The Sands of Tymus

"Who could resist such a lovely form as our females will take?"

Writer: Unknown

Format: Short Story

Released: September 1977

Printed in: Doctor Who Annual 1978

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane

Synopsis

The Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith arrive on a planet where the current inhabitants are not the natives. Their female kind did not survive under the intense heat of three suns, and Sarah makes the perfect form to replicate their womankind upon...

Verdict

The Sands of Tymus was not the greatest Doctor Who story ever written to say the least. It has been quite a long time since I have blogged a short story from within the pages of a Doctor Who Annual, and whilst they tend to be quirky and intriguing and genuinely a lot of fun, I think I know why I have left it so long! This was pretty poor to be honest which was a big shame as I was really looking forward to delving back into the collections because I think they are a great thing to have within my collection, but it appears that the quality for this particular adventure was severely lacking. I thought the way things started were a little weird and quick with the Doctor and Sarah being found in the Sea of Dust. That sounded like an excellent part of the planet, but we never really got to explore it or learn anything further which was a bit of a shame. The pairing of the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane is always fantastic and the chemistry they had was uncanny, but we didn't really get a chance to explore that in the story. I was left quite flabbergasted by the lack of what was actually happening in terms of a plot. There wasn't a great setup for the planet and the Toregs seemed a somewhat interesting species, but I just didn't care really as there wasn't reason enough provided for me to do so. I guess there is the issue of space and the story being incredibly small at just four pages, which even for a Doctor Who Annual short story is very small! Promax was a decent character to tell the Toreg story on behalf of but it was just a little boring that the Doctor and Sarah were locked up. I thought there was potential in the aspect of the story concerning the Toregs having lost all of their female species as that must be quite worrying knowing that there was no way of creating future life and you may be the last of your species. Alas, they had Sarah Jane now though and the initial thoughts I had were far worse than what actually happened! It was quite fun actually to have Sarah Jane used as a way of replicating their female form, although I'm not sure what they were before they had the imprint of Sarah to base themselves on. Autons perhaps? I was initially thinking the the Toregs were hoping to continue their race in a more traditional way with Sarah Jane. That would have been better for me (without actually happening of course) as I can just imagine the Doctor's reaction. I think we should have had more of Sarah Jane as well and although the image of a number of Sarah Janes was really good nothing more really happened! I couldn't believe how suddenly this story ended with Sarah just throwing a shoe at the Doctor after a snarky comment, but then that was that! Are we to assume that Sarah was okay with her replication and that they were just left to go freely after being locked up? It was a very drab ending to a story containing a lot of nothingness which was a shame. The images were misplaced really and as whacky and wonderful as you always expect from a Doctor Who Annual story, but they didn't really illustrate much of what was happening and just seemed a receptive drawing of Tom Baker as the Doctor with a fringe far too long. Overall, not the greatest.

Rating: 4/10 

The Story of Extinction

"The planet sounded full of life, but not the right kind."

Writer: Ian Atkins

Format: Audio

Released: June 2016

Series: Companion Chronicles: Second Doctor 2.02

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Victoria 

Synopsis

Civilisations rise and fall – and few planets have seen this happen more often than Amyrndaa. The Doctor, Jamie and Victoria join a survey team to find out why on the planet where everything is suited to creating life, nothing lives for long...

Verdict

The Story of Extinction was a really good Companion Chronicles audio to continue the second volume of the range from the Second Doctor! I do really enjoy the trio of the Second Doctor, Jamie and Victoria and it seems a while since I have done anything with this TARDIS team so it was a real breath of fresh air to revisit them. It was really great to have both Deborah Watling and Frazer Hines reprising their roles although the format of the narration and dialogue seemed a little weird with them bouncing back and forth rather than having extended scenes together. One highlight of the audio for me though ironically did involve the pair and that was Victoria teaching Jamie to read. I thought that was absolutely brilliant and a really nice moment between companions. These two share such a unique relationship when it comes to companions and both of them being from the past makes that connection even better. The moment where Jamie had to admit to Victoria that he couldn't read and understand the words written on the page was admirable as that must have taken a lot of courage. He also seemed genuinely impressed that Victoria could understand what was on the parchment and that was also a terrific moment. Jamie really did have a number of highlights and the moment he was reading the word diagnostics and froze between syllables to explain how despite all of his travels in the universe, he could still meet a Welshman meaning Dai an agnostic. Tremendous stuff that really did have me laughing. That really is so simple but it's Jamie at his best. The idea behind this audio with the power of the written word was very good and I liked how the monster was held in the stories of Amyrndaa. That really did show how powerful stories were and the situation that was happening across the planet was quite disturbing and intriguing at the same time. People were dying left, right and centre on a planet where everything was thriving for life. It just didn't add up and that made it a really interesting situation. It of course grasped the Doctor's attention and the situation specifically at Gorin Base was very good. I thought the cliffhanger was a little uninspiring and didn't seem overly threatening, but the Doctor being found with the parchment on his face and apparently dead would have been better served in my opinion. Celsi was a fantastic chcracter and I really enjoyed her relationship with the Doctor. Her inability to understand how she wasn't known to the newcomers was great and I liked her mentioning of being a face. The importance of numbers and how being looked upon contributed to one's stature in society was excellent and something I really enjoyed. The ending of the plot seemed a little strange and quick with the warning going out across Amyrndaa, but I did very much like the Doctor explaining how there weren't actually any monsters and it was all in the stories. The pictograms were superb and I really liked the power in the stories being so much that a village starved themselves instead of confronting what was supposedly in the woods. The highlight of the conclusion for me though was in the letter Victoria had from Jamie written after her departure in Fury From the Deep. I loved that and it was wonderful to think that Jamie had managed to learn how to read and write and produce the letter. A lovely way to end things. Overall, a really good audio!

Rating: 8/10

Washington Burns

"The weaponisation of the written word."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Audio

Released: March 2016

Series: 6.03

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

You have to stop reading. It can get into anything, anything written down. You can't let it get a hold. We're doing what we can to stop it. Here and back in 1814. Washington isn't safe. America isn't safe. Nowhere is CEREBRA. You have to CEREBRA reading before it CEREBRA. If it gets into you mind CEREBRA it's all CEREBRA. Everything's CEREBRA. CEREBRA. CEREBRA. CEREBRA...

