Death Match

"A champion does not beg."

Writer: Matt Fitton
Format: Audio
Released: April 2015
Series: FDA 4.04

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela, K9

Synopsis

The Death-Match is under new management. The Hunt Master's Champion has been installed. All regular players are welcomed back to the Pursuit Lounge to observe the contest in luxurious surroundings. Privacy is assured. For this reason we ask our elite guests to abide by the strict security protocols. Please note, the house has no limits.

In the Gallery, your combatants can be observed on the orbiting Quarry Station. A purpose-built environment filled with deadly traps and hidden dangers. Prizes are offered for every kill, with bonuses for rogue elements. Only an elite hunter can survive the End-Game. Do you have a worthy champion? Kill or be killed: the only rule of the Death-Match...

Verdict

Death Match was a great little audio and continued very nicely from where Requiem for the Rocket Men left off. There was a little bit of time that had taken place between the episodes but other than the Doctor getting angry at losing to K9 at chess once again, it didn’t appear that much had happened in the TARDIS. For Leela though, quite a lot seemed to had happened. She was now at the mercy of the Master and she didn’t even know it. She was fighting as his champion in a game that had only one rule. Kill or be killed. Prior to The Face of Evil she might have been in her element but following her time with the Doctor she’s now a changed woman and respected life more. K9 was wonderful in this story and I loved how he continuously annoyed the Doctor with taking everything so literally. He did suffer considerable damage at times in this audio which was quite sad but he provided the means of the resolution which was very good. I liked how Marshall continued as a character in this one and he’d gained the aid of Galactic Heritage to contact the Doctor for help following Leela’s abduction at the hands of the Master. Geoffrey Beavers gave another chilling performance as the emaciated incarnation of the Master and I really enjoyed his relationship with Kastrella. She actually did seem smitten with him and he, quite unbelievably, was enjoying her company and didn’t even seem against the idea of her becoming his equal rather than assistant. The concept of the Death-Match was good and I liked how quickly the Master had gained control over the proceedings. Leela and Marshall meeting again was good and the pair were so clearly in love which gave this story a strong emotional feel. Little Leelas would be running around apparently and that made the ending very sad indeed. The Red Knight was quite an impressive and formidable foe but I liked how the Doctor and Leela reunited to capture it and put it out of action, at least temporarily. The comments from the Master about ruling the universe with the Doctor were very interesting but I loved the Doctor’s description of how the pair had contrasting views when it came to the stars. I loved that line. I thought the cliffhanger to part one was good but I wasn’t a massive fan of its resolution which was a shame. The Master belittling Marshall was brilliant and the ruthlessness with which he killed him and explained how he’d destroyed his Rocket Men colony just for fun was brutal. That’s the villainous nature of the Master and it was just excellent. That provided an emotional farewell between Leela and Marshall and that really was quite powerful. After K9 had brilliantly teleported the Doctor, Leela and Marshall to safety there was nothing much that could be done. Marshall was going to sacrifice himself to destroy the Master, Kastrella and the scene of the Death-Match. The realisation that the Master and Kastrella were still playing the End Game was terrific and I liked the ambiguous ending. Overall though, a terrific conclusion to a great story! It’s good to have Leela back onboard the TARDIS and although I don't really listen to this range in any kind of order, I am very interested to see how this story affects her immediate future travels with the Fourth Doctor. 

Rating: 8/10