Objective: Earth - Time of the Vulpreen

"We are not giving up our world."

Writer: Roland Moore

Format: Audio

Released: November 2022

Series: UNIT: Nemesis 3.04

Featuring: Kate, Osgood

Synopsis

UNIT coordinates a worldwide response to the arrival of Vulpreen Arches around the globe. Troops stand ready to face the invaders.

Kate Stewart and Osgood form an uneasy alliance with the Eleven to destroy the time fields that protect each Arc and which are being used as a devastating weapon by the Vulpreen. But when the invasion starts, the odds may be stacked too heavily against them...

Verdict

Time of the Vulpreen was a very good episode to conclude the Objective: Earth third series of UNIT: Nemesis! This is a superbly strong and consistent spinoff range that I am thoroughly enjoying, and despite the high rating here I can't help but feel slightly shortchanged by the last few minutes of this episode. There's nothing bad at all about anything that happened, I just think the timing could have been better. We've had four episodes to comprise this boxset and it just feels like the last one should have some semblance of a conclusion, even when it's the third of four series overall. They all follow on but leaving on a cliffhanger just felt like bad timing. I already own the next volume as I'm a few years behind here, but I think I would have been quite annoyed if I was up to date with this range in 2022! The prospect of the Vulpreen joining forces with Missy is exciting and I'm particular intrigued by a rematch with Osgood after everything that happened in Dark Water/Death in Heaven. But it just felt like the Vulpreen were on their way here and then an even bigger and (let's be honest) more interesting threat is on the verge of arrival. The Eleven was basically made surplus to requirements which is a bit of a shame but the Vulpreen had another Time Lord now and she had already been in action. She was the one with the knowledge capable of breaking the worldwide connection that shunned Osgood's efforts and she was the one with the mastery of time that saw a similar vision to the Vulpreen. Apparently. I already suspect she will dispose of the Vulpreen herself in the final boxset, but until I get there I look forward to the anticipation building! I was impressed with the Eleven being on the side of UNIT here and the throwback to the Third Doctor's catchphrase of reversing the polarity of the neutron flow was terrific. He even professed to Varliss that he'd joined the winning side which was unexpected but then he was taken away by one of the time bubbles to who knows where and when. A shame he won't encounter Missy here as the potential there amongst this backdrop is incredible! I have really enjoyed the threat that comes from the Vulpreen arches and the sacrifice Josh was going to make to blow one up and cause a huge step backwards for them was admirable. It was Daniel though who took his place after he had been aged considerably and couldn't face living as an elderly man. It was logical and for Osgood it was lovely that she was reunited with Josh after an emotional goodbye. Are these two going to get together for the finale? They're well suited! I thought the threat carried by Varliss alone was impressive and he really has shaped himself as a strong villain. He oozes presence and authority which is really good. I am excited for his interaction with Missy as they don't exactly same like a pair made in heaven, but who am I to pre-judge? Even though this was a finale, it felt more like a setup for the concluding boxset and that's something I am very much looking forward to listening to. Overall, a great audio to conclude another great series! 

Rating: 8/10

Objective: Earth - Axos Unleashed

"These are actual claws of Axos."

Writer: Katharine Armitage 

Format: Audio

Released: November 2022

Series: UNIT: Nemesis 3.03

Featuring: Kate, Osgood, Naomi

Synopsis

With the threat of a Vulpreen invasion imminent, a new menace presents itself in the shape of golden humanoids. A foe from UNIT's past. 

Axos has escaped the Time trap it was placed in years before and has returned to feed off the Earth.

Verdict

Axos Unleashed was a very good episode to continue my way through the Objective: Earth third series of UNIT: Nemesis! This was another story feeling like a slight detour from the overall story arc whilst maintaining the continuity nicely and ahead of what is sure to be an explosive finale, this was a nice little moment to take a breath slightly. And considering what actually happened here that's quite the ludicrous statement from myself! The cliffhanger finish to By Jacqui McGee was replayed here in a Classic era style which was good because this episode certainly paid homage to a very well renowned serial! As far as Axos is concerned, this is a direct follow on from The Claws of Axos which is great and I love that the Vulpreen strengths are once again highlighted by their ability to have freed Axos from the time loop in which the Third Doctor trapped them. Those events were touched upon a lot here and it was lovely to think of Kate hearing that encounter as a bedtime story. I'd also love to hear the Brigadier doing the voices! Osgood has obviously geeked out over numerous UNIT case files and with this particular event featuring Kate's father in a prominent role, it's no wonder she had a depth of knowledge about Axos. The idea of it being a single entity was explored really well and Li likening it to a nine-headed Chinese god was terrific. I thought she offered so much here in highlighting the strategic importance of the arch locations and their proximity to some of the planet's biggest oil reserves. That was wonderful and I am so happy that she will be sticking around. She offers a lot and I hope she gets to stay around at UNIT. In thought it was good for this episode to have Naomi again in something of a more prominent role but I thought this was her weakest display. She doesn't scream past companion which I think is actually an important quality and she just seemed a little silly with the speed of her suggestion in utilising the Eleven to ensnare Axos back into the time loop from which they were freed. I'm all for getting more of the Eleven and he was fantastic once again here, but did Naomi really believe that he wasn't going to double cross her? That seems like a big oversight. To be fair, Osgood even agreeing to Naomi trying to persuade him to join their cause was a surprise too as I thought she was better than that. Kate's reaction to hearing that the Eleven was on the loose was terrific as well. I liked how this episode was basically Osgood's science versus the Axons. Her deduction that hydrogen was poisonous to them was really clever as she realised that not everything was being used by their absorption and conversion. The timing of feeding that into their systems and corrupting Axos was great and I liked that despite that, a piece of Axos got away to leave a return open for the future. Their connection with the Vulpreen was intriguing as they were used to get the planet ready for Vulpreen invasion. I'm also not sure the transitioning from the golden to spaghetti forms quite came across as well as you would have liked on audio. It wasn't bad by any stretch but without the visuals it just didn't really mean too much. Overall, a really strong audio to continue the series and it's always fun to have an old enemy return. 

Rating: 8/10

Objective: Earth - By Jacqui McGee

"Goodbye, Jacqui McGee."

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: November 2022

Series: UNIT: Nemesis 3.02

Featuring: Kate, Osgood, Naomi

Synopsis

As Kate Stewart and the UNIT team race to escape a Vulpreen assassination squad, Jacqui McGee uploads the most important report of her career.

Vulpreen Commander Krillen is coordinating a hostile operation across planet Earth. But are the Vulpreen planning an immediate attack, or do they have something more sinister in mind?