Verdict

Washington Burns was a fantastic little Short Trips audio! I never really know what to expect going into the adventures within this range as before you know it, the story has finished! That's not a bad thing at all and it certainly makes it unique and brings its own little charm as an audio range. I have to say, I thought Sophie Aldred was outstanding with her narration here. She did a really stellar job in guiding us through the adventure and it really didn't feel like she was the only actor in the cast. That's a big positive. The way she was able to roll her Rs when impersonating the Seventh Doctor was wonderful and really sent me back into his era at the end of the Classic run. Thumbs up all around from me. I enjoyed the concept of the story a lot and I was initially a little sceptical about the jumping around from the 22nd to 19th centuries so quickly, but after an exciting and fast-paced start things settled and we delved right into the plot which was marvellous. The very idea of weaponising the written word was outstanding and something I would absolutely love explored in a feature length audio adventure. I think it would work so well if given more time (and that's not saying it didn't work well here!). It's just so good that I think it has to be repeated because the potential of utilising text as a weapon is just extraordinary. The things that opens up are off the charts as you can't really escape written word. CEREBRA was a terrific enemy and I liked how he told the Doctor that he had met him through many minds. That helped understand just what this demonic figure was and meant. The potential of CEREBRA having over 700,000 puppets was superb and again, provided an incredible scale and sense of danger. There was a lot on the line and that certainly came through in the atmosphere of the story. There was a really good pace and I liked how Ace had gone back in time to 1814 to try and stop CEREBRA at its source. The setting itself of Washington in this period was terrific and it's a slight shame that there wasn't any more time to explore it. The mentions of the British coming were humorous though! I think the adventure is very aptly named with the way the story ended and the use of fire to extinguish every letter C that was published and even to destroy the printing tools. Coburn's order at the end was great as he had seen the potential of what CEREBRA could do and what that would mean for the future. It wasn't good! I thought Ross was another decent character as well and it was a lot of fun for Aldred to take on a complete set up of male characters apart from herself. The ambiguous ending with one final printing tool containing the letter C not being destroyed is fantastic and opens up a possible sequel which I would absolutely love and be in favour of happening! Do I think it will happen? Probably not. But at least the possibility is very much there! The sense of fear in the Doctor's voice was excellent in selling the CEREBRA threat, and as a whole I just loved the concept. The ending was fitting and the pace throughout was exciting with a tense backdrop. Overall, this was a terrific half an hour or so! A very impressive way to fill a short amount of time.

Rating: 9/10

Canaries

"Any building can be a museum if someone cares enough about the things inside it."

Writer: Dave Rudden

Format: Short Story

Released: October 2020

Printed in: The Wintertime Paradox #13

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Eighth Doctor, Curator

Synopsis

"There are fractures in time, Anke. Someone is causing time to skip, like a needle on a record. These things you have collected – they're... canaries."

– The Doctor

Verdict

Canaries was an excellent little short story! I must admit that prior to reading I was not aware that it was included as an extra addition onto The Wintertime Paradox collection, at least on the online version anyway. I really liked how it tied in with the Time Lord Victorious story arc in a loose way and even if the reader had no knowledge of what has been going on lately in the Dark Times, they still could easily have enjoyed this adventure. I am a huge fan of museums and always make sure to check out at least one whenever I go somewhere as a tourist, so the idea behind the Verbier Museum of the Impossible was magnificent. I absolutely loved that and I should also mention that after its mention in the story here, the Shanghai Museum of Propaganda Posters sounds incredible and definitely a place I would like to go during my lifetime. Anke made for a wonderful little character as the museum's only employee and the idea of the opening times being whatever she wanted was fun, and the fact that she wanted to be punctual and open right on time ready for a 10am crowd instantly made her a likeable character. I'm going to delve right into it and this was essentially a catalogue collection of the museum in story form which was a superb way to tell an adventure, particularly a short one like this. It tied in well with the events of The Knight, the Fool and the Dead with there clearly being things going wrong in time and that was perhaps what allowed Anke to collect a decent number of artefacts from times that don't exist. Pasts that never happened. Relics of alternate timelines. Collecting remnants of those timelines is a sublime concept and one I think would work ever so well in an extended format. The mention of the Toclafane and how it was just there in the mind referring back to the events of Utopia/The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords was magnificent and there really was a great deal of continuity which really did add to the story. The aforementioned Tenth Doctor novel was referenced with Mordeela having a crystal represented and I also enjoyed the way events of The Waters of Mars were used with Adelaide Brooke's journal supposedly completing and un-completing however it pleased. It was also a lot of fun to suggest that the British royal family were werewolves in a very good reference and play on Tooth and Claw. I thought the use of the Doctor in the story worked well and Anke having a relationship with a number of incarnations was really good. Her descriptions of the Twelfth Doctor and also revealing she wasn't too surprised by the Thirteenth Doctor's gender was excellent stuff. One thing I wasn't excepting on top of cameos from the Eleventh and Eighth Doctors was the Curator! Speaking! That was an unexpected pleasure and given Anke's role and the concept of the story and its role with the Museum of the Impossible, that was just a perfect inclusion. Especially because he must be an alternate Fourth Doctor that retired? Really good stuff. Any further inclusions of the Curator in stories is fine by me! I thought the ending with the masks and the apparent arrival of the Kotturuh was really strong and I liked the ambiguity that went with it. Overall, this fitted in well with the overlapping series and as a standalone. For short stories, this was top notch.

Rating: 9/10

Genetics of the Daleks

"If we can unlock its secrets, there will be no limit to what we can achieve."

Writer: Jonathan Morris 

Format: Audio

Released: December 2020

Series: Time Lord Victorious 

Featuring: Fourth Doctor

Synopsis

There are 10,000 humans in stasis aboard Starship Future. Ten thousand humans expecting to wake up on a distant planet, their new home. But twenty years into their journey, Starship Future takes on board fuel – and something else. Something that's been waiting, frozen in space, for a very long time.

Something malevolent. 

Something with a plan.

Unless the Doctor can help, it looks like the people of Starship Future have no future at all...

