Sonny

"I am here for you."

Writer: Lizzie Hopley

Format: Audio

Released: February 2022

Series: Torchwood Monthly 59

Featuring: Rhys

Synopsis

Sonny is the answer to elderly care. Artificially intelligent robot carers placed in old peoples' homes that mimic the behaviour of their owners.

Only there are rumours that something is wrong with the Sonny units. That they're too clever. That they are learning too much. Rhys sends his mother into a home to find out. But what will it cost him?

Verdict

Sonny was a decent story to continue to my way through the monthly Torchwood range! This was an intriguing listen and I found myself almost a little disappointed that the artificial intelligence robots were actually just programmed to care. There was not anything malicious behind them and no evil plan that they were a part of which is obviously fine, but with the Torchwood influence and Gwen being the one to put Rhys and more so his mother on this mission. A care home is not the nicest of places for a setting and throwing Brenda into that was amusing. It's great continuity with Something Borrowed to have Nerys Hughes back in the role of Rhys's mother and they really do feel like mother and son which I am impressed with. They have that chemistry and relationship which worked really well. Rhys continuously forgetting to bring the red sauce for each of his visits was so relatable because my memory is so bad for things like that and it's definitely something I would do also. I thought the AI robot carers were a little freaky and I just cannot see the elderly population of pretty much anywhere in the UK being comfortable around these as a carer. Speaking from my own grandparents who are now in their late-seventies and eighties, they would not get on well with this kind of technology. They're not in need of constant care or anything like that, but they still need me to change their clocks when they go forward or back! And I mean all of them including in the car. I enjoyed hearing how Brenda slowly built a relationship with Sonny and the way she named her robot carer after the wider brand/factory was fun. Not much imagination to use there! The very logical and blunt nature of the robots made them a little freaky but I can't think of much that has been scarier anywhere in the Whoniverse than their laugh! That was so deeply uncomfortable I cannot begin to even describe it. I was taken aback when listening and perfectly understood and related to the reaction of Rhys. I really did think that Brenda accepted her mission after a while of being abrasive to Sonny and was going to essentially be undercover and lure it in to try and find out a true purpose. But she was actually getting accustomed to Sonny, mostly because he listened. That was a bit of a sad moment to be honest as she felt like the AI robot came to know her. It almost reminded me a little of my girlfriend explaining to me how there was a recent patch update to one of the AI's and it meant that many people lost what they believed were their husbands and boyfriends? Oh so very sad. But she actually challenged Rhys against Sonny and it was clear the latter knew more and just asked generally about what she was going through. Rhys was clearly guilty and it felt bad to highlight that. Prudeep as a character almost consumed by his robot Priya was something else that felt uncomfortable because of how emotionally attached he was to it. His daughter arriving to take him away meant he was completely distraught. The carer trial concluding and Rhys basically deciding that it was actually humanity that wasn't ready for the AI robots was a bit strange to be honest, it felt like a slightly underwhelming ending to what was actually a rather thought provoking episode. I just felt like there needed to be something a lot more sinister! And I was convinced I'd got it right about Brenda, but then she ends up taking all of the robots on a merry mission away and Rhys gifting her back Sonny at the end! Oh well, it was still a good little listen for sure.

Rating: 7/10

Cloud Eight

"One big holiday in the sky."

Writers: Lauren Mooney & Stewart Pringle

Format: Audio

Released: February 2026

Series: Ninth Doctor Adventures 4.04

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

The Doctor and Rose travel to the 47th century, Earth's 'Second Dark Age', but when they arrive in the floating box city of High High Wycombe, it's more like a paradise. The residents live an existence of endless leisure, and at night sleep a blissful, dreamless sleep.

But cracks soon begin to show on its perfect, polished surface, and something terrible is brewing in the mind of teenage Else – something ancient and hungry – something that sounds like a nightmare.

Verdict

Cloud Eight was another very good episode to continue the fourth series of Ninth Doctor Adventures along very nicely! I was glad to get away from the present day setting of the Powell Estate because that has felt a little repetitive and lacking range as this series has started, and it's just good to take Rose somewhere that felt off world even if that wasn't quite the case. I do think New Earth was being ripped off a little with the New New York city when it came to High High Wycombe and I find that just a bit of a cheap joke, but I did like the setting very much. I was fascinated by the idea of the forty-seventh century being home to the Second Dark Age and I find it almost unfathomable to think that this could happen more than two millennia into the future! It's staggering to think how the world might be at that point in time but with the way data is harvested, stored and collected in the modern day, it seems crazy to think that an entire century could be lost to the record. Surely something would survive? More than something? But then that did pose the question of what could be so bad that it needed to be deleted from history which was fun. I'm not convinced we ever quite got back to that in full detail, but it was still good to ponder on. I enjoyed the closeness of the Doctor and Rose's relationship with the latter now making her own efforts at piloting the TARDIS! That's tremendous stuff and her intended destination being to see Jurassic Park up close and personal is marvellous. That's such a good time and place to go as a teenager when put in charge of a time machine. Of course she'd want to see dinosaurs! My four-year-old son would be very happy with her choice. I thought the floating city concept felt suitably futuristic and the relationship Rose fostered with Elsa was good. I was fascinated by the residents all being named after fictional characters from movies of over two millennia ago and Rose even predating the release of Frozen really does make me feel old. She was a very nice character though and I like how she was asking Rose for a sleepover. It would be her first one. Just like the movies. The importance of sleep in the city was interesting to explore and the idea of breaking curfew was unfathomable to the residents. It was primed so they had optimal sleeping hours so why would they stay up? Oh what I'd give to have what is deemed an optimal night's sleep being the father of two very energetic children! The Doctor knowing that something was wrong was excellent and I can understand why Rose was questioning him on if he ever just turns up and enjoys his destination. But he was trying to fix things and when he realised the locals never actually slept but were being harvested as essentially memory banks, he had to put a stop to it. It was a pretty cruel concept and the resolution did seem quite simple in the Doctor just reversing the wifi signal, but sometimes we don't need to overcomplicate things. It was an interesting look into the future and what might be, with humanity in peril. Elsa not knowing about dreams or nightmares should have been the first sign and I thought that was really well presented. Marty as her father was also a great character and Rose even forgetting much of her day was one thing, but the Doctor being impacted also really did sell the threat. Something fishy was going on indeed. Overall, a really good listen!  

Rating: 8/10

He Who Fights With Monsters: The Horror

"You plot to overthrow a god."

Writer: Robert Valentine

Format: Audio

Released: December 2022

Series: The War Doctor Begins 4.03

Featuring: War Doctor

Synopsis

The Doctor is missing in action. As Gallifrey and Skaro face total destruction, Time Lord and Dalek forces converge on the realm of the Barber-Surgeon. From his junkyard fortress in a lost dimension, the renegade warmonger is about to create his ultimate weapon... Who or what can possibly stop him?

