Sullivan & Cross – AWOL: Scream of the Daleks

"A killer that melts the flesh."

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: November 2022

Series: Seventh Doctor Adventures 2.02

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Harry, Naomi

Synopsis

Halloween 1969. The Doctor, Harry and Naomi respond to a scream for rescue. They find that people have been dying on the same spot on this day across millennia. 

But in their bid to stop the nightmare, the travellers have unleashed the Doctor's old enemy. This may be one cry for help better left unanswered...

Verdict

Scream of the Daleks was a great episode to conclude the Sullivan and Cross – AWOL second series of the Seventh Doctor Adventures! The title I must say is pretty excellent and got me excited prior to listening. I think it's safe to say that Harry and Naomi will be AWOL from UNIT for a good amount of time to come yet and that's very good. I think those two as companions bring out something of a more light-hearted version of the Seventh Doctor. Having them aboard the TARDIS and the interior being that which we saw during The Movie was fun stuff and I liked how it was described as being less like a spaceship. That is absolutely true and I don't think it's anything I have previously considered. Harry having all of space and time at the end of his fingers once again and choosing to want fish and chips was hilarious and that actually irked Naomi a little. She was very much more invested in following the scream. I thought the Shockstock festival was a really good setting and 1969 was a great year. I enjoyed the references to the Beatles and Harry actually claiming they were taking the stage to persuade attendees to get out of the woods was quite spectacular. The cheek! I liked the mystery of the same spot being the scene of a murder over a period of time spanning millennia. Talk about burying things deep! That was pretty disturbing I must say but with the killings separated by centuries and beyond, they were never going to be connected. One thing I'm not a fan of in stories with titles like these is the Daleks emerging as the cliffhanger. It almost becomes disappointing because we're not surprised in the slightest. That being said, I really appreciated how unique of a Dalek story this was because at this point that's not easy to achieve. The concept behind them being stuck between dimensions as they actually tried to conquer them. This was Naomi's first encounter with the Daleks which I enjoyed and having the Seventh Doctor describe them with hatred and how they had distain for the unlike was certainly a highlight. He knows by now that no matter what the Daleks were never going to go away and I think it's good that he's actually accepting that. The plan of the Daleks to lure the Doctor out over a period of millennia was pretty brutal but they had limited resources. The tear in reality was more of a slight gap than a full opening and that just meant a quick extermination in the same place at different times as the sun aligned. They were a little boastful in their confidence that the Doctor would free them. It was a little strange for the Doctor – even in this incarnation – to not go back and get Harry when he was left behind in 1969, but I did like how we got to know Naomi better when she was the sole companion for a little bit. I liked how she was standing up to the Daleks and whilst that may be her ignorance towards them, it showed boldness. The Daleks using their pathweb as a means to broadcast and tap into people's fears was brilliant and utilised the Halloween setting very nicely. It also provided a strong resolution with the Doctor using the TARDIS and her own telepathic circuits to lure them back into nothingness between dimensions. The Doctor is in the TARDIS and must be caught indeed. The trappers became trapped once again. The Doctor then turning out to be the one in the Yeti costume was quite fun and took the whole thing of the TARDIS jumping around different times and therefore providing the temporal boost to the Daleks for them to escape to a different level indeed! Overall, a very strong episode to conclude the series!

Rating: 8/10

Sullivan and Cross – AWOL: London Orbital

"I feel we have unfinished business."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: November 2022

Series: Seventh Doctor Adventures 2.01

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Harry, Naomi

Synopsis

Long ago, a massacre in a suburban house led to the young Harry Sullivan joining UNIT. But the murders were never solved. Years later, Harry and Naomi Cross investigate an oddity in the London Underground and uncover a whole different side to the capital. 

Creatures of myth are running amok across the city in a conflict going back decades. And somewhere in the shadows lurks a new incarnation of their old friend... the Doctor. And he's here to stop a war.

Verdict

London Orbital was a very good start to the Sullivan and Cross – AWOL second series of Seventh Doctor Adventures! After completing the Nemesis range of UNIT, I thought it would be a good time to fully delve into the adventures of Naomi Cross as companion. I'd been putting them off as I caught up with UNIT but after completing that range now, it felt like I was overdue getting to know this unique companion. I think the release schedule for her run as companion is pretty whacky and clearly Big Finish have taken liberties with how far in advance they record the Fourth Doctor Adventures. I try to avoid as many spoilers as possible but when you're playing catchup it's sometimes difficult! I'm not too far behind on the FDAs but I just find it baffling that Naomi's adventures aren't released in chronological order. I'm not sure what it adds and it just feels like I'm missing out slightly here as a listener. I still don't feel like I've been properly introduced to her and that's a bit of a shame and disservice to the character. Saying that, I thought the story was strong and the delayed arrival of the Seventh Doctor into the adventure was really well done. I thought Harry and Naomi could have been utilised much better in the Nemesis saga so I liked that they were centre stage here. Their dynamic was good and them having to explain to the Doctor that they weren't left in the right time after encountering the Dominators was great stuff. I also liked how the pair have read up on the UNIT files and knew a good deal about this incarnation in particular. Especially when it comes to his manipulative and testing nature. This is a very different Doctor to the one they previously travelled with and I'm looking forward to exploring that dynamic further. They didn't take too much convincing to rejoin him in the TARDIS with just a few stops along the way to getting them back to their own time. Just how reliable will the Doctor be in getting them there? I guess that's part of the journey now. I would be lying if I said I wasn't confused by some elements of this story but I think that was also part of its charm. The concept behind the different Earth that was the realm of Alfar was a little strange but I did love the idea behind science as words. To humanity, that looked like enchantment but it went much deeper than that. I like the incomprehensible and in some instances this was rather whacky. The different family factions of the Alfar were good but I do think a more distinct differentiation in their name would have been welcomed. Keryth actually being the traitor who was playing both sides against each other came to the forefront well and the Doctor guiding his companions into working that out was a really strong moment. It was like a teacher with his students. He knew that they could work it out. That felt very much of the Seventh Doctor. The significance of the Underground was excellent and the obvious reference to The Web of Fear came but unfortunately there were no Yeti this time around. Clerkenwell was good as the setting in that regard but I do think a lack of visuals hurt a little with the jumping between realms. Agrandir was a superb character though and that voice just oozed power and presence! Naomi realising that they needed to show that Keryth was perpetrating conflict was a pretty simple resolution in the end but in a story as complicated as this one, that was actually rather welcomed. The mythology and world building was impressive. It definitely had vibes of Battlefield which is certainly a compliment! I'm now intrigued to hear where things go for this trio moving forward. Overall, a great start to the series! 

Rating: 8/10

The Penumbra Affair

"The Doctor must never come here."

Writer: Paul Magrs

Format: Audio

Released: May 2022

Series: Beyond the Doctor 05

Featuring: Mrs Wibbsey

Synopsis

A letter arrives at Nest Cottage, warning of danger for all former companions of the Doctor. Intrigued, Mrs Wibbsey begins a correspondence with one Polly Wright – and soon finds herself with an unexpected guest for Christmas.

But shadows are gathering in the Hexford snow, and old scores are waiting to be settled. With Mike Yates and other friends around her, Mrs Wibbsey must navigate her way between facts and half-truths if she's to keep the Doctor's secrets safe, and live to tell the tale...

