Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane?

"It was as if her friend had never existed."

Writer: Rupert Laight

Format: Novel

Released: November 2008

Series: SJA Novelisation 05

Featuring: Sarah Jane, Maria, Clyde

Synopsis

Life on Earth can be an adventure, too. You just need to know where to look.

Maria wakes up to discover that everyone apart from her has forgotten Sarah Jane ever existed. As she tries to find out what has happened to her friend, Maria gets caught up in a bizarre twist of time. An alien creature changed events in Sarah Jane's past, imprisoning her in some kind of limbo. Will her friends be able to rescue her and set time back on the right course...?

Verdict

Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane? was an excellent novelisation of The Sarah Jane Adventures story of the same name! This is something of an instant classic for me and it's a story I have watched on screen so many times, so to read it was a very good experience. I have actually owned this book physically since not long after it was released, and here we are seventeen years later finally reading it. That feels ludicrous but it is absolute fact! I think it's so fun that these earl SJA stories were novelised in true traditional Target form and it's a shame that New Who took so long to catch up! I was honestly stunned looking back at my blog entry of nine years ago for the on screen story that I didn't give it full marks as I think that must require a rewatch one day after reading this. It's just an excellent story from start to finish. I think the concept is magnificent and the way things started with a prologue here dating back to 1964 and the start of the school trip that would prove so pivotal to the plot was magnificent. There wasn't too much else in terms of deviations or add ons from what we saw on screen which is absolutely fine, but I really did appreciate the internal dialogue. That really helped further sell the impact events were having on Maria and Alan. The latter has a superb story and it's easily the best for his character. From showing off his skateboarding skills to Clyde and then clashing with Chrissie over their lost daughter, he really does go through it all here. Perhaps not to the scale of Maria, but whilst she loses her friend from across the road I'm not sure she would feel as lost and hopeless as her dad in losing his daughter. I think the threat of the meteor crashing to Earth is brilliant and purely because of what the Trickster said. Sarah Jane wanted to know why he was doing what he was and whilst the likes of the Bane and the Slitheen were out for revenge or profit in neat references to Invasion of the Bane and Revenge of the Slitheen, this meteor was pure chaos. The destruction of the Earth by pure chance. That was just sublime with the Trickster being involved. I adore the concept behind him as a character and he does become the defining villain of the entire spinoff series. I think the use of the Graske in the story is a good injection of comedy and I get the sense from reading the book that he is offered more as something of light relief and humour in what is otherwise a pretty dark and emotional adventure for a children's show! The scenes back in 1964 and actually seeing Sarah Jane as a teenager is just wonderful. Her relationship with Andrea was established on the bus journey as Sarah Jane following the law and her teacher's instructions, whereas she was more interested in going where was off limits. If she wanted to see Westport pier, then no repair works were going to stop her. The accident is rather horrifying and presented so well here, but the idea of swapping places to save a life is not actually something I found all that surprising. I know for a fact I'd do the same thing. How could you not? Andrea's reaction to hearing the name Sarah Jane Smith in her elderly life and on her birthday was great stuff and set things on course for correction. The use of the soothsayer's box to protect the memory of Sarah Jane and Maria is convenient but it just works, especially with Andrea having one too. I liked the use of the mirror too to see into the realm of nothingness. That worked just as well in prose. I do think the picture pages inserted into the story were a tad random, but they do help with a reminder of the visuals! I think the live news report for details on the meteor are amusing because who is really staying to do their job when they report that the end of the world is ten minutes away? I think the use of guilt to get Andrea to go back on her deal was really well done and it became a very emotional ending as we saw Andrea back in the position of clinging on for life at the pier before plummeting to her death. It's incredible really! The mad dash to get Mr Smith to save the planet after everything was restored to normality was really exciting to finish things and conclude what was a tremendous read! I loved it.

Rating: 10/10

Solo: The Ravencliff Witch

"I've always been a barker."

Writer: David Llewellyn

Format: Audio

Released: March 2022

Series: Fourth Doctor Adventures 11.02

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Margaret 

Synopsis

The TARDIS lands in Ravencliff, a small town on the English coast that stands in the shade of a newly built power station. And that just happens to be haunted.

Every now and then a spectral figure is glimpsed on the beach – the Ravencliff witch. And every time she appears, it's the prelude to disaster.

The Doctor has to solve the mystery of her appearances if he wants to prevent a catastrophe. But he won't have to do it alone – as he has the help of Margaret Hopwood, a renowned sculptor destined to play a big part in his life.

Verdict

The Ravencliff Witch was a great story to conclude the Solo first half of the eleventh series of Fourth Doctor Adventures! This was very different from the Blood of the Time Lords opener and whilst there wasn’t really any kind of continuity or continuation, it was a fun follow up with the Fourth Doctor still travelling solo in the gap before The Face of Evil. I think the role of Margaret Hopwood was really good and this was a solid introduction for her. Listening when I am three years after release, I’m well aware that she rejoins the Fourth Doctor on his travels in the future but she doesn’t actually stay aboard the TARDIS here which was a little surprising. I wouldn’t say she screams companion material and I do hope she doesn’t fall into a shadow of Evelyn Smythe as a companion in that same fashion. As a standalone character here she was strong and the relationship she built with the Doctor here was impressive. But I’m not sure she was the star of the show! I thought the Doctor talking to himself was brilliant and when travelling alone that’s essentially necessary for the audio format, but the way it was incorporated was just wonderful. The suggestion of it being the only way he can have an intelligent conversation was very amusing. I’m not sure any other incarnation than the fourth could pull that off either! The arrival into Ravencliff was good and having a setting around a new power station is intriguing. There was always going to be something more going on there and the revelation regarding the novium was really good. Celia Banks made for a very strong character and her story over the course of the adventure was actually excellent. The Doctor knew earlier than the listener and Banks herself but her destiny to actually be the titular Ravencliff witch was superb. The whole thing of her being scattered through time as the Doctor pieced together the eon key worked very well for me and it had some fun Clara in The Name of the Doctor vibes. Gordon Miles as the head of the power station was a stubborn character and that was exactly what he should have been. I was a big fan and even until the end he refused to believe that the witch myth had become real. I thought the history behind that was terrific and I liked how Margaret was on hand for help with the legend. Her passion for sculpting was unique and I really liked that she scavenged what she could from the beach to make her artwork. The legend going back to the early tenth century was fantastic and I liked the moment that she revealed she thought she had the key required for solving all of the problems with the gap beneath the sea that provided the novium. That actually being time silver and from the Cardovians was a fascinating look into Time Lord history as it was actually the Doctor’s own people that had caused their ship to crash and the supply to seep through. That worked well for me! I don’t think the cliffhangers were anything much to shout home about which was a shame, but the story still comfortably gets its rating from me. Overall, a fun introduction for Margaret after a brief glimpse in Companion Piece which incredibly was released three years before this (but recorded at a similar time). Not much is left to indicate she will return, but I’m looking forward to it! A strong story and a great listen. 

Rating: 8/10

Solo: Blood of the Time Lords

"Just call me God."

Writer: Timothy X Atack

Format: Audio

Released: March 2022

Series: Fourth Doctor Adventures 11.01

Featuring: Fourth Doctor

Synopsis

The book known as The Dischord Grimoire is an incredibly powerful tome, believed capable of altering the true passage of time itself. And the Doctor has it in the TARDIS.

Wanting to look into this mysterious opus further, he decides to take it to an old friend in The Recusary – a monastery-like retreat on a moon of Gallifrey. 

But he's chosen an inauspicious time to arrive. Something else is visiting the Recusary. And this something hasn't brought a book with it... but death.

