Hostile Universe: Deadstar

"We have spent eternity inside a dying fire."

Writers: Joshua Pruett & Jonathan S Powell

Format: Audio

Released: April 2026

Series: UNIT: Eras 1.04

Featuring: Mel, Kate

Synopsis

2023. The Toymaker has been vanquished and UNIT stands tall. 

But when a cutting-edge telescope is brought online, the UNIT skyscraper is plunged into lockdown. Besieged by an impossible foe, Melanie Brush and new recruit Dr Isla Ellis need all their wits to survive. Because the stars have woken up, and something is very wrong with the Vlinx. 

Verdict

Deadstar was another great episode to conclude the Hostile Universe first series of UNIT: Eras! I was very excited to see such a quick delve into the current era of Doctor Who (sort of, I mean the current status of the show on television is a bit messed up as we know Billie Piper won't actually be the Sixteenth Doctor, but Ncuti Gatwa is clearly no longer the current incarnation either!) and it feels great to sort of get an up to date adventure with UNIT. This clearly follows on very soon after The Giggle and it's a great showcase for the older and wiser Melanie Bush. She really does steal the show and showcases that she is a tremendous character. I don't think she was really done justice with the Fifteenth Doctor despite it being just glorious to see her return, so I'm glad that she leads here and showcases her qualities as a UNIT operative. The whole concept of the Skycaster was intriguing and I was absolutely hooked when there was mention of seeing stars up close and personal that came from the Big Bang. I still find the whole theory on that incomprehensible in my mind as it just doesn't compute. How can life and civilisation and the universe have started? Everything must have a beginning and it's an endless cycle that I love thinking about because it really is impossible. Something can't come from nothing, so where and how did the genesis of all things occur? I'm delving too deep there for the purposes of this episode but it was just great to ponder on and I'm not surprised at all why it was such a stargazing opportunity. It was rightly met with awe. I think it was good that Kate featured here but she was very much in the background to Mel which was a good dynamic. I liked the idea of her sending a message through time which was pretty clever in utilising her surroundings and the situation. The Cold Ones were a strong threat and I liked the mystery they came with. It's such a good name and having them wanting to steal and inhabit the warmth of flesh was pretty eery. They were also voiced well in feeling like something that could have come from such a long time ago. I enjoyed Isla Ellis as the new recruit at UNIT and who better for her to learn from than Mel? Her questioning to Mel about her travels in the TARDIS were great and it was nice to get Mel's perspective on why she left and how things still felt the same on Earth when invasions happened. Isla claiming she didn't know how it was possible for her to give it up was understandable as on paper it sounds like an incredible opportunity. I wasn't all that bothered by the Vlinx featuring but it was a unique perspective to have its consciousness removed and into Mel's phone. Talk about technology! I thought the way the Cold Ones were sent packing was pretty emotional with Isla and Mel making a fine team, although I do think the epilogue perhaps dragged a little unnecessarily. Kate's line about still finding pink petals was tremendous though as I still can't believe that Spice Girls routine happened on screen! Outstanding. Overall, a great first step into the latest era and the potential for a full UNIT spinoff of its own is more than there. But I must admit I've loved this Eras format and there's so much room to explore further with it. I hope it continues. A very strong conclusion to a terrific box set! 

Rating: 8/10

Hostile Universe: The Life and Death of Private Eddie Wise

"Everyday I go to work and I don't know if I'm coming home."

Writer: Andrew Smith

Format: Audio

Released: April 2026

Series: UNIT: Eras 1.03

Featuring: Sarah Jane, Brigadier

Synopsis

The dawn of UNIT. Aliens have invaded and Eddie Wise is far from ready. Plagued by nightmares and lying to his fiancé, the beleaguered Eddie becomes embroiled in a plot to bring his workplace to its knees. To make matters worse, there's a journalist on his tail. 

Because Sarah Jane Smith needs the scoop on UNIT, and Private Wise might just be the man she needs.

Verdict

The Life and Death of Private Eddie Wise was an excellent episode to continue my way through the Hostile Universe debut series of UNIT: Eras! This was definitely the best of the series so far and I thought it did a really good job in showcasing just how difficult life could be for the people working at UNIT. We only really got to know those in a high position of command or companions like Liz, Jo and Sarah Jane who weren't exactly engaged in a typical role of employment at the organisation! This was UNIT still in its early days which was really fun to revisit and Sarah Jane being on hand as a journalist whilst also having a relationship with both the Doctor and the Brigadier was terrific. Her editor in chief wanted a story about UNIT and that makes sense with everything that happened during the Third Doctor era prior to Sarah Jane becoming companion. A whole new organisation dedicated to the threat of the extraterrestrial and there needed to be media coverage. The taxpayer needs to know where their money goes! I can't disagree with that and it was good to explore despite the predicament it put Sarah Jane in. Enter Eddie Wise though and hearing the ordeal this Private was going through meant she was actually more than happy to provide the scoop on UNIT. Sure, they're still a relatively new organisation but their methods for helping its people on the front line to cope with everything they experience and undergo were not fit for purpose. Eddie clearly needed help as he was suffering from severe trauma from the events of The Invasion which were brought back to life in some stunning flashbacks. Talk about a first day on the job! Tackling Cybermen is difficult at the best of times, but seeing Chris die after coming into UNIT with him was something he'd never really recovered from. He had sought solace in Maggie as a fellow UNIT colleague who could understand what he was going through from a shared experience and knowledge, but that meant he was estranged from Lynn his fiancé. He was trying to protect her but not discussing anything about even the simplest elements of his job meant they grew apart and hearing that come into fruition throughout the episode was difficult to hear. He was going through too much already and clearly had too much on his plate! Eddie doing the bidding of Maggie and Barry in getting intel on UNIT employees to sell so they could escape this life was almost something akin to being used against his will or taken advantage of, especially considering he was initially doing it just to make things better at UNIT. Sarah Jane would see to that though with a damning verdict on help and the Brigadier was audibly shaken by that. Eddie sacrificing himself so an innocent man didn't die was an admirable trait and it only felt right that he went out as a hero. That's exactly what he was in my eyes as he necessitated change amongst UNIT to help people deal with the shock and trauma of seeing and experiencing death. Sarah also getting through to Barry as someone that was exposing others and their families if they sold the information was great and I thought she had a really strong showing here. No wonder she's one of the all time great companions! Overall, a superb episode to continue a really strong series.

Rating: 9/10

Hostile Universe: The Indigo Child

"Why would someone in the government kidnap a child?"

Writer: Ken Bentley

Format: Audio

Released: April 2026

Series: UNIT: Eras 1.02

Featuring: Kate, Osgood

Synopsis

2017. UNIT has been shut down, its heroes targeted.

After an attempt on her life, Kate Stewart fights from the shadows, doing what she can to protect the people of Great Britain. Reunited with Petronella Osgood, Kate goes undercover to save a child refugee with psychic powers. It's a race against time, and now a new enemy is determined to win.