Verdict

The Penumbra Affair was a very good episode to conclude the Beyond the Doctor series from BBC Audio! This has been a thoroughly enjoyable quartet of adventures as whilst baring the same series name, I don't think The Kairos Ring really qualifies as part of the same set. It's a different writer and doesn't feature anything to do with Penumbra at all which is absolutely fine! I didn't actually know prior to pressing play who the lead character would be for this story and I was kind of expecting some of the companions we have heard from in this series so far to join forces, but instead we had Mrs Wibbsey! I didn't see that coming I must admit but it was good to have another adventure with her. She's a likeable character and it fits well into the continuity of the BBC Audio range. We had reference to Nest Cottage and that actually being a secret she was keeping of the Doctor's was a very nice touch. I thought the cameo from Mike Yates was great too and I liked the contemporary references to UNIT. It followed events nicely from Survivors of the Flux with him mentioning that they'd gone underground and I think that's a better description for them rather than closing down completely, especially considering the heights they would reach in the Fourteenth Doctor era and beyond! Yates reflecting back on Invasion of the Dinosaurs was also pretty poignant because even after all this time he still wasn't trusted by his old employers. That's a little sad but it's also understandable given everything that went down during those events. I don't want to sound harsh or critical when I say that this was a little bit of a tame finale to the whole Penumbra affair because I really enjoyed it, I was just expecting perhaps something more impactful after the build up. I liked the continuity with Bessie Come Home and her message reaching Wibbsey, and it also tied in perfectly with London, 1965 and Sleeper Agents in having Polly write a letter to Nest Cottage warning off any of the Doctor's other companions and linking to Ian and Polly. Leamann posing as Polly was fascinating and I liked the audacity of it because after all these years she could certainly pass as the woman who used to travel with the Doctor. When she was questioned on details though, her disguise soon let up. It could almost be forgiven for her to mistake Jamie for 'Jimmy' as another companion that accompanied Polly and Ben in the TARDIS, but her take on the Doctor's changing appearance was quite something! The seriousness in which she referred to the different faces as disguises and believed he changed via plastic surgery was incredible. I thought that was tremendously hilarious. Mrs Wibbsey was right in her doubts. I thought the way she confronted her on that was strong and Leamann had now realised the wrongs of Penumbra's ways. I think a little more detail on the failed state of the 1960s would have been good but Mr Harmer emerging from the shadows was good as a final standoff for him as a villain. He shot Leamann dead which was pretty stunning but I liked how Wibbsey was fast in her reflexes despite her age and his attempt on her actually thwarted all plans in destroying the space-time device. The whole thing being just a way to try and get the Doctor's attention as they needed help was good but not quite what I was expecting. It would never fly with the Doctor though as Wibbsey acknowledged, if they needed him all they had to do was ask. Overall, a great listen to conclude a really fun and enjoyable mini-series! I would love to get more of this kind of thing.

Rating: 8/10

Dawn of the Daleks

"It's getting pretty boring seeing you die."

Writers: Dan Watters & Dulce Montoya

Format: Comic Strip

Released: August 2026

Printed in: Circuit Breaker #2

Featuring: Fugitive Doctor

Synopsis

The Doctor travels to the war-ravaged world of Skaro as she battles the Daleks with the fate of their Kaled forebears at stake!

Verdict

Dawn of the Daleks was a great comic strip adventure to continue the ongoing Circuit Breaker saga! We return to the world of Titan Comics for their second and final contribution to the multimedia story and it's a really strong one. I'm surprised that both of their comic strips have gone for the Daleks given the potential for a huge variety of objects and locations to visit as a result, but what we got here was fascinating. I love the idea of doing a loose sequel to Genesis of the Daleks, but of course the Fugitive Doctor here has no idea that she would be present at their genesis. Hearing that the Doctor was just a story was a wonderful line and I like how the Fugitive incarnation here is discovering so much of what she will become. People she interacts with and particularly Osgood and Andrew aren't exactly hiding the fact of who she will become and just how important she will be. That feels strange and I must admit I thought certain elements of the Doctor's personality here were traditional writing for the character rather than this version as part of Division. I do like the idea that with this supposedly being the earliest incarnation of the Doctor that is known that she is slowly developing into the person we know of legend, but for now I think a little more of putting up a fight would have been beneficial. The story obviously has strong connections to Genesis as aforementioned so the item being out of time and place this time around made sense to be a time ring. I'm not sure the overall story surrounding these items actually makes a huge amount of sense but it gives us more Fugitive Doctor and it's just a bit of a fun. I'm not taking this too seriously and I think that's the best approach. This almost feels a bit like the ongoing Twelfth Doctor Adventures at Big Finish with the frequency in which we are getting stories and it's quite incredible that this is already the fifth instalment! Visiting Skaro is always great and I love that the Fugitive Doctor has stepped foot there prior to The Daleks, not that she'll know it by then. When the TARDIS showed the planet location I wasn't expecting such a vibrant and colourful landscape to greet the Doctor! The Kaleds were down to their last 103 survivors which is a pretty bleak situation but I love that some did survive in hiding. The war between Daleks and Kaleds could really be eternal and I love that it's not actually the Thals this time around. There are those of his own species that were revolted by and wholly against Davros. The little flashback sequence of the Fourth Doctor confronting him was wonderful. I must say, the artwork in this comic was superb. It was so vibrant and that worked really well with the large number of Daleks present. Flis was a strong character and her realisation that there were so many variants with different kinds of weapons because they were going to conquer the universe. I felt like she was leaping a tad there but she wasn't wrong! There were some seriously strong Nazi connotations with how much they were displaying a dislike for the unlike. I will say though I think the continuity was slightly off in having an Emperor Dalek in the factory representing the design seen in The Parting of the Ways. Surely it should have been closer to The Evil of the Daleks? That's a small nibble and the illustration regardless was terrific. The Doctor acknowledging the usefulness of a sonic device was a nice touch of what's to come which was good in foreshadowing the future, as well as her inadvertent offering of the Kaleds to come with her in the TARDIS. I think this Doctor understanding the Daleks after the events of Adversary of the Daleks was great and presented really well, and the simplicity of the time ring being offered to the Kaleds was good, if not a little forced. Overall though, a great read! 

Rating: 8/10

Run Fast, Be Kind: Wings of Steel

"All progress is built on the dead."

Writer: Alfie Shaw

Format: Audio

Released: August 2026

Series: Twelfth Doctor Adventures 1.04

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Ash

Synopsis

High above the ruined world of Doorahla, the Ultima have convened. The enemy's devastation of their forces is finally over. The key to their victory is finally at hand. And on top of all that, they've captured a Time Lord. 

All hail the Ultima.

