Deeptime Frontier

"I'm in the mood for a good story."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: April 2019

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures: Ravenous 3.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

Stranded on a desolate world by a dead TARDIS, the Doctor and his friends are trapped, surrounded by creatures from Time Lord nightmares - the Ravenous...

Elsewhere, on the edge of the vortex, a Gallifreyan research station takes on board an extremely dangerous artefact. Are the Time Lords sowing the seeds of their own destruction?

And if one Ravenous creature rattles the Doctor’s nerves, what will happen when the whole clan is hunting him?

Verdict

Deeptime Frontier was an outstanding start to the third Ravenous series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! After a fantastic finale to the second box set in the form of Seizure, this was a fantastic way to kick off the next box set! It didn’t surprise me to learn after listening that this was actually set to be the second box set’s finale but had to be delayed due to a bereavement of writer Matt Fitton. It was just brilliant and after a relatively slow build up towards the Ravenous, this one went into so much detail on their origin and background! I absolutely loved it. It was a phenomenal description of what the Ravenous are and their historic link with the Time Lords. I loved the idea of all Time Lords subconsciously being scared of them because of early Gallifreyan interactions with them and the prospect of the high and mighty race being scared of anything is just fascinating. I loved the idea of them looking slightly like clowns too with that white providing a quite horrifying image. The idea of clowns in numerous societies developing from the lore of the Ravenous is really good and just works. I thought the resolution to the cliffhanger at the end of the last box set was quick with the Doctor, Liv and Helen stuck on a planet with no TARDIS that was due for vaporisation and surrounded by Ravenous. Rasmus was on hand to transport the trio and the Time Lords getting involved in Ravenous business again is exciting. I thought incorporating Liv’s medical expertise was really good in dissecting a Ravenous corpse but she could find no apparent sign of death. That was intriguing but then it turned out it wasn’t dead at all! The concept of the Ravenous all being one clan works well, but I love the history and potential of that not always having been the case. The Doctor suggesting that one clan was allowed to survive by the Time Lords out of guilt was excellent and no wonder they were ravenous for the species. Why consume a puny human when you could have a Time Lord to feast upon? The story behind Brallix was really intriguing and I loved the idea of them being moved mid-regeneration. The fate of having a Ravenous within was quite spectacular and from there she was consumed. Talk about living up to their name! Visteron was another really strong character and her foreshadowing of events for the Time Lords and ambiguously alluding to the Time War was good stuff. The discussion on dark chronons and the search for an alternative fuel source was a strong incentive for the Gallifreyan presence. Why wouldn’t they take the opportunity to find a potential replacement for the Eye of Harmony? The Ravenous laying a trap and actually being hidden within the darkness that the Time Lords were mining was brilliant and I thought the cliffhanger finish was really strong. The Doctor had gotten to engrossed in what was happening and was convinced the Ravenous would follow him so he just left his companions behind! That was quite surprising, but even more so when the truth about Daria came out in her feeling responsible. I liked the idea of it being a Time Lord problem to solve but the Ravenous seemed to be one step ahead which angered the Doctor. Things are a bit of a mess for him at the minute now separated from companions and the Eleven having his TARDIS. It could definitely be going better! But what a way to set up another series. I’m very excited to listen moving forward! Overall, a sublime series opener. Just excellent. 

Rating: 10/10

The Celestial Toymaker

"If you don't abide by the rules you can't possibly win the game."

Writer: Brian Hayles

Format: TV (Animation)

Released: June 2024

Season: 3.07

Featuring: First Doctor, Steven, Dodo

Synopsis

The Doctor and his companions are separated when they come up against the Toymaker.

While the Doctor play the Trilogic Game, Steven and Dodo are forced to play their own seemingly childish, but ultimately dangerous games, with the aim of being reunited and getting back to the TARDIS. Who will be the first to make a false move in this battle of wits, and will the TARDIS ever escape the Toymaker's snare?

Verdict

The Celestial Toymaker was a wonderful animation of the mostly missing third season serial! It's a shame this release didn't coincide with the broadcast of The Giggle in 2023 in time for Christmas because it really is spectacular. This is the third different version of the story that I have blogged across an eleven year span and this is by a country mile the best version. It isn't even close. The story itself just comes across so much better with the kind of special effects that this animation went for. Make no mistake about it, this is nowhere near an authentic recreation of what would have aired in 1966 and whereas in the past I think I might have disliked that approach because I would favour staying as true as possible to the original, but I've come around to a different way of thinking now. I see this as almost an entirely new interpretation and version of a Classic. Much like the recent colourisations, this is an alternative to the true article and it absolutely works. I'm quite baffled as to why anybody would choose disc one of the DVD for their viewing and watch animated black and white when the colour version is just so vibrant. It injected so much energy right from the off and gave so much credence to the world and realm of the Toymaker, His abilities were heightened and the depth and scale of his games and power really added to the character. Against the Fourteenth Doctor the Toymaker felt like a much bigger threat, but in the original version I didn't quite get that feeling. However, that all changed with the way the Toymaker was presented here. The booming presence of Michael Gough in animation was superb with his literally towering presence and giant form. It was really good to keep things moving and I thought the directing was also brilliant in bringing the games to life. The new take on blind man's buff in particular was just stunning and I loved how topsy turvy everything was. This just wouldn't have been possible on screen in 1966. The colours as well were just magnificent and really brought everything to life in a special way. Even the way the Doctor is written out of most of the story owing to William Hartnell's absence at the time of filming is presented in a much better way here. The invisibility is really good and I like the use of just one hand when playing. the Trilogic Game. The move-o-meter that dominated much of the story was really impressive and I like how that added to the significance of the Doctor completing it before Steven and Dodo finished their own games. The animation for Steven was probably my only slight negative about the release, but the work on Dodo in particular was outstanding. I was so impressed with that. Her character though is too gullible and I loved how serious and on the ball Steven was throughout the serial. He understood the task at hand and that everything was a product of the Toymaker. The electrocution of Cyril in the final game was gruesome though and I was quite stunned by what I witnessed, even if it was animation! They didn't hold anything back there and I loved it, even with the state of his corpse in being burned. I knew what we were going to get at the end with the Doctor talking in the voice of the Toymaker and them actually inputting Michael Gough's voice, but seeing that final piece of the Trilogic Game move and the Toymaker's domain obliterate into nothingness was tremendous. I still can't believe nobody has written the Doctor's first encounter with the Toymaker, but the foreshadowing in this one with the threat of another meeting is extraordinary given how long it took for an on-screen rematch. Overall though, such a strong story that just felt completely reinvigorating with this reimagining. I was so impressed. I loved every second. By far the best version of this adventure! 

Rating: 10/10

Real Time

"The Controller wants the Doctor to succeed him."

Writer: Gary Russell

Format: Webcast

Released: August-September 2002

Series: Webcasts 02

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Evelyn

Synopsis

On a planet known only as Chronos, two scientific survey teams have vanished. Inexplicably. Without warning. But with just one clue supplied – a single screamed word: "Cybermen!"