Verdict

The Indigo Child was another strong episode to continue my way through the Hostile Universe first series of UNIT: Eras! This is perhaps the era I was most intrigued to explore because the state of UNIT during the events of Flux and nearly all of the Thirteenth Doctor era was one of uncertainty to say the least! Touching upon that here was really well done and I enjoyed that we got something of a more mature Osgood. The prospect of her no longer being tied to UNIT almost seems unfathomable but here she is basically on the run with Kate but still with the planet's best interests at heart. The mentions of Prentis were good continuity and I liked how even Osgood was surprised by Kate name dropping him as being far from what he appeared! UNIT was infiltrated and defunded which meant that somebody within the UK Government didn't have the country's best interests at heart. Get rid of UNIT and a strong line of defence is out of the way. I thought the dynamic between Kate and Osgood here was certainly different to what we're used to but when the latter thought the former was potentially dead or captured after her house was blown up, it's not going to be all lovey dovey! Osgood was though clearly still a little irked by Kate not reassuring her she was okay despite now getting the confirmation that she was alive and relatively well. The titular element of this episode was a good plot device and I think incorporating immigration into a story set in the 2010s is a brave choice! That has become such a huge part of politics currently to a somewhat uncomfortable level so hearing lines about the boats and dismissing that the girl had come from Syria as if it could be any other country and it didn't matter was quite startling. I liked how it felt very much of the real world though and the girl being mute or refusing to talk was good stuff because we then have Osgood showcase her qualities. She is a reassuring presence and instantly could ascertain when things were getting too stressful for the refugee. Kate and Osgood posing as members of the Home Office was fun stuff as they tried to protect the girl with Angela of Safe Haven actually getting there first with the correct authorisation. Favager as the one who initially had her safe was a bit of a knob in how he treated or viewed her. He didn't exactly treat her humanely! He barely acknowledged she was around and just saw her as a bit of an inconvenience. That was a little sad. The Woman With No Name is an interesting title for a character supposedly of the Home Office and the reaction of Favager when he told her the child was already released was terrifically hilarious. I enjoyed how this episode showcased a number of strong female characters with authority and Kate still managing to get the upper hand showed her qualities too. She was clearly hurt and damaged by recent events as she still tried to do good from a small underground association, and she was doing what she could with the limited resources she had. It was a far cry from the UNIT of the next era to come alongside the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Doctors! I thought Kate and Osgood teaming up and particularly utilising the technological skillset of the latter to save the child was really strong stuff. It was a somewhat simple resolution and a decently straightforward plot, but it just worked. I wish a little more focus was placed on the state of UNIT and what Prentis had done, but that story can still be told. Overall, a great listen to continue my way through the series! 

Rating: 8/10

Hostile Universe: Rise of the Valiant

"A sky that should be full of stars."

Writer: Andrew Smith

Format: Audio

Released: April 2026

Series: UNIT: Eras 1.01

Featuring: Brigadier, Harry

Synopsis

2008. The Earth has been stolen and planets fill the sky.

With the Doctor otherwise engaged, it falls to UNIT's finest – Colonel Mace, Harry Sullivan, and the retired Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart – to take the fight back to the Daleks. Because deep in the Brazilian rainforest, a secret weapon with a familiar name is waiting. And it's ready to fly.

Verdict

Rise of the Valiant was a great start to the Hostile Universe debut series of UNIT: Eras! I am delighted by the announcement of this series as it's such a strong idea because the history of UNIT is vast and given how quickly and drastically eras in Doctor Who change, that is also trickled down to the Unified Intelligence Taskforce. It's a wonderful concept that has so much potential because we can easily now revise the UNIT of the Brave New World range or even touch upon the organisation as we saw it in Aliens of London/World War Three. I'm very excited and I'm quite surprised that this one is a download only. I'm more than accustomed with that arrangement now as whilst I would prefer a physical release also, I'm not going to shake my head at more content like this! I love the concept behind this one because having an episode take place concurrently during the events of The Stolen Earth is a tremendous idea! It's great to also actually get to hear the Brigadier on one of his whacky missions in a foreign country and it just seems amazing to get a story with him and Harry that's set in 2008! That feels like it shouldn't be possible as even by Battlefield the Brigadier was Bambera but twenty years later and he's still going strong despite claims of retirement. We know from Enemy of the Bane that he'll never truly stop being the Brigadier and that's part of his charm here. Although it's a terrible thing to question but given the visuals of his mobility in that Sarah Jane Adventures story, I'm not sure his mobility in this episode matches. But who am I to know, truly? The setting switching from Peru initially to Brazil was excellent as it's not often we get an adventure in South America! I think that's great and then the familiar events we saw on screen started to happen here. What a place for the Brigadier and Harry to see the Earth moved and the stars disappear to be replaced by planets. I like how despite their careers, this is still a monumental thing to occur and the Brig deduces pretty quickly that it's planet Earth that has moved rather than the planets they can see. The moment their phones start to call the familiar number of Martha Jones was magnificent too and I loved how we could envision the events of this story matching up with what we saw on screen as the Children of Time slowly assembled. I think it's magnificent how after initially seeking to exterminate the Brigadier, he was then chosen to be brought alive to the Crucible at the behest of the Supreme Dalek! He absolutely deserved his spot as he has history with the Daleks so he knows the threat provided here. Extermination was a very real possibility! I thought Colonel Mace returning after a big success in The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky was terrific and it was really strong continuity to have the Brig aware of that. The reveal of a whole new Valiant being created here was good and the fact that Zara turned out to be the traitor wasn't a big shock as that's one of the downfalls of that kind of plot device with such a small cast. There are only so many options for who it could be. It did through provide a heroic moment for the Brigadier as it appeared he was going to sacrifice himself against her and the Daleks taking the Valiant with him, but it was actually Mace who filled that role having already been fatally wounded. Some way to go out! Things weren't fixed and the Brigadier knew now that the Doctor would be involved with the Martha call, but there was still a long way to go. Time was bought, and in Brazil that's pretty much all the Brigadier could do! Overall, a very strong start to what looks to be a great series! 

Rating: 8/10

Transformation: 1974 - The Caldwell Restitution

"Just look at all this mess."

Writer: Ken Bentley

Format: Audio

Released: April 2026

Series: Zygon Century 2.03

Featuring: Third Doctor

Synopsis

Agent Caldwell has been posted to the British Embassy in Moscow and ordered to investigate a rising star of the Communist Party. But Caldwell is a shadow of his former self, plagued by nightmares of the past and misty visions of the future. 

As the Third Doctor enters the fray, human and Zygon plots collide, and Caldwell's visions threaten to endanger the world. Though neither man can remember the other, can the Doctor and Caldwell put a stop to the Zygon Century, once and for all?

Verdict

The Caldwell Restitution was a great episode to conclude the Transformation second series of Zygon Century! We are far from over as a spinoff range that much is clear and that excites me because things are really taking shape now as we venture further into the second half of the century. We're still yet to breach the final quarter but I think that will come with the final boxset, whether that's the next one or beyond is yet to be seen. I think it's great to incorporate the Third Doctor during exile into this century-long plan of the Zygons because he was trapped on the planet so it's no surprise that he would get involved and have knowledge of events here. I was really intrigued by the continuity with Double Agent as we advanced from 1957 there to 1974 here and Agent Caldwell really is a very different man. I think it's fascinating for the Third Doctor to acknowledge the parallel timeline of the ongoing Second Doctor Adventures because that's not the true article, but memories seeped through which in of itself is pretty interesting as a concept! The flashbacks to events on the island were helpful and it's just strange to think that the Third Doctor remembers things that didn't technically happen to him. Of course, I have no idea how the parallel timeline of the Second Doctor will conclude, but I guess it might merge into The War Games and things are semi-retained? Caldwell was clearly troubled in the episode and that stems back all the way to 1957 and what he experienced there. The irony of he and the Doctor having met before but neither remembering the other was good stuff and perhaps not played upon enough in my opinion! It's a pretty unique situation. I just love the idea of a Third Doctor story with the Zygons because it predates Terror of the Zygons which actually isn't a million miles off these events timeline wise. Might they end up being included as part of the century-long Zygon plan? That would be impressive if so! I just love merging eras and that kind of thing so the Zygons encountering this Doctor is good fun for me. Tim Treloar was great again in bringing the Third Doctor back to life and I'm surprised that we only had a Russian member of UNIT. This kind of thing feels ripe for the whole organisation! It was good to venture to Russia in the 1970s as that's a volatile place to be for someone from the West! I love branching off to different countries though and particularly visiting the Soviets definitely seems to give the Doctor less authority and even presence. The way he snuck up on Caldwell though as he was tracking Kovalenko was pretty humorous and far from inconspicuous! Fahrag emerging as the Zygon leading things here was good and the effort at taking over the Doctor's mind was impressive, but he obviously evaded being fully impacted. Breaking the hold they had on Caldwell was good too and that just made his death all the more powerful. I didn't see that coming I must admit so it definitely added to the threat the Zygons pose. I also really enjoyed how they likened the Doctor to themselves with how he changed face and their knowledge on him was impressive. The use of mind control was beyond them though and that's where the ending of An Incident in Death Valley comes in with the Master. Ilse Lange showing up in the epilogue confirms that and what a pairing we have! The Master giving the Zygons direction for this plan is a tantalising prospect and I can't wait to hear what direction things go in next as we continue to explore through the century. Overall, a very good episode to conclude a really intriguing and solid series! 