Verdict

The Horror was an outstanding episode to conclude the He Who Fights With Monsters fourth series of The War Doctor Begins! This really was everything I could have asked for and more to see out what has been a very strong boxset in a terrific little series. We really are exploring the toil of the Time War now and I think that's tremendous. We know the Eighth Doctor experienced a lot of the Time War from the outside and that so much had happened to drive him to the point in The Night of the Doctor where he regenerated into the warrior. Pondering on that here with the Barber-Surgeon was fascinating and I liked the prospect of the Doctor becoming the most feared warrior in the cosmos if he put his mind to it. Slowly but surely, the War Doctor was stripping away all that he used to be up to and including the name, but the Barber-Surgeon needed to know he was still the Doctor deep down. I don't think that's ever been in doubt and this spinoff range has confirmed that to me, but it was really good to explore and think about. It was mentally stimulating for the Doctor and entering the domain of the Barber-Surgeon threw up some wonderful treats. We never truly find out who he was and I think that's right given the ambiguity and insinuations that occurred throughout the episode. This wasn't the first meeting the Barber-Surgeon had with the Doctor and the reference to Doctor Who and the Daleks and how Ian crashed a car on Barnes Common for he and Barbara to meet the Time Lord was just magnificent. It's such a niche reference but I absolutely adore it. It happened somewhere! Everything is possible, especially in the Time War. The Barber-Surgeon foreshadowing the events of The Day of the Doctor was very good and I really liked how he had come to realise that the Time War could only be ended, not won. No side of the Daleks or Time Lords was going to stand victorious, and what would they even be left with if they did? I think the suggestion of the Doctor and the Barber-Surgeon being the same was intriguing and I could certainly buy into him being some kind of warped alternative version. It would add up and can easily be explained by the referenced damage to the multiverse caused by the Time War. The Barber-Surgeon referencing The Twin Dilemma and how he strangled a companion to death was brutal stuff and I also liked how at the end there were strong feelings of Logopolis with how the moment was prepared for. It was excellent stuff. The Unforgiving Minute as the final weapon was really good in its poetry, although I read things at the end as the final weapon actually being the Doctor. I do think the demise of the Dalek Time Strategist was a bit of shock but the conflict between him and the Dalek Emperor is brilliant. I love a battle for command! Using Special Weapons Daleks to exterminate the Strategist is more great stuff. The Dalek Hunter-Killer surviving The Abyss was a bit of a surprise, but he met his final end here in style. I loved the throwbacks to An Unearthly Child and The Daleks with the use of everlasting matches and the Daleks only paralysing, and who doesn't love any sort of return to Totter's Yard? I think it's a shame that everything done by the Barber-Surgeon is undone as he unmakes himself with the aid of the Doctor, but that does at least mean the Master survives! As always. Overall, a sublime conclusion to the series! 

Rating: 10/10

He Who Fights With Monsters: The Abyss

"Rest in peace, old girl."

Writer: Robert Valentine

Format: Audio

Released: December 2022

Series: The War Doctor Begins 4.02

Featuring: War Doctor

Synopsis

The Doctor journeys towards his target through the ravages of the Time War, the trail leading him back into his own personal history. With the Daleks close behind and the mysterious Barber-Surgeon anticipating his every move, he comes to suspect that this is one mission he won't be coming back from.

Verdict

The Abyss was another great episode to continue my way through the He Who Fights With Monsters fourth series of The War Doctor Begins! I thought this was a terrific episode whilst very much feeling like filler as we build for the finale, but that's not a problem in the slightest because this was very good filler indeed. I'm really liking the mystery behind the Barber-Surgeon and he really does seem to be causing trouble and fear on both sides of the Time War. That says a lot about his abilities and I look forward to the Doctor confronting him. I thought the message left for him was absolutely brutal. We learned from Leela who was part of the War Council that they had entrusted the Master for the position of assassinating the Barber-Surgeon, but with no sign of him and his two handlers it was now down to the Doctor. The latter dismissed the idea of the Master joining in an alliance with the Barber-Surgeon because neither party would be interested and he was very much proven right given that the Master was found in very bad shape for the Doctor to find. Warmest regards indeed. The Doctor actually shedding a tear for his fellow Time Lord after everything he's been put through by him was touching and again just highlighted the toll of the Time War. Nobody was safe and if this was how the Master was left, the Barber-Surgeon must be very formidable indeed. Both sides wanting his weaponry technology after encountering the abominations was intriguing and there really isn't anything either side will stoop to in order to gain an advantage. I thought the Doctor encountering Spider Daleks was a fun idea and the image adorning the series boxset is quite something! That must be a pretty scary thing to come face to face with. Speaking of which, the Dalek Hunter-Killer was impressive once again and I liked how he was loyal to the Dalek Time Strategist. Defying the Dalek Emperor is risky, but the Strategist wasn't all that fussed on the chain of command amidst the Time War. I like the concept of Daleks believing they're in charge. The cyborg Dalek is really good and I like bow it's basically humanoid and gives a different perspective to the Daleks. Independent thought isn't usually something we associate with the Daleks so I have really enjoyed him. The Doctor goading him into his death at the arch by speaking the words Theta Sigma when it wasn't keyed to his voice tone meant instant destruction. That was pretty explosive and a climactic end for an impressive specimen! Narthex was a strong character as the Time Lord accompanying the Doctor on his mission here and I was also impressed with the numerous subtle references. Alluding to The Night of the Doctor with the 'physician, heal thyself' line was a lovely touch and it was also fun to hark back to An Unearthly Child with the Doctor not unfamiliar with Earth in the BC era. The hunt for the Barber-Surgeon's factory wasn't exactly a success, and the Daleks meeting him at the other side for an impressive cliffhanger was terrific. I thought the emotion in Jonathon Carley's performance here was spectacular and he really is just sick of everything now. He alluded to the fact that maybe the universe would be better off without the Time Lords and even welcomed extermination at the end. What's the point now? The extermination effects sounded brutal so I'm very intrigued to hear how he escaped this one! Overall, a really good episode to continue the series. 

Rating: 8/10

He Who Fights With Monsters: The Mission

"Hello there, little Dalek."

Writer: Robert Valentine

Format: Audio

Released: December 2022

Series: The War Doctor Begins 4.01

Featuring: War Doctor

Synopsis

As the Time War takes a dark new turn, the War Doctor is tasked by the Time War Council with locating and assassinating a Gallifreyan renegade waging their own private campaign against both the Daleks and the Time Lords. Who is the mysterious Barber-Surgeon, and can the Doctor complete his mission without becoming all that he abhors?

Verdict

The Mission was an excellent start to the He Who Fights With Monsters fourth series of The War Doctor Begins! This looks to take different shape as a boxset in the fact that it has one writer and seems to be taking the course of basically a continuous story which is very exciting. I think more boxsets should go down this route because it really allows a writer to get to grips with a character and build something. The potential on offer with the War Doctor is exponential and I love the prospect of time locks around both Gallifrey and Skaro showing signs of cracking. That's a good way to highlight the scale of the Time War and it's fascinating that even with the War Doctor still relatively young as an incarnation, this is already labelled as the Last Great Time War. There can't and won't be another one following this and yet it will still last for a long time to come yet. That's pretty frightening to be honest! I liked how the General was on hand to foresee a time where the Time War came to an end thanks to both the Daleks and the Time Lords being wiped out, and whilst we know that is essentially correct, it wasn't the Doctor who was foreseen as bringing about that kind of end. Here that prophecy belonged to the Barber-Surgeon who without featuring much at all was a very intriguing character. He's something of a legend and the prospect of him being a Time Lord surprised even the Doctor. He knew of the Barber-Surgeon and it seems that everyone with anything to do with the Time War did too, but they didn't quite believe he was real. And yet here he was! I like the idea of building towards someone capable of ending the Time War and hearing how the Doctor will tackle that makes for a fascinating listen. I can't wait for them to encounter one another! Vellichor was a really strong character to essentially fill the companion gap for this episode and the fact that she wasn't a permanent traveller alongside the Doctor meant that she could die. That was a powerful moment and showed just how different and gruesome things can be in the Time War. It also showed how different the Doctor was because one of the first lines he says at the start of the audio is 'give me the gun'. That's very uncharacteristic even if he does immediately return it. I liked how he was willing to take on the mission of assassinating another Time Lord because whilst he wasn't exactly in good graces with the Time Lords, he seemed to trust their direction and he knew that if the Barber-Surgeon needed to be taken out, he was the only one he trusted to do it. I could understand that. Do the job yourself! The concept of the Dalek Hunter-Killer was really intriguing and gave some real humanised personality to a Dalek. The way it exterminated another Dalek to ensure the mission's secrecy was maintained was powerful stuff and I liked how it is almost playing with the Doctor in letting him get ahead whilst they followed. It's a clever tactic! The supply ship being named Bessie was a nice touch and whilst it was named after a planet, the Doctor remembered his old yellow car fondly. He needs gentle reminders like that at a time of conflict. So going back to Kembel counteracted that nicety very well. The Dalek Hunter-Killer taking things into its own hands at the end really highlighted its power amongst the Daleks and they seemed to cower in its presence which was something. The hunt for the Doctor is on and that's an exciting direction for the series moving forward. An excellent start to the series! 

