Fixers: The Executor

"A whole TARDIS-full of memories."

Writer: Chris Chapman

Format: Audio

Released: July 2026

Series: Seventh Doctor Adventures 9.01

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ray

Synopsis

In a muddy field stands an old stone dovecot. Only it's a TARDIS – with a recently deceased owner. The Doctor is named Executor of the Last Will and Testament of an old friend – Pegroninagall, 'Peg'. He has a monumental task: clearing her TARDIS of keepsakes and mementos. But this Ship may also contain whatever killed Peg...

Verdict

The Executor was an excellent episode to kick off my listening of the Fixers series of Seventh Doctor Adventures! This was a really intriguing concept and I'm amazed it's not one that has been done before. I work in finance and AML so I deal with trusts on a semi-regular basis, so hearing the word executor was not exactly what I expected after finishing my shift and giving this a listen! I hadn't read the synopsis so I was anticipating the title was meaning in the form of death. But alas it wasn't! I liked that we seem to be continuing the pairing established in The Krillitane Relic with the Seventh Doctor travelling with Ray, but I would like to get some sort of origin of how they reunited. As far as I'm aware, that hasn't happened yet across a Big Finish story so just how did the Seventh Doctor remember his friend from Delta and the Banner Men and see her join up for adventures? That has to be written one day, surely? I really like her and I might be biased because I'm also Welsh, but I think she also brings a refreshing dynamic to this incarnation of the Doctor. I don't want to say that Ace and Mel have been overdone but there are a huge number of stories with these companions, so to have a familiar face but as a new companion is a nice change. I'm a big fan. I thought it was terrific for Ray to mention her nan having a house in Llantwit Major that needed clearing out as that's not a village that gets too much recognition anywhere outside of the Welsh footballing circles! I thought the Doctor being an executor for a perished Time Lord was quite daunting but it was absolutely perfect for this incarnation. It just couldn't be anyone other than the Seventh Doctor! I thought hearing about his relationship and history with Peg was fascinating and Ray pushing on that was great. She was like all of us as the listener wanting to know anything about his past. She seemed to think that Peg might be his mother! I thought it sounded more like an old flame but that somehow feels alien for the Doctor. With her mentioning Susan, might she be her mother? I think it's right to keep things ambiguous but I can't help but speculate. I thought the mystery behind Peg's death was fantastic and hearing that she had five regenerations to go just a week ago was pretty bleak. What had she done in the last week to evoke death five times? Hearing about the Jyrock is probably the only reason this story doesn't achieve full marks. Their presentation wasn't appealing to me and just felt a tad childish which was a shame. It wasn't all that bad though considering that their appearances and dialogue was limited. That was the right move so we didn't get too much of their almost inaudible speech. I did though like the sundown as a weapon that Peg had stolen from them and it was clearly deadly! It was what caused Peg to die over and over across the week period and basically did what it said on the tin. I liked how the Jyrock were sent packing to the Vortex though in utilising the executor device that the Doctor and Ray were using to go through Peg's TARDIS and belongings. That was all neat and tidy and I liked the emotion that came from the ending as Peg got to say her goodbye. We met her in hologram form through the Type-50 TARDIS which was fun and her helping with her own death is fun irony! Overall, a fantastic beginning to the series! 

Rating: 9/10

Bessie Come Home

"You should have seen me in my prime."

Writer: Paul Magrs

Format: Audio

Released: August 2021

Series: Beyond the Doctor 02

Featuring: Bessie

Synopsis

It's been many years since a certain yellow Edwardian roadster was a key member of personnel at UNIT. As the Doctor's personal transport, Bessie was on the spot for many of his Earthbound adventures. Those were the glory days, when Bessie stood side by side with the Doctor, the Brigadier, Captain Yates, and a parade of plucky young assistants. 

Yet Bessie's remarkable life began decades earlier, at the dawn of a new century, and it has continued beyond the UNIT years. Indomitably she lives to tell the tale, and is only too keen to do so. Thankfully her new owner, kind Mr Foreman, has time enough to listen to her story.

But a serpent lurks in the shadows of the scrapyard. Someone else would like to acquire Bessie – seemingly at any price. After all, she holds a great deal of information about the Doctor...