Rating: 8/10

Transformation: 1968 - An Incident in Death Valley

"Their bodies are caged."

Writers: Lauren Mooney & Stewart Pringle

Format: Audio

Released: April 2026

Series: Zygon Century 2.02

Featuring: The Master

Synopsis

Fleeing her brutal human captors, and in hiding from the Black Cadre, the Zygon Vorvoren arrives at a run-down diner in the bowels of Death Valley. There, she finds a friend in Junie, a young waitress, and a town terrorised by a ruthless cult.

But just who is their mysterious leader, 'The Arkon'? And could he really hold the key to Vorvoren's liberation and revenge?

Verdict

An Incident in Death Valley was an excellent episode to continue my way through the Transformation second series of Zygon Century! I thought this served as a nice follow up to The Miracle of Pendour Cove with the story for Vorvoren jumping from 1935 there to 1968 here which is quite a significant jump! I thought she led the story brilliantly and she's just a really strong character. I loved the way things ended here and whilst I'm unsure if that will have any kind of follow on in the series finale or the next series, but it gets me excited nonetheless! I would not have expected to find the Master getting involved in this spinoff range but the more we get of Eric Roberts as the incarnation from The Movie, the better in my opinion! He's such a strong incarnation and he really is dastardly and evil but in such a calm and chilling way. He really is measured and that makes him pretty frightening. It's also fun that with the American accent he appears here in a story set in Death Valley. That's a location I would love to one day visit and it's a far cry for Vorvoren from the Cornish coast and beyond! But it's completely reasonable for her to be there given she's on the run from the Black Cadre! She's certainly made a good effort. I think the Master interacting with her was fantastic and when he knew she was a Zygon I was just eating up the dialogue. The reference to the century-long plan was fascinating and he was clearly in the know! Hell, he was even supportive of it which is tremendous. I am sure this won't be the last we hear of the Master in this series and it's good that his foundations for being present lay in a really interesting and funky sort of disguise. The Arkon was always going to be revealed as him but even Vorvoren couldn't understand why he found himself playing cult leader on Earth. He gets bored and do you know I think that's pretty justifiable. Why wouldn't he be doing something like that? His manipulation of Junie was disturbing at times as she was actually defending him to Vorvoren (or should that be Gwendolyn?). It was serious vibes of Euphoria with Nate and Maddy! (I've just finished season one, no spoilers in the comments please!) Vorvoren obviously knew that her friend was in a tricky situation and it was nice for her to stand up to the Master. I would never have expected the episode to end in the way it did from that point! But the Master was someone she could reason with and talk about her predicament. She was on the run from the Black Cadre and the Master could actually help. Hell, he'd even take the fight to them which appealed because this really did show that on the inside, Vorvoren was still very much a Zygon. The way the Master showed her a glimpse of the future was intriguing as he had killed Krozon and that was obviously a big deal indeed! That garnered some trust and encouragement which I liked and this really does seem to be a formidable pairing! The callousness in which they denied Junie to come with them was superb and showed such a shift in character for Vorvoren. She quickly changed her feelings towards her new friend! Overall, a fantastic episode and I now can't wait for the finale and beyond! 

Rating: 9/10

Transformation: 1922 - The Black Cadre

"You overestimate your fame."

Writer: Jonathan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: April 2026

Series: Zygon Century 2.01

Featuring:

Synopsis

From Munich to Dublin to an asylum in Dartmoor, the Zygons have agents everywhere, and their plans are growing in scope and ambition. 

Can Herbert Scott, that long incarcerated investigator of the occult, do anything to stop them? Is his rescuer – the German heiress, Ilse Lange – all that she seems? And why are the Black Cadre so interested in a mysterious carnival, travelling the wider reaches of the Cornish coast?

Verdict

The Black Cadre was a really strong start to the Transformation second series of Zygon Century! I knew when the Infiltration first series of this intriguing spinoff range concluded that this would be no one off as there's still so much room to cover and much of the story to tell. This took us to 1922 which is a fun year to visit as the country is in the aftermath of the First World War and it's certainly an entirely different world to the that of 1901 and The Unknowing Mirror for Herbert Scott as a returning character. I think it's a really strong idea to basically do a sequel to that episode and catch up with Herbert two decades on from the first Zygon encounter at the start of the century. He's obviously a lot older now and certainly wiser from his experience alongside Felix Cromwell. That coming into play here by having Ilse Lange purchase Cromwell's memoir and be fascinated by the word Zygon was terrific. It does feel like a lot of groundwork has been laid out here with the planting of orbs in farmland and the excuse of them helping fertilise the ground is obviously not quite the case! I would expect them to come back into play as we tackle more episodes throughout the century. I'm very excited for what's to come, especially with the potential for inner conflict amongst the Zygons with the different cadres warring against each other. You would think that with them escaping their dying home world they would want to band together on a planet like Earth, but alas that isn't the case and I would be surprised if that doesn't bring about their downfall. The focus on the island around the Cornish coast is great and I'm so glad that's continued to play a part because it just oozes a feeling of eeriness. There's something about the coast at night and that description of mist that just works. It also feels well suited to the Zygons because of their nature of literally hiding who and what they are. I thought it worked well to bring them out into the open for just enough to get a taste, but I do think part of the appeal of them and why they work so well is the anticipation and the potential knowledge that not everyone is how they seem. The test disabled for Ilse here with the effort of shock was good but she was far too conniving to just be a simple Zygon. Finding out that she suspected her husband had been taken to the island was intriguing considering she was boasting about taking a lover! She didn't seem all that committed to her marriage and in 1922 that made her something to fear I would say amongst the male population. But also a tantalising prospect. I really liked that she was trying to bargain with the Zygons and showed just what kind of a character and person she is. Overall, a really strong start to the series! 

Rating: 8/10

No Exit

"We don't know why you can't have children."

Writer: Kate Orman

Format: Short Story

Released: December 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Steel Skies 07

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan

Synopsis

There are many places that most of us can never see: places that are sheltered, locked away, cordoned off from the outside world. But to the Doctor, and those who travel with him in his TARDIS, there is no such thing as a locked door. Anywhere in space and time is open to them to visit – even if sometimes it might be better to leave such places well alone.

Steel Skies is a collection of stories based in enclosed and artificial environments: places constructed to keep the dangers of the universe outside, perhaps, or to keep their inhabitants locked in. It is divided into four sections, each exploring a different kind of confinement:

Section One, Flight, comprises four tales of travellers who left their homes for far-away destinations – to explore, to start a new life, or to fight for the survival of their species.

Section Two, Frontiers, explores the corridors, living quarters and ventilation shafts of four futuristic environments – designed to shelter men, women and children from harsh natural forces, or from the threat of nuclear war.

Section Three, Incarceration, tells four stories of punishment and imprisonment, from San Francisco's infamous Alcatraz, to the cage of a flightless angel in the dilapidated ruins of Heaven. 

