Hidden in Plain Sight: Wanted Dead and Alive

"Do not die."

Writer: Beth Axford

Format: Audio

Released: August 2026

Series: Eleventh Doctor Adventures 2.03

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Eleanor

Synopsis

The Doctor dies on the shores of Lake Silencio; it's a fact known across the universe. Only someone has arrived early, an old friend of the Doctor, ready to do whatever it takes to save him...

Verdict

Wanted Dead and Alive was a great episode to conclude the Hidden in Plan Sight second series of Eleventh Doctor Adventures! I thought this served as a strong finale and I must say that I was surprised that Captain Sydon hung around from Tyranny of the Judoon/Gambit of the Judoon, but it did ensure some really smooth continuity. There's no gap between the episodes of this series and I quite like keeping things continuous. Taking the Eleventh Doctor to the scene of his death at Lake Silencio is a strong concept and I'm surprised it's not one that has happened before now. I do think the timeline for the Doctor is perhaps a little too soon with this spinoff range taking place after the events of The Wedding of River Song, but I guess there's no saying just how long after? It also ties in nicely with the umbrella title for the series and keeps us guessing for more when it comes to someone trying to alter history and the Doctor's death as a fixed point in time. I think that's really good and I like how this series is beginning to explore the consequences of Series 6 which didn't really have a chance to happen on screen with Series 7 focused on the emotional departures of Amy and Rory prior to Clara's arrival. This fills the gap nicely and I like that we have an ongoing story arc now. Announce the third series please! I thought Malk was a fun little character and his interactions with Eleanor were terrific. His stuttering speech was good especially when that came full circle and was happening to Eleanor too, and she really did feel like the star again which is ironic considering this was all about the death of the Doctor. Sydon being abrupt as you might expect from a Judoon was good when it came to the mines and initially I thought they were going to be Dalek hand mines! Alas, that wasn't the case but what we got still worked well. Malk having history with the Doctor dating back to his first incarnation was a bit of a surprise but I'm always here for an Ian and Barbara name drop. I do wish this was a character we had met previously as I'm not a fan of unseen adventures or characters, but I suspected that was always going to be the way with the friend trying to save the Doctor. Malk definitely went a bit far though in threatening Eleanor's life if the Doctor wouldn't save his own! That seemed awfully uncharacteristic of a friend of the Doctor's but it certainly injected a shock value moment. Eleanor pushing the Doctor on information for his survival was good and I liked how he had worked it all out long before. Malk was insistent on wanting to know how too and with Sydon's fizzing, it was clear there was an ulterior motive. I liked that and the Doctor being one step ahead of the game is always great. I liked the toll this took on Eleanor with her being in a prison of her own mind whilst her body was controlled and an imposter Doctor also works well. She wasn't buying it though. I loved that she found the whole concept of regeneration as ridiculous and labelled it a logic gap! If only she knew. She wanted to go home though but judging by the cliffhanger finish, she might not quite get there. I look forward to what I expect to be another series now! A very good listen to complete the series.

Rating: 8/10

Hidden in Plain Sight: Gambit of the Judoon

"You cannot possibly be the Doctor."

Writer: Ben Tedds

Format: Audio

Released: August 2026

Series: Eleventh Doctor Adventures 2.02

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Eleanor

Synopsis

From: INVIGILATOR KOLLO

To: ALL STAFF

Subject: OPERATION PERSEUS

The two persons of interest remain at large. There is a strong possibility they may attempt to infiltrate the Shadow Proclamation. Inform me or Captain Sydon if any and all developments, no matter how small. 

Additional reminder: I am not to be disturbed during my lunch hour.

Verdict

Gambit of the Judoon was a decent episode to continue my way through the Hidden in Plain Sight second series of Eleventh Doctor Adventures! This is basically a straight second part to the Tyranny of the Judoon opener but it does a good job in feeling unique and its own thing despite being an immediate continuation. I think the story does really well in terms of its chronology and placement in the timeline of the Eleventh Doctor. This feels like it could come soon into the life of this incarnation and doesn't feel like too much time has occurred since the events of The Stolen Earth/Journey's End. That's a big compliment because the use of then Judoon and the Shadow Proclamation were really good. I thought the Judoon felt much more like a neutral party here with the Slitheen emerging now as the main enemy of the piece. I thought that helped with the differentiation in terms of feel from the opening episode, but I still felt underwhelmed by their presence. I'm not entirely sure why either because it was brilliant to keep them as a surprise but I just didn't entirely get on board with them here which was a shame. I don't think the voices were entirely perfect in representing what we saw on screen which is definitely part of it, but maybe they do just work better with visuals? I feel like as the listener we would have known earlier that the Doctor was actually a Slitheen in disguise and that would have helped. It's like the Martha clone in The Poison Sky as we're just waiting for the Doctor to call it out. We'd have had a similar moment here but it's not easy to tell in audio which is fine and I must admit it was a twist I didn't see coming, even though in hindsight I felt I should have. I thought Eleanor took a bit of a backseat in this part which was a shame because she's truly wonderful as a companion. Five episodes in and I can't wait to hear more and more of her. The appeal to her by Kollo was good stuff as it was a stark reminder of just how early into her travels in the TARDIS she is. I think she started to realise it too as she questioned just how much she knew him. Did she know him at all? She was thought of as a Slitheen and kept captive but the Doctor actually being portrayed by one was something she didn't quite see. I thought that was good in taking advantage of her newness. I thought Eleanor touching back on her financial background was well done and something we could have had more of when she was likening things to a startup investor presentation. Captain Sydon teaming with the Doctor was good although I did think it was a tad strange when the latter was going along with a plan of the former! The use of the magnetron and the planet actually being in witness protection from the Slitheen worked pretty well but the whole concept there is a little defeated when they're already present! Harking back to vinegar is a logical conclusion for the Slitheen and the couple bickering as the crashed planet was coming towards them was amusing, but I still don't think elements worked for me. Maybe just the combination of the Judoon and the Slitheen was a tad much? As my rating reflects, this is still a good episode but I just know it could be more. It concludes things neatly and the cliffhanger warning from the Judoon of someone wanting to save the Doctor's life at Lake Silencio makes for an exciting finale ahead! Word had gotten around that the Doctor was dead which was good continuity, so now I'm excited to hear just what happens next!

Rating: 7/10

Hidden in Plain Sight: Tyranny of the Judoon

"We are here to protect you."

Writer: Ben Tedds

Format: Audio

Released: August 2026

Series: Eleventh Doctor Adventures 2.01

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Eleanor 

Synopsis

An ominous threat has left the people of Hefestis living under the shadow of the Judoon. But award-winning journalist Octavia Cain is here to sniff out the truth. She's even found two Shadow Proclamation detectives who'll help her unmask it.

If only the Doctor and Eleanor were actually from the Shadow Proclamation...