Verdict

Blood of the Time Lords was a great start to the Solo eleventh series of Fourth Doctor Adventures! I think the umbrella title for this first half of the series is perhaps the blandest there has ever been from Big Finish since they stopped simply naming the series by number, but it's a fun point to explore in the chronology of the Fourth Doctor. It's also a whole new world for Big Finish to explore which is always fun and I get the sense they will fill this gap. Placing a story right after the events of The Deadly Assassin is very exciting and it's pretty bold to go with another Master adventure. Of course, this is at the complete opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to the renegade Time Lord as the Doctor encounters him here at a very early point in his life. It's a far cry from the emaciated and decaying version he would have just defeated. It's a massive shame what the situation has become with James Drayfus as this first incarnation for the Master is so interesting to explore. He really does feel young and just getting started which is testament to both the writing and the performance, but I guess having a little bit of mystery for this Master is exciting. It leaves things up for interpretation. The Master's comments about the Fourth Doctor were intriguing and I loved how he referred to him as old. He also wasn't a fan of that grin on his face or the way he had dressed. This Master would be familiar with the First Doctor so I can appreciate the reaction to an altogether different incarnation. I thought the story was really intriguing in further exploring parts of Gallifreyan history, and placing things on a moon of the Time Lord's planet was fascinating. I must admit, I thought this took a while to get going with the first part being incredibly slow, but thankfully it did come into its own as things moved forward. Sedanya was a really good character to feature as the former schoolteacher of the Doctor and the Master and that allowed some very playful comments. The simplicity of the Doctor just calling her miss was glorious. It was frustrating her greatly! She wasn't all that keen on the pair still bickering here long after their school days which is fun to ponder on. Ansillon was another strong character with him being the famed hermit from the Doctor's younger days on Gallifrey. There was subtly a lot of history being told and referenced in the story with it feeling like a loose way to explore more Time Lord or Doctor lore. I'm all for that and would love it to continue. Elanora was a really lovely character and the relationship and trust she had built with the Doctor was an excellent element of the story. I was quite surprised that she turned down his offer at the end of coming with him! The concept behind the Parenthesis Clock was incredible exciting and the prospect of changing creation around you whilst your own time stream went undisturbed was fantastic. The Master was taking things to a different level altogether though with his desires. He wanted to completely eradicate Time Lord history so that he was the only one left. The only time traveller in the universe, a universe where he would become a God. Who needed a Lord? It was really intriguing and quite the scheme for the early incarnation! I thought the Mandelbraut that the title seemingly refers to was actually a bit of a hindrance in the story but I did enjoy their mythical status becoming real. That sparked some fun reactions. The way the Doctor solved things by using the Dischord Grimoire was impressive even if it seems a tad far fetched for him to have programmed things so specifically in an unheard moment. Where did he have the time? I did like that he brought Elanora back with the temporary power he had, and the fate of the Master was typically ambiguous. Overall, a fine start to the series! 

Rating: 8/10

The Secret History

"I'm trying to rebuild the Roman Empire."

Writer: Eddie Robson

Format: Audio

Released: June 2015

Series: Monthly Adventures 200

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Vicki, Steven

Synopsis

The TARDIS brings the Doctor, Steven and Vicki to the Italian city of Ravenna in the year 540 – besieged by the army of the celebrated Byzantine general Belisarius. Caught up in the fighting, Steven ends up on a boat bound for Constantinople, the heart of the Roman Empire.

Rescuing Steven, however, is the least of the Doctor's problems – because he shouldn't be mixed up in this particular adventure at all. Someone has sabotaged his own personal timeline, putting him in the place of his First incarnation... but who, and why? The truth is about to be revealed – but at what cost to all of the Doctors, and to the whole future history of the planet Earth?

Verdict

The Secret History was a great story to mark the two-hundredth Monthly Adventures release! This really does feel like something of a milestone which is impressive and even though I’m a decade too late, it’s brilliant to finally mark it. I didn’t start listening to this range until 2013 so it feels wonderful to reach this point in twelve years, a little less than would have been the case if I was collecting monthly from 1999 when the range began! It’s good to mark the occasion with a special story and it concludes the fascinating misplaced Doctors trilogy in fine style. The trio of the Fifth Doctor, Vicki and Steven is admittedly not one that excited me all that much but it’s such a fun moment to hear the companions enter the TARDIS and see a very different Doctor indeed. Believing that the Fifth Doctor was still their Doctor came about pretty easily with Vicki having no doubts once their discussion in The Rescue was brought up. Steven’s reaction to hearing about along with The Romans was good fun. Surely they’d have talked about that by now though? I think going to the sixth century is tremendous and that kind of history is not something that Doctor Who has exploited all that much so it was refreshing. I wouldn’t say it’s the most exciting period to discover or explore but I’m all for it. The title alluding to a real life document was fun and it’s certainly one that provides immediate intrigue. How can a history be secret? There’s a big difference there to it being unknown. Of course, the answer should be obvious when the brilliant reveal is made in part three that the culprit of the last three stories is the Monk! Graeme Garden reprising the role is a nice touch and I almost didn’t recognise his voice as it has been a while since I covered his exploits in the fourth series of the Eighth Doctor Adventures! It was a welcomed return and the Monk mentioning how the Doctor was the only one to call him by that religious title was quite amusing. What is his actual name then? The Meddler would almost be more fitting. His purpose here was quite an extraordinary scheme though as he wanted to change history at the ultimate level. He wasn’t going to just alter the Doctor’s history, he was going to step right into it and become him! That was audacious and I loved it. It’s a fantastic concept but I don’t think there was enough time to breathe with it to fully come into fruition. Only one part to play with was good but I wanted to enjoy the Monk as the Doctor for a little longer! I thought it was good to start part four in the same way as part one but with the Monk in the Doctor’s place, and his rationale for changing history to Vicki and Steven was actually believable. As long as they weren’t in their own time stream then their history couldn’t be altered. The Doctor would tell us very differently! I liked how with this very much being a First Doctor story, the very first opening theme was used and the Fifth Doctor realising what events he was about to experience but would soon forget as history reset was strong stuff. It was a terrific concept and the Doctor had to keep things on track which can be quite difficult when you’ve forgotten what happened! This did feel very much of the early era with how the TARDIS trio were all split up early on and the scale of the journey from Ravenna to Constantinople was a little rushed. I almost felt like this could have been six parts! There was a lot going on and I just wanted to know more and explore which is a big compliment. I think it’s also fun to have the Monk as the villain in a story featuring Vicki and Steven as they know him very well indeed from The Time Meddler. Steven’s reaction in particular to hearing that Quintis was actually the Monk was superb. I thought Sofia was a strong character and her relationship with the Monk was really interesting. The journey she goes on over the course of the story is really intriguing as once the Monk has replaced the Doctor, we learn that she dreams of the events of The Defectors and Legend of the Cybermen. That was fun and a good way to tie the trilogy together. I thought the Fifth Doctor's restoration was good and the Monk really was sent packing by the Doctor in a way which showed very little remorse! Overall, a terrific little story to celebrate two hundred releases!

Rating: 8/10

The Story & the Engine

"We must feed it. It is always hungry."

Writer: Inua Ellams

Format: TV

Broadcast: 12 May 2025

Series: 15.05

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda

Synopsis

In Lagos, the mysterious Barber reigns supreme. The Doctor discovers a world where stories have power, but can he stop the Spider and its deadly web of revenge?