Rating: 9/10

Tales From the Vortex: Rise of the Eukaryans

"I was on toast!"

Writer: Daniel Hardcastle

Format: Audio

Released: April 2025

Series: Short Trips 13.03

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor

Synopsis

A busy factory owner unexpectedly finds her own face burned into her breakfast toast. As if that's not bad enough, someone's rearranged the contents of her fridge. Luckily for Jean, the Doctor's popped up to help her avert an uprising by alien yeast creatures.

Verdict

Rise of the Eukaryans was a pretty rubbish story to continue my way through the Tales From the Vortex thirteenth series of Short Trips. I knew the title of the story before I started listening but I had not read the synopsis and honestly I'm not sure if it would have been any better to go in knowing that this adventure was going to be so focused on toast. I thought it was frankly ridiculous and just childish almost to have a story centred around toast. I could probably get behind the concept of yeast creatures but it all just felt a bit amateur to be honest. I don't claim to be a writer but I just don't think everything tied together well here. The story was poor, I don't think the choice of narrator complimented the choice of the Doctor in the slightest, and that all just contributed to a pretty poor listening experience. Thirty-seven minutes of me sighing and shaking my head is not a good sign! I'm surprised I gave it as high as I did but I think one of my main appeals was the Doctor explaining how ponds were cool. There was no indication of when in the Eleventh Doctor's complicated timeline this story took place which again should be something so simple to just establish when this is because this incarnation is very different after The Big Bang when this story could feasibly take place to how he was by The Snowmen and beyond! Just a little on how his mindset might be would have helped relate to him a lot I think. I don't think the characterisation was all that great and it felt a little off to actually have him talk about the Time Lords and how they are taught to essentially invade the minds of lesser species. Considering that's not really him apparently, he's utilised that skill on a large number of occasions! I can't say I thought Jean was an inspiring character and finding out afterwards that the writer wanted to initially name this story as 'Jean's on Toast' just told me everything I needed to know. That's just ridiculous in the absolute worst way. Thank goodness that never survived! The Eukaryans themselves had potential even with them basically being a yeast rip off of what the Autons are to plastic. I liked the prospect of a civil war despite them having the same mind controller and the Doctor explaining how it was likened to having two conflicting thoughts made sense. I was really disappointed when it just turned out to be a lure for the Doctor. Sure, everyone has heard of him but now that they had him trapped as planned, they seemed to cower at his first threat. What exactly were they going to do once they had him where they wanted him? Jean's face being on toast everywhere as a sort of wanted sign as the Doctor thought was fun, and I thought that was actually better than it being a war banner. But on every piece of toast? Come on now. A smart toaster will definitely happen in the future though! We never really got a resolution to the TARDIS being engulfed and everything that came from being stabbed in the croissant and the factory being a soup factory just felt cheap. It was boring and honestly sigh worthy. I didn't like this much at all which is a shame to say as I'm usually super lenient and generous with my ratings! Overall, not one for me unfortunately. 

Rating: 4/10

The Outsider

"Enough of this superstitious rubbish."

Writer: Steve Moore

Format: Comic Strip

Released: March-April 1980

Printed in: DWM 25-26

Featuring: Sontarans

Synopsis

Skrant the Sontaran is on a mission that will last seven years, in the hopes of gaining any kind of advantage in the eternal war with the Rutans. Deminon the astrologer foresees, and things don't look good for this particular Sontaran's near future...

Verdict

The Outsider was a good little comic strip story to conclude my reading of The Return of the Daleks graphic novel collection of backup stories! I am well aware that this isn't actually the last story printed in the collection but I have already blogged Star Tigers and don't see any value in rereading it here. I've jumped around the collection and only made sure I've read stories I'm yet to blog because it does contain quite a few stories that have already featured in previous graphic novels. That's no problem and with me getting this graphic novel for just £3 as part of Black Friday, who am I to complain? I really enjoyed this one and it's always good to get more of the Sontarans. It's incredible to think that The Two Doctors hadn't even aired when this story was released so with The Invasion of Time relatively fresh in the reader's mind, this works very well for me. I thought Skrant was a fun character and was very to the point which as a Sontaran is no surprise. He's all duty and the prospect of a mission that would take seven years might seem on paper like a mammoth task, but for him it's all part of the glory of the Sontaran race. The honour! He must see it as a privilege. The idea of Skrant carrying around the genes of numerous other Sontarans was amusing and then here he was when challenged just growing twenty other Sontarans for a battle! That's quite something but shows the advantage of being a cloned race. The message was simple. Conflict! The setting of Braktalis was good and I liked how it was reminiscent of medieval Earth. Having Deminon within a society like that as an astrologer was fascinating and I loved how he made sure to highlight the differences between that practice and astronomy was fantastic. He was a good character and I liked how he seemed to have all the right answers and things to say, but just lacked a little in confidence. He was consulting his star charts to the point that he was almost entirely reliant on them, but given the situation and his position away from everyone else it was more than understandable. I liked how the stars showed him that for the Sontarans, their weakness was at the back. He deduced from Skrant's action in holding the back of his neck when he spoke the words that it meant rather literally and physically for a Sontaran. I thought the cliffhanger was pretty weak and it was clear that this was more so a continuous story over eight pages rather than a two-parter. It was good for the Sontarans to think a physical challenge against medieval-like armies was just an inconvenience rather than a challenge, but Skrant didn't take the astrologer into account! I mean, why would he when it came to physical conflict but there he was wiping him out almost instantaneously with a blow to the back of the neck. That probic vent took a battering in a swift blow. I must admit I didn't see that coming but it was a very sudden and impactful way to end the story. Would the rest of the clone batch really go down fighting? I thought that was a little strange knowing what we know about the Sontarans, but Deminon perishing in the battle and realising at the death that he was regarded as the greatest astrologer of his time gave some solace at the end. He wanted his daughter safe which was nice after she'd been fooling around on the other side, and he could see that she would be looked after now. Overall, a fun look at the Sontarans without the Doctor around and I'm all for more of this kind of thing. A good little story! 

Rating: 7/10

Aquarius: The Invertebrates of Doom

"It's raining jellyfish!"

Writer: Andrew Collins

Format: Short Story

Released: March 2002

Printed in: Short Trips: Zodiac 10

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Mel

Synopsis

Take a TARDIS trip through the constellations, as the Doctor travels to twelve thrilling tales inspired by the mystical zodiac. 

Telepathic fish, miniature lions and twin planets are the least of his problems, as the Doctor – all eight of him – faces the Capricorn Killer, endures a mind swap with the Machiavellian Master, and dances with Death herself. 

And that's not the half of it – as the two K9s can attest.