Verdict

Genetics of the Daleks was an excellent audio adventure to serve as a lovely little bonus as part of the Time Lord Victorious series! I really enjoyed this one from start to finish and even though I am highly unlikely to delve into the escape room that this audio serves as a loose prequel for, I thought it was a huge amount of fun and just a really solid adventure in its own right. Having the Fourth Doctor travelling solo is a lot of fun as it really is interesting to have him interact with himself. That's quite the talent and just says a lot about Tom Baker's talents! He was wonderful and there was no sign that this was recorded remotely which is obviously a bonus. I was impressed by the setting of Starship Future and strange goings on aboard a colony ship is not new in the slightest but it is a good basis for a story. Throwing in a lone Dalek to the mix just adds that extra bit of spice! I liked the continuity with the rest of the series that came when the Dalek encountered the Doctor, but its reaction to the arrival and mention of their greatest foe was just terrific. The history between them was on show in that very moment. The Dalek having taken over Brooke as its puppet was really good and coupling this with a separate plot from Swann and her being taken over early on into the colony ship's departure was very good. The confusion over who was actually disabling the cameras and stealing components made for a fantastic dynamic and it just worked really well. They were all brilliant characters with Finlay as the pilot and Chuke complimenting the rest of the ensemble wonderfully well. This was a particularly strong cast. I thought the pace of the story was impressive and just as I was questioning when the Doctor would arrive into the audio, the TARDIS materialised bang on time. His annoyance at being put on another mission unwillingly from the Time Lords will never cease to be enjoyable and when you think about it. it's beyond ridiculous that they just land him down somewhere with no explanation! It's all part of the fun though. One of my favourite moments in any Doctor Who story I have blogged recently came with the Doctor's reply to the Dalek mentioning how he was the fourth on record of asking if they had a list and if he was their favourite. That would only work so well with the Fourth Doctor. A marvellous moment. I really liked the aspect of the Dalek telling the Doctor his future and foreshadowing the events of Mutually Assured Destruction with him destroying the Time Squad and also harkening back (or forward) to The Knight, the Fool and the Dead where the Doctor would proclaim himself Time Lord Victorious and show a disregard for other life. The subtle reaction from the Fourth Doctor here was excellent because you could tell that he was shocked and didn't quite believe that he may become that. This all being in an effort of the Dalek to change the future was magnificent. I was a big fan. I also really enjoyed the genetic aspect of the story with the Dalek not only having Brooke provide new Dalek casing, but also to plan on building an army of 10,000 Daleks through all of those in cryogenic sleep. The fabricator being used to turn all humans into Daleks was tremendous and the Starship Future was just the perfect place for that. I thought it was an excellent plan. The way it was defeated was exciting but the ending with the Doctor having already departed and the Dalek still being alive and carrying out a final extermination was a wonderful way to sell them as the greatest enemies once more. They were defeated, but not destroyed. Overall, a fantastic listen!

Rating: 9/10

Paper Cuts

"Draconia will rise again."

Writer: Marc Platt

Format: Audio

Released: September 2009

Series: Monthly Adventures 125

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Charley

Synopsis

The Empire is lost. The Deathless Emperors are dead. The future may never happen.

An urgent summons returns the noble Doctor to a planet he saved from disaster long ago. But Draconia, so elegant and so savage, is in worse turmoil than ever.

 

Who will be next Emperor? The high Prince? The lowest peasant? The soldier with no name? Or the Doctor himself – his life at their command? Who controls the army of deadly origami warriors? And is the truth about Charley painted on paper walls in the Emperor's tomb?

History is taking revenge on the Doctor. 

Verdict

Paper Cuts was a decent continuation of the Monthly Adventures from Big Finish! It followed on right where Patient Zero left off which was good and whilst we didn't quite get what I might have expected from Charley/Mila in the story, the little hints were there and it's clear that this story is far from resolved and that's absolutely fine with me. I like the irony of this almost being a story within a story given the mystery of Charley's travelling with the Sixth Doctor after all her time spent with the Eighth Doctor. I'm intrigued to hear how this all gets resolved and if they will almost amalgamate. I thought the resolution from the cliffhanger with the Daleks causing the TARDIS to explode only for the Doctor to have set it into regeneration mode which was something new and perhaps a cheap and easy way out of what was a fantastic cliffhanger. I did though like that the Doctor realises that all of the viruses have spread out there and Charley seemed shock that the Daleks had seemingly defeated the Doctor. I guess that's subjective. This particular adventure took us to Draconia which was brilliant and I really enjoyed playing on the Doctor's unseen past in becoming a noble. It was really good to hear a glimpse of his chess match with the Emperor and the Doctor being summoned to the planet some fifty years after those events was fun, especially because it had been a lot longer than that for him! There wasn't much reference to Frontier in Space which was fine but I liked how what we learned in that serial was used in establishing Draconian honour and politics. The Doctor's summons from the Red Emperor coming at a time where he was actually dead was intriguing and begged the question of whether he was aware of his impending death. That certainly had the Doctor's attention. I really enjoyed the relationship between the Doctor and Charley and this might actually have been one of their best stories from a chemistry point of view. They got along as well as anyone could and I find that fun because Charley is of course Mila. Whilst I did enjoy exploring Draconian politics, I do think the audio went a little too long and there wasn't an awful lot happening in periods. The Sazou was not something I enjoyed too much to be honest and I found the whole concept of the paper-like element just a little strange. For a story set on Draconia, this wasn't exactly what I was expecting. The idea of the White Sazou was somewhat better and the fear invoked from the first Emperor and how he was a tyrant was very good though. Turmoil on the planet resulting from the Doctor's interference and setting Draconia on a path to less rampageous means was also great. I thought Prince was a pretty good character and I liked his annoyance at having to go through the rituals and traditions of vigil to ascend to the throne. Gomori was another decent character and I particularly enjoyed how Charley/Mila persuaded him not to come with them in the TARDIS. She had an objective of her own of course. That was a very good way to end the audio and keep the story arc in play. The Queen Mother was a good villainous character as well and her killing of her own son was quite the moment! That said a lot about Draconians for sure. The lack of female respect irked Charley which was good and the Doctor's comment about not chaining herself to something was slightly controversial! As a whole, this was a solid adventure and it was good to explore Draconian politics but it was slightly too long for my liking. A final comment for the walls showing memories and blending into shape. That was a nice visual. 

Rating: 7/10

Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion

"Energy is a form of life."

Writer: Terrance Dicks

Format: Novel

Released: January 1974

Series: Target 06

Featuring: Third Doctor, Liz, Brigadier

Synopsis

'Here at UNIT we deal with the odd – the unexplained. We're prepared to tackle anything on Earth. Or even from beyond the Earth, if necessary.'

