Between Two Worlds: Eleven's Eleven

"I've come to rob your vault. Would you be so kind as to open?"

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: November 2021

Series: UNIT: Nemesis 1.03

Featuring: Kate, Osgood

Synopsis

A series of jewel robberies in London and the Home Counties draws the attention of UNIT when it's discovered that some of the stolen gems are alien in origin. The robberies are the work of an organised criminal gang led by East End villain Ava Drake. But Ava has a new, ruthless partner. The Eleven has promised her riches, and for him the gems are a means to defeat UNIT and regain the arch.

Verdict

Eleven's Eleven was another great episode to continue my way through the Between Two Worlds opening series of UNIT: Nemesis! This felt a little like filler which is not unfamiliar territory for the third episode of a four-part boxset, but it was good filler! It progressed the story very nicely and I enjoyed the Eleven coming back in unique circumstances. His alliance quickly formed with Ava Drake who was a fine villain in her own right and I liked how she was no stranger in getting accustomed with his regenerative dissonance condition and how numerous voices were held within him. He was some business partner! The Eleven was clearly desperate for retrieving the arch and I was intrigued by the plan of stealing jewels with alien properties that went back to the Auctioneers. That was a nice throwback and bit of continuity for the UNIT series as a whole going back to The Sontaran Project. It was also lovely to reference The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky when it came to Osgood repurposing some of the Sontaran technology used for the teleport. I was a little surprised that following on from Fire and Ice we didn't have anything for Harry and Naomi here, but that allowed Kate and Osgood to shine once again. I love the pair and having one as a hologram was good fun when the Eleven and Ava arrived on the scene! I thought the role of Jacqui McGee here was terrific and she's a really fun character as a journalist with a knack for reporting on stuff she ought to know nothing about. Josh trying to sweet-talk her was good and it kind of worked by the end. She got herself into a tricky situation though when she went to Middle Mouse island herself and was shortly pushed out of the plane! I thought that was the end for her but alas it wasn't to be. The Eleven playing UNIT and turning everything into a trap and being seen where he was wanted to be seen was great and a fun moment of realisation for UNIT. They'd fallen for the bait. I liked hearing the Four in particular come out into the open in brief flashes for the Eleven and I do wonder if we will ever get more encounters with this Time Lord prior to his eleventh incarnation as I believe we've only had the Nine take on the Fourth Doctor before the Twelve entered the fray in the Time War. There's so much potential! Or just his own series with one of each incarnation would be the dream. I'd love to explore that first regeneration and the immediate impact of him realising what has happened. His reaction to Ava about the finest Gallifreyan minds couldn't even find a solution so how could anyone on Earth? He wasn't hiding the fact he was an alien at all which was good. I liked how the Eleven was prevented from getting the arch this time around thanks to Osgood doing some incredible scientific altering of the molecular structure to the extent that she couldn't even reverse it if she wanted to. I thought the ending was lovely as a hook into the finale with Kate calling the Curator for a new artefact to store in the Under Gallery. Very exciting indeed! Overall, a very strong episode to continue the series.

Rating: 8/10

Between Two Worlds: Fire and Ice

"Ice Warriors don't use robots, do they?"

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: November 2021

Series: UNIT: Nemesis 1.02

Featuring: Kate, Harry, Naomi

Synopsis

When Kate needs Harry Sullivan's help with a threat from the Eleven, she and Osgood travel to Australia to meet him. He's there with Naomi Cross, investigating footage of an apparent UFO crash that turned up on social media. 

They find themselves caught in the middle of a conflict between Ice Warriors. And one Ice Warrior isn't so icy – in fact, he's red hot. And getting hotter...

Verdict

Fire and Ice was a great episode to continue my way through the Between Two Worlds opening series of UNIT: Nemesis! This was a really fascinating episode because it saw two eras clash as promised at the end of The Enemy Beyond as Harry Sullivan joined forces with Kate and Osgood, but he wasn't alone as the only former companion of the Doctor to assist. Time is about to get whacky as I start the journey of Naomi Cross as companion and it seems here we are introduced to her at a time after her travelling days with the Doctor are over. And from my personal perspective those haven't happened yet! I try to avoid spoilers as much as possible but obviously I go chronologically in my listening of characters and ranges as much as possible so I know Naomi travels with the Seventh Doctor alongside Harry which I can't wait to delve into because that is pretty darn whacky, but presenting her here as a former companion is really fun. Osgood is excited by the prospect of meeting Harry and I mean, why wouldn't she be? He's a legendary character and it's wonderful to know he's still doing things with UNIT to keep himself more than busy. But Osgood is like an encyclopaedia when it comes to the Doctor so she's equally excited to meet Naomi! Our introduction to her in pretending to be an Australian barmaid is perhaps not the best, but I'm sure we will actually get her first chronological story down the line. She was enjoyable enough but I'd be lying if I said I didn't think Ros was a better character. Her clashing with Harry and Naomi who were both clearly not quite of this time was excellent as they couldn't operate a keyless car whereas she was trying to make a big noise in the world of social media. I don't care that she only had a few hundred followers, if she posted content of Ice Warriors in 2026 that would go viral! I really do think the online world has changed dramatically in just five years since this episode was released and even just half a decade later she would be in a much better position to try and make a financial go of social media as a job. The role of the Ice Warriors here was intriguing and I like the idea of there being a rogue. The image as well of an orange Ice Warrior amidst the Australian outback heat was tremendous and I can't believe that doesn't adorn the cover! It was good though to think that they had environmental suits given the hot setting and I must say just having a story set in Australia was brilliant as we don't get many of those! UNIT and the Ice Warriors helping each other where the rogue and the plague of the Eleven were concerned was really nice and I enjoyed the levels of respect shown between Kate and Jakernia. It's always good to play the honour card and I thought that was done really well here. I like the ongoing arc of the Eleven and the threat posed by the plague so Harry working on the anti-toxin is lovely and it's nice to know he and Naomi are returning to the UK to continue the work there. The explosive (literally!) threat facing Alice Springs was a strong threat and it was dealt with pretty efficiently. An Ice Warrior continuing to absorb heat is no fun thing considering where they come from and their natural habitat! Overall, a really good listen to continue what is shaping up to be a very strong boxset.

Rating: 8/10

Between Two Worlds: The Enemy Beyond

"I'm a lost soul."

Writer: Andrew Smith

Format: Audio

Released: November 2021

Series: UNIT: Nemesis 1.01

Featuring:

Synopsis

In a UNIT facility beneath Edinburgh Castle, Kate and Osgood work to unlock the mystery of a stone arch discovered buried in a prehistoric rock formation.

When the arch takes one of their number away to a strange, bleak world, it leads to an encounter with a Time Lord. One with multiple personalities. Soon the Eleven is loose on the streets of Edinburgh and plotting to seize the arch from UNIT by any means necessary.

