Go Your Own Way

"If only she would stop to look at the stars... she might stop wanting to burn them down."

Writer: Stephen Cole

Format: Short Story

Released: July 2024

Series: I, TARDIS: Memoirs of an Impossible Blue Box 09

Featuring: Twelfth  Doctor, Clara, Nardole, Bill

Synopsis

The Doctor has a unique bond with their TARDIS. They've always loved the 'old girl' for the way she's gone looking for trouble anywhere in the universe. The Doctor says they stole the TARDIS from Gallifrey. The TARDIS disagrees... she stole them. She hasn't always taken them where they want to go, but she's made sure to take them where they needed to be.

For the TARDIS is dar more than just a time machine crossed with a spaceship. Her life reflects the Doctor's life – a shared wanderlust and longing to explore. Now you can revisit the Doctor's adventures as seen through the eyes – or the flashing rooftop light, at least – of the TARDIS. From the time the Doctor stole her from Gallifrey to her latest adventures with the Fifteenth Doctor, the TARDIS reflects wittily on her epic, incredible history – past, present and future! 

Verdict

Go Your Own Way was an excellent short story to continue my way through the I, TARDIS: Memoirs of an Impossible Blue Box collection! Well it’s been a long time coming but this was a tremendous read and undoubtedly the best of the book so far! I liked how this kept things simple and didn’t go overboard with any unserious comedy or silly jokes. This was a fantastic recount of the Twelfth Doctor era that I thoroughly enjoyed delving into. It’s been a long time since I’ve watched on screen adventures for the Twelfth Doctor with me only watching each episode twice, and usually the second viewing was a year after the broadcast. So it’s amazingly not that far off a decade since watching the era! I am due to be starting my rewatch with my longtime girlfriend Gemma in the coming weeks and it was actually the Twelfth Doctor where she fell off as a fan temporarily. Thankfully I was able to talk her back in and actually bring her around to liking the incarnation. I thought it was fun for the TARDIS to also have some small reservations about the new personality following regeneration in The Time of the Doctor and this seemed to be a time of reflection for the time and space machine also. I thought it was good how the story touched upon the latter stages of the Eleventh Doctor with the TARDIS realising that she was becoming less of a home for the Doctor’s many strays. Amy and Rory had their own house by the time their fate was met in The Angels Take Manhattan and Clara grew to become a companion that wasn’t continuous. This is something I didn’t enjoy as a dynamic and whilst returning home for the companion works for me, having them stay there and have them choose their adventures in the TARDIS when they felt like it never sat well with me. This did allow a terrific reference here though as the TARDIS approved of the Doctor becoming the titular role of The Caretaker with it being at Susan’s old school. I also thought the use of the school as an academy by the time of For Tonight We Might Die being included in the Journey Log was a nice touch. Sadly the Class spinoff series is often forgotten but I love that it was made a part of things here. I loved the Remember That Time When… section focusing on Flatline as that’s an episode where the TARDIS really does go through the wringer! From its outer dimensions becoming incredibly small to then being incorporated into siege mode. It was good to focus on that as it absolutely was the correct choice. I liked how the story arc of Series 10 with Missy growing to become good was interesting from the perspective of the TARDIS, and I actually felt sorry for the time and space machine because this really showed how impacted she was by the time spent still at St Luke’s University as the Doctor was almost in another exile! I liked how the TARDIS linked that to the time of the Third Doctor. I thought the TARDIS touching upon Empress of Mars and Missy being the one to pilot her back to the Doctor was good and whilst she seemed quite neutral on the subject of her turning good, I liked how she understood why the Doctor wanted it. Who could blame him? I really liked how things concluded with Twice Upon a Time and after the events of World Enough and Time/The Doctor Falls triggering the Twelfth Doctor’s regeneration, I loved how she took credit for reuniting him with the First Doctor during the concluding events of The Tenth Planet. Both needed help with their respective regenerations and it was fun for the TARDIS to see her younger self! A comment on the early police box interior would have been good, but you can’t have everything! Overall, a fantastic short story. 

Rating: 9/10

The Nine: Peake Season

"Do you know where you're from?"

Writer: Lizbeth Myles

Format: Audio

Released: June 2022

Series: Fourth Doctor Adventures 11.05

Featuring: Fourth Doctor

Synopsis

After an embarrassing encounter, the Doctor tries to make amends to Mervyn Peake by offering him a trip in the TARDIS. It's a trip the famous author should never have accepted.

Soon he and the Doctor find themselves trapped in a nameless city and working as newspaper cartoonists.

Where are they? More importantly, where is the TARDIS? And more importantly than that – can they escape with their lives?

Verdict

Peake Season was a decent story to conclude The Nine second half of the eleventh series of Fourth Doctor Adventures! I still find it a little baffling to give this boxset an umbrella title of a villain who only appears in the opening story of three, but I suppose it’s no real issue. That just seems a tad more strange here in particular because this adventure was not released separately which wasn’t the case for the first two. This was a shorter story at just two parts but it was quite long for that format in pushing eighty minutes which was good! There was a lot going on but I’m not sure it was all entirely clear at times. I have no idea who Mervyn Peake was which I think actually hindered my listening of the story slightly. He was an enjoyable enough character but when his introduction is the Doctor mistaking him for Tolkien it almost immediately feels lesser than. That wasn’t the best basis to start an adventure with in my opinion, especially for a character who would become the companion for it! His interactions with the Doctor were amusing and I liked that it was hinted at there being a shared history between them already, but even so it did seem a tad strange for him to just get invited aboard the TARDIS! The scale of the story in terms of time was unexpected with it lasting weeks and I just never got the feel that the Doctor and Peake were comfortable in their surroundings. The setting being ambiguous and nameless didn’t help things and it was almost annoying that the city was called just that. The story lacked a little identity which if included could have been much better. The highlight for me was undoubtedly Honor Valspierre. She clearly knew more than she was letting on about the society and its mysteries from the off and I liked that she believed the Doctor and Mervyn to be creations. She didn’t think they were real and the Doctor found that funny which in this incarnation was great fun as a listener. Honor made for a fantastic villain and her knowing the truth about Queen Alexandria was intriguing. I thought the concept of the pocket dimension was pretty decent but I wasn’t a huge fan of her being a little girl. She had drawn things into existing and whilst the Doctor took advantage of that as only this incarnation can, it did feel like it was a basically a Fear Her rip off. On a personal note, that doesn’t work for me as that episode is one of my all time least favourite. I’m not sure why but it’s difficult to make children work and just hearing the Queen wasn’t exciting for me because it’s difficult to take her seriously when a position of power. Even if she supposedly had always been missing! It’s a shame as the concept was strong and with more identity and just details I think this adventure could really have worked even better. I feel like I’ve focused on the negatives more than the positives in this blog entry as my rating does show I enjoyed! I think I’m just frustrated because I know it could have been even better. Alexandria returning to her real dimension and the future some thirty years or so later was fun as there was a new Queen of her name installed now and she’d have to lay low. Overall, a good little story to conclude the series that could have been even better. 

Rating: 7/10

The Nine: Shellshock

"The war machine of the future."

Writers: Simon Barnard & Paul Morris

Format: Audio

Released: June 2022

Series: Fourth Doctor Adventures 11.04

Featuring: Fourth Doctor

Synopsis

When the TARDIS lands behind German lines at the height of the First World War, the Doctor finds himself inadvertently transported to a hospital full of traumatised soldiers. They're suffering from shellshock but also something else. Something causing vivid nightmares that chill the blood. Something not of this place.

Things are not quiet on the Western Front.