Verdict

Wings of Steel was an outstanding episode to continue the ongoing Run Fast, Be Kind series of Twelfth Doctor Adventures! The weekly release schedule is working an absolute treat and this was just the best of the run so far. This had everything going for it and it's been wonderful to see the praise on social media for Alfie Shaw and just this series in general. It does feel like a bit of a shame that it's download only so I do wonder how many people are getting to experience it over those who won't buy without a physical release. I completely understand that sentiment but how can I say no to more Twelfth Doctor? Jon Culshaw is firmly settled into the role now and his take on Peter Capaldi's incarnation is fantastic. It feels authentic and whilst there may be some small instances of what sounds like the Brigadier creeping into the performance, for the most part it's just wonderful. The relationship the Doctor has with Ash at this point is really strong and I liked how they're beginning to understand each other. Their sarcastic agreement about Ash not getting to have an angry outburst if the Doctor wasn't going to be condescending was a nice touch. This followed on very nicely from where The Beautiful and the Damned left off with Sky basically dissolving into nothingness thanks to the refiner within her. That element played another crucial role here and all roads led to Doorahla and Brother Mundar. He was the one after the refiner and Ash was clear that he must pay. The Doctor was obviously less accommodating to such a request, but the trail needed to be followed and what resulted was fantastic. I thought the Ultima was really interesting and the whole religious element of the story was just sublime. The Doctor labelled them fascists with their desire for perfection and the ideal look, but the reveal that they were Krillitanes took things to a whole new level! I am so glad that reveal wasn't spoiled ahead of time and the evolution of the species at this point in the future was magnificent. They felt inherently more evil and that was pretty delicious. The Doctor trying to harken back to School Reunion and use their own byproduct against them was fantastic when it failed. This was the far future and the Krillitanes had eradicated that weakness a very long time ago. I thought that was great and a fun twist because that was just logical. Evolution had taken its course and with a species changing itself as often as the Krillitanes it also made sense. I thought finding out that Ash was an amalgamation of species also was fascinating, especially the 9% Trakenite! A link to Nyssa? Now that would be tremendous. The use of refiner within the Krillitanes and them hoping to surpass even Time Lord regeneration was quite something and Ulnar and 409 in particular in their respective roles were terrific. The Doctor and Ash working together alongside Mundar was superb at the end as just when it seemed all was lost, they brought about the upper hand emphatically and with smugness. Mundar going further though and failing the Doctor's test in activating the refiner anyway despite the Krillitane surrender was a shock, but not as much as when Ash shot him! I really didn't see that coming and showed that he was pretty irrational and emotional. That's not unexpected as he was still reeling from Sky's fate, but that's so uncharacteristic of a companion. The Doctor was clearly outraged and I can't wait to hear where things move forward from here. The dynamic in the TARDIS will certainly have changed a great deal now! I can't wait to hear the next episode now. Overall, just superb! 

Rating: 10/10

Cold War

"I dreamed the war was over, and I could finally allow you to be born."

Writer: Rebecca Levene

Format: Short Story

Released: December 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Steel Skies 13

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace, Benny

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

Cold War was an outstanding story to continue my way through the Steel Skies edition of Short Trips. This kicked off the Solitude section of this book in incredible style by easily being the best adventure in the collection so far. I’m always intrigued by a title and this one obviously shares the same one as an Eleventh Doctor televised episode, but this came much earlier so I think it’s quite fun to ponder on what might have been. Imagine Steven Moffat saying no to the episode title because of a Short Trip! The stories were very different and this didn’t relate to the historical period on Earth between USA and Russia at all. This was taking things into space and a very different war indeed which was fascinating. I thought Jen was such a strong character and considering the story was only fourteen pages long, there were a lot of twists! I think it would even benefit from a reread as I realised later why Carl reacted so shocked when seeing Jen after his vision was cured. I think the story was perfect for the Seventh Doctor and his manipulative nature. He’s not one to shy from interference and that was the case here as he jumped right into action. It was also lovely to have both Ace and Benny alongside him as companions as that’s still a story in prose I’m yet to fully delve into with my limited and stop-start experience of the New Adventures books. Both are really good together and I liked Benny’s reaction to what she described as an embryo in the third trimester being stated as Jen’s daughter. The quote I have taken for this story is something that resonates massively. The idea of a mother not wanting to bring her daughter into a world of war is pretty admirable, but just delaying that birth seems incomprehensible. Her patience and willpower must be extraordinary but clearly she had a lot going on! Five years of solitude will do that to you. I can’t imagine going that long without any kind of human contact! A blind android was all she had for company and I’m just not sure how well that would suffice. The situation surrounding the war between the human colony and the Reptiles was presented really well and I actually enjoyed the ambiguity. Initially I thought they might be the Draconians but then with the description of the third eye opening, might these be some kind of Silurians? Or more likely they’re just something different altogether which is equally fine. The Doctor using Jen’s baby to threaten her and push her back into realising who and what she was made for an incredible moment. I just don’t think any other incarnation of the Doctor could have pulled off that threat. I would firmly believe that the Seventh Doctor would drop the case containing the unborn child. That’s a scary thought but Jen then realising that she was a Reptile was powerful stuff. I did not see that coming so it was a sublime twist! It made sense too and fitted in very nicely with the war. The threat of the weapon was very strong as well and it made sense in hindsight why Ace was disconnecting it. That was a big threat to Jen and she quickly assumed they were traitors. I liked that a lot as it really sent her into quite the spiral! Getting the little flashback of the true Jen and how Qurro as she was truly known took her identity was excellent. It was emotional stuff and there was just so much going on! The Doctor taking her child as an orphan to grow up and give the message was another pull on the emotional strings and I firmly believe that anything with children now in the Whoniverse is heightened after having my own.  Overall, just brilliance. Even if the Doctor’s name wasn’t capitalised! 

Rating: 10/10

Bret Vyon Lives!: The Sky is for Sale

"Death will feel like a relief."

Writer: James Kettle

Format: Audio

Released: July 2026

Series: Space Security Service 2.03

Featuring: Anya, Mark

Synopsis

A huge satellite mines the atmosphere of Saturn. Following a number of threats, agent Sola Akinyemi of the Space Security Service is on board, tasked with keeping the workers and their families safe.

Meanwhile, Anya Kingdom is at Triple-S headquarters, working to expose and eradicate corruption in the service. But just as she's making progress, HQ is attacked. And then the mining satellite is invaded – by a different hostile force! 

In the desperate battle that follows, Anya and Sola will have to make impossible choices. Who can they really trust? And what horrors are they willing to sanction if it means defeating the Daleks?

Verdict

The Sky is for Sale was a great episode to conclude the Bret Vyon Lives! second series of the Space Security Service! This was more like it and was definitely the best story of the boxset in my opinion. I thought this was a prime example of what things should be for this range in just having the SSS in a war against the Daleks. That just feels like what they should be doing and Anya and Mark heading that at the helm was really nicely done. I thought both were presented really and it was just great to involve the SSS into a sneaky little mission. Except this wasn't entirely the Daleks as the enemy but more so their nature and their past actions causing strong issues. I'm an absolute sucker for The Dalek Invasion of Earth so anytime we get the Robomen back I'm all for it. They had such an impact on me when I first saw this serial as my first black and white story and also my first impression of the First Doctor. The imagery presented for them here was really good but I wasn't wholly sold on their voices which was my main qualm with the episode. Given this is an audio format that is a bit of a shame, but it was still wonderful for them to be present. They had evolved a lot and the concept of the Robomen evolving beyond their Dalek conditioning was excellent! There was a lot of potential there but a tad more explanation would have been good as I think it's pretty well established that their lifespan post-conversion wasn't very long at all. We had a number of different Robomen present here and hearing one apologise for their actions and blaming them on the Daleks for making them this way was pretty startling in the best way. As if they weren't creepy enough! Now they had something close to a conscience. I thought the rebels from the future element of the adventure was really good and Anya wasn't exactly surprised by people coming from a different time. As she mentioned, she certainly has experience! I think Anya is a really underrated character and whilst I haven't seen much hype around this series, I would very much like it to continue. It's really unique and the futuristic space setting really gives it a unique feel. The mystery surrounding Kozimek was great and it turning out that he was the one being targeted from the future was fascinating. Anya was quick to think that he was the replacement that was a good guy, but he was actually the culprit! The rebels from the future not fully knowing their history was intriguing and I loved the description of them still trying to piece it all back together. That shows just how much trouble they were in and the roles of Kozimek and the Robomen there were fantastic. There was a lot riding on this story and the Daleks being in the background was good stuff. I think a little more impact on the way the rebels were dealt with would have been beneficial, but Anya acknowledging that they were at war with the Daleks as things concluded was a nice touch. It left things rather ambiguous on if there will be another series and I think that's fine as it also serves as a good conclusion if there isn't because that feels right for the SSS. Mark Seven being flirtatious wasn't exactly something I expected here and it was nice to hear another side of him. Given his nature he can be quite one dimensional but his character was far from that here! Overall, a really good finale to what has been a solid little series. A unique little spinoff and I understand why this one is download only, but hopefully it's not the last. But if it is, it's been a fun little ride! 

