Libra: The Switching

"A brilliant but unbalanced mind."

Writer: Simon Guerrier

Format: Short Story

Released: March 2002

Printed in: Short Trips: Zodiac 07

Featuring: Third Doctor

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

The Switching was a good story to continue my way through the Zodiac edition of Short Trips. In an interesting turn of events, this is actually the second version of the adventure that I am blogging after listening to the Short Trips Rarities edition over five years ago. I don’t think at the time I realised that the range was a retelling of prose stories from across the Big Finish Short Trips range, and I was in two minds as to whether to actually read this story in the collection. My method with this book is to surprise myself on the train for the weekly commute and not look ahead to see who the story features or even what it’s called. So the name instantly rang a bell in my mind because the concept at the heart of the story is iconic and incredibly bold. I don’t think it actually achieves the impact in prose as it does in an audio version, but it’s still fun to play around with for sure. I think my biggest qualm with the story was just that it wasn’t long enough! I wanted more time with the Master and the Doctor switching bodies because the potential there is endless. It really is crazy. I thought the simplicity of the Doctor waking up in familiar surroundings was good and him thinking the impact of his metal experimentation was quite extortionate was fun. I think I’d have liked more detail and elaboration on what exactly caused the switching and why, but in a format like this I can understand why that wasn’t the case. The Doctor feeling the famous goatee of the Master on his face and then recognising the face of his arch nemesis was terrific! The horror I can imagine was magnificent. It also made sense why he was in prison following the events of The Dæmons! I thought the Master taking advantage of being in the Doctor’s body was amusing and one of his first port of calls was to give himself a better prison cell. Something with a view. That sets up how we see the Master in The Sea Devils very nicely. I thought the backstory between Jo and Yates was a nice touch and it makes perfect sense for them to be going on a date. They’re colleagues and from what we saw on screen with them there’s clearly a spark! I was a little surprised that he took her in his arms to kiss her but it was nice way to finish on. I do think the way the story concludes is quite abrupt and we don’t get too much closure on the Doctor and the Master reverting to their own bodies or how it might be stopped again, but just knowing that is fun. The Master also adjusting the interior of the Doctor’s TARDIS more to his taste was glorious. His interactions with the Brigadier were great too and the shock he had at being called sir was tremendous! Yates actually finding the Doctor different because he was being nice was a fun element compared to how the Brigadier felt! The Doctor causing havoc in the Master’s jail cell was good and just amusing to picture the chaos he caused! Pulling out the sink and everything. The Master actually writing letters of apology was unexpected to say the least. It was good to set things up and the potential of them being in different bodies was incredible, we just didn’t get long enough in my opinion. If we got this in an extended format with more of a backstory then it could be a classic. But still, very much a fun read! I thought it tied in with the Libra star sign very well too which was a bonus. Overall, a good little read that kept me wanting more. 

Rating: 7/10

Family Ties: The Golden Child

"He's defending the wrong timeline."

Writer: Peter Anghelides

Format: Audio

Released: August 2024

Series: Susan's War 2.02

Featuring: War Doctor, Susan

Synopsis

A key ally to Gallifrey has winked out of existence. When Susan investigates the disappearance of this gift politician and strategist, she finds someone else is also interested in the changed timeline. 

The interloper is her grandfather. But this version of the Doctor is from the future of the Time War, and he's not the man Susan remembers...

Verdict

The Golden Child was another great episode to conclude the Family Ties second series of Susan's War! This was a really strong story and it saw a really intriguing reunion between Susan and her grandfather. The idea of her crossing paths with the War Doctor of all incarnations is fantastic because the dynamic between them is very different. I like that despite becoming a warrior the Doctor is still very much caring for his granddaughter and just the simplicity of him calling her child and saying he loves her really is powerful stuff. I actually think this battered and bruised incarnation of the Doctor is more like the version Susan is accustomed to in the form of the First Doctor and that's quite the way to come full circle for her. She has lived an extensive life and touching upon the fact she hasn't yet regenerated was really interesting. In theory she still has twelve lives ahead of her and that's certainly envious! I really enjoyed her relationship with Andolar here and whilst I did think it was a bit too easy for them to just break the time lock and travel to see what fate became of Maxor, it was fun to play around with different elements of the Time War setting. Why wouldn't you take advantage of the setting? It's an almost limitless playground when it comes to potential adventures to tell. Andolar being the only one to remember about Maxor was intriguing and whilst that isn't uncommon in the Time War, her knowledge of the conflict's history was fascinating. She knew what kind of role he would play for the Gallifreyan effort and touching upon time travel within the Time War was great fun. The Doctor was doing exactly the same thing and in order to save Susan he had returned to an earlier point here. The Eighth Doctor was still out there somewhere at this point in time refusing to take part, but the War Doctor here being from the conflict of the future was marvellous. That's fun to play around with and it looks like that will become more of a focus in the next series as the cliffhanger suggests the War Doctor will be getting involved in the War Room. The timey wimey nature of the episode got a tad repetitive as we heard events repeating themselves with Susan and Andolar trying to prevent Maxor's death but their efforts were in vain. The Doctor not exactly being happy by his granddaughter's attempted interference presented a tense dynamic and the callback to The Aztecs and the not rewriting one line of history was nicely done. The fact Susan and Andolar decided to stay the long way around for twenty years and try and see that Maxor would become the man the latter remembered to impact the Time War was quite the commitment, as was that of the Doctor in sneaking through with them and hiding in the shadows for two decades whilst they did so! Andolar's death was quite a shocking moment but her first regeneration had been prepared for. It turned out the Doctor had a very good reason for letting Maxor not be saved and that was because Andolar would become Maxor! That was a good twist but it was one I actually saw coming, but that didn't take too much away from the episode. It seemed the only logical route and why she knew so much so now she can shape the future she already knows. Overall, a really good episode that also sets things up nicely for the future. A great listen!

Rating: 8/10

Family Ties: The Lost Son

"I'm not grieving."

Writer: Sarah Cassidy

Format: Audio

Released: August 2024

Series: Susan's War 2.01

Featuring: Susan

Synopsis

Still reeling from meeting her Grandfather back on Earth, Susan is assigned to assist a mother in search of her son. Priestess Vesselina is the new ruler of her world, and someone Gallifrey is keen to recruit as an ally.

But strange forces are at work on Materos, and Susan's empathy becomes a weapon to be used against her...

