The Rapture

"I like clubbing and dance music so I must be okay..."

Writer: Joseph Lidster

Format: Audio

Released: September 2002

Series: Main Range 36

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis 

Ibiza, 1997, and thousands of young people are acting like mindless zombies.

Which is to be expected. Ibiza, the island of dance music, sex, drugs and alcohol, is the ultimate hedonistic paradise.

God has sent help from on high to save the sinners of Ibiza. He has sent his angels to save their souls.

Which would be simple enough if these souls didn't include an alien time-traveller working in a bar, a woman who disappeared in 1987, a young man carrying a photograph of a girl he's never met and an Irish girl who doesn't even know who she is anymore.

Verdict 

The Rapture was a very good and interesting audio adventure to continue along Big Finish's Main Range rather nicely. They're well into their stride now with this being the conclusion of the third straight year (not calendar of course) of monthly releases and almost immediately within listening the story had my praise with Tony Blackburn (a celebrity apparently, but I've never heard of him) talking about a song that hasn't been played in about a month. Once that song is played, what is it? The Doctor Who theme of course! I thought that was a very clever start to the story and it definitely put a smile on my face which is certainly a bonus. The setting of Ibiza in 1997 was an intriguing choice and I think it's typically brilliant that even here the Doctor knows somebody. He doesn't quite seem the partying type though does he? In his eleventh incarnation perhaps, but definitely not the seventh! Speaking of which, I thought the Seventh Doctor had a rather limited role as the Doctor when compared to some past audio stories featuring the pair. However, this story was more about Ace which I was absolutely fine with. There was a lot of emotion filled behind her in this story and I definitely get the sense of Big Finish hoping to see the character grow up somewhat. I think we have tendency to forget that she's still very young, or was at least during the TV seasons. After recently watching Silver Nemesis, I questioned my criticism of the TARDIS pairing but after doing this audio I'm not sure I was correct to. They weren't bad at all but there's something that somehow makes me feel not suited to them. I really don't know what it is, but I just seem to prefer every single other TARDIS pairing. It didn't take away from the story at all though which was nice. I'm not sure why Ace wanted to be referred to as McShane during the story - it just seems ridiculous. And she should also know that when travelling with the Doctor you can't expect a day off from the trouble! It's part and parcel of travelling in the TARDIS. I was surprised by the numerous references to sex in the story. That obviously comes with the setting which has a reputation for music and drugs, which are fine to mention in Doctor Who, but I think sex is a contemptuous issue. Of course, after Day One nothing is off limits but seeing as this was released in 2002 I found myself surprised that a reason for coming to Ibiza was "to get laid" appearing in a Classic Who story. The story behind Ace's long-lost brother was definitely an emotional one. Liam meeting his sister for the first time they could both remember was a nice moment and it's lovely that the audios are able to develop the companions by exploring their family as is the case here. It can work even more so with Ace as there's a huge gap to play with between Survival and The Movie. The references to Dust Breeding and Colditz were very good and I like how recent adventures seem to be catching up with Ace. She's feeling the effects and it's testament to the Doctor that he tries and gives her the holiday break she desires. The religious theme was an interesting one and although you may think I'd be against it due to my Atheism and loathing of religion, if it fits then I'm absolutely fine with it. I often like it because it usually confirms that God is just a mere myth, as I felt was the case that here as the truth about Gabriel and Jude was revealed. That linking with Ace and Liam was a fantastic inclusion. I thought the cliffhangers could have been better though I did enjoy part three's surprise revelation. I wasn't overly struck on the Doctor Who theme remixes for each part but that doesn't take from the story, which was a very solid adventure. A nice foreshadowing of what's next with The Sandman too!

Rating: 8/10