Rating: 8/10

Bret Vyon Lives!: The Wages of Death

"Your use to us has expired."

Writer: David Llewellyn

Format: Audio

Released: July 2026

Series: Space Security Service 2.02

Featuring: Anya, Mark

Synopsis

Furiosa 237 is a remote world in the hinterlands of the galaxy. Anya and Mark teleport in and quickly take jobs on a cargo ship. They're undercover – on an urgent, secret mission. 

Their task is to locate a device called a Progenitor, then drop it into the nearest black hole – and quickly, before it can hatch.

But at least one person on board is determined to save the Progenitor and unleash its deadly contents: a whole army of Daleks.

Verdict

The Wages of Death was a good episode to continue my way through the Bret Vyon Lives! second series of Space Security Service. This was a pretty solid story and was very much par for the course in terms of standard quality, but I worry that this particular boxset has started with the main event. The appeal of Bret Vyon returning is obvious given his importance in The Daleks' Master Plan and the familial connection he would have hear to Anya, but now that seems to all be over in The Man Inside and unless anything happens in the finale, Bret's story seems to be over. I suspect that will be the case given the finality of the previous episode. I think we need more of the Daleks and whilst they did feature well here, it was more their potential infiltration. I think we need an all out battle between the SSS and the Daleks, especially in the finale! I suspect there won't be a third series of this particular spinoff so I do hope it goes out with a bang. I really like the pairing of Anya and Mark Seven and they worked well together again here. It was good that Anya was suspicious of the Mark duplicate almost right from the off and with him being an android I imagine that wasn't so easy to detect. I thought the pair trying to blend in on the mission was amusing because they were very far from being believable in their descriptions of their past jobs and just their lives up to this point. I always enjoy stories that play around with black holes because the science behind them is so incomprehensibly fascinating. I love it. It's difficult to wrap your head around the potential and the giant pull that they have. What would be on the other side, if anything? It's fun to ponder on. The Dalek Progenitor as the cargo that was to be deposited within the black hole was really good and I like how the story was utilising elements we are familiar with from on screen episodes. It ties in continuity very nicely and also blends eras. I liked that a lot and it certainly makes sense why they would want to throw it into a black hole when it contained everything possible to create new Daleks! The mystery of who the Daleks' man on the inside was worked well, especially with such a small cast because that left only a couple of options. Ballad initially being thought of in that position because he was the medical officer and the codes to thwart the technology could only be used by someone in his position seemed to explain everything. So the dark twist of Mark Seven was handled very well and for a moment it seemed he was in the thrall of the Daleks once again. That's always a fun story to tell. Of course, the teleport was actually intercepted for the true article. Melville was a strong character as the other one that could potentially be the wrongdoer and I was impressed with the assembled crew of the ship. I just think the story was missing a little something to push it to the next level. The characters were great and I enjoyed the plot and setting for the most part, but I think it needed a bit of action and impact. Dmitry being killed by the Dalek self destructing may have happened a little too early in the episode as I'm not sure we ever got back to those heights which was a shame. Still, Anya being on hand to send the fake Mark packing was great and I liked that the SSS were able to complete their mission. Overall, a good listen! 

Rating: 7/10

Bret Vyon Lives!: The Man Inside

"I take it I'm destined to die."

Writer: Simon Guerrier

Format: Audio

Released: July 2026

Series: Space Security Service 2.01

Featuring: Anya, Mark Seven

Synopsis

Anya Kingdom is a prisoner of the Daleks on a very peculiar space station orbiting a very peculiar star. The Daleks don't want to kill Anya; they want to break her down psychologically. 

One way to do that is to lock her in a cell with someone Anya knows is a fake. Whoever, whatever, this man really is, he cannot be her beloved uncle. Bret Vyon is dead, end of story.

But if Anya is to survive, she will need his help...

Verdict

The Man Inside was a great start to the Bret Vyon Lives! second series of Space Security Service! It doesn't really feel like it's been a year since The Voord in London opening series but I was very happy to get back into the swing of things here after the series was delayed four months. That was quite frustrating after pre-ordering the download but it's better late than never! I do think there may have been some early rumours that reached Big Finish regarding the finding of The Nightmare Begins and Devil's Planet as part of The Daleks' Master Plan missing episodes because this obviously ties into that with Bret Vyon featuring! The concept of his return seems almost impossible but where Big Finish are concerned I think just about anything is on the table. If there's even a chance of it being plausible then they might just find a way to do it! The way Bret was reunited with his niece Anya here was pretty simple in the end with the pair being taken out of time. I liked that and it feels right within the world and futuristic setting of the Space Security Service. The form of narration was intriguing here as we heard differing perspectives of both Anya and Mark Seven which did become quite emotional. Hearing Anya as a child on the phone to her uncle Bret was rather sombre knowing his fate and at whose hands that was done. Anya was practically begging to tell Bret even when she wasn't convinced that he was the true article. It was just easier to accept that he was a Dalek duplicate and I mean I could see that given their track record. Especially at this point in Dalek chronology going alongside the First Doctor era. Anya mistaking her memories of her uncle from when she was a child was really done well as she claimed he was the wrong height and just wasn't quite the man she remembered. But now she was an adult, how could he be? I enjoyed that and the emotional tug really was quite strong. I liked how Anya was only providing her name and rank when she was being subjected to the psychological trauma. She dealt with it well and understood that Bret was part of that, or so she thought. Mark Seven played an interesting role in this story and he was primarily concerned with protecting Anya and history itself. It was obvious from the way Anya looked at Bret that as far as she was concerned, he was dead. That must be something difficult to accept and recognise. Mark being challenged by Sola regarding what he told Bret and how history might be changed was good stuff but I liked how he stood firm. The history books weren't altered but it was emotional to think that Bret knew he was destined for something bad and went back to his own time willingly despite it. All to defeat the Daleks. Anya bemoaning the chance to save him was understandable but imagine history changed and the Daleks utilising the Time Destructor how they intended? The concept behind the Kraken or Omni-Dalek was really intriguing and painted quite the picture! An amalgamation of Daleks out of their shells with the tendrils literally being a route to a different point in time. That was certainly something unique and I rather liked it! It was also fun for Anya to utilise how it must answer when questioned. I thought Mark covering the truth and explaining to Anya how the Bret they encountered was actually a Dalek duplicate despite him being the real article was poignant and I can understand him looking out for her, but I don't think we're done on that story element. I think she's going to find out and I can't imagine she'll be all that happy! Overall though, a really strong start to the series! A great listen.

Rating: 8/10

Sound the Siren and I'll Come To You Comrade

"It seems the Revolution passed them by."

Writer: John Pritchard

Format: Audio

Released: September 2016

Series: Short Trips: Rarities 1.05

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

The Doctor and Leela arrive on a barren plain in the Soviet Union of the 1950s. Twisted wreckage and remains speak of the tests of a destructive new power. The scientists responsible live in terror of their political masters.

But now they all have something else to be scared of...