Verdict

The Lost Son was a great start to the Family Ties second series of Susan's War! I'm so happy that this series didn't end with just the one series as there really is so much potential when it comes to Susan's involvement in the Time War. I was intrigued that this seemed to be very close in proximity from the aftermath of The Shoreditch Intervention and Susan being somewhat angered by her grandfather's decision not to partake in the Time War. Given the artwork and the depiction of the War Doctor therein, I was expecting things to have jumped forward so that was actually some refreshing continuity. I thought the glimpses we did get of the War Doctor were fascinating and certainly leaves me wanting more in terms of a reunion, especially with this incarnation. I am sure we will get that and I'm extremely excited for it. We got a very different kind of reunion here with Susan and her son Alex. The events of Lucie Miller/To the Death really do continue to be profound and how could they not be? Susan has essentially been broken ever since and that's part of why she took the call for the Time War, but I bet she wouldn't have if she knew what she would go through here. I thought the apparent return of Alex was fascinating and I was definitely not against him reuniting with his mother given the temporal alterations possible within the Time War. I also thought that this was going to be something of a follow on from Restoration of the Daleks but I'm not sure the Eighth Doctor's timeline within the conflict would compute there. Regardless, this wasn't actually Alex which almost became a bit of a shame and was a very cheap scam by Chief Shetham. She was a decent character although given that she had already played such a main part in the episode, it was a slightly underwhelming reveal unfortunately. I understand the logic and from that standpoint it makes sense, but it wasn't enough to get me really excited. Thankfully, the emotional pull for Susan and her refusing to believe that her son could be back was enthralling and at times challenging to listen to. It was powerful stuff for sure and the family theme was played into very well. I thought Vesselina was another solid character as the Priestess and it was a good shift from the norm in having the Time Lords want her as an alley. She seems an interesting and unique choice for sure, but I quite enjoyed the setting of Materos. The politics were intriguing to explore and the use of telepathy where Susan is involved was brilliant. I like how we seem to really be playing on how she was in The Sensorites and it makes sense to tap into that aspect of her Gallifreyan nature. It provided a lot here as she felt the loss of someone else who lost their son, and given everything she has been through that put her in a difficult position. But it was also one she could relate to and emphasise with. The mystery of who took the child was at the forefront as you would expect, but I was much more interested in Susan's story. The dynamic she's building with Veklin is quite lovely too considering it is wartime and it's nice to know that they are slowly becoming friends, even if Veklin doesn't quite want to admit it! Overall, a strong and powerful start to the series and I'm keen to explore the family theme further in the finale. Surely after a tease here we get Susan encountering at least one of her grandfather or her child? Time will tell. A great listen to kickoff the series! 

Rating: 8/10

The Waters of Amsterdam

"Love conquers all."

Writer: Jonathan Morris

Format: Audio

Released: January 2016

Series: Monthly Adventures 208

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan

Synopsis

Reunited with the Doctor and Nyssa, Tegan joins them on a trip tp Amsterdam's Rijkmuseum to see a new exhibition of the work of Rembrandt van Rijn, featuring his drawings of "Vessels of the Stars". The Doctor is astonished to discover that they are designs for spaceships that would actually work, and decides to pop back to the Dutch Golden Age for a quiet word with Rembrandt – but the world-weary artist is no mood to help.

Meanwhile, strange forces are swirling in the canals, creatures from ancient myth, the water, goblin-like Nix. What is their connection to the mysterious Countess Mach-Teldak – and to the events of Tegan's life during her year away from the Doctor?

Verdict

The Waters of Amsterdam was a very strong story to continue my way through the Monthly Adventures! This has kicked off another trilogy and this time around it’s a very fun and quirky timeline placement in catching up with Tegan immediately after the events of Arc of Infinity. That’s some really good placement and there’s definitely room there for some more stories. The fact the story takes place in Amsterdam itself is excellent and that city is one of the most beautiful on the planet so I could appreciate everything that was going down there. A water creature is a brilliant monster to have for this city setting because the canals that go throughout the city honestly are endlessly beautiful. It’s stunning so providing an aquatic danger is great stuff. I thought the Nix were an intriguing villain and them being on the hunt for the Countess was strong. I liked the direction and learning more about what happened between them was fascinating. They were relentless in their pursuit which was impressive and unfortunately for humanity, they were in the way and were just collateral damage. Nothing else mattered except retrieving the Countess and dishing out justice. Initially believing that she was the last of her species that they had wiped out was good, but with the feeling of wrapping things up in the TARDIS at the end of part three it was clear she was going to turn. Perhaps I’ve just consumed far too much of the Whoniverse but that predictability was a shame. It was still a good moment though and the allegiance of Kyle was certainly a surprise. He was a really good character and I loved getting some real life history and background for Tegan. I mean what else was she going to do after being left behind in Time-Flight? Of course she was going to get into a relationship across the year. I thought the flashback sequences of how they met aboard the flight was great and it was fun that she ended up getting fired pretty much just by being her normal boisterous self. I was taken aback a little by the revelation that Kyle was an android as it seemed a bit sudden which certainly made an impact! Tegan already was not exactly thrilled at being proposed to after two months and considering Kyle had constructed himself on Tegan’s ideals and she still wasn’t happy was pretty hilarious. To be fair though, her luck is due a turn! She doesn’t get it easy. I loved how she was keen to point out that she was Australian as well when referred to as an English spy. I’m patriotically Welsh in the same way and that’s certainly a distinction I would be making. I thought the race across time was good and venturing across centuries and the Doctor just popping back to see Rembrandt and ask about his spaceship blueprints was glorious in its simplicity. He was a good historical character and it’s nice to know that he would be remembered much better in time compared to his contemporaries. Unappreciated in his own time indeed. I thought the shift in part four with the Countess threatening and asserting her control after it was established she was actually the one who wiped out her people was strong, but it almost felt like an epilogue after the Nix were basically dealt with. The alternate timeline in 1983 based on what she had implemented in the past was good and warranted more time for exploration. It was really interesting though and I wanted more! The use of rain with the Nix to finally wipe out the Countess was strong and she didn’t know when to quit when she was ahead. She severely underestimated the Doctor! Overall, a really strong story with a wonderful setting that perhaps should have been longer to warrant depth. Still, a great listen!

Rating: 8/10

Wicked!: The Ingenious Gentlemen

"There will be no battle here."

Writer: Alan Ronald

Format: Audio

Released: October 2025

Series: Seventh Doctor Adventures 8.03

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

Fiction and reality collide when a mad man with a box and a mad man with a horse encounter an ancient evil in 15th century Spain. 

But the adventurer-and-companion setup is a little too familiar to Ace, and she begins to question if she is anything more than a Sancho to the Doctor's Quixote.

Verdict

The Ingenious Gentlemen was a decent episode to conclude the Wicked! series of Seventh Doctor Adventures! This felt like it got things right on track in terms of the chronology of this series between Seasons 24 an 25, with Ace slowly realising the pressure and the potential casualties that come with travelling with the Doctor. I thought that was good and this felt like a good milestone in a relationship that we know will become widespread and full of emotion. Ace questioning how many previous companions there had been and more importantly if they were all safe was powerful stuff as we know with the likes of Katarina, Sara and Adric that the answer is very much no. Even the way the likes of Jamie, Zoe and Tegan departed, they weren't exactly not suffering! Travelling in the TARDIS is no easy ride and I like that Ace starts to realise that here, and then very much in line with her character she's still concocting her own batch of nitro-9 inside the TARDIS! The Doctor's reaction to that was hilarious. I thought the setting of historic Spain was good and I appreciated the unique nature of it, although I must say it felt a little repetitive to Robot of Sherwood in many ways. It was almost like a mirror image in parts and whilst I don't know or have heard about the fictional figure of Don Quixote prior to listening to this adventure, he seemed very similar to Robin Hood! I like the idea of the fiction being based on a historical record that was not well known or widespread amongst academia, and Ace was rightly questioning just who wrote it in the first place. Where were they amongst the ensuing action? That was a fun thought. I thought Quixote was a quirky man and the way he pronounced his name endlessly started off quite fun but then it got very tiring. I was surprised that the Doctor was so giddy at encountering him and he was delighted that he was real at all. Surely he knew that fiction couldn't blend with reality? Was he setting himself up for disappointing? I was honestly stunned by how much of an impact Quixote seemed to have on the Doctor as he was described by the Time Lord himself as his hero! That seemed a little farfetched and likening him to a big reason of why he took the name Doctor and his oath that we heard in The Name of the Doctor felt too much. I am not sure I could buy into that for such an obscure fictional character! Still, it presented a calmer and more lighthearted side of the Seventh Doctor which was nice. Sophie Aldred once again was magnificent in recapturing the youthful early days of Ace as companion and I wonder if this kind of chronology will continue moving forward? Surely there's plenty of room between Season 25 stories? I'd be all for it. The threat of the Antiquity was pretty good and whilst I loved the idea of him being on his way to Shada and in a Gallifreyan prison ship, I don't feel like we had enough time to really sell just what he was after. I liked the toll he clearly had on Ace in draining her and it was powerful stuff for her to hold on, but I think more clarity should have come earlier in the episode. Sancho was a magnificent character and I really liked his relationship with Quixote and Ace alike. The former understanding the science behind the TARDIS and its internal dimensions was also a delight. I thought that worked well and gave some semblance of heroism that the Doctor could admire. Overall, some really interesting stuff and a strong setting. A good listen for sure to round out a consistent and enjoyable series! 