Verdict

By Jacqui McGee was an excellent episode to continue my way through the Objective: Earth third series of UNIT: Nemesis! This was a really emotional story and judging from the title I ought to have guessed why the focus was so firmly on Jacqui McGee. She has been something of a help and hinderance to UNIT across the entire UNIT spinoff range and sadly her time has come to an end. But she went out fighting and with superb sacrifice. I'm jumping ahead to the end because it really does feel like the only place to start. Jacqui's prominence in this Nemesis era of UNIT has certainly felt more prominent but she has clearly had a little more than she bargained for when it came to her experience with the Vulpreen. She was isolated and indoctrinated and it's clear now that she never really recovered. She was used by both sides in The Vulpreen Encounter despite being in a safe house and with Kate targeted explicitly by Lord Varliss, Jacqui was the Vulpreen's way to get to her but also she was aiding her to safety on the run. I thought Kate showed some strong characteristics when it came to Jacqui and she wasn't in the mood for pointless negotiations. The way she just hung up on Commander Krillen was a sublime display of authority and the fact he called back immediately made him feel weak to me. His new orders from Varliss were to capture Kate so she could watch her planet be subjugated before she died so Krillen saw a simple exchange as an easy way to please his superior. Unto eternity. I thought the fact that Jacqui sacrificed herself with the time bomb was a fantastic way to showcase just how serious the Vulpreen were as a threat and I think something like this is what was required. I was almost wondering earlier in the episode if this fate was actually going to to befall Jimmy as the new recruit, but alas it was saved for who is basically a civilian and that's going to hit UNIT hard. Kate in particular. It was nice to have Naomi involved more in this episode as it still doesn't feel like her character has reached anywhere close to her potential, but having the action packed extraction of Kate was exciting stuff! I really did enjoy how well the action was presented in audio as that's something that doesn't always come across positively. It worked a treat here and it felt like the stakes were high given Jacqui's predicament. Yang Li as the Chinese tour guide was a lovely character and I liked how her knowledge of the ancient Chinese tombs and cities were of use to Krillen. The continued threat and build of arches disguised as asteroids is great stuff and linking the likes of Canada and Beijing is one hell of a shortcut! The Vulpreen's plan is obviously on the back burner given how this episode ended with Jacqui taking Krillen with herself, but the arches still had a strong purpose as the cliffhanger finish showed! The idea of a throwback to The Claws of Axos and the Axons taking on UNIT once again in this modern era is a delightful idea! UNIT really do have a lot to tackle here as they are clearly still reeling from Jacqui and picking up the after effects of the Vulpreen effort here, and now an entirely new and dangerous threat emerges! Overall, a fitting conclusion for a really good character and a fantastic episode to continue the series! 

Rating: 9/10

Objective: Earth - The Vulpreen Encounter

"Find Kate Stewart, and kill the defender of Earth!"

Writer: Andrew Smith

Format: Audio

Released: November 2022

Series: UNIT: Nemesis 3.01

Featuring: Kate, Osgood

Synopsis

When a forty-mile long asteroid drifts into the solar system, Osgood and new UNIT recruit Lt Jimmy Tan are sent to investigate on board the newly-built UK spaceship Starseeker. 

Kate Stewart visits a UNIT safe house in Norway where Jacqui McGee is recovering from the trauma of her experiences at the hands of the Vulpreen. She needs Jacqui's help against the Vulpreen threat – but can she be trusted?

Verdict

The Vulpreen Encounter was a great start to the Objective: Earth third series of UNIT: Nemesis! This felt like a little bit of a reset for the series as we take stock of roughly where we are after an eventful first two boxsets in the range! This did have a feeling of more like setting things up whilst sticking to the continuity already established, but it's clear that some time has passed since the events of Ten Minutes in Hell. It's understandable to jump ahead a little and that's no more evident than the situation Jacqui McGee finds herself in. Having her essentially imprisoned at a safe house in Norway is certainly a unique kind of seclusion but to be fair to Kate, it was at her request that she was isolated. So it was no surprise when Kate wasn't exactly welcomed with open arms as she arrived! The mission for Osgood and Jimmy was intriguing as they utilised Starseeker to investigate a pretty substantial asteroid. Trying to picture a forty-mile long asteroid in space was a little difficult to put a scale to because that just sounds enormous! Jimmy recalling the warning of the Vulpreen last time out and how an invasion force was coming was good but I didn't agree with his comment about there only being one asteroid as if it wasn't many. If it's forty miles long that's a lot of room for Vulpreen! I thought their threat continuing mostly from afar was good and it keeps things building for the series to come, but I do have fears that they may run out of steam if they don't do something big in this boxset. Having Jacqui on their side remains a really interesting subplot but it also feels like repeating potential with her being the weapon UNIT can use against the Vulpreen because of her connection to them. Hearing her converse with Varliss was good and I liked how Kate didn't hide her presence. Referring to her as the defender of Earth was a nice title too that I think ought to catch on! Commander Krillen was another good character within the Vulpreen arsenal and Jimmy was quick to stand up to him with force and aggression. Perhaps a little too boisterous and on the front foot? He was a new recruit after all and it was good to have Osgood alongside him. She's much more experienced and when he was subjected to the Vulpreen torture efforts she brought him back to reality really nicely by getting him to think about and call out his family. She learned a lot about him which was good as the listener to get some of his backstory and Osgood could also relate with him as well. Kate and Jacqui almost playing a game of cat and mouse within the safe house was amusing but things really did get serious between them. Jacqui was actually calling the Vulpreen with her mind and the demonic sounding chant which was disturbing. Even after all of this time, she was still in the entrails of the Vulpreen and couldn't do much to prevent it. She was aware and yet kept on going. Varliss needed proof of her loyalty beyond just words and that meant Kate needed to die. Jacqui giving her a warning to run off before she set the chase going was excellent and Krillen also commanding that the defender of Earth be killed sets us up very nicely moving forward. A strong cliffhanger and premise to move forward with! A great listen to kick-start the series. 

Rating: 8/10

The Meddling Monks Part Three

"Did somebody say six?"

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: June 2026

Series: Dark Gallifrey 5.03

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, The Monk, The Nun

Synopsis

Monky Puzzle

An international jigsaw competition has come to town. Do the Monk and the Nun have time to compete before the arrival of a very special guest? There's only one way to find out. What could possibly go wrong?

Monky About

What's it all about? Well, it's a Big Finish finale so there's bound to be explosions, and chases with perhaps a starry cameo and a threat to all life on Earth. What could possibly go wrong?

Verdict

The Meddling Monks concluded the fifth series of Dark Gallifrey in intriguing and very good style! This felt different to the first two (or four depending on how you want to look at it!) parts and that isn't too much of a surprise given this was the finale. A Big Finish finale indeed! This was a lot of fun and I think it was the right call to inject the Doctor into the series. It makes sense and whilst it was tongue and cheek acknowledged that once he arrives he steals the show and takes all of the focus and attention, it is the Whoniverse after all and he's always the main character. I thought the format was intriguing and I had initially intended on following my blogging style for the first two releases in having two blogs for each with the separate titles, but this one caught me off guard and had its own twist! The story titled Monky Puzzle feels like a big red herring because we never actually had the Monk and Nun entering a jigsaw competition. It potentially should have been recognised as not something that was actually going to happen but given how whacky this instalment of Dark Gallifrey has been and the comical nature of the Monk, I thought anything could be possible! I was really taken aback though with the end credits coming at like six minutes for the first part and I felt it was still going to be two separate blogs because the Big Finish app had the parts at twenty-nine minutes each and I didn't feel there was any kind of obvious point where the first part ended. The flow was great! It was a really entertaining listen and I thought the introduction of the Doctor was tremendous. I wouldn't have thought that the sixth incarnation would be the most obvious choice for a sitcom style adventure, but he slotted in very nicely! Having John introduce him as Colin Baker felt like breaking the fourth wall a little too much in my opinion, but it was nice that he answered the call of the Nun! Touching upon Dark Gallifrey as something without naming it was good and I liked that this Doctor was from before it whilst they were after it and searching for it. What would they do with it if they found it? I guess we'll never know. I thought the Doctor arriving signalling that things were going to take a more serious turn was very good and he provided logic to the surroundings of then Monk and the Nun. He realised they were within a sitcom but specifically one for the radio broadcasting format. I thought that was neat and they soon realised that everything around them was all sound and not heard, only inferred. That tied in very nicely with the audio format for the listener experience. It's certainly unique to have an audio about an audio! John's origins being touched upon but not entirely understood was good and I think it's right to keep a being like him that was so focused on laughter and against everything being serious as ambiguous. The Doctor utilising the format to his advantage and summoning his TARDIS was excellent. He played his surroundings for his own comic effect. I thought the twist of him only being able to take one incarnation back was good and it just had to the Nun because he hadn't met her yet and that was played out well. The Monk was left behind but he was delighted that the sitcom effect was over! Playing around with being something out of time yet in time was good and I did like the incomprehensible nature of some of the story's elements. That's part of the fun. Overall, a great episode to conclude what has been a whacky release indeed! I don't think we'll get anything like this ever again! 

