that is the fault the TARDIS was being repaired for as seen in The Name of the Doctor? It would be awfully convenient for the landing in 1963 in An Unearthly Child, but it would explain the dilemma of the TARDIS police box exterior with the Fugitive Doctor supposedly being pre-First Doctor. I like that explanation so if it became canon that would work for me! I thought the ending to this one was slightly lacklustre in how the Doctor and company just jumped into another time track within the dimension and were sent back slightly, but it does leave things open for the next boxset which will still have the Fugitive Doctor on the run. Overall, a good episode to conclude what was overall an excellent boxset! A fine debut for the Fugitive Doctor's own set of audios. Keep them coming!

Rating: 7/10

Most Wanted: The Legend of Baba Yaga

"Even your name is a lie."     

Writer: Rochana Patel

Format: Audio 

Released: January 2025

Series: Fugitive Doctor Adventures 1.02

Featuring: Fugitive Doctor

Synopsis

On the run from the Time Lords and in serious need of help, the Doctor heads for 17th-century Russia in search of the legendary witch of Slavic folklore... Baba Yaga.

But while trying to gain assistance from this powerful entity, the Doctor finds herself embroiled in events from the most famous of Baba Yaga’s tales when she tries to help a beautiful young woman called Vasilisa retrieve a burning ember to save her family from the bitter Russian winter.

What is real? What is fantasy? And will the Doctor be able to tell the difference in time?

Verdict

The Legend of Baba Yaga was another excellent episode to continue my way through the Most Wanted first series of Fugitive Doctor Adventures! This is shaping up to be a really strong start to the Fugitive Doctor's life on audio as we start to expand on her incarnation and this was a very different kind of episode from the series opener. I thought touching upon magic was excellent and whilst I'm unsure if the titular legend and character of Baba Yaga are actually something true from historic folklore, I thought the explanation was excellent and really delved deep into the marvel of incomprehensible science. The Doctor continued the theme of not believing in magic which was good and initially I was a bit worried this was just going to be a standard story which could have worked for any incarnation. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but for the Fugitive Doctor things are a little different. They should have a different purpose and with her being on the run from Division, this served as a perfect effort by the Doctor to avoid their capture. I was really impressed that despite not entirely understanding the power of Baba Yaga, the Doctor knew what she could offer and she wanted it. The impression the eleven skulls had on the story was powerful especially with the Doctor confirming the mark of regeneration energy on them. Baba Yaga had taken on Time Lords before and clearly one, but the Doctor was somewhat different. She was an outcast. I thought Vasilisa was a lovely character and I felt sorry for her at home situation. She was the stepchild that wasn't exactly wanted and with her father being away, her stepmother and sister were able to take advantage of her when the flame went out. The sixteenth century Russian setting worked very well and the threat that came from not having a live supply of fire was quite extraordinary! There were some strong An Unearthly Child vibes which I loved and speaking of which, I thought it was really interesting for the Doctor to ponder on why her TARDIS kept disguising itself as a police box. The fact she doesn't know why that happens is really intriguing and I would love for her to one day get an answer. Baba Yaga taking the Doctor and Vasalisa in for consideration of what they were asking for was really good and I liked that initially it seemed the latter would be granted her wish of the flame. The Doctor seeking cover from detection by the Time Lords was not something Baba Yaga was eager to grant though and she could see that the Fugitive was out for more than just a request. She had the will to overthrow the magician which was fun. I thought that turning out to be the downfall of Baba Yaga was great though as if she could see inside the Doctor's mind then she knew there was a psychic link. The Doctor putting a stop to the psychic field that ravaged the domain of Baba Yaga was magnificent and the explanation of it being a malfunctioning TARDIS was tremendous! I didn't see that coming but it explained so much and just worked. The power of local belief was so strong that it caused the chameleon circuit to become part of it and Baba Yaga was drawn in as a pilot. Once the Doctor put a stop to it by convincing Vasalisa and her family to walk through the fire and break down the link, the real spinster that was Baba Yaga couldn't remember the details of the secrets hidden in the Doctor's mind, but she could remember the bad she had done in character. That would be tough to live with! Overall though, a really strong story and a brilliant way to continue the series! I can't wait for the finale.

Rating: 9/10

Most Wanted: Fast Times

"How big is the price on my head?"

Writer: Robert Valentine

Format: Audio

Released: January 2025

Series: Fugitive Doctor Adventures 1.01

Featuring: Fugitive Doctor

Synopsis

When the mysterious Division tries to arrest their equally mysterious agent, the Doctor, she evades capture and heads out in search of answers... but trouble is never far behind.