Rating: 7/10

Wicked!: The Price of Snow

"Sometimes superstitions are warnings."

Writer: Katharine Armitage 

Format: Audio

Released: October 2025

Series: Seventh Doctor Adventures 8.02

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

Ski resort Val du Cam Belle is 'the place to be' for the 1% of the near future. But the Doctor and Ace discover sinister shadows beneath the surface of this winter wonderland.

The sun is too hot, the shade is too dark and nothing is quite what it seems...

Verdict

The Price of Snow was a good episode to continue my way through the Wicked! series of Seventh Doctor Adventures! I thought this had a very different feel to the Backwards and in Heels opener as with that one very much feeling like it took place immediately after Dragonfire and as Ace's first trip in the TARDIS, this episode didn't have that feeling at all. Ace felt established as the companion and with the Doctor even stating how well he knew her, I'm not sure if I have perhaps misunderstood and that only the series opener is considered early days for Ace? It's not exactly a problem as any kind of content is good and most welcomed in my book, but I got the impression this boxset was to act as Ace's chronological first set of adventures. Alas, it still did feel early on and I continue to be impressed with how well Sophie Aldred is performing in capturing her youthful essence. I still find it hard to accept that Ace is only sixteen years of age, but it's really good to hear that youthful excitement in her voice. I thought the setting here of a ski resort was really strong and I appreciated the unique nature of it in that it just felt very ordinary. I've never actually been skiing but I know plenty who have so this was just everyday life. It was clearly set in the future for Ace but she adapted well to the terrible shorthand lingo of Teddy. Crikey he was annoying in really showcasing just how posh he was. His character worked well for what it was and I was quite amused by Ace in not wanting to even engage with him because of what he exudes in his status of being rich. Mhairi though was a fantastic character and I liked how she immediately got on with Ace. She shared similar sentiment towards the youthful rich that were staying at the resort and them being students explained a lot. Paying all that money and skipping the lesson? We've all been there. I thought Ace noticing the disappearance of a skier was intriguing and the Doctor getting an uneasy feeling about the snow was great stuff. It became a little eery towards the end of part one and that continued into the second part once we knew the translation of the resort's name and it being in the Campbell family, of which Mhairi was a part despite her protestations. It turned out her father Fergus was actually the one responsible and he had a disturbing relationship with the Slips. They were an interesting concept that perhaps didn't get enough of a highlight which was a shame. I like the business arrangement Fergus had with them in that in return for perfect snow they could consume 10% of the guests, and he claimed to be doing it all for his daughter. Of course, she did not approve but used her position well to get to her father. He was very much to the point of business and that was shocking, but the arrangement wouldn't last long. I thought the resolution was actually incredibly simple and with snow around, having it melted almost seems like a cop out! I understand that it was a bit more than that with the deeper penetration and also taking out the Slips, but I was kind of hoping for something with a tad more depth. Still, it was logical so I can't complain too much! Overall, I thought this was a strong concept but I almost wish it was a bit longer to really flush out the mystery. Still, a good listen to continue the series.

Rating: 7/10

Wicked!: Backwards and in Heels

"The Doctor with an unknown companion."

Writer: Alcie Winter

Format: Audio

Released: October 2025

Series: Seventh Doctor Adventures 8.01

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

The Doctor has offered young Ace a lift home from Iceworld, promising the scenic route home to Perivale. 

But when they are diverted to 1920s Soho on what appears to be shady business, Ace wonders if she's making the right choices, let alone in the right order.

Verdict

Backwards and in Heels was a great start to the Wicked! series of Seventh Doctor Adventures! I was a big fan of the concept behind this boxset when it was announce a couple of months ago and whilst it's not really anything I have ever considered before, there is certainly room before Remembrance of the Daleks to have Ace's first TARDIS trip. She is clearly still very new as a companion there but it's more than feasible to fit this series in. It's also exciting and new territory for the audio adventures of the Seventh Doctor and Ace. This is the earliest possible point in which they can tell stories and this brings a really strong and different dynamic as they're learning about one another which is fun. I like how this takes place immediately after the events of Dragonfire and Ace recalling the three rules there was terrific. It fits in nicely. Of course, given this is released nearly four decades after that serial was broadcast, foreknowledge can be used really well and that was certainly the case with the Doctor here. The way Ghost Light and everything that we learned there about the Doctor's involvement with Ace and the time winds was utilised was excellent. Just hearing the Treasurer refer to Ace as Dorothy shocked her and we really don't know a great deal about her at this point in chronology which is exciting. It's a very different Ace to what we're used to and I look forward to hearing how that is used in the next two episodes. I like the simplicity of her learning that the TARDIS is also a time machine and 1920s Soho is good enough for her! It's a strong setting and incorporating Lucian there was really intriguing. Even with this being the first chronological adventure for just the Seventh Doctor and Ace, he's manipulating things already. The idea behind the game that he was playing with Lucian was fascinating but it felt right in line with everything we know about this incarnation. I did think some of the clues the Doctor and Lucian were given to find the treasure were a bit far fetched or perhaps left too much to interpretation, but the idea of them combining forces with the understanding that they would both betray each other was great. That's some agreement! Ace's relationship with Wendy was nice and I like how she was keen to explore. The Doctor was clearly on business whereas she was just a traveller and I really liked that. How could you not be on your first TARDIS trip? The Treasurer's voice was perhaps a little too muffled for an audio story, but I would be keen to learn more about the Doctor's past with him. It was really interesting stuff and I just like the idea behind the game. The treasure changing feels a tad harsh on the Doctor and Lucian as the participants, but they seemed to take that in their stride. The element of things being experienced backwards was strong but perhaps not in the forefront enough. It would work well on audio too and I just think we could have had a little more. I thought the future Doctor in hologram form was a nice touch and I imagine it's how he looked for The Movie. That was excellent stuff and even the younger Doctor seemed surprised! The Treasurer seeing alternative timelines was really interesting and I liked that there was even one where the Doctor is travelling with Glitz! Now that's a series I'd love to listen to. The Doctor defeating the Treasurer by blowing him literally backwards into his own timeline was pretty sensational and is almost difficult to comprehend experiencing! And that's part of why I liked it. Overall, a really strong opener to what looks set to be a fun little series that I don't think anybody was expecting! A very good listen.

Rating: 8/10

Doctor Who and the Android Invasion

"What I can create, I can also destroy."

Writer: Terrance Dicks

Format: Novel

Released: November 1978

Series: Target 02

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane, Harry

Synopsis

The Doctor and Sarah arrive safely back on Earth – or do they?

Why does the mysterious soldier march straight over a cliff – and then reappear unharmed?

Why are they attacked by the sinister mechanics with built-in guns for hands?

Why is a picturesque country village at first deserted – then filled with mindless zombies?

And why are their best friends suddenly trying to kill them?