Verdict

Tyranny of the Judoon was a great start to the Hidden in Plain Sight second series of Eleventh Doctor Adventures! I really enjoyed The First Question opening series and Eleanor Fong made an instant impact as a very likeable companion. I was delighted to see that a second series was coming pretty quickly and starting off with a Judoon two-parter is definitely appealing! I've always thought of the Judoon as a more neutral monster rather than an enemy and given that they are essentially an intergalactic police force that makes sense. That wasn't quite the case here though and that was good to have them in a more antagonistic role. They suited it well and whilst it was clear that the Shadow Ambassador was the central villain of the piece, the Judoon more than played their part! Eleanor is already very well settled into her position as companion but it's good to maintain that things are still new to her. She was revelling in the sights here and even in her description of the Judoon it was just good. She's really likeable and she isn't afraid to take initiative which I also admire. It's a really strong companion trait and I have nothing but good things to say about her at the moment. I hope this run is a long one, even if it is download only! I hope that isn't putting people off from experiencing her because she really is tremendous. I thought the setting of Hefestis here was intriguing and the politics of this society were clearly not all they ought to be. That was evident from the role of Octavia Cain who was a superb character as a journalist. Knowing that the second episode of this series is basically a part two of this one, I feel like she was killed off way too quickly! It was an impactful moment for sure and Eleanor goes through a lot in blaming herself because it was she who Octavia told to run on and buy a little time for, but she was just so good! She was really fun and I loved how she reacted in finding that the Doctor and Eleanor were also off worlders. The plan of the Ambassador was dastardly indeed in basically trying to terraform the planet into another, and then move it! It's an audacious plan but the Judoon fit in nicely there with the links to the Shadow Proclamation and the legalities being proclaimed. Cromarty was a bit of a fun and lighthearted character in a story that was otherwise subtly rather dark. I'm not sure he offered all that much other than some lodgings but potentially with Octavia out of the picture now he'll take a more central role in the next episode? It'll certainly be interesting to hear. I wasn't all that fussed by the cliffhanger with the Ambassador and company revealing themselves to not actually be all they appeared to be. It was definitely a feeling of imposter and plans were clearly more advanced than the Doctor thought! It was very reminiscent of Aliens of London for me with the skin shedding, although in a way that seemed like a little bit of a knock off which was a shame. I thought the bulk of the episode was really strong but I don't think the next episode will have the same feeling which is a shame. I sincerely hope I'm wrong but the cliffhanger didn't do much for me! Overall though, a really good episode to kick off the series.

Rating: 8/10

The Decayed Master Part Two

"Only the dead and the dying can enjoy him."

Writers: Lauren Mooney & Stewart Pringle

Format: Audio

Released: August 2026

Series: Dark Gallifrey 6.02

Featuring: The Master

Synopsis

Across the canals and through the swirling balls of 18th century Venice, stories of Lupo's genius fill the air. The greatest mask-maker in the Republic's history, the delicate brushwork of Lupo is legendary. But Lupo has a dark past, on a burned-sienna planet galaxies away. He made a pact, and an exceedingly powerful enemy. 

And now that enemy is coming, through the ancient, legendary 'skiproads', to tear apart everything Lupo has built and unleash his nightmarish powers on the majestic floating city.

Verdict

The Decayed Master continued in excellent style with this seductively good second part! I think the nature of this decayed version of the Master means that stories feel slow but boy do they deliver. I think the pacing is so important and it is similar in some regards to the War Master incarnation, but the nature of this Master being so desperate and close to the end of his life means that things are more measured and calculated. He's also more vulnerable and that brings a different dynamic to things as well with how he is. I thought that was exploited well with him being tied down and there really didn't seem much hue could do against Naava. His strength in this incarnation is most certainly mental and not physical! I am loving the Venice setting in the eighteenth century as incredibly that does feel like somewhere he would be able to blend in. The use of masks is iconic in Italy and particularly in this city so to have that as a strong focus was really good. There just feels something really authentic about a mask maker at this time and Il Maestro supposedly being one of the best around was a delight. I think Lupo as the great one though that came to confront the Master was terrific but the Time Lord was hardly too worried. Hell, he'd seen past the deception and the disguise immediately! I thought Naava had a pretty quiet opening half of the episode which was a shame as the recap quickly reminded me of just how exciting she was in part one. It's strange but it feels like an awfully long time since I blogged the opening part of the story! Lupo having a deal in place beyond mere Earth was intriguing and I'm very interested to hear how things conclude in the final part with the Master now getting pretty whacky and firmly having the upper hand. I thought Naava's slip of the tongue when it came to her experience and knowledge of the sliproads was good because instantly you could hear the machinations in the mind of the Master ticking. I was already loving the exploration of getting him a whole new regenerative cycle which feels like a pretty important thing for this incarnation and a constant goal. It really is incredible to think of his longevity in this incarnation as he continues to be on the brink of death. The Master versus Lupo feels like a fun potential for the finale and the setup here was really strong. Just what will come on the other side of the sliproads? The threat they provide just from their very makeup and the spits in the continuum of time and space is very exciting. Nightmarish powers indeed as the synopsis says. I think the Master getting to interact with another Time Lord like this is a delight and just having them somewhat casually discuss the works of Rassilon and how things could be mistranslated was terrific. I'd love more of that. Oh and a word for Geoffrey Beavers and the way he pronounced Madame Zanetti's name. Chef's kiss in the accent and it was just great to hear the Master that way! I thought the little ten minute add on after the end credits with the history of York was a little strange but I'm sure it's something that will become clearer as the finale or the series itself goes on. I thought we were getting a throwback to The Meddling Monks for a second! Overall though, a really strong setup for what looks to be an exciting finale! Delicious.

Rating: 9/10

Vampire of the Mind

"You may have a new body, but you never change."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Audio

Released: May 2016

Series: Monthly Adventures 212

Featuring: Sixth Doctor

Synopsis

Somewhere off the South Coast of England, there's a lonely island. On that island stands a solitary castle, long since abandoned – haunted, they say. But the truth is, that castle houses something far worse than mere ghosts. 

The castle is what lies at the end of a trail followed by the Doctor in search of several missing scientists – all of them connected to the top secret Dominus Institute and its elusive CEO, Sir Andrew Gobernar...

But the Doctor will soon discover that he's the one being haunted, by a ghost from his past... or perhaps, his future.

Verdict

Vampire of the Mind was a great audio adventure! It seems I'm taking the long route round on this Master trilogy as it's been a fair few months now since I listened to And You Will Obey Me and I don't even own the finale at the point of writing! But this also allows a chance to fully view the story in isolation and it works really well. As I was listening I was thinking that we haven't actually had much of the Sixth Doctor taking on the Master. Of course, the pair met twice on screen in The Mark of the Rani and The Trial of a Time Lord, but I feel like they were both overshadowed by the Rani and the Valeyard. We haven't had much of Sixie and the Master just going at it. So I was intrigued to see this incarnation of the Master ready to take on the Sixth Doctor, but it was a mashup I was very excited to hear! I thought the use of memory was excellent and of course something had to be done about this Doctor meeting this Master otherwise Dominion would not make much sense at all! I was so glad that we didn't get a standard memory wipe as that trope is way overused now at Big Finish even if it is sometimes necessary for fun combinations. But the use of memory was actually part of the plot! That was really clever and something I very much appreciated. The plan of the Master here was pretty evil and twisted even for him with the condition he'd left the Blanks in. The whole scientific concept of saving and even extracting memory is fun to think about. It doesn't feel like it would be possible but it's an incredible idea. It's no surprise that it peaked the Doctor's interest! I thought it was intriguing to have the Sixth Doctor travelling alone but Heather more than filled the companion role for the story. I thought she was great and could easily have carried on full time after this outing! She had a connection with the Doctor with her being the daughter of his old friend Professor Threadstone and the mystery of him having not actually entered the USA. The situation regarding the missing scientists was good and the audacity of the Master to claim it was all to lure the Doctor in was incredible! Even for him. I thought the Master having gaps in his memory was fascinating and hearing the post-regenerative trauma in play and this incarnation post-regeneration reacting to his new everything was fabulous. The plan to utilise the Doctor's memories to fix up his own TARDIS was good. I got strong vibes of Evolution of the Daleks when it came to the fate of the Blanks and the Master's fail-safe being to kill them all at the push of a button. That was a heartbreaking moment. I loved that the Master had laid trap during his captivity somewhere between The Daemons and The Sea Devils, but returning to the site of his former prison was superb! He'd returned to reap the spoils of an old trap finally come good. The mind leech served as a good cliffhanger at the end of part three, but I think the threat cooled off incredibly quickly and the Doctor was clearly trying to help her. She was subjected to the Master and help was at hand. I thought the Doctor sacrificing his own short term memory for the Blanks was really clever and hearing them repeat infamous phrases of other incarnations was good fun. It also was perfect for the Doctor not knowing this incarnation of the Master and it was pretty humorous to hear him discussing with Threadstone and company about recent events. His memories now were incredibly selective! Overall, a great audio adventure. 