Captured by bounty hunters and imprisoned in a maximum-security hulk ship, the Doctor is about to learn that there's no time to stand still when you're a fugitive. And times are about to get very fast indeed.

Verdict

Fast Times was an excellent start to the Most Wanted debut series of the Fugitive Doctor Adventures! It seems an absolute eternity since this series was announced and at long last on release day I was delighted to listen to the opening episode. And what a great one it was! There was just enough sprinkling of the Division at the start to keep the mystery going and whilst I am dying to know more specifics about the time period and chronology of the Fugitive Doctor, it’s so exciting not knowing. I’m not sure if Big Finish will ever be the place that we get answers, but just exploring more with this most mysterious of incarnations is tremendous. I think Covid played a sad part in not giving us more of Jo Martin as the Doctor on screen towards the end of the Thirteenth Doctor’s era so I’m delighted that she has joined on audio to give some depth to the Fugitive incarnation. I thought she was excellent here and I love the idea of the Doctor being on the run from the Time Lords. Going back to its origins, that simply is Doctor Who! I thought it was brilliant to give her a Dalek story right from the off as that box is well and truly ticked with a very interesting dynamic in play with the Doctor not having a clue who they were! The Daleks saw that as deception as you would expect considering at their point in time she was their greatest enemy. The Doctor having information in her head that cannot be given away and is crucial to the Division is fantastic and it’s rather fun that she doesn’t even know what that is! I wonder if a specific secret will be revealed towards the end of the boxset? I hope so! She deserves some kind of knowledge as to why she is so desired. Cosmogon was a fun character as the Time Lord representative out to get the Doctor and I quite enjoy how desperate they are in wanting her returned. The Doctor being let loose out in the universe isn’t good for them at all! I thought Fade was a wonderful character and basically serves as the companion for the episode. Her connection with the Doctor right from the off was magnificent and I sincerely hope this isn’t the last we hear of her in this series. She has a lot of potential but unfortunately I don’t think the nature of this incarnation will allow for a companion. The maximum security ship was a fine setting for the majority of the episode and the Doctor almost seeming to accept her fate and wait for the Time Lords to collect her took me by surprise a little, so I was delighted when Fade had basically put her into the escape plan in freeing her from the cell. The Doctor’s interaction with Big Fish and christening him as Tiddler was amusing and showed just how serious this Fugitive incarnation can be. She means business and I love that. I thought the use of the TARDIS in escaping from the Daleks was good and Fade actually being the one they were after was a neat twist. Her people’s history with the Daleks was extensive which worked well and it was clear that the keepsake doll was going to contain something much more important than sentimentality. The chip being bugged was good though as a means of tracking and chasing them through time and the continuity of the Daleks using time corridor technology was tremendous. I loved that the Doctor was impressed but she was confident of evading them with her skateboard TARDIS compared to their snow plow ship. Cosmogon coming for the Doctor at the end was good because I loved how Fade wanted to repay her newfound friend for her help and ensured that the Doctor would get away safely. They held Cosmogon long enough for the Doctor to escape and keep her on the run from Division. That can’t go down well! I’m very excited to hear where things move forward from here. But for now, a superb and exciting opening episode!

Rating: 9/10

Charles Darwin and the Silurian Survival

"Never be sorry for being enthusiastic about what you love."

Writer: L. D. Lapinski 

Format: Novella

Released: October 2024

Series: Icons 02

Featuring: Tenth Doctor

Synopsis

Some discoveries change the world.

Others could end it...

When Charles Darwin lands on the Galápagos Islands after a long voyage, he finds two things that really shouldn't be there. The first is a sunbathing Time Lord. The second is a Silurian skull...

As more Silurians – alive this time – are discovered by Darwin's crew, there is pandemonium. And when the island's volcano starts up, years ahead of schedule, it looks like all-out war.

The Doctor has his hands full. Can he keep Darwin – and his evolutionary theory – alive?

This time, the history of science is at stake.