The Doctor has stumbled on a cunning alien plan to take over the Earth. Will he be in time to defeat the deadly Kraals and their terrifying android invasion?

Verdict

Doctor Who and the Android Invasion was an average novelisation of the Fourth Doctor serial. There wasn’t anything inherently bad about the book as my rating reflects, but it is a bit of a mess. In saying that though, it is a fun mess. I like how the story doesn’t waste any time in getting into the swing of things and just jumps right into the action. The pace of the story is frantic and it being a relatively shorter novel is why I chose it for my National Express journey following Wales away, but even so it was just boom in your face and almost felt like there was no time to breathe! Sarah having some local knowledge was nice after doing a story in Devesham about a missing astronaut a couple of years earlier. That put her in a strong position and despite the Doctor having the air of bravado about him in not just accepting that they had arrived on Earth in the past, he was reliant on her experiences in some instances even if he had been there before with the Brigadier. I thought that was good and with this being the subsequent incarnation it’s often easy to forget how much the Doctor will have done as part of UNIT in England in particular. The emergence of Styggron and the Kraals in particular feels a little rushed which is a shame because I do think there’s a basis for a strong enemy there. The idea behind him later having a brain drain machine to extract all knowledge and memory was quite something, especially where the Doctor was concerned! Talk about adding to your data banks. I think the concept behind the duplicate village was really interesting and I liked the deviation from the televised serial in having the Androids actually be mirrored. That felt like a positive but I’m not sure enough was made of it! Sure it gave the basis for recognising the Androids a little easier, but I’m not convinced everything that could have been done was. What reason did the Doctor have for having the device that identified Androids if he could just look for the mirror differentiators? I thought the moment Sarah hurt her ankle abruptly and then the Doctor had to leave her hiding up a tree was utterly ridiculous. How does something like that happen? It was ludicrous and considering in my research after reading that Terrance Dicks was trying to tidy up a lot of the plot points from the on screen version, I’m not entirely sure he did so. The Androids didn’t feel as threatening without their circuitry and whilst a blank face can work, I’m not sure prose is the best place for that. One thing that feels blaring in the novelisation is just what a waste the story is for both Harry and Benton. It still remains baffling that they return for this story and it’s even more unfortunate that this is actually both of their last chronological appearance. Their past relationship and connection with the Doctor and Sarah Jane was barely touched upon and it just felt like a disconnect really. Guy Crawford was a strong character and him being prepared to sacrifice half of the planet and the population said all that was needed about him. The Doctor being one step ahead of his true circumstances and not actually being rebuilt and having both eyes despite the eye patch was powerful stuff. I thought the ending was incredibly rushed and even the final page alluded to everything that would need to be sorted out! I feel like that could have been extended in prose and felt like a missed opportunity. Overall, some good stuff and not exactly a bad story but this definitely could have been better.

Rating: 6/10

Audacity: The Great Cyber-War Part 2

"They will rip out your heart and replace it with steel."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: November 2023

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures 11.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Audacity 

Synopsis

The Cyber-War has come to the Aurum. The best hope of survival lies with the great Oberon Fix – the finest scientific mind of his generation, working to protect humanity. But the Doctor is worried that his own presence will affect history's outcome. And for Audacity, life with the Doctor will never be the same again...

Verdict

The Great Cyber-War concluded in strong fashion with this second half of the story! It's an interesting quirk to have part two as a separate instalment and it's funny because if there wasn't the separate synopsis and the details on the Big Finish website just listed this story as being two parts then I would have done just the singular blog entry. But here we are! I actually listened to the first part very early in the morning whilst this second part was done the next day in the evening so it was a little bit of a different listening experience there. I quickly got reacquainted with the characters though and it was wonderful to hear the Cybermen in full throttle after the first part's cliffhanger. I love the proximity this story has to Revenge of the Cybermen and it almost becomes a prequel to it. The role of Oberon Fix was excellent here and the journey the Doctor underwent to reach him was quite extraordinary. I'm not sure the kind of obstacles presented here with the insane climb and the lift getting stuck were suited to an audio format, but I could appreciate the extent and toll the Doctor went through. Audacity's reaction when the Doctor said how he was going to reach Fix was magnificent. She is slowly learning what life with him is like. It was also really fun at the start to hear how she welcomed the arrival of the Cybermen as allies after what happened to Dellatine. She has a lot to learn! That was a strong moment though and showcased her innocence with this still being her first TARDIS trip. I loved the origin of the Cybermen's vulnerability to gold with the Golden Pulse  and that makes this a very interesting point in Cyber chronology. This is so far in the future from the perspective of us as a listener and the Doctor's companion, and I like how that also explains why gold has not been used for any Cybermen we have seen on screen prior to Revenge. It does a good job at explaining that and the glitter gun is quite the weapon. The threat it would have to Voga with it being the planet of gold scarlet bore thinking about and that was why Fix was yet to operate it. Audacity getting injured with her wrist and still making the climb showcase her mindset and determination which are going to be qualities I think we admire on her companion journey. I thought the fate of Galta was surprising and I was honestly not expecting her to perish so early into the part and in such gruesome fashion! A Cybermat implant inside her leg! That was horrifying and felt like something right out of a horror film. I thought the incidental music for this story was wonderful as well and really gave it a different kind of feeling. It felt both retro and futuristic in the best way. Exploring the relationship between Vrull and Nevlin here was emotional and the sacrifice of the former was a very powerful moment. They were strong characters. The extent of the Cyber-War was explored well and I like how it has been ongoing for so long that the Cybermen's emotional inhibitors are beginning to fail. That's a strong concept that perhaps warranted more exploration as the potential there is exciting. Hearing the anguish of the gold-coated Cyberman was uncomfortable and the Doctor was less than pleased there. The time tourist element was a fun concept and again was perhaps revealed a little too late but the Cyber Leader wanting to change time and stop the pulse was logical, only the Doctor boosted it to knock Voga off its orbit and protect them whilst the Cybermen were wiped out. I think the Doctor emptying the TARDIS of its gold contents to help Voga was nice and I was dying for some sort of reference to the Seal of Rassilon that appears there on screen before Gallifreyan lore is established in The Deadly Assassin. A missed opportunity there! I thought the ending in having the Doctor and Audacity return to Charley was exciting and it's now clear when in the Eighth Doctor's timeline he gets this new companion! A whole new trio once again. I can't wait for the continuation. Overall, a great listen to conclude the series! 

Rating: 8/10

Audacity: The Great Cyber-War Part 1

"The planet of gold, and I've arrived at the worst possible time."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio 

Released: November 2023

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures 11.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Audacity 

Synopsis

The Great Cyber-War. Humanity and her allies versus the horror of the Cybermen. This is no place for the Doctor to take his new best friend. But on the Aurum, the war seems far away. There are parties and cupcakes and all the gold of Volga – and not a Cyberman to be seen...