Verdict

The Enemy Beyond was an excellent start to the Between Two Worlds first series of UNIT: Nemesis! I have longed to start this audio range for a long time now but the OCD in me would not let me begin until I had purchased all four volumes. Thankfully, an eBay voucher and an incredibly good deal from MusicMagpie meant the collection was complete and I would begin. So expect to see this range completed over the next couple of months! This was an exciting start. I whizzed through the Eighth Doctor Adventures and the Eleven was a monumental part of that so to have him on Earth and interacting with the modern UNIT team was a wonderful combination. The whole concept behind him as a Time Lord suffering from regenerative dissonance is incredible so it was wonderful to be back revisiting him. Mark Bonnar is wonderful in the role and I think this might be the first time I've listened to an audio with him in since his appearance in The Traitors late last year! I saw him in a whole new light on the cover which was good fun. I thought it was great to have Kate and Osgood lead the adventure as they really are a magnificent duo who rightfully star in their own series here. They just work so well together and that chemistry and respect was fully evident which was great. I thought Adam Merchant was a strong character called in for his expertise with geology to give information on a mysterious arch. He was fascinated by the finding and just the image of this under Edinburgh Castle was a delight. The Scottish capital is one of my all time favourite cities I have visited and the castle is obviously a highlight. I remember actually catching a bus tour to Loch Ness from behind it and it really is incredible high up on the rocks. An absolutely must visit location so I enjoyed the image of the Eleven running around there with the potential to infect the population massively! Adam suffering from an apparent plague that was gluey in residue didn't sound good and I like the threat of it coming from the other side of the Arch. Just where that is was mysterious and I'm sure it's something we will come back to in the series' future. I feel like we have to! The Eleven 'taking care' of Adam on the other side of the arch was intriguing and the effects of travel through making him blind was the perfect cover for the deranged Time Lord. He could pretend that his previous internal incarnations were actually different people and that was played really well. Imagine his reaction after taking the protective patch off to find that the Eleven was the only one! The Eleven describing his condition to Kate and her understanding instantly was a fun surprise for him as he realised that Kate wasn't all she seemed! She had a lot going for her. The Eleven having a police officer under his hypnotic watch was great stuff and certainly aided his cause for a while. I thought the way things ended was pretty darn dramatic with an incredible sacrifice from Adam to take the Eleven with him out of the plane and into the depths of the ocean! A phenomenal image. The Eleven's body not being recovered was fun because it's clear he wasn't dead but at least he was sent packing from this scheme. The lead into the next episode with the prospect of Harry entering the UNIT fray and Ice Warriors in the Australian desert was terrific too! Overall, a fantastic start to the series! 

Rating: 9/10

The Little Planet

"All pets are to remain on the surface."

Writer: David Llewellyn

Format: Short Story

Released: September 2010

Printed in: The Brilliant Book 2011

Featuring: Silurians

Synopsis

The Moon is approaching planet Earth, and the reptile population of the planet make plans to descend below the surface until a time that is safe.

Verdict

The Little Planet was a superb little short story! This really was an excellent two pages of fiction that accompanies The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood so well as basically a prequel to everything that defines the Silurians. Or are they Eocenes? I'm not sure it's really known or even important at this point but I'm just going to continue with the name Silurians. That's what we predominantly saw on screen so I see no reason to go against it. Kaya was the main character here as a child Silurian and I grew to really like her very quickly. That's a testament to the author for creating such a likeable person so early on. This whole story was only two pages long and whilst those pages are actually pretty big in basically being A4 and predominantly being text, but the illustrations that accompanied the story were certainly helpful. The one not used for my image here which adorned a good section of the first page was incredibly vibrant and the colour really did help bring the story to life. I think the design of the Silurians anyway is really good and perfect for illustration and that was definitely the case here. I thought seeing the story through Kaya's eyes was very strong and her starting to understand the predicament her father was explaining was excellent. The Moon being seen as getting closer and closer from Kaya's perspective on Earth was intriguing and I can't imagine how much that would have provided some fear! Especially when her father was explaining to her that they would have to descend below the surface for some time whilst the effects dissipated. Finding out that she would have to leave Leefa behind was pretty devastating for her as you can imagine as she viewed this ape in much the same way we as humans would view dogs and cats. I have one of each and the idea of leaving them behind for a catastrophic event to occur feels impossible. Even if they are incredibly annoying at the best of times! The goodbye that Kaya gave to her pet ape was heartfelt and there was strong emotional pull in the story which was impressive given it was only two pages long! That was such an impressive aspect of the adventure and I love it as a prequel to everything Silurian. It ties in with everything we've known since Doctor Who and the Silurians beyond and it's clear that this is just one area of the Silurian population going into hibernation which would explain the change of appearances amongst different clans. I think that works as an explanation with ease. The moment Kaya had to go down below with her father was pretty calm and I liked the presentation of that as I'm sure alternative stories have depicted it as quite chaotic. She could say her goodbye and be prepared. Leefa being let go was a nice touch to give a final sense of freedom before the impending doom, and the moment he said Kaya when he realised she was gone was incredibly poignant. Overall, as short stories go this is a belter! I just wish it was longer. A fantastic companion piece to the Series 5 two-parter. 

Rating: 9/10

Save the Earth

"Death by fashion."

Writer: Beth Axford

Format: Short Trips

Released: October 2025

Printed in: The Adventures After 08

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor

Synopsis

Discover what happened after...

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

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

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

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

Verdict

Save the Earth was a great story to conclude The Adventures After collection of short stories! Whilst this was a very strong adventure as my rating suggests, I must say it felt like a bit of a stretch to call this a sequel to Kill the Moon. It's clear it takes place immediately afterwards from the Doctor's perspective with Clara not currently travelling with him as she was rightfully hurt and outraged at his actions in putting her in a position that could have resulted in disaster. He did seem a little apologetic internally here which was good and I liked the link back to him still feeling new in this incarnation following his regeneration in The Time of the Doctor and still proving himself to Clara by having his previous self call her in Deep Breath. That was really good but all of this came in the first page and then the story was bookended by him thinking that Clara might have forgiven him. All of the while an entirely different story took place! That was no problem I just find it amusing to consider this a sequel when it really isn't. A sequel would be a story set on Earth just after the events of the Moon laying an egg and dealing with any consequences of the action that Clara helped take. This was just a follow on in terms of feelings for the Doctor and as I say, this was still a terrific little story it is just perhaps in the wrong collection. I think the idea of the story is actually quite similar to Becky's Impossible Day also by Beth Axford in The Adventures Before collection as a Rose sequel. That dealt with colour in a similar way to which fabric was used here. I like the concept a lot and the threat posed by something consuming itself within the fabrics of the planet is incredibly strong because it really is everywhere! That's a frightening concept. I enjoyed Simi as the stand in companion for the story and I thought the characterisation of the Twelfth Doctor was captured really well when she was trying to return the map that he had dropped. He wasn't even acknowledging her but when she pointed out she had experience of the spot marked X and Ed going missing, the Doctor was all ears. I liked that a lot and it was also lovely to read how much Simi was basically in awe of him as everything was materialising. The Ethanes were pretty funky as a threat but I liked that what they were doing wasn't intentional. In a short story I feel like that actually works well because it takes the stakes down a little. Sure, the Doctor was pretty blunt about Ed being dead and the way it happened with the build up of the Ethanes transferring and they needed to be stopped, and that was something that Simi was keen to prevent further. No more deaths. She had a purpose and I liked that she was able to help the Doctor. Providing the suggesting of sending them back through the tear in which they had arrived was good and utilising the Doctor's pockets as being dimensionally transcendental was pretty amusing I must say! The Shoreditch focus was good and harking back to An Unearthly Child with the Foreman references of the location was lovely. I'm always a sucker for that. Simi helping in a big way to save the planet and help the Doctor with the jacket and drawing the Ethanes in was good but I wasn't expecting her to be hospitalised by the process and the effect! Overall though, a really strong story with a very good concept at its heart.