Verdict

The Story & the Engine was another excellent episode to continue along the fifteenth series of Doctor Who! Season 2 of RTD2 continues to shine here as this has been a sublime five episode run so far. I can’t quite believe we’re nearly at the end because it really does feel like we’re just getting started. I thought heading to 2019 was good and I like how we’re nearing 2025 ahead of the ominous date of 24 May and the start of the finale. The Doctor heading to Lagos in Nigeria was fun and whilst we’ve known this was coming, I was quite surprised by how extensive this incarnation’s time in the city had been. He was treated in the markets as a regular which was good and I liked how he recognised some old friends. I’m not usually a big fan of unseen adventures for the Doctor, but I think the prequel short story of What I Did on My Holidays by Omo Esoso really helped things. I felt like I was joining a world I already knew and I think the symmetry of the artwork for the illustrations was also a welcomed aid. I liked them a lot. The Doctor’s comments to Belinda in the TARDIS about being accepted in Lagos at Omo’s barbershop was important and it was powerful for him to acknowledge being black in this incarnation. Here he felt accepted and whilst the TARDIS typically did his hair, he went to the barbershop for the camaraderie and the culture. He was accepted and that was lovely. Belinda provided a pass to getting home which was good and I was initially worried that she wouldn’t be featuring much in the episode! Thankfully the TARDIS alarms linked to the barbershop meant she wouldn’t take long to get out. I thought the barbershop housing some of the missing people in Lagos was intriguing and right from the off the atmosphere within was a little off. That changed altogether when the mysterious Barber emerged. The barbershop was under new management and Omo’s reaction told the Doctor something was very wrong indeed. I really liked the concept of the barbershop being in both Lagos and outer space as it felt like a version of the TARDIS with the doorway being hugely significant and passing from one place to another. The Doctor recognising Abby was intriguing and I loved the mystery there. The concept of the visual aid for the stories that were being told by those receiving the haircut was fascinating but it really helped! I’m not sure if I’m reading too much into it but the opening titles starting there really makes me think that the Doctor and Belinda are still trapped within the fictional world seen in Lux. Have they really escaped? It could just be a clever special effects quirk and choice which I love, but I get the feeling it means more. The stare off between the Doctor and the Barber was sensational in its intensity and I loved how the aura of the latter just completely diminished when the Doctor quashed his identity. He claimed to be numerous gods at once, but the Doctor had met them all and they were not him. His role as a once mortal but now someone perpetuating the story of the gods was fascinating and I think there could be even more to explore with him. I love the idea and the Doctor actually having to protect the idea of gods despite his ongoing battles against so many of them was intriguing. But their importance to humanity is difficult to argue against much to my atheist annoyance. They are so deep rooted in history and mythology so for them to just be taken away would be catastrophic. I thought the structure of the Nexus and the spider on it looked impressive and the idea worked very well. The Barber being kicked out of his own creation was a fitting motive as he just wanted them all to end. I thought Omo wanting the Doctor to come and be the one feeding the Story Engine was pretty sad and the anger showcased by the Doctor was tremendous. It was absolutely warranted. It was nice though that they came around to a better understanding at the end of the episode. The Doctor using Belinda’s ordinary life and her dedication to being a nurse was a shining moment and I’m honestly such a big fan of hers. She’s so incredibly likeable and very mature. I love her as companion. Her little interaction in the episode with Polly seemingly making a return from Space Babies was strange, and the way it was referenced later in the story at the end with the Doctor mentioning different stories leaking out was really interesting! What’s the link? I can’t wait to find out. The Doctor being an endless story and bonding them all within was just a marvellous concept. I loved the flashbacks to so many Doctors, but the cameo of the Fugitive Doctor was a show stealer! Alluding to that part of his life was so unexpected and a great moment. No wonder he didn’t recognise Abby right away! I thought how she came around and mapped his hair to the source of ending things was good but the Doctor feeling his head for the way to go was a comical image. Overall though, a fantastic episode and making a story where stories are so important is brilliant. The kindness shown to the Barber once he returned to mortality was a nice way to end. The series continues to shine!

Rating: 9/10

What I Did On My Holidays By Omo Esosa

"The oil spoiling everything."

Writer: Inua Ellams

Format: Short Story

Released: 08 May 2025

Printed on: Doctor Who Website

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor

Synopsis

In Lagos, Nigeria a young boy writes an essay about the time he met a mysterious man called the Doctor.

Verdict

What I Did On My Holiday By Omo Esosa was a great little short story! This was an unexpected delight to see popping up on the official Doctor Who social media channels this week and I just couldn’t resist getting it done. I think it’s a wonderful idea to do a prequel to the upcoming episode that is due to be broadcast this weekend, and I think the conversation and speculation about The Story and the Engine is ramping up now which is very exciting. There’s a lot of discussion on Time Lord and/or god involvement and I can’t blame fandom for getting excited. The Barber sounds so anonymous and titular that I could so easily see him being a Time Lord, and what about those giant spiders? I doubt we’ll be getting any kind of Metebelis III throwback but you just never know? A Spider God would be really interesting, but what that be overdoing the theme? I’m here for it. Anyway, less of speculation on what’s to come tomorrow and to the story at hand. I think it’s clear from the next time trailer shown at the end of Lucky Day that the Doctor has a history with Omo (assuming he is the Barber?) so I think it’s wonderful to get this prequel story to depict how! I think this story’s very existence will help my enjoyment of the televised episode because now I have read the explanation of how the Doctor knows Omo. Given the vast array of stories there is to consume across the numerous media formats, I’m not usually a fan of unseen adventures for the Doctor. I want to see or hear or read everything. So this is right up my alley! I think the Nigerian setting of Lagos is going to be really refreshing and the world described here in 1965 was excellent. It’s unlike any typical Earth setting the Doctor usually visits and getting a little preview of something akin to what we can expect was really good. I thought the format of the story in the form of an essay from the 12-year-old Omo was really fun and that made me appreciate the illustrations that accompanied the text. They were quite brilliant in their simplicity and even the colours felt very 1960s which was impressive. I thought they complimented the adventure very well! I think it’s amusing for Omo to be literally putting into his essay a plea not to get an F because of how unbelievable his account sounds, but he was doing what was asked of him! The subject of a forest fire felt very real and the illustration of the flames in particular was a real highlight. I was engrossed in this little world of Omo’s within Etsako because it’s just not somewhere we go and I’m keen to learn more. I am incredibly keen to visit numerous African countries as I love exploring different cultures and Nigeria is certainly high on my list. The barbershop culture in particular is not really my scene, but I can certainly see how the Doctor will fit in. Omo’s description of the Doctor in this adventure was incredible in mentioning how he looked like a queen with the rings on his fingers but then had the aura of a soldier. I thought that was perhaps the best way the Fifteenth Doctor has ever been described! I loved it. I’d like to know a little more background at how the Doctor came to be in the right place at the right time amidst the forest fire, but that may be me looking a little too much into things. The TARDIS is notorious for getting him to where he needs to be! Now, I don’t know anything about the author of this story but if having two young children tells me anything it’s that I am convinced he is a fan of Bluey. To name Omo’s woman of his dreams as Blue and to also have a dog in the story called Bingo is not something I’m accepting as being by chance! It’s a funny little quirk. Blue was a good character and the Doctor using the TARDIS to heal her was quite something! Omo’s reaction to the Doctor giving him the responsibility to stop the fire was good too because where on Earth does a twelve-year-old start with that?! I think Blue’s name mixing with the TARDIS being a blue ‘cupboard’ was amusing. For a school essay, this was pretty dark in tone and that just made everything feel very real. It has to have something of an unfinished feeling given the nature of it as a prequel, but that’s all good and sets things up nicely for the episode to come! Whilst I still really liked what was done here, I think I’ll come to appreciate this prequel even more once the on screen episode is broadcast. It’s not often we get prequels ahead of time so I can’t wait to explore this world further! Overall, a terrific little read. 

Rating: 8/10

The Armageddon Factor

"You don't beg for peace... you win it."

Writers: Bob Baker & Dave Martin

Format: TV

Broadcast: 20 January - 24 February 1979

Season: 16.06

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana I, K9

Synopsis

The final segment of the Key to Time is at the heart of a devastating war between neighbouring planets Atrios and Zeos. The Fourth Doctor discovers that a sinister entity is manipulating events and the cost of obtaining the final segment may be more personal than he imagined.