Section Four, Isolation, deals with the loneliness and despair of being cut off from the world outside, by physical or mental incapacity, by the ravages of war, or caught between destinations aboard the TARDIS itself. 

A recurring theme in all four sections is the effect of the Doctor's arrival in these enclosed environments – sometimes positive, sometimes less so.

Verdict

No Exit was an excellent adventure to continue my way through the Steel Skies edition of Short Trips! This was only eight pages long but it packed a whole lot in with some incredible world building. I thought the concept at the heart of the story was incredibly poignant as we joined in with the adventure that the Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan were having on the colony of F-four. This was an interesting place and whilst there seemed to be a fun little dig at the city of Coventry (I’ve only been to the football stadium there so I can’t comment much on the city itself!), there really wasn’t a lot to laugh about. This was a desperate colony that had been that way for a decade. A completely sterile population on the colony and there was no way off. That’s a pretty daunting prospect to think that the entire population would never be able to have children. That’s pretty devastating as a father of two myself and I’ve always wanted children so to have it written in stone that I couldn’t have them before my first born arrived would have been pretty crushing. As if that wasn’t enough, it’s a slow realisation that the population would eventually come into the position of never meeting anybody new. At some point you would get bored of the same company! Imagine never being able to make new friends and engage with new people? I’m not the most social of people but that still seems pretty frightening! No wonder the TARDIS trio were in a pretty difficult situation where they were basically being crowded and hoarded to take them away. Utilising the scientific expertise of the Doctor and Nyssa was terrific and I was glad that their knowledge was highlighted. It was quite fun that Tegan was subjected to the virus that made the colony sterile and that helped with quickening the search for information and a cure. It soon became clear though that no cure was coming and this colony would one day end, one by one. That’s an incredibly bleak situation to think that the younger members of the colony would be in a race for the death. Imagine being the last member to survive and be surrounded by the dead? I thought the characterisation of the Fifth Doctor here was really strong. The urgency in his voice was presented really well on the page which was good as it managed to portray his incarnation perfectly. Toopyar being friends with Nyssa was good and I liked that we had a focal point for the colonists. I don’t want to say he was the leader but he was definitely respected amongst the rest of the population. The threat given to Nyssa when the Doctor was clearly trying to escape with his companions in hardly a subtle way was strong. She really was in a bad way but was healed and it was nice for the Doctor to have genuine concern for a companion he’s had a pretty frosty relationship with historically! I think doing some visual magic with the TARDIS to move it slightly and have Nyssa fake that he’d used the self destruct to not let anyone off the colony and prevent such a spread of disease was a tad amusing. Nyssa and Tegan helping the colonists see that they were unfortunately completely helpless. There was no way off and there was nothing that could be done to continue the population. That was devastating to accept but they were angry at the situation, not Nyssa and the Doctor. It was good that they at least came to that realisation at the end. The planet being trapped before humanity even arrived set things in stone and the description of the virus seeping into all chromosomes and if it was removed it meant the entire genetic structure would be broken down was pretty scary! A daunting concept for sure. There really was no way off the colony and no hope. Overall, a bleak and powerful adventure! A fantastic story to continue my way through the collection.

Rating: 9/10

The Ashes of Pompeii

"You invaded my volcano.!"

Writer: Janelle McCurdy

Format: Short Story

Released: October 2025

Printed in: The Adventures After 06

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Donna

Synopsis

Discover what happened after...

A remarkable collection of new Doctor Who short stories that give a glimpse into the moments just after the Doctor saves the world, and the credits roll.

The Doctor has had many adventures, visited many planets and made a whole host of friends (and some enemies). 

But if you thought it was all over after the TARDIS doors closed, and the time ship dematerialised, onto the next adventure, you'd be very much mistaken.

From Earth's past, present and future, to the furthest reaches of the universe, here are eight tales that give us a glimpse into the worlds the Doctor left behind. Sometimes triumph, sometimes tragedy (and always chaos) these are stories you'll never forget.

Verdict

The Ashes of Pompeii was a great short story to continue my way through The Adventures After collection of sequels! Following on from The Fires of Pompeii is a superb choice to do a sequel for as that episode has so much impact and immediately sets the tone for Donna of what life in the TARDIS will be like. She got a taste in The Runaway Bride and then as we saw throughout Partners in Crime she was craving it after initially rejecting the offer to become companion, but here we continue to see her feeling the full extent of when things aren't so easy sailing. I thought that was established well although I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it being an immediate sequel as in this story takes place directly after Fires. If the TARDIS hadn't fully departed I think it would have worked even better, but it does still have that emotional appeal as after everything they've just been through and the toll that takes on Donna knowing that to even pull out one family from a fixed point in time took so much persuasion and angst from the Doctor, that they immediately returned after the volcano had erupted and as the title suggests were surrounded by ash. That was a daunting thought to think that the ash could literally be the people they had interacted with just a few hours. Poor old Donna, at such an early point in her travels! I thought the concept of the Granite was pretty intriguing and getting a species as something that was literally Mother Nature was quite incredible! I loved the Granite's reaction to hearing that her place had been named as Pompeii as there really is something majestic in that name for a location that is so incredibly high on my bucket list. I've only been on Italian soil for two hours on a layover in Milan airport en route to Yerevan, Armenia and there's just so much of the country that is on my bucket list. Pompeii is incredibly high on that list and getting further Doctor Who stories there is brilliant. It was really intriguing at the end of the story to have Ava dropped off in Pompeii during the eighteenth century as I really am fascinated to think what that might have been like! A few centuries off the city being inhabitable but she admired its beauty and that's great. I thought she was a strong character who fostered a good relationship with the Doctor an Donna despite them being obviously shaken by such a swift return to a place rife with emotion. They almost couldn't believe they had to fight to save lives again in such terrible surroundings, but at least a little bit of the pressure was off in that regard because the volcano had already erupted. The Granite needing to remember itself to form the link back with Ava and tackle the last remaining Pyrovile was interesting and I didn't expect to have one survivor, but it does make sense given the situation and the nature of a volcano! I think the imagery of them as a monster is excellent and I think perhaps a tad more could have been made of them being pretty monstrous! But I guess they had lost a lot of themselves with the rest of the race going. I did disagree with the Doctor's comments about genocide to the Granite because he didn't know there was a survivor so surely letting the actions of the volcano occur meant he had done the same thing because I doubt they were part of the fixed point in time element? Regardless, matters were taken out of the Doctor's hands here and he doesn't like that. The forewarning of events to come in The Stolen Earth was excellent and really fit in nicely with then overall series arc. This slots in nicely before Planet of the Ood and I must say is one of my all time favourite story titles. So it's a good job it's a great little read! 

Rating: 8/10

Half Human

"Sometimes it's okay not to know."

Writer: Matthew Jacobs

Format: Short Story

Released: April 2026

Printed in: DWM Special Edition 73

Featuring: Eighth Doctor

Synopsis

This is the story of a Screenwriter commission to write a short story concerning the Doctor's supposed being half human on his mother's side...