Verdict

Shellshock was a great story to continue my way through The Nine second half of the eleventh series of Fourth Doctor Adventures!  This does seem to be a slightly random and perhaps misleading umbrella title for this portion of the series as I don’t think the titular villain of the Nine will be appearing outside of The Dreams of Avarice which feels a tad strange! This was an improved story though and that might be down to my love of history. I’m a sucker for a World War setting and throwing the Fourth Doctor onto the German side of the First is exciting stuff. The atmosphere was certainly tense and this more comical and smiley incarnation is not one that suits wartime. And that’s exactly why it worked because he was so out of place and it was no surprise for him to be accused of being a spy on multiple occasions on both sides! The idea of the Doctor getting caught up between each party of the War worked well and I enjoyed how he didn’t want to pick sides. It’s often easy to forget the Doctor doesn’t have a national preference despite his British centric history on Earth. He helps humanity on a planetary basis which is sometimes difficult to remember. Continuing to travel solo, I thought the relationship he garnered with Hanna Schumann was terrific. I really enjoyed her profession as a nurse and whilst there were some derogatory comments about her gender and it being wartime, she stood up brilliantly and arguably stole the show. She was excellent companion material and the Doctor thought she’d make a strong interrogator which was nice to hear. The emotion that came from her ending was strong as she actually wished to have taken the Doctor up on his offer of travel but he’d made a hasty retreat after showing back up after a few weeks. That was a big shame as I think there’s a lot of potential with her which sadly seems like it’ll go untapped. The military command hierarchy dominated the rest of the main characters which was really good. Hans was great and I also thought Doctor Sturm offered a lot. However the main villain of the piece was clearly General Reinhardt and his desire to change the thinking of soldiers. The use of the device was unethical as far as Hanna was concerned and she didn’t like how it was unnatural. Those who were subjected to it would become focused on purely being a soldier without often thinking for themselves. They were overridden with drive. I thought the development of what was happening to the soldiers over the course of the story was decent although once the truth came out I almost thought it was a tad less interesting. It was far from bad but I prefer keeping things grounded in history. Although I did like the scale of the creature that had been around for years and years feeding on and encouraging warfare. The concept there of it influencing war and making a connection in the mind was excellent and perhaps came a little too late to have the full impact. It was original and I liked how the Hundred Years War in particular was seen as something to make a big impact. And now as humanity advanced at the start of the twentieth century the introduction of technology into warfare meant the creature was on a whole different level. That was exciting stuff! I really loved the reaction of the Doctor towards the end when the TARDIS emerged seemingly from nowhere thanks to the HADS sending it forward in time after the explosion. I could just hear the smile on the Doctor’s face which was marvellous. I thought the way the creature kind of just petered out was fine and I think the focus was rightfully on Hanna at the end. I’d love to hear more of her but unfortunately I don’t think I’ll be getting my wish. Overall though, a strong story to continue the series!

Rating: 8/10 

The Nine: The Dreams of Avarice

"I so want to play football with it."

Writer: Guy Adams

Format: Audio

Released: June 2022

Series: Fourth Doctor Adventures 11.03

Featuring: Fourth Doctor

Synopsis

The Nine isn't your average robber. A ferociously intelligent and murderous kleptomaniac Time Lord regenerative dissonance, he's a far more dangerous adversary than most security details are used to. So it's useful that the Doctor is on hand to stop him.

This time more than ever – as the Nine is about to pull off the greatest heist of his criminal career. Though could the consequences be far worse than the crime?

Verdict

The Dreams of Avarice was a decent start to The Nine second half of the eleventh series of Fourth Doctor Adventures! It’s an interesting move to continue having the Fourth Doctor travelling solo and I quite like because we never really got to see that on television, with one notable exception in the form of The Deadly Assassin. That allowed a quite humorous relationship to fill the companion void for this story with Detective Probert proving to be a tremendous character. His interactions with the Doctor at the start of the story were magnificent and just so brilliantly typical of the Fourth Doctor. I could just see that annoying big smile of the Doctor as he was being interrogated for his attempted theft. His rationale was pretty fun in that he was hoping to steal it to prevent an actual thief from getting it first, and of course that wasn’t going to be something that would sit comfortably with a Detective Inspector. As far as Probert was concerned, the Doctor had been caught in the act and he’d actually prevented the theft! It was hard to argue with the law officer’s view of events. I think it’s fantastic for us to get a new adventure with the Nine and after hearing him cause chaos in Ravenous, I like that he encounters an altogether different Doctor here. He’s a kleptomaniac in the best way as a villain but I don’t think he was utilised all that well here which is baffling to say considering what happened. I can’t quite put my finger on a specific but something didn’t click. As my rating shows, this is far from bad and was a strong story, but considering the depth and scale of what happens it ought to have been better. The cliffhangers were strong but it never felt like the Nine had one specific goal. He went from removing the dimensional stabiliser from the Doctor’s TARDIS to then moving motive from attacking the Doctor to housing the planet of Luxuriana within a globe in his own hand. His comment about wanting to play football with it was tremendous and something that disgusted even Thana. She was a whacky character and the Nine referring to her as his possession felt a little wrong. I know he’s a Time Lord and obviously a dangerous and deranged one at that so he saw her as inferior on a species level, but it didn’t always come across that way. I was intrigued by the Doctor’s comments about the Nine and even here in his fourth incarnation he seems to have an extensive history with him. That’s exciting and leaves the door open for future releases with past incarnations of both Time Lords. The possibilities for this character are endless and that’s the beauty of him. You could literally use any number and make it brand new as we’ve mainly focused on Nine and Eleven so far! I feel like we aren’t even close to scratching the surface. His desire to have the Crystal God was exciting and I liked the concept behind that. The Nine not being satisfied despite capturing a planet was audacious to say the least, but why stop there when you can have a god? Of course, he wouldn’t get that and it would actually be part of his downfall which was a pretty good conclusion. It did seem a tad easy for the TARDIS to be close at hand and back to normal to take everybody away, but I did enjoy the humour that came from Probert planning to just give the Doctor a community sentence. I mean, he did retrieve a planet and put it back in its correct orbit! Overall, a decent story with a strong idea and villain, but there was just a little something missing to take it to the next level. 

Rating: 7/10

Families: Stardust and Ashes

"I've lost everyone now."

Writer: Ian Potter

Format: Audio

Released: April 2025

Series: Companion Chronicles 15.02

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara

Synopsis

Reflecting on all she has lost, Susan recalls a time long ago, when she and her travelling family were trapped, their lives at the mercy of a machine intelligence. But everyone can learn from circumstance and from those around them – even in the ashes of hope, we can sometimes see stardust. 

Verdict

Stardust and Ashes was another excellent episode to continue my way through the Families fifteenth series of Conpanion Chronicles! This was a really poignant and emotional tale and I think the bulk of that actually comes from the context of the narration rather than the story that Susan was actually telling. That was quite unique but I really enjoyed it. Susan is such a unique companion given her familial relationship to the Doctor and we can delve into two different eras of her character. It could be during the time she was travelling with her grandfather alongside Ian and Barbara (or earlier!), or post-The Dalek Invasion of Earth and her life with and beyond David Campbell. This story captured both brilliantly and I liked how its events were confirmed as being close chronologically to that departure. Of course, the context for Susan here as a much older woman evoked some strong feelings as she was still reeling from the events of Lucie Miller/To the Death and the second Dalek invasion. Susan had lost everything there with Alex dying and the Doctor lost his young friend Lucie too. This story for Susan can’t be too far removed from those events as her focus here was to scatter the ashes of her son. I wasn’t expecting that to be the point of the ashes word in the title! I thought Mr Perryman was a nice character and his understanding towards Susan was good to hear. He could see she was struggling and gave her the chance and room to breathe when it came to her feelings. She snapped at him about wanting to be alone but in reality she very much needed this talk. I thought her recollection of the story which formed most of the plot was great and I thought Qualia in particular as the ship’s computer worked well. Barbara’s reaction to realising they were talking to a computer was fun as it’s so easy to forget when she comes from. Technology was a strife less advanced in 1963 than it is now where AI is running rampant. I thought the twist on the computer telling the quartet to run was fun as it actually turned out they were on a 1km running track! Exercise in space wasn’t the route I was expecting the story to go down, but it worked rather well and was quite unique. Qualia needing to disinfect the TARDIS foursome was good and something so simple providing a strong threat and some lengthy tension regarding the security code for the door exit was terrific. It’s so often the ordinary that becomes the most dangerous. Captain Andrew’s having his voice into Qualia was good but finding his corpse provided some dark moments. It actually allowed Susan to show some maturity when it came to her returning to the scene to find Ian and the Doctor trying to use his handprint. The dusty description of his hand when it fell to the ground was  brilliant in its horror. Susan though tackled the situation well and was confident as she’d seen worse than an old corpse on her travels. It was good to explore that side of her on audio here as the television series perhaps didn’t allow that to a great extent. I liked how she acknowledged that she did want to move on with her life and despite being pushed out by the Doctor, she knew she needed to leave to grow as a person. And of course she did love David very much. I liked the reveal of the mayday being sent over two centuries ago and Susan’s subtle comments about someone mulling around for that long was fun stuff. Who knows how long she had left with a whole regenerative cycle! I thought the cliffhanger was good in revealing the other crew were dead and the way they fed instructions to Qualia to basically set it free from its programming was very good, if not a little simple. But it was exactly what was needed. It didn’t need to be anything more and it’s quite fitting that in a story with a computer intelligence that simple logic was the way forward. It knew the TARDIS quartet were guessing their way through but as long as they got the answer then the programming didn’t show anything wrong. The eulogy for Alex at the end as Susan let off his ashes within a firework was beautiful and this felt like such a motherly moment. It was a stunning way to end the episode and took the story up a rating for me. Overall, a fantastic listen!