Rating: 8/10

Doing Time

"Shepard wondered if he really was repeating events."

Writer: Lance Parkin

Format: Short Story

Released: December 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Steel Skies 11

Featuring: Fourth Doctor

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

Doing Time was a great story to continue my reading of the Steel Skies edition of Short Trips! This was very much an example of being patient with an adventure as even though this was only eleven pages long, I don’t think it had anything close to my final rating until the last page or two. It was really cleverly done with the use of time here. Considering the nature of Doctor Who, it really is startling how little stories usually are about time itself. The Steven Moffat era went some way to change that but it has endless potential and this was a strong example here. The Fourth Doctor features here for barely a paragraph but that was all that was needed. He gave a warning to Shepard and the stark reality of that only came to fruition as the story went on. That was fun to explore. The trio engaged in the large scale theft of the rotor from within the heart of a TARDIS were great as two of them were oblivious to what was happening around them whilst Shepard realised perfectly. He was just a little too late. His realisation that they had already been captured and defeated was tremendous and showed that the Doctor’s warning was very real. The idea of the Time Lords punishing the trio was excellent as they were experiencing Déjà vu. I think this being a short story helped with that because I’m not usually a fan of repeated text to highlight events repeating, but it only happened a couple of times in this page count so it didn’t get repetitive. The very idea of repeating events getting repetitive as a reader is pretty amusing though! I really liked the description from Shepard in realising they had been imprisoned in a cell made of time rather than bricks. With the rotor stolen, they had no means of escape and would be doomed to repeat events over and over. When they want to be, the Time Lords can be ruthless and brutal in their punishment. It’s also incredible really that for the most part the prisoners don’t even know they’re serving punishment. There’s something rather sinister there! I think some of the terms in the story regarding women and how Shepard viewed them was a little unnecessary although it did establish that he was a bit of an unlikeable character. I almost felt glad he was stuck in time. I was interested though in the lack of description of the companion accompanying the Doctor. It feels strange for TARDIS Wiki not to list the companion but I’m leaning towards Romana II with the description of the dress, her being a looker, and the way the Doctor snapped at her saying he was dealing with this. I don’t think he would do that to anybody else other than the first incarnation of his Time Lady companion. So I’m definitely going with Romana! She really didn’t play any roll in the story though so it doesn’t matter but I do like how a talking point can become of something that literally has no meaning. The use of quantum state of panic throughout was good and I really enjoyed the last page as things got whacky and wavy with the text presentation literally sliding down and across the page. That was very nicely done! Overall, a fascinating story to continue the book! And a great use of irony in the fact Shepard felt claustrophobic inside a TARDIS because of being blocked in by time. Very clever. 

Rating: 8/10

Survivors: The Harvest

"Nature's bounty."

Writer: Jonathan Morris

Format: Audio

Released: June 2026

Series: Planet Krynoid 2.03

Featuring: Maggie, Fletcher, Tiro

Synopsis

When a band of survivors reach a mysterious settlement, they are promised food, shelter and harmony. But deliverance in Greenhaven comes at a price – and Father Nature is ready to collect.

Verdict

The Harvest was an excellent episode to conclude the Survivors second series of Planet Krynoid! I wouldn't be surprised if this was the end of the spinoff range as a whole as despite the fun ambiguity at the end, this did have a feeling of being the end and it finished very strongly indeed. This was definitely the strongest episode of the boxset and the stakes really did feel high throughout. I thought the returns of Maggie and Fletcher in particular were very strong and I loved catching up with them again. Their relationship has been kind of all over the place and can you really blame them for what they went through? Fletcher initially suggesting that they might rekindle their love when all of this was over was a strong moment as I imagine that took some courage to speak up about in their situation, but it was even more poignant by the end and the sacrifice he made. I thought the premise of Greenhaven here was pretty superb. It felt very religious and essentially a cult which was intriguing from my own personal perspective as I had just listened to a podcast exploring Scientology on the morning dog walk and the similarities were startling! It's strange and wonderful how the world works like that. Could it really be a coincidence? It's fun to ponder. The settlement's inhabitants here were consumed by their religion and that all focused on Father Nature. Giving a name to an enormous Krynoid like that was excellent and it actually helped to have a formal piece of identification for it. The entire settlement actually being built on top of the Krynoid was a disturbing thought and by the end I imagine the scale was something resembling what we saw towards the concluding moments of The Seeds of Doom. It was a brilliant image painted in the mind. Hearing how the fence was actually built to keep the inhabitants in rather than the Krynoid out was a chilling moment where we slowly started to realise Greenhaven was far from a haven at all. Hurcotte and Dowlish were deeply disturbing in their admiration for Father Nature and the casting was absolutely perfect. Bryn Forrester (excellent name for this kind of series by the way!) was great here and I loved the threat that came from the composter. That's such a terrifying prospect but the use of nature here and the agreement with the Krynoid was harrowing. The newcomers noticing the settlement was predominantly made up of people younger than thirty and all fit and healthy gave a sign of some sort of ethnic cleansing. The result with those deemed unsuitable were that they were ripe for harvest. The imagery of them being pumped full of nutrients and literally fattened up whilst on drugs to make them happy and pretty delirious was incredible. I don't think this could be done in mainstream Doctor Who so it shows the appeal of this series and its darker nature. The moments they all just jumped in to be consumed by Father Nature and be at one with nature was incredible! They did it willingly and with overwhelming joy which was just a bit disturbing. I thought the reunion with Tiro for Maggie and Fletcher was a lovely moment and the parents were almost in disbelief! It was tremendous and the ship quickly boarding the rest of the inhabitants as Father Nature was still hungry made for a hugely exciting conclusion. The Krynoid holding onto the ship as it tried to take off proved problematic and the sacrifice from Fletcher was admirable. Poisoning the Krynoid was one thing which was a very clever plan, but now it had to be finished once and for all. Or was it? Because the ambiguity at the end with Maggie feeling something iffy was very nicely done. Will we get a third series? I'm all for it if we do! Overall, an excellent listen to conclude the series. 

Rating: 9/10

Survivors: The Harrow

"This could be an entirely new life form."

Writer: Georgia Cook

Format: Audio

Released: June 2026

Series: Planet Krynoid 2.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv

Synopsis

Nobody knows what really happened to Station One, Verdana's first, doomed colony. But after materialising in the path of a Krynoid, the Doctor and Liv are about to find out.