Rating: 8/10

Deep Stretch

"They're just kids!"

Writer: Richard Salter

Format: Short Story

Released: December 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Steel Skies 09

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

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

Deep Stretch was a great story to continue my way through the Steel Skies edition of Short Trips! I now move into the second half of the collection and with that comes another quartet under a different banner. This time it’s all about Incarceration and I don’t think this adventure could have captured that feeling any more than it did! That’s a big positive as the atmosphere for the story was certainly one of being contained. A very strong sense of a steel sky indeed despite the story being set completely underwater. I thought that was really intriguing and I just loved everything about it as an all female prison. These were criminals that were convicted which obviously put the Doctor in a tricky situation when Jo was so intent on seeing them released. I understood why she was feeling that way because of the horrors of their confinement, but the Doctor respected the law and wasn’t going to just let them go free. That was an interesting dynamic to explore and it was clear that events were shortly after those of The Three Doctors which put things into perspective for the Doctor having just been freed of his exile. A very different kind of imprisonment. I thought Li and Mellisa were good characters as the more reasonable inmates who had accepted their sentence despite the surroundings and how artificial everything was, whereas Clark was a different cat altogether. She’s listed as the main enemy for this story on TARDIS Wiki which I’m not sure about as I’d just describe her as desperate. Two and a half years with nearly seven and a half to go is some sentence and they weren’t exactly close to being set free, but their reluctance to aid the Doctor in his efforts to change things was telling. They couldn’t risk extending their sentence which said all that was required about the deep sea prison. Talk about saving space and resources! The Doctor knew it was all about money but whilst he didn’t want the inmates to escape, he did want them set free and he was prepared to show that the system was malfunctioning and that the whole thing would be rethought. The image of the respective prisons rising through the water and the inmates celebrating was powerful. It was good to highlight that they had nowhere to go so would still be dealt with by the authorities, but perhaps a little more humanely now. The Doctor could win at both keeping Jo happy but also respecting the law and that feels right for his character. Li missing out on her family life was a shame to read just how much that hurt her but she could still be in a position when she was released that her children weren't quite adults yet. I have two wonderful children and I cannot begin to fathom not seeing them grow up for a decade! Torment in isolation under the sea was palpable there. Clark having her own plan of escape being just ten days out was interesting and she wouldn't let anything get in the way of that. It was quite clear that the Doctor and Jo weren't actually psychologists looking for an update which was pretty fun and I liked how Li even realised that by the end when they were free and the blue box had disappeared. She'd anticipated that which I liked. Jo being a hostage to Clark when the Doctor was ready to enact his plan was exciting and injected a strong sense of anticipation, but I must admit I was humorously surprised that this incarnation of all struck a woman to free her and set the plan into motion! Overall, a great read to continue the collection.

Rating: 8/10

Escape From Reality: The Master of Dorian Gray

"She has played her last role."

Writer: David Llewellyn

Format: Audio

Released: December 2022

Series: The War Master 8.04

Featuring: War Master

Synopsis

Seeking the power of immortality, the Master works himself into the life of Dorian Gray. But can he change how the story ends?

Verdict

The Master of Dorian Gray was a good episode to conclude the Escape From Reality eighth series of The War Master. This was something of a crossover for Big Finish which is a fun concept but unfortunately I am wholly unfamiliar with the world of Dorian Gray so I don't think I could quite appreciate what was being presented here. I knew the character had his own series at Big Finish but I didn't know he was a fictional character from the works of Oscar Wilde. That's pretty cool and I'm fascinated as to why he has an entire range of audio dramas at Big Finish! The focus on the Victorian era is good because that's one of my favourite periods of history and the Master just seems to fit in there perfectly no matter the incarnation. I do think this one worked well with Derek Jacobi seamlessly slotting into the era and hearing him put on an accent to be more suited to the time and place was great. He does love a disguise! I thought the story of Dorian Gray was a pretty emotional one actually as he fell in love with Sibyl Vane by watching her performances on the stage as an actress and that happened incredibly quickly. He was quite simply mesmerised by her but I did get the feeling that he was perhaps more in love with the actress in terms of performance than the woman she really was. That was a little vain and I thought that was evidenced when she had what he perceived to be a bad performance. He was horrified and felt offended which was pretty off-putting I must admit. Whilst it was nice to hear him clearly smitten and boasting about her to the likes of Basil and Henry, he felt let down which didn't quite sit right with me. She blamed her being in love on the bad performance but he was sickened and that was Gray done with her much to my surprise! Finding out that he then had a change of heart overnight and wanted to marry her was interesting, but she'd killed herself and Gray got the blame. I thought that was intriguing and it was really good for the Master to play into the fictional plot devices of the overall Dorian Gray story. It's clear that the death of Sibyl was important to shaping the character and having the Master of all people toy with that is excellent. I did though get a tad confused when different characters that looked like the same woman kept showing up though but it was fun at the same time to play with that in the audio format with the same actress performing. Dorian's reaction to seeing her again and knowing that she wasn't actually dead was strong as imagine being told that then seeing your love? The emotions would be so strong. I thought Sibyl actually getting the better of the Master was a tad disappointing to be honest as I'm not sure in the War incarnation of all that he should be defeated by a fictional character! He tried to harness the power of the painting of Gray as a means of permanent immortality which would certainly be desirable in the Time War, but the opposite happened and now the portrait had regenerative qualities? That's a fun thought! I did hope for more of a connection to The Wrath of Medusa and the Daleks pursuing the Master to the Land of Fiction but I guess Medusa and the gorgon sisters really did see them off which was a surprise. I just think a little more connective tissue there to bookend the series would have been marvellous but alas it wasn't to be. Time for the War Master to confront reality once again as we're set for a whole new boxset to come. Keep them coming, I love this incarnation! Overall, a decent episode to conclude a strong and fascinating series. 

Rating: 7/10

Escape From Reality: The Adventure of the Deceased Doctor

"I have eliminated every Sherlock Holmes."

Writer: Alfie Shaw 

Format: Audio

Released: December 2022

Series: The War Master 8.03

Featuring: War Master

Synopsis

When Dr John Watson is informed of his own murder, only the world's greatest consulting detective can assist. He just happens to come from a different world.