Verdict

The Armageddon Factor was an excellent serial! I can't quite believe it has been four years since my last viewing of this season but I had actually been watching it in chronological order and I guess the extra two parts had put me off time wise. It's no secret that the last remaining televised serials I have yet to blog are long ones of six or seven parts in length. I've had this blog for twelve years now and whilst I have of course seen every televised serial more than once, I am on a mission to try and ensure my blog catches up. I need a record of what is essentially all of the core Doctor Who! Hence my blogging of this today. I was really intrigued going into it as I believe I have only watched the serial twice before, and the last viewing would not have been later than 2012. It's fair to say I didn't remember much other than the key details like Lalla Ward featuring as Princess Astra, Drax appearing, and this concluding the Key to Time story arc. Taking the former of those first is fascinating to see what would become both on screen incarnations of Romana in the same sequence. It's pretty jarring but in the best way. It almost feels like something we shouldn't be seeing! Ward gives an excellent performance and it's not a surprise in the slightest to find that she would take on the role of companion in the next season as Romana would regenerate. I'm not a big fan of Romana's first incarnation and I think she sadly goes down as my least favourite Classic era companion, which is amusing because her next incarnation is my favourite. I think the role of Astra in the story is excellent, although it's pretty clear from at least part three that she is going to be the segment of the Key to Time. The tracer tracking her bracelet early on more than gives that away! Her relationship with Merak was really nice to see and I think it's quite touching how they get to reunite at the end. The setting of the conflict between Atrios and Zeos was brilliant and I thought Marshal was a superb character. His interactions with Shapp were terrific as he was also a trmeneodrus character. Both filled their roles of authority very well. The humour the latter in particular injected when he was transmatted and couldn't expect that he'd moved planets was really well done. The use of K9 in the story was fantastic and I had a real emotional feeling when he was on the verge of being incinerated. His warnings about the temperature and overheating were so sad because he was literally helpless! His acting as being on the side of the Shadow was good fun when he was restored to normality. The Shadow made for a really strong villain with it being a concept and a look that absolutely works. I would have even liked a bit more of a boisterous attitude but that calm demeanour almost made it seem scarier. It was a perfect final opponent in the task against the Black Guardian. The use of cheating to utilise some of the power of a complete Key to Time to orchestrate the time loop was amusing! It worked though and the time loop slowly extending added some strong tension. I thought Drax was magnificent and he came at a time that was perfect to push the serial seamlessly into six parts. His recognition of the Doctor as Theta Sigma was really intriguing and the history that was touched upon by the pair was fascinating. I thought him miniaturising the Doctor for the part five cliffhanger resolution was glorious. The image of the pair of them then later coming out of K9 to tackle the Shadow was superb! Talk about an entrance. Romana realising that Astra is the segment because of the significance of the number six in her dynasty was brilliant and the moment she accepts her fate and becomes the piece again is quite extraordinary! I think the little add on at the end with the Black Guardian faking being the White counterpart is good, but after an entire season it does feel a little odd for the pieces to just be dispersed across time and space again! The way the Doctor toyed to Romana about the power it wielded was excellent though. It was almost up there with his suggestion of using peace as a deterrent to the warfare. Overall, a fantastic serial fitting of a finale.

Rating: 9/10

The Two Doctors

"A pleasure deferred was often all the sweeter for it."

Writer: Robert Holmes

Format: Novel

Released: December 1985

Series: Target 100

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri, Second Doctor, Jamie

Synopsis

Disturbed by the time travel experiments of the evil Dastari and Chessene, the Time Lords send the Second Doctor and Jamie to investigate. Arriving on a station in deep space, they are attacked by a shock force of Sontarans and the Doctor is left for dead.

Across the gulfs of time and space, the Sixth Doctor discovers that his former incarnation is very much alive. Together with Peri and Jamie he must rescue his other self before the plans of Dastari and Chessene reach their deadly and shocking conclusion...

Verdict

The Two Doctors was a great novelisation of the televised serial of the same name! Well, I wait over 3,500 blog entries to cover this adventure and now I've done it back to back! This was a fun little experiment from a persona basis as I've never read the novelisation of a story so soon after watching the on screen story. Certainly not for a Classic era serial! I think the quickest turnaround will be from the modern era and might be the run of the Fourteenth Doctor, but to do the same story in consecutive days but in different formats was something that interested me to really have the on screen adventure fresh in my mind. I mentioned yesterday in my blogging of the televised version that everything was just a bit mad. Whilst there was still certainly a sense of that here in the book, things did feel slightly more in control which was important. There was a lot more room for clarity and explanation which really helped the many moving elements of the story. I was a tad surprised that there was no mention of Victoria this time around but given the proximity post-The War Games for the Second Doctor there really isn't any reason for it. One thing that did irk me regarding the Doctors in the novelisation was how they weren't really differentiated across incarnation. That felt very odd and honestly if we had something as simple and consistent as the regeneration number then this book might have scored an even higher rating! Despite being a prolific writer of on screen stories, I think it's clear that this is the first novelisation for Robert Holmes. I think it's great that he did one but his use of pronouns was a tad odd. Starting a chapter by just referring to he without mentioning who that was made for a slightly off-putting style of writing, but the way he expanded on his own work really helped elevate this version of the story. I thought the description of Shockeye really took him to another level from the more comical iteration we saw on screen. He was presented with a booming and enormous physical presence which was excellent. It really helped sell his desire for human flesh and the manhandling of Peri and Jamie. The comments about the former and the goods she had on offer for consumption were a tad out of place though! I thought the use of the Sontarans worked a little better in this telling of the story and that might because of there being no need for directorial choices. But at the same time, Chessene doesn't quite steal the show as the villain in the same independent way she did on screen. I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing though. I think the references and just general story involvement of the Kartz-Reimer module worked much better in the novel as there was time to pause and give clarity on everything that was happening. The extended dialogue was great in parts too with a lot of that given to Oscar Botcherby and his moth fascination. I had hoped for more expansion on his relationship with Anita, but Jamie longing after her was quite fun. Peri again feels a tad secondary and I do think more explanation was needed on the grabbing of the keys using the wheelchair. I'm not sure I'd entirely know what was going on there if I hadn't watched the story unfold yesterday. I don't feel like I should go into much story detail as that was mostly covered yesterday, but the way Cassene meets her end after Dastari sees her licking blood and that she's still and Androgum at heart was fantastic. The little additional way to finish with the authorities reacting to the state of the Dona Aran's home. It ws in quite the need of repair! Overall,  really fun little experiment! I thought this wa an excellent novelisation that actually does go one better than its on screen counterpart. Overall, a great read!

Rating: 8/10

The Two Doctors

"Perhaps you should see a doctor."

Writer: Robert Holmes

Format: TV

Broadcast: 16 February - 2 March 1985

Season: 22.04

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri, Second Doctor, Jamie

Synopsis

The Doctor has teamed up with himself before to save lives. This time, he must save his past self in order to ensure his own existence in the present. What could Chessene and dim-witted lackey Shockeye have planned with the Sontarans? Only thing is known for sure: time will tell.

Verdict

The Two Doctors is a very decent serial. It’s absolutely mad! I’m doing something of an experiment with finally getting to blogging this serial which means my last viewing must be over twelve years ago. That feels extraordinary to say because I’ve definitely watched it more than once and I remembered a lot of elements, but it is a great big amount of waffle. I’m not sure it all makes sense and I think going three parts is perhaps an episode too long in the extended forty-five minutes format, but it was a really fun watch! I think it’s such a nice touch to start in black and white with the Second Doctor and Jamie in the TARDIS, and it’s actually a really bold move to kick off the story with them for a good ten minutes or so when it’s not their era. The televised version of the Sixth Doctor is not something I have watched for quite a while now and this was startling as to how different he is at this point in his life. He’s still early in the regeneration as alluded to and he doesn’t seem all that complimentary to Peri for her good ideas. He doesn’t exactly take into consideration her interests with the ridiculousness of his fishing! I think the use of the Sontarqns in the story is frankly baffling. They’re hidden in just seeing a hand confront the Second Doctor but then we just have one in full view standing in the Spanish sun! I think the design is probably a tad off from their earlier onscreen appearances which is a shame as that lack of mouth movement doesn’t do anybody any favours. I love the idea of a multi-Doctor story as I adore them as much as the next person and it’s quite refreshing that it’s not happening as part of an anniversary. It’s a bit of a shame we didn’t get more of the Sixth and Second Doctors interacting together, but when we did it was excellent. I was intrigued how the Sixth Doctor felt much more mature and commanding a presence but the Second certainly had his time to shine. The scenes where he was turned part Androgum were just crazy. Having him and Shockeye racking up a massive bill at a local restaurant was hilarious. I wonder how Troughton felt about this being what he was given for his return! The concept of the Second Doctor potentially dying and that impacting on his future self was great. The use of time experimentation gave credence to the possibility that the Second Doctor could actually die despite the existence of his future self. Dastari is a strong character here and he certainly looks the part! His history with the Time Lords is intriguing and I love the idea of the Second Doctor and Jamie being sent on a mission. This Doctor talking openly to his companion about his people is just fascinating and hints at so much more with the concept of Season 6b given everything that happens in The War Games. I felt like Peri became something of a forgotten element in the story as it went on which was a shame and it’s shocking really how she was just viewed by Shockeye as a tasty snack. Quite literally! She does seem like she’s there for eye candy which is a tad frustrating because she has so much more to offer. I thought Chessene made for a fantastic villain and she was basically the star of the show. She was so good and I liked the background of her being an Androgum but one that was enhanced by Dastari to genius level. She couldn’t be more removed from Shockeye! The concept of the double cross within a double cross for the Sontarans and company was impressive but they do seem to be just stragglers. I like the idea of them wanting time travel but would they really be missed if they weren’t in the story? I’m not so sure and that’s coming from a huge Sontaran fan! The way things finish for them though looks impressive as they exit the ship in green goo. I’d love a figure of that destroyed Sontaran! The fate of the Androgums is sealed in decent fashion and the eyebrows returning to Chessene was quite fitting. Dastari realised things had gone too far which was a good finish. Overall, a really wild and not entirely comprehensible serial, but an entertaining watch nonetheless. I look forward to exploring the story further.