 

Rating: 8/10

The Doctor and the Three Witches

"The Doctor's body was frozen, trapped in the story of her future self."

Writer: Janelle McCurdy

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2026

Printed in: Time Lord Fairy Tales 16

Featuring: Fugitive Doctor, Martha

Synopsis

We are all stories in the end...

Sixteen tales of ancient wonder and mystery, passed down through generations of Time Lords. 

Dark, beautiful and twisted, these stories are filled with nightmarish terrors and heroic triumphs from across all of time and space.

Verdict

The Doctor and the Three Witches was an excellent story to continue the ongoing Circuit Breaker multimedia adventure! This was a really strong short story and whilst it is a bit funky to include an instalment on the end of a new paperback edition of a collection that was released quite a few years ago now, speaking for my own preferences and personal experience I am quite lucky as I have not actually delved into this collection before! I'm lucky there that I'm not buying the whole book again just for one short story, but it might have been worth it! I've started at the end here with Time Lord Fairy Tales but I felt I had to stay on track with events for the Fugitive Doctor. It followed the style of a fairytale really well and just having an adventure start with 'once upon a time' is always good fun. This did feel like a story about a story which works well when you're playing with witches. The continuity from Don't Blink! was perfect and it felt like an immediate follow on of the overall story arc. That's obviously what you want in this kind of storytelling. The transition across different forms of media has been pretty seamless so far and that's pretty darn impressive. I thought the story was terrific fun and having Martha transport herself into the Carrionite orb was an unexpected delight! Whilst she was prominent in the previous instalment after being called in by Osgood, here she really was playing the role of companion again and it was brilliant to read. The pairing of her and the Fugitive Doctor was magnificent and the foreknowledge Martha has of who the Doctor will become and her experience with the Carrionites from The Shakespeare Code was used brilliantly. Toying around with the power of word is great potential but there was a lot more at play here. This was a world of story and fairytale and incorporating that into the plot for this collection was superb. The pace was frantic and I really enjoyed the blend of real life fairytales and Lilith showing the Doctor adventures of the future to come. The Fugitive Doctor really is being tested throughout this overall story by the image and reputation of her future self and I do think that's a little unfair. Is she not good enough just as she is? Martha playing her part there when the Doctor worked out a plan to escape the orb was to end the fairytale and an option there meant following the finale of Hansen and Gretel and burning the witches in an oven! The simplicity and just logical instinct of the Doctor thinking that way when she was on her way to the kitchen was incredible! It was a brilliant representation of a very different incarnation indeed. I think we need more of that. I thought the introduction of the Conductor was really good stuff and I love that we got what seems like some really strong story arc development. We now have a name for the cloaked figure we have seen popping up so far and whilst I still suspect it to be Andrew, I'm very excited to learn more. The Doctor bringing the water Wizard of Oz style to melt the Carrionites painted quite the picture, but they were not defeated in their own orb. In fact, they had carried out their mission and obtained strands of the Doctor's hair for the Conductor. DNA confirmed indeed. But for what use? I can't wait to find out! Overall, an excellent short story! 

Rating: 9/10

The Young Lions

"You can't just creep up on a soldier."

Writer: Alice Cavender

Format: Audio

Released: September 2017

Series: Short Trips: Rarities 2.05

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Lucie

Synopsis

The Eighth Doctor and Lucie Miller have stopped off in Little Morton for a fry-up. It's not the healthiest way to start a day, but better than some: the Major from then local barracks has just fallen to his death. Or has he? A visit to the hospital highlights the surprising levels of health in the soldiers. There's clearly something going on beneath the surface at Little Morton: and it's about to come to light...

Verdict

The Young Lions was a pretty average story to continue my way through the Rarities spinoff range of the Short Trips series. I don't think this one was inherently bad by any means as despite it being rare for me to give this low of a rating, it's still not terrible. This was a fine listen and I think it just wasn't for me as a whole. I'm not a big fan of the military so I didn't have the connection there and it was all just slightly mundane for large chunks which was a shame. I've really enjoyed my recent blogging of a number of stories from this range and I'm still so delighted to have found it as I really did think they were just readings of stories from the Short Trips prose range which I'm also quietly making my way through. Alas, this is the last of the batch I purchased in the sale from Big Finish a couple of months ago but there's at least another quartet within an Eighth Doctor collection that are on my radar amongst others so my experience with this range is far from over. I'm glad about that because I wouldn't want to finish in a slightly lower quality mood. I was excited to hear that this story would feature the pairing of the Eighth Doctor and Lucie Miller because they're an iconic duo and it's been an incredibly long time since I have blogged anything with them. That's down to the fact that I've nearly blogged everything in which she features! That's exciting and also a bit of a shame because she's such a strong companion. That comes across here as the TARDIS arrives in 2005 which is a fun setting as just a couple of years prior to her contemporary time. Her reaction to being inside a pub and the smoking ban not yet being in place was fascinating and that really is something that feels an awfully long time ago. I was only nine in that year but I'd often accompany my dad to watch the football in the pub loving life with a packet of crisps and a J20 or something, but the fact that it was just commonplace for people to smoke indoors is almost barmy. I'm so glad that has been eradicated. It's such a small element of the story but it resonated with me. It's a shame not much else did. I thought Little Morton was a typical British setting that we've had so many of before and Lucie's knowledge of the cup final was amusing as I'm not sure describing a penalty shootout as a thrashing is the right lingo, even if it did go 3-0 or 4-1. I thought the soldierly theme was fine but just not perfect for me and it should have dealt more with the trauma. The Major falling from the barracks was presented adequately and whilst I don't have the answers, I do think more could have been done there. The threat posed by the Quitoxins was just fine but nothing that immediately captured my attention. I am always a tad let down when the resolution is for the Doctor to take the alien menace away because I'm not wholly convinced that counts as a victory. Joe was a good character element in the story but it almost did become like there was too much going on for a Short Trip. It was easy to get lost with just the one actor and that's a bit of a shame. Overall, not bad but not enthralling. I just don't think one was up my alley and there's nothing wrong with that. Still a worthwhile listen.