Verdict

Bessie Come Home was a fascinating audio adventure! I have known about this release for quite some time and even after listening I still can’t quite believe that it exists. It’s utterly ludicrous and yet it somehow works. A sentient car? I mean if there was going to be one then the only answer was Bessie. She’s such a stalwart of the Third Doctor era but I couldn’t ever imagine having what is essentially a Companion Chroncile for her! It could only come from the mind of Paul Magrs. It’s a good deal of fun and I think that’s the perfect word to describe the adventure. I thought having Bessie now decommissioned and basically hidden and started anew as far as official records go was a little sad but I love the idea of her finding a new home with Mr Foreman. Him being the apparent grandson of the same I.M. Foreman who owned 76 Totter’s Yard was terrific and that somehow felt right. It was nice to mention how that once held all sorts of oddities including a humming police box. Bessie had clearly fostered a nice relationship with Mr Foreman and that was really good to explore. She was clear though in who her favourite owner was. Could it be anyone else other than the Doctor? I thought it was really intriguing to touch upon the car’s past and I particularly had a huge smile when that daffodil yellow coated paint was mentioned. That felt like a big moment and just defined the character. That yellow really is iconic. I’m still not entirely sure how Bessie was able to communicate but I think it’s better to keep that ambiguous. The idea of the car injecting thoughts so basically communicating telepathically seemed the only viable option considering she was a car! Bessie telling stories of her life with the Doctor and at UNIT was great and it basically went all I, TARDIS in the way she recalled nearly every televised story in which she featured! Touching upon the likes of Doctor Who and the Silurians to Terror of the Autons and then to Robot and Battlefield was really nice. A change of Doctor was obviously going to impact their relationship but I think she was more irked by Invasion of the Dinosaurs and the emergence of the Whomobile! Vehicular conflict anyone? It felt very real. It was really nice I thought when discussing her encounter with the Seventh Doctor that she was also delighted to be reunited with the Brigadier too. He has a soft spot in just about everyone’s heart and that really is lovely to acknowledge. I quite enjoyed the humour that came from her not having too fond memories of The Android Invasion too. She wasn’t all that well used! I thought the threat of Mr Hamer was intriguing and him wanting to pay up to £2.5m for Bessie because of her information on the Doctor was fascinating. Clearly there’s an overall arc going on here with the prospect of him capturing other companions for information, but what could a car really tell him? I liked how Foreman overheard the true plan though and wouldn’t part with the car. How could he? She was in her prime and she quite liked this owner. Bessie knew the dangers of she was transferred again here. Overall, a really interesting and quite barmy episode to go Beyond the Doctor. There really isn’t anything they won’t do!  

Rating: 8/10

The Horror at Bletchington Station

"An overinflated sense of self."

Writer: Chris Wing

Format: Audio

Released: September 2018

Series: Short Trips: Rarities 3.01

Featuring: First Doctor, Dodo

Synopsis

The Doctor and Dodo seek shelter from a heavy storm in a rural Victorian setting, but it's not the thunder and lightning that's caused nearby railway labourers to flee in terror. Something has been disturbed, something that should have been left alone. But is that really the reason the Doctor's so distracted?

Verdict

The Horror at Bletchington Station was an excellent Short Trips rarity! This was a delightful listen and filled in a gap between The Savages and The War Machines very nicely at a time before we had the ongoing new edition of the First Doctor Adventures. I do feel like that range has lost its way recently which is a bit of a shame but this is everything it should have been. Simple adventures for the First Doctor and Dodo. That pairing in of itself is something of a rarity so I liked how that fitted neatly into the range. This really is a superb thirty-four minutes spent. I must say how impressed I was with Stephen Critchlow as the narrator because as far as impressions go, I thought he pretty much nailed his take on the First Doctor and Dodo. Of course, as a man he isn't going to get all the tones and intonations for Dodo but the northern accent really did help it feel authentic. I thought the setting of the Victorian era worked really well and it really did feel like we were in the middle of the Industrial Revolution with the train tracks being laid. It really did just feel like a working class star and that's a huge compliment. The atmosphere was impressive in capturing the evening and a night at a Victorian public house lodgings was terrific. I wonder if Jago and Litefoot would sample a taste there in the future? I liked how there was a storm to set the scene but the weather was not the worst of things to come for the Doctor and Dodo, and the rest of then local population. The new train station had brought people from all over and for the public house that meant more footfall for trade. However, the fact that every workman without fail checked into a room the previous night obviously drew questions. I liked the threat of a mysterious creature and the locals seemingly thinking it closely resembled a bear sounded like a decent threat because I've always said natural ones are the most fearsome. An alien from outer space is difficult to relate to, but a wild bear? Yeah I'd be frightened and having my running shoes on for sure. So I can't blame all of the workers for seeking shelter. The Doctor and Dodo checking in for their own lodgings was good and I loved how the Doctor was very keen on supper. That felt like really good characterisation. I was really impressed with the writing for this incarnation as it felt very well suited to Season 3. He's gone through a lot by this point and the end is very much near so it was intriguing to hear him in reflective mood here as he remembered all of his companions up to this point. That was a touching moment and the prospect of him dematerialising almost feels impossible! It felt like a strong character moment for the First Doctor which I appreciated. Finding out that the true cause of problems for the Victorian rail workforce was a timeship that went faulty was not what I was expecting but I really liked the concept. It was unmanned which made wrapping things up a little easier and allowed the Doctor to send it back to the owner. I enjoy when the First Doctor gets some Time Lord vocabulary and just hearing him explain how it was sent to scout out the Vortex was fascinating. I really enjoyed that. Overall, a fantastic listen! 

Rating: 9/10

Grave Moon

"The body we buried just walked out of the woods."

Writer: Lizzie Hopley

Format: Audio

Released: June 2026

Series: Rutans vs Sontarans 1.03

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri, Eighth Doctor

Synopsis

The Doctor and Peri track a criminal imposter to a moon sanctuary of healing ponds, only to discover the lone Rutan the Doctor has previously met trapped in a self-made web of lies.

Experiments to rejoin the Host have forged a bond with grieving pond farmer, Ooland. As their mutual obsession tightens, so Ooland's ponds grow more polluted and their farm cut off from what is really happening on the moon: a full-on Rutan invasion.

As the Doctor and Peri strive to free Melmoth and Ooland from each other, another Doctor is at work close by – with far-reaching plans of his own for the lone Rutan.

