The Darkened Earth

"We all think we'll live forever, even in a war."

Writer: John Pritchard

Format: Audio

Released: July 2018

Series: Short Trips 8.07

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Constance

Synopsis

Mrs Constance Clarke has faced perils on many planets, but now she finds herself in the most dangerous place on Earth. A place like home, yet terrifyingly different, where ordinary decent folk might hand her over to a dreadful fate. And as night falls, she and the Doctor realise that something is on the prowl outside, a creature darker than the dark. And hungry...

Verdict

The Darkened Earth was a good little story to (I believe) actually complete my listening of the entire first twelve series of Short Trips! It's been a long time coming and a roundabout way of doing things, but better later than never, right? I had to wait to catch up a little on the Monthly Adventures range before getting to this one as I hadn't yet met Constance as a companion, but I'm now familiar with and felt it was the right time to take the plunge and dive into the Short Trips. She's an intriguing character and I think the decision to place her on German soil and the wrong side of the war that she is still desperately consumed by was very good. It almost felt like something too big for this range which was fascinating! I can't express enough how much of a deal this is for Constance and she played it really well. I think Miranda Raison did a decent job with the narration here, although her take on the Sixth Doctor was something that left me wanting more. It's difficult to try an impression of the opposite sex and sometimes I do advocate for not even trying, but it just felt like everything was too much in the voice of Constance Clarke. That's not the worst thing in the world and I wouldn't say it impacted my listener experience, but I know it could have been better and more engaging whilst providing different voices to the characters. The use of Peter as the little boy that the Doctor and Constance first encountered was good stuff and he was great, but the voice still just sounded like the rest of the story. The concept at the heart of the episode was good and intriguing. The description of the scorch marks and the very nature of something being incredibly dark was exciting. That meant it was going to cause chaos at night and that's exactly what happened! The Doctor felt very much in the background which was something I was fine with because with the actress who plays the companion as the narrator, the focus should absolutely be on Constance. I thought her worry about the TARDIS translation circuit was amusing but I couldn't blame her! She still felt a responsibility no matter her TARDIS privileges. I thought the way she announced that she didn't want to cheat her way through to the end of the war was excellent and something I really admired. She had to live it and experience it to fulfil her duty. Getting to encounter Peter's parents was interesting although it did seem to take away a little from his character because naturally he was just inferior. I think it's a shame that we never got an official name for the creature, but the concept behind it was strong in feeding on light in the dark. The idea of being darker than dark as the synopsis alludes to is something that messes with my brain a little. How can anything be darker than the dark? I like when things like that make me think as it is something that should be impossible, but yet here it is! The resolution was relatively simple with the Doctor realising how it fed and the use of a fire to establish that was really clever. That was a powerful image. The Doctor overloading the creature with too much energy to send it packing who knows where to beyond Earth or another dimension was really interesting. Talk about wrapping things up! Overall, a good little adventure! 

Rating: 7/10

The Galois Group

"It was transcendent and terrible."

Writer: Felicia Barker

Format: Audio

Released: February 2023

Series: Short Trips 12.06

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Valarie 

Synopsis

There are rules to travelling in time, rules that Valarie Lockwood thought she understood. But, when she has an opportunity to break those rules, she seizes the chance. Valarie's going to have to learn the hard wa that the laws of time are there for a reason.

Verdict

The Galois Group was a great story to conclude the twelfth series of Short Trips! Coming to this episode over two years since it was released meant this was a rather nice step back into the era of the Eleventh Doctor Chronicles. I think that four boxset run for the Eleventh Doctor and Valarie is one of the best things Big Finish have done because it was basiclaly an entirely unseen series for a modern Doctor. It felt different to Dalek Universe with the Tenth Doctor and I think Valarie was a big reason for that. She was basically around for what was a traditional series length on screen and she made a stunning impact. It was also a dynamic between the Doctor and companion unlike any other. It was often testy and Valarie would challenge the Doctor unlike anyone before her which was fascinating listening. I often felt like the Doctor didn't know how to react around Valarie and that impression stayed with me here. I wasn't familiar with the history surrounding this episode with Galois, but I didn't need to be to understand the significance. That was presented just fine in the audio. On a personal note, I think I misread the title and got a bit excited because I know that in French the term Gallois means Welsh, but of course there was just the one l here and that meant a very French person instead. The Doctor describing the history to Valarie and how Galois was due to be shot as part of established history was tough for her because she was still clearly learning what it was to travel in the TARDIS. Whether she liked it or not – and she really didn't! – she had a responsibility and the Doctor was going to ensure that she did her part, even if it meant making the unpopular decisions. I appreciate the difficult position the Doctor was put in here and I thought it was powerful stuff when he mentioned that he hadn't forgotten to care even if he had to let some events play out because the universe said so. I did also appreciate that Valarie did seem to eventually understand that these weren't rules created by the Doctor so she couldn't wholly blame him. I thought the timey-wimey nature of the episode was fascinating and almost became a bit too convoluted in having a grandfather paradox within a paradox. It was fun though even if there were some instances of annoyance when it came to the versions of the Doctor and Valarie not being the prime version. That is something that is perhaps not best suited to audio, but I do like the idea and it can become fun to play around with. It's just difficult at times to play with when there's always the same voice with no slight shift in appearance to differentiate the versions. Valarie actually being one to open the rift in the first place was a fun revelation and her bringing Galois through to the past was quite stunning. It was bold to say the least! I think the way she grew attached to Galois was quite cute and considering she's not wholly organic, compassion is something Valarie has in spades. It's a fine quality that makes her a very strong companion. I thought the way things just kind of fixed themselves with the different versions and resetting things onto the right track was good and just neat and tidy. It did what everything needed to do and Valarie being there at the end for Galois rounded things out well, even if she didn't retain too much of the memory given that she wasn't the prime version to experience events. Overall, a fine story to conclude a really good series! 

Rating: 8/10

His Mad Pranks

"What mystic craft did cause the air to groan, then vomit forth two souls in garb most queer?"

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Comic Strip

Released: April-September 2025

Printed in: DWM 616-617, 619-621

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda

Synopsis

The Doctor and Belinda need their latest reading for the Vindicator, and the seventeenth century makes for the right opportunity. But the Doctor is back in Stockbridge, and things are never that simple.

Verdict

His Mad Pranks was an excellent comic strip adventure for the Fifteenth Doctor and Belinda! It's pretty incredible that at the time the first part was printed the Doctor and Belinda's televised adventures together had barely begun, but by the time it ended they weren't even the current TARDIS team! I mean, we don't know who the current TARDIS team is following the shock regeneration cliffhanger at the end of The Reality War, but I'm delighted to be extending the adventures of the Fifteenth Doctor and Belinda. I think they came to a far too premature end so anything to extend their stay together is great in my book. It's a big shame as well that we had a month delay with part three and it does feel wrong that one comic strip adventure takes half year to complete, but anything we get I very much appreciate and welcome. I thought the artwork itself was pretty excellent here and whilst the likeness for Ncuti Gatwa's incarnation was a tad hit and miss, the depiction of Varada Sethu as Belinda was absolutely spot on. I was so impressed with that, especially for her debut comic strip! I am intrigued by comments in the latest DWM issue's Galaxy Forum of what's to come for the comic strip with an indication that it might not just be Fifteenth Doctor tales, but I kind of hope it is until the next series – whenever that may be – airs because the timeline of this incarnation is far too short! Right, into the story itself and I thought this was a superb pseudo-historical! This was a terrific mix of history and barminess from afar with Robin Goodfellow a really wonderful character. Belinda recognising him as Puck was fascinating and that must be some year seven English class she had because I don't recall learning anything about him or similar at that age range! The way he constantly talked in rhyme was majestic and really did wonders for the flow of the comic strip. This is fast paced with each part being just six pages which feels a couple too short, but this was one of the better-paced stories in the magazine for a while. I think it's the best regular style story in years to be honest. The gradual way in which Goodfellow was revealed to be not of this Earth was fantastic and I must admit I followed suit on the Doctor's reaction when he reverted to an orb as the power finally failed! Finding out that he was using the rhyme to actually harness energy from humans was some way to go about things, but the realisation that he wasn't actually the villain was played out nicely. Well, until he was fully recharged and then wanted to play god. That was in keeping with the theme of the Fifteenth Doctor era but he ended up trapped in the prison he was then powering below the well. That was pretty neat and tidy and a strong sense of irony! I thought Mistress Price was great until she revealed herself to also not be of this Earth, but she was then just shot dead! The Doctor's lack of reaction to that surprised me a little. Thomasina not wanting to marry Valentine was a powerful reminder of seventeenth century society because she really just didn't like him, even if he wasn't a horse as bestowed upon him by Goodfellow. The Doctor being on the verge of getting burned at the stake was quite the image and cliffhanger, although the references to Houdini are beyond tiresome now. Surely there's another way to get out of being tied up? I liked how Belinda touched upon The Well with it clearly being a recent event as she laid eyes on a more traditional type. Although this one did have an antigravity system! Goodfellow draining the Doctor's brain with him as a willing recipient to keep the true prisoner of Belphagor trapped was a nice touch, before his plan came crashing down. The threat of losing the vindicator was also a nice addition of trepidation to the story. Overall, a sublime little comic strip! 