Verdict

The Great Cyber-War started in excellent fashion with this really strong opening part of the story to continue my listening through the Audacity series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! I love the idea of the Eighth Doctor encountering the Cybermen once again and the proximity the story had at this point to Revenge of the Cybermen was very exciting! It's clearly the main selling point of the release from the cover art and just the prospect of returning to Volga is very exciting. I think that aforementioned Fourth Doctor serial is underrated when it comes to the Cybermen and there really is a whole lot of potential attached to the planet and the ensuing war surrounding it. That is clearly where this story gets its name from and just getting a glimpse into it even just a little is very exciting. I do think it's a shame that the Cybermen barely feature, but they make a huge impact when they do! I am really impressed with how well their voices honour their appearance in Revenge and the cover art itself depicts a rather marvellous design. It really is one of the best ones and I've actually managed to pick up the B&M figure set so that's equally exciting! I think Audacity deals well on her first TARDIS trip and it's quite the way to start. Encountering the Cybermen on Volga has a lot attached to it but more of that will come in the second part I believe. I do enjoy her dynamic with the Doctor and his fear when they were separated was palpable. She was brand new and he didn't want her to come to harm. One thing for certain though is that despite when she comes from and her very limited travel experience, she knows how to handle herself! I thought the Volgan attitude towards the Cybermen was fun and I liked that they thought they were safe from them on the planet of gold. Little did they know! I thought the character and almost myth behind Oberon Fix was tremendous and he was really strong. He was the man that could end the war once and for all and that instantly gives him an important and rather crucial status in the story. I thought Galta was a brilliant character too and her position as station administrator on the Aurum was really enjoyable. She just felt really positive and I liked her interactions with the Doctor. Vrull was also a good character in basically arresting the Doctor and confiscating the TARDIS. That never ends well! I liked the name of a time tourist though, but the Doctor is much more than that. The role of Dellatine was strong and the predictability of who she was in contact with as her allies was marvellous because the impending arrival of the Cybermen was very much anticipated. They seem to be in a strong position at the time of them bursting onto the scene as not only do they have the shock factor, but their bombardment has begun and Fisk and his crew are hardly in a good position! It was quite a cliffhanger to round out what was a really strong opening part to the story. I'm very excited for what's to come next as I'm all for this version of the Cybermen returning and I'm anticipating Audacity's first proper encounter greatly! Overall, a very strong start to the story and a fine continuation of the series.

Audacity: The Devouring

"Be careful what you wish for."

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio 

Released: November 2023

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures 11.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Audacity 

Synopsis

Lady Audacity Montague – strong-minded and unconventional – has been gazing at the stars. But unfortunately for her – and everybody she knows – they've been staring back. She's made inadvertent, intergalactic eye contact with a malevolence known as The Devouring. Now it wants to consume her. But Audacity is already consumed. With rage.

Verdict

The Devouring was an excellent start to the Audacity series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! After an eventful number of series with Liv and Helen, attentions turn to another new companion for the Eighth Doctor! He really is reaping the benefits of Big Finish and I'm all here for it. It's a huge travesty that his total televised time is less than two hours because he's such a strong incarnation so long may his time be extended and his adventures expanded. Audacity is not a regular companion and I like that. She's almost like a slightly more mature version of Charley in my opinion but with a thirst for the stars. That obviously made her strong companion material from the off! The Doctor was going to like her very much, even if that interest in the stars was actually going to bring the coming of the Devouring. The concept behind them was strong and whilst it didn't really feel all that original, it didn't need to be. The characters and the setting were unique for it to work and I appreciated that. The early nineteenth century setting was captured really well and getting to know some of Audacity's fellow regency was exciting. Her marriage with Ignatius on paper was one of convenience but it was actually really lovely to know that there was more there for the both of them. He clearly was smitten with her and didn't feel that was reciprocated which is a shame as whilst she may not have been crazy in love with him, she did deeply care for him. I thought Audacity was certainly ahead of her time with how she was standing up to the patriarchy and she was a woman who was not afraid to challenge which was excellent. I feel like she's going to be a feisty companion and that's a fun dynamic if it presents itself to be that way. The moment where she was slapped on the bum really showcased what she had to deal with and there was a little pause after it happened that allowed the listener to realise what had happened and for it to sink in. It was normalised in that time and that's just horrifying to think of how women were treated and looked upon. Despite that, Audacity understood the shameful society in which she lived and did so well in highlighting that. She knew she was nothing and had nothing if her husband died. She was only in her position as long as her husband was too. That must be scary to have such reliance on other, marriage of convenience or not. I thought the concept behind Audacity looking into the stars and those stars looking back in the form of the Devouring was superb. How frightening! Audacity being the catalyst for them arriving and the genetic connection she made with them was pretty horrifying. Everyone she'd laid eye contact on was vulnerable. That's pretty crazy! But the Doctor was not made of the same genetics so as long as she was behind him, she was safe. Her reaction to the Doctor naming his species as the Lords of Time was marvellous and she wasn't having it. How ridiculous. I also liked her reaction to the TARDIS interior because it wasn't even shock. What else could the day throw at her? I thought her sacrifice to the Devouring was magnificent and a really strong moment. It's almost a shame I'm not listening at the time of release because I'd firmly believe she had died if I didn't know she was a brand new companion! It was a powerful moment and the Doctor showcasing the power of his time machine to save her was excellent. The fact she could no longer go home on Earth sets things up very intriguingly for her TARDIS journey as the only place she couldn't go was home. That's pretty devastating despite the fact she'll get to see the stars. The brief goodbye she got with her Iggy at the end was emotional stuff indeed. Overall, a fantastic start to the series and to the new companion! Some might call it audacious.

Rating: 9/10

Counterstrike

"We need to find places to live."

Writer: Una McCormack

Format: Audio

Released: October 2025

Series: NSA 35

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda

Synopsis

Landing on an unnamed planet, the travellers find themselves besieged by a swarm of drones. They shelter in a cluster of hi-tech buildings, inside which lie living quarters and a control base.

The only thing missing is any sign of life. While the Doctor puzzles over a base without people, Belinda finds herself whisked off by teleport. 

Meanwhile, three thousand light years away, project manger Hazzet is puzzled by unusual systems activity on the uninhabited Colony 5.

An automated probe was sent there months ago – so why are there now apparently two bases on the planet, each poised to attack the other?

With the Doctor in one base and Belinda in the other, a race against time begins to avoid mutually assured destruction...

Verdict

Counterstrike was another great audio to conclude the newly released duo of Fifteenth Doctor and Belinda audio adventures from BBC! One day I would love to reunite Ncuti Gatwa and Varada Sethu at Big Finish for full cast tales and to expand a partnership that was all too short on screen, but at least this is something of an extension here. I'll absolutely take anything I can get. I thought the style and pace of this story was certainly different from Firefall and that's very much a positive with them being released at the same time. Why that is the case I'm not sure, but it's fun to do consecutive Fifteenth Doctor tales! I thought taking Belinda into space was good because it didn't feel like we saw that an awful lot on television. Even in The Robot Revolution things started on Earth and it was an introduction to her character and The Interstellar Song Contest was rooted in Earth with it essentially being Eurovision. So this was a nice contrast and felt authentically Doctor Who in going to a colony. The age old problem of expansion and needing new places to live was realised well here and I enjoyed that the Doctor and Belinda arriving on Colony 5 meant big problems for Hazzet as the project manager on a completely different base. It just should not have been possible but all the signs showed that something was happening on the colony that meant there was life there. That was good fun because even for Belinda, she could hardly explain what had happened! Hazzet communicating with her via hologram was good and whilst I did enjoy the 41st century setting, I was surprised at how alien the concepts of time travel and instant matter transfer were. It feels like in all of the time travel across the Whoniverse that twenty centuries in the future this would be accessible! Alas it was not and that grounded things slightly. That's no bad thing by the way. I enjoyed the dynamic between the Doctor and Belinda and having them split up across different bases was fun. I liked how their relationship was captured in the Doctor constantly nicknaming her as Bel despite her insistent pleas to use her full name. VITA was a good aspect of the story and in this rapidly advancing technological world, the prospect of what artificial intelligence may be like in 2,000 years is almost frightening. The advancements in just the last five years or so are extraordinary and it really is something that interests me but at the same time provides a lot of trepidation. My girlfriend has already lost two jobs to it! The way the Doctor got Belinda to utilise it though was great. I must say, it's a good job this story was a strong one because I wasn't all that fussed on the narration by Clare Corbett. I'm not really sure why she was chosen other than perhaps because she was a female with audio experience, but she didn't bring much to the roles of the Doctor and Belinda. Her impressions were almost non-existent which was a shame as something more genuine and exciting might have bumped up the rating. The name of the story feels a little strange in hindsight as it almost gives away what's happening with the bases after a strong buildup, but at the same time that does feel a tad harsh on my part. It was an enthralling listen and the Doctor did seem genuinely worried about losing Belinda. His appeals were strong and I liked that he was able to prevent the counterstrike that would certainly see Belinda killed. Overall, a solid concept and an enjoyable listen. This felt like it could fit right in during the latest season, even if the Vindicator reading wasn't useful! 