Verdict

Grave Moon was an excellent episode to continue my way through the Rutans vs Sontarans series! This followed up then story already set in Betrayal at the House of Sontar and Rendition very nicely, although I must admit just how the Sixth Doctor had recollections of the latter is a little baffling given the alternate timeline of the Second Doctor there. Perhaps he got some notes during the events of The Two Doctors? Unfortunately the two Doctors present during the course of the events here don't get to meet, but it's a very intriguing scenario to have the Eighth Doctor sneaking around and posing as farmer John in the background at the scene of a past adventure. I am very excited for what the finale of this miniseries has in store and the plan of the Eighth Doctor because this is the second time now he's been checking in on Melmoth and a previous encounter. What could it all lead to? I'm excited to find out. The story on hand here was brilliant and the setting just worked. Healing powers in the water went so far as to explain how somebody thought dead continued to live on, but it all turned out to be the Rutans. I thought the concept behind the moon here actually being essentially a Rutan hospital for soldiers injured in their eternal war with the Sontarans was great. The coincidence of Melmoth ending up there was just too much and there had to be more to it and I liked how Peri realised that. She had a really strong showing as companion here which was wonderful to hear. It was also great fun for her to have a small interaction with the Eighth Doctor! If only she knew. I mean, she has experienced regeneration first hand in The Caves of Androzani so she could easily be persuaded and the scene in the TARDIS at the end seemed to indicate the Doctor knew exactly who he was but giving him a piece of his mind would have to wait for now. He would become him! Ooland was a lovely character and she was going through a lot here. Her relationship with Yarrin was not all it seemed and the extent to which she learned that was the case throughout the episode was quite heartbreaking. Peri clearly had a vendetta against the Rutans and the extent to which she was pushing that was quite a surprise, but the Doctor knew a pragmatic approach was required to ease her into the truth. Yarrin being Melmoth was no surprise but finding out that he had taken his form from the psychic connection he shared with Ooland and created the print from her memories was fascinating. When the other Rutan Host arrived, they thought that had massive weaponry potential. Invasion through the mind! In a purely war mindset, I could understand what they were seeing there. The emotion that came from Ooland perishing was obviously something that made Melmoth distraught. Ooland hadn't initially been accepting of Yarrin's true form but when the Inspectors were all revealed to be Rutans, she was firmly against the Host. She paid for that with her life. Melmoth is not only separated from the Host but now also from the one he seemed to love. The Eighth Doctor trying to console him there was strong and leads in nicely for the finale as we continue to explore the impact of one Rutan being separated. And it's been a long time given the span of this miniseries! Overall, another fantastic episode in the range. 

Rating: 9/10

War Room: Loyalties - Eye for an Eye

"It is good to see the old customs revived."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: June 2026

Series: Gallifrey 15.04

Featuring: Narvin

Synopsis

Cardinal Ollistra must serve the will of Rassilon and see the Resistance destroyed. But the Resistance is already falling apart. 

With Leela and Rasmus missing, the General and Veklin are given a mission that neither relish. Loyalties will be tested, and vengeance will be held.

Verdict

Eye for an Eye was a decent episode to conclude the Loyalties fifteenth series overall and third instalment of Gallifrey's War Room. There wasn't anything inherently bad about this episode but despite some very strong ratings and a much welcomed level of consistency for this release, I can't help but feel slightly let down. I don't think Lalla Ward was utilised well at all and honestly I think it would have been more impactful if Romana didn't feature at all. Honestly, she pretty much may as well not have! This was not the finale I was expecting as it didn't feel like one at all, but the character development and evolution of Gallifreyan politics was much welcomed. I think Ollistra continuing her tirade was great and having two different incarnations of her at the same time was touched upon nicely for the first time in what felt like a lengthy period. Getting a cheeky mention of bigeneration in there was delicious continuity with the modern era and I really liked having it acknowledged as something of myth. That wasn't quite what Ollistra had achieved in having two of her around but it was good to expand on that ethos. I'm all for that. I thought the General stood out here as he didn't flatly follow the orders of Ollistra and it was good that he still had a conscience in not wanting to fire on the Resistance when they weren't in an attack formation. Vecklin was once again put through the emotional ringer and I liked the semblance of potential civil war that was seeded at the end as she was ready to move with him when he was. It's easy to forget that the Daleks are the true enemy in this Time War but their absence does feel a little strange. I'm not sure how you do such a lengthy and in-depth series on Gallifrey without the Daleks, but it just never felt like they were around or even posing any threat which is baffling! My thoughts here I realise are more about the overall boxset than this specific episode and that's because I've been waiting for the finale and giving things a chance. I don't think it was the right move to have none of Leela or Romana feature here and that's not a discourtesy to Narvin but they really are the stars of the show. I loved that Vecklin framed him for murder and that does seem to push our original trio back together in captivity which will be a fitting moment. I thought Cresta was excellent again here and her knowledge and technical knowhow came into fruition here very nicely. The idea of a virus that could seek out political enemies and even thoughts of dissent against Rassilon almost feels impossible, but in the Time War anything can happen and I feel like that has a lot of potential moving forward. I think more could have been made of it here but there's time for that with Rassilon in a whacky state to put it lightly. He has been a shining light of this particular boxset as everyone seeks to please him whilst he oozes an aura of petrification. Whilst I did enjoy this series, it does almost feel like we're still basically in the same position at the end as we were in the start. Four strong episodes exploring a great setting and time, but for the overall arc it feels very House of the Dragon season two in that the ending felt like we were just in the same situation as the beginning. But here's hoping it's not as lengthy a wait for the next boxset! A good listen regardless. 