Verdict

Sound the Siren and I'll Come To You Comrade was a great little Rarity amongst the Short Trips range! I don't really know what to expect from this series because it was hidden to even me until recently but it's such a delight to be delving into these adventures. I must say Stephen Critchlow absolutely nails it once again with his narration as his take on the Fourth Doctor is a fantastic impersonation! He honestly should have been doing any and all Short Trips with this incarnation of the Doctor. He captures all of the tones and mannerisms of Tom Baker which is no easy feat! It really does bring an authentic feeling to the episode and in this range in particular I think that's very important indeed. I thought the setting here was tremendous and that is because Russian history in particular is one of my favourites to study and delve into. I really love learning about the twentieth century in particular and the period from just prior to the 1917 Revolutions up to just after the Second World War is so fascinating. Rasputin is an incredible historical figure and I don't think I'll ever forget the Master impersonating him in The Power of the Doctor, and then The Death of Stalin is one of my all time favourite movies. So visiting the Soviet Union in the 1950s was good fun. It wasn't exactly the Tsar that the Doctor intended on taking Leela to meet with, but it was history nonetheless. Just why and how Leela came to be expecting to be meeting the Tsar of all Russias is beyond me but that's definitely a conversation I would love to hear. I thought splitting the Doctor and Leela up here was good as the narrator's strengths were obviously focused on portraying the Doctor, but he didn't even try with a Leela impression and that's the right move in my opinion. I liked the use of a mock town because that's something that feels perfect for the secrecy of the Soviet Union so of course they would be testing their weaponry and beyond on something that felt authentic but wouldn't actually cause real damage to people. I think having an energy parasite inserted into this kind of story was a good move even if it's far from being unique. The circumstances and setting were very different and that makes this feel pretty new so that works for me. Especially in this range. This perhaps isn't the place for continuity-busting and hugely imagined ideas because with one actor and a short time frame, there's just not a huge amount of room to play around with. I thought the characters of Genyeva and Semyonov were really strong and they were certainly different too! The Doctor getting to showcase the mobile nature of the TARDIS was fun stuff and the fact he was speaking Russian thanks to the TARDIS translation circuits working as they should was lovely. Simple stuff but it's good to highlight why people of different countries are receptive to the Doctor. It made sense to finish with the bomb on the mock town and the mushroom cloud descriptions was excellent. I can't imagine being that close in proximity to something of that nature but I imagine the effect is profound. Overall, a really strong setting that served as a fine place for a good story. A very enjoyable listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Sleeper Agents

"You're being left with dreams of the infinite."

Writer: Paul Magrs

Format: Audio

Released: March 2022

Series: Beyond the Doctor 04

Featuring: Polly, Ben

Synopsis

It's July 1966, and Ben & Polly have just said goodbye to the Doctor at Gatwick Airport. Now they must return to their old lives – but things at home aren't quite right. Polly's cat is behaving oddly, and both she and Ben soon realise they are under close scrutiny. To complicate matters further, the pair must acknowledge their true feelings for each other. 

When they find themselves transported against their will to a far-flung destination, what matters most is their loyalty to each other – and to the Doctor. 

Who are the mysterious Mr Harmer and Ms Leamann, and what can they possibly want with Polly & Ben?

Verdict

Sleeper Agents was another great episode to continue the fascinating mini-series that is Beyond the Doctor. I really do think we should have more of this kind of stuff from BBC Audio as whilst it is wonderful to have the singular releases that basically define this range, there's nothing quite like a story arc that gets me going. I'm really enjoying this series and I like the premise of companions being targeted once their adventures with the Doctor are over. It really highlights how that once you have travelled in the TARDIS, you're never really the same again. Even after departing. I find it quite fun to think about just how much is going on in London around the date of this story in 1966 because not only does this almost immediately follow on from The Faceless Ones where Polly and Ben said their goodbyes to the Doctor, but that also turned out to be the same day they initially joined the First Doctor in The War Machines! But it doesn't end there as for the Second Doctor and Jamie they're thrust straight into the events of The Evil of the Daleks, and now Polly and Ben are dealing with things here! No wonder artron readings are off the scale. I really thought Anneke Wills did a marvellous job with the narration here and she really did bring Polly back to life. I was thrust back into the past and it felt nostalgic because she is one of my all time favourite companions. I have a fascinating attachment to the First Doctor also so this felt like a great moment of reflection. Polly and Ben are clearly made for each other and I think it's sad that they might not end up together. I've always been left disturbed by Mondas Passing and the premise of the pair not being a couple because they really are synonymous together! They just have to end up and Ben felt the same, but he wasn't giving Polly much of a chance to come out of her shell and just settle after leaving the TARDIS behind. She wanted it too and that was nice to acknowledge, even if Ben didn't quite know it. With them returning on the same day they departed, the idea of Polly and Ben just settling back into their jobs was bonkers but that's the mundane nature of normal life. From travelling the stars to back in the office and at shore. Talk about a come down! I thought Harmer and Leamann were really strong characters and I must admit I didn't see the android twist coming at the end. That was nicely done and they weren't hiding the fact that these weren't the first former companions of the Doctor they had targeted. They wanted their knowledge of future and otherworldly technology and the method of taking the memories was pretty brutal. This tied in nicely with London, 1965 when it came to the timeline and Polly working for the Penumbra magazine was a nice touch as that's a word that's been threaded throughout this miniseries and is in the title of the finale. I can't wait to hear how things conclude there! It's been a really exciting series and the ambiguity at the end for Polly in not knowing if she could trust Ben after it seemed he had been subjected to the sleeper agents was poignant and a little sad. I was hoping for a happy ending but I don't think we quite got it. Sometimes it's good to go that route though. Talk about making cats scary too! Overall, a really strong episode to continue the series! 

Rating: 8/10

The Deadliest Weapon

"Snatches of a future already lived."

Writer: Steve Lyons

Format: Audio

Released: July 2026

Series: Circuit Breaker #4

Featuring: Fugitive Doctor

Synopsis

Masquerading as a resident in a luxurious space hotel, the Doctor is in fact on a dangerous mission to eliminate Kashan Akravar, a rogue weapons dealer who's attempting to auction blueprints for the deadliest weapon ever invented. 

The Division – that shadowy Time Lord organisation – have briefed the Doctor to prevent the blueprints' sale at all costs. But they're not the only ones who realise the weapon's potential. When the hotel is attacked by Cybermen, intent on seizing the blueprints, the Doctor must use every ounce of her courage and ingenuity to hold them off. 

Working with husband and wife Kel and Jinni, the Doctor finds puzzles and obstacles in her way. Whose disembodied voice is calling out to her? What is its connection with UNIT's Black Archive? And can anything prevent a cruel stroke of fate that will have unimaginable consequences for them all...?