Verdict

Half Human was an incredibly strange little short story to accompany the latest edition of Doctor Who Magazine's special edition celebrating 30 years of the Eighth Doctor! I was very excited when this release was announced as it's fitting to have a celebration of all things The Movie and Paul McGann's magnificent Eighth Doctor. This short story is actually the only feature in the magazine I have read at the time of writing, but it was far from what I expected! The prospect of a new Eighth Doctor story in prose by the same writer that wrote his debt is a tantalising prospect and was a big selling point of the magazine for me, but it was pretty disappointing I must say. I'm still not entirely sure what I read to be honest and I don't think that's really a good thing! I'm just not sure I can consider this canonical when it's a short story about the process and the steps taken to pitch the short story that I was reading, but then it didn't really do anything about the titular element of the Doctor being half human? That's an element of the Eighth Doctor that has been largely forgotten and shoved under the carpet which is fun, but I do agree with the author that it would make sense if he was half human. It would explain his love of the human race and the frequency in which he visits Earth, but The Timeless Children appears to have firmly put that to bed now even though it was flirted with again in Hell Bent for the Twelfth Doctor. I don't think it's something that we will hear the last of as it's just too tantalising and too obvious a concept. I thought the illustration of the Griffith Observatory was tremendous as that's a place I have visited and absolutely adored. It's such a cool tourist destination and really is a bucket list item I would recommend to anyone to get ticked off with the view of the Hollywood sign. It's always great to see things in print that you know in real life. That's why I like the use of so many local towns and elements in Torchwood because I live in the area. I think this must be a really nice story for the writer to basically throw himself into the Whoniverse and even meet the Eighth Doctor briefly in something that was initially deemed a hallucination. It was just all so weird and I don't really understand what was trying to be achieved. Is the title just a selling point? I don't want to say this became something of a vanity project but I can't help but feel that way a little bit. The more I write the more confused I am about what I read. So the whole story is about writing a story about a concept that was then just said it didn't matter? I do agree that sometimes it is better to not know the important details because we would lose so much of the mystery if we knew the Doctor's mother and had the backstory confirming or depicting how he was actually half human, but as fans we can't help but to want to know! The line at the end about observing Gallifrey from the Griffith Observatory was tremendous though and that's a tantalising image indeed. Overall, ever so strange. Not at all what I think anybody would have expected! 

Rating: 5/10

Light at the End of the Tunnel

"I wanted to see the universe, not get killed."

Writer: Mark Wright

Format: Short Story

Released: December 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Steel Skies 06

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

There are many places that most of us can never see: places that are sheltered, locked away, cordoned off from the outside world. But to the Doctor, and those who travel with him in his TARDIS, there is no such thing as a locked door. Anywhere in space and time is open to them to visit – even if sometimes it might be better to leave such places well alone.

Steel Skies is a collection of stories based in enclosed and artificial environments: places constructed to keep the dangers of the universe outside, perhaps, or to keep their inhabitants locked in. It is divided into four sections, each exploring a different kind of confinement:

Section One, Flight, comprises four tales of travellers who left their homes for far-away destinations – to explore, to start a new life, or to fight for the survival of their species.

Section Two, Frontiers, explores the corridors, living quarters and ventilation shafts of four futuristic environments – designed to shelter men, women and children from harsh natural forces, or from the threat of nuclear war.

Section Three, Incarceration, tells four stories of punishment and imprisonment, from San Francisco's infamous Alcatraz, to the cage of a flightless angel in the dilapidated ruins of Heaven. 

Section Four, Isolation, deals with the loneliness and despair of being cut off from the world outside, by physical or mental incapacity, by the ravages of war, or caught between destinations aboard the TARDIS itself. 

A recurring theme in all four sections is the effect of the Doctor's arrival in these enclosed environments – sometimes positive, sometimes less so.

Verdict

Light at the End of the Tunnel was a really strong story to continue my way through the Steel Skies edition of Short Trips! I was intrigued by the name of the story and I always love to extend the time spent in the TARDIS between the Fifth Doctor and Peri because they’re such an underrated and underutilised pairing. It’s a huge shame that The Caves of Androzani was the only on screen serial with the pair as the sole Doctor and companion combination because I think they work so well together. It’s probably the fact they’re both youthful in the roles and I definitely do consider them as the first precursors for the dynamic we would see in the TARDIS in the modern era. I’m not sure if this could be considered Peri’s very first journey in the TARDIS as companion following the events of Planet of Fire, but if it isn’t it’s one of the very few at the start! I think that’s good as it presents Peri in a different way to what the majority of her adventures are because she’s still new to all of this. Life in the TARDIS is not a breeze and she found that out here with the robot trying to kill her purely for her being present, but then the view she got at the end showed that some of the risks associated with travel alongside the Doctor might just be worth it. I thought that was pretty poignant and this did have a kind of mini modern era episode two vibe as Peri saw the threats that come with companion life but then had that moment of realisation that it’s absolutely where she wants to be. I’m a big fan of that and it just works here with Peri. She’s a valuable companion and definitely could be inserted into the modern era with ease so maybe that’s why it’s so relatable? I sense the irony though as I’m reading over two decades since this was published and the modern era wasn’t even around! But the formula is definitely present and that was fun to dissect. I thought the story basically being a cliche of a typical escape from a situation caused by the Doctor was good fun and I liked how much of it was within corridors. It felt very dark and I mean that purely in lighting which is an impressive thing to present in prose. Especially in a short story as well! But Mark Wright is a familiar writer in the Whoniverse so I can’t say I’m surprised. Full compliments! I really wasn’t sure about the use of spiders in this story because I couldn’t wholly buy into the concept of the Fifth Doctor being scared of a normal house spider. Sure, I can fully appreciate that he might have very bad memories of the events of Planet of the Spiders causing his regeneration which may now trigger trauma, but surely normal sized spiders are all good in his estimations? Peri was dumbfounded which I somewhat agreed with but I then did find myself not wholly disagreeing with the Doctor’s retort about being scared if you had dealt with the spiders he had. They weren’t exactly ordinary spiders though! It was really good how the spiders actually helped the Doctor and Peri though with the former realising that quite nicely as they were finding the path that was away from the gas that had been emitted. That was a good threat in their contained environment of the story and I liked how the spiders served as connective tissue between the start and end of the story. Sure, in a longer form I would love to have got the full experience of what happened with the N’tia and their slaves that sparked a revolution at the Doctor’s hands, but this is where the Short Trips come in. We just don’t have the page count for that! And that’s completely fine. At least we got the backlog and I think that’s what we needed for Peri as she came to her realisation of life in the TARDIS. The description of the beauty she saw at the end after they’d made their escape really did sound beautiful and I was rather jealous! Overall, a great little read to continue my way through the collection. 

Rating: 8/10

Double Part Two

"I've never doubted that you're not human."

Writer: Guy Adams

Format: Audio

Released: January 2023

Series: Torchwood Monthly 70

Featuring: Roberta Craven

Synopsis

A lot of people have died, and not for the first time in her life, Roberta Craven has changed sides.

Travelling the world with a dead man, she's negotiating world peace. Or is she starting a world war?

The Autons are coming. And Torchwood won't stop them...

Verdict

Double concluded in pretty strong fashion to round out what was overall a thoroughly enjoyable and intriguing two-part release to continue my way through the Torchwood monthly range at Big Finish! I do think this was sadly the weaker of the two parts and I would probably give this one a seven and part one a nine to get what is still overall a terrific rating! I love the idea of visiting Torchwood in the 1970s but this one definitely did have a feeling of having moved on a little from the first part. Given that this was released a month later than its opening half, I do kind of understand that but I'm a sucker for immediate follow ons from cliffhangers. I just feel like that should be the way things get resolved but I'm also a big fan of politics playing a role in the Whoniverse so this was definitely up my alley. Roberta Craven continued to lead the story brilliantly and I would love to hear more from her character, especially given how things ended here! Louise Jameson is just a delight playing this role and it's clear she's enjoying not just being a noble savage in the Whoniverse. Her pairing with Neal Hart again was good although this was far from the normal Neal. He was an Auton and she knew that. The whole concept behind the full copy was fascinating but I think a little more clarity on just how they were able to do that with the likes of flesh and brain waves when they're powered by plastic would have been beneficial. I do think it's good and has a lot of potential, but then what might the point be if the copy was such a good copy that it couldn't always be influenced by the Nestene Consciousness and its desires? That seems like a little bit of a flaw and dare I say a waste of resources? What use is a copy that can't be directed? The answer may have lain with the threats provided to Al_Sabah who was tortured as part of the oil negotiations with Nessoil. Seeing doubles of himself and hearing how one smothered his ill mother to bed in hospital while another did the school run for his two boys was genuinely horrifying. The fake Neal being in a position to threaten was quite something and he knew that Al_Sabah had some terms to provide because why would he have flown such a long way to simply say no to anything that was put on the table. There was some strong logic there. The audio when his bodyguard was killed in the car was deeply distressing and showed the extent to which Nessoil would go for favourable terms on the oil price. It's all about money! Everything comes down to it. even when dealing with alien infiltration. The very idea of the Nestene Consciousness being in the North Sea was amusing as an image because that's not the kind of oil supply one would expect to find there! Roberta realising that she was the Auton and not Herman Baker was a really good moment and it definitely explained a lot of what was going on in her head. He was too stupid to not be human in aligning himself with the Autons. Touching upon the difference between Autons and the Nestene was intriguing too and I would have liked a little more on that because it's fascinating. The way things concluded with Roberta basically recruiting for Torchwood as Autons was a fun thought and definitely leaves things open for some kind of future civil war? Or will they just be accepted as British citizens as the Nestene hoped initially? A little ambiguity is decent here and I enjoyed it overall. A great listen as a two-parter! 