Verdict

Charles Darwin and the Silurian Survival was a great little novella to continue my way through the Icons series! Whilst I very much did enjoy Frida Kahlo and the Skull Children to kick off the series, this was an iconic figure with whom I am much more familiar! I think it’s a brilliant idea to have Charles Darwin encounter the Silurians and so much so that this isn’t the first time it has happened! I think that’s a fun quirk of the vast depth of the Whoniverse but I loved that Bloodtide was referenced in the Doctor feeling multiple timelines. I thought his proximity to time and fixed points in particular was interesting and it really did showcase the power and burden of being a Time Lord. For the Tenth Doctor, I liked that it was established the events of The Runaway Bride were recent for him having defeated a giant spider and it was quite refreshing for this incarnation to be travelling alone not set during the 2009 Specials. It’s just a little thing but I like the nuance. I loved how Charles Darwin was referred to throughout as a naturalist and it’s a fine description. The title of the novella gives away the surprise in the first chapter but that’s absolutely fine. It’s still a terrific moment and I learned a lot about the scientist. I think it’s a fun quirk for someone who will be a founding father of evolution to have faith and the very existence of the Silurians counters everything religion teaches. The idea of a sentient species that roamed Earth before man is unfathomable to him but he slowly comes around. His dynamic with the Doctor is excellent and I like how inquisitive he is. He can see the potential to learn from the Doctor which is nice but his passion for exploration and learning was honestly infectious. On a much smaller scale, it’s exactly how I feel about the Whoniverse. I want to devour it all. My girlfriend is a huge Doctor Who fan but she won’t touch anything from media other than television, and she questions why I’m bothered about things like the Lady Christina series or Torchwood comics. They’re niche but I want to eventually cover everything even though I’m well aware I probably never will. Darwin having a thirst for knowledge and understanding was magnificent and I liked how even by the end the Silurians understood him. I thought the story itself was incredibly simple but it almost had to be to protect evolution and other Silurian appearances. The 1835 setting was interesting for a Silurian timeline and I thought it was great that the pair alive and kicking here were actually the protectorate of the rest of their sleeping species. So when the volcano started abruptly and threatened their systems, the entire species was under threat. That was quite a shock! The Doctor being on hand to use the TARDIS and his extensive supplies was a pretty simple resolution, but honestly it didn’t need to be anything more. At one hundred pages, this was a breeze to read but it didn’t feel too short which is a big positive. It flowed effortlessly and I liked the jeopardy that accompanied most chapter conclusions. The Silurians being prepared to sink the Galápagos Islands was quite a surprise when it came to their threats, but the secrecy of their species meant everything. Having Darwin swear that he wouldn’t speak a word of their existence was clever in explaining away why his theory stayed sound and I also thought it was good that the rest of the ship crew would just talk of the Silurians as more sailor talk. Nobody would believe them. Darwin offering himself as a hostage was not a big surprise but I admired his courage and my only criticism would be the cover. Why does he look old when it is established this is in his younger days? That’s annoying. It’s also a nice touch to have Darwin mention himself as being of Shrewsbury because that’s a town very close to where I was born and I have visited on countless occasions. Seeing his name as the birthplace on the welcome sign entering will now mean even more. Overall, a terrific little read!

Rating: 8/10

Faithful Friends: The Dying Breed

"You will be ripped apart like the animals that you are."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: January 2025

Series: Classic Doctors, New Monsters 5.02

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela, K9

Synopsis

When the Doctor, Leela and K9 land on the Lupari homeworld tracking a temporal anomaly, they find a kingdom in disarray. 

The Great Lord Garzan's son has been attacked, and strange beasts roam the frozen landscape. Whilst Leela spars with the new heir, the Doctor and K9 must work out how all these strange events are connected.

Little do they know that their discoveries will shake the Lupari to their core...

Verdict

The Dying Breed was a somewhat average continuation of the Faithful Friends fifth series of Classic Doctors, New Monsters. I thought this episode was absolutely fine but a little lacking in terms of excitement which was a shame. At only sixty-eight minutes I did feel that the episode went very long and at the forty-five minute mark it felt like things were drawing to a close so I was stunned to see that there were twenty-three minutes remaining! I think it's a really good decision to jump into the era of the Thirteenth Doctor although I must admit I was quite surprised when the Lupari were to be the monster for a Classic Doctor to encounter. I must admit that I was really impressed with how the episode gave a lot more backstory to the Lupari and the concept behind the Loop itself was intriguing. The description of it being a giant dog collar in space was almost laughable in how ludicrously hilarious that was. I couldn't disagree with it but it just sounded a tad silly. I thought the idea to have K9 alongside the Fourth Doctor and Leela was a stroke of genius and I was kicking myself for not putting the canine connection there between the robot dog and the Lupari! Hearing K9 take on the role of being the Doctor and Leela's master was an absolute treat and he really did step into the role with ease. I thought given his logical make up as a computer he would need a little more convincing, but he understood the assignment with ease which was amusing. It was without the doubt the highlight of the story for me, especially when he was referring to them as no good riff raff. I could just picture the smile on the Fourth Doctor's face! I thought the Great Lord Garzan was a decent character and arrive on the Lupari homeworld at a time where his heir had just been killed was typical timing of the Doctor. His sister Kira was quick to point the finger at the Doctor and Leela, and who could blame her given the timing of the strangers' arrival? She could see the fighter in Leela right from the off which was good and it was fun for the savage to not exactly hide that trait about her! Their relationship was frosty from the off and it never really showed any signs of improving. I thought the Doctor and Garzan seeing more eye to eye was good and the trust the Great Lord put into K9's word despite his animatronic makeup was most intriguing. Surely a robot dog would be a good means of infiltration to the Lupari homeworld? His trust in strangers was a little odd though I must say. I thought the whole premise of the conclusion there was a bit of a let down as just when Kira and Leela were going to fight it out, Garzan accepted the fate of his son and wanted to ensure that his new heir also trusted strangers. But why would you? Sure. I like the link between man and Lupari and the natural tear in space/time to the Ice Age on Earth made sense, but it was just a bit dull to be honest. The Soothsayer was a really strong character and it was her pondering at the end about the Doctor that I really liked. She knew about his past and future and everything in between with regards to the Lupari. What he would do and had done, and would forget and had forgot. I thought the Fourth Doctor returning to check in on things later in life when he was travelling with Adric was a nice touch to conclude and her marvelling at his red attire was a nice nod to that Season 18 attire! Overall though, this was lacking in excitement for me. It was good to expand on the Lupari and there is certainly potential there, but it just went a bit long for my liking. Still, not bad. 