Rating: 9/10

The Day Time Stood Still

"This place holds evil."

Writer: Louise Jameson

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2025

Printed in: DWM Special Edition 70

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

When the Fourth Doctor offers Leela the chance of visiting anywhere, she chooses to return to Victorian London. But with the TARDIS unhappy with her choice, will they ever really reach their destination?

Verdict

The Day Time Stood Still was a fun little short story to complement the latest special edition of Doctor Who Magazine! I'm a big fan of what seems to slowly becoming a tradition in the special editions of having an original text story and it's a delight that it was written by Louise Jameson! I think she's such an iconic actress for her role as Leela and of course she has been able to really extend that with Big Finish both alongside the Fourth Doctor and beyond The Invasion of Time on Gallifrey. She certainly knows her character so it makes sense for her to be writing for her. I think she's such at one with Leela that when I was typing out the writer for this blog I initially wrote Leela Jameson! One thing I must compliment the story in is how impressive it looks. The illustrations are absolutely stunning and the perfect style for a text adventure like this one. It really brings the story to life and is just so vibrant. I love it so kudos to Bryony Jackson Walters there. I think it's an interesting move to have Leela want to return to Victorian London so soon after the events of The Talons of Weng-Chiang. I didn't get the sense that it was something she was desperate to do so when the Doctor offered her the choice of anywhere that did take me by surprise. We did get some comic value though when it came to the savage reminiscing very much not fondly on the Victorian attire she was wearing during that serial. She was far from interested in being ladylike again. The idea of figures in the misty fog feels very Victorian so it was a little strange when the TARDIS was not thrilled about the idea of going to London during that era. It felt very similar to what was happening for Belinda on her travels with the Fifteenth Doctor in getting back to 24 May 2025. It just wasn't working. The idea of the Lion King being shown during the Victorian era was amusing and it was fun to actually get an illustration of that being advertised at the Aldwych Theatre. I was surprised it took the Doctor as long as it did to realise things weren't all as they ought to be. The threat from the Trophs was good and I really liked their shadowy appearance. They felt like they were always there in the background and that was evidenced by the way the Doctor was taken on Waterloo Bridge! That was quite the image and his comments to them about going on a boat trip were very risky in pushing the envelope out there on their patience! The Trophs nature in feeding was intriguing and I liked that the Doctor presented them with a rich source of sustenance. Their nature in being artificial intelligence was pretty unexpected but it was a concept that worked pretty well, even if it was a tad confusing on how they linked with the Victorian era. They were quickly outdated and I liked Leela comparing herself to them in that everything she knew she believed came from the Doctor. That's not really the case of course, but the Doctor telling her as such and reminder her of her instinct was a nice touch. The Trophs actually having fed on themselves showed their desperation and just how bad of a predicament they were in, but for the Doctor that meant a lightbulb went off in his head. Leela mishearing things when it came to pressing the switch that essentially saw the Trophs dissipate into nothingness was a tad quick and easy for a resolution, but in a short story comprising six pages there's never going to be loads of depth! Overall though, a good little read and a welcomed addition! Keep them coming. I really enjoy actors and actresses getting to write for their characters. Who else knows them better? 

Rating: 7/10

The Return of the Doctor

"Are you sure she's not to blame?"

Writer: Rory Thomas-Howes

Format: Audio

Released: September 2025

Series: Thirteenth Doctor Adventures 1.02

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz

Synopsis

Having saved the peaceful Zaarians from an evil alien threat, the Doctor and Yaz sail off to their next adventure. Only this time, Yaz wonders if they're moving on, or running away.

Convincing a grudging Doctor to return to the planet, they are shocked to find the Zaarians in turmoil. What did the Doctor do? Why is the city in ruins? And what's that voice in Yaz's head...?

Verdict

The Return of the Doctor was an excellent episode to continue the magnificent Thirteenth Doctor Adventures series! I am loving the love that the Thirteenth Doctor is getting at the moment as it seems that this series is so welcomed and anticipated, helped by her shock cameo at the end of The Reality War and the feature-length interview with Jodie Whittaker in Doctor Who Magazine. It's time for reappraisal from a large chunk of fandom and I'm so glad we seem to be getting it. The Thirteenth Doctor is wonderful and she was challenged in a big way here with the actions of her companion. I think the premise of the episode is good and not something we haven't seen before with the likes of The Ark coming to mind, albeit on a much bigger scale with the Doctor and his companions there returning some seven centuries after they departed. It was only a decade here but still so much had changed and not to the Doctor's liking. I welcomed that we got a decent little chunk of the Doctor and Yaz's initial time with the Zaarians and it felt like listening to the last five minutes of an unheard story which was enjoyable. That's something I'm surprised I liked because I'm not usually a fan of consequences of unseen stories. I'm still waiting to fill the gaps in the Third Doctor's timeline that saw his portrait present during the events of Timelash. It's just there is so much content and so many adventures out there, surely we should be aiming to depict everything? Alas, no such worries here although that's what I was expecting given the name of the episode. I loved the dynamic between the Doctor and Yaz being tested and initially I was quite uncomfortable with how quick Yaz was to challenge the Doctor in a rather aggressive way. It was certainly uncharacteristic of her but not so much so that I believed she was under any influence. Thankfully, she had been the whole time in a good slow burner of a developing internal takeover. The description of the cloudy eyes for the Whisper was really eery and right out of a horror film which worked well on audio, and I just enjoyed the concept. Hearing the Whisper almost taunting Yaz about the Doctor was fascinating and the gradual way in which she succumbed to it and actually started to believe the Doctor was responsible was excellent. I liked how nobody could actually explain what the Doctor was responsible for though! And yet she had been wanted for a decade. That was a fun angle I didn't expect. Taav was a strong character as almost a second companion for the story and the stark contrast of his reactions to the Doctor and Yaz coming back said a lot. He was only angered by the Doctor though and that was really intriguing. The Whisper coming for the Doctor worked really well and the realisation that it was within Talpa was pretty effective. I liked how Vashir was one of the few not impacted by the Whisper and the way they worked out that was because of her forgiveness was actually really nice. It was a weapon against the Whisper and the Doctor knew that the holder just needed to let them free. It sounds a lot more simple than it actually was, but it played out very well in quite an emotional conclusion for Valpa as he set the Whisper free. The moment Yaz was almost forced into executing the Doctor under the Whisper's will was tense but it was clear she was going to be too strong-willed to actually do so. The Doctor mentioning why she didn't like sticking around was powerful stuff and getting mentions of the likes of Amy and Bill was lovely and showed that despite a regeneration or two and a gender change, she still cared for them very much. That's really reassuring. I like the idea of Yaz getting to choose the next adventure and with the title of Lionesses in Winter, I somehow can't see us visiting the Jupiter Bake Off! There's plenty of time as this series continues over the next couple of years though. Overall, quite a powerful listen in the end! A very good story.

