The Enigma Dimension

"This is no longer Gallifrey. This is a Dalek planet."

Writer: Nicholas Briggs
Format: Audio
Released: 23rd February 2017
Series: Casualties of War 03

Featuring: War Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

The Dalek Time Strategist has a new plan to ensure final victory in the Time War. As its forces gather for a huge assault on the enemy, ahead of the fleet something hovers above the planet of the Time Lords. And on Gallifrey itself, shadows move among the Cloisters.

The Time Lords face a threat alien to their entire universe. To save their world, the War Doctor and his allies must enter the Enigma Dimension.

Verdict

The Enigma Dimension was a great little audio and a good conclusion to Casualties of War, the fourth and final War Doctor boxset to feature John Hurt. It's such a shame that illness brought these stories to a premature end but the fact that we got twelve stories from someone like John Hurt is truly remarkable and his legacy in the Doctor Who world will live on for a very long time. He is the Doctor. Now, the story of the Time War is far from over with a number of Eighth Doctor box sets serving as prequels due to begin later this year and we also have an exciting box set involving the War Master but that's all for the future. Right now, the performed story of the War Doctor has concluded and it's been such a pleasure to listen to all twelve of John Hurt's extra adventures to add to his sole appearance in The Day of the Doctor. He was on top form again here but I must admit this story was a little different to what I was expecting. I had hoped for more of a personal relationship between the Doctor and Leela but sadly they barely appeared alongside each other and I was also expecting a type of story where the Daleks would attack Gallifrey and give us a real Time War battle to finish the boxset and story of the War Doctor. That would not be the case but that's not to say the adventure wasn't good because it certainly was! I enjoyed the bickering between the Doctor and Ollistra in this story and I loved his annoyance when she repeatedly called him by the name he has revoked. Her explanation of why she does that though was equally as good. The difference between the two Time Lords though was fully realised in the Enigma Dimension itself when the mysterious extradimensional creature seemed to have the ability to do just about anything with history. The Daleks had used it as a weapon to rewrite Gallifreyan history and replace it with all things Dalek. Ollistra wanted to do the same but wipe out the Daleks from history meaning a Time Lord victory in the Time War. The Doctor though was in between despite his race. He wanted the creature to rid the universe of both species to ensure there would never be a Time War again. The Doctor's feelings about fear being discussed were really intriguing and I liked how he admitted that he feared the Daleks. But he also feared that if the Time Lords were victorious, they would just find somebody else to fight after the Daleks. That was a rather frightening prospect so he wanted an end to them both. Leela's connection with the creature was interesting but I can't help but wish that she featured more prominently as herself. The reference to The Invasion of Time was excellent and I did like how she recognised and felt the sadness of the Doctor. It was so strong that the emotion enabled the link with Leela and the interdimensional creature to be made. The description of the dimension itself was good and I loved the dismayed reaction of the Daleks when the TARDIS materialised there. They were sure they were victorious on this occasion but Leela and the Doctor's sadness had given the Enigma Dimension some doubts over whether removing the Time Lords from history was the right thing to do. They recognised that but neither Ollistra nor the Doctor's wishes for the Time War's fate would be met and that seemed a little anticlimactic to me. I think the ambiguity is a clever way to finish but I can't help but want answers! It seems the Enigma Dimension resulted in no change at all in the Time War. Nevertheless, it was still a great little story and a very good way to finish what has been another excellent War Doctor boxset!

Rating: 8/10