Verdict

The Harrow was a very strong episode to continue my way through the Survivors second series of Planet Krynoid! This linked up with the Nightfall first series very nicely as this was a funky little prequel to Sunset which worked very well! I was excited before the story was even released to find that we would be getting an Eighth Doctor and Liv story because they're a brilliant pairing and the more we get of them the better in my estimation. I liked the continuity of them addressing Helen's absence but she wasn't really missed here and it felt like a nice little throwback to have these two on their own. It's been a while! There's a really strong vibe and atmosphere that comes from the Krynoids and whilst The Seeds of Doom is rightly revered, it is impressive how well Big Finish are doing in establishing them as a fantastic monster. There's a tense atmosphere throughout and the feel of the entire spinoff feels dark. I like that it's definitely more suited to an adult audience and it just works well in feeling both authentic but incredibly different as well. It doesn't always feel like it's Doctor Who even with the Doctor around and that's a huge compliment. With the output volumes that Big Finish have they need stuff like this and it just works. I do enjoy playing around with time and release dates so this being a prequel to an episode we had last year was fantastic and definitely explained a few things about the Eighth Doctor's presence there! This was a hundred years out from those events and it was good to separate him from Liv towards the end as an explanation of why he was travelling solo. She had a strong outing as companion as she normally does and I think her med tech background definitely came into play where the Krynoids were concerned. I also thought it was pretty amusing for her to want to try some sort of honesty route and not have the Doctor use the psychic paper when introducing themselves. Eleena was a really strong character and other than the Doctor and Liv she felt like the centre of attention and focus, and rightly so. She was really engaging and I quite admired her. Phillip was another one who made a big impact and his death was incredibly emotional! I didn't see that coming which is always good and it says a lot about the character that it felt like a monumental moment and shift in the episode. The desperation of him not quite reaching Liv and needing to let go to prevent the Krynoid spread was terrific. I thought the Krynoid infecting the Doctor was really good and the image of him being all green was great! How is that not more evident on the cover? I liked the continuation of the threat from mere seed pods but we continue to learn that where the Krynoids are around, that's actually devastating. Something so simple and innocent looking becomes a disaster. Every single time! I thought Amesus was good as the Overseer and Katarina also worked well as Phillip's daughter. I think her presence as his familial connection just enhanced the desperation of his death as her name was one of his final words. The conclusion worked well in tying up some loose ends with where the Doctor went and Liv feeling the Krynoid within her die as the cultivator clashed with the Krynoid was pretty neat. There was a lot of action in the story which isn't always the best route on audio, but I think it worked well here. The Krynoid threat is very real and the signal being sent keeps the overall arc ticking over nicely as we head into the finale. It's one I'm very excited for! Overall, a great listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Survivors: The Hunt

"We're barreling back into hell."

Writer: Jonathan S Powell

Format: Audio

Released: June 2026

Series: Planet Krynoid 2.01

Featuring: Letty, Tiro

Synopsis

Blackmailed by the unscrupulous Raynor Cross, Sunlight survivors Tiro Hart and Letty Hodan must battle the icy remains of the life they left behind. But they are not the only ones with their sights set on a pod.

Verdict

The Hunt was a strong start to the Survivors second series of Planet Krynoid! I had no doubt that after the Nightfall opening series that we would get a sequel and this kicked things off very nicely with what very much feels like a follow on. I think the Krynoids are ripe for their own spinoff series and without them even featuring properly here, their mere presence and potential arrival on the scene was enough to have something of a fear factor. I mean, this is basically a sequel to the entire first series and pitting Letty and Tiro back to Sunlight is a scary prospect. The very idea from Cross to cultivate her own seed pod is laughable to the pair after everything they endured there so for them to be back on a mission to see the devastation that was left behind is unfathomable. They had good points in questioning why a robot couldn't do the job and I firmly am in agreement that their physical presence was not necessary! Some sham about local knowledge was provided but really it just felt a bit cruel. I thought this episode did a really good job in showcasing just how impactful the first series was and the extent of death was really sold here. Not many made it out so it makes sense for the umbrella title for this series to be what it is. It looks like Letty and Tiro are going to be our main characters for the series which is great as I find the pair really enjoyable. They have a shared experience of the Krynoids and that provides them with a strong relationship. I look forward to that continuing to develop as the series goes on. I thought Latch was a fascinating character and I couldn't tell if he was actually series about his comic effect intentions. The sacrifices and risks he was taking for a laugh felt a little awkward I must say! His sinisterness was on show in full effect though and in what is a huge compliment I felt like he had vibes of the Eleven. He was that kind of maniacal and deranged personality that is so engaging. His fate was pretty emphatic though and I did like how the line about being tied up came full circle. That felt rather fitting! Saber as the computer entity in the story was just fine if not a little annoying, but that's more a personal preference. I think K9 is my only exception to that sort of character as I'm not a big admirer of the likes of the Vlinx or similar. Finding out it was actually on the side of Cross was a bit of a surprise but so was her appearance stepping foot on Sunlight in the first place! To Letty and Tiro that must have felt like a bit of a slap in the face knowing she intended on coming the whole time anyway, but they'd found her pod and two efforts were better than one. It was sinister but there was certainly logic to it! I thought the idea behind the tendrils and a botanist who was scared of plants because she knew what they could do was excellent and a fun provoking thought. I'm intrigued to hear where things go from here with the Krynoids seemingly also finding their way off world and being drawn towards something. But what? That's an exciting prospect and I look forward to listening! A very good start to the series.

Rating: 8/10

A Home From Home

"A community of monsters and aliens."

Writer: Nick Wallace

Format: Audio

Released: September 2018

Series: Short Trips Rarities 3.02

Featuring: Third Doctor, Liz

Synopsis

A woman, a solider, and a Time Lord walk into a bar. One of them is never seen again.

Where has the Doctor gone – and can he be rescued? Liz knows she's his only hope. But she's not the only hunter at large tonight...

Verdict

A Home From Home was a great little Short Trip rarity! I still can't believe that I didn't know the options available to me within this range and I guess the name of it is correct with them being something of a hidden gem. I think the vibe of Season 7 is unlike any other era of the show as it's such a tonal shift and doesn't really feel like anything that came before or after it. That's a really fun place to be and I thought this story slotted in nicely somewhere towards the end. Hell, we're probably post-Inferno with Liz having been at UNIT for half a year by this point and it's good to know that the gap between that serial and Terror of the Autons can be filled. I don't think it contradicts anything we see on screen and that's rather exciting as I think Liz is just wonderful and I can't believe she is only in four televised adventures! I was really impressed with the narration of Stephen Critchlow here as even though his take on the Third Doctor sounds a bit more Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart to me, he did a terrific job in capturing the feeling of Liz. Obviously the voice is going to be difficult with the difference in genders and tone shift that comes with that, but the feel of the character was there in the nuances and some of that credit must also go to the author as well. This is clearly a writer who knows Liz and that helps massively. I think this era is really good to explore for the Doctor as he's in a vulnerable position following his exile at the end of The War Games. He has certain knowledge taken away from him and he really is starting to feel confined on Earth. His escapism being found in Cardle Muir here was really good and it was quite normal for him to be seeking solace amongst others like him. The idea behind an alien community of outcasts and misfits was rather lovely and the Doctor fitted in perfectly. There's an innocent charm to the Third Doctor and that's why an alien community like the one here was just right for him. After thwarting invasion after invasion, he needed a break and who could blame him? His relationship with Gellial was intriguing and there was a feeling of him being a protector for the community. She was also something akin to royalty and when Liz found him so easily, the Doctor knew that something sinister was at play. Matthew using Liz to out the alien community was good and he was after Gellial which immediately set the Doctor into defence mode. He wanted a break but now the threats came to him and it was nice to hear how quickly he was on hand to sort things out. At twenty minutes long, this audio was never going to have too much depth and that naturally did mean a pretty swift conclusion, but the use of the sonic and changing the resonance to increase the camouflage and actually hide Matthew was somewhat unexpected! It was pretty unique which I liked even if it does mean UNIT having to go back and sort things out more permanently in due course, but it was a tad quick to provide full satisfaction. Regardless, a very pleasant twenty minutes or so was spent! A very good listen.