Verdict

The Invertebrates of Doom was a good story to continue my way through the Zodiac edition of Short Trips! This has been something of a hodge podge of a collection with the Zodiac star sign theme and with this being the penultimate adventure in the book, I do feel a little sad to say I'm actually looking forward to it coming to an end. I'm confident that because this is the first release in the series, authors and editors were still finding their feet and this isn't the most exhilarating of themes, so onwards and upwards! I went into reading this on the commute home from an office day not knowing which Doctor and companion pairing this featured so it was good fun to see that it was the Seventh Doctor and Mel. They felt well suited to this kind of story and I liked how it took them somewhere different in the year of 1978. With that being less than a decade from when their one series was broadcast, it feels unique for Mel in particular to visit this decade. The Doctor has been here, there and everywhere in every incarnation so whilst this is rare for the Seventh Doctor, I liked that Mel got to experience more of the past. I thought the concept was a little whacky in the form of raining jellyfish but it didn't sound too far removed from a freak weather phenomenon. I have heard of there being cases where it has rained fish and that sounds frightening to say the least, so the image of jellyfish dropping out of the sky was almost baffling. I enjoyed the ludicrous nature of it, especially when Hydra emerged as a kind of jellyfish of the skies! That was humorous in terms of becoming a threat but he meant business. I liked the idea of him as a Cnidarian leaving an artefact on Earth that was a similar thing to those that humanity sent into space in 1977 containing a lot of information about who mankind were and what Earth was like. The Doctor talking of that as if it were history when the locals knew it had happened only last year was entertaining. I thought the Cnidarians were a little brutish though when it came to them collecting their artefact and then deciding that the Earth was now ripe for conquering! That's quite a jump from a simple retrieval mission. The artefact was something powerful though as it even drew the TARDIS off course. That was obviously going to intrigue the Doctor and here he was throwing himself and Mel right into danger. I thought the Doctor standing up to Hydra was good but he really did feel puny when it came to the way he was hoisted up and challenged! He dared speak out. The Cnidarians wanting to rename Earth as New Aqua was good and felt very much in line with The War Between the Land and the Sea which was quite fun. The resolution though was bonkers in how easy and borderline silly it was. The Cnidarians were essentially freshwater jellyfish and wouldn't do well on a planet covered in sea water. That felt a little crazy and I actually laughed out loud on the train when that happened. Hydra's reaction of such reluctant acceptance that the conquering would have to stop was almost stupid. I'm honestly surprised I didn't give the story a lower rating but I did really enjoy the initial buildup and the problems that were caused. Dr Leech was a strong character to go throughout the story and Ly being on the wrong side was a shame but that still made her an intriguing element of the story. Overall, quite ridiculous in parts but I did appreciate the water carrier ship tying into the Aquarius theme. A good little read.

Rating: 7/10

The Orphan Quartet: The Wife of River Song

"There cannot be two."

Writer: Lizzie Hopley

Format: Audio

Released: August 2023

Series: The Diary of River Song 12.04

Featuring: River

Synopsis

River Song is on an expedition seeking the Hive. Her sister is trapped in the ruins of the Hive. River Song is on honeymoon. Three realities meet.

Verdict

The Wife of River Song was a decent episode to conclude The Orphan Quartet twelfth and final series of The Diary of River Song. Wow, what a journey this has been over the course of forty-eight episodes spanning so many different Doctors, villains, multiple incarnations of the Master, companions old and new, and even a different version of River! More than once! I did enjoy that with this being the final episode of the range's concluding boxset, there was a bit of focus on the diary itself and it was filling up! River knows what that means as the events of Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead draw nearer for her, and I guess that kind of leads us into the next evolution of River Song's spinoff quite nicely with it being post-Library. There's plenty of life left in the character yet! I thought the idea of three realities meeting here was intriguing and the Hive formed a solid backdrop. It had a mythical kind of status which is always fascinating, but I do think things got slightly jumbled. It wasn't bad by any means as my rating reflects, but I do think there were elements that got lost with the multiple versions of River. The throwback to My Dinner with Andrew and The Furies in having Brooke feature was fascinating and I must say it was unexpected! River namedropping Madame Kovarian always feels like a big deal because of their history together and just touching upon it here was intriguing. I enjoyed River being on a honeymoon and it almost feels like she's cheating considering she wasn't with the Doctor! The title itself is exciting and fun to explore because River definitely does feel like the kind of woman who would have a wife, but the circumstances here were unique to say the least. The namedropping of former companions as examples of others she's shared relationships with was fun to think about as well! Give us the River and Benny spinoff immediately. I thought the focus on Jane was strong and the importance she had without River fully knowing why and who she was made for a thought provoking plot device. Playing with memory is always fun and for River there was a lot on the line. I loved the concept behind having only good memories as whether that's the truth or not, it's some seriously positive vibes! That struck a chord with River as she tried to put things back together. The emotion that came from the fatal shooting of her loved one was powerful stuff and it almost felt a shame that it didn't actually happen in the way that it initially sounded, and Jane having jealousy regarding her sister was again more intrigue. It really was a huge three-way battle of emotions here with a lot going on. Perhaps a little too much for an audio as voices can get lost amongst dialogue. Marshall was fun as the computer on the Hive as River knew how to manipulate his instructions. There were so many interpretations so she was well on track to using him to her advantage. The issue of the Rift and causing multiple versions of River was good and I think more could have been made of the shared memories element. River got the grasp of what had happened but it felt like then she was just in protect mode. I wanted her to kick arse! They did tackle the Scourge together as one which was good but I think more action was needed rather than just convincing themselves they weren't scared. It was good to work things out without violence, but I felt like it could have been slightly more emphatic. Regardless, a good story to conclude the series! I'm all for a multi-River story. 

Rating: 7/10

The Orphan Quartet: Dead Man Talking

"They were tortured corpses propped up by Dalek technology."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: August 2023

Series: The Diary of River Song 12.03

Featuring: River

Synopsis

Among the wreckage of the planet Earth, an old lady treasures a terrible relic that reminds her of her son. River Song has come to take it away.

Verdict

Dead Man Talking was an excellent episode to continue my way through The Orphan Quartet twelfth series of The Diary of River Song! This was an unexpected and very clever treat in being a sequel to The Dalek Invasion of Earth when all signs initially pointed to it just being in the aftermath of the First World War. I thought the way that was hidden in plain slight was honestly tremendous and when River encouraged Stanley Kim to blurt the name of the enemy, I had a huge smile when he name dropped the Daleks as I instantly knew what war the planet was recovering from. And it certainly wasn't the one I was expecting! I liked how this kind of complimented After the Daleks because the world post-Dalek invasion is one that is ravaged. Understandably after a decade or so of Dalek occupation, the people are still frightened and that was evidenced here with Mrs Prendergast. She was just so desperate to be reunited with her son who had perished in the occupation as he was converted into a Roboman. I loved the reveal that the relic that River Song had come to collect was actually a Roboman helmet and it's fascinating to explore them in some more detail here. I liked the concept of them being fused to the DNA of its wearer and even now with the Daleks gone, their technology was still covering the planet and causing chaos. With the helmet activated, Prendergast was in trouble but she was getting emotionally exhausted. She knew how her son had died but it was also the only way to be able to communicate with him one last time. I think she accepted that he was dead, but who could blame her for wanting one last conversation? River didn't hold it against her and even Stanley Kim was shocked when he heard the words come from Jimmy in the beyond which said a lot about him and how he was a fraud when it came to seance! I got vibes of the Vashta Nerada in Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead in how the helmet was talking but the previous occupant was long gone. That just made things harder for Mrs Prendergast as she got a glimpse and would obviously want more when it was possible. River being the anchor made things all the more difficult though! She knew what she had come for and I loved the idea of River working with Susan to tidy up the planet after the Daleks, but things weren't supposed to get this emotional! I thought Stanley Kim's interactions with River quickly turned him into the pathetic man he was and I liked how the episode exposed that over its duration. He was no match for River! Prendergast holding onto the Roboman helmet for dear life quite literally was relatable in that it was the only thing she had left of him. It was her connection to him now he was gone and that made everything all the more difficult. I admired how strong she was and with Stanley Kim killed off, I liked how she stayed strong to stop the threat and cause it to be inactive. It was perhaps a little quick and reliant on assumption slightly, but the emotional pull was not to be argued with. River seemingly sticking around was a nice touch and it's good that Prendergast can now perhaps have closure. Overall, a terrific episode to continue the series! A fantastic listen. More exploration of post-Dalek invasion Earth please! 

Rating: 9/10

The Orphan Quartet: Harvest of the Krotons

"I seem to be turning into a giant crystal."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: August 2023

Series: The Diary of River Song 12.02

Featuring: River, Jackie

Synopsis

What are the Krotons? Why are they running a health spa? Jackie Tyler and River Song investigate, because everyone needs a direction point.