Rating: 8/10

Double Part One

"God I love plastic."

Writer: Guy Adams

Format: Audio

Released: January 2023

Series: Torchwood Monthly 69

Featuring: Roberta Craven

Synopsis

1970s London is a place of suspicion and murder. The assassination of an entire embassy comes to the attention of Torchwood. 

There's a global energy crisis. There's an alien invasion. Petrochemical companies are subject to hostile take overs by the mysterious Nessoil. Extremely hostile take overs. 

Roberta Craven was once a spy. Now she's broken. But she can still see the patters in the world. And they're closing in around her.

Verdict

Double started in very strong fashion for the first part of a very unique two-part Torchwood release! I don't think the Torchwood monthly range at Big Finish has made enough of this kind of story in visiting different eras and teams at Torchwood because there really is so much potential. We've had Torchwood Soho kind of become its own thing which is good but one offs like this one here and The Dollhouse have been relatively few and far between. That's no criticism I just wish we had more of the Torchwood story! I think the 1970s is a really fun time for a Torchwood story because of everything that was going on at that time with the Third Doctor grounded on Earth meaning for storyline purposes a lot of the alien invasions had to come to the planet rather than him finding them elsewhere. That works well so 1973 seems perfect to have the return of the Autons and the Nestene Consciousness! They've just been thwarted twice in Spearhead from Space and Terror of the Autons, so now Torchwood are on the case when things get very political. I am surprised that the murder of an entire Libyan embassy representation would not be under the remit of UNIT, but alas there need to be some liberties taken with storyline. I do suppose that UNIT can't be everywhere! I thought Roberta Craven as the lead member of Torchwood for the story was a wonderful character and it was so refreshing to hear Louise Jameson in this kind of role. She played it so well and within just a few minutes she was such a likeable character and I cared about her as the protagonist. I think a lot of that is down to Jameson as a familiar voice as the wonderful Leela, but here she was a disgraced ex-spy at MI5 now finding her feet again at Torchwood. That's a really fun set up for a lead character that would have so much potential. I haven't even listened to part two yet but I'm already ready for a 1970s Torchwood boxset. I thought the sound in the story was incredible and the way the 1970s was captured in atmosphere was almost mesmeric. It was a sheer delight to hear that familiar intruding sound effect in my ears to represent when the Autons were present. Roberta knowing about them was good and I liked how she had suspicions based on the recent wave of deaths including suffocation and the importance of oil to plastic. The way things got political surrounding the oil here was impressive with Ossam ousted by Nessoil. The irony of the name of the latter in not really hiding who they were was not lost on Roberta and it's just good fun. The in-joke as well about why the Nestene Consciousness didn't just take over a plastics factory instead of an oil drill in the sea was marvellous and they could just about get away with it when it came to Roberta's mind. She had Aspergers and I liked the way her struggle with the rest of the world being too slow for what she was working out was presented. It was emotional at times and that just added to her likeableness. Herman Baker being the supposed double agent on the inside was good and I really liked Neal Hart as the journalist that was asking all of the right questions to expose thing and that got him threatened in an almost devastating way! The potential merger between Nessoil and Ossam not going ahead because of the Auton reveal and killing was a little surprising as I thought that would go through, but the cliffhanger was also a tad predictable in fully bringing the Autons into view in an active and physical way. It was impactful to be fair and definitely sounded traumatic, but I'm more interested in Roberta and the politics of the whole situation. Overall, a really strong start and I can't wait for the second part now! 

Expulsion: The Curse of the Duergar

"I am not here to mourn."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Audio

Released: April 2026

Series: Sixth Doctor Adventures 10.03

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri, Turlough

Synopsis

Shieldmaiden Hervor braves the ghosts of her ancestors to claim her birthright, the sword Tyrfing. Made by the Duergar, the Dwarf kings of the below, the blade is cursed: once drawn, it must kill. Even the Doctor cannot resist the power of the sword, and to the horror of Peri and Turlough, he is forced to take a life...

Verdict

The Curse of the Duergar was another great episode to conclude the Explusion series of Sixth Doctor Adventures! This has been an intriguing trio of adventures for this unexpected and fascinating TARDIS trio! I was surprised how long it took for the trio to enter the story but that's no pro?blem as it set up the world in which they were going to enter very nicely. We don't get a lot of that in the audio format so this was a refreshing change and I do think it definitely helped establish a lot of characters and story elements that would prove critical. I thought the concept behind the Tyrfing as a sword that was a whole lot more than a simple blade was marvellous. Dealing with curses is usually a good deal of fun and that's not just with Danhausen (if you know, you know). The concept of a blade that once drawn must kill was really strong, especially when its possession had the potential to be passed around. The Doctor being the one to take matters into his own hands was honestly what I kind of expected as I had read the synopsis prior to listening in a rare occurrence and that feels like a little bit of a spoiler which is a shame! Especially when it was the cliffhanger! I did enjoy the threat that came from him planning to bypass the need to kill somebody else and take his own life, but things didn’t quite work out as planned. I was honestly expecting the curse to not work on the drawer of the sword but surprisingly to me that didn’t turn out to be the case. Instead, what occurred was something altogether different. The sword actually worked in absorbing the personality of the one it stabbed and with the Doctor, that meant things got a little whacky. Essentially we had the Sixth Doctor revert to the Fifth Doctor but in mind only which was really intriguing and just a little strange. But Colin Baker playing him didn’t feel as impactful as it could have been. I was impressed that Peri noticed the Sixth Doctor wasn’t quite who he normally was because I didn’t get any hint at all! It does just seem a little strange especially in audio to try and have a different actor play a different incarnation of the Doctor. It wasn’t necessarily bad because the Doctor is the Doctor after all, but I didn’t quite get on board with it. Turlough being actually quite pleased by the fact and hoping to have the Fifth Doctor help him save Trion was fascinating and I suspect we will be revisiting that story element in the next series with this trio. It feels impossible not to! I liked the mystery that came from the Dwarf Kings and the whole origin of the sword, and the constant warning being ignored to not be there was quite amusing! Warnings like that are never adhered to. I liked how mature Peri was in this story and it is often difficult to remember that she’s post the events of The Trial of a Time Lord. She’s been a queen for a long time and has definitely grown as a character which is good to explore and brings a different dynamic to her character for sure. I do think the way the Sixth Doctor regained his personality was a little weak and lacking in explanation, but the play on words at the end from Peri about him being the Doctor whether we liked it or not was a very nice touch. Overall, a great episode to conclude the series!

Rating: 8/10

Expulsion: A Crucible of Queens

"This is justice."