Verdict

The Adventure of the Deceased Doctor was a good episode to continue my way through the Escape From Reality eighth series of The War Master! This was an intriguing episode but I think the reason this probably scores a little lower than the rest of the boxset so far is probably because of my lack of exposure to Sherlock Holmes. I've obviously heard about him and know he's essentially a Victorian detective from the world of fiction, but I've never read or watched a Sherlock Holmes story. I am sure it would have been beneficial to have done so prior to listening to this episode and I suspect I may have the same issue in the series finale to come as I'll be in the same situation there. That's not to say it wasn't fun to hear the War Master in the role of Sherlock Holmes though! I'm just sure I would have appreciated it more if I was familiar with the fictional genre. Having him team up with his own Watson was good stuff and I liked the dynamic between the pair. The flashback moment towards the end of the episode where we hear how the Master imprinted himself as Holmes on the brain of his partner was terrific. I think the idea of the Master just passing through different fictional worlds following on from the events of the previous two episodes is amusing and when he saw this one he just popped off for a challenge. Talk about having some fun! We know the Master is patient when it comes to his disguises and mysterious schemes, but this one was quite something in terms of wanting to wipe out all versions of Holmes and Watson. And he was very nearly close! It was certainly audacious and pretty barmy which are often the best kind but there was some sort of logic to it in that he wanted the encyclopaedia to help complete the Omniscience. The Time War itself was writing reality to an endless and uncontrollable level on an almost continuous basis, so why couldn't something pertaining to be the seat of all knowledge help put order to that? The Master trying to use fictional elements and bring them into the real universe to aid the cause of the Time War is a delightful prospect and I just wish that came earlier in the story. Before it was revealed, it felt like the episode was then already over! I thought the Master confronting Moriarty was excellent and I liked how the two antagonists of two very different and popular genres came up against one another. The Master also needing every version of him was a fun twist as he initially seemed pleased that he had ridded the world of Sherlock Holmes. Johanna's role was good but I felt sorry for her as it was always clear she was just being used by the Master. Her fate of being subjected to the tissue compression eliminator was pretty brutal though and was another stark reminder of how ruthless this incarnation of the Master really is. It still surprises me in moments when it really shouldn't and Jacobi plays him to perfection. The use of a laser screwdriver here was really strong and I just enjoyed him toying with the characters of this world as he revealed to them that they were created. Playing with the mediums and some of the Sherlock characters here coming from the world of sound was a good subtle in-joke that I could appreciate. Overall, a decent episode that keeps the series moving. I'm excited for the finale even if I'm unfamiliar again with the fictional element at its heart. 

Rating: 7/10

Escape From Reality: The Shadow Master

"This is the story of how the Master gave me life."

Writer: Lizzie Hopley

Format: Audio

Released: December 2022

Series: The War Master 8.02

Featuring: War Master

Synopsis

As the Master plunders inconceivable artefacts from an impossible universe, he encounters a figure that may prove his greatest threat: his own Shadow.

Verdict

The Shadow Master was another strong episode to continue my way through the Escape From Reality eighth series of The War Master! This continued to be a fascinating listen as the Master grows accustomed to the new fictional realm from which he is rapidly making a name for himself. I enjoyed the continuity from The Wrath of Medusa in having the Master based atop Mount Olympus and any threats put his way regarding Medusa and her gorgon sisters were shimmied away as if they were nothing because he had already granted them their freedom. I thought that was a fun element because he already had control. Things are obviously different in a world of fiction and the Master exploits that at all corners which was glorious. Much of the fictional aspects of this story coming from the author of Hans Christian Andersen was intriguing but I'd be lying if I said I was familiar with his works. That being said, there was some really interesting stuff and just having this Master experience and toy with different fictional elements was brilliant. The main attraction is obviously the titular element of the Shadow Master and I must say I found that concept strong. That was something I am familiar with and it works well to essentially show the War Master himself in shadow form. They absolutely perfected the casting with Gethin Anthony playing the Shadow because he just sounded like a fairytale. The nature of the episode and much of it being in a narrative form from the Shadow's perspective worked pretty well, although I do think there were perhaps a few too many moments where the War Master went missing. But if I would pick anyone to read an audiobook for fiction then it would be Anthony! That voice was mesmeric in this form. The Shadow's relationship with Poetry was quite beautiful too and I really loved their love for one another. It was sudden and yet pure and the entire concept of poetry personified was pretty great! She refuted the name of Shadow which was good as she hope the Master would see that he was much more than a mere alternate kind of reflection. I loved the concept behind the Devil's three magic bullets and the Master having them in his possession was a deadly prospect. The final one being shot at Poetry was a powerful moment and showed just how callous he is to hurt his Shadow that way. The two Masters having to team up to replace Poetry as the heart and soul of the realm was very much one of convenience and I liked how devastated the Shadow was. His mission at the end of wanting to hurt the Master and how he would be coming for him was superb and I'll be surprised if we've heard the last from him! The use of the Shadow TARDIS was really strong though and that felt like a concept rife for Dark Gallifrey! I thought that was strong. Incorporating goblins was fun stuff for this Master and I just liked how he continues to wreak havoc in a world where he almost has free rein! It's really fun to explore and Jacobi is revelling in the War incarnation. A great listen. 

Rating: 8/10

Escape From Reality: The Wrath of Medusa

"How does it feel to be totally defenceless?"

Writer: Rochana Patel

Format: Audio

Released: December 2022

Series: The War Master 8.01

Featuring: War Master

Synopsis

Crashing into a universe of fiction, the Master finds himself lost in a world of Greek mythology... with a Dalek assault squad close behind.

Verdict

The Wrath of Medusa was a great start to the Escape From Reality eighth series of The War Master! Derek Jacobi continues to shine as this To troubled and cunning incarnation of the Master amidst the backdrop of the Time War. I thought the pre-titles sequence that sets up what is to come with the Master escaping reality altogether was the War Master at his maniacal best as he was basically torturing a Dalek. To be fair, they were at war but even so this was uncomfortable listening in the best way possible. The concept of him scavenging from the leftovers and the battlegrounds of the Time War was excellent but now the Daleks were onto him and he only had one route out. I think the idea of the Master being on the run from the Daleks is terrific and should be strong throughout the rest of the series, but his only means of escape being to go sideways and into the Land of Fiction was quite spectacular! I do love traversing dimensions and realities so this is right up my alley. I think more of a firm link to The Mind Robber would have been beneficial, but there's still plenty of time for that to come. I'm not the biggest fan of Greek mythology and everything that comes with that so the elements for this adventure weren't wholly up my alley, but I did like the links back to The Time Monster as a means to explain the Master's interest with the gods and that period. I thought him being mistaken as the God of Death was good and I couldn't think of anything more fitting for him, especially in this incarnation. His interactions with Medusa were fascinating and I was surprised with how quickly they were talking of traversing different dimensions and realms. She saw the opportunity that came with the TARDIS purely from his arrival and that opened up a lot of potential in her mind. Perseus was a strong character who accompanied the Master a lot throughout the episode and his fate almost felt poetic. Athena too was great and whilst I won't pretend to be wholly knowledgeable on the Greek myths and history, I thought the story did a pretty solid job in educating me enough that I cared and it was interesting. Perhaps there was a little too much dialogue amongst them, but that's no big issue! I enjoyed how even in a realm of fiction, the Master was tapping into his desire to rule and have power. Physics were not defined by the laws he knew here and that was fun to ponder over, particularly when it came to navigating the TARDIS! Telepathic circuits rejoice. Touching upon origin stories for myths and legends was really good and I liked how things changed with retellings. That would impact characters here in the fictional world which I enjoyed as a concept. The Master actually utilising and bargaining with Medusa and her gorgon sisters to go against the Daleks was quite spectacular and a stunning image. The Daleks were guarding the Master's way out of the Land of Fiction so he would use it against them. The way he used Dalek eyestalks with minimal power to briefly cure blindness was devious and I liked how he wasn't scared to do anything to get his own way. He wasn't afraid to converse with Zeus who was presented as the god he was and that was great. Somehow despite physical stature the Master always felt in control and superior. That was a strong dynamic. Overall, a really strong start to the series that is going to jump around a number of fictional lands. An exciting prospect indeed!

Rating: 8/10

Doctor Who and the Invasion of Time

"You needed the shock of invasion to wake up."