Rating: 6/10

Walkies

"Has it been fun to be a real dog?"

Writer: Nicola Bryant

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2026

Printed in: DWM 633

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri, K9

Synopsis

With the Doctor needing some seclusion, he programmes the TARDIS to take Peri on the most incredible dog walks in the universe. 

Verdict

Walkies was a good little short story to serve as this month's Brief Encounters in the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine! I am so happy wth this new feature that is a redo of one from the 1990s in the same manner and what better way to have a Peri story than Nicola Bryant as the author! Who knows the character better than the woman who played her? I think it's lovely to be getting brand new prose and I think this is the perfect opportunity to give actors the chance to write for their characters. Keep it coming I say and I just love getting new content. This is only two pages long and barely takes ten minutes to read, but it doesn't feel like a quick thing and that's great. The illustration to accompany the story really helps with the visualisations and I just love the idea that was central to things here. Peri was out exploring the universe on dog walks and as a canine owner myself in the past year, it's a good way to explore. I've found myself off the beaten track on a number of occasions and I like to just walk without really knowing where I'm going so having the TARDIS programmed to explore a number of exciting and appealing locations would be right up my alley! Peri was enjoying things but I think it's safe to say she had come to the end of the enjoyment. She was ready to do something different and who could blame her. I think it's lovely that K9 featured here and I can't actually imagine the robot dog getting on all that well with the Sixth Doctor. Here he was though basically used to babysit Peri while the Doctor had some time alone. That felt very apt for the sixth incarnation. He does like to ignore his companion from time to time so having her confront him about that at the end was pretty fun. The central premise though of K9 being a real dog was incredible. How has that not been done before? It's so obvious and yet it's nothing I've ever considered. I saw the illustration and the name of the story when flicking through the pages of DWM and just assumed we'd be catching up with an older Peri post-The Trial of a Time Lord after she'd settled down back on Earth somehow and gotten herself a canine friend. That was far from the case though and that was actually all the more fun. I'm not sure she was as attached to K9 as the Doctor thinks she was, but she certainly had some sort of love for the dog in naming him Frisky when her old dog was called Whiskey. She could never replace the original and I liked how obviously emotional she got about that. Her family dog clearly meant a great deal to her and it was obvious how strong her missing feelings were. I love the idea that she and K9 have gone for a walk on Rhossili Bay and Aber Falls with both of those being great locations in my homeland of Wales. I haven't actually taken my dog to either of those though! I need to amend that. I thought having much of the second page inside the TARDIS but in a natural landscape like the desert was good although the Doctor wasn't exactly likeable in how off-putting he was towards Peri. It was time for K9 to go away now and the robot dog accepting that from his master was nice in terms of friendly obedience, but he pointed out how much this might hurt Peri. It almost feels like we need a part two with them potentially going to get a real dog from Battersea! The very idea of one running around the TARDIS with this incarnation of the Doctor in particular is good fun. Definitely don't get a cocker spaniel. Overall, a very fun little read! 

Rating: 8/10

Run Fast, Be Kind: The Second Death of the Daleks

"All hail the Daleks."

Writer: Alfie Shaw

Format: Audio

Released: August 2026

Series: Twelfth Doctor Adventures 1.06

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Ash

Synopsis

During the last days of history, a lone wanderer crosses the wastes of Kersarin. Everywhere he goes, he delights those he finds with stories and songs. He provides a little hope in the dark.

His name is Ash Wilton, and I swear we've done this episode before. We definitely killed that Dalek.

Verdict

The Second Death of the Daleks was an excellent episode to conclude the Run Fast, Be Kind first series of Twelfth Doctor Adventures! I am delighted that thanks to the Power of 3 podcast it is already confirmed that there are another six episodes to come with this pairing at a minimum, and it ended on quite the cliffhanger! I liked how this was basically a sequel with some temporal looping of The Second Death and that also works brilliantly with the title and the cover artwork. They're so simple and I think that's actually pretty clever to incorporate. Returning to Kersarin was good but this wasn't quite the world that Ash remembered. I liked the replaying of sequences from that opening episode with some noticeable shifts and intrusions of the reset when it came to the Daleks. I thought the continuity with Victory of the Doctor was superb as the Doctor was dumbfounded to find that the Eternal Dalek had survived. I'm so impressed with how well the timeline for the Daleks is being utilised as this all just feels so natural for the New Paradigm from Victory of the Daleks and beyond into the Eleventh Doctor Chronicles. It all just feels right and that's such a compliment to the writers. It fills gaps and extends the life of the Paradigm which is a delight. I think the Doctor addressing the Eternal here as Colonel Mustard and La La the Tellytank was tremendous and perfectly in line with the Twelfth Doctor. Jon Culshaw is firmly settled in his impersonation of Peter Capaldi to the point now where I've almost forgot it's not the original actor! I really liked the enigmatic nature of the episode when people who should be dead were not and the reboot of time was causing havoc. Ash got excited by essentially being back at the start and whilst it was clear he still needed to travel with the Doctor, a lot could be reversed. Did Sky have to die? Would he now be able to avert himself from shooting Mundar? The Doctor warned him to be careful as not everything was free game. Breen being back was pretty pivotal to the entire episode and her confidence of Dalek puppets being in play was pretty powerful stuff! It was also just really interesting to hear her relationship with Ash but also how much she was basically hated by her children. That was pretty sad. The mystery behind Alan was fun to explore, especially by the end of the episode when it was clear he was from some sort of parallel universe or dimension. The truth was far more fun though! I loved the concept behind the Eternal Dalek and whilst the Doctor making it good isn't exactly a novel concept even for this incarnation going back to Into the Dalek, I did love that we got an explanation for how this particular Dalek escapes death. It isn't always the same Dalek but it's the casing that reprogrammed the mutant within and linked to the Dalek Pathweb to ensure all necessary information was provided to ensure the continued survival of the Daleks and that the Empire went until the end of time. That was terrific and makes perfect sense! The Doctor taking some solace in the fact that even though he's sure he'll face the Daleks again in his future, he knows at the end that the last one sees good. I think he's a bit too trusting there but he always tries to see the good. Discovering that Ash wasn't the true article and actually visiting his grave was not anything I expected but the revelation of him being the manifest of the story told of Ash Wilton was sublime! He's from the Land of Fiction! What an exciting cliffhanger to take us into the next set of stories. I can't wait to find out more and to just explore what will now be an incredibly different dynamic. There's still so much in play despite numerous answers here and that's what you want in a finale. Bring on the next set! I hope they continue the weekly release as that has been a lot of fun. Overall, a fantastic finale!

Rating: 9/10

Don't Blink!

"I spent years being hunted. I know how it feels to become prey."

Writer: Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2026

Series: Circuit Breaker #7

Featuring: Fugitive Doctor, Martha, Osgood

Synopsis

The Fugitive Doctor finds herself facing a damaged TARDIS, an unexpected friend from the future, and a lonely assassin who will stop at nothing to reach her.