Put on trial by the Time Lords, and found guilty of interfering in the affairs of other worlds, the Doctor is exiled to Earth in the 20th century, his appearance once again changed. His arrival coincides with a meteorite shower. But these are no ordinary meteorites.

The Nestene Consciousness has begun its first attempt to invade Earth using killer Autons and deadly shop window dummies. Only the Doctor and UNIT can stop the attack. But the Doctor is recovering in hospital, and his old friend the Brigadier doesn't even recognise him. Can the Doctor recover and win UNIT's trust before the invasion begins?

Verdict

Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion was an excellent novelisation of Spearhead From Space! I thought this was a terrific read from start to finish and I liked the nostalgia of knowing this was one of the first Target releases. It definitely felt of its time and era which is certainly a compliment and I think Season 7 exists in a strange little vacuum by itself in terms of eras. I say strange because it's only four stories long and I think Liz's departure is what grants it a status of being a little era all by itself. It's great and just fascinating to be reading of the early days of UNIT and how the Doctor came to be their Scientific Advisor. It was a brilliant story and the Brigadier's return was handled terrifically well. The references to The Web of Fear and The Invasion with the Brig recalling the help received by the Doctor to defeat the Yeti and the Cybermen were really good and I loved how the Doctor's enforced change of appearance was incorporated into the plot. With all that was going on with the meteorites in Essex, news of a police box excited the Brigadier as that would mean the arrival of the Doctor. His reaction to the grey-haired man in the hospital bed was marvellous as it wasn't him and the initial take being the Brigadier suspecting an imposter or impersonator was a lot of fun. Of course, the Third Doctor isn't the only first in this adventure as we are also introduced to Liz Shaw as the companion. I think she's wonderful and her introduction here is marvellous. She initially is welcomed by the Brigadier and their relationship is really interesting with the frivolous comments and the Brigadier's general lack of scientific knowledge and thinking with a military mind. Her relationship with the Doctor was outstanding and I just love how they got on with each other right from the off. The shared respect for scientific abilities was tremendous and I also adored how much Liz was enjoying the Doctor getting the better of the Brigadier and quickly asserting himself into command. The Brigadier being convinced that this Doctor was the same man he previously knew with a new face was great stuff and he just had a really enjoyable adventure as a whole. I thought the Auto Plastics factory made a good basis for a setting and the focal point of what was going. The debut of the Nestene Consciousness and the Autons in this story was presented superbly well and one thing that doesn't perhaps come across so much on television is the scale of this plan and the cost it came at to be defeated. The likes of military figures, top officials and then shop window dummies was widespread with Replicas located across the country and many were dying at their hands. The scenes were almost directly written as those that would be repeated in Rose and it's clear they had a lasting impact! I think the novelisation having sketch art throughout is a really fun inclusion and just breaks things up quite nicely and provides some good visuals. My particular favourite was of the Third Doctor in the attire of the Second Doctor. Speaking of which, starting the novel with an in-action recap of the final moments of The War Games was excellent and some good background. The Doctor troubling himself with having the ability to travel in his TARDIS taken away from him was very good and I loved how he wanted his old shoes for the key. General Scobie was a good character and his replication and his true self showing up at a waxworks was brilliant and I liked how the Brigadier at this point had a firm superior as we didn't always get that in UNIT adventures. I loved the perimeter based around Oxley Woods and I also enjoyed the press attention that the Doctor's arrival coinciding with the meteorites received. The only qualm I had was that out of fifty-odd meteorites landing, it was the main one that was not recovered. That just seemed unlikely. Sam Seeley was a fantastic character and I also really liked Munro as a sort of precursor to Yates and Benton. Channing made a chilling villain and his being at one with the Nestene and the collective consciousness nature of the enemy worked marvellously well. I was a big fan and I liked how it was explicitly clear that the whole Nestene was not defeated, almost clearly setting up Terror of the Autons. Overall, a brilliant read! 

Rating: 9/10

The Timeless Children

"It's red because it's drenched in the blood of our people."

Writer: Chris Chibnall

Format: TV

Broadcast: 1 March 2020

Series: 12.10

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, Ryan, Graham

Synopsis

The Cybermen are on the march. As the last remaining humans are ruthlessly hunted down, Graham, Ryan and Yaz face a terrifying fight to survive. Civilisations fall. Others rise anew. Lies are exposed, truths are revealed, battles are fought, and for the Doctor – trapped and alone – nothing will ever be the same again.

Verdict

The Timeless Children was an excellent series finale to continue the story already started in The Haunting of Villa Diodati and Ascension of the Cybermen. This one is certainly a controversial episode but I think it's done fantastically well. The fandom reacted to this story in a big way and I can understand why some may not be happy given that it depicts the origin of regeneration on Gallifrey and shows that the Doctor was the Timeless Child, the basis on which the entire Time Lord society is built upon. Incorporating all of this into an episode with the Cybermen coming to Gallifrey at the offering of the Master is superb and I just love everything about this. It's good to get an explanation from the Master as to why he destroyed Gallifrey rather than just him being reckless and I like the irony of the planet being destroyed just three series after it was saved. Sacha Dhawan shines as the Master and I think he and Jodie Whittaker work phenomenally well together. The chemistry is magnificent and you can see the inferiority complex going on inside the Master's head when faced by her. He despises the fact that his old friend and greatest adversary is the basis of which he is comprised. It's terrific. The scenes within the Matrix are brilliant and the Master tells a phenomenal story concerning Tecteun and how she was Gallifrey's first explorer. Her discovery of the Timeless Child is intriguing and I thought it was fantastic how everything was connected with the Ireland images we had seen in the previous episode. This was a visual filter on what had really occurred at the hands of the Division. Time and time again the Doctor was used and exploited for necessary interference at the hands of a Time Lord branch that doesn't exist. It all fits in very nicely and I like how in taking away one mystery in the form of Gallifrey's and Time Lord origin, it provides another by adding so much mystery to the Doctor. Currently the Thirteenth Doctor, except there have been so many more pre-dating the First Doctor including canonising the Morbius Doctors which is a great deal of fun. The alliance of sorts between the Master and Ashad was fantastic and I loved the simplicity in the moment that the former killed the latter in order to release the Cyberium. Him taking that within himself was terrific stuff and I thought his plan of creating CyberMasters in then form of Cybermen with the ability to regenerate was spectacular! The image of the Cybermen with the metallic collars synonymous with Time Lord society was brilliant. It was certainly a powerful look! I thought Graham's emotional admiration for Yaz was a nice moment and the humour that came with her 'good human' reply was great stuff. Ryan also had a good moment when he destroyed one batch of Cybermen, only to have another emerge behind him atop the hill. The Doctor being challenged to use the death particle on Gallifrey within Ashad was superb and I liked the Master pushing her to use it even though he knew she wouldn't follow through. The look despair in the Doctor's face was great. The moment before that in the TARDIS where she sends everyone – companions include – back to the twenty-first century is incredible as she accepts her fate in sacrificing herself and all organic life on her home planet to save the universe and stop the CyberMasters. Ko Sharmus emerging to fulfil his duty and carry out the detonation was a good way to end things, and I also enjoyed the ending in setting up Revolution of the Daleks with the Judoon imprisoning the fugitive Doctor from within her own TARDIS. Overall, an excellent finale!