Writer: Terrance Dicks

Format: Novel

Released: February 1980

Series: Target 35

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela, K9

Synopsis

A traitor to the Time Lords?

Can the Doctor really be in league with the evil Vardans, spearheading a treacherous invasion of his home planet, Gallifrey?

Or is he playing a deadly double game, saving the Time Lords by appearing to betray them?

But the Vardans themselves are only pawns in the game, and the Doctor faces an old and deadly enemy, as he battles to foil the Invasion of Time. 

Verdict

Doctor Who and the Invasion of Time was an excellent novelisation of the Season 15 finale! I have always had a soft spot for this story and as my blog of the televised serial shows I gave it a perfect viewing on my last watch some nine years ago now. I didn't quite think the novelisation reached those heights, but it was still a darn good read. Terrance Dicks is the master of a short and snappy style which was great and made for an easy read at a good pace, but it probably is also where things are ever so slightly let down by not sticking around in certain elements of the adventure. In saying that, I absolutely adored how this felt like more of a sequel to The Deadly Assassin than the television version did and that made so much more sense when it came to the Doctor arriving and demanding his legal right as President. No other candidates had stepped forward since those events with the Master so now he wanted what was legally his. I admired that and I'm not sure any other incarnation of the Doctor could have taken on the task the Fourth gave himself here. His brashness and arrogance was on show brilliantly as he needed to persuade the Vardans that he was with him. I really liked reading this in prose knowing the big twist to come as there are little hints throughout that the Doctor is far from being on the Vardans' side. The demands for lead in his Presidential quarters were great and I loved the moment he came clean to Borusa after giving him a pretty difficult time! Their relationship and history was touched on very nicely I must say. I'm a sucker for any adventure set on Gallifrey because I just adore the political world there and how much the Doctor does not fit in. So for him to arrive here and cause a stir only to then proclaim himself as President was tremendous! He suspends the Constitution and before we know it the Vardans are in place after nearly all Gallifreyan defences were obliterated. Linking the force field of the planet with the TARDIS was fun stuff and I always enjoy the shock and humour that comes from the Doctor's version being a Type-40. Forever outdated but always defying the odds. I think the Vardans are presented as a strong foe and it says a lot when the Doctor immediately tries to befriend them and is fighting them off telekinetically with every thought being monitored. But when the Sontarans arrive they really are another level of monster and I love that. They've always been a favoured enemy of mine and just having them on Gallifrey is glorious! What better war to win than the one against time? The way they used the Vardans was presented really well and I think Stor was excellent. I must say though, they were pretty stupid when it came to finding the 'Dok-tor'! Kelner being a traitor on all sides was amusing and the Doctor tried to guilt him into his punishment but he still went in it for himself. Leela was marvellous in this story and it's a fitting finale for her as companion. She isn't scared of the Time Lords and flourishes in the Outside which I think came across better here in prose than on screen. It was her natural habitat and the moment she threw a knife into the probic vent of a Sontaran was outstanding. I thought her relationship with Andred could have been presented as a little more in the forefront considering that's who she left the TARDIS for, and the goodbye from the Doctor felt very abrupt which was a shame after all they've gone through together! K9 was fun throughout and the image of him adorning Gallifreyan regalia was a delight. Overall, a tremendous novelisation of a superb story. 

Rating: 9/10

Rendition

"Wars break all kind of laws."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: May 2026

Series: Rutans vs Sontarans 1.02

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Zoe, Eighth Doctor

Synopsis

At the edge of the Sontaran-Rutan War, a large medical ship lingers in space. The Doctor and his friends find a group of strange survivors aboard planning something unusual to save their commander. 

What new powers do the Rutans possess? What secrets does the Lockhart hold? As the conflict creeps closer, the Doctor must work out how to rescue those no longer versed in war...

Verdict

Rendition was another strong episode to continue the ongoing series of Rutans vs Sontarans! This was another enjoyable hour spent and it was great to head back into the early days of chronology with the Second Doctor, Zoe and Jamie. Of course, this was certainly the trio as an alternative timeline version to tie in with the ongoing Second Doctor Adventures and I think that actually works very nicely to tie in with Betrayal at the House of Sontar and that featuring the Fugitive Doctor. Whilst we still don't have a definitive placement for the Fugitive Doctor, the general consensus is that she comes pre-First Doctor but I still maintain that she ought to be between the Second and Third Doctors because of the TARDIS being in a police box disguise. I'm not sure how that would fit with the incarnation featured here though! It was really fun to explore though and it's always good to depict a Doctor meeting villains he didn't meet on screen until a much later incarnation. The realisation from the Doctor when he realises that they've arrived in the middle of the Sontaran-Rutan War was excellent as that was clearly sold as a pretty terrible place to be. Zoe being dumbfounded by the idea of hearing sound in space was great too and she was on hand to really showcase her intelligence. I like having her as a companion as she's almost an equal to the Doctor and he's able to utilise her mathematical abilities brilliantly. That came here with the programming being almost impossible in terms of code but she was able to crack it. Nurse Marva was an intriguing character and I liked how the focus was on her. When it was determined that she would be staying behind at the end, it was clear that she wasn't all that she seemed. The Second Doctor seemed to hint at knowing the truth but getting an epilogue of sorts with the Eighth Doctor was great stuff that I'm sure will tie in nicely with the series finale in which he features. This was no traditional multi-Doctor story unfortunately with the Eighth Doctor mostly confined to the shadows, but having him interact with Zoe for a few minutes was a lovely clash of eras. The nice to meet you line was particularly great and after the emotion of The War Games I wonder what he thought of seeing her again here. I like that he seems to be stuck in a tangle of a cosmic web and what that entails will surely come more into fruition as the series rolls on which is exciting. I thought keeping the Sontarans away until the halfway point was good as their arrival felt important and I'm loving the voices presented here. Who better to voice a clone race bred for war than the War Doctor himself? He's doing a brilliant job. It was though good to really focus on the Rutans here and the myth of the Melmoth as a Rutan that was broken away from the Rutan Host as a collective was great stuff. I think more could have been made of it before that epilogue because it's a fun concept but perhaps unfamiliar companions made it a little tricky. It obviously links back to the events of the series opener terrifically and I'm all for exploring that further. The Lockhart was a really good setting and a contained environment feels particularly apt for this kind of series. The ending was pretty simple in the end and kept things neat and tidy for everyone to go on their merry way, and I'm glad that Zoe was still struggling to comprehend why Marva didn't leave with them. Jamie showing a more emotional side with the Rutan poetry and having his own verses was also really nice stuff. That showed a softer side to him which was good to hear. Overall, a really solid adventure to continue the series that definitely keeps me wanting more!

Rating: 8/10

Warm Blood

"I brought you here to die."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Audio

Released: October 2016

Series: Jago & Litefoot 12.04

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis

Ellie tells Jago and Litefoot that she has been in contact with a group of vampires and can lead the investigators to them. But can they trust her? With more victims turning up, Jago, Litefoot and Ellie make their way to a house that is supposed to be haunted, and which could be the vampires' base of operations. 

But what they find there will surprise and horrify Jago and Litefoot. Can they survive their encounter with the vampires when the Old One has decided that they must die?