Rating: 9/10

Divine Intervention

"It's nice to be wanted."

Writer: David K Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: June 2020

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures: Stranded 1.04

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen, Tania

Synopsis

As the Doctor becomes desperate, Helen and Liv advise him to accept their situation.

Liv makes a date – but gets more than she bargains for when the whole household comes along.

And when a threat from the future finally arrives, the Doctor is placed in real danger. It's time for the truth to emerge...

Verdict

Divine Intervention was a decent episode to conclude the first Stranded series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! This was sadly the weakest of the set thus far and I’m not sure why I felt slightly underwhelmed by the finale. Perhaps because of such a strong opener in the form of Lost Property promising great stuff? As my rating shows this was still a good story but it almost felt like it didn’t live up to the expectations set by the boxset so far. I’m not sure I was that thrilled by the reveal of Bourakai and Teeja as the twist on the future. It was always feeling like it would be a bit of a bigger arc than what we got and I do hope that this isn’t resolving everything that has been built so far. Time will tell on that I guess as I continue through the series! Maybe we will build towards the Doctor’s actions that will cause havoc for the Rarkelians to the extent that the Doctor must die in the past before he can cause it? I enjoyed the paradoxical nature of the episode and that actually being fuel for the TARDIS was an excellent concept. After so long as a dormant wooden police box, she reacted to the presence of the Rarkelians and the Doctor being shot set in motion a series of events that would see her get a little bit bigger on the inside. It’s a start on the road to healing with the temporal residue and the paradox, and the Doctor being at the heart of it is fun. I enjoyed hearing the Eighth Doctor burst into action here and starting the episode with him on a game show and winning £80,000 prize money was unexpected! The reference to Time-Flight as he recalled the cricket result between India and England was spectacularly niche. I’m all for that kind of thing. He was still desperate to fix the TARDIS though and couldn’t stand being stranded in one place and time. His conversation with Tania was intriguing and I look forward to them getting to know each other better. I’m sure she already knows about Daleks and Cybermen as he mentioned, but she’s not to know that. The Doctor stumbling into working with Andy was good fun and I love how clumsy he is for a police sergeant. This Doctor seems the perfect incarnation to go opposite him and judging from the presentation here I actually see some strong companion material! The death of Mr Crusoe was pretty gruesome and Tania sending the Doctor to this shop of alien tech was fun. She’s living on the edge a little and I like that! Liv and Tania are also getting along splendidly and it’s so typically Doctor of him to intrude on their planned date by inviting the entire block of flats out for dinner! And of course he’d show up late and say they needed to leave immediately. Helen’s position now as a tutor to Robin is a good fit and the latter being lured in by Divine Intervention was interesting. Helen wasn’t buying into it and considering this was the title, I don’t think it played into the conclusion all that well. Sure it tied in but it wasn’t a big moment or anything when Robin realised. It barely felt like it meant anything which was a shame. I can’t help but feel things aren’t finished despite this being a finale as the way the TARDIS was used to propel the Rarkelians back to their own time was quick and sudden. Don’t get me wrong, it was certainly effective! But it just felt a little lacking for a finale after such a strong build. The main basis for me was all about Liv and Helen confronting the Doctor about where his focus lay. The tenants of Baker Street deserved some home improvements with the Doctor’s winnings whereas he was only focused on investing in tech companies to put everything into fixing the TARDIS. Honestly at this point, I’ll be stunned if Helen and Liv rejoin him on his travels once the TARDIS is inevitably fixed! Liv is building something strong with Tania and Helen is forging her own life now. I thankfully am none the wiser on how things end here and I can’t wait to explore it. But for now, this was a decent way to conclude what was as a whole a very strong opening boxset to the series!

Rating: 7/10

Must-See TV

"I always thought I'd make a great television show."

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: June 2020

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures: Stranded 1.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen, Tania

Synopsis

There are new arrival in Baker Street: Sergeant Andy Davidson, and the helpful Mr Bird.

The Doctor isn't happy that someone else in the house is more useful than him. When the residents' TVs start to malfunction, he suspects foul play.

Someone is watching...

Verdict

Must-See TV was another great little episode to continue my way through the first Stranded series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! I say little because this was noticeably shorter in duration at just forty minutes, but that didn’t really hinder the quality of the story at all which was most welcomed. I thought the concept was really good and there was a lot of information to swallow here. From the cover art I was very excited about the idea of getting Andy involved and it just makes sense with him being a police sergeant now in 2020. Although I must have missed where he got stationed out of Cardiff and into the much inferior capital city of London. That’s beside the point though. The episode didn’t try and hide the fact that Andy knew Tania very well and I really was not expecting her to have Torchwood connections! She seems to be a member of the team which is terribly exciting and equally dangerous given her proximity to the Eighth Doctor here. She had knowledge of the Doctor which means she hasn’t been truthful with Liv and so much so that she recognises that the incarnation present here is at an earlier point than the one who experienced the events of Tooth and Claw that saw Torchwood’s creation. I think it is fun though that the Doctor recognised something was up with Tania and suggested she might be a part of UNIT. I can’t wait for Liv to find out the truth about her new partner. The Doctor’s reaction to their relationship was quite amusing because he was completely out of the know in recognising it and that prompted an understandable sigh from Helen. He really was clueless when it came to this kind of thing! His desire to get back into the swing of his old life is understandable and it’s a great idea to have Torchwood involved with him if he’s stranded on Earth to keep that alien involvement and threat present. The character of Mr Bird here was really interesting and I can’t wait to learn more about him. He seems to be the villain of the series heading into the final and I wonder if he is part of the reasoning of the Curator feeling something coming in Lost Property to start the series. Judging by the cliffhanger finish there’s something more to come from him and I can’t wait to find out what his agenda is! I must admit that I initially thought the alien tech the Doctor was finding attached to the televisions within Baker Street was the doing of Torchwood but alas it was actually part of what brought them there. Andy considering the Doctor, Helen and Liv as targets is interesting too and I do hope there’s more Torchwood involvement as the series goes on. Having them merge with a previous version with the Doctor is a prospect I find hugely exciting! I thought the idea of televisions broadcasting the very people watching them was quite fun and it almost felt like a version of The Simpsons Hit and Run game with aliens broadcasting their own human television show across the galaxy! The Doctor’s line about thinking he’d always make a good television show was just genius and had to be my opening quote. I loved it. It was good to inject some more energy into the Doctor here as there was something to solve and Paul McGann played it beautifully. Mr Bird planning to call a flat meeting of all the Baker Residents to show that the landlord had been spying on his tenants was terrific. Imagine the horror! Getting some glimpses at the residents was good though and I really like the pairing of Ron and Tony were magnificent. The humour that came from them being an older couple was good and I loved the line about not being able to turn him on since 1989. Well done to the television! I think the threat - if that is the right word - of the televisions not turning off and running on their own power was good, but I just don’t think I can rate the episode any higher despite it being terrific because it felt unfinished. It is clearly setting things up moving forward and whilst I want to know more about how Mr Bird can jump around from one location to the next in no time, the television threat just seemed to go away awfully easy. But I did like his confirmation at the end that he was always watching and I look forward to finding out why and how! Overall, a really strong episode that sets up the finale very nicely. A strong listen.