Rating: 10/10

Ascension of the Cybermen

"If they capture you, they'll convert you."

Writer: Chris Chibnall

Format: TV

Broadcast: 23 February 2020

Series: 12.09

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, Ryan, Graham

Synopsis

The aftermath of the Great CyberWar. The Doctor arrives in the far future, intent on protecting the last of the human race from the deadly Cybermen. But in the face of such a relentless enemy, has she put her best friends at risk? What terrors lie hiding in the depths of space, and what is Ko Sharmus?

Verdict

Ascension of the Cybermen was an excellent episode to serve as the first part of the Series 12 finale! After the set up in The Haunting of Villa Diodati, I thought this served as a fantastic penultimate episode for the series. It does a superb job in bringing a fear factor back to the Cybermen that perhaps has gone missing in some episodes of the modern era. I think Ashad serving as the Lone Cyberman and leader of the Cybermen is magnificent and I thought the interaction with the Doctor once again here was outstanding. Jodie Whittaker got to shine once again in the role and she also did a terrific job in selling the CyberWar. The way the Doctor delivers the line to her companions concerning humanity being at the end of its tether with literally just seven humans left this side of the galaxy was quite something. The scene in the far future looked impressive and I liked how the last surviving humans were those who had just been running away. And still the Cybermen came. I really liked that we saw a return to the Cybus design of Cybermen serving as Ashad's guards as they're definitely the best design of the modern era. The warrior class serving as a modern take on the design synonymous with The Invasion also looked great and I liked how their arrival spelled imminent danger as there were literally thousands of them dormant. I didn't enjoy the Cyber Drones element of the initial attack though and that was probably my only qualm with the episode. The scenes with Brendan took on a whole different meaning viewing with the foreknowledge of what goes down in The Timeless Children but my girlfriend didn't have quite as good a memory as myself she was still a little stumped when I tried to explain what it was representing. I think it's incredibly clever in representing the Doctor's arrival on Gallifrey and the task of the Division. The representation of the first regeneration is also so subtly brilliant. I have such an appreciation this time around for those scenes. They're fantastically done. I liked that Graham and Yaz were split up from Ryan and the Doctor and both trying to get different ways to Ko Sharmus was terrific. It was a nice little twist that it turned out Ko Sharmus was a man rather than a planet and his position at the Boundary was superb. He was there to help those surviving humans to cross to somewhere safe where the Cybermen couldn't follow, and he'd been there such a long time. Ravio and Ethan were really good characters and I enjoyed how the latter was an expert in jumpstarting the Cyber ships as all he had known was the CyberWar and from as early as he could remember, his father had taught him how to dismantle their ships. It told us a lot about the predicament of this time period which was very good. I thought the image of Gallifrey through the Boundary was a marvellous way to end and even with that occurring, the prospect of bringing thousands of Cybermen to the Boundary itself spelled danger. It was all leading up to the finale terrifically and was very tense and full of excitement. The emergence of the Master from within the Boundary was magnificent and the tease of everything we knew was about to change is just delicious. Overall, a fantastic episode! 

Rating: 9/10

The Haunting of Villa Diodati

"Crops now grow where blood was split."

Writer: Maxine Alderton

Format: TV

Broadcast: 16 February 2020

Series: 12.08

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, Ryan, Graham

Synopsis

The Doctor and her gang arrive at the Villa Diodati at Lake Geneva in 1816 on the night that inspired Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The plan is to spend the evening soaking up the atmosphere in the presence of some literary greats, but the ghosts are all too real, and the Doctor is forced into a decision of earth-shattering proportions.

Verdict

The Haunting of Villa Diodati was an excellent episode to kick off the story arc for the Series 12 finale! I really loved the atmosphere of this one and everything just tied together really nicely. I'm a big fan of horror movies in general and the first half of this episode really did feel like a typical haunted movie. It was excellent stuff. The idea of a house being a maze and differing companions and the Doctor being separated and trapped in different parts of the house was terrific. The directing in this episode was by far the best of the series, and perhaps even the best of the entire Whittaker era yet. It really was outstanding and added so much to the episode in my opinion. The atmosphere of the story was magnificent and the very idea of the Doctor and the fam turning up at the Villa Diodati is just wonderful. It's so much fun to think of them being there on the night that inspired Frankenstein and I loved how the Doctor had set a rule of not mentioning Frankenstein and ensuring that there was no interference. And then what did she do? Break that rule almost immediately. The way everything tied up into the arrival of the Lone Cyberman was really impressive and his ability to manipulate the weather in order to recharge through electrical storms was magnificent. The guardian being Percy Shelley was really good stuff and the Doctor taking up his mind and seeing what he had seen with the Cyberium was interesting. The concept of the Cyberium containing the knowledge and future of the Cybermen was excellent and the potential that brings is fascinating because its ability to change the future was extremely dangerous as the Doctor recognised. Coupling that with a warning from Captain Jack about not giving the Lone Cyberman what it wanted was brilliantly done. The Doctor's explanation of what the Cybermen are was terrific and I also loved the interaction between her and Ashad. The Doctor challenging him about not being a complete Cyberman was fantastic and the concept and potential of a Cyberman that can actually feel emotion and get irritated was fascinating. It was such a contrast. Ashad looked incredible with his distorted and physically broken look. Seeing human features amongst that familiar metal was beyond creepy. It was such a powerful look that I was a huge fan of. The relationship between the Doctor and Byron was certainly an episode highlight and I love that the Doctor's female features were admired and sought after for the first time. She didn't seem to enjoy that much and it occurring in 1816 was even better. Jodie was marvellous again and I thought it was so much fun with her constantly correcting that she didn't need to be called Mrs Doctor. The guardian and Ashad coming face to face and their battle over the Cyberium seemed mental torment. The Doctor getting that out of Percy by using a Time Lord trick to show him his death was quite morbid, but it worked well and her then being left with the choice of Percy's life or countless billions in the future, she had to think long term. Her description of the hierarchy and how it was she alone at the stratosphere was incredible stuff. Mary was a lovely character and quite modern but you could definitely see her conjuring up Frankenstein. Ashad being the basis for that is fantastic stuff. Overall, this was a superb episode and I loved the final horror touch with the dead bodies Graham had seen being horror elements and ghosts. Overall, a great way to set up the finale!