Rating: 9/10

Leo: Constant Companion

"Get rid of the cat!"

Writer: Simon A. Forward

Format: Short Story

Released: March 2002

Printed in: Short Trips: Zodiac 05

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Zoe

Synopsis

Take a TARDIS trip through the constellations, as the Doctor travels to twelve thrilling tales inspired by the mystical zodiac. 

Telepathic fish, miniature lions and twin planets are the least of his problems, as the Doctor – all eight of him – faces the Capricorn Killer, endures a mind swap with the Machiavellian Master, and dances with Death herself. 

And that's not the half of it – as the two K9s can attest.

Verdict

Constant Companion was a somewhat average story to continue my way through the Zodiac edition of Short Trips. I think it would be kind to say that this book is still finding its feet in terms of quality and that’s not a huge surprise given this is the first of the Short Trips books under the Big Finish umbrella. I still think the Zodiac theme is not really offering much at all and even after reading the Kasterborus take on the star sign of Leo and its focus on being ruled by the centre of the universe, I didn’t really see what relevance that had to the adventure. Maybe I just don’t quite understand the star signs and the likes of horoscopes? I am absolutely fine admitting that and maybe that is why I’m on a pretty consistent run of average tales in this collection. I was excited by the way things started as the potential for a cat to join the Second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe on their travels was very fun because of the chaos it would inevitably cause. Now, it wasn’t actually a cat but the Doctor going by that moniker because that was the closest thing they could was helpful. It had cat tendencies and as a cat owner myself to two little mischiefs Polly (yes, named after the companion!) and Pirate (not after the space Second Doctor serial but my son who was only one at the time of taking her in). The image of the cat clawing the insides of the TARDIS was amusing and the scale of it jumping up the roundels and even opening them was baffling. The length of time for the story was unexpected and I’m not big on unseen moments within stories. We barely got any details and it was just used to have the Doctor and his companions return to the TARDIS to see what damage the feline had caused this time. If I know anything though, I’m amazed the cat wouldn’t dart out of the TARDIS doors every time they opened because despite being predominantly indoor cats, my two love to sneak out when they get the chance. The humour of the cat continuously returning back to the TARDIS no matter how and where they left it might have something to do with that. The cat was literally attached telepathically and the Doctor was suffering with the amplification. The way he was almost having an outburst at his companions for them simply having thoughts got a little uncomfortable but it really is no surprise that it all became too overwhelming for the Doctor. That’s where the timeframe of the story comes in because the longer the cat was around, the more the telepathic link was established and he was hearing more and more thoughts. He needed his companions to listen and go away which is a strange dynamic for sure. The Doctor working out that he needed to return the cat to its owner at the right time was at least something of a logical conclusion as the mystical woman was trying to get rid of the cat all along and she’d used her own telepathic connection to mask her whereabouts. The Doctor was clever though and jumped three centuries ahead where the woman’s power had wained. She couldn’t live with or without the cat in an internal struggle, and now she was reunited all along. Jamie and Zoe had become attached and even the Doctor had, showcased by him not being sure if he’d lost a companion or defeated a foe. Overall, not exactly bad but just not a great amount happening.

Rating: 6/10

Connections: Albie's Angels

"Everything is as written."

Writer: Roy Gill

Format: Audio

Released: December 2022

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures 10.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

When the Doctor and friends hunt down time anomalies in 2020s Soho, Helen steps into the past and meets the brother she thought she'd lost forever. 

But there are Weeping Angels in London – and one of the stone assassins wants something from the Doctor and Liv...

Verdict

Albie's Angels was another excellent episode to conclude what has been a consistently brilliant Connections series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! And this might be the biggest connection of the entire boxset as we dove deep back into Helen's past. I think it was good to really explore some emotional elements with here as we're still feeling quite closely removed from the events of Stranded and that was certainly more focused on Liv and her relationship with Tania. This time though the finale was firmly about Helen and at times I really did think this was going to be her last hurrah. It would have been a fitting way for her to depart as companion but I'm absolutely delighted that she will be sticking around! I am loving the trio of the Eighth Doctor, Liv and Helen and it's lovely to hear how much they really do all care for each other. The setting of 2025 did surprise me a little as Liv mentioned I can't imagine this would be a decade they would be keen to be returning to after everything that happened on Baker Street and beyond! They'd done a lot of damage and had a lot of damage done to them. I'm surprised Liv didn't mention Tania with it only being a few years removed from leaving again even though we know she ends up back with her, she doesn't know that for certain at this point despite having the best intentions! The return of the Weeping Angels was very exciting and they worked well in this audio for sure. I thought it showed a different sign of the lonely assassins and having one being tormented and used to basically go back in time and acquire vinyls to then sell them as classics in the modern day was quite something. Surely there are easier ways to make some money? The continuity with The Side of Angels was great and was always going to happen when the Weeping Angels were back. Helen knew what to do and the way she timed things perfectly to sink one was sensational! That was a really innovative way to tackle their threat which I loved. Helen being shocked at unexpectedly being reunited with her lost brother Albie was great stuff and the emotional pull of the episode was strong from there. It was so nice to hear her have some with the sibling she thought she would never see him again but it was also a dark reminder of the recent past. The year Doctor Who was first broadcast and men were being outed and reported to the police for being gay and sending love letters. It's crazy to think how recent this was but we cannot escape history which I thought this episode did a fine job of capturing. Helen got to learn what happened to Albie and why she was taken from him, but at the same time she was also thankful to the Weeping Angels because without being touched by one she would never have had him returned. That was some solace to take from things! It was a fun image to hear Helen having the spare (apparently!) sonic screwdriver in hand but that backfired and helped Jack Harper power his Angel torture. Audio is a difficult format for the Weeping Angels but I appreciated how they borrowed a voice only minimally. The Angels escaping torture and embracing was a bit of a shock and brought a whole new meaning to the term lonely assassins. What do Weeping Angels get up to when nobody is looking? The prospect of the Angels embracing together but not being able to look at one another was deeply horrifying. What love is that? The Doctor and the Angels combining together was a nice touch and I liked how the latter party kept their end of the bargain once freed of the torture from Harper. He was hardly a nice guy and his fate was befitting of the man he was. Just when he thought he could continue to exert control he was sent back spiralling in time. The little song at the end from Albie's band was a nice way to finish and the lyrics there focusing on goodbye really did make me think Helen was in danger of departing. Not just yet by the looks! Overall, a superb finale to a really strong trio of episodes. A fantastic series!

Rating: 9/10

Connections: The Love Vampires

"She longs to be completed."

Writer: James Kettle

Format: Audio

Released: December 2022

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures 10.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

Regret can follow people everywhere – even out into deep space, in the shadow of a dying star.

When the Doctor, Liv and Helen meet the terrified crew of a space station, all are haunted by faces from the past. But these lost loves are more than mere memories – and they want to feed...

