"I'm guessing I'm not quite the Doctor you were expecting."
Writer: Nicholas Briggs
Format: Audio
Released: April 2015
Series: Monthly Adventures 198
Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Jo
Synopsis
Jo Grant is shocked to find most of her colleagues are missing. Then she discovers that the Doctor has inexplicably changed.
But there's no time to worry about it, as she and her misplaced Time Lord friend are whisked to the mysterious Delphin Isle on a matter of national security. There, they encounter a disturbingly odd form of local hospitality and learn of a highly classified incident that took place during the Cold War.
Why exactly have they been brought here? And what is the truth concerning the bodies in the harbour and the vast project being undertaken beneath a cloak of secrecy?
Verdict
The Defectors was a strong story to continue my way through the Monthly Adventures! This is something of a slight personal milestone for me as I remember when this was released and being quite gutted at how far behind I was in what was then the Main Range. I love the idea of matching up wrong Doctors and companions so I'm very excited about the prospect of an entire trilogy. I do wonder if they will be related as we didn't get a firm explanation as to why the Seventh Doctor replaced the Third at this point in time with Jo and UNIT, but I quite like that ambiguity! I thought the opening two parts in particular were excellent as we explored the mysterious setting of Delphin Isle and it was clear right from the off that things weren't as they seemed. The posh nature of Captain Cornelius and Commander Wingford added a lot and it just added credence to the involvement of the British Government. I thought the continued use of things being a matter of national security was great and that served as a really good perception filter from the truth behind what was happening. I liked Jo's reaction to UNIT essentially being pushed to the background and the new crew in charge seemed to know a lot more than they should. Their recognising of the Doctor also gave them away as this was not the incarnation that should be present. With this featuring the Seventh Doctor, I thought it was quite fun to essentially still treat this as a Third Doctor tale. I mean, they even used that era's theme! That was a cool little nod and it caught my attention immediately. I thought the brief use of the Brigadier as a trick was good and the muffled signal just about did enough to conceal and convince at the same time. It could be viable that he was present, but the Doctor knew better. His gag to himself in claiming to have an in-joke with the Brigadier was a neat way to confirm he wasn't actually present at all. I thought the Europans revealing themselves actually harmed the story slightly as I did get the feeling this could become something of a classic, but they just became a bit annoying. In principle, I like the concept behind them and their position not being one for invasion or killing certainly took Jo by surprise. But it was just slightly difficult to take them seriously with their silliness regarding being grossed out by humanity. It wasn't even anger or frustration with them being tested on by humanity when they were first discovered which would have worked better as a motive. I'd be more on board with that. However, I can appreciate that they also just wanted to leave and go home. That felt real too. I liked the Doctor's stance on being in the wrong place and body with a possible suggestion that in the seventh incarnation he might act differently and as needed compared with his third self. That playing a part in Jo costing the Europans and the island their existence was quite shocking actually as she didn't want the TARDIS depleted of its energy source because of what that would mean for the Doctor's own future. The scale of death and destruction at the end was unexpected but I really liked the impact it had. The Europans were going to destroy the island in taking off anyway but Jo inadvertently helped them to destruction, or so it seemed. I thought their quick return only to be wiped out by UNIT at the end wasn't exactly necessary, but the appearance of the Third Doctor returning and her forgetting ever encountering the Seventh is fascinating. Even Shedgerton forgot him too! He was a strong character and his being the focal point for the explanation on what was happening with the Defectors and the blue liquid was terrific. Having them sleeping face down in water was quite an image! Overall, a really strong start to a fascinating trilogy. I still think there was room for improvement but a very good listen nonetheless!
Rating: 8/10