Rating: 8/10

Agents of the Vulpreen: Ten Minutes in Hell

"Everyone can be broken in time."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: March 2022

Series: UNIT: Nemesis 2.04

Featuring: Kate, Osgood

Synopsis

On the alien world on the far side of the Arch, the Vulpreen put their human prisoner through an ordeal. Osgood must lead a desperate rescue attempt – and she's got ten minutes to do it.

Verdict

Ten Minutes in Hell was a strong episode to conclude a very consistent and good Agents of the Vulpreen second series of UNIT: Nemesis! It appears that the nemesis is very much at large following this boxset which inadvertently actually only went as far as worsening the situation facing UNIT surrounding the Vulpreen, Arch and the Eleven. It really is quite the predicament they've got themselves in and at the halfway point of the overall series, that's a fun place to be in. Things are looking tricky and the toll is starting to show, especially for Kate now after what she went through over the course of this episode! I thought the story did a very good job in really establishing Lord Varliss as a very strong villain. On the face of it, the Vulpreen do have something of a monster of the week vibe to them which could be better, but Varliss here was pretty brutal in his treatment of Kate and Worrall. Kate was obviously pushed through to the other side and her experience on the void world was far from a positive one. She was pushed almost to breaking point and I really admired how much she appreciated that eventually Varliss would break her with his brutality. That put her in a strong position but Varliss was far from fazed despite her confidence. She was brash which probably didn't work in her favour because she believed that he was desperate for information surrounding Earth's defences because the invasion had already started and needed to be successful, but time was in his favour. Rather literally. The whole concept behind the flow and state of time being different on the prison areas of the void world was incredible and was just downright evil! For the prisoners, barely any time passed at all and as if that wasn't bad enough, they didn't age either. An endless and immortal life of being a slave to the Vulpreen basically. It was regimented and extreme. Worrall not knowing what she was even being punished for was pretty emotional and I did like the connection she fostered with Kate. The head of UNIT was determined to bring a rallying cry to the Vulpreen punished against Varliss and she pretty much succeed which was lovely. It had taken months though and the rescue party of Osgood and Josh trying to work out just how long ten minutes was on the other side was admirable. The relief Kate had in seeing Osgood again showed just how much she had been through as she was close to breaking point. I thought Josh taking seniority was good and was definitely some strong character development for him at a point where he feels comfortable. Jimmy dealing with the Eleven was impressive and the Time Lord's reaction to hearing of UNIT's plan to destroy the Arch with a smart bomb was glorious. He found the whole thing hilarious because that would very much achieve the opposite effect. The cliffhanger finish with the Eleven revelling in what's happened and the Vulpreen actually being freed as the Arch absorbed and fed back the power of the bomb was excellent. They could see the stars again and that meant they were free. A very nice setup for things to come! Overall, a very good episode to conclude another great series. I'm loving this range!

Rating: 8/10

Agents of the Vulpreen: The War Factory

"His daughter's in charge of future UNIT!"

Writer: Lizzie Hopley

Format: Audio

Released: March 2022

Series: UNIT: Nemesis 2.03

Featuring: Kate, Osgood, Bambera

Synopsis

Temporal anomalies strike in the present and the past – 19th century infantry at Belmarsh Prison in the present day, and Brigadier Winifred Bambera is confronted by Tudor warships on the Thames in the late 20th century.

Enquiries by UNIT past and present lead them to the site of Woolwich Arsenal, where the Eleven is trying to create a bridge to another world. And UNIT will learn he's not the only one on the side of their alien adversaries.

Verdict

The War Factory was another great episode to continue my way through the Agents of the Vulpreen second series of UNIT: Nemesis! I must admit this one caught me by surprise as I figured that after basically a break from the entire story arc with Power of the Dominators last time out that this was going to be another 'filler' of a kind with Brigadier Bambera returning. Instead, it was very much crucial to the ongoing story of the Eleven and the Arch! That's no problem I was just more expecting this series to be a bookend type of thing but alas we're well on our way. I thought the concept behind two eras of UNIT clashing was wonderful and who better than Bambera and Kate? They're two incredibly strong lead characters as the leaders of their respective UNIT teams which I really admire. It's clear that this encounter for Bambera is sometime shortly after Battlefield as she's recently encountered Kate's father and the prospect of her contacting him was tantalising. The prospect of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart seeing his daughter head UNIT sounds pretty delightful. Maybe we'll get that one day with the brilliance of Jon Culshaw? Bambera and Kate were fantastic together though and I loved how they had mutual respect right from the off. Kate obviously has the benefit of being from the future but Bambera soon shared similar sentiments knowing who she was the daughter of. The Eleven being responsible for the window into the past was intriguing and I like how his efforts to free the Vulpreen saw things go awry on a smaller scale here. The prison and focus on Woolwich Arsenal was really strong and an entire wall of the former going missing temporarily is obviously a concern! Osgood and Jacqui staying in the present was good and I really liked how the story was being told across numerous timezones without getting too convoluted or confusing. That's an impressive feat to accomplish! We had Tudor warships and gunpowder from the sixteenth century to go alongside everything that came from the UNIT of the present day and meeting Bambera in between. The firework show of the Eleven was impressive and I liked how he was still as maniacal as ever. Jacqui firmly being on the side of the Vulpreen was difficult for Osgood to accept but after three months of brutal indoctrination and subjugation, it's not exactly a surprise. Especially considering she's not a UNIT operative. She would have been petrified on the other side of the Arch! I am almost half expecting her to be bluffing come the finale but I just can't see it now after the extent to which she helped a Vulpreen prisoner here. The role of Lauren Huff was really strong and she made a big impression right away. Her turning to the dark side made it a little predictable that she would make a sacrifice at the end – which was an incredibly powerful moment by the way! – but I'm not convinced that the Eleven is in safe hands with UNIT. They stopped him harnessing a literal atomic bomb from 1947 here which was pretty audacious even for the Eleven but even with him being shot, he still feels like he's in control. That's awfully exciting. The Vulpreen cliffhanger and them taking Kate is a great setup for the finale to come, and I'm looking forward to hear how things conclude! Overall, a very good listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Agents of the Vulpreen: Power of the Dominators

"You don't get to play the high and mighty Dominator."

Writer: Kenneth Grant

Format: Audio

Released: March 2022

Series: UNIT: Nemesis 2.02

Featuring: Kate, Osgood, Harry, Naomi

Synopsis

Portstone New Town is a living space for the future. A dream community, or so the advertising promises. But UNIT discovers the developers are alien Dominators. Which means there's a more sinister purpose behind Portstone, and the Dominators' deadly killer robots – the Quarks – can't be far away.