Rating: 7/10

The Devil's Hoofprints

"The hunt may now begin."

Writer: Robert Valentine

Format: Audio

Released: October 2021

Series: Third Doctor Adventures 8.02

Featuring: Third Doctor, Sarah Jane, Brigadier

Synopsis

Long ago, in Devon in 1855, a mysterious event occurred. Overnight, during a terrible blizzard, thousands of hoofprints appeared in the snow. The tracks led on for miles... and no-one ever identified who or what caused them.

Many years later, the Doctor, Sarah and the Brigadier have come to Devon themselves, to visit a controversial scientific establishment in the wake of a mysterious death and rumours of strange occurrences in the vicinity. 

But things are just about to get much, much stranger. Because they're about to uncover the origins of the Devil's Hoofprints... but is this one mystery that should have remained unsolved?

Verdict

The Devil's Hoofprints was

Rating: 7/10

Sightseeing in Space: The Web in Space

"You know what spiders do to flies, don't you?"

Writer: David Bailey

Format: Novel

Released: September 2011

Series: 2 in 1 4b

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Amy, Rory

Synopsis

A distress signal calls the TARDIS to the Black Horizon, a spaceship under attack from the Empire of Eternal Victory. But the robotic scavengers are the least of the Doctor's worries. Something terrifying is waiting to trap him in space...

Verdict

The Web in Space was a great story to conclude my reading of the Sightseeing in Space 2 in 1 novel! This followed Terminal of Despair up very nicely to round out a really strong pairing and I liked how different this one was despite being set in Space. I mean, Space is very vast and there's so much that can be done with it. I honestly did feel like this one was something akin to Wild Blue Yonder but with a few more characters. I think that Fourteenth Doctor episode is vastly overrated, but with a few more people to bounce off of here it definitely worked. I like the humour that came from the opening chapter with the TARDIS picking up the distress signal from the Black Horizon but playing that through the speakers at a blaring volume. I was impressed with the characterisation of our resident TARDIS trio in this one and I don't know why but the description of this often forgotten console room was really good. It set the vibe nicely and the interior of the Black Horizon was also written very well in providing a strong visual. I thought the concept behind the Empire of Eternal Victory was quite amusing and the idea of a band of scavenging robots picking up scrap for their empire was really good! I initially thought they were going to be presented as far too silly when a coffee maker peaked their interest after breaking in, but thankfully that was kept in check. I was impressed that they had knowledge of the Time Lords and the ultimate scavenge would be the TARDIS. That worked well but it was also something good for the Doctor to bargain for his life with. It would be worthless without him to explain! Zero-1 was a decent villain as the head of the scavenging robots, but the way he was hidden at a chapter cliffhanger and learned of the TARDIS and the Doctor being a Time Lord was excellent. These robots didn't sound too scary in appearance with their weird face masks, but their actions certainly made up for it! I was surprised they turned out to be the major enemy of the story because given the title, I was fully expecting it to be whatever was behind the web in space. And that's without the exclamation mark! I'm not sure where TARDIS Wiki got that from as I have the original double release from my library and it's definitely 'The' as the title. The concept behind the Diamondweb Spiders was enthralling and the Doctor being so protective of them despite them having the ship as potential prey ready to consume showed you all that was needed. They were so rare and the Doctor was genuinely impressed to be so close to one. Something that could trap comets in its web and fed off asteroids obviously required respect and that's what the Doctor would grant it. His communicating with it via vibrations was interesting and it was good that Sam picked up on that. He was a strong character and I liked how much Amy took a liking to him and recommended to Captain Jones that he be promoted once the events had died down, bit it was a slightly underwhelming way for things to finish in just having the spider know it was under attack and defend itself. I figured it would go down the route of her consuming the robots, but I guess they would barely register as a snack! I couldn't blame the scavengers for wanting to capture the spider though because the endless supply of diamond was more than desirable! Messy was a fun little character and his surrendering himself to Rory because of him defeating it by taking its arm off was quite amusing, and he was a useful piece of equipment to have around for much of the story! I really enjoyed the sequences where the artificial gravity was either not working or was flipped. That provided a lot of fun moments and I was glad of its duration. Trying to map out the ship was hard work with that! I thought the Empire of Eternal Victory ending in defeat for them was fitting, and they were essentially a robotic version of the Krillitanes in harvesting metals. An unfathomably big spider proved too much though! Overall, a great little read.

Rating: 8/10

Lucky Day

"The only monsters out here are UNIT."

Writer: Pete McTighe

Format: TV

Broadcast: 03 May 2025

Series: 15.04

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda, Ruby

Synopsis

Ruby Sunday faces life back on Earth without the Doctor. But when a dangerous new threat emerges, can Ruby and UNIT sace her new boyfriend Conrad from the terrifying Shreek?