Verdict

The Deadliest Weapon was a great audio adventure to continue the ongoing Circuit Breaker multimedia story! This was a fine contribution from BBC Audio and it was a nice change of pace to get into the performed elements of the story. We've had a short online story and two comic strips so far which have all been terrific, but it was nice to get Jo Martin for a full adventure instead of those promo videos appearing across Doctor Who social media. Promo videos in which I must say it's incredibly obvious that she's just reading her lines from a teleprompter! That's not her fault though and I thought she did a really strong job in her role as narrator and Fugitive Doctor here. I thought this was an intriguing take on the format and whilst it is clear that the memory worm is the artefact that needed returning this time around, the episode actually focused on memories of the Fugitive Doctor instead of the actual return of the worm. That was really good and it allowed us a glimpse into life within Division for the Doctor. I thought pairing the Fugitive Doctor against the Cybermen was a really good idea and I loved that we had David Banks back in his iconic role as the 1980s era Cyber Leader. Excellent! He was fantastic and I liked the dynamic that was sprung between the two characters. I just wish we had more of the Leader in the story! Especially with Banks on board. I thought the setting of a luxury space hotel was good and the Doctor being a regular there was interesting given her life during this incarnation. I didn't really imagine her having free time to frequent bars so that was fascinating indeed. The weapons dealer of Kashan Akravar never felt like too much of a threat but his creation certainly was. It's something tricky to state that a weapon would be the deadliest one ever created but at this point in Time Lord history for the Doctor, you really could believe that something with a dematerialisation potential would be. You didn't just kill who you shot with it, they were completely erased from time. The idea of the Time Lords obtaining this weapon for themselves is pretty dark but shows just how shady and different Division are as an organisation on Gallifrey. It makes sense that the Cybermen would want it as I mean, who wouldn't? The potential there is endless. I thought Kel and Jinni were good characters and developed a decent little relationship with the Doctor. That made the way the story ended all the more emotional with the Doctor utilising the demat gun but some of the crossfire causing Kel and Jinni to perish. Their son surviving but not remembering his parents was powerful stuff and incredibly sad. I thought the whispers from Osgood were okay in linking the story back to the ongoing arc, but they did feel like a little bit of an intrusion. The Doctor being angered that Osgood saw into her mind when she was suffering the effects of the memory worm was strong stuff and I could certainly understand her feelings, but it also showed Osgood that this Doctor wasn't all that far removed from the hero she knows from this incarnation's future. I thought that was a nice touch as despite everything, this Doctor still cared when she didn't have to and that's a defining feature of the character we all know and love. A really good listen and now I'm excited for the next release! Back to the comics we go.

Rating: 8/10

Run Fast, Be Kind: The Beautiful and the Damned

"What's the point of an auction when everyone knows you're selling fakes?"

Writer: Katherine White

Format: Audio

Released: July 2026

Series: Twelfth Doctor Adventures 1.03

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Ash

Synopsis

Are you looking to build your audience? Create content that'll be the envy of all your followers? Have people anticipating your next post? Then we know where you need to be this Summer. 

Best Life Inc. is proud to announce Mentior City, a paradise for content creators where everything is beautiful, including the visitors. 

Don't think that's you? Don't worry, with our proprietary Refiner system, everyone can look their very best. Arrive ugly, live your Best Life, and leave beautiful. That's a Best Life guarantee.

Verdict

The Beautiful and the Damned was an excellent episode to continue the Run Fast, Be Kind ongoing weekly Twelfth Doctor Adventures! This has been a really strong series to date and it's crazy that we're already at the halfway point of the current six episode release schedule, but thanks to this series being the topic on the brilliant Power of 3 podcast, it's been confirmed that it is a full twelve episode run which is very exciting! This has been essentially branded as Series 9.5 of then modern era or what could have been the 2016 series on screen which is really good and I like that it has its place in the timeline. It fits seamlessly and that's important. Jon Culshaw continues to shine in his take on Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor and I just love how much authenticity he provides to the series. It's thoroughly enjoyable and after a little bit of a shaky start at the beginning of the episode with a huge crowd, Ash is very much feeling settled as the companion now. I like that we harkened back to The Second Death a little with the link of the company which created the Desolates and it's good to just have that subtle story arc running through the series. We know we're headed back there because Ash encountered two versions of the Doctor on the worst day of his life, it's just a matter of when. I like that a lot. I thought the Mentior City here was very strong and there's no doubt the episode took inspiration from Dot and Bubble. It had a similar sort of vibe with the focus on social media and the continuous hash tags and pinging going on in the background. That was a subtle element of the episode but one I think really paid dividends. Sky was a very strong character and the mystery that came from her sister going missing turned into something really disturbing indeed. Monty as the man running the place was a sinister character and that was evident right from the start which was good. He was presenting himself as helpful and genuinely interested in Sky's plight but we all knew he was just putting on a show. That's often a delicious combination. Sky being shown footage of her sister leaving and then Georgia showing her a supposed draft message in her account that was never posted regarding her getting off the Best Life app seemed to show that there was no wrongdoing or cause for concern. The truth was much darker when all was revealed about the Refiner. The idea of basically a cosmetic upgrade in the extreme isn't unique but in this situation and with such a focus on social media it felt different. It was incredibly emotional when Georgia turned out to be Misty. Sky's sister was very different on both the inside and outside and that was pretty horrifying. Monty being even disgusting towards her was a shock though and the subtle sexual intonations for this episode took things to another level on the creep factor. That worked well in establishing a strong villain indeed. The Refiner being the downfall and resonating everything that had it was a neat way to finish things, or so it seemed. Ash inviting Sky to travel with he and the Doctor was a nice touch and she'd certainly gone through a lot. The Doctor was open to the idea but before they'd barely had a chance to welcome her aboard, she was taken from inside the TARDIS! That was an intriguing and exciting cliffhanger! I'm already looking forward to next week. Overall, a superb story! 

Rating: 9/10

The Hallamshire Incident

"How do I tell my sister she can't date an Ice Warrior?"

Writer: Rochana Patel

Format: Audio

Released: July 2026

Series: Thirteenth Doctor Adventures 1.07

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz

Synopsis

A huge UFO has crashed in Hallamshire Forest. Are there survivors? Is the site safe? There are a lot of questions to answer. With UNIT and Torchwood gone, the police must step up, while keeping the incident under wraps...

Fortunately, they have officers with extensive experience of otherworldly threats... Patricia Menzies is on her way. Yasmin Khan is being recalled. But Yaz's sister, Sonya, believes the world has the right to know the truth about aliens...

Verdict

The Hallamshire Incident was an excellent episode to continue the ongoing Thirteenth Doctor Adventures! This really was a terrific story to kickstart the second half of the series and after an ongoing story arc surrounding the Tourist, this really served as a fine example of just going back to basics and giving us a stellar adventure. This developed and advanced the relationship between the Doctor and Yaz massively, even if it does contradict quite important elements of Eve of the Daleks. If Yaz was going to confide in anyone about her feelings for the Doctor, how could it not be her sister? Sonya returning here was really well done and I thought she served a very strong purpose. I liked how she was initially arrested and her connections from her surname didn't get her very far when it came to trying to convince the officer to not go through with his decision. But she was withholding evidence when it came to the crashed Ice Warrior ship which was amusing and even Yaz basically dobbed her in about her claiming to not have a phone by admitting she's never off it! I thought Sonya was really clever though as she realised that whenever strange things were happening, Yaz would be back around. Namedropping the events of Fugitive of the Judoon and Revolution of the Daleks as examples made a lot of sense and I also liked how Sonya harkened back to Arachnids in the UK as well when it came to Yaz's feelings for the Doctor. The way Sonya threw those events back at Yaz as examples of a liar when she claimed to be able to spot one was brilliant stuff and a really powerful moment. I also love the series continuity in having Sonya mention Vampire Weekend with her attending Gina's funeral and also getting to showcase history with her Lionesses of Winter celebrity figure mention. Reunions weren't limited to just Yaz and her sister though as PC Khan was given a call by a returning Patricia Menzies! I thought that was a brilliant idea when it comes to Yaz's employment and she was owed a favour from the Doctor. The Thirteenth Doctor wasn't quite the Doctor she had in mind though! I thought their reunion was wonderful and the dynamic was just perfect with this female incarnation of the Doctor alongside an older Menzies who had been promoted. The threat of the Ice Warriors was really strong and I love that the Thirteenth Doctor has now had an encounter with them. There aren't many incarnations yet to face them now across some sort of format! The contrast between Lord Vaznyr and Ssorl was strong and the revelation that the ship was actually decommissioned and reconstituted as a prison ship worked perfectly. Sonya knew the Ice Lord was lying and having her on hand to detect that was marvellous. I thought the threat of the anti-matter reactor exploding was pretty darn severe and the action that came in preventing it from exploding with Ssorl using his own armour remote control wise to save the Doctor as she stepped in was tremendous. I wonder if we'll get more of the supposed Earth Division that is in place of UNIT and Torchwood at this time headed by Menzies? It seems perfect for more appearances down the line or even their own spinoff! Overall, a fantastic episode to continue the series. More please! 