Verdict

The Love Vampires was another excellent episode to continue my way through the Connections series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! This is shaping up to be some boxset if the finale is anything to follow the first two stories, and it has all the credentials to do so. But let's not get ahead of myself because I had a lot of love for this episode. I'm a big fan of diving into the lore of Time Lords and the Vampires are certainly a strong way to do that. It's a brilliant villain to have the Eighth Doctor encounter and I love that the mythology surrounding vampires in societies across the cosmos seemingly does date back to the ancient enemies of the Time Lords. Liv and Helen being somewhat surprised at encountering actual vampires was a slight shock given everything they've been through, but there was almost a sense of excitement. The theme of love was very strong in the story which was perhaps unexpected despite the title, but the concept of a vampire feeding on that emotion was intriguing. It was certainly unique and I liked that. We saw both Helen and Liv nearly give into the temptation when they heard the apparitions of Jean and Petko respectively and things certainly did become emotional. It was the love interest of the Doctor that was fascinating though and his apparent history with the Realist was extraordinary! I was almost disappointed that she turned out to be something false he conjured up to draw out the vampire, but there's got to be something original in there? The idea of the Doctor being besotted by a woman is so parallel to everything we usually know and expect about him, but we know he has a grandchild so by definition he has children as well. Might the basis for his false Realist be who he was thinking of here? It's a really intriguing backstory and one I would love to touch upon further. He wasn't exactly willing to spill details to Liv and Helen which was a shame even if completely understandable. I thought the crew of the space station were strong characters although it did take a little bit of time to get an attachment with them as their names were simply numbers. That felt very impersonal which I guess is the point, but it did help in establish the scale of the problems they were facing in researching the white dwarf star with a quick numbering of those who were no longer around. The way they were looking out for each very intently for the first signs of hallucination was uncomfortable at times and the atmosphere amongst the crew was frightening in how uneasy it was. I liked that a lot and it really set the tone. It was good that they were all surprised that their fellow crew mates could see the Doctor, Liv and Helen. Liv being in her element when it came to the medical supplies and technology and actually being able to help was delightful as she continues to shine as companion. The Doctor being one step ahead of the game with his fabricated love was good and there almost felt like continuity with Dalek in how sunlight was used. It was simple and having Fifteen and Twenty-One as a big part of the action in the concluding sequences was nicely done. There was genuine trepidation and excitement which is obviously a positive thing! In a story as complicated and deep rooted as this one with mythology and ancient Time Lord history apparently coming to light, the simple resolution was actually most welcomed. Overall, a fantastic episode to continue the series! 

Rating: 9/10

Connections: Here Lies Drax

"If there's one person I know who'd attend their own funeral..."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: December 2022

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures 10.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

The Doctor, Liv and Helen are surprised to get a letter delivered to the TARDIS from the Doctor's old school friend, Drax. 

They're even more surprised when it's followed by a parcel also sent by the intergalactic con-man, asking them to keep its contents safe. Contents that seem to be a lot of worthless junk.

And their surprise gets even bigger when this parcel is itself followed by an invitation... to Drax's funeral. 

And that's just where the surprises start.

Verdict

Here Lies Drax was a terrific start to the Connections series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! Anything involving Drax was always going to be good fun and this was as whacky as you would expect. The continuity with The Armageddon Factor and Drax referring to the Doctor as Theet was good fun and despite everything I liked how the Doctor was still willing to help his old school associate. The joke in the letter about both incarnations of Romana that the Fourth Doctor travelled with was tremendous and I found it great comic value that even the Eighth Doctor found it amusing. The Doctor being joyous at getting mail that definitely wasn't junk – it said it on the label! – was a glorious TARDIS interior scene as even Helen knew it was not actually going to put them into a position to gain £1million. The Doctor taking up Drax on his wish of holding onto the items that were apparently just charity shop junk was intriguing, but the revelation later on that they were actually the segments of the Key to Time was quite extraordinary! The likes of a Sherlock Holmes book and a Loch Ness map as allusions to them representing locks was really well done. I really did not suspect them to be such powerful artefacts but it soon became clear that they were very much worth the five billion credits that Drax owed. The concept of Drax being able to freely interact with and actually scheme with his other incarnations has so much potential and I really hope we're far from hearing the last of it. It's a really good step and getting to hear multiple of them on show here was superb. I'm a big fan of the Cockney accent because that just adds a different dimension to the character and makes him almost a bit of a geezer. The relationship he had with Liv was sublime as she really didn't take a liking to him. Not in the slightest. The way she was reading out the Cockney lingo in the letter was uncomfortable and it felt like she was nearly going to spit out the words! The reaction she had when she met him in person was almost as good and she was rightly suspicious of him from the start. The idea of being invited to his funeral was fun and it was clear that where Drax was involved, it was going to be a con. His apparent wife turning up to ensure the job was finished and he was dead was a shock, but the issue of the Doctor having not encountered all of Drax's incarnations was marvellous. It allowed Drax a lot of leeway and there he was actually ushering his own funeral! I can't say that was much of a surprise but it was still a really great moment. I thought the threat and chase of the Valtrassi as they looked to recoup the property from Drax was strong, and the Quantum Assassin had a brilliant ring to it. That was a name that even impressed the Doctor which was pretty fun! The twist at the end regarding the Valtrassi and how they were actually different incarnations of Drax was just bonkers, and this was another typical John Dorney script at its best. It was ludicrous madness, but that was what made it so fun. The character we thought was Drax all along was actually the Quantum Assassin and he'd befriended the Doctor in the hope of getting the whereabouts of his stolen loot. It was all bonkers really, but that's the beauty of Drax. I thought it was good for Liv and Helen to have worked it out and the whole thing playing out to see of the Assassin in the Schrodinger's Cage was good, but it was hardly worth it when they only had a few thousand credits left by the end! The Doctor was hardly impressed by the scheme, but it was on him really for allowing himself to get drawn into the whole situation in the first place. Anything involving Drax was always going to be trouble! Overall, a really entertaining start to the series!

Rating: 9/10

Lux

"The best show that had ever been made."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Novel

Released: July 2025

Series: Target 187

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda

Synopsis

Fifteen missing people. A light that hungers. A trip outside reality.

A trip to 1950s Miami takes a dangerous turn, leaving the Doctor and Belinda at the mercy of Mr Ring-a-Ding. A cartoon come to life who wants something that only the Doctor can give him. Can Belinda save the Doctor? Or will they be trapped by a trick of light?

Verdict

Lux was a terrific novelisation of the Fifteenth Doctor episode of the same name! I was very excited to be reading this book and whilst I now usually opt for an ebook version of the latest releases due to price and frankly room for a collection (I mean I now just sell on my Big Finish purchases for the same reason), I had to get the physical version of this novel after listening to the Power of 3 podcast talking about BBC audio releases for 2025. Hearing that some parts of the book had to be specifically tailored to the audio format as they just wouldn't work in that style fascinated me, and after reading I can see why. I thought the use of the three Whovian fans and have them bookend the story with a little tea break in the middle as they were watching the episode we were reading was fantastic. It was really well done and it was marvellous to extend on their background. We learned of the difficulties that face a disabled user of a bus as prams always got the priority on that space in front of the seats, but by hook or crook nothing would stop the trio of Hassan, Lizzie and Robyn from getting together to watch Doctor Who. It's so strange reading a novelisation of a televised episode that depicts the real world within a fictional world as fiction. But that's why we love it. I thought their scenes were presented differently here and were more of a love letter to the show we all love which was wonderful to read. I think the extended easter eggs like a DVD of The Daleks' Master Plan or a VHS of Marco Polo were tremendous. It helped establish more to me that these fans were fictional, but then I think that really made it more of a moment when they were still around after the end credits and subtly given surnames. I liked how well the book captured that this was only Belinda's second adventure after The Robot Revolution, and it's a corker! It was always going to be a difficult task to put an episode that is so full of colour and literally partly animated into prose, but I appreciate the efforts here. We got a large umber of illustrations translated onto the page and that did help. I also liked the playing around with text font and size to illustrate that animated feel, but it was never going to be the same as the achievement on screen. I think this will go down as an all-time classic on screen, and the book is a nice compliment for that. I really appreciated the deleted scene insert, although I must admit I found it a bit strange for it come in the style of what would have been the script. Surely that could have just been inputted into the prose in traditional Target style? Nevertheless, I appreciated getting it at all and I could see this working well on screen as Belinda certainly does command a close up presence. I think the moment the Doctor encounters his fans and believes his life to be a fiction is really emotional and clearly has a big impact on him that I don't think was quite portrayed on screen. The humour about Blink being the best was great, but Belinda's retort seems rushed and doesn't stand out in prose which is a shame. I think the use of art was really good in Lux's final moments and that shadowy imprint as he became light infinitum was excellent. I did think I'd missed a page with it being a shadow or follow through from the previous page, so that was a really nice touch. The explanation of Lux taking on the power of the Sun was good and I think the pace of things was really strong. The sequence with the fans felt massively extended which was nice and it was just love for the Doctor and Belinda to get their flowers. The show obviously means so much to us fans and I thought this novelisation did a fantastic job in highlighting that in a respectful way. Hell, the author even made a mockery of his novelisation of The Giggle which is one of the best Targets ever written, and confirmed that rewatching Legend of the Sea Devils would help in appraising that episode. I look forward to doing so. For now though, this was a really strong novelisation of one of Doctor Who's most unique episodes ever. A really good job. A delightful read.