Verdict

Power of the Dominators was a very good episode to continue my way through the Agents of the Vulpreen second series of UNIT: Nemesis! This was an exciting one beforehand because the prospect of the Dominators returning is wonderful. Now, I don't think The Dominators is anybody's favourite serial but it is one I have watched a number of times and despite its flaws (really, it's not bad!) it has a little sense of nostalgia for me. I think that's because a lot of the Second Doctor's stories in Season 4 are missing so this is one of the first ones of his era you can watch in full and that really does mean a lot. I also just enjoy the appearance of the Dominators with their bulky shoulder pads. I thought the presentation of them here was really impressive and definitely captured the essence of their past on screen appearance. It's also great to play around with Naomi and Harry having encountered them before (which I believe to be alongside the Fourth Doctor in a series I'm not too far off reaching!) which provided them with a strong position having the knowledge of them whereas Kate and Osgood did not. Naomi is an interesting character and it's fun having the ambiguity around her as a companion I'm yet to encounter. And yet here she is as a former companion now. I thought the concept behind Portstone New Town was interesting and the advertisement that opened the episode pre-credits almost made me think I'd clicked on The Meddling Monks! It was unique for sure and that's no bad thing. Where the Dominators come, the Quarks aren't going to be too far behind but I will say they don't have the same impact on audio as they did on screen. Quentin being a name given to one by Osgood was pretty fun and I liked how she took a liking to them despite their threat! The Dominators being focused on domination to such an extent that they wanted to destroy planet Earth entirely was excellent and I believe them in how ruthless they were. Efficiency was incredibly important to them which was really good and it went as far that a travel trip to meet in person had to be authorised because of the energy that would be expunged. Prast as the Director of the Dominators was good and a strong villain but it was nice to hear Sabo of a more inferior rank slowly grow to acknowledge that the Dominators were acting wrongly. That was a really intriguing aspect to the species and I didn't think it was even possible for them to not be dominant! I do think the scene at the end once they had been defeated and were captured by UNIT with them talking about showers and asking to borrow towels was a bit unnecessary and just a tad silly, but I can't be too critical of a lighthearted moment. I just don't think it stands the Dominators in good stead moving forward! The Quarks being disassembled was a shame also but that's one hell of a potential weapon for UNIT to utilise if they need it. Maybe the Vlinx utilised some of their technology? I quite liked how the episode was a break from the ongoing saga with the Eleven and it was good to just take stock on that and have a solid hour of storytelling. The Eleven isn't forgotten about, but he's far from being the only threat! Overall, a great listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Agents of the Vulpreen: The Man From Gallifrey

"We seek a new home."

Writer: Andrew Smith

Format: Audio

Released: March 2022

Series: UNIT: Nemesis 2.01

Featuring: Kate, Osgood

Synopsis

As Osgood works flat out to rescue a lost friend, Kate is at a demonstration of a new UK spaceship, the Starseeker. There she meets two people. 

Lieutenant Jimmy Tan looks like potential UNIT material, and the stranger called Hasper knows a lot about UNIT and the Eleven. He should – he's the Celestial Intervention Agency operative who sent the Eleven through the Arch millions of years ago.

Verdict

The Man From Gallifrey was an excellent episode to kick off the Agents of the Vulpreen second series of UNIT: Nemesis! I was thoroughly impressed with the opening series so I have wasted no time in continuing the adventure and it looks set to be another stellar boxset if this opener is anything to go by. I just love the dynamic of this series as UNIT somehow feels more expansive than the first eight series of its own Big Finish spinoff range and I think that's testament to Kate and Osgood. This is their tenth boxset in the lead now and they're just wonderful characters. I do think Harry is more deserving of small cameos that he had here, but I'm sure there will be another episode in this series where he takes the lead role. And he won't be the only one if the cover art is anything to go by! I thought the follow up to The Curator's Gambit was really strong and I was intrigued that three months had passed since Jacqui McGee was lost on the other side of the Arch. She has clearly gone through a lot on the other side to the point of indoctrination by the Vulpreen. It's still early days for them as a monster but there's definitely a lot of potential there. When you have them living in a void universe and the Time Lords knowing of them and deeming them a good place to imprison the Eleven, there must be something there in terms of a threat! I thought it was fascinating to introduce us to Hasper as the operative of the Celestial Intervention Agency that helped imprison the Eleven on the other side of the Arch. That depiction was good and the extent of sealing it beneath the lava of a volcano really did show they were taking every precaution imaginable. And yet with humanity involved here lay the Eleven once again. Kate not bargaining with him was really good and I loved that she was getting familiar and a little acquainted with his other personas. More of those please! I also adored Kate's reaction to hearing who Hasper worked for on Gallifrey. The CIA! The very idea. His knowledge of things was scaring her though when it came to the likes of the Under Gallery which was fun stuff and showed her in a rare vulnerable position. The role of the Starseeker seemed to get lost which was a shame but introducing Jimmy was good and I liked his background at the Ministry of Defence. His whole world was broadened when he was introduced to UNIT though which was good and it seems like he'll be sticking around. I'm not entirely sure he's needed but he made an impression on Kate with his actions here so a secondment of sorts seems to be on the cards. I thought the Eleven getting away with things and literally escaping with the Arch was quite spectacular! I was also intrigued to find that he helped build it and that can only mean bad things for his aims alongside the Vulpreen. The role of Jacqui is going to be pivotal moving forward as well I imagine which is good as she's a fun and often underrated character. Hasper not making it through by getting stuck in the zero room was an emphatic conclusion for him as well which I was surprised by! It certainly made an impact. Overall, another very strong episode in what is becoming a hugely successful spinoff range! A terrific listen and I'm excited to hear where things move forward from here. 

Rating: 9/10

Inmate 280

"What did it feel like to kill a man?"

Writer: Cavan Scott

Format: Short Story

Released: December 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Steel Skies 10

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Eighth Doctor

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

Inmate 280 was a good story in the end to continue my way through the Steel Skies edition of Short Trips! I think this jumped up a rating on the final page which is a pretty impressive feat as I must admit I’m not normally the biggest fan of stories in this prose range where the focus is on what is essentially a random character with no connection or history with the Doctor, or at least a character from the Whoniverse, extended or otherwise. That was the case here with Travers as we learned of his time as the last correction officer on the famous prison that is Alcatraz. That’s a fun setting to explore and I really did like the unique and historic nature of it. It’s a place I would love to visit as a tourist for its history and standing in America, so it seems ripe for the Doctor to be present. Two Doctors in fact! I don’t think it was the right move to disguise that Fells was the Seventh Doctor all along because if we knew earlier (or rather had it confirmed because it was pretty predictable) then it would have been preferable to know the Doctor was present. We all knew who he was but not having that confirmation just kept the doubt lingering in my mind. That was just a tad unnecessary in my opinion. I thought Travers was a decent character and struggling with him coming to terms for killing someone was a strong emotional story across the adventure. Being in that situation is not something I can imagine but I’d like to think that I would also have the courage and determination to pull that trigger in that moment. Saving your own life is something that will provide immense strength and it was intriguing for others to look on at Travers as they could clearly see that was his first kill. A life to save his own is certainly a powerful thing and I can only think that situation is where I could take a life. He was telling his story in the modern day which was good and the listener actually turning out to be the Eighth Doctor was a great twist. I must admit I didn’t see that coming and it was nice to know that the Doctor was looking back on his life and checking in with Travers. That was pretty admirable and just nice. It was also good to highlight in just a line or two that the Eighth Doctor felt strongly about looking back and showed despite just one regeneration between bodies, a lot had happened. The duration of these incarnations are shrouded in uncertainly given the Wilderness Years and that was exploited well here in a very subtle way. I can absolutely get on board with that. The threat provided by the Thekron was just fine and it did seem very Seventh Doctor for him to have trapped the creature below the fault line of Alcatraz at San Francisco. I’m also fascinated by the setting given the two incarnations of the Doctor who featured and the link to The Movie. That’s fun to think about as the point of these two Doctors converging. Feeding on negative energy or emotion is not a new or unique concept, but going to a prison the scale and seriousness of Alcatraz is a good place to do it! Did the Doctor not think ahead though of where he was trapping the Threkron? That seems like an oversight. I thought the action at the ending providing some ambiguity and allowing the Seventh Doctor to escape was pretty good and I liked that the Eighth was revealed to basically bookend things.  