The University of they worked for has called in the Earth security forces who despatch a third team, a mix of military and scientific might, under the auspices of a University Administrator. If the kind of volatile grouping isn't bad enough, three strangers have been added to the mix – a young human expert in Cybermen and a mysterious traveller in space ad time, the Doctor, along with his companion, Dr Evelyn Smythe.

But can they solve the riddle of the vanished survey teams before the Cybermen harness Chronos' unique temporal gifts and rewrite the history of the galaxy?

Verdict

Real Time was a solid story and an intriguing watch! I say watch as the only option for me in covering this adventure was by webcast. Considering it was released some twenty-three years ago now, it's not a massive surprise that it is currently inaccessible on the now archived BBC website where it was hosted. Thankfully, all six episodes are remastered on YouTube to my delight and in case they got taken down I made it a priority to watch almost right away. This has long been on my list of stories to cover but I've always wanted to ensure it was the webcast version as I deem that the 'true' version. When I was listening I was fascinated that this was claimed to be listened to as an audio or watched as a webcast regardless. I'm not so convinced. I don't think I would have enjoyed or even had a full understanding of what was happening without the visual aids. I must say, I love the idea of providing animation for Big Finish adventures and it's a shame that there are yet to be any further webcasts after Shada (another on my list to cover soon and I've found source!). I thought the colour and the animation style was excellent and whilst this is clearly nothing similar to the animation reconstruction of my recent The Celestial Toymaker watch, you have to take it for what it is. There's no mouth movements which is fine and whilst some of the directorial choices were a little odd – why so much focus on the cat brooch of the Doctor's? – it was really great to watch. I'm not sure why but this feels like something of a hidden classic so it felt like event viewing in my kitchen as I was rocking and keeping my ten-week-old daughter asleep! I thought the design of the Cybermen was excellent and just perfect for an animation of this kind. This is where things could get really creative so the idea of them only being half converted just added to their nightmarish nature. I thought the graphics when the history of the Cybermen was being described was magnificent with the different designs ranging from The Tenth Planet to Earthshock and beyond all evident in the background. It really added a lot. The story making references to Sword of Orion and the wars that came there was magnificent continuity with Big Finish adventures in the Cyberverse. The Cyber Controller looked absolutely superb. It was a wonderful redesign and the animation just enhanced the quality. He took up the whole screen on something that was akin to a throne and why wouldn’t that be fitting for the head honcho of the Cybermen? The prospect of him being so far in the future that time didn’t measurements didn’t quite matter was fascinating and I liked the use of the time portal found at the Chronosphere. Getting the visual for that was really good. Speaking of visuals, this story has become something of a famous one for the attire of the Sixth Doctor. I think it really suits him and whilst I understand the decision was made due to logistics as the traditional multi-coloured coat would be difficult and time consuming to illustrate, I think it’s a good representation of the softer Sixie that has been present in the Big Finish version of the incarnation. It’s really striking and I can finally say I’ve seen the story for which I have the action figure from! There are actually two versions which is just baffling (and an Eaglemoss figurine!) but I’ve got the original release and it certainly stands out. I thought Savage turning into a Cyberman after going through the portal really set the tone for the story and Goddard was an intriguing character. There was always going to be something more to him, but I’m not sure him being a Cyberman on the inside entirely worked. It almost felt like a little too much was being done with the Cybermen in this adventure. I also felt like we were missing a part as the way we just dive into the story felt a little rushed. There was no TARDIS interior or arrival scenes and the Doctor and Evelyn were already apart! I appreciate delving right into the action but there’s a pace required. I thought the plan of the Controller was admirable but attentions soon turned to Goddard when he has the virus that the Cybermen used in his timeline to subject the human race to death, eradication or conversion in 1927. He was just four days old but he’d now brought about a grandfather paradox which is fascinating! The cliffhanger finish is tremendous and it’s such a shame that it won’t be resolved. The idea of Evelyn going on to become a Cyberman is incredible and her being injected with the virus as the Controller had actually reversed it was superb. Goddard did try to warn the Doctor before obliteration but it was too late. And off they set to 1927 to set the whole thing into motion. But up until now it’s gone completely unresolved which is a shame, other than a little hint in Spiral Scratch which is better than nothing I suppose! I do think there was probably a bit too much going on by the end and things got confusing timeline wise, but I love the concept. The animation works well for me and I love the design and use of the Cybermen for the most part. Overall, a fascinating watch! It just needed a bit more pacing out and some extra elaboration. But an absolute joy to have ticked it off!

Rating: 7/10

The Defectors

"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

Time After Time

"When the Doctor's body wore thin, I helped him to renew himself."

Writer: Stephen Cole

Format: Short Story

Released: July 2024

Series: I, TARDIS: Memoirs of an Impossible Blue Box 02

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Victoria, Zoe

Synopsis

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

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

Verdict

Time After Time was a somewhat average continuation of the I, TARDIS: Memoirs of an Impossible Blue Box collection. I remember being worried in my blogging of The Answer's at the End as the book's opening story that I was worried for the direction of the stories moving forward and I think they were justified after reading this adventure. I say adventure, I'm not entirely sure if these would actually constitute bloggable entries but now I've started I feel like it is too late to go back. I just don't feel like I am really getting anything new with things being from the perspective of the TARDIS and it's basically just a recap of in this case the adventures of the Second Doctor. I don't really find the nicknames of the companions all that amusing and I think referring to Jamie as 'Kilt Boy' and Victoria as the 'Screamer' are awfully harsh and don't really do justice for the contributions they made whilst travelling in the TARDIS. I do like that the TARDIS recognised that Jamie stayed travelling with the Doctor for a long time and if it wasn't for the Time Lords during the events of The War Games then he might have stayed forever. Touching upon the Second Doctor's finale was strong and it was fun to hear the TARDIS recall trying to evade capture from the Time Lords even if it was useless. They were always going to find the Doctor once he had called them in. I must say, given that this was focusing on the Second Doctor in the TARDIS it didn't much feel like he was the focus of the recollection. Perhaps I have misinterpreted the meaning of the book, but all of the photos were from this era! I think the design of the book is gorgeous and that continued here as I do think the images add something to the recollection, but perhaps more of them could actually be inside the TARDIS? I think this segment missed a trick in not delving deeper into the TARDIS's experience of the events of The Mind Robber in the Land of Fiction. That was a big missed opportunity. I did though enjoy the discussion on the HADS in some fun The Krotons memories. That was a good use of a TARDIS component. My favourite aspect of the story was the insinuation that the continued arrivals on Earth and predominantly being in the 20th century was out of habit from trying to get Ian and Barbara home. That was lovely and I really like that as an explanation of why it would keep happening with future incarnations. There's something really poignant about that and trying to give some sort of in-universe rationale for the frequency of visits is all good in my book! I wasn't a fan of the journey log section in this story because it really did seem to be a mad dash across the Second Doctor's era. There was barely a line on classics such as The Power of the Daleks and The Abominable Snowmen. I also thought the mocking of the claw cliffhanger leading into The Macra Terror was just a bit silly and for an incredible space and time machine like the TARDIS, she didn't half feel juvenile! I know we saw her be a bit whacky in The Doctor's Wife but there's a difference between that and just sounding immature. Just look at the Eleventh Doctor. This perspective of the TARDIS felt slightly off, but the rating comes from the bulk of the Ian and Barbara explanation and the accompanying imagery looking wonderful. 