Rating: 9/10

Table for Two, Dinner for One

"It's a beautiful night for falling in love."

Writer: Jennah Dean

Format: Audio

Released: February 2023

Series: Short Trips 12.05

Featuring: Tenth Doctor

Synopsis

Good evening, Madames and Monsieurs. Welcome to the Ristorante del Cosmo, the finest restaurant in all of London. It's so good, in fact, we think you'll never want to leave...

Verdict

Table for Two, Dinner for One was a great story to continue my way through the twelfth series of Short Trips! I was a little underwhelmed going into this story which is a bit of a shame really but I just didn't find it exciting to be listening to a solo Tenth Doctor adventure. I'm not sure if it's because this incarnation has so many stories and is surely the Doctor I have blogged the most stories for (although that would be something very fun to tally up!), but it just didn't seem the most bold or ambitious of choices to lead the story. Not that there was anything wrong with it, but I was also perhaps prejudice when it came to Ayesha Antoine as the narrator. That is absolutely nothing against her as an actor but I just did not know what kind of association she had to the Tenth Doctor. In this set we've had Jon Culshaw as the Brigadier for example and even Dan Starkey reading a Twelfth Doctor tale with whom he shared an on screen adventure. It's harsh but if this was to be read by David Tennant then I would have been super excited to get listening! The concept of the episode was really good though as my rating reflects and it made for a really enjoyable forty minutes. It absolutely whizzed by and that was partly down to Antoine's impressive narration. The story did the right thing in making use of its actor as despite this being a Tenth Doctor tale, it was Mandy who was the main character. Her life was in a difficult place as she went the pretty bold route of saying 'I love you too' first to Simon, before they were even officially a couple and before he hadn't actually said he loved her! She assumed he did from the looks they gave each other but then he went radio silent for two months. Talk about a kick in the teeth! The Doctor warning her before going into the Ristorante del Cosmo was intriguing and I was wondering what he was up to in warning her. I think it's quite amusing to picture him stuck outside of a restaurant and physically not being allowed in! That was definitely a picture that provided some comic value for me and the way he managed to communicate with Mandy was interesting. Considering this is a Short Trip adventure, it was a bit of a slow burner and that was tremendous. It built well and the pace was honestly perfect. The concept of time running slower within the restaurant was great and the use of that being seen through Simon texting he was going to be a bit late was fun, especially when he wasn't showing up. I mean, when he did show up it wasn't him at all and referring to him as Not-Simon gave me stark reminders of Wild Blue Yonder in how they were named, even if this was released earlier in the year it was broadcast. Mandy slowly realising that everything around her was a fake was done very well and she was surprisingly calm with the situation. The Doctor communicating with her was obviously helpful and the way the TARDIS emerged in as the Doctor finally broke through the barrier thanks to latching onto Mandy was great stuff. Once he was in the Lorn were as good as done and their luring was over. They wanted to feed on the menu that was their customers which was pretty ironic, but with the Doctor being a Time Lord they were allergic to him and he knew that going in. It was neat and efficient, but it was nice to get a little epilogue of sorts with Mandy getting to see inside the TARDIS. And she got a reply from Simon right at the end as well, the real article this time! I would be lying as well if I said I didn't check my phone on quite a few occasions as I was listening through the Big Finish app as that text tone is what I use for my WhatsApps! Overall though, a great listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Cancer: Still Lives

"She wasn't stuck in the 22nd of July – she was going through all the other possible version of the 22nd of July now."

Writer: Mark Michalowski

Format: Short Story

Released: March 2002

Printed in: Short Trips: Zodiac 04

Featuring: Third Doctor, Liz, Brigadier 

Synopsis

Take a TARDIS trip through the constellations, as the Doctor travels to twelve thrilling tales inspired by the mystical zodiac. 

Telepathic fish, miniature lions and twin planets are the least of his problems, as the Doctor – all eight of him – faces the Capricorn Killer, endures a mind swap with the Machiavellian Master, and dances with Death herself. 

And that's not the half of it – as the two K9s can attest.

Verdict

Still Lives was a decent story to continue my way through the Zodiac edition of Short Trips! This was an intriguing little tale and I appreciate the unique format in jumping around from present day, to future storytelling with the italics, and then the journal of Liz. I thought the latter parts were pretty exciting in getting some personal thoughts of the companion and I just like a journal format as part of the storytelling. It was actually quite unique to go down the line of that just being part of the way the adventure was told. I wasn’t a big fan of the way Liz referred to the Doctor simply as D and the Brigadier as A L-S, especially when she then got angered by her own military indoctrination in simplifying things and referring to everything in initials! I like how this story is essentially a direct sequel to Inferno and the after effects were still very much being felt. It’s good to go beyond Season 7 for Liz and it’s still such a massive shame that she never got a proper farewell. Her mention of just returning to university in Terror of the Autons has never sat right with me, so I like that this digs into events for her beyond her time on television. Helen going missing was interesting and I liked how it was eventually deduced that she was an accidental clinger on of the Doctor stepping sideways into another universe. It made sense that if the TARDIS console and Bessie went across with him that someone like Helen could straggle along to unbeknownst to herself! It was obviously unfortunate and it seems that Mark on the other side was suffering a similar fate. I liked the little insights into their experiences of events repeating and the description of time as treacle was fascinating. It reminded me a little of the race to the TARDIS at the end of The War Games with the struggle as the Time Lords asserted control. Helen getting angered at not being fully able to interact with her environment was understandable as I can’t imagine how frustrating that would be! It was even worse for her that she kept experiencing 11.15am on March 22nd on repeat. Things must be mundane so I can’t believe she was almost happy to find out that she reached the halfway point at five years when she nearly interacted with Mark. That was a bit of a heartbreaking moment as they nearly embraced but it wasn’t to be. The long way home was very much happening. I was a tad confused by how they knew it meant five years to go but I guess they were on a parallel journey? A bit more clarity there would have been beneficial. I did though like how the Doctor was almost dismissive of the situation regarding the missing people and that angering the Brigadier to the nth degree was glorious. The Third Doctor didn’t appear too much here, but when he did he made a big impact and just irked the Brigadier so that was strong characterisation. It was strange though how he was happy to let things play out despite the logical argument put forward by Liz regarding Helen and her possible whereabouts. I must say though, I’ve no idea how this linked to the Cancer star sign, but I don’t think that’s too important. Overall though, a strong read! 

Rating: 7/10

Knights of the Round TARDIS

"Find some other planet to play with."