Rating: 7/10

War Room: Loyalties - Hope

"Are your dead not allowed to know peace?"

Writer: Katharine Armitage

Format: Audio

Released: June 2026

Series: Gallifrey 15.03

Featuring: Romana II, Leela

Synopsis

Leela has a job to do, and she cannot do it alone, and so she enlists the most unlikely of allies for the task. Time is not on her side, and she must succeed, or else all of them are doomed.

Verdict

Hope was another very good episode to continue my way through the Loyalties fifteenth series and third instalment of Gallifrey's War Room. Things are slowly building and I'm impressed with how touchy the atmosphere is after now what is essentially three episodes of politics. Rassilon was eerily creepy here with his chessboard analogies to both Rasmus and Ollistra and he really is firmly focused on ascending as gods. That really is fascinating to see how deranged he has become despite being such a political and historical force for power. Ollistra isn't too bothered by that and I'm enjoying how she has hidden things from him with her position heading up the War Room. She's incredibly ruthless and definitely a control freak. Rasmus obtaining the Great Key to access the Matrix was really good and I liked the threat that came from the Cloister Wraiths. They're an intriguing element on Gallifrey and I thought they were presented just as eerily here as they were in Hell Bent. For Leela, it must have been very difficult to see Eris again after his emotional death in Resistance and that played very well here. I thought the reunion between Leela and Romana was tremendous and there seemed to be genuine emotion there. It's lovely to hear how these two former Fourth Doctor companions have built such a bond and their connection amidst the Time War feels even stronger. Leela having a conversation with a younger version of Narvin was really good and I liked that she knew immediately he wasn't the true article. She could see in his eyes how young he was. Touching upon Narvin's regenerative cycle again was intriguing but this story was all about Leela and Romana for me. And then it turned out this wasn't the real Romana at all! I must admit that took me by surprise but I was impressed that Rasmus knew. He'd seen in the files but him having to keep it secret from Leela to let Ollistra's diabolical test run its course was almost an act of betrayal. Especially at the moment he shot Romana dead! The description and sound effects of her not regenerating but burning up into nothing was great stuff and Leela's reaction sold everything about it. She was horrified and rightly so as you would expect seeing your long time friend who had been incarcerated in a pocket dimension essentially shot, burst into flames, and killed into nothingness. Not the regeneration you would typically expect of a Time Lord in her second incarnation. I thought the audacity of Rasmus was impressive as if he was wrong, then Romana would still have had to regenerate! Imagine if he was incorrect. Ollistra's test of a flesh avatar within the Matrix was certainly audacious and it's no surprise that she was so concerned by hearing the reports of two figures being within, especially when she knew their identity. Rasmus touching upon his past with his daughter and their strained relationship was strong emotional stuff too! That was a dark reminder of everything the Time War has taken away from him too. Romana needing a way out remaining a problem for the finale gives us direction and I do hope we get a full use of Lalla Ward there as it feels like she's been slightly wasted or underutilised so far. Plenty of time to rectify that though! Overall, a great episode! 

Rating: 8/10

War Room: Loyalties - Resistance

"Treason hides in plain sight."

Writer: Katharine Armitage

Format: Audio

Released: June 2026

Series: Gallifrey 15.02

Featuring: Leela, Narvin

Synopsis

Eris is trying to hold a crumbling Resistance together; Ollistra is trying to tear it apart. Both have audacious plans to ensure the victory of their side and everyone else has to choose where their loyalties truly lie.

Verdict

Resistance was a great episode to continue my way through the Loyalties third War Room edition and fifteenth overall series of Gallifrey! Things started to feel like they were building here as tensions rise amidst the Time War and political struggle amongst the Time Lords. It's a really great dynamic and it really allows some depth and character development for those Time Lord characters in the range we are familiar with. It was great to hear Veklin defy Ollistra at the start and it felt like a real coming of age for her until the twist towards the end where she was still thinking the Resistance were the enemy and the wrong side. It was wonderful to have Leela and Marvin reunited here and it felt like Gallifrey was throwing back to the old days of the range which I loved. Their relationship is one packed with history and both seemed to acknowledge that with the moment they laid eyes upon each other. Narvin's predicament in being unable to regenerate now (or so we believe!) was touched on very well by Eris here as he questioned what it felt like to know you were in your last incarnation. For Narvin, the circumstances there would be even more heartbreaking as he hasn't regenerated twelve times up to this point. I thought the order and just brutal nature of Ollistra here was incredible and it was pretty difficult to comprehend in some instances. How could she willingly just order the death and destruction of so many innocents? She was very much thinking selfishly but also slightly for the bigger picture, but the sacrifices made for potential victory were surely too great. Veklin barking how she didn't have to hear the screams was a standout moment for sure. It was a stark realisation of how far away those in the War Room making decisions were from the battleground on the floor. The conflict amidst the Time Lords was intriguing to explore and I hope that's something we get more of moving forward. The continuity with Transference was really good in having Narvin caring for Lenaris who was still comatose. That was another stark reminder of the history of emotional and physical torment within the Time War and how the decisions of those in the War Room were impacting their own. Discussions about how anyone could survive or even win are always intriguing with the benefit of hindsight and knowing how the Time War ends, and at this point with such a strong divide on Gallifrey I'm intrigued to hear how far this series can go in reaching the point we see on screen in The End of Time. I don't see why it couldn't! The discussions on the ring around the Resistance as a means of deception and protection was good but it never felt like something that was going to be wholly efficient. Leela didn't seem confident and she had history. Narvin wanting her to come within him away from all of this was good and I do hope they eventually settle together if possible and escape the destruction of Gallifrey, but for now they're focused on Romana. Hearing her voice seeking help at the end was a really good cliffhanger to send us into the next episode and I can't wait for that reunion. Will she confront Rassilon then at the finale? I hope so! Overall, a really good episode to continue the series. A great listen.