Rating: 8/10

Wild Animals

"The Baker Street homicide."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: June 2020

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures: Stranded 1.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen, Tania

Synopsis

After weeks of London living, some of the TARDIS crew are finding it easier to adjust than others. 

Liv has found a new friend, but Helen is worried about the Doctor.

And when a tragic crime takes place, the Time Lord must learn the limits of his powers.

Verdict

Wild Animals was a great episode to continue my way through the Stranded series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! Well, talk about doing what it says on the tin! With the Doctor, Liv and Helen well and truly stranded in the London of 2020, I like how this episode stayed true and believable in that there were no science fiction elements present. This was just pure living in the moment 2020 London. An ordinary day where something very real happened and went wrong which was excellent. The real world threat of an armed robbery is arguably scarier and more relatable than anything else we have heard this incredible TARDIS trio go through from Doom Coalition to Ravenous and beyond, so throwing Liv into the thick of it was terrific. It’s really interesting to hear how each of the trio are settling into an ordinary life and Liv seems eager to get along with what’s happening and adjust. I think that’s impressive given she comes from Kaldor and it’s good that she’s knuckled down and got a job. She’s still getting to grips with being punctual and it was nice that Sanjit was understanding of that. His death as a result of the armed robbery was a powerful moment and Liv was just gutted and felt guilty that once again she was in the way where others had died. I mean, she did get shot too so I think she was a little hard on herself! I thought it was good how that allowed some alone time for her and Tania where they were really able to develop and have those awkward start of relationship conversations. The moment Tania reveals she is trans was presented brilliantly and I loved how it almost meant nothing to Liv. It just wasn’t a big deal. I think that’s really good to establish but sadly it’s clear that Liv is in for a wake up call being in 2020 London! I’m not sure it’s the most accepting of societies. It was nice that they had agreed to go on a date once Liv was recovered. Helen is really shining in how she’s adjusting to life in 2020 and she’s getting on with running Baker Street. She’s very pragmatic and I actually see a lot of myself in her which is good. I’d also be focused on where the money is coming from and how our bills are being paid. The Doctor on the other hand was claiming to be trying to fix the TARDIS but little birdies told Helen and Liv that he was spending a lot of time sauntering around Regents Park. He truly believes that this might be the end for the TARDIS and that puts him in a very vulnerable place! I’m looking forward to exploring that and it started in a strong way here as he was totally dissatisfied with the police investigation into Liv’s armed robber. He thought he could do a better job himself and well and truly let the Super Intendant know about it! So when he brought the wrong man to the police station three hours after the actual attacker had been apprehended - as later visually confirmed by Helen - the Doctor well and truly had egg on his face! Helen had to have a strong one to one with the Doctor as he was more interested in solving the identity of the attacker than seeing Liv in hospital once she had awoken. That understandably didn’t sit well with Helen and she had to explain how here in the ordinary world that being the Doctor doesn’t quite work. I don’t think that’s something he’s going to accept lightly, but I’m fascinated to hear where things move from here. I really enjoyed how the Doctor was reminded of his time in exile with UNIT and this episode’s title coming into play as he looked upon the animals at the zoo and feeling similarly trapped was starkly similar to the Walls of Confinement Short Trip adventure. That’s something that has always resonated with me for the Third Doctor and I like brining it back into a more mainstream series for the Eighth Doctor here. Really well done. Overall, a great story to continue the series! 

Rating: 8/10

Lost Property

"A box full of stories."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: June 2020

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures: Stranded 1.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen, Tania, Curator

Synopsis

Trying to find a way to resume his travels, the Doctor calls in some old favours.

As the residents get to know the new arrivals, something else finds its way into Baker Street, seeding suspicion. 

Helen meets a man with a very familiar face – and a terrible warning.

Verdict

Lost Property was an excellent story to kick off the Stranded series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! This has long been a series I have been wanting to listen to because I know how well received and acclaimed it is, but my knowledge of its details are actually pretty scarce other than the umbrella title quite obviously stating that the TARDIS trio of the Eighth Doctor, Liv and Helen get stranded in the London of 2020. It’s a shame this series came before and during the pandemic so the 2020 here is actually quite different to the one that was actually experienced, but that’s easy to forgive and forget. Nobody saw that coming! I really enjoyed the continuity from Day of the Master and the escape from the Crucible of Souls essentially killing the TARDIS! That’s a sublime way to start a series and it was all very Father’s Day with the TARDIS now just being a wooden police box with no bigger on the inside interior. The Doctor understandably feels distant in the episode as he’s trying to find a way to fix the thing he calls home. He’s not quite the same person without the TARDIS and I’m very excited to explore that further as the series goes on. He’s always on the go and leaves the running of the Baker Street residence to Liv and Helen. That was really intriguing and I liked hearing Helen adjust to the London of her relatively near future. The world was less familiar to Liv and the comments that came about money and civilisation being based upon figures on a screen was terrific. Was that really a reason for homelessness to be rife? London is certainly a hotbed and I liked that the Doctor was being accused of letting in numerous homeless people for the basement, much to the annoyance of the tenants. I think this was a decent introduction to Tania Bell and from my foreknowledge I know she’s going to be considered a companion, but I must admit I didn’t get that feeling from her appearance here! I think it’s great representation for a transgender companion and I’m looking forward to exploring her character further. My only experience of her is in Flatpack so I’m excited to hear her relationship with Liv blossom. There was a good sense of subtle flirting here and I suspect that will continue moving forward. The highlight of the episode for me was the Curator. I am so glad that Big Finish are exploring this character because he’s so fascinating! Just where in the timeline of the Doctor does he exist, and how can he? It’s so interesting and the enigma continued here. He seems to allude to the fact he could change faces which wouldn’t be a surprise and his need to stay out of things is really intriguing. He can’t be influencing events in a big way but his warning to Helen at the end about looking after her Doctor was a nice touch and a fine way to foreshadow that something dark was coming. I’m looking forward to hearing what that is. Jim was a good little character and he seems to have an extensive history - and future! - with the Doctor. The future involvement of the Twelfth Doctor was fun to touch upon and whilst this was very much establishing the series, I liked the threat of the Pandora bolt. The concept there was good in unlocking people’s suspicions and that’s almost more dangerous than unlocking thoughts or secrets. There’s a stark difference there which was terrific. Helen playing accountant is fun and I suspect a confrontation with the Doctor will come regarding the running of Baker Street. Her and Liv staying in the basement was quite amusing and I’m already loving the dynamic of this series. It feels so different and that’s a nice contrast and shift of atmosphere. The Curator looking at the artistic value of the TARDIS was brilliant and he was understandably worried by what had happened. He could feel the ripples in time and something approaching which is just glorious. Helen getting into the Under Gallery feels exciting and I loved his accidental naming of planets as something that gets lost when gazing upon art. That was a superb little The Day of the Doctor reference! The expansion of the character is so fun and I hope this isn’t the end of him in the boxset. The Doctor stealing a games console as an interactive interface was fun too! I look forward to more of this use of contemporary technology. Overall, a fantastic start to the series!

Rating: 9/10

Vengeance

"Their position is taken."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: March 2021

Series: Master! 1.03

Featuring: Master, Vienna

Synopsis

The Daleks are returning. Their plan, long in the making, is complete. Earth will be theirs once more.

But someone stands against them. Someone with his own reasons for revenge – and Vienna and Lila are caught in the crossfire. Because Earth's greatest hope against the Daleks lies with the Master.