Writer: LR Hay

Format: Audio

Released: September 2025

Series: First Doctor Unbound 1.01

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara 

Synopsis 

Thirteenth Century Oxford – courtly love, jousting knights and a golden age of Academia. What a treat for the Doctor and his companions! A chance to meet precursor of English democracy Simon de Montfort, as well as scientist, visionary and Franciscan friar Roger Bacon – a man truly ahead of his time.

Truly ahead of his time. If the TARDIS team can't stop him, this time-meddling wolf in Monk's clothing will alter the course of Earth's history. But is it already too late to prevent the timelines becoming unbound for the Doctor and his friends?

Verdict

Knights of the Round TARDIS was a very fun start to the First Doctor Unbound series! This is a fascinating series and one I'm really excited for because the potential with anything with an Unbound tagline is literally endless. This isn't exactly the follow on I was expecting for this cast of First Doctor Adventures after getting a cliffhanger finish in The Hollow Crown, but given what happened here it could potentially be used as an explanation or resolution. I think one thing that is important with this range is to not take it too seriously. It's an intriguing way to present new stories and I'm all for that, especially with the very first TARDIS team! It is a little odd still to go with the cast of An Adventure in Space and Time when the actors were playing the actors who played these roles, but they have made them their own in a way and I think going down the Unbound route actually really helps. I think David Bradley does a really good job here with his take on the First Doctor and it is certainly true of what we got from him in Twice Upon a Time which is nice consistency. I think the way Ian and Barbara are presented is mostly true of their era, but one thing that I found startling was the representation of Susan. I wasn't a fan and I don't think it was true to her character because she just seemed so immature! She was stroppy when she didn't get her own way which was a little off-putting. I love the idea of her getting to meet the Monk though as that wasn't possible on screen, but we actually get some rather severe consequences of his meddling here to now place this version of the First Doctor and his companions on an alternate but concurrent timeline. It doesn't replace the one that already has happened on television and expanded media, but I like that we actually have an in-universe explanation for this series. I'm very excited for the ride because I know it's going to be good fun! I'm always a fan of the Monk and his reaction here to seeing the Doctor arrive was trmeneodrus, and he got excited when he realised his encounters with him in The Time Meddler and The Daleks' Master Plan were yet to occur. Timelines really were spiralling and I liked how the Doctor and Susan were still secretive of their planet and species. Barbara recalling The Destination Wars and name dropping the Master was fantastic and a timely reminder of what they know of Gallifrey, even if they may not know its name. The Monk going as the Friar here in the form of Roger Bacon was glorious and the ridiculousness of him proclaiming how renowned his name was in the cosmos was magnificent. It just injects fear doesn't it! I thought his plan here to change history and place Simon de Montford onto the throne rather than at the head of a democratically elected parliament was terrific. The Monk didn't see much difference and was out to ensure chaos ensued, but it backfired gloriously. The brass knights were a decent threat even if they didn't provide too much danger with them being automatons. There was a good action scene towards the end though! Susan wanting to stay because she'd essentially fallen for Montford was unexpected and perhaps a moment of foreshadowing of The Dalek Invasion of Earth. I did like how she couldn't accept that the bad outweighed the good despite the state of society at this time. De Montford having a recall of the Monk's TARDIS was hilarious as he used it much before the meddler had intended with his plan to change the war's outcome. The Doctor changing the Monk's TARDIS basically into a pint and sending it to a random English tavern was tremendous. Talk about making things difficult! The Doctor thinking he could link the Monk's directional unit with the fast return switch in his TARDIS to get Ian and Barbara home was fascinating, but An Unearthly Child was not the events in which they returned to. They were on Marinus! That's a very exciting setup for the next release in the range and The Keys of Marinus is one of my all time favourites so this will be a real treat. I can't wait. Overall, a fantastic listen!  

Rating: 8/10

What Still Remains

"The darkness got darker."

Writer: Adam Christopher 

Format: Audio

Released: August 2025

Series: BBC Audio 29

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

The TARDIS materialises on a research station, locked in a state of temporal displacement on the surface of Volkoff Epsilon. 

The station's human crew are engaged in the study of a mysterious artefact they call 'the remnant'. Apparently a source of unlimited power, it could be the solution to Earth's energy problem.

Yet the station's time barrier has become disrupted, leaving the crew confined with no way out. The Doctor realises that both he and Ace – and the TARDIS – are now also trapped by the time displacement. 

What is the secret of the tiny, spinning artefact? Why have half the bases's personnel already disappeared? And what lurks in the shadows, threatening to overwhelm first Ace and then the whole of Earth?

Verdict

What Still Remains was a great audio adventure to continue the series of BBC Audios! I'm a big fan of this range and apart from the Beyond the Doctor stories it's lovely to be up to date with things and listening as they're released. Another little Audible gift from my partner was most welcomed as I do love a freebie. After House of Plastic earlier this year I was a little surprised that we were getting another Seventh Doctor and Ace adventure, but this is only their second in the entire range so they deserve to have a few more under their belt that's for sure. I thought Sophie Aldred did a terrific job as the narrator and she really did well in giving different voices to the different characters. In a story like this which with one actor is actually pretty long at seventy-seven minutes, that's very important. One voice can become mundane but her enthusiasm maintained throughout and that was a delight to listen to. I thought the story itself was really intriguing and the discussion in the TARDIS about time decay was right up my alley. I'm a big fan of stories involving time and often if I find things confusing or it gets convoluted, that can actually be a positive. The idea behind the cycle lock and the research station being on a six second displacement was fascinating and it was certainly a clever way to get around researching a black hole up close and personal. Dr Novak was a decent character as the head of research but after seven weeks since going over the cycle lock, a long evacuation was in place to get everybody out. It had been ongoing partly because she didn't know what else to do to keep the crew occupied, but they had a false sense of reassurance when the Doctor and Ace arrived. I thought it was fun for them to feign as time agents, but Marlon in particular wasn't exactly buying it. Amelia as the other main character as part of the crew complimented the group nicely. I liked Ace's confidence in the Doctor's ability to fix the situation and his discovery that the problem was software rather than hardware seemed a bit easy. Surely the crew could have at least tried looking down that route? Things escalated quickly from there with the Doctor hearing the voice not of this university and combining that with a shadow chasing Ace and things started to feel eery! The atmosphere matched the cover art which was tremendous. The Remnant served as a brilliant focal point for everything that was going wrong and I loved that it fed by collapsing the fourth and fifth dimensions of its prey. That's incredible! It was all that remained of a previous universe that was trapped in a neutron star which the research crew thought was an infinite energy resource. It's not exactly the worst mistake made but it proved costly. Marlon believing that the voice was his brother Jacob who was the first to succumb added a decent sense of emotion and it was him through what he thought was his dead brother that placed the code. The whole plan to use the time displacement to go back the whole seven weeks in the first place and change history was admirable and logical, but it was never going to fly. I thought the resolution's simplicity was actually terrific in having the Doctor materialise the TARDIS around the facility and the Remnant was instantly inert once inside the TARDIS with the state of temporal grace. That works well and certainly makes sense! As long as it was held within the TARDIS then it couldn't do anything. Perhaps leading the way for a future return? I'd like to see that as a threat from a previous universe sounds full of potential. Overall, a fine little listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Identity Check

"What gives you the right to question?"

Writer: Eugenie Pusenjak

Format: Audio

Released: February 2023

Series: Short Trips 12.04

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

The Colossus River Diversion is one of the greatest engineering projects in the universe, created by different species all coming together to create something spectacular. However, the Doctor and Rose arrive, old tensions boil to the surface and threaten to derail everything.