Verdict

Harvest of the Krotons was a great episode to continue my way through The Orphan Quartet twelfth series of The Diary of River Song! This is undoubtedly the story I was most excited for in this boxset because a reunion between River and Jackie was always going to be fun after R&J and then throwing in the classic monster return in the form of the Krotons was terrific! There’s a lot of potential with them and I really liked how this episode was essentially a mashup of The Krotons and Partners in Crime. That was really fun when it came to the Krotonic water and you really could just replace the Adipose weight loss pill for the water. It wasn’t exactly a carbon copy, but it was damn close. And that’s no bad thing because the mashup element was really strong and just fun. I think it certainly helps as well to not have the Doctor present because the elements now were brand new for River and Jackie. I was surprised that River had zero knowledge of the Krotons because she really does seem to know everything about the Doctor, but it was pretty much needed for the story and she can’t know every detail! I liked the discussion on Rose and Jackie feeling like she was just waiting around was a little sad, but she was also a bit harsh on the Doctor I thought. It was nice that she did acknowledge she was travelling and seeing amazing things, but after her experience with the Krotons here she saw firsthand what her daughter was doing almost every day. She was certainly going to worry! She’s a mum. That’s what they do. This leading though to a deep discussion on River’s parents was tremendous. I really enjoyed how she had to evade without lying about Amy and Rory for the start of the episode, but she did come clean at the end which was lovely. The events of The Angels Take Manhattan are still clearly quite fresh for River and it is nice to know that she still checked in on them walking hand and hand in the park from afar. There’s something really lovely about that. The plot itself was very strong with the repetition and Harmony being in the role of Miss Foster but she was a little less in control. The Scouse accent seemed to add something to the performance but the fact she then developed basically into a Kroton was a strange development! I think the Krotons talking in a Brummie accent was a fun kind of hilarious also. I did like the concept behind the Krotonic crystallised water and the threat of everyone on the planet who had consumed it came a tad late, but it was a sudden injection of a threat! The spa facility holding a range of has been celebrities was amusing and Jackie being in her element there was terrific. She’s the perfect character for that kind of thing and I liked how the story felt authentically 2006 era. She also just gels well with River and I hope this isn’t the last of them together! I thought it was fun that Jackie basically talked the Krotons into combustion with her thoughts on just about everything. It was too much to handle and it was good fun that she wasn’t even fully aware of what she was doing! The Krotons found Jackie just too much to handle and I imagine the Doctor could relate there! I thought River revealing who she was to the Doctor in front of Jackie was a sublime moment as she initially just thought River was a companion. She’s oh so much more. I thought it was brilliant as well to touch upon River Song being a great space name. Jackie wasn’t wrong there! The Learning Hall being familiar to Jackie was good too and it was really familiar as a listener for the Krotons. Overall, a really good episode to continue the series! A fun mashup. 

Rating: 8/10

The Orphan Quartet: The Excise Men

"You really did sell your souls."

Writer: Lou Morgan

Format: Audio

Released: August 2023

Series: The Diary of River Song 12.01

Featuring: River

Synopsis

A smugglers' inn on the Cornish coast in the 18th Century is under attack. Never do a deal with the Excise Men. 

Verdict

The Excise Men was a great start to The Orphan Quartet twelfth series of The Diary of River Song! And here it is, the last in what has been a pretty magnificent range from Big Finish. Whilst it isn't the end for River Song and her own spinoff series, this one is coming to an end and I'm quite glad that it appears to have an overlapping story arc with the mention from River of the Orphan Quart. I'm intrigued that she didn't mention the full umbrella title for the series and I'm unsure what significance that has, but I'm all here for it! I'm intrigued and that's a good start for the series. I thought the setting of a Cornish inn was really strong and it definitely had vibes of The Smugglers which is a really good thing. I feel like it was paying homage to that serial in a really subtle way that was much appreciated. This was far from a pure historical thought as we had time travellers galore in the form of the Excise Men. I found them fascinating as a concept and the paradoxical nature of their existence was strong to explore, especially with them being duped by The Agent. He was a really good character to form as the villain and I was surprised he was so calm. He never felt like was fully in control because he was mentioning his masters, but he really ought to have had more confidence and not be so measured because his little book actually proved to be impressive. Inadvertently or not, he was bringing about the end of the Excise Men without them even realising it. That was quite something considering the state they had gotten themselves into with the time decay, but it's no wonder considering they weren't being protected from consuming their ancestors! The idea of them though coming to the past and feeding on the lives of those that would be lost from shipwrecks was a very niche source of nutrition, but it's one that made sense in protecting the course of history. All of their victims would be lost to the sea regardless so they were just killing those that were essentially already dead. I sound like I'm endorsing them here! Wenna was a really lovely character and I thoroughly enjoyed her relationship with River. She was almost companion material which I loved and it was good for River to encourage her to be herself and have a little more confidence. She was right on board with what River was doing and she wasn't scared to tackle what was thrown in front of her. The ending with her then being the one to take on the inn was a nice way to bring her story full circle and give her something akin to a position of power. She certainly deserved it. The Agent being confronted by River was good and I love how she embraced constantly being referred to as the unknown entity. That's certainly one way to describe her. She wasn't hiding who she was or where she was from and that scared the Agent I think because he lost all semblance of control. I liked that she didn't even mind that she appeared stuck in the eighteenth century at the end because she had complete confidence in the Doctor to come and rescue her. I thought that was taking liberties a little but it's River and of course he would come running at some point. Overall, a really good start to the series! It was like the Toclafane without the paradox machine. The snake who eats its own tail. Fun analogies. Good stuff.

Rating: 8/10

Twilight of the Silurians

    

"Whoever heard of a major planetoid pulling away the Earth's atmosphere?"

Writer: Steve Moore

Format: Comic Strip

Released: February-March 1980

Printed in: DWM 21-22

Featuring: Silurians

Synopsis

On prehistoric Earth in the age of the Eocene, scientists envisage a disaster within days. The Silurians must hibernate.

Verdict

Twilight of the Silurians was an excellent comic strip adventure to continue my way through The Return of the Daleks collection of back-up comics from the pages of what was then Doctor Who Weekly! I really enjoyed this one and it feels quite topical given the Sea Devil fever at the end of last year. I’ve recently just finished the Fact of Fiction article in the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine regarding Doctor Who and the Silurians so the story was very fresh in my mind when it came to this comic being a prequel. I love a prequel and I think it’s just magnificent that we get one here not too far removed from the actual broadcast of the serial. Of course, the reasoning is a sad one with it being written as a dedication to Malcolm Hulke which I think is very poignant. The Silurians are a brilliant creation although I do find the nod here to The Sea Devils rather amusing in having an editor’s note to also confirm that they may be known as Eocenes. I don’t think it really matters on the science because they’re always going to be referred to as Silurians, especially when it’s in the title of the story! Twilight of the Eocenes just doesn’t quite have the same ring to it. I thought the introductions from the Fourth Doctor were good fun and even though his face is only there for one small panel at the start of each part, he does inject enthusiasm into the adventure. Getting a comic strip take on planet Earth at a time millions of years ago was brilliant and it was lovely to actually get those visuals. I thought the illustrations of the Silurians were fantastic and very reminiscent of what we saw on screen which is a huge positive. I also appreciated the slightly different take when it came to the appearance of Nagara. I think it’s good for artists to have a little freedom there in expressing a slightly new design whilst staying true to the original and comic strips are perfect for that kind of thing. I think it’s a bit of a mistake though for TARDIS.Wiki to list Nagara as the main character for the story and not the main enemy. Was Kin really the bad guy here? I’m not so sure. I thought his position as leader of the apes was good and them being referred to as the precursor for humanity really put things into perspective. It was somewhat harrowing to see the way Silurians were treating the apes they had caged up and that was right on the nose in highlighting animal cruelty. It was powerful stuff and I really liked the message it was sending. That’s why I don’t see Kin as the enemy because he was the one that stood up to his abuser. I liked the fact that Silurian scientists were bickering amongst each other and it seems somewhat staggering that the entire population went into hibernation for thousands of years when it was not a scientific consensus. The irony of the scientist they all trusted actually getting it wrong is incredible. I thought the use of a bandage to block the control of the third eye from Nagara was superb and just completely logical. An epiphany moment for sure! It was so simple yet it rendered the Silurian completely useless. Overall, this was a fascinating insight into a world before the Moon was even in orbit. A fantastic Silurian precursor that was illustrated magnificent. A fantastic comic strip adventure!