Verdict

Don't Blink! was a really strong short story to continue the ongoing Circuit Breaker multimedia adventure! I have been thoroughly enjoying the overall story so far and it's been great to see this getting such positive reviews. It really does feel like the 'current' adventure and with the current situation and unknowns surrounding Doctor Who on television, I think this is a wonderful substitute. I will follow this story and anything Doctor Who to just about anywhere, but I do hope this being on the UNIT website allows a large number of people to experience it because it's a darn good story and it's just a delight to have it for free! Unfortunately, I just can't get to grips with the Lost in Time mobile game so I haven't and won't experience Castling, but I like the little reference to it here with the Sontaran helmet. It's a bit of a surprise that we returned to them so quickly after The Honourable Society, but maybe there's more of a link there? I thought this adventure did a really strong job in catching people up on events so far and the situation for the Fugitive Doctor, Osgood and Andrew which is always beneficial. Things did take a bit of a darker turn though and rightfully I think suspicions are placed on Andrew. Might a future version of him be the mysterious cloaked figure we've seen on a couple of occasions now? It makes sense but is it almost too obvious? It's somebody in UNIT and somebody that has been in the TARDIS. At the moment Andrew fits that bill and I liked how Osgood did question him on it even if she did feel a little awkward in doing so. I do think he is the one in the cloak because I'm still sceptical on how he had the technical knowhow to build the resistor and that's something I thought right away when reading Calling the Doctor and I'm sticking with it. Sometimes the logical and obvious answer is the right way to play things. I wasn't expecting to see the Carrionite orb in play until the next instalment in the saga, but it seems to have set up that adventure very nicely with the cliffhanger finish also! I'm jumping ahead but the Doctor actually getting sucked into the Carrionite orb and having an image of that was delightful. The Fugitive Doctor coming up against some trapped witches? I'm all for that next time around. I thought the threat of the Weeping Angel was excellent and I think the author captured the fear factor they provide really well for a short story. The imagery of the blue energy surrounding the Angel as they almost engulfed the Doctor was splendid. I was a big fan of the images to accompany this story as they helped with the visualisation of the adventure and really captured the Black Archive. This incarnation of the Doctor having history with the Angels was touched upon really nicely. The link to The Shakespeare Code in having Osgood call in Martha for her expertise was wonderful and it was so nice to catch up with her in 2026! It's pretty scary to think it's nearly twenty years now since Series 3 aired! That's frankly ridiculous. I liked how she was called in for the orb but then it was actually her experience with the Weeping Angels that came into play. I thought she was really mature and strong in standing her ground. She held firm with the Fugitive Doctor and she actually liked how different this version was. I'm not sure she shared the same sentiments as Osgood regarding this incarnation although she did realise that she was perhaps wrong to try and push her into being the version of the Time Lord that she knew way into her own future. Having this Doctor use a sonic screwdriver throws continuity into raptures and I quite like that. As if a police box-shaped TARDIS wasn't doing that already! I think this story developed the arc really well in putting suspicion on Andrew, bringing Martha back and setting up the next segment, but after such a strong threat of the Weeping Angel I was a little down by them being contained again purely from a mention in brackets by Osgood! That felt off in what was an otherwise very exciting story. A great read to continue the adventure! 

Rating: 8/10

Daleks! Genesis of Terror

"It seems even the dead have a part to play in this war."

Writer: Terry Nation

Format: Audio

Released: May 2023

Series: Lost Stories 7.02

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane, Harry

Synopsis

In a paved garden outside time, the Doctor is presented with an awful prophecy: the conquest of all time by the Daleks. To prevent this terrible fate, the Time Lords have decided on a radical course – to weaponise time themselves, and destroy the Daleks before they were ever created. And they want the Doctor to carry out this extraordinary task! 

Soon, he and his companions Sarah and Harry are on the battle-ravaged planet Skaro, where a war has been raging for centuries. The war is now waged by teenagers using the last surviving weapons. Everything is desperate. But the Kaled's chief scientist has a new weapon that he things might just change everything...

Verdict

Daleks! Genesis of Terror was an intriguing Lost Story, if that is what it even could be described as. I remember being a little surprised when this was announced and released a few years ago and after seeing that it was just part one that was retold in full cast version, I decided against purchasing. I don't think the reviews were all that favourable and I think that was mainly down to the marketing. It wasn't clear that this wasn't a full release in the same vain as The Ark was in its alternate version of The Ark in Space as part of the same Lost Stories series and I do think that criticism is fair. I've still been fascinated what this story would be like to experience though and with this being reduced to less than £4 as part of a recent clearance sale at Big Finish, it was time to dive in and explore. It's unique that's for sure and is unlike any other Big Finish release, but I'm not convinced it really constitutes being within this series. I mean, the story was made! And it's an absolutely revered classic. It's talked about as one of the all time greats and whilst I don't quite hold it on such a high pedestal, I know it's excellent. So this being an early version of the story isn't something I would constitute as being 'lost'. The story just evolved like any other script does with early drafts. So I'm not sure this actually needed to be released and I imagine the decision to keep stage directions in as read by Nicholas Briggs was to help differentiate it from Genesis of the Daleks. This version of part one did work well and I liked the retelling of the concept. The stakes feel a little darker and the Time Lords a little shadier than what we saw on screen which was good. I also liked how the image in my mind of the barren landscape and the mines on Skaro was reminiscent of what we saw on screen in The Magician's Apprentice/The Witch's Familiar. It's good to have those modern visuals now and apply them backwards to stories like these. I thought Nyder was glorious and he's such a strong character so any new content with him is welcomed in my book. And even though it was just a glimpse, getting to hear Davros is always a delight. The first insight into the creator of the Daleks here is terrific. I love the concept behind the Thousand Year War between the Kaleds and Thals and just being on Skaro at a time where the Kaleds are in play is exciting. I think it helps that I've not long read Dawn of the Daleks where that was prominent so revisiting the televised story in alternative means was a nice delve into nostalgia. I wouldn't say all that much was altered on a grand scale and the gist of the story is still very much there, but it is fun to explore the description of the early Daleks and the first sight of them as primitive and without their sucker. That's not quite the Daleks we know and it's certainly not what we saw of them in Destination: Skaro! I thought the guest cast did a fine job here but I do think the flow was somewhat interrupted by the stage directions even if they were really fascinating to hear. I do think the decision to have cast readings of the subsequent five parts was a little strange as I'm not sure what benefit they were to the release. It just felt like a huge jump ahead after a strong opening part and then wham, ten minutes later and we've reached the end of part six! I think if this was sold as just part one but an extended and earlier draft version, then it would have been much better received. Thankfully I'm listening three years after release and fully aware of what it entails. I enjoyed it and it was certainly different, even if I'm not convinced it was needed! Overall, a good little listen.

Rating: 7/10

Dark Tides

"Light can hurt."

Writer: Tim Foley 

Format: Audio

Released: August 2026

Series: Ninth Doctor Adventures 4.07

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

A long-lost ship, the Vesterbold, has returned to normal space. And the Knights of Atlas seek her treasure. But two strangers have joined their expedition – the Doctor and Rose, who warn of danger. 

For the Vesterbold has drifted free of the Dark Tides at the edge of the universe. And she may have brought something back with her. 

Not even the bravest knights are ready for the evil which lies inside...