Verdict

Identity Check was a great little story to continue my way through the twelfth series of Short Trips! I was excited to see that this was a Ninth Doctor and Rose story as those have been few and far between at Big Finish, with this episode predating the fourth series of Ninth Doctor Adventures that reunites Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper in their iconic roles by over two years! So with that just starting this feels like a little bonus which is terrific. I was also very glad to see that Jacob Dudman was the narrator and I must say, his impression of the Ninth Doctor was fantastic. Pun very much intended. It was so good and it provided an immediate sense of authenticity to things. Every aspect of the mannerisms and likeness was absolutely incredible. I don't remember him being this good for the Ninth Doctor Chronicles series so this was a real treat. His take on Rose was less impressive as you would expect, but she didn't have a great deal to do in the story so that wasn't felt at all. It was generic female and that's all it needed to be really. This episode was all about Irving. He was an intriguing character and the concept of somebody literally glitching is intriguing. I thought the fact he was speaking English was going to have something to do with the TARDIS translation circuit and the arrival of the Doctor, but the truth was a little more complicated than that! His dreams of the War for New Rock despite that conflict being over a decade ago was fascinating and the mystery of hearing the name Vragroth was certainly intriguing. The Doctor was keen to help and a quick TARDIS trip later to the source ensured we got answers. I thought the truth regarding the individual now known as Irving was actually pretty sad and showed the horrors of war. When he realised he was on the losing side, he'd taken a dodgy deal to rewrite his life. He took the concept of a disguise to a whole new level as his DNA was rewritten and his memories were overwritten. I can't imagine being willing to give up your memories no matter the life experiences endured, but he was desperate and ashamed. He had conducted murders and the Doctor was not going to let that slide, as he shouldn't. He was pretty harsh towards Irving because that's not who he really was. He had taken someone else's memories and replaced him with the dodgy doozy he'd done the deal with and taken the tech from only able to utilise the resources around him. On a battlefield, those resources are the dead. That was pretty grim, but it didn't take Vragroth too much convincing when the alternative options were the likes of squirrels! Irving seeing his past unravel and the Doctor realising the tech that was holding the new identity and DNA together was dodgy and worn out was certainly a predicament! The Doctor helped ensure he would do right in his returned body and with the conflict long since over, I thought it was could how he saw the Dravonians in a different way. The right way. Oh, that species name is such a rip off! I got very excited at the start as I thought I heard Draconia as the setting. That would be a great place for the Ninth Doctor to visit! It was strong for the Doctor to reminisce on his efforts in the Time War and what he did wrong to then become the better person he was now. That's what Vragroth had going for him now after encountering the Doctor. Overall, a really strong audio adventure! 

Rating: 8/10

Masterpiece

"Soon I shall be whole again."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Audio

Released: April 2016

Series: Jago & Litefoot 11.04

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis

The Master's plan is nearing completion – and he is sure that Jago and Litefoot will help him bring it to fruition. With Inspector Quick increasingly under the Master's influence, the Infernal Investigators find themselves tired and fatigued, as if their very life force is being drained away...

With the help of Ellie together with strangers hpynost Madame Sosostris and her assistant Mr Nocturne, Jago and Litefoot finally track down the Master. But as they make their way towards his lair, the Time Lord's true scheme is revealed.

Verdict

Masterpiece was a terrific little episode to conclude a really solid and consistent eleventh series of the Jago & Litefoot spinoff! This almost felt like something of a conclusion to large aspects of the range with the Master's comments about the meeting here potentially being the last time they would ever see the Doctor. He of course meant because he would be taking his artron energy life force, but knowing that there isn't long left with this range for myself for the worst and most saddening of reasons made this feel pretty poignant. I think the continuity is great in having the Sixth Doctor appear in disguise once again as Professor Dark and I really enjoyed that when Jago and Litefoot couldn't wrap their heads around what was happening to them as they were growing weaker and weaker, Baker Street was where they went for getting in touch with the Doctor. It was a solid idea to go to his own residence, but would he really just show up? The throwback to The Year of the Bat and Litefoot remembering the use of letters and time travel there was brilliant and it turned out that the Doctor had arrived a little early. He'd got the letter all fine which was nice to know and had certainly been looking out for his old chums, but he had to let events play out and ensure there was no paradox. What if his early interference meant that the letter never got written? But then how would he come to be when and where he was? Jago's description of the potential issues with a paradox without ever really understanding it was a glorious moment that I thoroughly enjoyed. He's just such a fun character that continues to shine. I liked the use of the Master in this story and with it being the finale, he was rightly the focus. In his decaying incarnation, he's desperate and that makes him incredibly dangerous. The fact he was feeding upon humans to renew himself was pretty horrifying, but he needed the Doctor to sustain himself fully. The replenishment from humanity wasn't a long term solution, but it was good to hear him have a bit more energy after taking the life force. It was a really great performance from Geoffrey Beavers. The qualities he brings to the role of this very different incarnation of an iconic character are endless. I thought the use of the mirrors in the story was really good and it was amusing to think that they were linked to the DNA of Jago and Litefoot respectively. It would obviously be somewhat suspicious if they were both feeling bad, had been randomly gifted new mirrors, and then suddenly they were seeing premonitions of them looking in somewhat zombified states. That was the fate that awaited them as the mirrors continued to drain their life force. The Master wanting to utilise them both to be in a position to take on the Doctor's own artron force was a dastardly plan. I thought the way it all turned back on him was fantastic though as Quick revealed he wasn't actually under the Master's hypnosis. It was all a ploy! I'd have liked some details on just how that came to be, but it was a moment where the tables had clearly turned against the Master. The Master wasn't actually draining the life force from them but the Time Lord was actually rejuvenating them with what little life force he had left after the Doctor's own alterations ensured the flow was reversed. It was pretty simple but very effective! It was also good for the Master to then be able to escape in the TARDIS and despite it being nearly powerless, he'd siphoned the residual energy from the Doctor's own TARDIS landings and take offs at Baker Street to dematerialise. Destination Traken perhaps? The cliffhanger finish after the Master tapping into Ellie's demeanour and her feeling her vampire aspects take over was very good and another great setup for the next series to come. It's been a long time coming to return to this so I'm very excited! Overall, a great conclusion to a very good series. 

Rating: 8/10

The Woman in White

"I don't think I've ever seen a man as dead."

Writers: Simon Barnard & Paul Morris

Format: Audio

Released: April 2016

Series: Jago & Litefoot 11.03

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis

The great actor Henry Irving is not as great as he once was. In fact, he's awful – a shadow of his former self. Worried that something may be terribly wrong, Irving's assistant Bram Stoker enlists the help of an old friend – Henry Gordon Jago. 

With Irvin's state deteriorating, Professor Litefoot also faces a challenge. He performs an autopsy on a man who has had all his bodily fluids drained from him. Can the detectives discover the connection between the great actor and the mysterious dehydrated corpse? And how does it relate to the Woman in White who supposedly haunts Irving's theatre?