Rating: 7/10

The Toy

"Can I be your friend?"

Writer: Nigel Fairs

Format: Audio

Released: September 2016

Series: Short Trips Rarities 1.01

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa

Synopsis

In her bedroom on board the TARDIS, Nyssa dreams of her long lost home, and a Forbidden Archway that never really existed – or did it?

In the TARDIS corridors she finds a flight of steps, a door marked 'keep out', and beyond, a locked room full of secrets. In particular a casket containing a jewel seems to call her. "Nyssa of Traken, do you want to be my friend?"

So begins a journey that takes Nyssa from snow capped mountains to vast citifies, and introduces her to people she seems to know so well. What dangerous landscape has she wondered into – and can she ever escape to safety, and the comfort of her travelling companions?

Verdict

The Toy was an excellent episode to kick off the Rarities range of Short Trips! For some reason I always thought this range was just audio readings of the Short Trips prose stories so I was going to wait until I reached those in their original format, but with the recent Big Finish sale on Short Trips and a little bit of research, a whole new world opened up for me as I realised there are countless of these that are original and which I do not own! So expect to see these cropping up in the near future of the blog as I make my way through them. And wow what a start this was! Firstly, whenever anything links back to The Keeper of Traken I'm going to like it because that was my first ever Classic era serial so the nostalgia is real. It's one of my all time favourite stories and that's why Nyssa is so well renowned for me personally as a companion. I was delighted to see that Sarah Sutton was the narrator and I must say she did an incredible job with her impersonations of the Fifth and First Doctors alongside a sublime take on Tegan that was far too brief! This is very much a Nyssa story despite the Fifth Doctor also featuring in a more cameo role with and she leads it wonderfully. I thought the idea of her dreaming about Traken was really nice because it's still so devastating what the Master did to her. She really had a rough deal considering that he took the form of her father before then wiping out her entire planet. It couldn't really be much worse for her and so it's no surprise that her suppressed feelings are coming out in her subconscious. I admire her a lot for staying strong. The Forbidden Archway was a really intriguing concept and what it opened up was quite incredible! Venturing through the TARDIS is always fun and it's a wonder that the plot device of picking something up that a companion ought not to hasn't been done more! There must be so much that the Doctor has picked up by this point of his travels which is fun to think about, but here it was a device that the Doctor had since he left Gallifrey. I thought that was so good and the jewel was pretty ominous in description but what came of it for Nyssa and partially the Doctor was sublime. It was a little strange for Nyssa to be referring to what was clearly the First Doctor as her grandfather and it was odd to think of her as Susan for a little while, but then when she was interacting with the Master I thought it was wonderful. The idea of him playing with time around the Doctor even before he had departed was magnificent and was a brief showcase of their history on Gallifrey together. I would love to get a series or a book one day depicting the early lives of the Doctor and the Master to expand on their rivalry and history, but this was a lovely glimpse that has got me wanting more! Nyssa got to see the orange skies of Gallifrey which I liked and whilst things did perhaps go a little too far with the jumping around time to see numerous incarnations of both the Doctor and the Master, I was more focused on Gallifrey. The suggestion from the Doctor that he was the reason why the Master also followed suit in leaving the Time Lord home planet was terrific and is definitely something I could agree with! Just the idea of Nyssa interacting with that very early Master is a delightful thought and it would have been great for the Doctor to get a glimpse too. He was clearly impacted by the ordeal which sold just how significant things were. The crystal having belonged to Susan was a nice way to bookend things with Nyssa being mistaken for her. Overall, a quite excellent half an hour spent! A delightful story.

Rating: 9/10

Beware the City of Illusions

"You're such an icon."

Writer: Nicholas Briggs

Format: Audio

Released: March 2026

Series: First Doctor Adventures 5.01

Featuring: First Doctor, Polly, Dodo

Synopsis

The British Government has a plan to drastically improve environmental conditions, thanks to the Gynt Foundation and its mysterious benefactor, 'Mr Hammond'. But the plan is bold and crucially requires the endorsement of a prominent green campaigner to allay any public fears. 

When the Doctor's former companion Polly sets off to investigate a fantastic, new, net zero city, nothing goes quite according to plan. For one thing, the Doctor himself unexpectedly appears. And for another, the city contains a terrible secret. 

With an older Dodo working for the government, the Doctor and Polly must fight a threat that endangers the whole of humanity.

Verdict

Beware the City of Illusions was a pretty average story to continue my way through the new First Doctor Adventures. My feelings could potentially have been swayed slightly negatively by the fact that I was listening to this on very little sleep after a redeye flight from Bucharest to London Luton on the six hour train home, but I was hoping that this would capture my imagination and inject some energy into me! Unfortunately, it was more likely to do the opposite. One of the first issues was the length of this one. It was just far too long at six parts. I don't understand why when you have three hours to fill in a release that a single story is even considered. Three stories of an hour long is a much better option in my opinion, and at the very least it should be a four-parter and a two-parter! A second issue I think is just the direction of this series now as we get closer to the end of the First Doctor era when it comes to the companions he is meeting out of time and out of sync. It's a fun concept but I don't really think much was achieved here in having the Doctor encounter Polly in his timeline before the events of The War Machines. Of course for her she's a long time after The Faceless Ones when she departed on the same day that she left so it was fun for her to see the first incarnation again, but with the Doctor not knowing her it's never really satisfying when they're conversing. There's no time to talk about Ben or her life since leaving the TARDIS which is a shame and it just feels like unnecessary restrictions. I also thought it was a bit rubbish to have Dodo in the future as well instead of as a current companion. Why not just have her and the Doctor from when he's travelling displaced? It was good to think that Polly and Dodo had a relationship based on their shared experiences in the TARDIS but it just felt off with the dynamic here. I also think the plot was a bit farfetched with the net zero city. That just didn't feel viable or even possible in the way it was presented here in basically modern day. It felt too futuristic and alien which wasn't the vibe I got and therefore seemed to hinder the political position of J-J. Polly being something of a celebrity when it comes to the environment as a green campaigner of significant prominence was a nice touch, but I never got that vibe from her on screen and felt like a role more suited for Jo. The Acquisitors also just felt like they were in the way really and couldn't be taken too seriously which was a shame as there was potential there. I also can't understand the involvement of Time Lords at the start when it comes to the First Doctor as if they're monitoring and tracking him with the ability to remove him from his current time stream, doesn't that contradict everything that came in The War Games? And then there was no resolution from them about him being out of time purely on an emotional connection. It all just felt a bit disconnected. The Tresherrik never felt like the threat that it was intended to be presented as which was a shame and I just never felt like I could buy into the stakes of things. I did though think Stephen Noonan gave a good performance and impression of the First Doctor which is always welcomed but I do think this range has perhaps run its course now. I note that there are no plans for a First Doctor boxset in 2027 as of this moment and that might be for the best. Overall, some good stuff in there but a bit of a mess to be honest. 