Verdict

Dark Tides was another strong episode to continue my way through the bi-monthly Ninth Doctor Adventures! I was glad to get back to the travels of the Ninth Doctor and Rose because with the ongoing weekly Twelfth Doctor Adventures picking up pace, it feels like it's been a long time since the last release in this series! We're firmly into the second half of the series now and I thought this was just a really solid outing. Doing ghosts in outer space is a tantalising prospect and it didn't let down. I also thought it did a good job in reminding us that things are still new to Rose and something as simple as putting on a spacesuit was catching her off guard. She was a little trepidatious about the idea and who could blame her? It's easy to forget just how much of Series 1 is set on Earth so going beyond the planet here is almost brand new. Hell, most of the first half of this series was focused on the Powell Estate so I was glad to get the Ninth Doctor taking Rose out of her comfort zone. The Vesterbold was an intriguing setting and I liked the mystery that surrounded it. The Knights of Atlas sounded impressive and them having a mix of armour and space clothing was pretty amusing. I thought Holbrook was a good character as the captain of the ship but other characters getting a little too pally with him and calling him Hally was amusing! I also thought the whole idea of a futuristic Dark Age was exciting too because it didn't feel like anything was off the table. A lifespan of fifty years was considered strong which is obviously pretty different to Rose's time! I thought Vivian was a good villain and even though it was actually the ghostly apparition that was taking her features instead. That was pretty eery even if it was very predictable that Vivian was not what she seemed. Right from the off she was enigmatic in not having an explanation for looking too young to be an original survivor and then when she told Rose she couldn't go outside and did so with serious concern, it was clear something was up. The revelation was still strong as Holbrook found out when he tried to get her to sign over the ship. The historic and almost religious significance of the vessel to the Knights was good to explore and I thought Sir Cal in particular was terrific. He reminded me a bit of the Lord of the Tides from House of the Dragon which was amusing considering the name of this episode! I thought the concept behind tides in space was good stuff and I like the idea of taking ships and the sea into space. It's uncharted territory for so much of it so who knows what sailing space would be like? Having light as such a central focus amidst a backdrop of complete darkness was really strong too. I'm not sure I was a huge fan of the red herring finish in having the TARDIS use the radio waves and then the light of the lamp on the outside be the resolution there, but it was a good injection of a threat even if it wasn't really required. I think the laugh from Vivian at the end would have been enough on its own to really sell that she might not be wholly defeated and I like the ambiguity there. It just works when it comes to light as a source of a threat. Overall, a really strong listen and another stellar performance from Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper! It really is a delight to have these two back and there's still so much to come! A great listen.

Rating: 8/10

The Prison Paradox

"The Doctor has come to where kindness goes to die."

Writer: Dan Watters

Format: Comic Strip

Released: November 2025 - February 2026

Printed in: DWC: Fifteenth Doctor #2.1-4

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda

Synopsis

A space prison at the end of the most destructive force in the universe... A squad of criminals desperate to escape... And a Time Lord who will unite them in the fight against the sinister Warden...

Incarcerated by the sinister Warden, the Doctor must team up with a squad of aliens, including the cyborg H-8, Methelough the aquatic Tentacular, the pirate Slitheen Felik, and Annie, a tougher than nails Adipose. 

Can they defeat the prison's cruel Warden and help his prize prisoner, Miss Belinda Chandra, escape?

Verdict

The Prison Paradox was a great comic strip adventure from Titan Comics! I have been waiting for the collected version of this story for quite a while now and sees me get up to date on the Fifteenth Doctor's comic strip outings. I'm not far off completing his entire run now and it's a shame the way things ended for his incarnation and seemingly the entire RTD2 era, and if this was still ongoing I definitely would have purchased each issue as it came out to keep up to date with the current era. Now who knows what era we're in as we seemingly enter another Wilderness Years but to me that's exciting too. There's so much to fill the gaps and this was another terrific adventure. I liked how the contents described this as being placed prior to The Interstellar Song Contest and I think that's where a lot of any expanded media with Belinda as companion will have to be placed because from then on, things are pretty monumental with the return of the Rani. But here we still have Belinda wanting to get home even though she has grown to trust the Doctor and knows she is going to save him from the hands of the sinister Warden. I thought the whole Panoptopolis setting was really strong and the idea of a Shadow Proclamation prison for then most dangerous of criminals was exciting. So seeing the Doctor sitting amongst other prisoners was a delight. Later finding out that he had gone voluntarily was pretty excellent and showed how much Belinda meant to him. She'd been taken so hopping aboard a prison orbiting a black hole? Needs must. The little crew he assembled was a lot of fun! Annie the Adipose is just an adorable name and I think the way she was actually utilised as a parasite and taking out the other gaseous creature that inhabited the Doctor and Felix was superb. I was a big fan of that. Felix herself as a pirate of the Slitheen family was really strong too and she found beauty in the almost impossible. She now believed there was always a chance and that was thanks to then Doctor. H-8 was a pretty fun character as almost being formed entirely of guns and other weapons. The commentary at the end of the graphic novel showing an early illustration of him initially being part Dum Robot looked marvellous! It's a shame that idea wasn't continued. I thought Methelough was a decent character too and its species being preyed on by Zygons was fascinating! Their brief appearance within the water was tremendous and the design work was sublime. I must say the artwork for this story was nothing short of brilliant and looked just wonderfully vibrant. It adds so much in this kind of format. I thought the Warden was a strong villain and his appearance was perfect in the creep factor levels in holding Belinda prisoner as his 'favourite'. That was pretty disturbing. Finding out that he was actually hiding out in the cell designated for the most dangerous being alive and that being the Doctor was good stuff, although why a prisoner's cell would open for them as a DNA scan is beyond me! That doesn't seem like the best security. I thought the Doctor breaking the prison free of the black hole by utilising the TARDIS and some historic Time Lord knowledge with them being the ones to create black holes was good stuff and the Warden couldn't believe it. Felik shooting the Warden was impactful and a bit of a surprise as that's not what the Doctor wanted, but it was better than being shot himself! And he would survive. Felik wanting to see and help with any possibility with the rest of the crew surviving was a nice moment and she realised that there was always a chance. Anything was possible with the Doctor. I thought that was a really nice lesson to bring to the forefront. Overall, a great comic strip adventure! 

Rating: 8/10

Intuition

"Are my thoughts leaking out of my head?"

Writer: Rob Nisbet

Format: Audio

Released: September 2017

Series: Short Trips: Rarities 2.03

Featuring: Sixth Doctor

Synopsis

The Sixth Doctor and Mel are in the Swiss mountains for some rest and relaxation after recent exertions. But soon the Doctor finds himself involved in a mystery, as those working in the resort's hospitality prove preternaturally willing to help.