Verdict

The Woman in White was another very strong episode to continue my way through the eleventh series of Jago & Litefoot! I thought the cover art for this adventure was tremendous and I was actually very excited for a horror kind of vibe. It looked very much in the vain of something from The Conjuring or a '60s horror film, and whilst I did enjoy the episode very much I don't think it quite got to that fear territory which was a shame. Victorian horror could have worked tremendously well for a Jago & Litefoot tale but the titular woman never quite felt scary. I thought it was good that only some people could see her and with her description it's no surprise she was feared by the local population, but something seemed off about the simplicity in which Litefoot revealed he could also see her simply from another angle. The humour in the episode was most welcomed though when it came to Jago as you would expect. He is just delightful and he can make nearly anything hilarious. His line about the unusual autopsy conducted by Litefoot on August Augustus and it probably not leading to anything nefarious was tremendous because you would expect him to think otherwise after everything they've been through! We are eleven series in now so you would think that even Jago would have a knack for spotting the unusual, but alas he did not. And that really is part of his charm. I hope he never changes. Speaking of changes, the running gag of his trousers being ruined when going underground was excellent and I can see him genuinely being irked. They were his favourite pair and they'd seen some things through their lifetime! That was glorious. I thought the story behind Henry Irving actually became quite sad in parts as he was severely suffering from a mental perspective. I was a bit surprised given the cliffhanger to Maurice that we didn't get much from the Master here, but as has been the case with much of the series when he has shown up it's been impactful and all a part of his patient plan. I'm not sure how I feel about his plan in using Jago and Litefoot to get to the Doctor, but his reasoning for needing his Time Lord nemesis and wanting to be saved is fascinating. Of course for the Master this is at a point between The Deadly Assassin and The Keeper of Traken where his survival is up in arms and he really is desperate. The use of obtaining Litefoot's DNA as well to manipulate him sets things up for a potentially disturbing finale and it's one I'm all here for. The concept here of a completely dehydrated corpse was almost difficult to visualise but it sounded horrifying. Quick and Litefoot were even put off by it after everything they had seen. The truth about the woman and the whole rallying around the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was intriguing and did feel very Victorian, but I'm not sure that he we needed a random alien. I'm contradicting myself a bit there though because I'm not convinced anything natural could drain a body lifeless, but it just didn't have the vibe of needing an alien presence. I liked how Irving kept making reference to his master and with this being pretty common terminology in the Victorian era, the Master's identity remains hidden. I love the idea of him being in the shadows and that makes sense with him needing saving, and so here we are with his next phase being to send Jago and Litefoot to a breaking point where their only option is to call for the Doctor. I'm excited for the finale after a patient and solid build up. Overall, another very good listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Maurice

"I've been dying so long I hardly feel the pain."

Writer: Matthew Sweet

Format: Audio

Released: April 2016

Series: Jago & Litefoot 11.02

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis

As he tightens his grip on Inspector Quick, the Master becomes interested in the young composer Maurice Ravel. For his part, Ravel befriends Professor Litefoot. But is anyone truly who they seem or able to control their own destiny and actions?

When Litefoot goes missing, it's up to Jago to investigate. But the Professor fins himself in a nightmare landscape where reality and fiction seem to have merged. Will he ever manage to escape? And if the real Maurice Ravel is trapped with Litefoot, who exactly is walking the streets of London?

Verdict

Maurice was another very strong episode to continue my way through the eleventh series of Jago & Litefoot! I mentioned in my blog yesterday for Jago & Son that I wasn't expecting much of the Master in this story, but how wrong I was! He made a huge impact at the start and finish of the episode which was magnificent. I think the idea of the decaying incarnation making a home of Victorian London is very intriguing and there are certainly easier ways to get the Doctor's attention! I thought his importance without featuring was unexpected but it certainly makes sense. A large number of the mad plots for the Master involve the Doctor, but I wasn't expecting the clockwork entity to also be focused on the Time Lord. The whole nature of the episode was fascinating and whilst I think doppelgänger or impersonation type plots can be a little confusing on audio, it worked well here with the clockwork take on the voice. It provided something different that could easily be distinguished which isn't always the case in this format. Voices are so important so when the same one is two different versions of a similar character it is difficult to make it work. No such issues here thankfully. I thought the character of Maurice himself was good and certainly interesting. He had a charming personality and quality that made him almost instantly amenable. The fact that he had encountered the Doctor was intriguing and I liked how the Master was obviously intrigued by the watch bearing the Prydonian seal! That was very exciting and I thought we might be delving somewhere into Time Lord lore, but that didn't materialise unfortunately. Litefoot being trapped in that was almost like a Victorian version of the Land of Fiction was really interesting, especially given the fact it was a piece of work he knew well. Hell, he was even quoting from it! Maurice being in there with him was good and the problem of Litefoot going missing was a good way to spring Jago and company into action. I was actually surprised by how useful Sergeant Quick was despite being under the Master's control, and that was something he addressed here. He was basically aware that he was being controlled and that has the potential to become pretty powerful. I enjoyed the threat the Clockwork version of Maurice provided and I don't know what it is, but there's something just so incredibly eery about the sound of ticking clockwork. It works so well as a villain, although hearing the entity in its true form took that factor away a little. I liked that it had been tracking the Master and picked up on his artron energy being left across London, but the rogue Time Lord was so far ahead of the game. The way he seemed to be initially accommodating of the entity was interesting and I almost thought they were going to form an alliance when their shared focus on the Doctor was revealed, but the Master is not one to share. The fact he poisoned the Clockwork figure that was then impersonating Litefoot was glorious. He also got intel on Jago and Litefoot which was marvellous to set up the next episode as he looks to meet up with the Doctor's old acquaintances. That's very exciting and what the ultimate selling point of the series has been really! Overall, another really strong audio to continue the series. Things are getting tasty!

Rating: 8/10

Jago & Son

"My full name is Henry Gordon Jago Jr."

Writer: Nigel Fairs

Format: Audio

Released: April 2016

Series: Jago & Litefoot 11.01

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis

With missing persons, dead bodies and a Satanist cult to deal with, both Litefoot and Jago need help. Professor Litefoot finds himself working with Jean Bazemore, an old archaeologist friend. Jago, however, finds he is assisted by someone he never even knew existed – his own son. Or is he? Can Jago be sure of anything?

But there is more to events than the detectives know. An alien menace is stirring underground. Once again,  Jago and Litefoot find themselves fighting for their lives...

Verdict

Jago & Son was a great start to the eleventh series of Jago & Litefoot! Wow! Eleven series is some effort and the spinoff really does show no signs of slowing up in terms of quality. It's a clever move to bring the Master into play and whilst his role was minimal here after the terrific cliffhanger last series at the end of The Museum of Curiosities, that was always going to be the way. The Master likes to play a long game and I can't wait to find out what he's up to here. I think the choice to go with the decaying incarnation is excellent because he can stay hidden in the Victorian shadows. I always get the sense of these episodes taking place at night and that's a scary place to allow the most desperate of Masters loose. The prospect of him being the Lord of Darkness referred to here was good fun and the description of decapitation was brutal. I can't wait to hear more of the Master now, especially with Sergeant Quick under his control. That's going to be a fantastic dynamic I'm sure. I thought the surprise introduction of Jago's son was very amusing and just such a fun thing to do. He's a glorious character so his reaction to being called father to send us into the titles was magnificent. The discussion with Litefoot regarding him potentially forgetting the act of recreation with Ruby Valentine was tremendous. Only Jago! Litefoot had his own romantic story going on in the form of Jean who was clearly on old flame reignited here. I think it's good for him to have this kind of relationship and I hope we hear more of it. Naturally, the story focused on Jago Jr and the dynamic he started to build with his supposed father was fascinating. The satanic cult vibe for the episode was good and I honestly couldn't help but laugh when they were chanting their ritual as I could only hear them talking about sultanas. I know that's not what they were saying but once it was in my mind it was very difficult to shake off! I think the use of religion was good and it's a great choice to go down for a Victorian era story in my mind. It works so much better in the past because it's just accepted then and things have already happened. Jago Jr turning out to be a part of that cult wasn't much of a surprise but it was some shift to go from thinking Henry was his father to instead believing he was the son of Satan. Quite the two contrasting father figures there! It's a shame he basically disappeared at the end but I'd like to think he'll show up again. Surely there are unanswered questions with this kind of familial relationship? Or is Jago really just putting it down to a night that was a bit too heavy on the ale. Litefoot actually performing then post-mortem on Ruby was a little disturbing, especially when he was finding odd things in her undergarments! The description of her death was horrifying and that was perfect for fitting the story's vibe. Ellie is a useful character in setting the scene regarding gossip of the disappearances and given everything that's happened over the past ten series, it's safe to say this isn't a place you'd feel safe! And now the Master is prowling around with Quick under his control. I don't expect to hear too much more of the Master in the next episode, but his presence being there is enough to keep me extremely interested. I can't wait to hear more, but for now this was a fun little opener to what looks to be another great series! 

Rating: 8/10