Rating: 8/10

War Room: Loyalties - Propaganda

"Gallifrey does not belong solely to the Time Lords."

Writer: Georgia Cook

Format: Audio

Released: June 2026

Series: Gallifrey 15.01

Featuring: Leela 

Synopsis

With unrest brewing in Low Town, Rassilon demands the immediate location and destruction of a rogue broadcast mocking his name.

With Rasmus, the General and Cresta trapped in the Drylands, and riots bubbling on the streets, Ollistra attempts to steer a course to cement her rule over the War Room.

Verdict

Propaganda was a decent start to the Loyalties third instalment of War Room and the fifteenth series of Gallifrey! Fifteen series! It's been an epic range so far and whilst I came late to the party around seven years ago, it's wonderful to be in a position where I have caught up. And this particular release has been a long time coming! The delays on this one are no secret as it should have been out around eighteen months ago, but late is better than never. I really enjoyed returning to Gallifrey and this time in its chronology is really intriguing to explore. I love anything we get from the Time War because it feels like a huge gap we never saw on screen and it bridges eras which is rather delightful. Throw in the politics of the planet and Lord Rassilon as President and the combination is an incredible setup. There's so much to keep your attention and I like how treacherous everything feels at the moment. The War Room isn't exactly being ran in a hugely successful manner at the moment as Rassilon made perfectly clear to Ollistra which was a powerful moment. I think Richard Armitage is sensational in that role and it's magnificent to see this version of such an important figure in Gallifreyan history. He really does resemble the version we see on screen in The End of Time and that crazed manner was on full display here. It's almost a shame we didn't get more. I thought the focus on Low Town was pretty good and I enjoyed going beyond the Capitol and exploring more of the planet in areas that aren't populated by Time Lords. I'm just not sure the series opener was the place for that. I do think the concept behind the Disruptor was really good and the voice modulation almost made me think he was going to be Romana at first, but it did feel like it was revealed a little too quickly in my opinion. I thought there was potential to drive Rassilon into further madness if his name was being slandered from outside the Capitol. I thought the mission from the General, Rasmus and Cresta was really good and they made a strong trio! The General is fantastic and it's staggering to think that he's still around in the same incarnation by the time Hell Bent comes around. Talk about longevity! Cresta steals the show though and she really is just fantastic as the General's niece. More of her in this series is certainly desired. I thought the uncovering of the resistance communication network was good and will certainly be useful moving forward, but the sacrifice to obtain it was drastic! Low Town was used to siphon the power needed to wipe out the power in the base which was certainly efficient, but the impact was a little more than expected and that resulted in a large number of casualties. Ollistra was not fussed in the slightest as she seemed to only care about results for Rassilon to ensure her continued political position. That makes her an enthralling character. I felt Leela was severely underused for this episode despite her situation limiting her, but surely she ought to have been the one to go to the Drylands to investigate personally. Maybe they will learn from their mistake moving forward? Overall, an interesting story to get back into the swing of things with this range but maybe a little too much political manoeuvring and not enough action? 

Rating: 7/10

The Ruins of Heaven

"Which way are all the dead people?"

Writer: Marc Platt

Format: Short Story

Released: December 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Steel Skies 12

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Verdict

The Ruins of Heaven was a fascinating story to continue my reading of the Steel Skies edition of Short Trips! This really was close to feeling like I was reading an essay and on paper that doesn't sound all that enticing but I found myself rather enthralled once Peri and Yy got into a deep discussion. I have made it no secret in numerous blog entries over the past decade-plus that I am a staunch Atheist and I'm not a fan of religion in the slightest. I don't put anybody down for having faith and I do find it interesting, but when I look at history and conflict the number one cause is religion and it just seems a bit silly to argue over a man in the sky. I thought the way it was addressed here was really interesting as it seemed like all arguments were addressed. The Doctor was having my views in not being shy about ridiculing religion and whilst I wouldn't go as far as he did here, it did put a smile on my face. I just don't like when religion is shoved down our throats or others are told they're wrong. To me, they're all living in a fantasy but I can't deny the power it has in bringing salvation and a fresh start for people. Having an actual setting of Heaven here was fun and Peri's immediate response upon arriving was to know where all the dead people were. That's quite a way to go about things but she had a good point to be fair! Heaven ought to be full of people, or is that Hell? This was just an interpretation or a version of Heaven which was intriguing and the Doctor ending up becoming a tour guide from his own brashness was very amusing. This was very much Peri's story, but the characterisation of the Sixth Doctor here was really strong. I wouldn't agree that this story felt like it fitted in with the Incarceration theme of this section of the collection because despite Peri being taken prisoner in death by the Putti, it actually ended up being a ploy of theirs against Yy as the angel. I thought it was really good to pit angels against one another and the Putti being in the form of cherubs instantly gives them a feeling of evil. There's just something scary about them and that's confirmed by the fact they'd be taken on in the form of baby Weeping Angels! The dialogue between Peri and Yy as they discussed religion was just excellent in capturing my attention. I was really interested in both sides. I liked how Yy could listen to prayers and whilst he maybe went a tad far in taunting Peri on hers, getting some insight into her as a companion here was great stuff. Touching upon the events of The Caves of Androzani and how she feels guilty for him giving his life to save hers was poignant. I think more could be made of that as it's a valid emotion for sure! The continuity with Revelation of the Daleks was a nice touch too with the Doctor's watch and Peri bringing it along to repair it, and Yy answering her prayer for that was pretty cool. I thought Yy helping Peri back to her reality and existence was good and the Doctor had just been causing annoyance as a tour guide the whole time! He needed a swift getaway which was pretty fun. Overall, a really strong read! I loved the discussion and for me it was all about that lengthy Peri and Yy conversation. It was really interesting stuff on a pretty divisive topic! 