Rating: 6/10

No Signs of Life

"It had become death."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Comic Strip

Released: March 2025

Printed in: DWM 615

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor

Synopsis

The Fifteenth Doctor answers an SOS, only to find a hospital city seemingly abandoned with nobody left alive. That is until his life signs are detected and animated suits want to extract life in the name of Gothar...

Verdict

No Signs of Life was a great comic strip to continue the brief solo adventures of the Fifteenth Doctor! After a bit of a shaky disappointment in the form of Dance Till You Drop in the previous issue, this saw a welcomed return to form. I assume this will be the final singular issue comic strip with the Fifteenth Doctor travelling solo as b the time the next issue of Doctor Who Magazine is released The Robot Revolution will have been broadcast and we will have met new companion Belinda! I'm very excited for her to join the TARDIS in a reluctant manner and having her in the comic strip will be a delight. I hope they nail her likeness as much as they did for the Fifteenth Doctor here. The artwork was very impressive although I do think the characterisation was slightly off for the latest incarnation which was a little surprising as that has been a massively positive element of this Doctor's  comic strip run. I was also pleasantly stunned to see the word gravity appear in the strip! I think the whole mavity replacement has become a bit too much of a gag ever since Wild Blue Yonder and I've found it a tad tiresome with it appearing in all kinds of media! I'm sure this was just a glaring omission, but it was just great to read that word again! I thought the story itself was really strong and intriguing. There was a mysterious atmosphere right from the start which was impressive and that comes from the Doctor arriving to nothing. There's always something fascinating about that because despite appearances, he usually isn't actually alone. That was the case here as he was approached by the suits with nothing in them, but they wanted his life! Detecting signs of it for them set them into motion which was good fun and the Doctor's reaction to the goo in particular was rather fun. The concept behind it with the nanobots was good and there was a lot packed into the six pages! It didn't feel rushed either and I liked how this had a similar feel to Run with the Doctor alone. What I wasn't expecting in this comic strip run was for a prequel to one of the earliest stories within the magazine's run! But that's exactly what we got here with the ending telling us that the story would continue in the issues correlating to The Time Witch. I must admit, I don't have much of a memory of that particular tale but after reading my blog entry from nine years ago when I read the comic strip, I was delighted. It was a fascinating tale and this is a fun way to set things in motion there. The concept of a cure for death is excellent and getting a glimpse of how things came to be where life was also extracted as a taste for more death was really well done. It's absolutely horrifying and even the TARDIS was vulnerable as they could sense it was alive! That was a nice little element that added a good sense of threat to the Doctor, if extracting his life wasn't enough! I thought the resolution was pretty simple in the form of emitting a brainwave and whilst things weren't finalised, that's always the nature of a prequel! The Doctor recognising things as the Deathsmiths of Goth and what would become the Ultimate Weapon was a nice touch. Overall, a really strong little comic strip! I've enjoyed having singular issue stories for the last couple of months, but I'm now excited for Belinda to join the fun. Onwards!                                                                                    

Rating: 8/10

Dance Till You Drop

"Let's just pretend all this makes sense."

Writers: Jason Quinn, John Freeman & Mike Collins

Format: Comic Strip

Released: February 2025

Printed in: DWM 414

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor

Synopsis

The Doctor joins forces with the Hypnotising Cat to defeat Beanie in a dance off with the world at stake.

Verdict

Dance Till You Drop was not the best of comic strips to continue the adventures of the Fifteenth Doctor in the pages of Doctor Who Magazine. I feel harsh with my rating as it wasn't until after the fact that I realised the ideas of the Hypnotising Cat and Beatie were from children who had won a competition, but I'm sticking with it because I felt like the story was just a bit of a mess. I am quite excited by the prospect of a few one-part adventures for the comic strip in the run up to the new series airing on television but there's not a lot of room to really dive in which I think was a big problem here. I was so impressed with Run in the last issue as that did so much with just six pages, whereas this one was just a jumbled mess. Considering there were three writers for this adventure it didn't look like an awful lot of thought had gone into the plot! Right from the off things feel a little ridiculous with a Hypnotising Cat taking the reigns as the central character for the story and whilst I'm jumping ahead a little bit, the ambiguity moment at the end shared between the feline and the Doctor was just awkward. Was the Doctor really required to be on hand to save the day? It didn't really seem like it. I thought the concept behind Beatie in coming from the Dimension of Dance was pretty average and whilst the artwork and colour for its appearance was impressive, I wasn't fussed on the design at all. I mean sure it certainly jumped off the page and was eye catching but it just looked like a bad mashup of a Minion and Sponge Bob Square Pants. There's a character from my childhood I didn't think I'd be writing about in a 2025 blog entry but here we are! I thought the actual plot was just ludicrous and so rushed with the proposition that all of the world leaders had been danced into the tomb. All of them? Really? Even those from the likes of Iran, North Korea and Russia? And what tomb? It must be some assembly of personalities there with the likes of Putin, Trump and Starmer coming up against the other leaders of the world. Now that's something that would be fun to read! But alas, it didn't have too much credibility in my eyes. I just can't imagine those kind of figures being lured and defeated by dance, no matter what kind of dimension this Beatie was from. The name is a nice touch though and certainly something I can appreciate. I think it's fair to say that this is a comic strip made for the Fifteenth Doctor. I could maybe see the Eleventh or Thirteenth Doctors taking on the task of a dance off to the death, but this latest incarnation is certainly the one I would be most confident with. I enjoyed the imagery that came from his dancing and whilst I think some of the characterisation is a tad forced in the comic strip with the use of 'babes', this Doctor letting his hair down and enjoying himself with a dance is nice to see. It also plays nicely into his first full adventure on screen in The Church on Ruby Road where he was also travelling solo. I think the involvement of the Hypnotising Cat at the end kind of hurts things further than the already ridiculous nature of the comic strip, because it just takes away from the Doctor. The attempt to disorientate the reader at the end by suggesting that the story's events might not actually be real or have even taken place is just a bit naff to be honest. I don't think it really adds to the mystery of the story and just highlights how ludicrous things were. The quote I chose was not by accident! It really was a bit of a jumbled mess. Shame to say, but this goes down as my least favourite Fifteenth Doctor story of any format. 

Rating: 4/10

Inner Demons: The Good Life

"Be careful what you wish for."

Writer: Una McCormack

Format: Audio

Released: February 2025

Series: Call Me Master 1.03

Featuring: The Master

Synopsis

On a distant island, a group of holy men and women work together to keep the Balance. Elta, one of the Shore-folk, has come to learn. But there's a new man on the Island – the first in living memory – and it's not clear whether he's saint or sinner.