Verdict

Warm Blood was an excellent episode to conclude the twelfth series of Jago & Litefoot! This has been a superb quartet of stories and I've loved the ongoing arc of Ellie returning to her vampiric ways. We've linked back all the way to The Spirit Trap and finally Ellie confronted Jago and Litefoot about the death of her brother. The image presented to the Infernal Investigators was obviously troubling as it brought back some bad memories for them as they had to take part in a terrible situation and put Jim out of his misery. I think the use of this being a painting depicting the incident in Victorian London is a stark reminder of the time period and I think it's great to really utilise everything possible. This served as a strong finale for the vampiric theme that has been a huge part of this series and Quick starting things off by revealing that there was another murder and close to the Red Tavern was a strong way to really get the suspicions on Ellie. Litefoot announcing that he was suspecting her to Quick was a little surprising to me but it brought the suspicions right on her as everyone seemed to think she was back in her old state. That's a sad thought but to be fair Ellie played it well even if Litefoot was playing her at the same time. The venture to the Vampire lair was good and I liked that it was an old abandoned house. That felt apt for the atmosphere and as the sight of what would turn out to be the final confrontation. Ravener making himself known again after his scholarly killing spree in School of Blood was great and I think his character alongside the Old One has been brilliant. He brings a steady and chilling presence which I appreciate. He just suits being a Vampire! The Old One was very strong here too and I was glad that he turned on Ellie. He used her because she had already had numerous chances to prove herself and he didn't accept failure. I think that's important when it comes to his villainous qualities but Ellie was appalled. She was obviously acting out of character in the last few episodes by trying to lure Jago and Litefoot to their deaths and I must admit I was quite surprised that she was genuinely doing so out of revenge. After all she had been through with Jago and Litefoot, could she not have confronted them first about the image and offered them the chance for an explanation? It felt out of character but the contrived nature of it has been fascinating listening. I liked the emotion of this episode and it felt right to be quite dialogue heavy between the leading trio. Ellie is such a lovely character and she is clearly troubled at this point in her life. It's been a long time and she's gone through so much since losing her brother. Her reaction to being double crossed by the Old One was incredible and I loved that she was the one to then put things right and kill him. Stake through the heart! I was honestly expecting Jago to be the one to pull the trigger when it came to putting the stake through Ellie's heart too at her request. I did fear this was the end for her character, but thankfully it was not! I am very intrigued to hear where things will go from here in the next series though as this is sure to have shaken up the dynamic and relationship between the trio. I'm sure they'll be fine and Litefoot suspecting the Master being the reason for Ellie's recent actions and vampiric state is a fine guess indeed. Overall, an excellent episode to conclude a fantastic series! 

Rating: 9/10

School of Blood

"My daughter can't play hockey because she's a vampire."

Writer: Paul Morris

Format: Audio

Released: October 2016

Series: Jago & Litefoot 12.03

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis

Acting on a tip-off about the possible source of the vampiric murders that are now plaguing London, Jago and Litefoot investigate a girls' school. Due to a misunderstanding, Litefoot finds himself offered a job at the school, while Jago keeps watch on Ellie who they both think is behaving oddly. 

But before long, they both discover that all is not as it should be at the school. Can Jago and Litefoot track down the vampires before it claims more innocent victims?

Verdict

School of Blood was an excellent episode to continue my way through the twelfth series of Jago & Litefoot! This was a superb continuation of what has so far been a thoroughly enjoyable and consistent series where Ellie is rightly the focus, something I've been waiting to happen for so many series now! I have felt so far in the series that she is playing some sort of game to bring out the Old One but after a little hint of me thinking she might actually be succumbing to her vampiric ways in The Flickermen, I firmly believe it here! Actions certainly speak louder than words and whilst I am intrigued as to why the Old One continues to give her chances, she really is showing her worth now. She didn't quite deliver in taking out Jago and Litefoot and bravely admitted that sentiment got the better of her, but the same could not be said when it came to Lucilla Fredericks. Her role in the story was central as it turned out she was a vampire but her defence of not being the one that was responsible for the vampiric deaths that had plagued this area of London in recent weeks was pretty non-existent. With the mirror confirming her as a vampire due to the lack of reflection, it would seem like a very cut and dry case on paper. It was far from it though as Litefoot in particular would deduce at the conclusion in quite brilliant fashion. I thought the setting of a school was excellent and I loved how that was somewhere this series hasn't taken us yet in the Victorian era. A girl's school nonetheless and Litefoot taking up a role there as the Head of the Sixth Form was pretty impressive! Professorships in pathology certainly do pay off. Jago only being considered for the caretaker role was pretty fun and even then he had to do it the second time around after admitting to having no serious qualifications! I love the comic value he brings to proceedings. Ravener being in the school as the religious teacher was quite an important role at this point in history and Litefoot making note that he didn't even have a bible in his collection was telling of where his truths lay. I really like the presence he brings though and whilst his loyalties to the Old One are clear, just the mention of his name sent a shudder down Ellie's spine. Her being closely watched by Jago was amusing as with a little too much alcohol it didn't take long for him to spill the means of their vampiric suspicions and why Litefoot was taking a job at the school. Ellie would soon hop along to help but she had ulterior motives. I was surprised in a very pleasant way that she was able to switch between her normal and vampiric selves which impressed and then horrified Fredericks who saw herself and her line perish. Ravener would certainly be pleased after a long time trying and the Old One was hardly pleased with him given the efficiency of Ellie proving her worth! The way things tied together for Litefoot and linked back to Picture This as they were now able to see the film of them as fine gentlemen was excellent because they knew that something was missing. Ellie not being on the moving picture was a superb way for them to get the confirmation that it was her that was the Vampire they had been searching for all along. What a way to set up the finale! Overall, a fantastic episode in a great setting that really sets the scene for a fantastic showdown. I can't wait to hear how things conclude from here. 

Rating: 9/10

The Flickermen

"A mirror to another world."

Writers: Paul Morris & Simon Barnard

Format: Audio

Released: October 2016

Series: Jago & Litefoot 12.02

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis

Jago is rather scathing of the new art of cinematography. Even so, he accompanies Litefoot to see a demonstration at a fairground. But this is no ordinary film. Can creatures live inside the film – or even escape from it?

Ellie recalls childhood stories about the 'Flickermen', and elsewhere people start to flicker in and out of existence. By the end of their adventure, Jago and Litefoot will themselves be film stars. But what they see when the film of them is shown will give them both pause for thought...