Verdict

Vengeance was a great episode to conclude the first series of Master! This was a really strong finale and rounded out the series arc pretty nicely. I think it’s no surprise that the Daleks were the ones arriving on Earth as the cliffhanger finish for Prey, and with this being a world still relatively fresh from the events of The Dalek Invasion of Earth and Lucie Miller/To the Death their arrival is met with severe fear and caution. Even the very brash and confident Lila is audibly frightened at the prospect of the Daleks returning. They make no haste in claiming their mastery over Earth once again which is good fun, but there’s already someone here claiming that title. The Master is such a great adversary for the Daleks and with these arguably being the two greatest foes for the Doctor, you’d think they’d get along! However, that hasn’t always been the case and the references to Frontier in Space and the Master’s past betrayal of the Daleks was brought up in fine style. I thought the exploration of Dalek hierarchy was really interesting here with the Dalek Supreme even being challenged with a good reference to the Black Dalek also. It really did feel like the Daleks present here were from all across Dalek chronology! The artwork indicates Time War and beyond era Daleks whereas the references and voices in the story point to a more Classic era. I was a big fan of the Dalek Litigator and the history he had with the Master was fascinating! I adored the continuity in establishing that it was the Litigator who carried out the Master’s execution during The Movie and it understanding him escaping death by the worm morphant. The Master boasting how he always found a way to survive was excellent and I loved how triumphant he was in proclaiming how he wanted to have mastery over everything and everyone in the universe. Was that too much to ask? I think this was a stellar performance from Eric Roberts and I’m loving spending more time with his incarnation. He’s excellent and I’m so glad there are more series in this range for me to get to. Vienna’s role in the story was great and I’m loving that her arc continues because she’s a sublime character. Her reaction to finding out that the Master had survived was fun and Magnus Drake via the Daleks being the one to contract her was terrific. I think Drake’s return to confront the Master who had taken his identity was great and I thought it was tremendous for there to be multiple Dalek duplicate robots of him. That fitted in very nicely with the Dalek timeline in my opinion. The way everything came together and linked back to Faustian with Project Yellowbrick was really impressive. I think Lila turned against the Master perhaps a little too quickly or easily, but I did enjoy that he’s was eavesdropping on Vienna and wanted in on her financial benefits. The Master had accused her of being the one to hire the assassin which was good, and from there she was taking her chances. She saw he was off the rails and it was always going to end this way. I liked the pace of the finish and the use of the wormhole in bending space time was a great throwback to the series opener. I must admit I didn’t see it coming but it put a smile on my face. I think it’s really interesting to have the Master full of negative artron chronons and it’s almost a gag at this point for this incarnation to end up back in the Vortex. However, the ending is a complete rip off of Doomsday even down to the Dalek Litigator using an emergency temporal shift to escape being trapped! It would be wrong to say I disliked it, but it’s not even hiding the fact that it was copied from elsewhere. Lila being in position as the head of Drake Interplanetary feels right and I liked the struggle of Vienna pulling her free. Lila pushing the Master further into the Vortex was a shock and it’s a shame that he doesn’t get to be triumphant in his own series, but he’ll be back. He always is. Overall, a great finale despite the unoriginal ending! 

Rating: 8/10

Prey

"What's your worth?"

Writer: Robert Whitelock

Format: Audio

Released: March 2021

Series: Master! 1.02

Featuring: Master, Vienna

Synopsis

Impossibly glamorous assassin Vienna Salvatori has a new target. Crossing time and space, Vienna takes one final job to free her from this life.

But when the Master is hunted through the slums and ganglands of London, the line is blurred between predator and prey...

Verdict

Prey was a great story to continue my way through the first series of Master! This followed up from Faustian very nicely and it seems that the Master is very much in place in the role of Magnus Drake and heading up Drake Interplanetary. Lila is also installed as a partner for the Master and they make a tremendous little pairing! I’m all for them having a Doctor and companion vibe but in saying that I also kind of hope we get that moment where the Master reveals he’s just using her and kills her. That sounds harsh and I absolutely love her character, but I think I like the Master just that little bit more and it feels right that this will happen. Hell, it might not even happen this series! Hearing the Master negotiate in business terms for prometheum was intriguing and he was taking no prisoners. He wanted 150% more of the product for the exact same price! His tactics were bullish and that was fun to hear. Lila certainly approved and she seemed quite happy to be on the journey for getting the Master installed as Emperor. The country in 2223 having no monarchy sounds magnificent and hopefully there will also be Welsh independence by then, but enough of my personal politics. I really liked exploring the world of London in a time still reeling from the Dalek invasion. Lawlessness seemed rife and the idea of ganglands at Notting Hill and the ruins of Canary Wharf sounded fascinating. It was honestly great world building and would certainly be rife for a spinoff series depending on how things will move from here in this particular range. The likes of King Muggy and Sassparilla as the apparent authority of Notting Hill were fun but the Master oozed power over them. His offering to Muggy of becoming a director at Drake Interplanetary and gaining actual power was nicely done. I didn’t ever think he was serious though! One of the major appeals of the series for me was the continuation of Vienna Salvatori’s adventures. Never say never, but it does appear that Retribution is the final contribution to the Vienna range so to get a Jexie mention was lovely. I thought it was fun that she wouldn’t have approved of Vienna taking the mission and that led to intrigue because the price on the head of ‘Drake’ was enough that the renowned assassin would be able to retire. I like how the Master knows from Vienna’s information on him and what he stood for that it couldn’t be Li Zhao to have issued the kill order. Vienna standing up to the Master was excellent and I’m loving how much she knows about him. Vienna having a mission robot in the form of Artie was fun and they had a terrific little dynamic! Vienna believing the mission was done in leaving the Master to the fate of the Trogs, but he’s notoriously difficult to kill and escaped in the dead man’s pit. That was decent stuff and I loved how he shot Vienna intending to kill her, if only for her blast proof vest. The cliffhanger finish was less impactful here but the prospect of an unidentified vessel heading to Earth is decent and Lila feels in peril being mid-air. I suspect from the cover art whose ship it will be, but it’s still going to be an exciting listen! Overall, a great story to continue the series!

Rating: 8/10

Faustian

"How soon will you bring me back?"

Writer: Robert Valentine

Format: Audio

Released: March 2021

Series: Master! 1.01

Featuring: Master

Synopsis

Drake Enterprises is the most powerful company on Earth. Dr Lila Kreeg is its most valued asset. But her experiment open a doorway which allows an evil back into the universe. The Master can offer Lila the world, so long as she obeys him...

Verdict

Faustian was an excellent start to the first series of Master! I love the idea of different incarnations of the Master getting their own spinoff series with Missy and the War Master having notable runs, but now it's time of a lesser seen but majorly impactful incarnation to have a go. The Master of The Movie is a very unique incarnation and it's a massive shame we only got to see him on screen once, but what a performance! Having someone with the presence of Eric Roberts in the role was a masterstroke and his voice was just made for audio. The American accent really gives a different feel to the character and I feel like that will only get better as the series goes on. I was a massive fan of Lila Kreeg who was essentially the main character for the episode here and her position as the R&D Director at Drake Interplanetary was fantastic. I really liked what they were trying to achieve and the 2223 setting was fantastic! It's far into the future but not so far that was being researched and tested wasn't too unbelievable by contemporary standards. The Yellowbrick project was really interesting and I was genuinely interested in what they were trying to achieve with the focus of moving matter over distance by folding space. It all sounds so simple! It was fascinating stuff and that's the kind of science I'm interested in. I'm more of a humanities person but when it comes to space and time I'm all for it (as I should be as a fan of Doctor Who!) Cathrin was a good character and whilst she was pretty much just doing her job and following the contract, she had garnered a reputation of something of an ice queen. Her hearing that insult was a fun moment. I liked how Lila was angered at having Cathrin put in place as her supervisor by Drake, but she wasn't going to let these people of authority get in her way. She was the real scientist and she was on the verge of a breakthrough. Her folding of space inadvertently causing temporal disruption was excellent and it was the perfect opportunity for the Master to escape from his limbo in the Vortex. I thought that was a stellar way of having this incarnation survive despite it seeming impossible. I liked how that formed the basis of the story in getting him back ready for the story ahead, although the humour of him escaping the Vortex only to be stuck on Earth was terrific. I thought the continuity with The Dalek Invasion of Earth was tremendous and I loved that in the 23rd century it was still a society dealing with a cultural shift and rebuild. It made it a time ripe for exploitation and I suspect that's exactly what the Master has planned! His distrust of Eddi was good and I like how Lila quickly realises what the Master can bring her. She's driven by her science perhaps a little too much and that's also something the Master is going to use to his advantage I'm sure. She almost becomes his companion here! Lila going against her contract and using company equipment for her experiments was good and that really drove her into becoming lawless. I thought that was good fun and having the Master by her side as he recognises her genius is a sublime pairing. I loved how the Master desired everything when it came to the planet and his aims with this icarnation having a thirst for greed. The Master taking no prisoners when it came to the 'authority' at Drake Interplanetary was really good stuff and whilst Lila left the room before Drake met her fate, the fact she stayed when she asked him to deal with Cathrin showed what kind of person she is. How very exciting! Another evil genius for the Master to partner with. This was an excellent opener for a series I'm very intrigued and excited about! Overall, a fantastic listen.