Verdict

Intuition was a great little story amidst the Rarities range of Short Trips! It was nice to get a solo adventure for the Sixth Doctor as we didn't get that on screen other than in increments within the courtroom during The Trial of a Time Lord, but given the contained setting there and those sequences filling moments in what are essentially four distinct adventures combined as one, I'm not entirely sure it counts. Mel does feature here in a cameo role but I think it's pretty fun that she was off enjoying the active element of the Alps when it came to skiing and making the most of the resort, but the Doctor was content with the scenic view and settling down at a cafe. I thought utilising the sixth incarnation for this story was good fun because he is one that likes to be in control. He's also one that is very firm in knowing what he wants, so with others knowing for him that wasn't exactly something he was favourable of! I thought the whole premise behind the story was really good and it's almost a shame this was only thirty-six minutes long! I love everything about intuition and it playing out here in what was initially the most basic situation in customer service was terrific. The Doctor was known to want mineral water and then at then at the end Mel was delighted to see herself being greeted by carrot juice! That was great stuff. It definitely felt like things were close in proximity to the end of The Ultimate Foe and the Doctor and Mel firmly becoming the TARDIS duo as they're still getting to know each other. That's fun in terms of timeline placing. I liked the way intuition and the foreknowledge was dubbed as the pre-cog effect and that playing out in real time was good, especially when the Doctor got into full investigative mode. He was on the move and knew that the closer he got to the centre, the bigger the intuition became. Ur was an unexpected element of the story I must say and I liked how it injected a bit of an emotional pull into things. Everything essentially stemmed from a bit of an accident and nothing was meant to be this way. I do think the story then becoming the basis for the formation of the Alps themselves was pretty spectacular and audacious to say the least! The Doctor recalling things to Mel once she was done enjoying herself was good and she couldn't believe that was the case. The scale of the crashed ship being millions of years ago was difficult for her to comprehend and I must say I couldn't blame her. It all stemmed from a declination of psychic ability in the natural sense and that really is a niche! It's safe to say this was unique in that regard and I'm always in favour of doing something new. This one worked for me. I thought Stephen Critchlow did a good job again as the narrator here but I would have liked some sort of attempt to impersonate Colin Baker's incarnation. It's not a necessity but it does help with that authentic feeling a little bit. Still, if he knew he couldn't do it then it was better not to try in the first place. Overall, a really unique story with a fantastic concept at its heart. Some unexpected twists and turns. A very solid listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Run Fast, Be Kind: Duty of Care

"I have murdered so many people."

Writer: Christian Markham

Format: Audio

Released: August 2026

Series: Twelfth Doctor Adventures 1.05

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Ash

Synopsis

The Doctor doesn't kill. Not intentionally. Even his worst enemies are offered mercy. Go up against the Doctor, and while your plan will be ruined, there's a chance you'll live.

Someone doesn't agree with that. Someone's travelling across all of time and space putting that right. Someone's killing all the villains who survived the Doctor.

Verdict

Duty of Care was another very strong story to continue the Run Fast, Be Kind ongoing Twelfth Doctor Adventures! I continue to really enjoy the weekly release schedule and I think it's been terrific to have an ongoing story arc released in this way, rather than just bundling all the stories into one or two boxsets released at the same time. It definitely makes things feel episodic and I think that's Doctor Who at its best. I hope this is far from the last of a weekly release schedule as it just works brilliantly! This one starts amidst a lot of tension following the ending of Wings of Steel and Ash killing in cold blood. The Doctor was not happy and Ash quickly acknowledged that anger and that this surely meant the end of his travels in the TARDIS. That wasn't quite to be which was somewhat surprising despite knowing that he wasn't actually departing but maybe because Ash was almost going to do it again later in the episode! I'm not sure the episode fully lives up to its synopsis in having someone out there killing the villains the Doctor let survive, but that's a pretty amazing concept. I would love for that to be explored further in the future on a much grander scale because the potential there really is astonishing. We've had numerous efforts of attempts to change history, but specifically targeting those villains that the Doctor doesn't kill? That is exciting. It was on a more nuanced and series specific level of grandeur here but it still worked. I thought the Doctor's history with Nne was intriguing and I liked her discussions with Ash. The mystery of her actually being in her cell was good stuff and was certainly something different for Ash when he realised! Ash also being mistaken as the Doctor upon exiting the TARDIS was good fun and the Doctor claiming he had no further need for regeneration now because he had reached perfection in this incarnation was just glorious. That was perfectly the Twelfth Doctor and Jon Culshaw was sublime once again. This might be the best episode yet in terms of nailing the impression. Amaya was a really good character and I liked that we encountered her at two different points in time. I'll be honest though, the plot kind of became a backdrop for me and the focus of my attention was all on the Doctor and Ash. Their discussion was deep and the Doctor acknowledging that he had murdered so many was a powerful moment. It took Ash by surprise and made him quickly realise that he had no idea who the Doctor really was. That was a stark moment as he was shocked by what he had gotten himself into. The Doctor begging Ash to shoot him because he was the one that – albeit in a roundabout way – killed Sky was really strong stuff but his companion wouldn't kill because of an accident. Ash still wasn't sorry and even as a Krillitane that would kill again, the Doctor was not accepting of the situation. But he was still wanting to travel with Ash and claiming that the offer was still on the table because he was interested was very intriguing indeed. I'm really enjoying the dynamic between these two and it's far from a traditional Doctor-companion relationship which I like! This is far from the status quo and now we head into the finale. I'm very excited indeed! A great listen.

Rating: 8/10

The Haunted Windmill: The Hungry Glass

"There are worse things here than the Daleks."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: August 2026

Series: Second Doctor Adventures 5.03

Featuring: Second Doctor, Raven, Jamie, Victoria 

Synopsis

A mysterious mirror, a glimpsed figure and powerful static electric discharges form a web of intrigue that draws in friends and foes from history.

Verdict

The Hungry Glass was another very good and intriguing episode to conclude my listening of The Haunted Windmill fifth series of Second Doctor Adventures! The consistency of this series has been really impressive and I think that is definitely aided by the fact every episode was written by the same writer. This so easily could have been sold as a six-parter but I'm really glad it wasn't as these certainly feel like three distinct stories within an overlapping theme. That's always my preference when it comes to new releases so I was delighted with the format. I think Michael Troughton was brilliant again as the Second Doctor and with this being a sidestep in the timelines and continuity, exacerbated here by the different simulation version of Earth, he really has made the role his own. Raven continues to just be wonderful and enthralling and hearing her here ridicule the use of the word 'over' on the walkie talkie communication was a delight. It's the simple things. I thought this story did a very good job in basically setting the scene for a different version of The Evil of the Daleks and it just makes sense with the use of mirrors! I was glad that the appearance of the Daleks here was kept a surprise because it did come as a great moment at the cliffhanger. This was like the opposite of so many cliffhangers in which they are revealed that are basically pointless because the title is usually something 'of the Daleks'! But here it was fantastic and I did kind of expect it with the focus on static electricity and this version of Earth being one prior to the Doctor arriving and therefore much before The Daleks and his first encounter with his greatest enemy. That was presented really well. This definitely had a feeling of Alice Through the Looking Glass which was surely intentional and things certainly got whacky. The use of fiction as a means of power linked to the Daleks and static with the mirrors was quite spectacular in its audacity! There was quite a lot going on and whilst it was part of the charm, I thought it was a tad difficult to follow in parts. Jamie featuring here was good although I'm not sure about him asking after Bertie's mother in a kind of romantic or hitting on her kind of way! That would still be his descendent! I don't think it's any secret that Jamie is a little thirsty for action during his time on the TARDIS, but that felt perhaps a tad too far even if this isn't the version we know and love. I thought the use of Victoria in the story was certainly unexpected as she was younger than the version that became companion and that makes sense with then 1963 setting. The link through the glass to the Victorian era was good and obviously going to be different from what we saw on screen during her debut adventure, but now it seems she is going to stick around! At least for the next boxset on this simulated Earth at least. That will certainly present a different dynamic and I'm excited to hear where things go from here. The use of Lethbridge-Stewart again was terrific and I'm glad he made a return. He just offers so much and it's fun to have him as part of the police here. Jon Culshaw is also just magnificent in capturing the essence of Nicholas Courtney. Overall, another fascinating and enigmatic story to conclude a very strong and consistent boxset! But things are far from over and I'm looking forward to exploring this version of Earth more moving forward. A very strong conclusion! 