Rating: 8/10

Thirteen O'Clock

"This is not my home. Everything's wrong."

Writer: Robert Valentine

Format: Audio

Released: June 2026

Series: Ninth Doctor Adventures 4.06

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

The Doctor and Rose return once more to the Powell Estate, but now the Doctor has a dreadful suspicion about the malevolent power that keeps pulling them back. The estate is shrouded in a strange fog, most of the residents have vanished, and the sinister Mrs Crook guards the ominous Flat 13.

What's more, Saffron Windrose has arrived in search of the Doctor, because once he helped her face a nightmarish entity at a railway station called Underbridge... and it's happening again.

Verdict

Thirteen O'Clock was an excellent story to continue the ongoing fourth series of Ninth Doctor Adventures! This followed the Thirteenth Doctor Adventures in essentially having a mid-series finale and after everything that has been happening in this range and the focus on the Powell Estate, it was good to wrap things up and get an explanation. I knew from the Doctor Who Magazine preview of this story that we were going to get a return in the form of Saffron and I actually think that's a good move to ensure the continuity of the range. I still remain uncertain about such an extensive catalogue of stories for the Ninth Doctor prior to Rose, but things like this just work. It's great for this to basically be a great big sequel to Station to Station which was a sublime episode so to have the Grimminy-Grew return was quite spectacular! I must admit I didn't expect that to happen and be the big bad of the last year in this range that kept things contained to the Powell Estate, but I'm all for it. I mean, I should have seen it coming with Saffron's return and the synopsis basically telling you that's what is about to happen, but it was still a great moment. The Doctor had his suspicions throughout the episode and I really appreciated the performance of Christopher Eccleston here because he showcased a vulnerable side of his incarnation. That's not exactly new for the Ninth Doctor because he admits he's scared in The Parting of the Ways but the genuine fear that came in his voice was instantly recognisable. I thought that was tremendous and showcased to any new listeners jumping on with Rose for this fourth series that the Grimminy-Grew was not to be messed with. The continued talking in rhymes give it a unique quality that instantly provides a sense of unease and mystery. That's obviously good. The setting of the Powell Estate here that was very much not in its usual state was great with it being a complete jumble. Milton being one of the last survivors on the Estate was a decent character and sharing a past with Rose that wasn't wholly recognisable was good. The Doctor not showing too much remorse for his death and just trying to convince Rose to ensure he didn't die in vain showed the urgency of the situation and just how bad things were. I liked the use of the number thirteen as the flat number containing Mrs Crook as she was a barmy character to put it lightly! She brought chaos to an already chaotic story and the Grew being her master fitted very nicely. She wasn't afraid to taunt the Doctor or Rose and that was really good. I liked the School Reunion vibes between Rose and Saffron as after the former was initially jealous, the story concluded with her asking if the latter would join them on their travels. I'd have loved that as she's a really strong character with obvious companion qualities. The Doctor and the Grew playing a game once again but this time the stakes were up. Banishment was clearly not enough because the Grew had orchestrated all recent events at the Powell Estate and now it was a duel to the death. Rose volunteering herself to be put on the line was something that didn't go down well with the Doctor, but Saffron realising that the Grew was actually answering to die in guessing the Doctor's heart's desire was fascinating. He wanted an end and the Doctor duly provided. Overall, a fantastic episode to continue the series! How about some adventures in space now?

Rating: 9/10

Corruption of the Daleks

"Daleks don't do the can-can!"

Writer Alan Barnes

Format: Comic Strip 

Released: January-June 2026

Printed in: DWM 625-630

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Mel, Fey

Synopsis

The Fifteenth Doctor takes former companion and current UNIT operative Melanie Bush on a TARDIS trip to 1920s Paris, but things are afoot and everything is not what it appears. 

Daleks from another dimension kidnap Melanie and timelines cross!