Rating: 9/10

The Reality War

"You have a daughter."

Writer: Russell T Davies

Format: TV

Broadcast: 31 May 2025

Series: 15.08

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda, Ruby

Synopsis

Battle rages across the skies as the Unholy Trinity unleash their deadly ambition. The Doctor, Belinda and Ruby have to risk everything in the quest to save one innocent life.

Verdict

The Reality War was a whole range of things! Wow. I don't really know where to start and I'm writing this blog incredibly raw and feeling all kinds of emotions after that finale. I've got the UEFA Champions League Final on in the background but all I can think about is this finale. It's definitely going to need a rewatch but after watching Wish World again this morning ahead of the second part here, I feel like I need to detach myself and give it some distance. I had obviously read the rumours that this might be the end for Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor which is a huge shame because it really does feel like we're only just getting started with this incarnation. This second series with him has been a joy to watch and incredibly I think the finale I actually the worst of the bunch which shouldn't be the case! There is so much unfinished business with this Doctor and I think I just feel gutted for Gatwa that his Doctor never got to tackle Daleks, Cybermen, the Master and more on screen. Sure, he's had some incredible returns but those three villains are on their own epoch. Of course, we got the Rani returning triumphantly here and I think Archie Panjabi was magnificent. Her reunion with Mel was tremendous and I'm so glad it happened with a lovely Time and the Rani reference, but the way she was dealt with felt far too soon and far too easy. Her plan to use Omega as a template to bring back Gallifrey and a new race of Time Lords is audacious even for her! But if someone could pull it off then it's her. However, the use of Omega here I thought was tragic. An absolute waste. The whole concept of him becoming the legend as a Titan or the Mad God was decent, but the design here of him as a giant carcass of bones was appalling. And within a couple of minutes he was sent packing with the Vindicator and its power of a billion supernovas. I did love that the Doctor said yes to wanting to see him though. Kate also getting a little The Three Doctors reference in was terrific too. I thought the cliffhanger resolution with Anita from Joy to the World was unexpected but I loved it! It also allowed some wonderful moments looking into Nightmare in Silver and Day of the Daleks as Anita was looking for the Doctor from the Time Hotel which was marvellous. A cheeky little bit of fan service that I adored. Revealing the Bone Beasts as essentially Underverse versions of the Reapers was a good explanation but probably a week too late. Time reverting back to 7am on 23 May was intriguing and the Doctor knowing that the Rani needed the day to snap and get smaller was excellent. I'd have liked some more Doctor and Rani interaction and the concept of bigeneration getting explained as the species of Time Lord trying to power on survive was interesting, although some more clarity on the genetic explosion that made the Time Lords a barren and sterile race would be most welcomed. Is this what the Master did in Ascension of the Cybermen/The Timeless Children? The use of the real world from the Time Hotel infiltrating the Wish World and bringing UNIT their memories back was brilliant and the image of Anita just standing there for nearly the whole episode was hilarious! Now, I'm going to sound incredibly harsh here but after the Rani and Omega were defeated far too quickly and easily for my liking, the amount of time that was spent on Poppy was criminal. Why were we supposed to care about her that much? She wasn't really the daughter of the Doctor and Poppy? I thought the ending completely diminished Belinda as a companion which is a huge shame as I thought she was outstanding. It felt like a huge retcon that was unnecessary and took away from her character. Ruby being the one to remember about her was good although it wasn't explained why? Was it to do with 73 Yards? And we never really got a clear answer on why Poppy looked like the baby they had met in Space Babies. When Ruby convinced the Doctor to go and find her after reality shifted back was good and I like that he trusted his former companion enough to do it, but then we never got a goodbye for her? That felt wrong. The Doctor using regeneration energy to bring Poppy back and then not actually turn out to be his daughter felt random and didn't make much sense to me. I'm not sure how The Robot Revolution makes sense now either if Belinda is in the lovely house we saw rather than her shared flat! I was left quite unsatisfied. The cameo return of the Thirteenth Doctor was just magnificent though! What a sublime surprise and I'm so happy for Jodie Whittaker that she got a chance to return again. The humour that came from her seeing the Fifteenth Doctor was glorious. A sheer joy to see her back again. The regeneration itself was literally huge as the Doctor did it in space hanging out of the TARDIS with a good to Joy, and then that surprise! Billie Piper emerging was unexpected to say the least! My sofa was in shock. I can't wait to find out what's next (and when!), but for now this was a mixed bag in parts for me despite having a strong emotional pull and so many exciting moving parts.

Rating: 7/10

Prayer for the Dying

"It was always just a boy and his box, yearning to see the universe."

Writer: Stephen Cole

Format: Short Story

Released: July 2024

Series: I, TARDIS: Memoirs of an Impossible Blue Box 08

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Amy, Rory, Clara

Synopsis

The Doctor has a unique bond with their TARDIS. They've always loved the 'old girl' for the way she's gone looking for trouble anywhere in the universe. The Doctor says they stole the TARDIS from Gallifrey. The TARDIS disagrees... she stole them. She hasn't always taken them where they want to go, but she's made sure to take them where they needed to be.

For the TARDIS is dar more than just a time machine crossed with a spaceship. Her life reflects the Doctor's life – a shared wanderlust and longing to explore. Now you can revisit the Doctor's adventures as seen through the eyes – or the flashing rooftop light, at least – of the TARDIS. From the time the Doctor stole her from Gallifrey to her latest adventures with the Fifteenth Doctor, the TARDIS reflects wittily on her epic, incredible history – past, present and future! 

Verdict

Prayer for the Dying was a great story to continue my reading of the I, TARDIS: Memoirs of an Impossible Blue Box collection! This was probably my favourite adventure from the book so far and I think that’s down to the nature of the Eleventh Doctor era to be honest. So much happens to the TARDIS during this era and I was really pleased with how this was presented here. So much happens! I like how we started with the change of TARDIS interior in The Eleventh Hour to what I think is universally agreed to be a downgrade. The more ‘traditional’ model then debuted in The Snowmen was a nice touch and it’s certainly one of the best interiors there have ever been! Addressing that was good and I wonder if the constant changes that follow with more Doctors will be addressed later in the book. I think it’s intriguing for the TARDIS to address that she knew right away that the Eleventh Doctor was the final incarnation and having her acknowledge that was excellent. That would be difficult for her to come to terms with given the link between TARDIS and Time Lord. Touching upon that with the references to The Name of the Doctor was great stuff as the TARDIS would see her future self as the tomb for the Doctor. The bigger on the inside all spilling out was good to explore from the perspective of the TARDIS herself as she saw a horrible potential future. The picture that accompanied that in the story was terrific and was a stark reminder of what happened. I thought the reminder of the events of Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS was brilliant and it’s an obvious choice for this kind of story. It worked well as the Remember When section of the adventure and it was fun to read the viewpoint from the TARDIS herself at being invaded and attempted to be used for scrap! The audacity there. I thought the Stray Files was good in its simplicity here and whilst I don’t like the TARDIS thinking of Amy as simply Orangey Girl, the take on Rory as the Centurion and Clara as the Impossible Girl was tremendous. The TARDIS was clearly a fan of Rory which was nice to see and how could you not be after what he did for Amy? The TARDIS tackling Clara was good fun and it was great to touch upon how difficult she found having her as a companion. Suggesting that she was the reason for the HADS sending the TARDIS to the pole on the other side of the world in Cold War was hilarious. I was a big fan of that. I also loved that the TARDIS earlier questioned how Amy and Rory came to have a baby considering that they were given bunk beds in their room! I thought it was great comedy that she still had the bunk beds within after their departure in The Angels Take Manhattan. I also thought it was a nice touch to include Death of the Doctor when it came to the Journey Log. The TARDIS reflecting on The Day of the Doctor and being hijacked by UNIT was fun stuff and the excitement she had for reuniting with other Doctors and changing the ending of the Time War was really well done and just a nice feeling. The only qualm I had was I would have liked more on The Doctor’s Wife as that’s such a monumental episode. The Doctor becoming corporeal in humanoid form is greet and I like that she mentioned how it was dutifully to communicate in forms such as words. So how is she writing this book?! That felt slightly off in what was an otherwise really strong adventure. A great read! 