Rating: 9/10

Can You Hear Me?

"Sleep is when they'll come."

Writers: Charlene James & Chris Chibnall

Format: TV

Broadcast: 9 February 2020

Series: 12.07

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, Ryan, Graham

Synopsis

From ancient Syria to present day Sheffield, and out into the wilds of space, something is stalking the Doctor and her friends. As Graham, Yaz and Ryan return home to see friends and family, they find themselves haunted by very different experiences. Who is the figure calling from beyond the stars for help, and why? And what are the fearsome Chagaskas terrorising Aleppo in 1380? To find the answers, Team TARDIS embark on a mission that forces them to face their darkest fears.

Verdict

Can You Hear Me? was another decent episode to continue along the twelfth series of Doctor Who. I enjoyed this for the most part but in a similar way to Praxeus, I thought the message at the heart of the episode went a little too far and took some of the shine after the actual story which in my opinion a show like this should be all about. There were actually a number of things I disliked about this episode and probably a great deal more than there should be for an episode still getting the rating I give, but that is down to the heart of the premise at its heart that I absolutely loved. I'll start with the negatives and the first one is Tahira. The language used and the way of talking in fourteenth century Aleppo were far too modern and I really don't think they captured the historical period well at all in my opinion. I just don't think she was needed in the episode to be honest and that was reflected with how she pretty much just disappeared once taken out of her own time. I wasn't a fan. I didn't understand why she was targeted along with the Doctor's companions as that just didn't make such sense given the time differential from 21st century Sheffield. One thing I really hated about the episode was how the Doctor obtained grasp of her sonic screwdriver when chained up. That was just beyond the realms of believability and the cut just made it even more unbelievable. Big blunder in my eyes. I also really disliked the animation to explain the Eternals and how they came to be in the position that we found them, which was a big shame because I actually loved the story. Zellin was an outstanding villain and the very definition and personification of creepy. The use of the fingers was very distributing and suited the dark atmosphere of the episode incredibly well. I thought it was very well done and looked great. As did he for a villain! The talk of immortal beings with the likes of the Guardians and even the Toymaker getting a mention was wonderful and I thought it was fun that Zellin was using the dimension of our universe as a board game. He needed to have some fun. I absolutely adored the twist concerning Rakaya and how she wasn't actually trapped between two collapsing planets, but imprisoned. Her appealing to Graham in his mind was very good and I thought the moment the Doctor realises her instincts had been used against her was phenomenal. It's very rare to see the Doctor essentially defeated so that spoke volumes. It was an impressive moment and I just wish more of the episode was focused on the Doctor battling the Eternals. The idea of snatching nightmares and causing more was brilliant and something I could definitely get behind, and I really liked the Doctor trapping them back in their box with their own worst nightmare in the form of the Chagaskas. That was nicely done and tied everything up nicely, but it was just a bit quick for me. Ryan and Tibo's relationship being developed was good and I liked how the former could draw on his travel experiences to not ridicule his mate's admittance of having nightmares. Yaz and her sister having an anniversary dinner was good and I also liked the simplicity of Graham playing cards with his friends. I thought exploring worst fears was good but things did seem to drag on a little towards the end and just seemed to be filling time with the heartfelt Yaz story and Graham confessing his cancer fears to the Doctor. She has tackled death many times, but she had no words of comfort she knew of here which spoke volumes. Overall, a really good episode at heart but probably slightly too long towards the end. 

Rating: 7/10

Praxeus

"Whatever caused her death is still attacking her body."

Writers: Pete McTighe & Chris Chibnall

Format: TV

Broadcast: 2 February 2020

Series: 12.06

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, Ryan, Graham

Synopsis

What connects a missing astronaut in the Indian Ocean, birds behaving strangely in Peru and a US naval officer who washes up on a Madagascan beach? Team TARDIS investigate.

Verdict

Praxeus was a decent little episode to continue the twelfth series of Doctor Who, but this is definitely my least favourite so far on my rewatch mission. I thought it actually started off pretty well and the global scale of events was actually really good. It gave credence to the threat which I thought was certainly a valid one. Praxeus itself looked impressive and the speed at which it worked in the final moments was quite incredible! The imagery of one's body simply disintegrating into nothingness was beyond shocking. I was a huge fan of that. I thought it was good to split the fam up and have Ryan in Peru with the mysterious birds, Yaz and Graham in Hong Kong with the alien signal and the Doctor in Madagascar with the submarine. The choice of settings for these was something I liked because there haven't exactly been many Doctor Who stories set in Peru! The same goes for the other locations. I like exploring more of the planet rather than just a standard London-based outing. Or in this series Sheffield. Some of the characters in this episode were strong with Gabriela probably my favourite, although I still can't believe that she wasn't more effected by the death of her vlog partner Jamila. Surely if they had a travel vlog and went around the world together then they would be incredibly close, especially considering how long it takes to get famous or recognised. But considering what happened to Jamila, she was far too happy by the end of the episode and just throughout it in general. That was a big negative for me. Zach and Aramu were good with the Doctor on the beach and once again I thought Jodie Whittaker was magnificent as the Thirteenth Doctor. She really does shine in the role and I also love her purple/berry t-shirt! Jake and Adam's relationship was good and I liked the idea of the Doctor being a romantic. It was unexpected that the pair were actually married which was a nice little twist. I thought the use of plastic and pollution in the episode was good, even if it is obvious that it is similar to Orphan 55 in the message it is promoting. The prospect of the Autons being behind Praxeus was excellent and I think the Nestene Consciousness using plastic pollution to its gain would be outstanding! However, what we got instead was a little too winded and farfetched for my liking. The birds being controlled by the plastic within them was a little disappointing in my eyes and I wasn't a massive fan of the micro plastic infiltration. It required a lengthy explanation from the Doctor which showed that it wasn't simple and that's never good from the off. I understand the message and its importance, and the Doctor's reaction to working things out was a lot of fun, but I do think we could have got more answers regarding the arrival of the infection. Suki was a very good character and the moment Yaz reveals she isn't all she makes out to be was superb. Her using the Doctor to get the cure was great and I loved the contrast and sudden shift in the Doctor's emotion when she realised the truth. She still wanted to help though which was nice and her reaction when Suki had used the cure on herself without testing was terrific. Of course, Adam was the guinea pig for the vaccine and it was successful which was a really nice moment. Jake taking command of the ship to release the vaccine in the atmosphere was very good, although I think it would have been better if he didn't make it out alive. Still, it was a nice moment in the TARDIS for the Doctor to bring he and Adam back together. Overall, a fast and exciting start but maybe a little too much going on. Still, a more than decent episode!