Verdict

Corruption of the Daleks was a great comic strip story! It has been a long time coming to get blogging this story as I have waited for it to complete, and after seven issues of Doctor Who Magazine it concluded meaning I could finally get in on the action. I'm definitely in favour of my approach now to blog the story as a whole rather than individual parts as I used to, as it means I've now experienced the story in its entirety and not reread any elements. I think it's the best way to consume an adventure and it's a good one. Of course, the current state of Doctor Who is pretty dire as a fan as I think we all know that the Fifteenth Doctor's regeneration at the end of The Reality War was premature. The third Disney+ series was clearly meant to continue with Ncuti Gatwa in the role and some sort of story with Susan, and you would have thought by that point the Daleks would have emerged to tackle this new incarnation. Unfortunately, that never materialised and it feels like a crime that he never got to tackle the Daleks as the most formidable and famous monster. Thankfully, with the current multimedia approach to Doctor Who, the Fifteenth Doctor's adventures never truly end and so this comic is a fine place to have him take on the Daleks for the first time. It's a shame that never happened on screen, but getting the visual here was brilliant. I do think we could have had more Doctor and Dalek interaction given that they never met on screen, but just anything was welcomed in all honesty. I thought it was a fun dynamic to have the Doctor travelling with Mel too and I think that could be the way forward for the comic strip at the moment as we venture into uncharted territory for the future of the television series. It's going to be a long time until we see the show back on our screens so the comic strip is going to be about as close as we get to a current run. There's potential there to do something special and I hope they don't let the opportunity slip! Having Fey return here for her first chronological encounter with the Doctor was intriguing and it was nice to see how normalised she was here before everything that she would go through alongside the Eighth Doctor and Shayde. It was great to blend comic strip eras and a fun twist of time to have her not yet meeting the Doctor. The setting worked really well and the allusions to City of Death were great fun. I much preferred the alternate dimension version of Paris though with its deranged queen who looked like a female playing card version of Davros. I know that sounds ludicrous but that's exactly what she looked like! Some royalty that. I thought Mel being kidnapped by the Daleks was a good direction for the comic strip to take and gave a strong sense of direction. The emergence of the Daleks was terrific with the disguise and the women wearing what were essentially Dalek dresses with a familiar eye on their headband was good. Really eery stuff. Grayling was a really enigmatic character and his connection and partnership with the Daleks was really good to explore. He looked like a perfect villain and that's obviously great. I thought it was a little simple for the Doctor and Fey to break his conditioning simply by being caught in a net, and from there he was basically done which felt like a bit of a shame. The Eiffel Tower being used as the Dalek tower was quite the image and so was that of it exploding! I must say, the artwork in this comic strip was nothing short of spectacular. It brought things to life and was so vibrant. My only qualm was I would have liked more of the Daleks! The theme of gods and magic was good though given the theme of this Doctor's era. Overall, a great comic strip and that final pane is a thing of beauty. 

Rating: 8/10

Calling the Doctor

"We don't have time to chase a runaway."

Writer: Esme Jikiemi-Pearson

Format: Short Story

Released: 25 June 2026

Series: Circuit Breaker #1

Featuring: Fugitive Doctor, Osgood

Synopsis

When strange and corrupted alien artefacts begin spontaneously appearing inside UNIT's secure Black Archive, they bring with them a dangerous energy signature that tears tiny ruptures across space and time. Realising UNIT is out of its depth, a search for the Doctor begins. However, instead of an incarnation UNIT is familiar with, the connection to the mysterious and formidable Fugitive Doctor is their only hope...

Verdict

Calling the Doctor was an excellent start to the Circuit Breaker multimedia extravaganza! I think my expectations for this story arc are pretty much in the mindset of wait and see because this is the third attempt at this idea and it feels like the other two were snakebitten. The idea behind Time Lord Victorious was magnificent but it was halted by Covid and the release schedule felt all over the place. Then we had Doom's Day which felt like it was in the bin before it even took off with a large majority of the fanbase not taking the character of Doom seriously. That was a shame, but they have the winning formula here as the Fugitive Doctor in the lead role seems like an awfully exciting idea! I'm not sure a UNIT website story is the best place to start, but I can understand why that happens because it's free to read and it can get anyone interested hooked ready for every release. This did a superb job with that to be honest as the concept for the story ahead was set and it is an exciting one for sure. I think the idea of the Fugitive Doctor being conscripted by UNIT is brilliant and the prospect of her replacing lost artefacts in time from her future regenerations is glorious. I love mismatches of continuity so the prospect of her jumping into previous stories or encountering future villains is right up my alley. I think Osgood as the lead character from UNIT's perspective is going to be great too as I must admit she's been a sorely missed aspect of the organisation on screen in recent years. I thought her assistant Andrew had a pretty solid debut outing here and I'm pretty impressed that he conjured up the resistor device as a means to literally change time! That's an incredible feat but needing a Time Lord to handle it makes sense with them being no strangers to time travel. Yaz giving information to UNIT regarding the Fugitive Doctor is intriguing and I'm also jumping all over the fact it was stated that she is the earliest known incarnation of the Doctor. I think Chris Chibnall was careful to not set in stone when she places amongst Doctor chronology and numbering as I still think between The War Games and Spearhead from Space works best for me purely because the TARDIS is a police box in Fugitive of the Judoon. How could it be in that disguise if she was placed before An Unearthly Child? It's a fun mind bend and I love the mystery surrounding her incarnation. UNIT being able to contact her also seems impressive and she was pretty shocked by that communication. She didn't exactly welcome it either. I thought the format of the story with transcripts of conversations and private messages was unique and something I appreciated. Having a little bit of decoding in the story was good too even if the passwords were simple to obtain. It was just nice to have that little bit of interaction. Osgood discussing with Kate about the literal tears in time that were visible was brilliant and I loved that we got some images placed throughout the story and the simplicity of their captions containing their file codes was great. It just all felt authentic and I appreciate that. So the premise is simple. Artefacts from the likes of Sontarans and Carrionites to Daleks and Cybermen in the need of being returned to their rightful place in time to ensure the future regenerations of the Doctor are intact. The Fugitive didn't seem to think that concerned her if it was the future which was amusing and I do hope she is a little difficult to work with. From comics and audios to a novel and games, the circuit is well and truly broken. I'm ready. A fantastic start! 