Writer: Lizbeth Myles

Format: Audio

Released: April 2026

Series: Sixth Doctor Adventures 10.02

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri, Turlough

Synopsis

In the aftermath of the Battle of Agincourt, the Doctor and Turlough find themselves aligned with opposing factions. Turlough befriends Charles, the Dauphin of France, while the Doctor is tasked with healing his father, King Charles VII. But two powerful women are also in play: the Dauphin's adviser Yolande, Duchess of Anjou, and his estranged mother, Isabeau of Bavaria. 

Can the TARDIS crew keep both queens happy – and keep their own heads?

Verdict

A Crucible of Queen was another strong episode to continue my way through the Expulsion series of Sixth Doctor Adventures! I’m still finding the dynamic between this new makeshift TARDIS trio of the Sixth Doctor, Peri and Turlough a tad strange but I’m enjoying the intrigue. It does feel a little harsh on Turlough that almost every conversation he has is about him leaving! He’s only just bloody returned! His history is sketchy understandably and whilst I’m not historically the biggest fan of his companion, I am feeling a little sorry for him now. Maybe that’s the intention? I’m not sure but it definitely doesn’t feel like he can just enjoy himself and the travels. Granted, arriving in the aftermath of the Battle of Agincourt isn’t the best of times and locations for to enjoy one’s self, but alas we move forward. I thought the premise behind this adventure was very strong and I’m always in favour of exploring historical events outside of England so this was a fun setting indeed. It’s something I had a little knowledge on but not a huge amount so I enjoyed the educational element of the story. It was really enjoyable! I do think the story would have benefitted from being four parts and doubled in length because there was so much value in the setting and the characters. I definitely got a sense of things feeling rushed which was a shame as things definitely felt in a hurry to get Turlough split from the Doctor and Peri with him remaining in Agincourt whilst they ventured to Paris. That’s quite the shift and scale for an episode lasting little over an hour. It had a little bit of a vibe of The Romans to it which is absolutely magnificent and a huge compliment. I thought the humour that came from the Doctor then being reunited with Turlough but not actually be in the process of killing for him was tremendous. I’m not sure he should have admitted that to his companion though! Good ol’ Sixie. I thought the battle for Charles as the Dauphin of France was fascinating and I particularly enjoyed Isabeau as his mother. She understandably wanted to be reunited with her son after all these years but the likes of Yolande as the Duchess and the advisor stood in her way. Her son was a changed man now and wasn’t the boy Isabeau remembered. The Doctor being forced into an extraction mission or Peri would face execution was brutal after all of the help he’d given her! But that was the reward for hard work. Even harder work. I thought Charles getting friendly with Turlough was good and the companion being referred to as my Lord was certainly a welcomed change for him! He didn’t really embrace it though and seemed offended by the Doctor noticing he was happy and suggesting he might stay! I thought the family dynamic in the episode was really good and the shock that came from the conclusion when Charles still went through with the murder was palpable. The silence was deafening but I could see his perspective also when it came to the threat to his family line and those in his family tree that had already been killed. In historical terms I do feel like that was justified, but it obviously wouldn’t fly with the Doctor and his companions. He knew that history would take its course and couldn’t be altered, but here we are. It was a nice pondering moment of reflection at the end of the episode to now send us into the finale for which I’m very excited! Overall, another great listen. 

Rating: 8/10

Expulsion: The Reckoning

"If I could kick you out, I would!"

Writer: Nev Fountain

Format: Audio

Released: April 2026

Series: Sixth Doctor Adventures 10.01

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri, Turlough

Synopsis

When the TARDIS is stranded in the path of a neutron star, the Doctor, Peri and Turlough have to flee. They end up in seventeenth-century London, where another old friend, Christopher Marlowe, is trying to get out of a pact he's made. Marlowe's soul is on the line – but has Turlough also made a deal with the Devil... again?

Verdict

The Reckoning was a strong start to the Expulsion series of Sixth Doctor Adventures! After a pretty memorable cliffhanger last time out at the end of Red for Danger! which saw the surprise return of Turlough, this was an intriguing way to kick things off for a jumbled TARDIS trio. I think the trio on paper are certainly unique and it's fun to get this kind of mashup. I really like how audio allows that and it's just great to have Peri be a little older now and the same goes for Turlough, although perhaps not to the same extent. The two companions aren't quite strangers to one another but the events of Planet of Fire were very different for each of them! Peri arrived and Turlough departed, but we saw both in all of their glory! I did like how Turlough acknowledged that he thought strongly of Peri and knew he was leaving the Doctor in safe hands with her and just hearing the pair here discuss the Fifth Doctor was a nice touch. Peri was on hand to tell her fellow companion just how different he has been since regeneration at the end of The Caves of Androzani and acknowledging The Twin Dilemma and that uncomfortableness in the TARDIS console room about her being a spy was fantastic. Turlough obviously had a shaky start to life in the TARDIS and I really did think for a while that this episode was almost a redo of Mawdryn Undead. I wouldn't have been wholly against that but I would be lying if I didn't get a semblance of things feeling repetitive. The cliffhanger at the end of part one as the Black Guardian was supposedly revealed was pretty glorious and I thought the prospect of having to do internal battle with them again was excellent. I also really liked how the Guardian was presented as female facing. That was a nice touch and brought things up to scratch with the times. I think having continuity with Point of Entry was not on my bingo card in the form of Christopher Marlowe being present but I'm all for it! It had been a decade since I listened to that Lost Story but I think we could actually do with more of this kind of thing. It gives credence to the audio Whoniverse as a whole which is just wonderful. I thought the Doctor having fun with the TARDIS acronyms was a delight because Peri was getting pretty darn angry by his expectations for her to understand what they stood for. The idea of her using the TARDIS manual as a doorstop though! I thought Turlough working out that their surroundings were not real and that everything was a simulation was impressive and I must admit that wasn't something I saw coming so that definitely worked as a good twist. I think the idea of the TARDIS trying to give Turlough a test and seeing him as a threat is a bit harsh considering everything he did from the events of Terminus onwards, but I guess it was TESS as the backup defence systems and another fun acronym. I'm sure the old girl we met in The Doctor's Wife would have thought differently. The transition from a potential neutron star crash to the seventeenth century was pretty smooth although I must say the concept behind an escape wardrobe is just ludicrous. Turlough being tempted by the return of Trion was good and I like the mystery that came from him being uncomfortable with the memories the TARDIS was able to see in his mind. I'm looking forward to exploring the dynamic moving forward for this series which is just fascinating. Overall, a fun start to the series! I expect emotions to be high as we proceed and I'm all here for it.

Rating: 8/10

Midnight Feast

"That's the smell of success."

Writer: George Mann

Format: Comic Strip

Released: May 2018

Printed in: Free Comic Book Day 2018

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Alice

Synopsis

Alice is less than impressed by the Doctor's racket making a midnight feast. Whilst she sleeps, he ventures for the perfect meal.