Verdict

Lucky Day was another excellent episode to continue along the brand new series of Doctor Who! It’s quite scary to think that we’ve already reached the halfway point and amazingly the end already feels in sight, but this was a terrific story. It very much was a Doctor-lite story and I thought it was good fun to jump around the timeline of the Fifteenth Doctor. We met him at three different points here which was great and despite him not featuring for the majority of the forty-five minutes, we had arguably one of his best moments yet. I must admit that after the brilliance of The Well last week, I audibly sighed at seeing the next time trailer and the return of Ruby Sunday. Out of context that sounds awfully bad of me but it was nothing against Ruby, I just felt like it was a step backwards after such a strong start for Belinda as companion. I am loving her so I wanted to continue with her journey. Thankfully I was so incredibly wrong! Ruby absolutely owned it and by the end of the episode I loved that we caught up with her post-Empire of Death and seeing how she was dealing with everything that happened to her with her mother. I must admit I didn’t think we’d see Louise, Carla and Cherry all together again but then they were interested in Ruby’s date life. The story of Conrad before the massive twist was really intriguing and I loved that the Doctor and Belinda went to 2007 for another vindicator reading. Conrad seeing the TARDIS as a young boy was good and how wouldn’t something like that make an impression? He got a memento from the Doctor and he then saw the TARDIS again in 2024 which set the basis for the episode very nicely! The threat of the Shreek was really strong and I liked the mystery behind the monster. Its reptilian appearance was good and I loved the idea of them existing in a pocket dimension. Them only appearing once a year for their hunt was a strong concept and marking their prey was terrific. Ruby getting marked but the Doctor having the antidote was good and I loved that we were thrown back into the era of Series 14. Something as simple as the outfits for the Doctor and Ruby was marvellous and this being shortly after the events of The Devil’s Chord was great stuff. I liked that we got a timeline placement for that. Ruby being able to call Kate was really nice and Shirley’s comment at the end about collecting mums was a nice touch. She really is quite lucky in that regard, but she has a lot of tough stuff going for her as well. It was clear from the podcast appearance with Conrad that the pair had some chemistry and the host being fascinated by the TARDIS and the world of the Doctor was intriguing. It always felt like there was going to be something more to him, but I didn’t think the twist we had would be it! The idea of him being a part of a modern Think Tank is glorious and the continuity down to Robot and the UNIT involvement works wonderfully. The modern day feel of the episode in exposing tax paying funds and the supposed secrets behind UNIT felt very apt and in line with modern politics which was great fun. Conrad faking the presence of the Shreek and even his relationship with Ruby was impressive and clever, but it was so sad to see her world come crashing down before her very eyes. Think Tank streaming their confrontation with UNIT after Ruby got them into the village was excellent and the coverage they got was really strong. A new and improved Trinity Wells show was a fantastic throwback! Conrad not believing in the alien threats and the reality of the likes of Sycorax, Cybermen or Yetis in the Underground was really well done but I almost felt sorry for him by the end. He just couldn’t accept the truth about UNIT so Kate would show him firsthand when it came to the Shreek. I knew he wouldn’t have taken the antidote Ruby supplied to him and his desire to be the Doctor was something I could get behind. I would have accepted him just thinking he can’t live up to the Doctor, and I can just hear the ‘Doctor Who is too woke’ brigade chirping up about Ruby’s comment that he’d be more interested in Conrad than her. I was a little surprised Ruby would go on a podcast like this and I thought it was very much Redacted in the main show which I appreciated. Conrad infiltrating UNIT with Jordan felt very dark and I knew he was the man on the inside immediately, but this showed a different side of Kate which I adored. Once Conrad besmirched the name of her father, she showed him what he didn’t want to believe. After he begged for Ruby to stop the Shreek, his line about special effects improving was genius. It would take a physical bite for him to believe! Seeing that side of Kate was outstanding and if that and what happened in this episode is a look at what’s to come in The War Between the Land and the Sea, then sign me up! Hinting at Kate and Colonel Ibrahim having a relationship is interesting and I’m happy that Kate can have someone to enjoy a personal life with. The ending for Conrad and the Doctor plucking him into the TARDIS was just sublime. I loved how he stated that you had to be special to get inside but Conrad was that for all of the wrong reasons. The Doctor confronting Conrad was a sensational Fifteenth Doctor moment and showed the range of this incarnation beautifully. He’s usually so bubbly and joyous but his line about noise here was excellent. Conrad telling him to get off his world was bold and I really don’t think anything will make him see reason. Mrs Flood emerging as the Governor to free him from prison was intriguing although I do feel like she has lost an edge a little in playing these different roles. It’s too similar to Susan Triad. Regardless though, a superb episode and I’m sure this isn’t the last of Conrad.

Rating: 9/10

Last Stand: The Final Poblom

"Say hello to oblivion."

Writers: Lauren Mooney & Stuart Pringle

Format: Audio

Released: March 2025

Series: Paternoster Gang 2.12

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

The villainous trespasser has finally succeeded in banishing the Paternosters from their home, using the most powerful weapon in his arsenal: the bailiffs. 

Stuck in a seedy boarding house, the Gang soon realise something else is afoot. Things are going missing. Something is munching its way through London, and it may be the answer to all their problems...

Verdict

The Final Poblom was a fun episode to conclude the Last Stand final boxset of the Trespassers second series of adventures for the Paternoster Gang! This was actually far from the story I was expecting but that’s no bad thing. I just thought the focus was going to be more so on the threat of Brottac and the Zygons rather than a strange little monster from Sontaran past, but it helped eliminate the Zygons in the end so it all rounded out very nicely. I am made aware from a little research afterwords on social media that the story has some deep Sherlock Holmes references but unfortunately I am completely unfamiliar with anything regarding this famous fictional character other than that he’s a decent detective. I’ve never watched or read any Sherlock Holmes but that didn’t hamper my enjoyment of the episode! I thought it was quite fun for Brottac to arrive at the door of 13 Paternoster Row with the bailiffs to kick the Gang out of their home. The deed was genuine and I am just a little taken aback by the business acumen of the Zygon! After a time jump of a few months and Strax and Jenny celebrating the fact they’ve seemingly seen the end of him after some unheard attacks that were foiled, here was a Zygon going down the legal route! Whilst I have really enjoyed this final boxset as my consistent ratings reflect, it has felt slightly underwhelming in terms of a Zygon conflict. I was hoping for more action. I thought the use of Paul McGann in the story was a tad strange as he was once again playing Brottac which just felt a tad odd. I like the idea of the Eighth Doctor being the one to save Vastra at the end with the TARDIS, and whilst I’m here I’m going to jump ahead and talk about. I thought the paradoxical way of the true Doctor showing up at the wedding was good as he had clearly been invited too late in his time stream, but it allowed Jenny to know that her beloved would be safe. I am just a bit irked that with the way things ended on a cliffhanger that seemingly set up an entirely new series with them going to save her into the reality cataract, the post-credits scene saw Jenny and Vastra reunited already. Might this be the end of the line for the Paternoster Gang at Big Finish? I sincerely hope not! But I was taken aback when flicking onto the app as the end credits hit and there was still more than three minutes to go. The cast list wasn’t that long! I thought the concept behind the Poblom was intriguing and I liked that they were something that could actually feed on concepts themselves. They didn’t just consume physical matter but they’d apparently eaten up the concept of Thursday! That was quite baffling to get my head around as to how they would do it, but it was fascinating to listen to. Strax relishing in being given permission to use his limited arms against the Poblom was terrific. Grenades at the ready! Strax actually having knowledge of the Poblom was helpful and put him on a pedestal above the others which was a refreshing change. The ‘problem’ gag was probably overdone a little but not enough to not get a smile. Vastra realising that the Poblom could be set onto something new was fun but that maybe came a tad early as it was clear how things would conclude. It was a good way to do it but it just became a tad predictable. Overall though, a strong finale! 

Rating: 8/10

Last Stand: A Passion for Fashion

"It makes people obsessed with the feathers."

Writer: Helen Goldwyn

Format: Audio

Released: March 2025

Series: Paternoster Gang 2.11

Featuring: Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

Society ladies are losing their fortunes and growing mortally sick – apparently infected by insatiable desire for the designs of enigmatic hat-maker, Monsieur Declerq. 

With the help of a shop-girl, the Gang uncover rivalry in the fashion world and a dark trade in cruel importation. They also find that Monsier Declerq is much more than a flamboyant fashionista. 

Verdict

A Passion for Fashion was another great episode to continue my way through the Last Stand concluding box set of the Trespassers second series of adventures for the Paternoster Gang! Whilst this was still a very strong episode I thought this was mainly having a feeling of being a filler episode ahead of what is set to be a fascinating finale involving the Eighth Doctor and Brottac! With the business savvy nature of the Zygon, I thought Vastra wanting to investigate a high end fashion ball was terrific and it felt awfully Victorian! I was a big fan of that and the way Jenny was getting her wife ready for the ball was quite amusing. Jenny didn’t understand art all that well but I must say I was in agreement with her regarding taking two years to create a gown! I’m no lover or even understander of fashion as I dress fairly simply, but the way it was on show here was impressive. Especially in a non-visual format! The role of Fotheringay as the fashion man was good and I thought the way the story developed for Jenny was excellent. It was a standout performance for Catrin Stewart here as she was slowly consumed and engulfed by the feathers. The idea of what is essentially an infectious material of clothing and desiring it more and more is a sound business plan! Who wouldn’t want that kind of continued inflow and increase of money? The effects were actually startling as Jenny was deranged in her addition but the way it impacted Vastra was intriguing with her Silurian makeup. Her DNA was different and by the end it almost felt like they were going to die together! There was a good emotional pull there but Strax was on hand to ensure that wouldn’t be the case. I thought that was a really nice touch. Vastra having the knowledge of the Kosori was good and it’s often easy to forget just how much knowledge she will have spanning millions of years. The idea behind their feathers was really intriguing and I like how they were fledging much more frequently than the legend tells. I thought the superstition within the Kosori of being a phoenix and the fires within the feathers was excellent. The imagery there was fantastic with the almost rainbow colour flames that did indeed see the rebirth of the Kosori! I thought the return of Trelawney was good and I loved that high end women were perishing from their own elite fashion sense. It’s certainly a different kind of class story! I really liked the character of Declerq and the sacrifice he made at the end to endure the Kosori was reborn and the feathers were left non-impactful was great. Vastra basically wishing him off at the end was a nice touch and I liked how the episode served as a reminder of what could happen. There aren’t all bad visitors coming to this world like the Zygons, but trespassers are afoot. Vastra using these events as also a means to show why they needed to keep their home was excellent. It had a feeling of the calm before the storm and now I’m very excited. Oh! And a lovely touch in the department store being Henrik's. Strong continuity there and a wonderful comment from Strax about it departing. Glorious.