Rating: 9/10

Waiting for Gadot

"Extinct? They can't be!"

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released:

Series: Short Trips: Rarities 

Featuring: Fourth Doctor

Synopsis

"A roaming alien doctor – I can smell a series in this!"

EarthCom cameraman Marsh is a man on a mission: to film some incredibly rare wildlife on a remote world. But life on this planet is both busier and quieter than expected: and it holds Marsh's future in its grasp...

Verdict

Waiting for Gadot was a good little story to continue my sporadic way around the Short Trips range of Rarities! This was another fascinating adventure that absolutely whizzed by but I guess that should come as no surprise considering the duration was barely twenty minutes! There's not a lot of time to play with there when you have such a short story but when I noticed that the author was John Dorney, I knew we were in same hands. He is such a prolific writer when it comes to the audio format and whilst there wasn't too much in terms of high profile stakes or whacky story arcs in this one, it was still a very solid tale. It's a rarity to have the Fourth Doctor travelling solo because there's so little time on screen where that could have been the case. He's never without a companion which considering he's the longest tenured Doctor is an impressive stat, but Doctor Who and the Face of Evil retconned Robot so I don't see why there couldn't be some moment where he dropped a companion off somewhere before returning later. Maybe a little line to establish that would have been beneficial here for the timeline and establishing just when in the chronology of the Fourth Doctor this adventure takes place, but it's not a big deal. If this was most other incarnations it wouldn't matter because there's ample opportunity for many of them to be travelling solo, but not the Fourth! That's why I'd have liked just something. I thought the main character of Marsh was really solid and I liked how he was a committed cameraman for EarthCom. There were some slight resemblances to Sarah Jane when it came to his character and attributing her journalistic tendencies and passion to his for capturing images and video was really strong. I admired him for his passion. I thought the Gadot sounded pretty interesting and definitely worthing of snapping an image because of the scarcity of them being in the wild. The fact Marsh actually wanted to capture them during their mating process was certainly unique! Is this subtly a story about alien porn? Of course I'm going a bit cynical and snide there but it's not far off! The rarity of a species is good to explore and the Doctor being on hand with his superior knowledge was almost a slap in the fact to Marsh. He thought this strange man was not human given the way he referred to people and him explaining how the Gadot were extinct seemed entirely impossible. And yet here the Doctor was revealing that they'd been extinct for a decade but given their scarcity in the public eye, it was not yet realised what had occurred. That's quite a sad realisation to be honest yet it somehow has a semblance of beauty attached. Marsh was understandably shocked and as the final stages of the audio went on, he grew increasingly angry at the Doctor which was a little bit of a surprise. I liked that he saw the TARDIS but his resentment for everything that had happened and his search was understandable but I think a tad misplaced. Overall, an interesting little story that probably deserved a bit more time to expand and explore! A very strong listen though.

Rating: 7/10

Objective: Earth - Time of the Vulpreen

"We are not giving up our world."

Writer: Roland Moore

Format: Audio

Released: November 2022

Series: UNIT: Nemesis 3.04

Featuring: Kate, Osgood

Synopsis

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

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

Verdict

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

Rating: 8/10

Objective: Earth - Axos Unleashed

"These are actual claws of Axos."

Writer: Katharine Armitage 

Format: Audio

Released: November 2022

Series: UNIT: Nemesis 3.03

Featuring: Kate, Osgood, Naomi

Synopsis

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

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

Verdict

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

Rating: 8/10

Objective: Earth - By Jacqui McGee

"Goodbye, Jacqui McGee."

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: November 2022

Series: UNIT: Nemesis 3.02

Featuring: Kate, Osgood, Naomi

Synopsis

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

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

Verdict

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

Rating: 9/10

Objective: Earth - The Vulpreen Encounter

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

Writer: Andrew Smith

Format: Audio

Released: November 2022

Series: UNIT: Nemesis 3.01

Featuring: Kate, Osgood

Synopsis

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

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

Verdict

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

Rating: 8/10

The Meddling Monks Part Three

"Did somebody say six?"

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: June 2026

Series: Dark Gallifrey 5.03

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, The Monk, The Nun

Synopsis

Monky Puzzle

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

Monky About

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

Verdict

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

Rating: 8/10

Doing Time

"Shepard wondered if he really was repeating events."

Writer: Lance Parkin

Format: Short Story

Released: December 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Steel Skies 11

Featuring: Fourth Doctor

Synopsis

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Verdict

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

Rating: 8/10

Survivors: The Harvest

"Nature's bounty."

Writer: Jonathan Morris

Format: Audio

Released: June 2026

Series: Planet Krynoid 2.03

Featuring: Maggie, Fletcher, Tiro

Synopsis

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

Verdict

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

Rating: 9/10