Rating: 8/10

Firefall

"A blessing from the stars."

Writer: Beth Axford 

Format: Audio

Released: October 2025

Series: NSA 34

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda

Synopsis

Floating high above 19th Century Earth, the Doctor and Belinda enjoy the legendary Leonids meteor shower of 1833, when the skies teemed with shooting stars. 

One meteor is bigger and brighter than the others and shows no sign of breaking up in the planetary atmosphere. The travellers follow it to the village of Drummondville and begin the hunt for a fallen star.

There's a strained atmosphere in the sleepy town, where two buildings mysterious caught fire overnight. Belinda meets young Mary Moss, who's harbouring something extraordinary – something that must be kept safe from the other villagers.

What strange entity has landed, and how might if affect all life on Earth? The Doctor and Belinda try to broker peace between Leo and its human hosts, before things get out of control...

Verdict

Firefall was a very strong story to kick off this year's New Series Adventures original audios! I think it's delightful that we can get releases with the (sort of) current TARDIS team, although I do question the scheduling in not having them released whilst the series was airing. That would just seem to make the most sense! But I won't complain about timing as late is certainly better than never. I found the historical elements of this story really interesting and I'd be lying if I said I had hear about the legendary meteor shower at the heart of the adventure. It sounds fascinating though and how this kind of thing would have been viewed by pre-Victorian era eyes really excites me. Would they see it religiously or scientifically? I definitely got the sense it was the latter in how the story panned out and that was good. One of the absolute highlights of the story was the performance by Michelle Asante as narrator. I think it's great that we got an actor from the most recent series and she certainly made an impression in The Story & the Engine, but I would honestly argue she made more of one here. She was engaging and her impressions of both the Fifteenth Doctor and Belinda were spot on. I think she had a lot of help there with the writing which is equally impressive because this is Beth Axford's first audio story and one of her very first stories in any format. I follow her through the wonderful Who Watch Podcast so it's really nice to see her shine. This was a really impressive audio debut. Having the setting of 1833 was good and I liked that even though a vindicator reading was required as we head towards Wish World/The Reality War, the Doctor and even Belinda were keen on exploring things further. I thought the character of Mary Moss was really strong and it's always good to have somebody like her to compliment the main duo. I thought her relationship with Belinda in particular was strong and that was really lovely to hear. The Leonids were really fascinating and they became quite sad in the end in learning that one that came in the meteor storm here was cut off from their family, species, and entire home world! The analogy to it being like a bird who throws her offspring out of the nest to see which ones can fly was pretty daunting considering that was taken into space! And if the returned without their other siblings and kind, they would be shunned. So no time travel or space hops to sort things out here. I thought the vulnerability of the villagers in Drummondville felt very real and whilst I obviously don't agree with their actions, I can certainly see why it happened. They were threatened by something from the stars so they attacked, much to the Doctor's horror. The description of it being like putting out a candle felt very poetic and the tease of Mary getting to go in the TARDIS was a nice touch. She understood the Leonids and Belinda working out that she was a Leo felt apt. The use of the zodiac here was decent, even if I personally still don't have much of an understanding of it! I did think things dragged on a little at the end in what felt like a very much extended epilogue, but that didn't hamper my enjoyment of the story. A strong concept, perfect characterisation and a wonderful narrator. Oh and that marvellous little Mrs Flood cameo at the end. Glorious. A terrific listen! 

Rating: 8/10

The Last Days of the Powell Estate

"A vibe on the passing of time."

Writer: Timothy X Atack

Format: Audio

Released: October 2025

Series: Ninth Doctor Adventures 4.02

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

South London, 2036. The Doctor and Rose team up with an urban explorer to investigate the case of Mr Fingers, an invisible killer haunting an abandoned corner of the city. If you feel a hand on your shoulder: don't look around...

Verdict

The Last Days of the Powell Estate was another great episode to continue my way through the fourth series of Ninth Doctor Adventures! Whilst this is the fourth series, it also does feel like the first in many ways with it being a bimonthly schedule and having the wonderful addition of Billie Piper as Rose Tyler in the companion role. It really does make a difference to have her around and I'm so impressed with how Piper has captured the essence of Rose during Series 1. That's not as easy as it sounds and she plays the part with that youthful immaturity which I think is fantastic and really makes things feel authentic. Having Rose around also allows the Ninth Doctor stories to explore present day Earth and returning to the Powell Estate feels like a no brainer. There's a lot of focus on Rose's home estate where she grew up and it makes me think that perhaps a bimonthly schedule was not always the plan, but alas here we are and I've got no complaints. It's a very strong setting and it's always fun to have Jackie Tyler around! Especially with the Ninth Doctor in particular. I really enjoyed going to 2036 and jumping thirty years into the future was pretty bleak for Rose given the state of the Powell Estate now. It was abandoned and a ghost town, and that obviously shouldn't be the case. The way they interrupted Ellis as he was hosting his abandoned spaces show was terrific and he was a really strong character. He clearly fancied Rose and she wasn't exactly against him which led to some funny comments from the Doctor. The events of Dalek and The Long Game with Adam weren't exactly much distance in the past! Has she forgot about Mickey? I think the answer is yes. I liked the mystery surrounding the Powell Estate and linking Rose in 2036 to her mother three decades earlier was a nice touch when Ellis revealed it was around that time where things started to go wrong. The Hyphen were a fascinating prospect and you could sense trepidation in even the Doctor's voice. Even to him after everything he had seen they were like a myth. His describing of the universe as actually not having a physical edge was intriguing and the scale of it is again something which is almost incomprehensible, but even on those boundaries this is where the Hyphen came from. To him, time was not linear and just something to pass through like going from one place to another. So that meant he could easily attack across the span of thirty years like it was nothing! That was exciting. I thought the mystery behind Mr Fingers was excellent and whilst the Doctor wasn't sure about that name to describe the Hyphen, I really enjoyed it and it felt dark and eery. It was perfect horror! I thought Betty was a marvellous character as Jackie's friend and the fact her cast listing actually details her as Brainy Betty is hilarious. She added a lot of humour and I did like her intelligence! Her explanation of the effect of how the Hyphen was dealt with was actually really helpful. The Hyphen feeding on fear was not an original concept, but doing so at this point in the Doctor's life meant we got a really strong moment from the Ninth Doctor as he had to relive his actions at the end of the Time War. The scale of it was still something that haunted him and it was happening always, across time. This was a stellar moment from Christopher Eccleston. I thought they managed to trap the Hyphen in the circle maybe a tad too easily considering the lore and mythological significance to the being, but it worked with that fear exuding from the Doctor. I was less keen on the idea of him being scared by Jackie. Annoyed? Sure. Scared? Come off it! Overall though, another strong episode to continue the series! 