Rating: 8/10

Last Stand: I Married a Zygon

"I regret to inform you she will soon be dead."

Writer: Alan Ronald

Format: Audio

Released: March 2025

Series: Paternoster Gang 2.10

Featuring: Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

The Gang visit an old friend in a haunted mansion. Miss Faversham is suffering a mysterious malady, and her engagement to the curious Lord Briar convinces Vastra she can scent the enemy...

As Jenny helps supernatural investigator Harriet Cross catch a ghost, they discover something far more dangerous loose inside the walls of Briar Hall.

Verdict

I Married a Zygon was a strong start to the Last Stand conclusion of the Trespassers second series of Paternoster Gang adventures! After a magnificent cliffhanger at the end of the No Place Like Home box set last time out, this followed up very nicely and really stretched out the continuity of the series. The way things started was just incredible with Strax showcasing once again why he is one of my all time favourite characters. He is the shining light of this series in my opinion because he can inject the right amount of comedy at absolutely any time. It never feels out of place despite it being almost certainly ridiculous. The way he was recalling events when buying fish and chips in the form of a play was a glorious pre-titles sequence and I loved how he intended on using the Scottish form of payment by going at it with two fists. The English method of paying with money wasn’t something he was all that impressed with but it set the tone right away. This series is often fun and this episode was no different despite it dealing with some quite emotional issues. Vastra was deeply disturbed by the idea of Brottac knowing 13 Paternoster Row better than she does and that was fascinating to hear. She’s often the one member of the trio that’s calm and collected but here she was troubled. Almost desperate. I could understand her anger and it’s a fun little twist to consider that it might be the Paternoster Gang that are the trespassers. The concept of Zygons being in business is quite interesting though and with the revelation that it was actually Brottac all along who had wooed Miss Faversham in the guise of the Eighth Doctor, I’m really intrigued by their intent. I wouldn’t describe it as typical Zygon behaviour! I’m really interested though and it’s definitely got me wanting to listen to the next episode right away. I think the links back to Till Death Us Do Part were really strong and I suspect will come into play further with the Eighth Doctor once again set to return in this box set. I can’t wait for that! Jenny had a strong outing herself with the ghost hunting and I enjoyed her relationship with Harriet Cross. She was a terrific character and I had strong Hide vibes with their reaction to hearing a ghostly reply to the message. The idea of the ectoplasm being Zygon wasn’t much of a surprise but I really liked it and I do hope we get more of Strax taking them on. Sontarans vs Zygons just sounds wonderful for battle! You don’t need to tell Strax twice either. His comment about Earth if the Sontar High Command had declared war against it was hilarious. His loyalties firmly lay with his own species! And he was a handsome one from his clone batch. They all were. Just excellent. I thought Faversham was clearly toiling from ‘John Smith’ jilting her but her new love in the form of Lord Briar was clearly something more than just innocent love. Vastra’s game of bluff was also terrific as that brought back some strong personal school memories! I used to love that game. Her desperation to out Brottac was on full show and she had to be calmed by Jenny. They really are a strong match and I enjoyed how that made the maiden feel on par with the Great Detective. I like the idea of Brottac still being out there but being weak. The imagery of his half taking the form of the Doctor was excellent! It’s a shame that didn’t grace the artwork for the series, but it was still terrific. Overall, this was a really strong start to the concluding box set for the series! I can’t wait to hear where things go from here. Very solid stuff that’s left me wanting more. 

Rating: 8/10

The Ruby's Curse

"There's nothing good on the telly until 1963."

Writers: Alex Kingston & Jacqueline Rayner

Format: Novel

Released: May 2021

Series: BBC PDA 03

Featuring: River

Synopsis

She's got ice in her heart and a kiss on her lips...

1939, New York. Private Eye, Melody Malone, is hired to find a stolen ruby, the Eye of Horus. The rub might hold the secret to the location of Cleopatra's tomb – but everyone who comes into contact with it dies. Can Melody escape the ruby's curse?

1939, New York. River Song, author of the Melody Malone Mysteries, is forced to find a reality-altering weapon, the Eye of Horus – but everyone who comes into contact with it dies. River doesn't believe in curse – but is she wrong?

From the top-security confines of Stormcage to the barbarism of first-century Egypt, River battles to find the Eye of Horus before its powers are used to transform the universe. To succeed, she must team up with a most unlikely ally – her own fictional alter ego, Melody. And together they must solve another mystery: is fiction changing into fact – or is fact changing into fiction?

Verdict

The Ruby's Curse was a pretty average read I am sad to say. I was so looking forward to this one and it has been long overdue me getting around to reading it! I'm a massive fan of the character of River Song so to have a whole novel with the input of the brilliant Alex Kingston herself as the credited author was awfully exciting. Unfortunately the book fell a little way short of what I was hoping for. It's annoying because at the heart of the novel there really does feel like there's a very strong story there, but the way it was presented was just all wrong. I thought the format of the book hurt it a great deal as it was just a bit of a mess to be honest. I think the premise of a River Song story where she meets her own creation in the form of the Melody Malone character is exciting and something that sounds magnificent. However, the convoluted execution here with chapters shifting between the book we were reading and the book that featured within the story was not a great stylistic choice in my opinion. Starting each chapter with the year and location was also a little odd as there were quite a few in a row that stayed in the same place and time. The scale of the story was impressive with the range going from Ancient Egypt all the way to the Stormcage facility. I thought it was quite fun that River had reached a point where she was breaking into the supposedly impenetrable prison for a place to have some quiet time for writing and reading. Something that is unfortunately ironic about the book though is that despite the author being who she is, the first person format really didn't feel like River was captured authentically. That really isn't lost on me but unfortunately I think it's true. I would have much preferred a third person format as when Melody arrived in full fashion, it wasn't always clear who was speaking. Also, this is just a personal preference but I bloody hated the accent and the incorrect grammar in the way that Melody was depicted. I thought River addressing that within the story was good and I liked that she was having regrets, but crikey it didn't half annoy me! I thought the plot was actually strong with the ruby at the centre actually being genuinely interesting. I liked the idea of a curse but after a lengthy build it seemed something of a throwaway to come up with the idea of it only being able to be held by those who weren't actively seeking to take it. River being that person and having the power of the Eye of Horus behind her was exciting and she did put it to good use. Her relationship with Melody was quite amusing and I enjoyed the concept of them being sisters. River being placed within the book of her own making was fascinating, but things had been changed by her Stormcage buddy Ventrion. He was a decent character although I felt his setting up of booby traps in the past whilst simultaneously sending messages to River through the book he had taken authorship of was a little difficult to believe. I couldn't believe there wasn't a reunion either! Mrs Jones as the secretary actually turning out to be the murderer was something I didn't see coming, but I did like that she was actually Ruby Badger! That worked well. I thought Phil was going to turn out to actually be Horace P. Wallace but alas he turned out to be the lost to history son of Cleopatra, Caesarion! That was a little weird but I liked the idea of him being a character that River had not written into the story. The search for Cleopatra's tomb was a lot of fun and River having to admit to taking on her appearance in The Pandorica Opens was pretty fun stuff. I was less keen on Cat Malone due to the ridiculousness, but what a name! For me, whilst the plot was strong just in a convoluted and messy form, the highlight of the book has to be the idea of Meldoy having dinner with Amy and Rory post-The Angels Take Manhattan. That was glorious and it coming to explain how Amy took over writing as Melody was wonderful. Overall, some strong stuff but a very slow start and not a format that lent itself kindly.