Rating: 9/10

Cadoc Point

"It's only there when you're alone."

Writer: David Llewellyn

Format: Audio

Released: January 2022

Series: Torchwood Monthly 58

Featuring: Andy

Synopsis

Andy's old art teacher is in trouble. The disappearance of three of his former pupils has brought him some unwelcome attention. The authorities think that there's a secret in Merl's past.

Whatever Andy's suspicions, he discovers that something much older and stranger is hiding in Merl's past. Clues are scattered through his paintings, and all of them lead to a place called Cadoc Point.

Verdict

Cadoc Point was another excellent audio to continue my way through the Torchwood monthly range at Big Finish! I’ve still got a long way to go until I’m caught up but with how consistent this range is, it’s such a shame that it’s coming to the end. It seems that no matter what characters from the world of Torchwood feature, they deliver nearly every time. No disrespect to the character of Andy, but on paper he’s not the most appealing of characters to lead an episode. But he does so brilliantly here! It’s fascinating to think that at this point post-Children of Earth Andy is trying to take things into his own hands when it comes to the alien involvement that Torchwood used to handle. They got a bit too vocal though but that didn’t stop the Rift continuing to splurge out who knows what from who knows where. That makes sense and this kind of thing is definitely something we should see more of in my opinion. It adds a sense of vulnerability as well without the comfort of Torchwood being there to deal with the threat. Andy has definitely matured at this point in chronology but I’m not sure it’s to the point where I’d trust him to pick up the scraps of Torchwood. I did genuinely believe for a good chunk of the episode at the start that he had broken down in his car and found his way to Merl’s house by chance. It was a tad coincidental that he turned out to be Andy’s old art teacher at school and I was very much in the same vain as the sergeant in not taking GCSE art. That is one skill that completely evades me. I’ve been to a fair few galleries in my time and have gazed upon the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, but my appreciation for art is probably lacking. It just doesn’t interest me! I can’t help it but I do like hearing how Merl was passionate about his artwork and those of others. Merl being subjected as a person of interest in the case of three missing boys struck the story profoundly and things became serious very quickly. The titular subject of Cadoc Point was intriguing and the concept that all three missing boys painted it before vanishing was very eerie! The position of the chapel in the paintings was also pretty harrowing, especially when it wasn’t actually physically present at Cadoc Point itself. The idea of it only being there when one was alone was very mysterious and I loved the atmosphere that was created throughout this episode. It was excellent and it also helped that Merl had such a strong voice! His conversation with Andy was enthralling throughout. I thought Darren Jenkins was another good character and his knowledge of the Cadoc Point and the paintings was very good. Andy quickly got obsessed with everything that was happening there and defied the warnings of physically going there. The position of the Angel of Death as it was dubbed was fascinating and I liked that it almost felt mythical! Using paintings and the Cadoc Point itself as a way to lure people in was a unique take to say the least. Merl taking the sacrifice to burn all of the drawings would obviously have been emotional given art is his life and everything he has poured into it, but it’s what needed to be done to solve the mystery of Cadoc Point. I thought Merl was quite amusing now in not wanting to leave the area and continue his artistic passion at the sight. He’s a brave man for sure! Overall, an enigmatic and excellent audio!

Rating: 9/10

Battlegrounds: Rewind

"Names are for tombstones."

Writer: Timothy X Atack

Format: Audio

Released: May 2022

Series: The War Doctor Begins 3.03

Featuring: War Doctor

Synopsis

Lacuna is on the brink of destruction, attacked by a new breed of Dalek. But every day, it is pulled back from that brink, and everyone prepares to live through the end of their world once again.

One strange man, alone in his castle, holds the key to Lacuna's ultimate salvation – or its annihilation. 

Verdict

Rewind was a very strong episode to conclude the Battlegrounds third series of The War Doctor Rises! This was a very intriguing concept and perfectly suited to the Time War. It's a welcomed unique take for the War Doctor to tackle and I thought the format was very strong. Telling the majority of the story from the perspective of Ignis was really good and whilst I'm not always a fan of unfamiliar narration, she grew to be a really strong character. She had a very important place on the world of Lacuna with her ritual that was told each time their planet succumbed to destruction. The Time War playing a role in ensuring that every day Lacuna was destroyed over and over again was bad enough, but the population actually remembering it every time they woke up again was horrifying! That really does just feel mean. I enjoyed the use of Berserker Daleks here and they're another excellent addition to types of Daleks that have been fostered from the Time War. As if Daleks weren't mad enough! These really do seem on a different level and they don't actually feature an awful amount, it's more the looming threat of their arrival that sees Lacuna wiped out. The fact the people had experienced the end of their world over four-hundred times is staggering and some might say they're used to it now. Ignis performed her ritual every time at the end and it did seem to mean something to the population, but it also had that feeling of being repetitive and just tradition by now. Did it really mean anything to hope for the last? I understand that when everything seems lost you need something, but maybe it's just the Atheist in me. I think I'd just be accepting of the situation. I'd be trying each day to try and change things to prevent the destruction, and that's where the Doctor came in. The concept of him hiding away in a castle was very fun and whilst Ignis did have strong companion vibes, the frosty way in which her relationship kicked off with the Doctor was very good. Her reaction when the Doctor basically admitted that he was responsible for the rewind was powerful and whilst he was subjecting the population to endless repetition and was labelled Lacuna's torturer. He knew what he dad done was cause suffering, but it was also the only way to save the planet and its people while he endlessly tried to find a solution. Ignis seeing the TARDIS as almost a beacon of hope was strong and I liked how she thought she could trust the Doctor. Her knighting him as Sir Nameless was really great and I liked that he never gave her his name. He really did go without an identity. His race as a Time Lord was known though and the power struggle that came with that between Parenthis and Grei was played out pretty well. One was a Master of Fisheries and the other was rather bold in their militaristic tendencies. The Doctor labelling the latter an idiot for being the one to always go out into battle each day was terrific. Ignis encouraging the Doctor to find a solution and her knowing that the green line on his mapping of each day meant he would leave and try and find a solution was very interesting. He didn't want to leave but after such a degree of failure and things not working out, it really was the only way. I thought things ending somewhat ambiguously or a little unfinished was a shame, but there's plenty of time to potentially come back to this and see Lacuna's fate saved. Overall, a really good episode to conclude a strong series! 

Rating: 8/10

Battlegrounds: Temmosus

"Names are for tombstones."

Writer: Rossa McPhillips

Format: Audio

Released: May 2022

Series: The War Doctor Begins 3.02

Featuring: War Doctor

Synopsis

Fighting alongside the Time Lords against their common enemy, some Thals have realised that this collaboration is not between equals. 

When his new battleship is stolen, the War Doctor must convince his old allies that they are on the same side..