Verdict

Midnight Feast was a pretty average little comic strip story to conclude my reading of the 2018 Free Comic Book Day bonus print! I blogged the beautiful Catch a Falling Star yesterday but thankfully I have already read The Armageddon Gambit back in 2018 as part of the Seventh Doctor graphic novel from Titan Comics that collected their stories for that incarnation. So just like that this issue is complete! It's been a delight to read this as an eBook from BorrowBox and the resources of libraries continue to just be magnificent. I'm so grateful and forever indebted to them for everything I have been able to blog free of charge. Hopefully it never ends! Whilst my love of Gabby as the Tenth Doctor's companion made that run of Titan Comics very special to me, I was less enthusiastic about Alice in the same role for the Eleventh Doctor. She never felt like she fitted in with this incarnation to me so this was less of a fun return to a series I haven't dipped into for a very long time now. I thought the characterisation of the Eleventh Doctor here was really strong as he was a little over then top and enthusiastic about making a midnight feast. I just find Alice a little boring I think which doesn't suit this Doctor at all! Instead of joining in with the excitement or going off to join him on his food travels, she just goes back to bed? That's hardly great companion material is it? They're not wanting to go off exploring which I just find a little annoying. Travel! See things! I might just a andwich! That might just be the thing I despise the most. My girlfriend is a huge fan of it but I call it cat food. It's horrible stuff and I don't think I could physically put it in my mouth. The smell is more than enough to make me gag and when I make it for my partner on pasta, the moment any juices get on my hands I feel absolutely grotesque. I can't stand the stuff! The smell on my fingers, everything. It's just truly awful stuff. So I think the fact that she then entices the Doctor into having a tuna sandwich makes me dislike Alice even more as a companion now! The story itself wasn't anything special but I mean there really is only so much that can be done with five pages. I must admit that a story centred on food would not be what I expected from a George Mann authored adventure, so that was certainly unique! I would say though that it was definitely in character for the Eleventh Doctor to be chasing food. I was surprised though that he didn't get on well with the serving of fish fingers and custard! Seeing a Zygon suited up in their best Victorian garb at the diner was great but I do think there was a bit of a missed opportunity here to showcase other aliens and monsters. Why toy with just one familiar monster and feature unheard of ones like the Hoomis and the Vake. Why not the Sontarans and Rutan Host? I felt that would be a much better fit and could have injected some strong humour. Nevertheless, the Doctor returns to his TARDIS for the smell of a tuna sandwich and somehow it's appealing. Horrific. Still, a decent bonus and all the more for free. 

Rating: 6/10

Catch a Falling Star

"We went on adventures and encountered all kinds of angels and devils."

Writer: Nick Abadzis

Format: Comic Strip

Released: May 2018

Printed in: Free Comic Book Day 2018

Featuring: Gabby

Synopsis

Gabby is falling, and delivers her final thoughts to Cindy reflecting on her time with the Tenth Doctor.

Verdict

Catch a Falling Star was a sublime comic strip story! Oh it was so lovely to delve back into the world of Titan Comics and the Tenth Doctor comics they produced as that was a super fun time in my fandom. I was so saddened when their ranges came to an end because they were so just so good. They provided so much depth and exceeded the Doctor Who Magazine comic strip at the time which is no surprise considering how much bigger they were and the extent of their story arcs. I think not being contained to the current Doctor and having wholly original companions also helped things in terms of the overall story direction. It's fair to say that Gabby was my favourite companion from the Titan Comics run so to revisit her here in a kind of epilogue to her journey as a companion was just a delight. I've had a little bit of a weird relationship with the Free Comic Book Day stories and I really do need to compile a list of what I have and haven't blogged and ensure I get caught up. I would have been living in Bath as a third year student at the time this edition was released and there's a really good comic shop there called American Dream Comics that surely would have partaken in the event. I'm not sure why I never obtained a copy but I was so glad to see this on BorrowBox and ensured that I quickly downloaded the eBook! This was only five pages long but it was just tremendous. I absolutely adore the style of comic strip when it comes to Gabby being featured as the narration being in the form of her writing notes in her sketchbook is just wonderful. She's also just incredibly likeable and having her in reflective mode here was glorious. I definitely thing reading now some eight years later has benefited me and it's been six years since I blogged The Good Companion and would have finished her journey in the TARDIS, so this was pretty nostalgic in a way. Seeing the references to Revolutions of Terror with her as a waitress was marvellous and that's a comic that has stuck with me for a very long time in kicking off this whole era. I really loved the imagery of the numerous monsters and aliens Gabby encountered alongside the Doctor with the illustrations of the likes of Sutekh, Cybermen and Sontarans all looking pretty glorious. The design here was pretty epic, especially considering it was released for free! The attention to detail was second to none. Gabby reflecting on getting pally with Anubis as the Egyptian god that wasn't all bad was a nice touch and I also enjoyed how she was able to almost apologise to Cindy for not quite loving her in the same way she was loved by her. The idea of her following Gabby and not the Doctor into the TARDIS was really quite poignant and showed just how much she cared for her. She was basically an accidental companion and that was a strong reminder here. I think the moment she is falling is presented nicely and having her fall into the TARDIS of the Twelfth Doctor is pretty incredible. I can't believe we haven't had any adventures of them together! What a team. I like that she recognised him from Four Doctors and The Lost Dimension, and here she is grateful that he kept his word even if it was with a different face in catching her when she fell. Overall, just a wonderful little comic strip! 

Rating: 10/10

Pandemonium

"History shouldn't be breathing."

Writer: Katharine Armitage

Format: Audio

Released: April 2026

Series: Ninth Doctor Adventures 4.05

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

The past has broken through into the Powell Estate and not even the Doctor knows what's happening! With more and more historical figures appearing, it's a race to figure out what's behind this, before the past becomes the present and all hell breaks loose...

Verdict

Pandemonium was an excellent episode to continue the ongoing seres of Ninth Doctor Adventures! I thought this was another really strong story and I liked that it acknowledged the constant landing in the Powell Estate that has ensued for the majority of this range. I like that the Doctor landing there so frequently has now had an effect temporally and I kind of thought of this story as a contained version of The Wedding of River Song in how history was spiralling through the cracks into the modern day. I would say this was a little more controlled though as the figures from history all arrived one by one and were coming in some sort of order. That in of itself was a fascinating concept and when it was later revealed that they were coming through in the order in which they died, that really was quite intriguing. Talk about structure! The realisation in the TARDIS as well from the Doctor when he was announcing to Rose that they had arrived in the most horrifying place imaginable and simply stating 'your mother's' to his companion in answer to her question was just astonishingly good. I thought Christopher Eccleston was on top form here and I am so delighted that Big Finish continue to give his incarnation of the Doctor so much life. He really is excellent. Kudos must also go to Billie Piper in how well she is portraying the earlier version of Rose from Series 1 two decades later! The series feels so authentic and that really has been such a strong selling point of its appeal. Glen was a really nice character as someone on the Powell Estate that Rose knew well as a former babysitter and him being the one to have an account of everyone that had come from history was fun stuff. The importance of that book would soon be realised pretty unexpectedly but the mystery getting explored was all part of the story's fun. His being gay was obviously not a big deal to anybody in the relative present day of 2006, but the fact his Paul came back from the dead after some forty years odd was obviously emotional and it was just lovely that briefly they didn't have to hide their relationship. I think that's really nice and was a good showcase of how society has evolved. Jackie's relationship with Edith Nesbit was hilarious and I really do enjoy how much Rose's mum brings to these contemporary episodes. She's so much fun! I did like how she got a little serious in parts though and it was nice to know that she had trust in the Doctor to put things right. She was also very accepting of the fact that those coming back from the dead wouldn't stay for long. That was a tad sad for the community. I was impressed with the Doctor in working things out and I thought things did seem pretty ominous for a while. The significance of the Powell Estate was great but for me the highlight was how emotional things got for Rose as she realised that Pete might be the next one to arrive if the orders of death chronologically continued. The events of Father's Day are still relatively fresh for the Doctor and Rose so Pete is a very strong topic for them at the moment and even though he wouldn't be the real article, Rose cherished the idea of one final hug. I was surprised that Jackie didn't feel the same way and I can understand that because obviously she has managed to move on after nearly two decades. Grief was dealt with from different perspectives throughout the story and Glen and Paul were a big part of that, but the ambiguity for Rose as well at the end in not knowing whether it was Pete who called out was poignant. The threat of demons at the Powell Estate was really strong to set us up for what looks to be a mid-series finale in two month's time which is exciting! Also, the use of Bad Wolf in the episode from the demonic figure was glorious. Really well done. Overall, a brilliant listen! 

Rating: 9/10