Is it only coincidence that the weather seems more changeable these days? That people are angrier and turning to violence? Where, wonders Elta, is this all heading – and does the stranger even know himself?

Verdict

The Good Life was another excellent episode to conclude the Inner Demons first series of Call Me Master! I think this has been a stellar trio of adventures for one of my very favourite incarnations of my favourite villain. Sacha Dhawan absolutely shone and after an opening where this Master found himself with some Self-Help and then parading around The Clockwork Swan in a blatantly bad disguise, this saw him in a more sinister tale. It was really different and whilst he was basically masquerading around, the method and end game felt much more evil. That was honestly quite delightful and it was magnificent to see that side of this Master. It definitely happened on screen but probably not for an entire story opposite the Thirteenth Doctor, so for him to really dig deep into the methodical nature of the Master was superb. I thought Elta was a very strong character and her desire to learn was really good. I appreciated that about her and where better than for the teachers on the island to educate her? Except the newcomer claiming to be able to offer teachings preferred to be called master. That was really good and their dynamic was brilliant. Subtly over the course of the episode the true persona of the Master was seeking out as he got frustrated with the Balance. This reminded me a little of the Source that he tried to obtain in The Keeper of Traken to replenish his decayed body. The concept of Balance itself was really good and the significance of the stones gave this almost a historical feel. It felt like a world that hadn't developed much but with such reliance on maintaining balance, it wasn't a huge surprise. Ghetta was a strong character as the Weather-Worker and his knowledge and teachings of the Balance came into play in a big way. I really liked the societal makeup of the island and its vicinity with Elta being one from the shore. I thought it was amusing to call her a Shore-folk and it was a fascinating little place the Master found himself in. Elta's disbelief at what the Master was doing when it came to the Balance and those he killed was extraordinary. It was almost unfathomable and the selfish nature of the Master meant that if he couldn't have it, nobody could. He almost found the whole incantation and humming that was so significant to the stones to be ridiculous, but the way things came full circle with his flute playing was terrific. His anger towards Elta when she had decided to go back to the Shore was also incredible as when she had just come to learn, the Master had only had her gardening! That wasn't much of an education and he was keen to keep her around. She almost had a balancing effect on him which was fascinating. The Master's interference on the Balance itself made for a strong conclusion and the anticipation over what would happen was excellent. I really liked that the old father was on hand to try and keep some semblance of balance so that Elta could restart once all was lost, but the Master's threat of arriving again in a few hundred years when nobody would have any living memory of these events and do them all again was sublime. It was horrible, but that was part of this Master's more sinister side. It was an incredible hour or so that was so well paced and enthralling, inviting the listener in as events developed. A fitting finale!

Rating: 9/10

Inner Demons: The Clockwork Swan

"Do you really think I'd be going around trying to solve a murder I'd already committed?"

Writer: Georgia Cook

Format: Audio

Released: February 2025

Series: Call Me Master 1.02

Featuring: The Master

Synopsis

Opening night is approaching for the latest presentation at cultural theme park Historica Dramatica: Earth-set whodunnit The Clockwork Swan. But cast and crew are being murdered...

Enter a mysterious stranger. Who better to solve the crime than galaxy-renowned detective LeMaitre? Only, LeMaitre isn't all he seems...

Verdict

The Clockwork Swan was another excellent episode to continue my way through the Inner Demons first series of Call Me Master! After a very strong reintroduction to the character and his post-regeneration story in the opener of Self-Help, this was a terrific usage of the character at his very best. Sacha Dhawan just continues to prove why he is one of my very favourite incarnations of the Master and the adjective of him being the chaotic one is certainly apt. In a rare instance I had actually read the synopsis of this episode prior to listening and seeing LeMaitre as the offered guide of the Master was just glorious. I did get an A in GCSE French and contemplated studying it at A-Level, but that was twelve years ago now! Regardless, it didn’t take much translating to work out that it was French for the Master. And I loved it. Dhawan excelled in the crazy gimmick incarnation and taking on the French accent was just wonderful. It wasn’t brilliantly perfect but that was part of the charm. And when are the Master’s disguises ever fully hidden? It was terrific. His arrival at the Historica Dramatica was marvellous as he came with his card in tow showing that he was a galaxy renowned detective. But when a detective arrives before a murder happens, that’s surely a little suspicious? Taran was quick to point out that the card meant little but the brilliance of the Master saw him quickly assert control over the situation. He was enjoying the murder mystery and the relationship he developed with the guest usher Nyseth was fantastic. I was surprised at the end how he was happy to have a draw but I kind of get it. Sure this series is all about the Master but he can’t just kill everyone! He needs a challenge without the Doctor around and whilst Nyseth wasn’t exactly an antagonist, it’s nice to have her get some sort of victory over the Master. I sense there may be a further meeting between them where the Master enacts revenge, but if not I’m absolutely fine with where things were left. Having the Master get the cast and crew of the performance to just around as different accusations got thrown out was fantastic and I was fascinated by the futuristic element of the holographic nature of the setting. It added an extra dimension to the whole whodunnit mystery that worked well. It explained how a corpse could appear and disappear without trace and just added some depth to what could have happened which was positive. The Clockwork Swan as the episode title makes sense but I was surprised by how little that was actually referenced throughout the story. It was what they were performing yet it barely got spoke more than once! The Master commenting on what it was as a bird or a double meaning was good but he really didn’t seem to care. He wasn’t wholly doing this fun but that was the most part of his objective. Of course, he had an objective with the harvester which was good but to be honest I was much more interested when it seemed he was just out to have a good time! That’s where this Master excels and after something of an identity crisis in the series opener, it was tremendous to hear the Master refer to himself as such. There’s something powerful about the way a Master introduces themselves and Dhawan has perfected it. His mastery over the character shone in this episode. He murdered and when accused showed his true colours and still tried to convince the others it wasn’t him. And he was pretty believable! His shooting in cold blood kind of gave the game up but by that point he didn’t care. I thought it was pretty amusing for him to ask for feedback though on the believability of his LeMaitre disguise! That was a marvellous moment and I think he actually might have been genuine. Might he try and reuse the disguise? I like the idea of him trying them out in different scenarios. Where next for the detective? He’s light years away now and made it clear that if he wanted to he could still Nyseth, but he appreciated the challenge she posed. Her annoyance and disbelief at him getting out of the hologram was excellent too to round things out. 

Rating: 9/10

Inner Demons: Self-Help

"Without our plans and schemes, who are you?"

Writer: Robert Valentine

Format: Audio

Released: February 2025

Series: Call Me Master 1.01

Featuring: The Master

Synopsis

The Master is having a crisis of the existential variety.

While he may have a classic diabolical scheme on the go, the dastardly Time Lord's latest incarnation isn't quite feeling himself. In fact, he's not even sure who he is anymore. He needs help. But can he help himself?