Rating: 6/10

Enlightenment

"How could she have thought that space was empty, when it was so full of stars."

Writer: Barbara Clegg

Format: Novel

Released: May 1984

Series: Target 84

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Tegan, Turlough 

Synopsis

In response to a warning of great danger given by the White Guardian, the Doctor set new coordinates and the TARDIS materialises on the heaving deck of an Edwardian racing yacht. 

But the Doctor soon discovers that this is no ordinary yacht – and no ordinary race. Captain Striker is competing for an unusual prize – 'Englightenment'. 

The crew will be lucky to reach port safely – but with such a prize would they be lucky to win?

Verdict

Enlightenment was an excellent novelisation of the serial of the same name! I think this story really is an underrated gem as for whatever reason it never really comes into my thinking when I ponder on some of the best Classics or even some of the best Fifth Doctor serials, but it really is tremendous! It rounds out the Black Guardian trilogy very nicely and on screen the cliffhanger to the end of part one with the imagery of the Edwardian ships sailing in space is one of my all time favourites! That doesn't quite have the same impact in prose but it doesn't take anything away from the story at all. I think it's superb. I think the concept of a space race by itself is a tremendous setting for Doctor Who, but when the players are Eternals things get a little different. They were fantastic villains and it was so strange to almost hear their demeanour on the page in being so calm and to the point. They really didn't care all that much about Ephemerals and that wasn't out of being evil or anything, they really did just think they were so insignificant. Their lifespan was minuscule compared with eternity. I thought Turlough's inner battle with the Black Guardian was presented very well although I was slightly surprised with how long he took to actually arrive in the story! There definitely felt like some omissions were made with what happened on screen and if I had any room for improvement for the novel, it would be a little more background on the relationship between Turlough and the Black Guardian. Obviously, for a fan like myself who has watched the trilogy of serials many times and read Mawdryn Undead and Terminus relatively recently, I was well aware of what was happening but I don't think it was explained all that well. It didn't bother me though! This is just a point for the more casual readers. I thought the dynamic between Tegan and Turlough was tackled brilliantly here as they have always had a frosty relationship and that was captured on the first page with the chess match. Turlough was almost angered at the fact that he had to stop mid-game when he had her in check due to the TARDIS power playing up. The White Guardian being the cause of that was intriguing and I liked how the eternal conflict between each Guardian was presented. The emergence of Wrack as the true villain of the story was really good and in prose format I was surprised with how long it felt until she actually arrived. The moment where Turlough jumps overboard is a shocking one to have her emerge in picking him up on the Buccaneer, and the desperation and helplessness of the Doctor was palpable. I thought the energetic style of the Fifth Doctor's characterisation was true to this incarnation which was a big positive. I thought the marker buoys representing the planets of the Solar System was excellent and the scale of the race was perfect for beings such as Eternals. The use of the mind reading worked fantastically in prose and that got particularly uncomfortable when it came to the interactions between Tegan and Mansell. His desire for existence because of her became a little obsessive and I completely related with Tegan in how she was struggling to handle it. Turlough realising the voice the Eternals were hearing was also that of the Black Guardian which was causing him such inner strife was really good and the pace of the reveal was just perfect. I was a big fan of that and the way things concluded with the Guardians facing off and Turlough choosing the Doctor's survival over enlightenment was marvellous. He finally felt free of the Black Guardian's shackles and the Eternals were questioning how they'd been defeated by mere ephemerals round out what was a really great book. A fantastic novelisation! 

Rating: 9/10