Verdict

The Flickermen was another great episode to continue my way through the twelfth series of Jago & Litefoot! This was a fun concept and I must admit I wouldn't have had an episode about cinematography taking place in Victorian England on my bingo card for this spinoff range, but here we are! And it works really well. I loved how authentic this felt of the era as I really enjoyed hearing the reactions of seeing a video in play for the first time. It was fascinating and it's incredible to think really how extraordinary this would have been at the time. A moving image! The very idea. What I hadn't considered was that for Henry Gordon Jago this was actually something of a threat to his business in the theatre! It makes sense as cinemas now are incredibly popular and whilst the theatre does still do very strong business, the moving image is definitely superior in terms of popularity. Trying to place that in a Victorian setting though felt alien in a way that I really enjoyed. I thought hearing the tale of the Flickermen was intriguing and I almost wish this came about nine series earlier given that it was a tale shrouded locally and one Ellie recalled almost immediately. After twelve series it really does feel like we ought to have covered everything there is to cover in this area of London but it's no major issue. I really liked how stumped Litefoot was when called to give his verdict on another mysterious corpse and this one was literally flickering in and out of existence. That was a strong image to try and comprehend. I loved the continuation of the mysterious discussions between Ellie and the Older One and whilst I firmly don't think that she will actually kill Jago and Litefoot, I could almost be convinced by her performance here. She really did seem like she hated them and with the plan to meet up the following night, could she really attempt to murder them? Ravener being on hand to provide a close up and personal insight into her actions is probably going to be her downfall as he was reporting back that she hadn't acted as they had hoped for. It was good though that despite Ellie not following through, she may have an excuse with Ravener acknowledging the intelligence of the pair and how efficiently and ludicrously they dealt with the Flickermen. I thought that was fun and it was nice for them to have something akin to an admirer for their improvisation! The use of film in its infancy was really fun here and I think there's potential with the technology being so young and untested. Why couldn't creatures live there or even escape? It worked well that their intentions were actually nothing and they were kind of just in the way as creatures from another dimension. Hearing Litefoot try to explain his beliefs there was positive and I enjoyed how he grasped the concept. I thought it was also good to reference their encounters with the Doctor as experience of how just about anything is possible, but I would argue they've had plenty of their own without him too! Hearing Ellie lure a stranger into what he thought was a sexual encounter only for her to succumb to her vampiric impulses was excellent and I'm really excited to hear where things go from here with her. She's clearly struggling and delving back deeper into her old ways. Ravener is getting closer to Jago and Litefoot and I can't wait for the Old One to surely make a big impact. This is a really strong series so far and I'm loving the direction. Overall, a great listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Picture This

"I'm taking you to see a dead body."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Audio

Released: October 2016

Series: Jago & Litefoot 12.01

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis

An art gallery is robbed, and the curator killed. That might not seem of interest to Jago and Litefoot. But this is the fabled Scarlet Gallery – where the paintings are said to be haunted. And the curator has been drained of blood, as if killed by a vampire. 

Bizarrely, the only painting that has been stolen is in itself quite unremarkable compared with the others in the gallery. But even so, Jago and Litefoot soon find themselves caught up in events that could end in their deaths – or worse...

Verdict

Picture This was an excellent start to the twelfth series of Jago & Litefoot! This is a spinoff range that just continues to shine and if this one is anything to go by then we're in for another terrific series. We're established in this world of Victorian London by now with the Red Tavern as our base, but I'm loving the throwback to Ellie and her vampiric ways. The cliffhanger at the end of Masterpiece with her seemingly embracing her Vampire state once again was fantastic and I'm so glad it was finally addressed as I would say it was probably overdue by this point. I was almost worried they had forgotten about! I liked how Sergeant Quick was heavily involved here and it's been great to hear his progress into a more senior character amongst the range. His wanting to get Jago and Litefoot involved in his latest case for the police department was certainly understandable when the corpse was found completely drained of blood. That immediately hints at vampires and I found the irony of them wanting to keep some of the finer details away from Ellie because of her past. The way the trio were almost trying to convince themselves that Ellie was cured of her condition was good stuff because it was clear throughout that she was not. I loved hearing her try and then succeed in obtaining a face to face meeting with the Old One and just touching upon vampiric lore seems marvellous. It has roots deep in the Whoniverse and even in Time Lord society so expanding on and just incorporating it into an adventure here is all good with me. I really hope that this is just the start! As if that wasn't enough, we had art being weaponised here which was a fantastic concept! The idea of someone getting stuck in a picture feels like it's been done before but when the opposite happens and the paintings come out, that gets very fun indeed! See Mona Lisa's Revenge and The Day of the Doctor for example. It was a good hiding device and the fact that Litefoot was ambushed in the midst of a bar scuffle at the Red Tavern and instead of blood being drawn it was red oil paint was tremendous! It was clear right from the off that Litefoot wasn't the true article and you would think that twelve seasons in now that Jago would be able to recognise that! But alas he did not completely but suspicions soon grew as we headed towards the Scarlet Gallery. I thought that was a really strong part of the setting and I liked Kindred as the curator there. His luring them to touch the paintings and with that them becoming part of them while he took their life essence was intriguing and a mighty fine ability! It was also good I think to go ambitious and have him not even know the science behind it but he was more than happy to harness it! I think the episode could have scored a perfect rating with a slightly more coherent conclusion as after everything it did just seem that Litefoot fell from his artistic prison. The rest of those missing did so too after Kindred's connection was broken but that made sense but felt it was perhaps lacking in oomph a tad? Maybe I'm being harsh. I still loved the episode. The description of Litefoot of being fully aware and constantly looking out into the real world was daunting and he can't imagine what those who had been held for years would have experienced in terms of torment. It barely bares thinking about. The cliffhanger with Ellie providing a painting of her brother being killed by Jago and Litefoot was a bit of a surprise I must say and it's definitely got me hooked for the rest of the series! Talk about her bargaining tool to show her worth to the Old One. I'm very excited for where things go from here. Overall, a superb start to the series! 

Rating: 9/10

The Moon Cruise

"Everything you enjoy, they want obliterated."

Writer: Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson

Format: Novel

Released: November 2025

Series: NSA 71

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda

Synopsis

Step right up for the most sensational cruise in the galaxy!

The TARDIS lands on board a luxury space liner owned by the interstellar shipping magnate, Marilyn Moon. The Moon Cruise offers its wealthy passengers up-close views of astounding cosmic wonders and the Doctor and Belinda are soon high rolling it on the top deck.

But there is a sinister side to life on board. What is the secret of the smiling, blonde-haired mannequins? What happens to the cruise ship workers when they go off shift? The Doctor soon learns that not all prisons come with bars on the windows, while Belinda faces one of the greatest cruelties in the universe – a zero-pay contract in retail and hospitality that can never be broken...

Verdict

The Moon Cruise was an excellent novel! This is the last original novel currently published and whilst it has taken me much longer than I would have liked to get around to it, better late than never! I'm keeping up with the adventures of the Fifteenth Doctor as well as I can and I don't think there's much at all left now other than the ongoing Corruption of the Daleks and The Prison Paradox which has not yet been released in collected form. I've always wanted to stay up to date with the current era but is that even true anymore? It is a little strange to think of where Doctor Who is at the moment because we don't know who the current Doctor is and there's intense speculation on its future. Will the Christmas Special even happen this year? The lack of noise around it feels unfortunate but I hope that whenever it does come back to screens, it gets done right and with a clear plan. That didn't feel like the case in the latest series but thankfully this novel just slots in nicely after The Well. Belinda as a companion that doesn't really want to be one is a fun dynamic because she's a lovely person but that attitude is so counteractive to the Fifteenth Doctor's bubbly and exuberant personality. That was presented really well in this book and I must give kudos to the author for absolutely nailing the characterisation of both the Doctor and Belinda. That was tremendous and really gave the book some feeling of authenticity for the era. No complaints at all in that regard. I thought the setting the Moon Cruise was pretty excellent and I love that it certainly had vibes of Mummy on the Orient Express and Voyage of the Damned, but it felt so much bigger. It was really great to explore that setting and the way Belinda and the Doctor were thrown into action almost immediately was great stuff. When everything seemed like perfect relaxation, I thought it was good that the conversation between Jax and Vanessa showed that not everything was as it seemed. Far from it in fact! I thought the presence of Marilyn Moon was really well done and she became a sublime villain despite only actually physically appearing for the last fifty or so pages. She was a woman rich beyond anyone's comprehension and her use of the memory eraser was very strong. That's such a good weapon and being in the twenty-sixth century makes technology like that seem viable. The works on the Moon Cruise all being criminals serving a sentence that was done forcibly and the mind control to serve Marilyn was pretty brutal. Also the scale of sentence extensions for violations was incredible! No wonder nobody ever got off. I thought there were a few random and fun moments in the story as Belinda worked her way through the ship evading mushrooms and centipedes, but it just highlighted the scale and depth of the Moon Cruise. The Doctor befriending Jax was great even after she placed the bracelet on Belinda which forced her to take up a job as a shop assistant. She really did just want to go home. I thought the mannequins being copies of Marilyn Moon was fun stuff and I was half expecting them to be Autons at one point! The moment they were all revealed to be copies of Marilyn based on a real life copy herself was pretty disturbing. The extent to which Marilyn was undergoing any means necessary to stay in control and literally on top of the financial world was horrifying and that made her a phenomenal villain. I actually listed to the Power of 3 podcast episode for this novel between finishing the book and writing this block and I was intrigued to find that this was initially envisioned as a graphic novel! That would have been spectacular as the visuals here were striking. I thought the ending with Marilyn firing the memory eraser and it reflecting back to herself off Belinda's bracelet thus freeing it was pretty neat stuff and rounded things out very nicely. Vanessa and Jax taking it upon themselves to take over things and broadcast to the cruise and beyond was a lovely touch and I would love to revisit them! They made for a great pairing who are definitely companion material. Overall, an excellent read! 