Verdict

Self-Help was an excellent start to the Inner Demons opening series of Call Me Master! This is a series I have been anticipating for quite some time now when it was announced alongside the Fugitive Doctor Adventures at the back end of the Jodie Whittaker era, and it wa aaw/c s worth the wait. I absolutely adore the character of the Master and Sacha Dhawan’s chaotic incarnation is one of the very best. He is the defining villain of the Thirteenth Doctor era so it absolutely makes sense for him to have his own series! I thought going in chronological order, at least for the opening episode, was a fun prospect and this basically serves as the post-regeneration story for this incarnation of the Master! That was a terrific concept and dealing with the events of The Doctor Falls with the Saxon Master shooting Missy apparently dead would certainly be traumatic! It would appear that it wasn't quite fatal as it was made out on screen, but if one thing is certain about the Master it's that no matter the incarnation they endure. They are forever. The way this Master didn't refer to himself as such for the story was fascinating after seemingly going by a different name as a female incarnation, he needs to remember just who he is. That's a fantastic basis for the story and it worked very well. I liked that there was still the traditional scheming of the Master and his plan to disguise himself as the Great Zenith was magnificent. It was ludicrous for him to want to stay up the top of a mountain and wait for pilgrims, but that's why I adored it. It was so very Master. I thought the title of the episode coming into play with the circle was intriguing and it was quite ironic that Kristopher was able to help remind the Master just who he was. His reaction to hearing the word 'master' in its pure sense of mastery was just delightful. I was a little put off at the start about the narrative style of the episode with the Master voicing events over, but the way it turned out by the end was superb. It was great to hear the inner thoughts of the Master as he contemplated with just who he was. His reaction to making a mistake in his calculations was extraordinary and that sent him off into what was basically a meltdown. He'd put it down to post-regeneration trauma but still couldn't accept that it had happened. That was really strong stuff and credit must go to Dhawan for his performance. Although this is chronologically the first appearance for this incarnation prior to Spyfall, he stepped back into the role effortlessly. His energy is sublime and that makes for a hugely exciting version of the Master. We're used to more cunning and measured approaches for the most part, so for this incarnation to realise he was the chaotic one was magnificent. It's a fitting description. The way he was convinced that Silla had murdered her husband was glorious and when she admitted it their combined reaction was an incredible moment. His comments to Lezlee about her just dying anyway was a fun moment of double meaning because he had plans for it to be much sooner. His advice on knowing when to kill those accompanying you was quite something and despite the almost calamitous nature of this Master, he still always felt in control. I really liked how this episode as an opener was almost like an introduction to this incarnation once again as he remembered who he was. Call him Master we shall. Overall, an excellent opener! 

Rating: 9/10

Retribution

"It was your finger on the trigger."

Writer: Guy Adams

Format: Audio

Released: February 2018

Series: Vienna 4.01

Featuring: Vienna

Synopsis

"Does the prisoner have any last words?"

Vienna Salvatori used to be a dangerous woman.

Vienna Salvatori used to be an assassin.

Vienna Salvatori has changed her ways.

Hasn't she?

After setting up a detective agency with her partner Jexie Reagan, Vienna has left her dark past behind her. Together, they bring villains to justice and right wrongs. Together, they are a team. But all that changes when a woman is killed in cold blood and Vienna is charged with the murder,

Vienna is sent to a hellhole of a prison with no hope of parole or release. But not all is what it seems on board the Splinter. With no means to escape, and no idea who she can trust, can Vienna survive life on the inside?

Verdict

Retribution was a great story to comprise the fourth series of the Vienna spinoff series! This series has been something I have really enjoyed and I was fascinated by the idea to make this fourth instalment one giant adventure. I must admit I do think things would have been beneficial as three separate episodes, but it was an enthralling three hours or so. The setting of futuristic space just works and Chase Masterson absolutely owns her role as Vienna. The actress is a huge part of the appeal for this character and it's no surprise that she has four of her own series by now. We've seen her gain something of a companion in the form of Jexie Reagan since the second series so to basically start things with Vienna having murdered her was quite something! That was a strong basis for the story and honestly up until early in part three I firmly did believe that she had been killed off. I was also hoping that would be the case because the impact of her death in how Vienna believed it had occurred would have been monumental. I thought part one in particular was superb with Prosecutor Grover essentially grilling Vienna over the death of her partner. The Justice Department were on hand just seconds prior to Jexie being killed and couldn't prevent it and with that kind of evidence,  Grover was almost boasting over Vienna about how much of an open and shut case it was. She wasn't going to get the greatest defence in the world but it didn't matter. To him, she was already guilty. I was impressed with how she defended herself because she wasn't one for begging or getting hysterical. She was a private detective and former assassin. This was a woman with patience and she wanted to work out what had happened for herself. I thought that was terrific. Part two felt a little weaker and brought the story down slightly in my estimation which was a bit of a shame. I thought the concept behind the Splinter was decent but it wasn't as exciting or interesting for me as hearing Vienna try and piece things together and tell the story of the events leading up to the crash and Needle Inc. I thought Ness was a fascinating character and her position in standing to benefit by a number of corporate coincidences was terrific. She wasn't the best at hiding that she at least knew something, but the twist in part three with Rex Needle himself being the orchestrator was fantastic. It worked so well because he had the perfect alibi of being on the Splinter already! He was working there from below and in hiding, whilst using others for his own benefit. Ness was just an obstacle for Vienna to overcome but the twist of Jexie being alive and on the inside already was unexpected. I do wish she had stayed dead but the emotion that came from Vienna when she found out her partner was alive and essentially faked her own dead whilst drugging Vienna to feel guilty about it was incredible. Talk about tension! I could understand Vienna's frustration but Jexie was also in need of escape to save her life. The use of the time safe was good and hearing Vienna add Jexie to the DNA recognition was a stellar example of her trust in her partner. She's come a long way, but things do feel a little strained now. I liked how the Prosecutor was granted the evidence that incriminated Rex and the lengths he went to get his own way no matter how small of a gain it was made for a fitting finale for him to end up on the less luxurious side of the Splinter. He'd played a part in Ratz's fate and now Mama Val was going to see that he would beg for his life. That was rather fitting. Overall, a little long but still a real strong adventure!

Rating: 8/10

The Answer's at the End

"When the Doctor's body wore thin, I helped him to renew himself."