Rating: 8/10

Families: The Temple of Light

"I have been found worthy to speak for the ship of time."

Writer: Jonathan Morris

Format: Audio

Released: April 2025

Series: Companion Chronicles 15.01

Featuring: Vicki

Synopsis

Time has stopped. The TARDIS has frozen. And yet, Vicki finds herself with an entirely unfamiliar civilisation while the Doctor, Ian and Barbara are nowhere to be seen...

Verdict

The Temple of Light was an excellent episode to kick off the Families fifteenth series of Companion Chronicles! I am so happy that this range is returning and this essentially feels like the fourth volume of First Doctor Chronicles which is very exciting. I feel like there is so much potential with this range and it’s always wonderful to focus on the companions because they deserve the spotlight! The Doctor didn’t feature here and that’s absolutely fine because Vicki held her own fantastically. I never had any doubts that she would and I really enjoyed the performance from Maureen O’Brien. Happily, this wasn’t told in a narrator format and that’s something I always think works best. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy the more traditional narrative style, but a full cast adventure just works best. The concept behind this episode in particular was fascinating and I just loved it despite me working out the plot twist almost immediately. I was quite proud of that as I hadn’t read the synopsis prior to listening as is usually the case, but I was glad that as the story went on it wasn’t left too long to reveal that Vicki was actually inside the TARDIS console! What a magnificent and original idea. There’s a lot of potential there and it was utilised in a very unique way. I do wonder if there was any foreshadowing of The Myth Makers from the TARDIS when it came to the civilisation that was created for Vicki? The use of the Temple of Light was very good and I liked how things were drip fed to the listener. From the helmic regulators to the fault locator, Vicki was slowly piecing things together and that was a fun journey to go on with her. I enjoyed her interactions with Nebrum and their shared humour about never meeting anyone with their respective names was a nice moment. The family element coming into play was nicely done too as brothers reunited in a powerful way actually, especially for a civilisation that would only exist within a fraction of a second. That was a fun concept in of itself and Vicki actually conversing with the TARDIS was a fantastic moments. It’s fascinating to think that this would happen so early on with the First Doctor as their relationship was still fostering, but I liked that Vicki was the one chosen to make the repairs because at the time of the central column exploding in a flash of light she was furthest away from the console. The idea of the TARDIS saving itself is really interesting and whilst it is surely breaking the Laws of Time, who better to go against the rules and decide what’s right or wrong than a time machine? I mean, it was a bit yucky for her to have conjured up the civilisation in which Vicki became a part of from the likes of dead skin cells, but needs must! Vicki having a name for everything was fun in the in the whacky world of the temple, and going to the Temple of Night was pretty fun stuff too. It was a good contrast. Mindus was a good character too and I was impressed that even in a world of the TARDIS’s creation that there was still room for authoritative villains. The hunt for Vicki was on but she wouldn’t be denied. Despite her displeasure at the amount of death that occurred in this world of a second, she was somewhat agreeable in the knowledge that time would be rewritten and they wouldn’t have happened at all. Again, that felt a little like cheating but when a time machine is doing it can it really be considered as such? I liked how when Vicki awoke in the reconstructed TARDIS that she was still able to remember the events she had experienced, but thought of them as more of a dream. I like that she retained knowledge because she went through and experienced quite a lot! Overall, a boldly unique concept and whilst some elements were predictable I thought this was an excellent start to the new series and welcomed returned to the range!

Rating: 9/10

The Lunatics Have Taken Over the Asylum

"Oh Sarah Jane, I missed you too!"

Writer: Stephen Cole

Format: Short Story

Released: July 2024

Series: I, TARDIS: Memoirs of an Impossible Blue Box 07

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Rose, Mickey, Donna, Martha, Captain Jack, Wilf

Synopsis

The Doctor has a unique bond with their TARDIS. They've always loved the 'old girl' for the way she's gone looking for trouble anywhere in the universe. The Doctor says they stole the TARDIS from Gallifrey. The TARDIS disagrees... she stole them. She hasn't always taken them where they want to go, but she's made sure to take them where they needed to be.

For the TARDIS is dar more than just a time machine crossed with a spaceship. Her life reflects the Doctor's life – a shared wanderlust and longing to explore. Now you can revisit the Doctor's adventures as seen through the eyes – or the flashing rooftop light, at least – of the TARDIS. From the time the Doctor stole her from Gallifrey to her latest adventures with the Fifteenth Doctor, the TARDIS reflects wittily on her epic, incredible history – past, present and future! 

Verdict

The Lunatics Have Taken Over the Asylum was another average story to continue my way through the I, TARDIS: Memoirs of an Impossible Blue Box collection. Unfortunately I think this fell victim of the length and depth of the era it was trying to cover. The Tenth Doctor's era is just too big to easily capture in one chapter and because of that this just became a very descriptive account of that time. There wasn't a massive amount of benefit to this being from the perspective of the TARDIS for me which is a real shame as I was under the understanding that this was the whole purpose of the book! There's so much more that could have been expanded upon or even just explored from the TARDIS point of view, but because it was trying to cover so much it didn't allow itself the time which was a real shame. I thought the TARDIS being turned into a paradox machine during the events of The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords would be rife for exploration as the Master had control and essentially ownership, but it was barely mentioned for more than a sentence! That was a real shame and was actually something I was excited to hear depicted because I was so sure it would be looked on in detail. Alas, it wasn't the case. I thought the focus extract on Journey's End and having the TARDIS piloted by six different people as it was originally intended was a nice touch and the comment about feeling complete almost was a nice touch. I don't think the story did too much justice for Martha as a companion which was a shame as it felt like the only focus on her concerned the events of Human Nature/The Family of Blood and the TARDIS being left abandoned in a barn. Now, I understand why the time and space machine wouldn't be best pleased with that given her sense for adventure, but it was hardly Martha's fault! With the Doctor becoming human thanks to the chameleon arch, I wonder if that severed the link he has with the TARDIS by being a Time Lord? I'm not a big fan of the whole Journey Log that accompanies each story because it just feels wildly inaccurate. There's no strict reason established as to why the log would only contain television stories. The glimpses of the Doctor and Rose travelling somewhere unseen at the start of Army of Ghosts was something I think more could have been made about because we did see glimpses of other adventures on screen, so why can't the TARDIS explain a little more about what happened? Touching upon the Tenth Doctor's events on The Waters of Mars and his Time Lord Victorious phase was pretty fun and it's almost baffling to think of this incarnation as the one who would go too far. The TARDIS reacting to the Doctor trying to change history was interesting as she realised that Adelaide Brooke killing herself wouldn't be good for her pilot. I'm not sure from the TARDIS's perspective that Wilf would warrant a place in the Stray Files, but I do agree he had companion status for The End of Time. I'm just not sure he would fit as a stray! Donna being referred to as the Runaway Bride is quite fun and it's a shame that the River Song mentions weren't until the next chapter. The TARDIS having conflicted feelings about the events of School Reunion and being reunited with Sarah Jane and the Tin Dog K9 was good natured, and it was nice for her to recognise then old companion. Also, I loved that The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith was included in the TARDIS log - as it should be! Overall, I thought this was just fine as an account of the Tenth Doctor's era, but I was hoping for more to reach the higher levels of rating. It was just a quick check up on his time, and even she wasn't ready to let her Doctor change! Tackling the destructive regeneration of the Tenth Doctor and the internal destruction that caused, the TARDIS was scared and rightly so when the entire control room is forced into shreds. A pretty decent read, but lacking in new content.