Rating: 5/10

World Game

"We ourselves cannot be seen to interfere."

Writer: Terrance Dicks

Format: Audio

Released: October 2005

Series: PDA 72

Featuring: Second Doctor

Synopsis

The Doctor has been captured and put on trial by his own people, accused of their greatest crime: interfering with the affairs of other peoples and planets. He is sentenced to exile on Earth. That much is history. 

But now the truth can be told – the Doctor does not go straight into exile. First the Time Lords have a task for him. From the trenches of the Great War to the terrors of the French Revolution, the Doctor finds himself on a mission he does not want, with a companion he does not like, his life threatened at every turn. 

Will the Doctor survive to serve his sentence? Or will this adventure prove to be his Waterloo?

Verdict

World Game was an excellent Past Doctors Adventure book! There’s so much to unpack here but this is a novel I have wanted to read for so long now. I’ve made it no secret that The War Games is my all time favourite story and I’m really intrigued by the current Second Doctor Adventures timeline going beyond that prior to exile. But it just feels a little different and more enigmatic in prose form which I like. There’s something appealing about the mystery of it all and this also ties in very nicely with the Second Doctor’s appearance alongside Jamie in The Two Doctors. Terrance Dicks is the master of trying to make things work and tie together when they really ought not to and that was evident with The Eight Doctors which surprisingly came into play here! That was a fun and unexpected element as the Eighth was encouraging the Second to do what was right. The prelude chapter depicting how the public record of the Second Doctor’s trial wasn’t the true version was really fascinating and something I can get on board with. I love how mysterious everything surrounding Gallifrey is at this point in chronology when we have only just been introduced to the Time Lords and that world was presented really well here. I thought Sardon was a strong character as the Time Lord essentially utilising the Doctor for their mission in interference where they couldn’t be seen to break their golden rule. A rule for which the Doctor had just stood trial! The irony was not lost there. Pairing him up with Serena was really good and I definitely had strong Romana vibes from both her full Gallifreyan name and the nature of her becoming companion for the story. A whole new horizon was opened up for her as she joined the Doctor in the nineteenth century within the midst of the Game. I love that this sees a return of the Players who made a huge impact in Players that absolutely warranted a return! Medium specific enemies building rapport is very exciting and the Countess in particular here was magnificent. I enjoyed her interactions with the Doctor massively as they touched on their past and the Grand Design. That was a bit whacky as I’m not sure her actions entirely made sense given that was seemingly fluctuating what side she was on when it came Napoleon, but the hints she kept giving to the Doctor were quite fun! She couldn’t help herself but it just kept giving him an advantage as he was obviously going to cotton onto what she was saying. The historic permutations between Nelson and Napoleon were really good to explore and I thought Dicks did a good job in explaining the history and its significance. Serena soon knew how important things were which I think was good to establish given her unfamiliarity with the period. I was not expecting her to sacrifice herself and die without regeneration though! That was a huge surprise but admirable. She’d survived a Vampire and a Raston Warrior Robot which was a good clue implicate that someone on Gallifrey was working alongside the Countess, but a side on bullet was her end. That was a shame as I felt she had a huge amount of potential! I enjoyed meeting the Countess across numerous different timelines and the Doctor and Serena utilising a Type 97 TARDIS to see the future and see the impact of things was really good stuff. I do love an alternate timeline especially one within a game! The Countess accepting defeat was good whilst leaving things open ended for her which was nice as a bit of ambiguity. I thought this story also introducing the psychic paper was a stroke of genius with the 2005 release date! It is fun to give that an origin story and it being a device of the Celestial Intervention Agency certainly makes sense. There was a great deal going on in the book which was all very exciting that I’ve probably missed a lot of the details! But overall the history and playing with it was excellent, the Time Lord mythos was delightful and I thought the Countess and the Players were fantastic again. A superb read!

Rating: 9/10

Between Two Worlds: The Curator's Gambit

"We are standing inside the product of a great artist's imagination."

Writer: Andrew Smith

Format: Audio

Released: November 2021

Series: UNIT: Nemesis 1.04

Featuring: Kate, Osgood

Synopsis

The arch is taken to the Under Gallery for safekeeping, under the protection of the Curator. When the Eleven penetrates the Gallery's security, the Curator initiates an emergency plan. He and UNIT play a game of cat and mouse with their pursuers within the Under Gallery's original location, Hampton Court Palace.

Verdict

The Curator's Gambit was an excellent episode to conclude the Between Two Worlds opening series of UNIT: Nemesis! I'm a sucker for anything to do with the Curator and I love that he has been given a life beyond The Day of the Doctor where for just a minute or so he made a huge impression. It's always a delight to hear Tom Baker and the relationship with Osgood was really fun as she was reminded of someone when interacting with him. Given that she adorned the Fourth Doctor's scarf in the aforementioned episode, that really is no surprise! I'm intrigued at his history with Kate and it's lovely to know that they trust one another. The Curator clearly had great care and knowledge for the Under Gallery which I loved and I just love the enigmatic nature of his character. He brings an atmosphere of intrigue and Baker is perfect for that with his almost whispering voice. It was a shame Harry had nothing much more than a cameo as I was expecting a little more from him and Naomi after Fire and Ice but I guess that will have to wait until the next boxset. The Eleven was tremendous once again and I think he must be the best original villain that Big Finish have created. That's no mean feat but he's just glorious. The concept of regenerative dissonance never gets old and hearing the Three actually have a bit more central focus in those shouting out was very welcomed. I still want to hear all of them when they were the latest incarnation but there's still so much time for that to potentially happen. Jacqui McGee caused trouble in this episode once again which was fun and I like how she always seems to find a story when she's least wanted. Josh was pretty reluctant to tell Kate that she had arrived at the gallery which was amusing but she soon got into more danger. The Eleven disposing of Ava pretty swiftly was a surprise considering how pivotal she was in Eleven's Eleven, but Jacqui would serve a similar purpose with the injection of controlling device. Osgood trying to trap the Eleven in the elevator was good and the twist of Clare having reverse it was nicely done. The mystery behind the Curator deepening with his longevity was fun stuff as we heard him commission a painting by Turner in the nineteenth century and that would actually prove very important for the story. Continuing the theme of being able to enter the paintings was brilliant and it was certainly a good hiding place for the Arch! The real article that is. I thought it was fun for the Curator to be one step ahead of everybody in having a fake in play. The image of the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors either side of Elizabeth I in a new oil painting for the Under Gallery was wonderful and it's a shame it doesn't adorn the cover art! I thought the use of Osgood's displacement field to resolve things at the end was good and neat, with a fun twist now with Jacqui being left on the other side. She was subjected to the Vulpreen as we set up the next boxset which was good but I was fascinated that the Curator didn't exactly seem enthralled or encouraging towards Kate about saving her. Some things were better left alone but she couldn't leave her there if there was a chance she was alive. Overall, a fun game of cat and mouse and a delightful finale for the series! 

Rating: 9/10