Writer: Stephen Cole

Format: Short Story

Released: July 2024

Series: I, TARDIS: Memoirs of an Impossible Blue Box 01

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara, Vicki, Steven, Dodo, Polly, Ben

Synopsis

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

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

Verdict

The Answer's at the End was a decent start to the I, TARDIS: Memoirs of an Impossible Blue Box collection! This looks to be an intriguing little collection of short stories and I'm not sure what to make of it after reading the opener. I have my qualms about this release to be honest as I'm not convinced it was wanted or even required, but I'm willing to give it a chance. I absolutely love the TARDIS and I feel that if The Doctor's Wife hadn't occurred then this book would be much better in principle. However, I've already seen firsthand the perspective of the TARDIS so I'm not sure if we need a recount of life with the Doctor as your pilot. Whilst I very much did enjoy the journey through the era of the First Doctor, I didn't learn much particularly new which was a shame and almost feels like a missed opportunity. The format was pretty good and I must say kudos go to the design work of the actual physical book itself because it is stunning in hand! I have borrowed this from the local library but I would be tempted to own a copy based on the aesthetics alone! Considering this seemed to focus on the beginning, I think getting a little glimpse more into the origins of this particular TARDIS would have been beneficial but it was still fun to reconfirm what we saw in The Name of the Doctor and that the Doctor and Susan stole her with the TARDIS reaching out for a Time Lord to answer those pleas for help around the universe. That was really nice and I do like the concept of the TARDIS taking the Doctor where he is needed. The references to the likes of Quinnis and even getting rationale for the trip to the Fourth Universe was really strong stuff and great continuity with An Unearthly Child. I just think things lost track slightly when the story moved into bullet point mode of giving a little paragraph of the TARDIS's thoughts on each companion and each televised story. It was fun for the TARDIS to have a harrumph at Ian and Barbara leaving in a Dalek TARDIS as it was described, referencing The Chase rather neatly, but you couldn't blame them with the unreliability of the Doctor being able to get them home! Confirmation that the Empire State Building scene did take place in 1966 is quite ironic though. One thing that was hilarious was the TARDIS thinking of Vicki as 'New Susan' and Dodo as 'Sniffy Susan'. I think that's harsh but I couldn't help but smile, especially at the latter in a terrific reference to what happened in The Ark. The TARDIS trying to show how impressive it was at landing in the same ark centuries later was also wonderful because it would be in a completely different part of the universe! I'm not sure that's something I have ever considered. Steven being referred to as Panda Boy was more amusement and the TARDIS not being too impressed by Ian's claim at being a scientist with his disbelief at the interior dimensions was great. Addressing the name being given by Susan was done somewhat well by using the language translation barrier as an explanation of why other TARDISes followed the name, and the concept of adopting English within the console room is tongue and cheek humour. With things moving chronologically, I like the confirmation that the TARDIS did indeed help the Doctor during the concluding events of The Tenth Planet in helping him regenerate for the first time. I also appreciated referring to it as a renewal. The chronological nature of the story was good so it makes sense to finish where we did, but now my only fear is that things could get very repetitive very quickly. I do hope I'm wrong! Overall, a fascinating little tale of events explored over and over. We're just getting started.

Rating: 7/10

Seizure

"You mustn't talk to it."

Writer: Guy Adams

Format: Audio

Released: October 2018

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures: Ravenous 2.04

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

As if it wasn't enough to be trapped in the labyrinth of a dying TARDIS and pursued by a ghost, the team find themselves face to face once more with the Eleven. But the Doctor has bigger things to worry about when he discovers they're being hunted by the only creature to strike fear into the hearts of a Time Lord: The Ravenous,

Verdict

Seizure was an excellent audio adventure to conclude the second series of Ravenous within the Eighth Doctor Adventures! After three episodes of essentially nothing in terms of the wider Ravenous story arc, this one went and smashed all the doors down! It was easily the best of this boxset so far and I just loved everything about it from start to finish. The follow on from Sweet Salvation and picking up where the Eleven was left stranded running from the Ravenous was terrific and the desperation that was evident from this tortured Time Lord in appealing to the Doctor for help showed just how dire his situation was. Liv was surprisingly callous in wanting to loop his plea for help in the TARDIS so she could dance to it, but I understand why after everything he’s put her and Helen through. The Doctor though can’t resist a call for help and despite all that, he won’t just let the Eleven die. Helen knew where things were going and didn’t even try to argue which was amusing because it was obvious the Doctor was always going to answer the call. The setting of Jaxa’s misconfigured TARDIS was excellent and the Doctor feeling the effects of the temporal leakage was great stuff. It’s a good job this wasn’t his TARDIS as the effects on him just from being a Time Lord were more than enough without a personal connection this particular model. Eight episodes into the Ravenous series and we finally learn who and what they are. The concept of something the Time Lords have nightmares about on paper sounds good but it’s a lot to live up to. Thankfully, I thought this episode did a stellar job in establishing just what kind of threat the Ravenous are. They weren’t interested in puny humans with lifespans of a century or less like Liv, they fed on Time Lords. And what a potential feast the Eleven would be! The Ravenous dialogue was really strong too in selling their own name because their hunger completely consumed them. The description of that was really eery and exactly what I would hope for. I like how their voice is quite raspy but even in audio their demeanour feels sneaky. It’s an intriguing quality but they certainly sound like something you wouldn’t want to be around. The fact that they are a species as well is fascinating rather than just one creature and I suspect that will play a part moving forward in the next two boxsets. I thought the plan of the Eleven was strong and I loved that he actually managed to steal the TARDIS! He was genuinely petrified by the Ravenous and even though he was the one who’d murdered Jaxa, her ghostly memories just added to the mysterious feel of the story. It was tremendous. I can’t quite place my finger on why this doesn’t get a perfect rating for me, perhaps it’s the sense of being incomplete with the cliffhanger finish? It’s a strong way to lead into the next series with the Eleven having the TARDIS and the Doctor, Liv and Helen all stuck in the abandoned and malfunctioning TARDIS. I’m looking forward to exploring more about the Ravenous as whilst we now know what they do, I’d like to know why they haunt the dreams of Time Lords! Hopefully I get the answer. Overall though, a fantastic finale to the boxset! I can’t wait for the next one already. 

Rating: 9/10

Fairytale of Salzburg

"The fires must cleanse you."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: October 2018

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures: Ravenous 2.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

With the Doctor and most of the population condemned to hell, Liv and Helen race against time to discover the source of all this chaos, and to find the one man who can save the people of Salzburg from eternal damnation.