Verdict

Temmosus was an excellent episode to continue my way through the Battlegrounds third series of The War Doctor Rises! I thought this was a really strong story and exactly the kind of adventure I would expect from the Time War and this incarnation of the Doctor. It was really good stuff to incorporate the Thals into the Time War because they are a race that have been at war with the Daleks eternally. It's an ancient foe and the Doctor utilising that here with the Temmosus was intriguing. The concept of both the Thals and the Daleks having the same DNA was really fascinating stuff and not something I had ever considered! I wouldn't have expected it considering the Thals and Kaleds are two distinct races, but for the purpose of the titular ship and the Doctor programming it to only be controlled by Thals, it very much worked. The very idea of a Thal and a Dalek working together was incredible and that just showed the extent to which the Time War was causing havoc. Desperate times called for desperate measures and the way the Doctor confronted Dylon about his destination being Skaro was powerful stuff. The rest of the crew were almost incredulous and it was clear immediately there was history between these two. I thought Dylon's conversations with the Dalek Red Fleet Commander were interesting but I was certain that on both sides they were not as it seemed. There seemed to be more at play that I thought was going to be revealed later on, but alas it wasn't to be and maybe they really were in an alliance! The reaction of the Dalek Time Strategist in learning of the communication his Red Fleet Commander had was fantastic as he basically told on him to the Dalek Emperor! Extermination was immediate but there was definitely more that the Commander was doing as he constantly affirmed he was serving the Emperor. The threat the Temmosus provided in having a chameleon circuit was brilliant but it was perfect for the Time War against the Daleks. It could easily disguise itself as a Dalek battle ship and evade capture which would obviously be helpful, especially against the scanners with the same DNA! I thought the legend of Temmosus was a lovely throwback to The Daleks and you almost have to have a link with that serial when the Thals are involved. Soolal and Gilder were really good characters and hearing the Thals discuss their lives and their families was actually emotional. What were they fighting for now? Was the Time War really their fight when they've been in conflict with the Daleks since they were sludge in the slime? It was really strong to explore their feelings. The involvement of Tamasan was good but she got way more than she bargained for in installing the bomb. The threat to Skaro was obvious but the Doctor called her bluff and actually negotiated the War Cabinet be made equal in terms of Time Lords and Thals! I find that incredible and I can't see the rest of the Cabinet agreeing. The Doctor of course knew how to ensure the bomb didn't go off even if he couldn't diffuse it. Cutting the power was more than sufficient! That was really good and felt like the Doctor of old which I love because even though he's trying to become a warrior and revoking the name, he's still the same man in a world of war. Overall, a fantastic episode to continue the series! 

Rating: 9/10

Battlegrounds: The Keeper of Light

"Beacons of hope."

Writer: Phil Mulryne

Format: Audio

Released: May 2022

Series: The War Doctor Begins 3.01

Featuring: War Doctor

Synopsis

The Doctor and his faithful companion are on the trail of strange psionic signals...

At a remote coastal cottage, holidaymakers David and Dorothy think there's something strange about the lighthouse. But the Doctor can't shake the sense of an even bigger mystery to solve...

Verdict

The Keeper of Light was a strong start to the Battlegrounds third series of The War Doctor Rises! This is a range I have been very eager to step back into and thanks to a recent sale from Big Finish, I'm now all set with a bundle to complete this particular series. I must say again that Jonathon Carley is staggeringly good as the War Doctor and it is just incredible how uncannily he sounds like the late great John Hurt. It provides such a degree of authenticity to the range which is just wonderful. I thought the way the Time War was incorporated into this story at the end was good and certainly needed as I was a little sceptical throughout about how this would relate. It would feel strange to have a War Doctor story without anything else going on in the background, but that all came with Tamasan in a sort of epilogue at the end which was very positive. I enjoyed the setting of a coastal cottage and it certainly seemed like a pleasant place for a holiday. There's something appealing about a lighthouse and I think ever since the broadcast of Fugitive of the Judoon they've become increasingly significant in the Whoniverse. The idea laid down by Layla about them appealing to the Doctor because they represent a beacon of hope was just wonderful. Even in an incarnation such as this one where he's trying to revoke his title and its meaning, some things just can't escape him. I loved the chemistry he had with Layla and that made his revelation and realisation at the end all the more emotional. The fact he worked out that everything was essentially a game was a good twist and the idea of her name being drawn from Leela and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart was a nice touch. Why those names at this point in time? He wouldn't encounter the former until The Lady of Obsidian and I'm all for the Brigadier meeting the Doctor during wartime. That has to happen! David and Dorothy were fun characters and the humour that came from their longtime relationship was both great and a little sad. Imagine having separate rooms on a getaway after thirty-two years of marriage! Layla was able to highlight to the Doctor that they were on their last legs and this being a make or break trip felt like a big deal. Layla telling the Doctor to be sensitive to David about the situation of his relationship was just clumsy as he really didn't have a clue how to tackle this sort of thing! Was it a romantic getaway? He just seemed to nod along completely unaware. It was really nice to hear that through the fear of the Keeper. He was a fascinating villain and he seemed to know the Doctor which was fun. I was liking the idea that he was defeated for now with the promise of coming back and I was imagining that was the set up for the rest of the boxset. But alas, the Time Lords were out for information and power but the Doctor almost broke their hearts when he explained how it would be useless against the Daleks. It required imagination and that made the entire episode really interesting knowing that essentially everything we had heard was drawn from the Doctor's mind. Back to normality now though and more Time Lord scheming. I liked how he stood up to them and denied them this weapon. This would be too much and he made a stand. Overall, a strong start to the series! 

Rating: 8/10

Frankenstein and the Patchwork Man

"All the town's ghosts. Stitched together by the devil's seamstress."

Writer: Jack Heath

Format: Novel

Released: April 2025

Series: Puffin Classics 07

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

He tidied his hair, smoothed down his vest, and extended a hand. 'Perhaps we can begin anew', he said. 'Dr V. Frankenstein, at your service.'

When an unsettling folk tale leads the Ninth Doctor and Rose to a remote village in Wales, they get more than they bargained for. 

A scientist has taken it upon himself to create new life – imitating Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, a book that has sent shockwaves around the country. 

But, much like his fictional counterpart, this Doctor is playing god, and with focus beyond his understanding. As the Doctor and Rose attempt to put the brakes on the experiment, before it gets out of control, a sinister supernatural presence reveals itself...

Verdict

Frankenstein and the Patchwork Man was an excellent novel to continue the Puffin Classics! This range has been incredibly unique and whilst it does appear that this is the penultimate release, I thought it was a very fun take on the story of Frankenstein. Again, like pretty much every original novel in which the respective story is based upon, I have never read Frankenstein but it feels like it has a big presence in Doctor Who history. On screen we have the magnificent The Haunting of Villa Diodati episode that sees Ashad the Lone Cyberman as the inspiration, and of course then Mary Shelley had a brief spell as a companion to the Eighth Doctor on Big Finish. So I feel like it's a story and certainly a concept I know well. It's also very well suited to Doctor Who and the title here is just great for the Whoniverse. The whole idea behind the Patchwork Man is frightening and full of horror which is exactly what you would want from this kind of adventure. A being stitched together from parts of the local village's dead was incredibly gruesome. That is some image! It's almost a shame he didn't grace the book cover. I was though surprised that he spoke as early as page thirty as I thought there would be much more of a build to any kind of interaction. I thought the moment the fiction hit reality as far as Rose was concerned was strong because unlike some others in this range, this felt very much based in realism which was impressive. In saying that, the odds of men of science being called Frankenstein in a village seven miles away from Cardiff seems highly unlikely, but I did appreciate the influence of the Mary Shelley novel on them. Young Vincent in particular took things to the extreme though when it came to wanting to prove he could bring life back to the dead. It was deeply disturbing! I thought his father also apparently inventing electricity in the form that we would know today ahead of its time was some achievement! Given the fire of the house that happened within the story, the invention would go unknown for decades until it was discovered as history told. I thought the characterisation of both the Ninth Doctor and Rose was superb throughout the story and that really helped it feel authentically Series 1. There were the obvious throwbacks to The Unquiet Dead which had a similar kind of feel to this book and the dialogue was just spot on in capturing the relationship between the pair. Janine was a really good character and Rose really sympathising with her as a servant was a fascinating look into the modern woman. She almost felt guilty for living in a time where there was relative equality and she was still finding it difficult adjusting to the culture and norms of the past. Janine's desire in life was just for her daughter to one day serve the son of the man she was currently serving. Rose was shocked by the lack of ambition and how willing she was to assist with the bath! I thought the action that came from escaping the fire after Vincent took matters into his own hands was good, if not a little long. It also seemed strange they were so intent on getting upstairs! I enjoyed the Voltigrades as the true enemy of the piece in the form of conscious electricity. They were only conscious when brought together though and the Doctor's reaction to learning that Vincent had stored the power of numerous lightning strikes into a single batter was rather incredible. I thought the Patchwork Man, who was later humanised as Adam, being consumed by Voltigrades made sense in reanimating him and the foreshadowing of The Parting of the Ways with Rose sacrificing herself for the Doctor when she thought it might be the other way around to end their travels was poignant. She shot the Patchwork Man with a spear into Lake Lamond and that action as a giant puddle to be irresistible to disperse and separate the Voltigrades dismantling the consciousness and saving the village. I thought things going round circle and taking Adam to the transhumanists on Tyronica Prime was lovely to bookend things with that initially being the intended destination for the TARDIS. Overall, a really strong read and take on a legend! 