Rating: 9/10

Ghost Station

"I take photos of old places."

Writer: Jacqueline Rayner

Format: Short Story

Released: July 2026

Printed in: DWM 632

Featuring: Victoria, Sally

Synopsis

When two people looking to capture the perfect photograph of an abandoned London Underground station below the British Museum, a mummy with a certain kind of intelligence is awoken.

Verdict

Ghost Station was a great little short story! This was a surprise in the latest edition of Doctor Who Magazine but I can't speak highly enough of how wonderful a surprise it was. I had no idea that the Brief Encounters tagline for this short story was actually something revived from some issues of the magazine in 1990s and with it being included in the 'Regular Features' section in the contents, I am delighted by the prospect of further encounters. It's such a fun concept and it just absolutely works. Even at just two pages long, this had a lot going for it and that actually sounds a little smaller than it really is because the text fills the bulk of two A4 magazine-style pages. There's a lot going on and I really like that. It's also really beneficial to get the illustration which helps bring the story to life. I must admit, on a first glance I thought we were getting a repeat of The Wonderful Doctor of Oz as I thought this was an encounter between the Thirteenth Doctor and Missy! Upon closer inspection, the combination was very different indeed! This is a kind of loose sequel to The Web of Fear and also follows on slightly from Blink in the timeline as we incredibly get a meeting between Victoria Waterfield and Sally Sparrow! Now that really is a duo I would never have imagined would meet and lead a story together! But it was great fun. Unbeknownst to the pair of them they had both had very different encounters with the same man albeit he was in very different bodies and got to know one of them very well whilst the other he barely met at all yet made a huge impact and shaped her life massively. I like the idea of Sally Sparrow wanting to visit an abandoned London Underground station for photography and almost just the thrill of it all whereas it appears that Victoria has matured a lot since we saw her departure in Fury from the Deep. Addressing the UNIT dating controversy felt a little forced here as it usually does in not knowing if it was then 1960s or '70s, but surely you'd know based on a tad of research and finding out when the London Underground was impacted in the way it was by the Yeti and the Great Intelligence? That felt a little off but I really am nitpicking there. It would have been nice if there was some time for them to really touch upon their encounters with the Doctor, but the remnant of the Great Intelligence needed stopping so there wasn't exactly time for a lot of chitchat! I liked how Victoria took the initiative and let's face it, she is more experienced than Sally when it comes to this sort of thing. It may have only been a few years since the Weeping Angel incident for Sally, but despite it being decades since Victoria gave up her TARDIS travels she went through quite a lot! I liked that she was appealing to the inner nature of what the Intelligence possessed rather than trying to reason with that itself. I wonder if anything here would lead into the events of The Bells of Saint John and the Great Intelligence's return as the timeline would pretty much add up. Did Sally finding her way down to the abandoned station actually cause a whole lot more ruckus than she was already experiencing and helping prevent? A fun thought for sure. Overall, just a delightful little read. A huge bonus and I'm so excited by the potential for this series. Text stories always appeal to me in the latest edition of DWM, regular or special, so to have this every month would be a joy. Keep them coming! 

Rating: 8/10

The Honourable Society

"Your death will teach these wretched scum the true meaning of fear!"

Writer: Jason Quinn

Format: Comic Strip

Released: July 2026

Printed in: DWM 632

Featuring: Fugitive Doctor

Synopsis

The Fugitive Doctor, accompanied by UNIT archivist Andrew Turner, is on a mission to return corrupted Sontaran artefacts. The mission takes them to Calabria, Italy in 1894, where they soon cross paths with a secret society with a taste for extortion and human sacrifice...

Verdict

The Honourable Society was a good little story to continue the ongoing Circuit Breaker multimedia adventure! I was always looking forward to the contribution from Doctor Who Magazine because getting an extended comic strip is always welcomed. I think it's wonderful that we continue to expand the adventures of the Fugitive Doctor and this had strong continuity with Adversary of the Daleks in the form of the debrief. This particular story was not going to be quite as long and it's clear the comic strip budget was not the same, but it was still a solid offering. Amazingly though, this isn't the comic strip adventure as part of this issue of DWM that I'm most excited by as it appears we're getting an interlude during The Daleks' Master Plan which is just incredible! I'll blog that one when it completes and whilst the absence of the TV show is disappointing, it provides an opportunity to the ongoing comic strip to really reach out there and try some things. I'd be delighted if they continued the adventures of the Fifteenth Doctor but it appears that won't be the direction and to be honest I can understand why. The Fugitive Doctor has filled that gap on a temporary basis with this saga which I really like and also the weekly releases of the Twelfth Doctor Adventures at Big Finish feels like it's helping fill the gap also. I'm a big fan of where things are in the expanded media so let's keep it going! The prospect of the Fugitive Doctor encountering the Sontarans was exciting and whilst she didn't know what a Dalek was in the previous story, she knew about the clone race bred for war and I hope that's an intentional reference to Betrayal at the House of Sontar. Seeing a Sontaran in the religious Italian garb of the late nineteenth century was quite something though! It was probably the highlight of the story in all honesty and I like how it did seem to be a larger Sontaran. Maybe that was the artwork or an illusion of the robes, but it just worked. I think the returning of the Sontaran devices and Andrew using the Resistor on them basically as soon as they left the TARDIS felt a bit quick and random for me considering that's the overall story arc basis, but it did allow for some character development for the Fugitive incarnation. She's not the Doctor we know and love just yet which is really being made clear but there are signs that those likeable traits are buried deep within her and potentially starting to scratch the surface. I thought the very fact she agreed, albeit reluctantly, to have Andrew travel with her was a sign of that as he filled a companion role for the story. He would do the UNIT debrief and even use the Resistor. It almost felt like the Doctor was redundant! That was a tad disappointing, but I did like that she was showing concern if she wasn't admitting it. She saved the mayor's daughter and brought down the Honourable Society in a pretty quick swoop. Andrew aiding her with the Sontaran back of the neck was great and I liked the mystery of the Sontaran just transporting away. I'm not sure where the honour in that move is, but the epilogue certainly keeps me intrigued with the cloaked figure watching on. Who is behind all this and for what purpose? It all feels very Adam in Prisoners of Time so it's safe to say I am invested! Overall, a good little story to continue the overlapping story arc. I'm already excited for the next one! 

Rating: 7/10

Run Fast, Be Kind: The Broken Man

"Let there be heroes."

Writer: Rochana Potel

Format: Audio

Released: July 2026

Series: Twelfth Doctor Adventures 1.02

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Ash

Synopsis

The Doctor has a new friend. All of time and space awaits. Where to begin?

Scotland, obviously! The Doctor has unfinished business there. An archaeological mystery which he needs to solve, so he can start laying the past to rest.

