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

Survivors: The Harrow

"This could be an entirely new life form."

Writer: Georgia Cook

Format: Audio

Released: June 2026

Series: Planet Krynoid 2.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv

Synopsis

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

Verdict

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

Rating: 8/10

Survivors: The Hunt

"We're barreling back into hell."

Writer: Jonathan S Powell

Format: Audio

Released: June 2026

Series: Planet Krynoid 2.01

Featuring: Letty, Tiro

Synopsis

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

Verdict

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

Rating: 8/10

A Home From Home

"A community of monsters and aliens."

Writer: Nick Wallace

Format: Audio

Released: September 2018

Series: Short Trips Rarities 3.02

Featuring: Third Doctor, Liz

Synopsis

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

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

Verdict

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

Rating: 8/10

Agents of the Vulpreen: Ten Minutes in Hell

"Everyone can be broken in time."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: March 2022

Series: UNIT: Nemesis 2.04

Featuring: Kate, Osgood

Synopsis

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

Verdict

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

Rating: 8/10

Agents of the Vulpreen: The War Factory

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

Writer: Lizzie Hopley

Format: Audio

Released: March 2022

Series: UNIT: Nemesis 2.03

Featuring: Kate, Osgood, Bambera

Synopsis

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

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

Verdict

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

Rating: 8/10

Agents of the Vulpreen: Power of the Dominators

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

Writer: Kenneth Grant

Format: Audio

Released: March 2022

Series: UNIT: Nemesis 2.02

Featuring: Kate, Osgood, Harry, Naomi

Synopsis

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

Verdict

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

Rating: 8/10