Rating: 9/10

The Ark

"I know a corpse when I see one."

Writer: John Lucarotti (Adapted by Jonathan Morris)

Format: Audio

Released: June 2023

Series: Lost Stories 7.01

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane, Harry

Synopsis

A space station orbiting Earth has lain dormant for 8,476 years. Its systems are clogged with dust, so the human crew kept frozen in cryogenic storage have never woken up. 

When the Doctor, Sarah and Harry arrive to resuscitate the sleepers, they discover something else on board. A small, golf-ball like object gives Harry an electric shock, and has a more sinister impact on the awakening crew. Soon, the Doctor and his friends are battling to save the space station – and Earth – from a ravenous puffball!

Verdict

The Ark was a really strong Lost Stories adventure! I was a little sceptical prior to listening to this story mostly based on my experience of listening to Return of the Cybermen which wasn't a bad adventure, it just didn't feel like it was vastly different to Revenge of the Cybermen in which it was adapted from an early draft of. So with this one I knew it was based on early drafts of The Ark in Space but thankfully this really did feel vastly different to the version we saw on screen. I was a big fan of how different this was and knowing what it was based upon and it being a strong story, it was a really fascinating listen. I don't think it was any better or worse than the original version but it was really different despite having a lot of familiar elements in the plot. It still followed on nicely from Robot which was interesting with it being Harry's first trip in the TARDIS which was fun, but his UNIT experience really did shine through as he wasn't all that flustered by everything that was happening. The very idea of what we know as Space Station Nerva being referred to here as Noah's Ark and just in space is audacious to say the least, but it's incredibly on the nose and almost laughing at the listener to have a Captain Noah! I thought that was hilarious. I also found it intriguing by the concept of the Doctor having visited the Ark on a few previous occasions to ensure that the future of humanity was intact and would be safe. Except he hadn't been for a few centuries or longer here and that was pretty problematic. Who knew dust would be such a problem when the extractor failed! The Doctor was in fine form here and it's a fun distinction to have Tom Baker playing the role here when he is so seasoned and has appeared in hundreds of stories now on and off screen, compared to it being the Fourth Doctor's second serial on screen where he would have been pretty raw in the role. There's definitely that familiar charm. I thought Narib in place of the Wirrn was a very interesting take on the villain and it was good to still have that familiar insect-like appearance and description. It definitely felt more in control and with a more obvious plan when it came to the use of humanity. The role of the Amoeba was fantastic in that it was so simple in being a singular cell. The most simplified form of existence on an incredible scale. The Doctor being obsessed in growing the puffballs was amusing because that just sounds ludicrous as a plot resolution, but it makes perfect sense when the science is revealed and that it was basically absorbing the Amoeba and that caused Narib to dehydrate. The Doctor then using an elastic band to pelt it into space was pretty conclusive in its fate as it hurtled through space! I thought that combined with Harry taking a space walk and being lost from the ship was strangely reminiscent of Four to Doomsday which I liked. I thought the other guest cast really helped compliment the story with Mek and Den being obvious standouts. I really enjoyed the pace of the story too and I must say the cliffhangers were incredibly strong for a story that was somewhat familiar. I liked how the basic premise wasn't too far removed from the later drafts that would become the original serial, but it was sufficiently different to warrant a release and feel worthy of my time. It was terrific. Overall, a great adventure! A unique take on a classic. 

Rating: 8/10

Aquitaine

"Black holes are best studied from a distance."

Writers: Simon Barnard & Paul Morris

Format: Audio

Released: February 2016

Series: Monthly Adventures 209

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan

Synopsis

Today should be much like every other day for Hargreaves, the computer consciousness that co-ordinates daily life aboard the spaceship Aquitaine, stationed on the outer fringes of a black hole. Water the plants, run the diagnostics, cook the Captain's breakfast; then tidy the plates away, rotate the ship, clean the windows of the observation deck. When at least the day's work is done, Hargreaves will dim the lights in the sleeping quarters. But no-one will sleep aboard the Aquitaine tonight. Because the Aquitaine's crew is missing. 

But today will be different. Today, a space/time ship called the TARDIS will materialise in the botanical section, bringing the Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan aboard the Aquitaine. Together, they'll seek to discover the truth of what happened to Hargreaves' crew...

...if only the ghosts will let them.

Verdict

Aquitaine was an excellent story to continue my way through the Monthly Adventures! Release number two-hundred-and-nine doesn't feel real because that's just such a long run and there's still many more to go before finishing the range. It will feel quite surreal when that happens but I'm going to enjoy the ride and I thought this was a fantastic adventure. I really liked the idea of a loud distress call in the TARDIS waking Tegan up because she would be straight into blaming the Doctor, but she was actually pretty reasonable and it's intriguing to hear how she has a little bit of a new perspective after being left behind in Time-Flight and returning on her travels in Arc of Infinity. The Doctor and Nyssa got up to quite a lot in the meantime but she's making up for lost time. I thought the Aquitaine ship as the setting was magnificent and I loved how it was a haven of botanical research. That's not exactly the usual kind of ship you would expect a distress call from, but the situation certainly was distressing! Hargreaves was a really fun character and I couldn't help but liken him to Vision from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The voice was uncannily like him and his nature as a robot butler was very interesting. I thought the fact he rebooted after every storm in the ergosphere was amusing because his memory was wiped and that made things difficult for the TARDIS team. Especially when there were multiple androids he was inhabiting for each of the trio to interact with across the ship. I definitely got strong vibes of World Enough and Time/The Doctor Falls when it came to the black hole impacting time on the ship, particularly when there was a safe space on it where time was not impacted. The Doctor being allowed to get technical when it came to time was fun and I loved how he proclaimed he had authority on the subject owing to his species. The analogy of time tracks to parallel dimensions was excellent and I love when we get an adventure about time, rather than just travelling into the past or future. Being somewhere on the ship and talking about what was happening in the present but that not being where the Doctor and Tegan was made for some hard thinking, but I loved that I was almost being challenged. I was a big fan of that. Nyssa being infected presented some challenges and it was a really interesting way to introduce us to the deranged Dr Akunin. He seemed innocent at first but the way he sedated Nyssa and revealed there was no cure to her condition was incredibly sinister. He had the perfect voice for a villain and the fact he was using his fellow crew members as test subjects for his new species of Aquinites. That was disturbing to see the fate that befell Jennings and Anna's reaction to seeing her name on the label of a container housing a human hand was devastating. Realisation that Nyssa was telling the truth soon became apparent! I thought the way the trio were all reunited was pretty emotional and given the proximity to the black hole and all the jumping around, it wasn't actually clear how much time had passed over the course of the story. I think that's rather interesting. I loved the line from the Doctor about the hairs on his neck standing up because of the impending arrival of the TARDIS also. Glorious. I thought Hargreaves's return to an earlier point in time with the utilisation of his system memory was fantastic and he had to wait fifty-three years to catch up and ensure things were averted. The Aquitaine perishing into the collapsing black hole was quite the climatic and final end to the story. Overall, a superb story! Very atmospheric and dark. 

Rating: 9/10