Rating: 9/10

The Meddling Monks: Monky Magic

"Why does everything here have to be a joke?"

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: May 2026

Series: Dark Gallifrey 5.02b

Featuring: The Monk, The Nun

Synopsis

There's a big prize to be won at the local talent show. So the Monk and the Nun are soon brushing up their best stage acts in attempt to claim victory and ensure the success of their grand plan. What could possibly go wrong?

Verdict

Monky Magic was another very fun episode to continue my way through the second part of The Meddling Monks and the fifth series of Dark Gallifrey! Things are definitely starting to shed through the fabrication of the world in which the Monk and the Nun find themselves and I'm sure that's set to make for a very exciting finale next month. The prospect of the Monk and the Nun as a double act is not a strange one considering this is basically what this entire release has been so far across the four parts, but I wouldn't have them down for performing magic! The whole basis of entering a talent show to win £1,000 was pretty humorous as I am sure there must be an easier way to obtain money for two Time Lords. Two of the same Time Lord nonetheless! The reference to Monky Nuts and how having money didn't seem a problem in that episode and it being a narrative convenience was fun stuff, but I was glad that things started to get acknowledged in a pretty serious way. The Nun had had enough of the metafictional references and I was glad that she called them out. It was also great for both her and the Monk to touch upon the comedic laughter effect that is synonymous with sitcoms. They were both hearing it but the fact that it was inside their head and not external was really intriguing. At least that was how it was presented as they each didn't realise that the other could hear it too. That forcing them to think deeply upon their current predicament was good as they realised they were once again set to be put to battle against each other. This time it was in a talent show but it was nice for them to put their seemingly forced upon them issues aside and become a double act. The organisers of the church talent show didn't see that coming! I liked how the Monk and the Nun actually had the knowhow to challenge their surroundings now as they realised that they weren't entirely sure they remembered coming to wherever it was they were stuck playing this game of sitcom. I like that as all they could remember was being in their TARDIS control room having already laughed. And the crowd laughter was already there then. Was anything safe or real? Not knowing is a big part of the fun in my opinion. I thought the use of the word death reminding them of Carrie's fate in the previous episode was good and I was surprised that even though the body was acknowledged, it was sort of forgotten about. That didn't quite feel right but I do think we'll come back to it. The humour of John this time claiming to just be an only child despite all of his other supposed family members of the same name and look was amusing because I really wasn't expecting it! This has been a thoroughly entertaining four parts to make up the story so far, but I'm certainly excited by the cliffhanger in having the Nun call upon the Doctor! Judging by the cliffhanger theme music I suspect it will be the Fifth Doctor, but it could also be a late Fourth or the Sixth. Whichever incantation joins this contraption, it's going to be thoroughly entertaining and certainly gives things a feeling of a finale! That's exciting. The announcer of the end credits also breaking the fourth wall again was delightful as he was in a very threatening mood as things started to break down. Overall, a great listen! 

Rating: 8/10

The Meddling Monks: Monky Nuts

"We're the two Monks, not the three bears!"

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: May 2026

Series: Dark Gallifrey 5.02a

Featuring: The Monk, The Nun

Synopsis

It's time to host the neighbours for an evening soiree. But is the Monk's fish dish a winner or will their guests prefer the Nun's baby chicken? There's only one way to find out and soon culinary battle has commenced. What could possibly go wrong?

Verdict

Monky Nuts was a very fun start to the second part of The Meddling Monks as the fifth series/story of Dark Gallifrey continues! I definitely think nuts was the correct way to describe this instalment because it was just barmy. The dynamic between the Monk and the Nun is just marvellous and the chemistry between Rufus Hound and Gemma Whelan really is a delight to behold. The comedic timing is wonderful and I just loved the interaction and pace of conversation between the pair. This was certainly the most reminiscent of a sitcom and the timing at twenty-four minutes really did give that kind of experience. We're currently on season sixteen of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia so my sitcom vibes are definitely on point. I thought the tone for the episode was set right away with a quite incredible Big Finish indent. That's usually something to skip past or just not really listen to but here it was absolutely extraordinary! I'm loving the flirtation this series is having with the fourth wall and it's gone through it, rebuilt it and then shattered it all over again before the story here even starts! There were the natural references back to Monky House and Monky Business to set the stage for where things are for the Monk and the Nun, and the return of John who apparently wasn't the same man they had met when battling to buy the house was intriguing. There is now a semblance of something bigger at play which I'm delighted by because this can only remain a sitcom for so long. It does need to get somewhat serious and explain just why the Monk and the Nun are trapped together in what appears to be an audio play. I thought the dark intonations at the end of the story when the Monk felt an urge to laugh or be funny was really good as for the first time I feel we have had a hint of the Monk realising not everything is natural or as it seems. The narrator (is that the right term?) who was concluding the story and announcing the end credits mentioning how that definitely isn't anything to consider or be thinking about is fun stuff and obviously we know that's far from the truth. I thought the discussions in the episode between the Monk and the Nun were fun as they weren't exactly sure which was the later incarnation. The general consensus being that the Nun comes second seems to make sense, but it's fun to ponder on whether that actually is the case. You'd think they would know between them though! It was also good for the Nun to call out to the Monk when he'd say things like 'If I were you' that he actually was! It's so easy to forget about that at times with the gender change, but it's good fun. The whole event of a soiree and them having the neighbours around was as whacky as it sounds and them just agreeing to order a takeaway in and claim they had cooked it was delightful. I thought them also acknowledging the narrative convenience of them having money again after the whole house business was great stuff. It's good fun to essentially mock the writing. But I really enjoyed the dark vibe that came from the final ninety seconds or so of the episode to set things up moving forward! I'm enjoying the vibe and the direction, and I can't wait to find out how this links to Dark Gallifrey itself. A great little episode to continue the series! 

Rating: 8/10