Rating: 8/10

Monsters: Reformation

"What did I ever do to you?"

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: September 2025

Series: Call Me Master 2.03

Featuring: The Master

Synopsis

The Master is incarcerated in a reformation chamber where only his own moral conscience can free him. He's in big trouble.

Verdict

Reformation was a great episode to conclude the Monsters second series of Call Me Master! I sincerely hope this is not the last we have heard from this range because Sacha Dhawan's incarnation of the Master truly is one of the very best. His performance for this boxset has been exemplary and it's been a sheer joy to listen to the whacky nature he brings to the Master. He really is mad and deranged in absolutely the best way. His maniacal laugh is infectious and he's also an incarnation that likes a challenge. He certainly got one here! I thought this episode was intriguing in having the Master effectively battle his inner conscience and at times it became a bit of an internal battle. First it was a question as to whether he even had one, but then it became how much of one he had. It allowed for a fascinating insight into the life of this incarnation of the Master as he was experiencing memories in some rather harrowing flashbacks. He wasn't exactly thrilled by this tour through certain aspects of his life but as a listener it was exciting to get these glimpses. Going back to the days of the Academy was particularly magnificent and I like how he still feels bad – very deep down – about not helping the Doctor when they were growing up. Something so simple and even after everything they have been through, he still cares. The concept behind the reformation chamber was very strong and the jury being yourself seems flawed in that you could very easily just find yourself not guilty, but it was more of a journey than that. Sure, the Master would utilise that flaw to get out in quite extreme circumstances, but that's part of the beauty of this incarnation. He was intrigued by the challenge of his own conscience judging him and it was fun to think of the little peripheral vision showcasing it. Just an infinitesimal fraction in the future occupying the same space. That was great. I like it when things challenge my comprehension and that certainly did that! I thought the Master experiencing memories was fun, especially ones he didn't want to relive, but the way he took the initiative and showcased what he wanted to happen was brilliant. Memories that were to come. It was a very eery foreshadowing of the aftermath of events witnessed in Ascension of the Cybermen/The Timeless Children with the Master having wiped Gallifrey to the ground. This makes that even more impressive and just downright scary that he'd planned it all and then gone through with it! It's fair to say he hardly valued the concept of home. I really enjoyed when the Master worked out he was talking with his conscience in contactable form and that was genuinely interesting to him. I would think he had the resolution almost immediately and his actions in breaking free from the reformation chamber was something that made him awfully excited. How does one get a thrill out of literally killing your own conscience? This Master is different and perhaps the most unhinged of them all and it really does feel like his audio journey is only just getting started. I can't begin to explain how much praise I have for Sacha Dhawan's performance here. To be far, who thought it was a good idea to have the Master as judge and jury of anything, let alone his own conscience? Overall, a stunning performance and a really solid idea. A great listen to conclude a really strong series.

Rating: 8/10

Monsters: The Ideal Quarry

"Countless apologies for the deception."

Writer: Jody Houser

Format: Audio

Released: September 2025

Series: Call Me Master 2.02

Featuring: The Master

Synopsis

To make his journey more interesting, the Master has decided to take on a travelling companion – disgraced Sontaran Vegg, who is keen to get home for his execution. But soon the Master and his escort are marooned on a world where they are not the only hunters. In fact, they are the quarry...

Verdict

The Ideal Quarry was an excellent episode to continue my way through the Monsters second edition of Call Me Master! This was a terrific hour of audio drama and I didn’t know I needed it, but the duo of this Master along with Vegg the Survivor was just glorious. I was a huge fan of their dynamic and it was glorious to hear a Sontaran being so willing to travel to his execution. How else could his honour be restored? I’m a massive fan of the Sontarans and what Dan Starkey has brought to them at Big Finish can’t be overstated. It’s really impressive and I just love everything he brings to the performance. The dynamic between Vegg and this incarnation of the Master was terrific, so to have them captured was really intriguing. Right from the off you got the impression that the Master was far from impressed in being captured, but even from within the game of being hunted he seemed to have the upper hand. That’s an impressive attribute to have! And slowly but surely throughout the episode the anger was festering and that was not going to end well for Fang. I thought she was a strong character and her animalistic nature was fascinating to hear. I like how she was goading the Master and Vegg but again, that just wasn’t going to end well. I thought the emotional journey for Fang was strong and you couldn’t help but feel sorry for her at times. She had been stuck since she was a cub and the Master wanting the truth regarding the signal that he followed and why she didn’t leave immediately was fantastic. He was so in control and had worked everything out right away. I thought Fang’s reaction to hearing that the Master had two hearts was good because suddenly she realised she had bitten off more than she could chew. Quite literally! That also sparked Vegg’s intrigue too as he realised the Master was a Time Lord. I thought his take on the Time War was brilliant and for Vegg it was reminiscent of the Sontaran attitude seen in The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky where they were abhorred they didn’t get to take part. But for the Master, his reflections his participation in the war were quite somber. I’m not sure it was in line with the War Master we have heard at Big Finish, but that’s not a problem as reflection is certainly different to being in the moment and we heard in Only the Good that he was drawn to run away and turn himself human to escape. It was a rare sign of vulnerability for this incarnation, and one that was still relatively fresh as he was still adjusting to this new body. He soon became the maniac we know and love though because the way he was laughing when he took all the threat from Fang was incredible. He was giddy! He knew that the planet was not a hunting ground for Fang and they weren’t quite playing the same game. It turned out that she was actually the one who was the hunted and their kind had been left behind because of finance and practicalities. No wonder she was irked! Vegg playing his part and wanting to stay behind to help was not something the Master saw well. After everything they’d been through, he was just considered muscle. The tissue compression eliminator was utilised and that was the end of Vegg in maximum sized form! He’d put Fang out of her misery as well after what she’d been through and that was almost welcomed. It’s a shame Vegg didn’t get to go to his execution because this Master on Sontar would be quite spectacular! But alas, this encounter and duo was still tremendous in what was a really strong audio. Overall, an excellent episode! Another monstrous performance for Dhawan. 

Rating: 9/10

Monsters: The Craft of Corruption

"I'm a person not a weapon."

Writer: Alison Winter

Format: Audio

Released: September 2025

Series: Call Me Master 2.01

Featuring: The Master

Synopsis

The Master is posing as ship's counsellor on an interstellar cruise liner: the fastest transport in a galaxy where lightspeed travel is outlawed by the overbearing Interstellar Protection Corps. All he needs to do is keep out of trouble until the ship crosses into a sector outside IPC jurisdiction. But troubles abhors a vacuum.