Rating: 7/10

Fugitive of the Judoon

"There's another identity hidden within you."

Writers: Vinay Patel & Chris Chibnall

Format: TV

Broadcast: 26 January 2020

Series: 12.05

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, Ryan, Graham, Captain Jack

Synopsis

Ko Sho Blo! Trigger-happy space police the Judoon are targeting 21st-century Gloucester. The Doctor, Yaz, Ryan and Graham race back to Earth in order to prevent them doing too much damage to the cathedral city. But who are they looking for, and what did they do to incur the wrath of the Judoon?

Verdict

Fugitive of the Judoon was an outstanding episode of Doctor Who and even better than I remembered on broadcast of Series 12! It's without doubt deserving of full marks and I was glad to be watching with the foreknowledge of who Ruth was as that made for an enjoyable and unique perspective on the episode. It's an incredibly strong one and has so many good elements with the return of the Judoon and the shock appearance of Captain Jack all thrown in! The setting of Gloucester worked well and I thought the initial focus on Ruth was great. It was enjoyable to watch her as a tour guide in Gloucester and during my early days at university that was something I could see myself doing as a job and it's always a port of call of mine when on holiday as a tourist. The arrival of the Judoon was excellent and just a huge amount of fun with the Doctor's shock at their act in cutting off transport to and from Earth. The way she got through and into Gloucester was terrific and I thought the moment she challenged the Judoon Captain was fantastic. The Judoon acting outside of their jurisdiction was very good and Yaz's past as a police offer helping in provide arbitration was great stuff. The relationship between Ruth and Lee was intriguing and it was clear almost from the off that the latter was more than just an ordinary human. The message on the cake was hilarious and Graham's reaction added to that. The little hints surrounding the true identity of Ruth were very good and the pacing of this one was full on excitement but timed really well. The moment where Ruth's instincts kicked in within the cathedral and she overpowered the Judoon was full of impact and the message she had from Lee regarding the light was intriguing. It was really good for the Doctor to be questioning her on her past and I liked that Ruth knew it was a test. The lighthouse within her family was great and the break glass being the way her chameleon arch failsafe returned her to normal was brilliant. The Doctor's reaction to digging up the TARDIS beneath the blank gravestone was outstading and Jodie Whittaker had another stellar episode. Captain Jack interacting with all of the companions was magnificent and his arrival was just marvellous. His thinking that Graham was the Doctor was great and I loved how he reacted to the knowledge that the Doctor was now a woman. I can't wait for them to finally meet up in Revolution of the Daleks. The warning of the lone Cyberman was also excellent in terms of the series arc and setting things up for the finale. The Fugitive Doctor's look was really good and Doctor-ish and the TARDIS interior was sublime. It was a perfect mixup of retro and modern and I remember being astonished and confused about where this incarnation of the Doctor might be placed in the Doctor's timeline, but since broadcast I believed her to be placed between the Second and Third Doctors and part of the whole Season 6b theory. It fits well, but the line in the TARDIS here with the Fugitive Doctor not recognising the sonic screwdriver seems to potentially contradict that given it first appeared in Fury from the Deep. It didn't feature a great deal more with the second incarnation and potential memory loss might answer that query, but with the TARDIS being a police box I just don't see where else she can fit in! Gat was a superb villain and I loved that she was Gallifreyan. Her reaction to the Thirteenth Doctor revealing that Gallifrey was in ruins was very powerful and the Fugitive Doctor knowing that her weapon would turn on her was uncharacteristic of our hero but a fantastic moment. Overall, this was an outstanding episode that raises so many questions and I liked the Judoon involvement and interaction. Their being trigger happy space police really worked well here and Captain Jack as an addition just capped it off. So many questions, but I look forward to the answers. Overall, an incredible episode!

Rating: 10/10

Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror

"You are not my idea of progress."

Writer: Nina Metivier

Format: TV

Broadcast: 19 January 2020

Series: 12.04

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, Ryan, Graham

Synopsis

1903. On the edge of Niagara Falls, something is wrong at Nikola Tesla's generator plant. Who or what is sabotaging the maverick inventor's work? Has he really received a message from Mars? And where does his great rival Thomas Edison fit into these events? The Doctor, Yaz, Ryan and Graham must join forces with one of history's great minds to save both him and planet Earth.