Verdict

Fairytale of Salzburg was a decent episode to conclude the story already started in Better Watch Out. This wasn't quite to the level of the first part for my liking but as my rating reflects this was still a really solid outing. It just felt a little different and I don't think the stakes felt as high which is crazy to say considering the threat that Salzburg faced. I'm not really sure how that occurred – maybe it was the incidental music? The first episode felt like things were building so for this one to start a little differently and ahead of events was slightly off-putting. I must admit that I don't think the approach to tell events in exactly the right order to Bruno was helpful. It didn't make much sense and wasn't that great of an artistic choice in my opinion. Regardless, this was still very enjoyable despite some obvious flaws and I must say I'm a massive fan of the Salzburg setting at Christmas. Injecting the Krampus into that was a fine basis for the story and Maria really came into her own during this episode. After being threatened with eviction by Shafranek last time out, we now jump ahead a month to the point where she cannot afford the increased rent and the landlord gets his wish of having her and her mother thrown to the street. I always felt like we would reach this point after what happened with the Doctor helping her, but when he wasn't around to help she didn't really stand a chance against Shafranek. The revelation that it was actually her responsible for the Krampus was quite unexpected and things really did reach mythical status when we learned just how it had happened. The landlord had driven her to feeling down and extreme which was completely understandable as who would want to be ejected at Christmas? So she simply wished for the Krampus to be real and that's exactly what the Bishop granted for her. Liv confronting him about the wishes was fascinating and she was keen to get things reversed with her own wish but unfortunately for her a wish could not undo another's wish. The foreshadowing of why she want to save her own wish was intriguing too and I liked the mysterious feel the episode had. There always seemed like there was mist which is a big compliment for the kind of atmosphere created. Helen has quite the adventure in this episode and I was taken aback by her ageing. The idea of her taking decades to learn how to fly the TARDIS is not something I'm a massive fan of to be honest, but the emotion that comes from her return makes for some powerful moments. She's on her last legs as she returns to Liv and remembers her old friend, whilst the Doctor sees something different in her but not that she has aged. Her efforts to be brilliant and defeat the Krampus were impressive and I think the method of going back to the myth's origin and bringing Nicholas was actually incredible. I really wouldn't have seen that coming but an actual St Nicholas providing the means to defy the Krampus at Christmas really is terrific! I also thought it was really nice at the end just when it felt like all was lost for Helen that Liv used her wish from the Bishop to wish that she was young again. She had saved the city and now she was rejuvenated. I was less impressed by the purpose of the Doctor's storytelling to Bruno and whilst it was good for him to now survive, why would the Doctor show him his city burning and admit that things were already safe early in the episode? That took away from the threat in my estimation. Overall though, still a strong episode and a good conclusion! Onto the finale.

Rating: 7/10

Better Watch Out

"Santa gives you presents, but the Krampus will steal you away."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: October 2018

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures: Ravenous 2.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

The Doctor hopes to take Liv's mind off recent events by treating his companions to a traditional European Christmas. But not everybody is full of the spirit of Christmas when a wave of misery follows the Krampus as they run through the streets of Salzburg.

Verdict

Better Watch Out was an excellent episode to continue my way through the second volume of Ravenous Eighth Doctor Adventures! Much like the series opener of Escape from Kaldor, this one felt like it wasn't really a part of the wider Ravenous story arc glimpsed at during the end of Sweet Salvation and that's absolutely fine! I thought it was intriguing to find that this is actually the first part of what is quite clearly a double-length story over two episodes and I hadn't read the synopsis – nor even the name! – of the next episode but I worked it out once we got over the halfway point. There simply wasn't enough time to resolve everything the was being explored! It was a fascinating setup though and I'm interested to learn more of the significance of the Doctor telling the story to Bruno. I like that he essentially tells us at the end to be patient and that we will find out, but for now I'm just intrigued as to what is happening. The Salzburg setting was magnificent and whilst I am yet to visit the city, it's high up on my bucket list. I was very jealous of Helen describing how they could see the Alps in the background! I've stepped foot in Austria for around two hours in the small border town of Kitsee when visiting Bratislava, Slovakia for the second time last year to watch Wales in the football. But it's a country ticked off! I'll definitely be going back though to visit the likes of Salzburg here but also Vienna as the capital. Liv not knowing about Christmas was a lot of fun as she got to learn through the Doctor and Helen of the festivities. She found it awfully confusing which was good fun but she soon came around, especially when it came to the food and overeating! Particularly being in Austria on December 5th was a strong setting because of the differences that part of the world have for the Christmas celebrations. Three weeks early and the threat of the Krampus is very real indeed! The Doctor being fascinated by the exploration of that mythical figure was terrific and the true threat actually imitating the myth rather than the true origin. That was brilliant and I can’t wait for more to come moving forward in the next episode. I thought the Doctor stepping in to help Maria with her rent issues was wonderful and he did out of the goodness of his heart. It was Christmas and he couldn’t have Shafranek trying to evict someone after raising the terms of rent unannounced and with no forewarning. He was a hugely unlikeable character and the similarities to A Christmas Carol with Kazran Sardick were not lost on me. That episode actually being foreshadowed with the Doctor suggesting he visit him with three different ghosts was fantastic. I really liked the feeling of the Imp children as they just felt really uncomfortable. That was the right thing to go for and the build towards the cliffhanger was superb. The coming of the Krampus serves as a solid cliffhanger but I’m most definitely on the side of Liv. It must be an alien, right? Exploring the history of the Krampus was really strong and I like that it is basically a horned demon. Expanding more on that will be much welcomed in the next episode. The Doctor taking it upon himself to visit Shafranek was interesting but his plan went downhill fast! He tried appealing to his inner Christmas spirit and conscience but soon found that he didn’t have one. Overall, a fantastic episode with a tremendously unique setting. And a fitting cliffhanger to boot! I’m very excited for part two. 

Rating: 9/10

Escape from Kaldor

"How does it feel to be home?"

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: October 2018

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures: Ravenous 2.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

Returning to a home world she'd rather forget, Liv reluctantly accompanies Helen to the grand opening of a luxury shopping mall. But when a glitch in the system sends the Robots of Death on a rampage, Liv's past comes crashing down about her.

Verdict

Escape from Kaldor was a strong start to the second series of Ravenous Eighth Doctor Adventures! There was no mention of an ongoing story arc in this one which I think is good to just reset things after the events of Sweet Salvation that saw Helen reunited with the Doctor and Liv. The idea of Liv getting to go home is rather interesting and it's fun for the Doctor to be blissfully unaware that this isn't perhaps the best idea and not exactly what she would like. From a listener perspective, I think it's a terrific idea as the world of Kaldor is full of potential and I'm a huge fan of the chance to go back there. And now of course the whole planet has been opened up as I've reached the point in continuity where the entire The Robots series fits in! I'm very excited to explore Liv's one year departure from the TARDIS on her home world in her own series of The Robots moving forward, with this adventure basically serving as a backdoor pilot. I think that's a clever move and the introduction of Liv's sister makes for a compelling familial tie. I thought Tula was a really strong character and every bit the sister of Liv. She was presented really well and credit must go to the casting and the writing because they nailed it. I believed every bit that she was Liv's sister and hearing their tough history was quite sad. Going a decade without speaking to your sibling almost sounds unfathomable to me! I frequent with my younger brother often (mostly about the football) so for the pair to be reunited here was nice, even if they weren't exactly anticipating it and it wasn't under the best circumstances. Helen's shock at Liv not having mentioned a sister was something relatable to the listener as she has been a companion for a long time now! But given the type of character she is and her privatisation of her personal life, it certainly is plausible. I thought touching on the death of their father was powerful stuff too and despite everyone dealing with grief in different ways, Tula not attending the funeral seems wrong. She was content with funding it and Liv challenging her on how she could throw money at everything was excellent. I'm very excited to explore the relationship over the course of a year now! In fact, I've immediately jumped on eBay and purchased the first two boxsets of The Robots because I'm so excited by the prospect of exploring Kaldor further. The way Helen as the newbie on the planet was explained to about the class system was very good and the significance of the 20 Families was also great to incorporate. Inevitably, where the Robots are concerned something is always going to go wrong and I think that's fun. The idea of them imitating actual people seems an intriguing development but I must say there is something small missing from them on audio. I think it's just because their appearance on screen is so striking that it doesn't quite feel as iconic with just sound but hopefully the spinoff can address that. I liked the issue being simple in having the Robots supposed to be reset to factory settings, but the Doctor playing around with logic to solve everything was very good. He wasn't the main event of this audio though and that was fine, although I did love how he used his having two hearts to his advantage when they were detecting life signs. His reputation in the redacted files was also fun to include. Overall, a fascinating series opener that serves as a pilot for an exciting series with a welcomed return to Kaldor. The reference to The Sons of Kaldor was also excellent! The Doctor couldn't give too much away there though. A fine listen.