Verdict

The Craft of Corruption was a great start to the Monsters second series of Call Me Master! It's a delight to be getting another series with Sacha Dhawan's whacky incarnation of the Master and this episode really felt like it understood this very troubled version of the Doctor's arch villain. I thought the idea of him posing as the ship's counsellor was great stuff and of all the people in all of the incarnations to be giving out psychic evaluations? I thought this was really fun and Dhawan nails it. The way he mockingly recalls the events of Ascension of the Cybermen/The Timeless Children and claims he knows what it's like to lose his own people and planet when he was the one that caused it is just full of audacity! I loved it. I thought the Interstellar Protection Corps were a fun element of the story and it really does feel like we've met them alongside the Master before. They have something of a Colony in Space vibe going about them, but alas this is their first appearance and I like the idea of space politics and jurisdictions. I think it's good to have the Master trapped on the ship and the desperation he shows when Kel mentions having a possible route off the ship highlights just what kind of situation he is in. The Light Bandits were a fun little concept and whilst I did prefer them when they were initially likened to a black hole and stealing the light from everyone, it somehow didn't seem to be on as big of a scale when they were reduced to being intergalactic identity thieves. I'm not saying identity theft isn't serious but it's just not what it first appeared! Still, I liked them and the Master posing all innocent to them was terrific. I thought Kel needing to meet up with her apparent boyfriend she'd not actually met yet was intriguing and finding out that Kay was posing as someone else fitted in well with the identity theme of the episode. He was far from what he seemed! It was all a job for him and whilst Kel was the initial target, the Master was the bigger coup. I thought it was good that she came along with the Master and found out the truth about who she thought was Deforest. Jemima was a really good character and I liked how her name translated to dove as she was the person helping get people away. She did not like slavery and was doing something about it. I thought the use of the umbrella title for this series was really strong here as for the IPC there was a legend of the Monster. Except he was their counsellor. The Master had encountered the IPC before and over the years the name had evolved. From Master to Maestro to Monster. The name altered, but the monster within was still very much there. Another fun use of identity! I thought Kel had the potential to be a companion to the Master but that was never going to work out, and she ends up going through quite a lot in the episode here. I think this is a stellar performance from Dhawan and the way he goads the Bandits with his counsellor reports to show that there is a corruption mentioned on their file was hilarious. They could hardly sell those identities! I thought it was a nice touch for Kel and Jemima to be encouraged to start afresh and steal two of the already stolen identities, but I'm unsure if the former's business with the Master is finished. And that excites me! Overall, a strong start to the series. A great listen. 

Rating: 8/10

Alixion

"I've done bad things."

Writer: Robin Mukherjee

Format: Audio

Released: September 2025

Series: Lost Stories 9.02

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

Checking into a luxury health spa for a little rest and recreation, the Doctor and Ace find themselves at the mercy of a malign entity that craves the conquest of time and space. 

Exploiting their memories and regrets, the queen of the hive, which hides behind the polished walls of the spa, forces them to confront their deepest fears as she steals the Doctor's life force to spread her powers across the universe.

Verdict

Alixion was a great story to conclude the ninth series of Lost Stories! I'm a massive fan of this range and I'm not sure how many more possibilities there are for it to continue, but long may it. The nature of the range means this is naturally a slightly different listening experience because I can't help but try to picture how this would have worked on screen. There is so much mythology and lore and just potential about what may have happened during Season 27 if Doctor Who was able to take its Classic era into the 1990s, and this was a fascinating glimpse. I must say that one of the biggest attributes this story has going for it is how authentically it captures the era of the Seventh Doctor. The type of story, the pace, and even the incidental music was incredibly impressive. This could easily have slotted into either of the last two Sylvester McCoy series in my opinion. I was intrigued in my research to find that this was going to be the regeneration story for the Seventh Doctor and that really is interesting because it didn't really feel like that here. It would have been quite a sad way for this incarnation to depart given the emotional torment he goes through in this story. I was also really intrigued that the original script commissioned was only three parts so it seems the author has had fun expanded the story here to four parts. I thought the pacing was good and it filled the four parts very effectively. The actual plot itself is pretty bonkers and that's no bad thing. It certainly keeps the listener on their toes! I thought Mathilda was a fascinating character and her starting off in introducing the Doctor and Ace to their rest and recuperation stay for the night to how she ended the adventure really was quite the journey! Her relationship with Larkin was extraordinary in the way he came to be worshipping her as the Queen of the Hive. Her pull and control over him was almost uncomfortable, especially considering that he was there to find his daughter. The Doctor appealing to him about that and describing how she was broken in two was very gruesome. And yet he was still partly devoted to Mathilda! Her lust for causing the Doctor anguish was pretty psychotic and the way she wanted to use Ace to get to him was horrifying. She wanted her to suffer, just to see the suffering and pain that would cause the Doctor. It was downright evil. I thought the flashback sequences were good and this would have been something very unique for a televised Classic era serial. It's a shame this never got the chance to present itself. Ace was going through a lot in this story too as she was reliving memories she couldn't even remember. Colin being there to show her that was interesting but the very concept of forgotten memories messes with my head a little! It was fun to hear Ace deal with that though and it was nice that she was reminded of some good she did in her younger days. I thought the way things concluded were actually good even if they were expected with the Doctor overpowering Mathilda with himself. That sounds weird but that's basically what happened. Too much Doctor did the trick. Ha! That was fun and I liked that the Doctor still had an ulterior motive. I also loved Ace's passion when it came to saving Isabelle. That was a shining moment for her as companion. Overall, a bit whacky and full of emotion. A great listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Darker Purposes

"The journey is unending."

Writer: David Llewellyn 

Format: Audio

Released: January 2020

Series: The Sins of Captain John 1.04

Featuring: Captain John

Synopsis

Captain John arrives at the funeral of one of the galaxy's richest men. He died without making a will, and his heirs have some very creative ideas about how this can be put to rights involving murder, necromancy and seduction. Sadly, Captain John is only too happy to oblige. 

Verdict

Darker Purposes was a strong finale to The Sins of Captain John! Listening over five years later, it does appear that this is the only series there's going to be which is a bit of a shame, but if this is all we get then I am at least grateful for that! I suspect part of there being no further series is that where Captain John is, we need Captain Jack lurking somewhere in the background at the very least. And with John Barrowman basically now being shunned by Big Finish now, I guess that is detrimental to the likelihood of Captain John getting a second series. I thought the whole breaking of the fourth wall thing was a little weird here as he was literally had Captain John in character talking to director Scott Handcock about the theme tune not starting. That felt weird in hindsight and now makes me look back upon the whole series in the same way when it comes to those elements because there was no payoff. What was the point of breaking the fourth wall like that? It felt very much in the same vain as Mrs Flood where there was just no reason or explanation. I still think it's quirky and it's certainly fun, but some sort of explanation was desired. I liked how in the finale this was very much a Captain John story and the overlapping arc of the resurrection gloves was paid off nicely here. John was in to get his money and boy was it a big payoff! He was almost giddy when it was counted out. I thought the setting of the Vargosh family home was great and the family dynamic amongst them was quite sensational. The children of Ilsa and Darius were hardly mourning their father in the way you would expect after losing a loved one. They were more concerned by the fact he hadn't written a will and they wanted his shares in the company! That was an intriguing element and I liked how petty and selfish children is why Captain John was sent on the retrieval mission for the resurrection gauntlets in the first place! All they wanted was for him to video that his shares were left to their children and they were content. That was terrific. The folly of youth, eh? I thought Ilsa was a really good character and she wasn't content with just her portion of the shares. The way she concocted to help murder her husband Chester so she could inherit the Vamooth fortune once his father died was spectacular. John feigning as the chef and cooking duck in peanut oil to send him spiralling with allergies was incredible. Whoops! Darius knowing that his sister had motive and wanting in on the sexual action with John was a fun scene too. Cats or dogs? John liked the best of both worlds. Crikey has he got some action over the course of this series! I thought the continuity with The Restored and John recalling the retirement of the dark was excellent and I loved the concept of the gauntlets opening up a portal to a world of the dead. That's a fantastic prospect and honestly it's a shame we didn't get more. It felt a little unfinished and whilst my rating clearly reflects this was an enjoyable episode, it didn't feel much like a finale. The fate of Ilsa in being dragged to the world of death felt harsh, although it was a tad underwhelming to have Jack on hand in what was hardly a rescue mission for John. It does round out the boxset well though and potentially sets things up for a future series with him now paying what he owes in a very bad way. Overall though, a fun conclusion and story for a really great series! 

Rating: 8/10