Rating: 6/10

Inferno

"I don't exist in your world."

Writer: Don Houghton

Format: TV

Broadcast: 9 May - 20 June 1970

Season: 7.04

Featuring: Third Doctor, Liz, Brigadier

Synopsis

UNIT is providing security cover at an experimental drilling project at Eastchester, designed to penetrate the Earth's crust and release a previously untapped source of energy. Soon, however, the drill head starts to leak an oily green liquid that transforms those who touch it into vicious primeval creatures with a craving for heat.

With the Doctor transported sideways in time to a parallel universe where the drilling project is more advanced, he works to save both versions of the planet...

Verdict

Inferno was an outstanding serial to conclude the seventh season of the Classic era! Astoundingly, I have only ever watched this serial once before and that was way back when in 2012 as I embarked on the ultimate rewatch of the entire show and completing it in around eight months. I must admit, my memory on the story was hazy and that was only to my benefit as it almost felt like an entirely new on screen adventure! I remembered not being a massive fan of the story when I first watched it but I just knew on this viewing that was going to change from everything I have read or come across regarding the serial. It's an instant classic. It is a wonderful use of tackling the concept of a parallel Earth and whilst that alone was exciting, the plot and the main issue at hand was also fantastic. I really loved the Doctor getting involved in the project and the prospect of digging twenty miles into the planet's surface and reaching the crust is exciting but it hardly feels like something that should be tampered with! I did though enjoy how much of a real world feeling this had because those kinds of threats are usually the ones that I take more seriously and have more of an impact on me. That was certainly the case here. Of course, this is also a sad serial for me as it sees the departure of Liz. The fact that goes unannounced is such a shame and whilst it did bring a smile to my face for her laughter to be the closing shot of episode seven, she deserved better on screen for a proper goodbye. Her role in this story is excellent and I don't think there's anything quite as striking as the introduction for her parallel counterpart. That black hairdo is quite something! And she gets to play the stern authority type which was a nice change from the do-good scientist. The contrast of the Brigadier and his parallel Brigade Leader was something marvellous and Nicholas Courtney did an incredible job in that role. He was sensational and the anger he is able to channel in his performance is just magnificent. The image of him as well with the scarred eye and patch is so good. It captures the attention right away! I was really impressed with the character building within the Inferno project as the cast really helped sell just how good the serial was. Sir Keith was played by Christopher Benjamin superbly and I couldn'believe my eyes with how different his performance and character was to Henry Gordon Jaho in the future! His dying in a car crash on the parallel Earth but only sustaining an arm injury here was presented very well and kept the viewer waiting for just the right amount of time. I thought Petra and Greg getting together by the end of the adventure was a nice touch and having a romantic interest element in a story like this was a fine injection of realism. Stahlman made for a sublime villain and his inability to see reason and to push forward with the drilling acceleration was terrific. His becoming a Primord was a fitting end for him and their appearance in particular was excellent! They had a striking look and some of the direction in the story was just sublime. They helped the Primords a lot but even for other elements it was so good. There was a grainy feel and the little shift sound and wobble effect to go between worlds was a really neat touch. I thought the TARDIS console being outside of the police box and guiding the Doctor sideways to another parallel world was so incredible and just unlike anything else we've seen before. I think it's good fun that even works a little! The need for nuclear power was excellent and I loved that by going to a parallel world, we can actually see the world end. It ws an incredible image to see the inferno flowing down towards the parallel Liz, Petra and Sutton as the Doctor shifted back. I must also say I liked the pre-titles a lot with the stock footage of the fires and the part four cliffhanger goes down as one of my very favourites with just what was at stake with the planet and the helplessness of the Doctor. The calm nature in which the Doctor stops the drilling after the systems are reversed is glorious in how casually he walked back into the room. Overall, just simply superb! 

Rating: 10/10

Missy Part One

"You all reek of poverty."

Writer: Rochana Patel

Format: Audio

Released: April 2025

Series: Dark Gallifrey 3.01

Featuring: Missy

Synopsis

Great events ripple across time. Causing catastrophes and breaches in the fabric of reality. Soon, because of Dark Gallifrey, the renegade Time Lord known as Missy will be able to achieve the impossible...

On a remote and isolated planet, where technology cannot progress beyond steam-power, two thieves are on the run.

Hunted and trapped by automaton policemen, they look certain to hang for their crimes...

...until Missy drops into their world. Their lives are about to change forever, as is the fate of their entire planet...

Verdict

Missy began with a strong start to the third series of Dark Gallifrey! The enigmatic nature of this range gets me excited right from the off but I need to be patient with this story. I firmly appreciate that this is a part one and it very much had that feeling of setting things up for something bigger to come. Missy is one of my all time favourite characters in all of Doctor Who so I’m firmly on board with her for this journey. She’s a unique prospect in this series given her proximity and chronology in being a post-Time War incarnation of the Master. I get more Classic era vibes from the Dark Gallifrey concept and I think that comes from the Morbius opener. The vibe of this episode was very different and didn’t feel like it would be something to delve into Time Lord lore, but that’s not a problem at all. Steampunk Missy is definitely something I can get behind, although less of the cockney accent would be preferred in my view. I thought the concept of the planet Opus Tuli that made up the setting here was very exciting! The idea of a planet that you can’t leave is excellent and even for Missy with her vortex manipulator, there was no escape. Her device just stopped working and she was stuck. Obviously, she wasn’t too thrilled about that! I was impressed with the world building here and it was fun to go with the almost gangsta feel. Scratch and Sly Boots were fun characters to accompany Missy for the adventure and they saw her as their way off the planet. Their knowledge of the Doctor was intriguing and it definitely feels like he’s going to be playing a part in this particular adventure which is very exciting. Scratch deducing that Missy was also a Time Lord was good stuff and it’s almost a shame that he perished! Alisa as the Queen was a good character but she was clearly a token monarch. The true power laid with Lord Voltaire who was hiding in the shadows very mysteriously and I hope we come back to him. His being a Time Lord here and learning of the Time War being over was excellent. It’s a fun prospect for another Gallifreyan survivor! The automaton make up of the characters on the planet was really interesting and I like the idea of AI coming into play so far away from Earth. The Doctor having a backstory on Opus Tuli was great and I think it’s brilliant that he’s the one that found the way off the planet and escaped with the knowledge! Missy was determined to find the answer in Alisa’s crown and the prospect of telepathic crystals was fun. She got it working and fed the life from the crystals into her vortex manipulator as a means to escape. She wasn’t fussed on any relationships she had developed here and despite the betrayal, Sly Boots wanted off too. Missy had successfully wiped out the automatons and Scratch with it. It was a decent conclusion but it just feels like the start of something more to come. The idea of Missy having a companion is tremendous because I know it’s just not going to last. The little mockery of The Dalek Invasion of Earth with her ‘one day we will come back’ moment was just fantastic. Only Missy could get away with that! The cliffhanger finish with the manipulator leading Missy and Sly Boots right to the TARDIS was fascinating and whilst the cover art has spoiled which Doctor will be inside, it’s such an exciting prospect for Missy to encounter the seventh incarnation! The Scottish connection there will be sublime and I’m all for it. He’s also a darker incarnation of the Doctor and I suspect the reason he hasn’t gone back to Opus Tuli and given them the means of escape is to do with Dark Gallifrey. This is an opener, but it feels like the juicy mythology stuff will come in the next part. I’m very much looking forward to that! Overall, a strong start but there’s so much more to come. 

Rating: 8/10