Rating: 8/10

The Haunted Windmill: The Crystal Ship

"You're going to turn people into diamonds!"

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: August 2026

Series: Second Doctor Adventures 5.02

Featuring: Second Doctor, Raven, Liz

Synopsis

A failed rocket-plane mission crashes to Earth. But where are the crew?

The Doctor and Raven encounter Professor Quigley and his trusty, undervalued assistant, Liz Shaw. Will scientific hubris lea to the end of the human race?

A certain Miss Heriot has other plans in mind.

Verdict

The Crystal Ship was another great and intriguing episode to continue my way through The Haunted Windmill fifth series of Second Doctor Adventures! I'm really enjoying the enigmatic feeling of this series and that continued here. I do think there may be problems when it comes to juggling this as an Earth before the Doctor ever touched down, so even his reference to historical events here didn't matter because he hadn't been present to influence them. He never landed on Earth in 1963 and took Ian and Barbara on board the TARDIS, so is that to suggest that he never became the man he was at this point in chronology and every wrong he righted on Earth was undone? That's my impression but that's so dangerous in terms of making a slip up! Considering that Alan Barnes writes The Fact of Fiction in Doctor Who Magazine every month though, I think he would be the safest person to try this audacious move! I really like how this timeline and version of Earth feels unlike anything we've had before and that's impressive because being unique in the Whoniverse now is not an easy thing to achieve. I like how the TARDIS is also out of action otherwise the Time Lords will track them right away, so having Raven on the search for scientific equipment in 1963 to try and make some repairs is great. Her role here was great fun as she was alongside Professor Quigley and it's safe to say he wasn't impressed with her driving! That was pretty good comic value. I thought the use of Liz as his assistant was intriguing and I like that she meets the Second Doctor here. Neither will know the significance of that though which is a bit of a shame but I do like getting to know a version of her in 1963 prior to her becoming the Doctor's assistant in Spearhead From Space. I'm a huge fan of anything Liz so whatever more we can get of her I'm all game for. I can't wait for the Character Options figure of hers arriving next month! It's a shame that the cast list spoils that the Krotons will appear in this boxset and whilst it's not stated anywhere which episode exactly, given the title contains the word crystal it was pretty clear it would be this one! I'm a big fan of them as a concept because they're so different and the appearance is certainly a standout. I wasn't in huge favour of their voices here as it felt a little too much like an amalgamation of a Dalek and Cyberman, but hearing them use phrases like high brain was excellent. I'm not sure why the Doctor struggled to remember about the Krotons though as it was pretty clear it was them and it can't have been all that long ago since he encountered them alongside Zoe and Jamie. Miss Heriot was a fun character here as Lucius's mother and she was very firm that she was not Zoe which was difficult for the Doctor to accept. I thought the sonic screwdriver playing a part here was intriguing and even though this incarnation is who it debuted with, it still feels too early for the Second Doctor to be using one. It made sense though with the sonic resonance and the crystalline structure of the Krotons. Their plan of dominating the planet and using carbon to basically create a diamond population was pretty diabolical! It was rather ludicrous but I enjoyed it. Liz making the sacrifice to see them off was a strong moment and I wonder if that will come to play a part moving forward as the series rolls on. Overall, another fascinating adventure and I'm liking that the windmill is the Doctor's makeshift laboratory as a good series arc. A great listen! 

Rating: 8/10

The Haunted Windmill

"You're the ancestor of someone who hasn't been born yet."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: August 2026

Series: Second Doctor Adventures 5.01

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Zoe, Raven

Synopsis

An Emergency Beacon Alert from Gallifrey means trouble for the Doctor, Raven, Jamie and Zoe. Their only possible escape is a desperate plan that seems to change everything. 

The TARDIS arrives in a strange land. Strange, but uncannily familiar too.

Verdict

The Haunted Windmill was an intriguing start to the fifth series of Second Doctor Adventures baring the same name! I must say, it's an excellent title and it's no surprise to me that it takes the role of title for the entire series and this looks to be an interesting one indeed. The follow on from the end of War of the Morai was good in having the TARDIS called by the Time Lords. It felt very reminiscent of The War Games in how helpless the Doctor felt because even if they refused, the Time Lords would take matters into their own hands and manually bring them in. That begs the question of why they don't just do that to start with, but hey ho. Raven was a bit of a difference maker here though and I will basically deem her a companion now that she has basically defected from the Time Lords and has joined forces with the Doctor. I adore her character and the voice of Emma Noakes is just enthralling. She really draws me in and I think that's a lot to do with where this is placed chronologically in Time Lord history. This really captures the on screen essence of their first appearance and I'm really enjoying the continuity there. It just works and does feel like a Season 6b. Raven not wanting to be taken back to Gallifrey is exciting and I enjoy the daredevil nature of her helping them escape. The destination was not at all what I was expecting! I had read the Doctor Who Magazine preview for this series prior to listening so I was aware this would see the Doctor arrive in a version of 1963 where he never arrived in An Unearthly Child, but this was a manufactured reality which worked well for me. This wasn't another sideways track, this was intentional. The Time Lords testing the statement of the Doctor from his trial and how he fought evil by creating an entire Earth where he didn't arrive and letting events play out was brilliant! I didn't see that coming so I was a big fan. It had vibes of the Death Zone but on a much bigger scale. The Doctor was horrified by the prospect. The handling of Jamie and Zoe was a little surprising in how they were basically snatched away, but their presence remained in a peculiar way as it was revealed that Bertie and Lucius were actually descendants of Jamie and Zoe! That was again something I didn't anticipate. Just how that's possible I'm not sure, but I look forward to finding out over the course of the boxset. Lucius was a strange character to say the least and I did find his connection with the TARDIS a little off-putting. The Doctor's initial reaction of potentially contacting with his time and space machine was fun, but this was no The Doctor's Wife. It felt a tad off and didn't connect with me for whatever reason. What did connect though was encountering Lethbridge-Stewart! Him knocking on the TARDIS to arrest the Doctor for receiving stolen goods was wonderful and I love the idea of him on this world being a detective inspector. The warning of him keeping an eye on the Doctor after the stolen goods were then returned was fun stuff and I do hope we hear more of him as the series continues. Also, kudos to Michael Troughton for his performance here as I think it was the best so far since he took on the role of his father. He captured the essence of the Second Doctor perfectly in both the seriousness and the comical ridiculousness. Overall, a fascinating start to what looks to be a very different and intriguing chapter for the Second Doctor and Raven. A great listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Sullivan & Cross – AWOL: Scream of the Daleks

"A killer that melts the flesh."

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: November 2022

Series: Seventh Doctor Adventures 2.02

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Harry, Naomi

Synopsis

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

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

Verdict

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

Rating: 8/10

Sullivan and Cross – AWOL: London Orbital

"I feel we have unfinished business."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: November 2022

Series: Seventh Doctor Adventures 2.01

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Harry, Naomi

Synopsis

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

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

Verdict

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

Rating: 8/10