Verdict

The Broken Man was another really good episode to continue the ongoing Run Fast, Be Kind first series of the weekly Twelfth Doctor Adventures! After a strong start with The Second Death, this served as a great follow up as we now hear Ash firmly on board as the new companion. He's still a little shaky after recent events and who can blame him, but that feeling and sentiment was also shared by the Doctor as he's still reeling from losing River Song all over again following the wonderful conclusion to The Husbands of River Song. He was actually trying to finish their story together here as he came to test one of her theories that they never got around to doing. I thought that was quite poetic and it's nice to hear this softer side of the Twelfth Doctor coming out. I'm not sure we have ever heard him this vulnerable and that's a good dynamic moving forward with Ash. I really like how with him as a musician also, the pair can just jam together and using music as a kind of dual therapy is really nice. I'm not sure the Doctor has ever had a companion like that before! A shared love and activity can work wonders and I suspect that will happen here. I look forward to hear their chemistry building as despite a mutual respect and understanding, their relationship is still being tested. Ash was starting to get to know about the Doctor's life and his position as a Time Lord. There were rules and laws that must be followed and having the Doctor explain those was fantastic. It's always a big moment and a stark reminder that the Doctor is the last stalwart in enforcing those laws, even though admittedly he has tried to break and defeat them on numerous times. By this point in his life, he has accepted that they cannot be toppled. I thought the concept behind the Amber Giant here was excellent and I love the idea of dealing with something from the Dawn of Time. I would honestly adore a continuous series set during this era because the very fabric of reality is almost incomprehensibly different. Who knows what anything was like eleven billion years ago? It's an unimaginable timescale so the Doctor rebuilding the Amber Giant after parts of it were found by archaeologist Maddy. She was a fun character and it's nice that after having a long goodbye with River that the Doctor appreciates the importance of her profession. It's important to learn and discover history and I like that he sees things that way now. Learning about the Amber Giant and it being an android of over thirty feet was quite impressive but crikey they missed the boat on not putting him on the artwork! That feels like a massively missed opportunity. Xeron-C as a species that the Giant was involved with the protection of was intriguing and I liked that there was a huge ark. Not all of the eggs (so to say) were in one basket either and that helped advance the species into a huge civilisation that would span hundreds of thousands of years. Ash seeing the scale of what he helped influence was really powerful stuff and a fine way to end things. Overall, a great listen to continue the series!

Rating: 8/10

A Matter of Conscience

"The human mind cannot cope outside of the body."

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: December 2020

Series: The Robots 3.03

Featuring: Liv, Tula

Synopsis

The Sons of Kaldor are stepping up their anti-robot campaign as Liv and Tula are stepping up their search. But even as they get closer to the survivors of Storm Mine four, their understanding of events on Kaldor is about to change irrevocably.

Verdict

A Matter of Conscience was a very strong episode to conclude the third series of The Robots! I have now reached the halfway mark in this very well renowned spinoff range and at this point it really is easy to see why this is such a well regarded series. I'm so excited to keep moving forward with it now as I do own the next three boxsets thanks to some recent sales and clearances, so it shouldn't take me long at all to get cracking with this one and finish it This felt like a full on detective episode and that was great with Liv leading the guard whilst Tula was still clearly learning the ropes. I thought that was nicely done and their relationship just continues to be wonderful. Tula has accepted that with her travels in the TARDIS off world, Liv has become a little more inquisitive and had her horizons broadened which I think is great. She has experience in this kind of thing and that works out well here. After travelling all the way to Poul's residence, Tula is just accepting that they will have to leave empty handed because he wasn't in! Liv wasn't having any of that which was good. I thought the initiation of Shala into the Sons of Kaldor was fascinating and worked really well. Hearing of the toll of her past and the impact the 'invasion' of the Dums had on jobs and her family. It was scarily reminiscent of feelings today in numerous workplaces and spaces when it comes to AI. The computers are taking our jobs and that sentiment was similar on Kaldor where the Robots were concerned. That's an understandable fear so having the Sons of Kaldor rise up against that was really good. I thought the presentation worked and having communication with them was now potentially seen as an act of terrorism. That was quite the development! The explosion that resulted in the deaths of seventeen people was quite impressive and even members of the Sons of Kaldor already were taken by surprise when it came to Shala's involvement and the extent of her initiation there. It certainly wasn't typical! Finding out that Vash Sorkov was actually Kiy Uvanov was something I didn't see coming but it did explain how Sorkov wasn't anyone who existed on official record! It seems that all things are tying together slowly when it comes to the survivors of the events of The Robots of Death which is an exciting prospect. I do feel like this boxset was good setup again for things to come, and I do hope we get the meetings between the trio and the Chenka sisters in the next one. Uvanov toying with the idea of conscience transfer is a hugely exciting concept, especially on a place like Kaldor! There's so much potential there with conscience into robots and Uvanov achieving it here was pretty darn impressive. He'd been erased from the record but was then an edutech which was good and felt right for his character. I do hope we explore more of his past that led him to this point but the little flashbacks here worked well. The world building for Kaldor City is shaping up brilliantly and I just love how the mystery deepens with each volume. There's still so much to come and I'm hugely excited for it! Overall, a strong finale to another terrific boxset.

Rating: 8/10

Circuit Breaker

"He just sat there dreaming of metal."

Writer: Guy Adams

Format: Audio

Released: December 2020

Series: The Robots 3.02

Featuring: Toos, Poul

Synopsis

Poul has returned to Kaldor City... and Toos is doing her best to help his recovery. After troubling events in a local hotel, he finds himself with another crime to investigate. But are there some mysteries that shouldn't be solved?

Verdict

Circuit Breaker was another excellent episode to continue my way through the third volume of The Robots! This follows a format that worked well in the previous volume as we move away from the overarching story between Liv and Tula to focus on the nostalgia and hallmarks of The Robots of Death in the form of Toos and Poul. Their relationship was brilliant to continue exploring here and I like how they're clearly elderly statesmen on Kaldor. Their names mean something and that really does go a long way. I really enjoyed the exploration of robophobia and Poul in particular admitting freely that he had it was incredible. He didn't just admit to it but he then described how he felt when he saw a Robot and that was a powerful moment. He was almost ravaged and gushing at the mouth with his what felt like hatred. Toos seemed to think there was a distinction between hate and fear but I think the former is caused by the latter. Either way, his character development here was fantastic and just added to the politics of this spinoff range. It has so much going for it. Ullmann was a really good character and I enjoyed the service she was providing when it came to the Robots. She offered a place where people could fulfil their fantasies and with Robots involved, that does sound like it would be sexual. She was quick to point out that she offered nothing dirty but you would be surprised by how many non-sexual fantasies there were when it came to her facility! Tell your boss where to go? Say something to your partner you've been putting off? It was all available here and unbeknownst to himself, Poul was a frequent attendee! That was a fantastic revelation and just the very idea of Poul investigating the murdering of Robots and a couple of actual people also frequenting at the hotel when he was the culprit was magnificent! That hatred and fear really was enormously strong. New memories were created that were so insufferable to him that they just weren't retained. That feels almost impossible to comprehend but here we were! Ullmann's reaction when he explained the situation and said of course it was him was superb. She was pretty dumbfounded and given the revelations and flashback sequences that followed, how could you blame her? She was just running a business. I thought the moments towards the end where Ullmann was convincing Poul of what he needed to do and that involved removing Toos, he was sinister beyond belief. It was clear that she was actually going to be the target of his attack and the 'her' that would be removed, but just waiting for that moment was a delight. It was almost akin to the War Master in how devilish it felt! I look forward to hearing more of his descent into madness and just how Toos will try and control that waits to be seen. It's all very exciting as we head into the finale now and I'm awfully looking forward to when all of these elements join together. Poul claiming self defence in the least genuine way possible was magnificent to continue his breakdown. Overall, an excellent listen! 

Rating: 9/10