Rating: 6/10

The Savages

"We've reached an age of peace and prosperity."

Writer: Ian Stuart Black

Format: TV (Animation)

Released: March 2025

Season: 3.09

Featuring: First Doctor, Steven, Dodo

Synopsis

The Doctor and his travelling companions Steven and Dodo arrive on an unnamed planet where they encounter two distinct people – the Elders and the Savages. They soon discover the Elders are the evil ones, draining the primitive Savages for their life source to remain young and powerful forever.

Verdict

The Savages was a very strong animation of the sadly completely missing First Doctor serial! I’ve been really excited for this one ever since it was announced and part of that is because of how niche it feels. I don’t feel like this is a story that fans were screaming out for to receive the animation treatment but I’m so happy that it has been done. I’ve had this on pre-order and read the preview in Doctor Who Magazine along with listening to the Power of 3 podcast preview too. I’ve been very excited and thankfully it didn’t disappoint! I’ve caught up on the animations in my last month or so of blogging and whilst this one perhaps was a little more traditional and aimed to stay true to the original - something I’m completely on board with - it didn’t make it any less entertaining. Perhaps the best description would be that it was less ambitious than some of the more recent ones. One thing I didn’t notice by choosing to watch the colourised animation version is that the setting is actually quite mundane. There’s not a lot of moving around and I almost feel like I would have benefitted more from watching the black and white version. There just wasn’t an awful lot of stuff to provide colour for! That’s not the animation’s problem though and I thought they did a fine job in bringing the story to life. I must say, the animation for Dodo in particular was outrageously good. Her likeness was captured absolutely perfectly! I was so impressed with that. I’m surprised this story doesn’t have the strongest of reputations amongst fandom because it sees the departure of Steven as companion, but in watching again that never feels like it’s going to be the case until the last five minutes. I like the suspension in part one before we learn how the Elders sustain themselves with such a powerful supply of life force, and having blogged this story twice already in different versions I feel like I can appreciate that more in hindsight. I know the answer so drip feeding it to the Doctor and his companions is great. I love the idea of the Elders having charted the Doctor’s travels through time and space and they were honoured by his arrival to visit them. He was instantly bestowed as an Elder himself and that’s just a figure or figurine variant waiting to happen! I am a big fan of the way the story develops and we learn that the titular savages are actually not the enemies of the piece. There’s something far more disturbing at hand. I was impressed with the animation in capturing the after effects of the transference on the savages, and this definitely came across better on them rather than the Doctor. The use of subtle mannerisms though to show that Jano had essences of the Doctor within him after solely taking his life energy was glorious. I would love to see if that happened in the original version and hopefully one day the original tapes show up! It does feel like we’re never going to get any missing material returned now which is a massive shame, but these animations are wonderful in filling the gaps. I thought the light guns came across really strongly in the animation and would definitely be an improvement on the prop we would have seen on screen. There were also vibes of An Unearthly Child for me in how the savages were depicted and that went nicely with Dodo thinking they weren’t actually in the far future at all but more like the time of the first man in the Iron Age. The vaporising smoke was also captured really well in the animation and was definitely a benefit of having colour, especially when the guns were fired into it. Also, just one thing that I adore about these early animations is the colour of that first TARDIS console. It’s always glorious and it’s a shame we don’t get to see more of it! I think the destruction of the Elders’ machines and basically their entire society was done brilliantly and the direction for Steven’s departure afterwards was emotional. He just saunters off by himself to become a king of an entirely new society that will require a great deal of fixing! Big Finish have explored that wonderfully but the images here are really strong. Dodo’s crying really sells how much of a departure this is and it does feel like a bit occasion. As it should do! Overall, the story itself is very solid if not a tad slow in parts, but the animation feels true to how things would have played out in 1966. Hopefully one day we’ll be able to compare, but until then this is an excellent replacement. I can’t wait for the next announcement!

Rating: 8/10

Conspiracy in Space

"Honour does not hide in shadows."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: October 2021

Series: Third Doctor Adventures 8.01

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

When the TARDIS is diverted to Draconia, the Doctor and Jo fall foul of the hawkish Lady Zinn. War with Earth seems imminent. The Draconian military are on high alert and rumours of a super-weapon are rife. 

Execution, assassination, intrigue and a mysterious faction known only as 'The Eyes' are all part of a deadly mission the Doctor and Jo have no choice but to accept. But as they fight to survive, the peace of the entire galaxy hangs in the balance.

Verdict

Conspiracy in Space was a decent start to the eighth series of Third Doctor Adventures! I'm a big fan of this range and I must say I am so grateful to Tim Treloar for bringing the Third Doctor back to life with his incredible impression of Jon Pertwee. This one felt very much like it was a part of the era in which it is chronologically set and given that it had big connections with Frontier in Space that's quite the compliment. The story wastes no time in delving into the politics of Draconia but I must say in somewhat harsh fashion that I wasn't all that bothered by the royals and so on. I understand there is a strict system of class and honour on the planet, but I'm not wholly convinced the Draconians work best in the audio format. Without that visual aid it's often quite easy to forger that some of the characters speaking are not supposed to be human. That was a little troubling but at the same time that might just be me. I think some sort of sound effect to differentiate between human and Draconian would have been beneficial and it really could have been ever so subtle. It would have helped a lot in my opinion. I thought the idea of doing a prequel to the aforementioned Third Doctor serial is a fun idea and it's quite loose in what it plays around with. The building tensions between Draconia and Earth are presented in a strong fashion and that's never really any more evident than with Lady Zinn. Her shock at being greeted by the Doctor in the traditional greeting of nobility was magnificent. She was also not exactly impressed by Jo much to the companion's surprise and dismay. Her introduction in presenting herself as a princess of TARDIS was marvellous but it only bought the Doctor time with Zinn being quick to execute outsiders on the spot! She would have to watch instead with it being lady's first. Some prize! I thought the relationship Jo built with Ruji was wonderful and he clearly did have strong feelings for her. That was fascinating to hear and the sacrifice he made without Jo being given the choice to get her free was incredible. It's no wonder she wanted the TARDIS to go back and say a proper goodbye. The Time Lords had other ideas though given the moment's importance in history. I thought Emerald Lindstrom made for another strong villain on the other side of things and the threat of the magnetoid was pretty strong. The image of it literally moving asteroids and even planets was quite spectacular, but the use of it here as a means to get a preemptive strike on the Earth to spark an all out war was dastardly. I must say I thought the story was a good one but I can't help but feel it was a tad repetitive. Not within itself, but it just felt unoriginal. I know it's all new but I felt like I have listened or watched this story play out numerous times before which is a shame and the bulk of my rating perhaps being a tad low. The Doctor getting to show off his Venusian aikido against an actual Venus native was a tad random but I was all here for it. Especially given this was the third incarnation! That just felt right. I wasn't a massive fan of the robot inclusion in this story because I'm not convinced they were entirely necessary, but I do understand the need for efficiency! I wasn't all that surprised by some of the reveals of conspiracy which was a shame, but given the series this features in I am a huge fan of the title. Hell, there's even a Colony in Space reference with the IMC! It's really clever and almost becomes a very loose trilogy. The ending was a little sudden in having the Doctor typically reverse the polarity and that seemingly putting everything back in whack with the duralinium being attracted to the magnetoid. It was certainly effective though! Overall, a strong story for sure and a good way to start the series. Treloar needs to do less of the Third Doctor angry! 

Rating: 7/10