Rating: 8/10

The Crystal Snare

"How does a trip in the TARDIS grab you?"

Writer: Richard Dungworth

Format: Novel

Released: October 2007

Series: DYD 05

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Martha

Synopsis

People from all over the world were amazed at the exhibits on display at the Great Exhibition – and they didn't even see the alien visitors! Help the Doctor and Martha put a stop to the aliens' plans, before they wreak havoc on humankind...

Verdict

The Crystal Snare was a great little Decide Your Destiny novel! This was definitely one of the best stories from a range I have something of a love-hate relationship with. I have grown to enjoy these a little more as I’ve read quite a few over the last couple of months, but I still find the format a little iffy when it comes to continuity. Are all possible routes and choices part of viable continuity? And is it really believable that across the series the Tenth Doctor would meet ten different children to take on adventures? I’m aware I’m overthinking things here and I know that but I just can’t help myself! I fully appreciate I’m not the target audience but I could overlook that as I thought this was a solid outing. I think it definitely helped that some of the numbered segments were a little longer at four pages at times which helped to flesh things out in terms of depth and give a bit more storytelling. I did think this story was incredibly dialogue heavy though so it didn’t flow all that well in parts, but for the most part I was a big fan. I thought going to the Great Exhibition was a fantastic setting and the idea of a bet between the Doctor and Martha was good fun. I liked that good natured camaraderie and it instantly established the strong chemistry this TARDIS pairing had. The bet centring on whether the Doctor could get a nineteenth century time travel device operational was amusing but I’m not sure how much of the original tech was working or responsible once the Doctor got involved with temporal means and the sonic screwdriver! I really liked the feel of the Exhibition in being a museum and that’s essentially what it was. I really loved that some of the choices we could decide were on what exhibits to explore and just going on an exhibit venture from the nineteenth century was magnificent. It was really timely and felt contemporary which is a big bonus. I thought the splitting up of the Doctor and Martha was good and actually leaves the reader with a tough choice of who to accompany. There’s only one choice when the companion screams though! Whilst it was stated quite clearly that the reader character was a child, I try to choose based on my own preferences and what I would do in the scenarios. Of course, it’s a little difficult to imagine being in the Great Exhibition and putting oneself into 1851, but for example I was pretty confident in always choosing to run rather than confront an enemy. Speaking of which, the Shryken served as a pretty good enemy for the story and their name was certainly monstrous. I’m never too much of a fan when the Doctor knows all about an enemy he hasn’t encountered in any form of released media before, but the idea behind them was strong. Their method of invasion was quite unique in terms of sampling the species and the imagery of fifty or so humans in what were essentially incubators was quite something! The ruthlessness they had after the studies in simply engineering a virus to wipe out the population and take the planet was horrifying. The way it was presented in the book was just so simple as well! It almost passed me by with how casual it was. The Doctor was understandably stressed by the situation but he knew what needed to be done once his opposition was confirmed. Simply wipe out their generators of the signal, and with them leaning towards glass as a species the reason for the setting and their presence in Victorian London soon became apparent. The Great Exhibition itself was the signal generator! It was a moment very reminiscent of Rose and the Ninth Doctor realising that the London Eye was the source of the signal required by the Nestene Consciousness. It was some really fun symmetry. Smashing the glass panels as a way to break the signal was a good way to round things out, and I liked leaving things ambiguous for the fate of the reader. Just how long will we travel in the TARDIS? That's good fun for the younger viewers. Overall, a great read!

Rating: 8/10

The Haunting

"The only spirits I approve of come in bottles."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Audio

Released: October 2015

Series: Jago & Litefoot & Strax 1.01

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot, Strax

Synopsis

Strax, the Sontaran butler to Victorian investigator Vastra and her wife Jenny, suffers a disorienting attack and mistakes Jago & Litefoot for Jenny and Vastra and moves into Litefoot's home. Together, they are on the trail of a creature that is stealing brains, which may or may not be linked to a haunted house in London...

Verdict

The Haunting was a great story! I love this idea and incredibly I have actually owned this release on the Big Finish app since 2019 when it was the £2.99 monthly book club bargain, but it's taken me until now to get to it because I wanted to ensure I was relevantly caught up with the Jago & Litefoot series. I don't think it really would have hindered my listening if I had listened to this prior to embarking on the spinoff, but the likes of Ellie, Quick and the Red Tavern would not have been familiar stomping grounds. Hearing Strax partake in the tavern was a delight and I love the idea of a crossover between the Paternoster Gang and Jago & Litefoot. Having two separate spinoffs in Victorian London lends itself to making this possible and it just makes sense they would cross paths given what they are engaged in on pretty much a day to day basis! Vastra having a reputation as the Great Detective was lovely to incorporate here and the meeting between the three titular characters was just tremendous. I thought the dynamic was excellent and Litefoot knowing pretty much from the off that Strax was not human was absolutely the right way to go. Across ten series of infernal investigations now they should have an instinct for that kind of thing! I thought when Strax was shot by Mrs Multravers and his perception was altered things took a turn for the comedic best with the Sontaran mistaking Jago and Litefoot for Vastra and Jenny. I hadn't actually read the synopsis prior to listening to the story so that was a fun little surprise. The direction things went from there was marvellous even if they did potentially overdo it in the mistaken identity at times. The idea of role play to get Strax to refer to Jago and Litefoot as themselves was wonderful but Strax's retort of who he was playing was just glorious. They hadn't quite thought it all the way through! I thought the use of a haunted house was really good and makes sense with this being an October release, but we went even further when it came to incorporating brains into the plot! That was really gory and I liked it. Hearing Multravers test her potential candidates with the number sequence and kitchen flooding scenario was good, and Strax's answer to the latter was quite clearly not suitable. He wouldn't go as simple as just turning the taps off, he'd be looking straight for the intruder! I thought the role of the brains was kind of exciting and I appreciated the Halloween and dark feel, although once things took a turn to outer space I think it kind of lost its impact slightly. It was a lovely moment for Jago, Litefoot and Ellie to gaze upon their planet from above, but I think the beauty of this spinoff series is the Victorian London setting. It feels contained in the best way. If things had stayed in Cobblestone I think this might have had an even higher rating! But alas it was still strong but Multravers did feel like she got defeated a little easily considering her positioning throughout most of the audio. Nevertheless, still a really great adventure and a delightful little bonus to the spinoff series. More crossover please! 

Rating: 8/10