Verdict

Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror was a very good episode to continue my rewatching of Series 12 of Doctor Who! This was pretty much as I remembered it which was definitely a positive thing, although I did seem to think there was more of a historical element and less of the Skithra. I was a really big fan of how this episode started and I just thought the whole setting of Gilded Age New York was sublime. Having the companions in costume was terrific to see and the imagery of the streets at this time was excellent. I really was impressed. I thought incorporating the scientific rivalry of Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison into a Doctor Who story like this was magnificent and both historical figures were played and represented really well. I'm a huge fan of history considering I have a Master's Degree in the subject and whilst I am not very knowledgeable about science, exploring the history of these two here and the tension regarding alternating and direct current was fantastic. I enjoyed the educational element of the episode and also loved how overwhelmed and excited the Doctor was to be meeting Tesla. The chase on the train was great and the inclusion of a Silurian gun was a nice little bit of continuity. Yaz had a strong episode and definitely looked the part in her period costume which she seemed to get accustomed with quite nicely. Ryan and Graham didn't offer a huge amount but the latter trying to pass that he knew all about Tesla's inventions was fun. The Doctor's anticipation at seeing Tesla's lab and the result being somewhat disappointment was a good moment, but something that was terrific was seeing both Tesla and Edison grace the TARDIS interior. Their reactions were brilliant. I'm not sure this episode actually needed the Skithra as given how things started and the dead coming back to life, it seemed more than was necessary with the Queen. She was a decent villain though and I did like the idea of her requiring an engineer. The Doctor challenging her regarding the stolen parts of her ship was also good. I thought the way it appeared the Skithra Queen countered the ambush and attempts to destroy her, only for the Doctor to turn the tables and reveal the plan all along was a fantastic way to finish. She tricked her into being teleported back to her own ship just as Tesla's tower was activated into destroying it. That was neat and tidy, especially with the Queen Skithra's destruction causing her minions to also perish. One moment of the episode that I loved was when Yaz and Edison were attempting to evacuate the streets, the latter used Tesla's experiments as a way to get everyone inside. That was fun. Dorothy was a lovely character and I really liked her devotion to Tesla. The similarities she bore to Ryan and Graham and how they reacted to their superior intellect's abilities and just everyday experiences was really good. Tesla marvelling at the Doctor as a fellow inventor when seeing her use the sonic screwdriver was a another nice moment and I really enjoyed how the pair got on, even when she correctly accused him of lying. As a whole, this was just e a really solid and enjoyable historical romp with a nice bit of sci fi thrown in. It was fun, educational and historically great all in one. Overall, a fine episode!

Rating: 8/10

Orphan 55

 

"Why would you need to defend a holiday spa?"

Writer: Ed Hime

Format: TV

Broadcast: 12 January 2020

Series: 12.03

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, Ryan, Graham

Synopsis

The Doctor and her friends discover that the luxury resort where they are holidaying is hiding a number of deadly secrets. What are the ferocious monsters attacking Tranquility Spa?

Verdict

Orphan 55 was a very good episode and definitely one that was better than I remembered! If you had asked me yesterday what my least favourite episode of Series 12 was then I think this would have been my answer, but now I am far from sure! That's the beauty of a rewatch and I liked watching with the foreknowledge that Orphan 55 was actually Earth. The simple use of trees to hint towards that was great and something you probably wouldn't have noticed on broadcast. I thought there was a good level of fun between the Doctor and the fam inside the TARDIS with Graham having collected enough coupons to win them a holiday. It was exactly what they needed after some squid troubles but of course, there's no time to relax when travelling with the Doctor. Graham's reaction to the drill at Tranquility Spa was great because he seemed so chuffed to get the chance to holiday and sit back and sip on a few cocktails. The setting of Tranquility Spa was really good and I thought the pace of the episode was excellent in building towards the reveal of the Dregs and the wall that surrounded the holiday resort and it being infiltrated. Hyph3n was a fun character and I loved the Doctor's introduction to her. Jodie Whittaker was on top form again as the Thirteenth Doctor and she really is magnificent in the role. I'm a huge fan and I enjoyed watching this with my girlfriend who was laughing more than me at some of her comments like Kane being handsy. Ryan had one of his strongest episodes at companion thanks to Bella and his attempts at chatting her up were so bad that it made it good. We felt a little sympathy for him! Yaz getting in on that with some slight mocking was fun too and it's good for them to have that relationship. The way things got serious when the location outside of the dome was revealed as a Siberian underground station thanks to the Russian markings on the wall was very good. I actually really enjoyed that the planet was Earth on this occasion and whilst the comments from the Doctor in the TARDIS still provably was overkill in my view, it was a powerful message. I liked the continuity from Spyfall with the Doctor clearly still in a slightly bad mood thanks to her findings regarding the Master and Gallifrey and even though it was minimal, continuity like that is important. I enjoyed the concept of a hopper virus and the Doctor's instructing Ryan through the process was a lot of fun. Bella turning out to be Kane's daughter was really well done and I liked how because her mother hadn't been there, Bella wanted to burn the Tranquility Spa down to the ground. The pair joining forces at the end was a great way to bring them back together and leaving things ambiguous with them left to fend against the Dregs was great. I thought the directing for the Dregs was brilliant throughout and it was good to not show them wholly from the start. It was impactful and made their first full appearance more effective. Nevi and Sylas had a great relationship and I liked how Graham acknowledged that it was the latter as the younger son that was actually the talented engineer. Vilma and Benni's relationship was magnificent and heartfelt and the latter wanting to propose after 46 years together was just lovely. The moment in the vehicle where he proposed and then asked to be killed was extraordinary. The calm and sudden nature in which Kane revealed she killed him because he asked was quite something! Overall, a really strong episode that was definitely better than remembered. 

Rating: 8/10

Spyfall

"Everything you think you know is a lie."

Writer: Chris Chibnall

Format: TV

Broadcast: 1-5 January 2020

Series: 12.01-02

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, Ryan, Graham

Synopsis

Intelligence agents around the world are under attack from alien forces, so MI6 turn to the only people who can help: the Doctor and friends. As they travel the globe looking for answers, attacks come from all sides. Earth's security rests on the team's shoulders, but where will this planet-threatening conspiracy lead them?

Verdict

Spyfall was an excellent two-part story to kick off the twelfth series of the revived era of Doctor Who! As is customary with a television series, I like to rewatch it ahead of something new and with no airdate or even filming beginning for Series 13, I thought it would be a good idea to get reacquainted with the fam ahead of Revolution of the Daleks. Watching with foreknowledge of what is to come is always fun and provides a much different perspective than what happened on broadcast as for part one, I was just anticipating the moment where O revealed himself to be the Master. It's a wonderful moment on that aeroplane and there really aren't many hints at all before the big reveal which is testament to keeping things a secret and having more impact, but there was just one little line where the Master didn't seem to quite read up on the MI6 agent whose identity he had taken. The use of the term 'classic' between the Doctor and the Master was magnificent and considering this was their first appearance opposing each other, Jodie Whittaker and Sacha Dhawan don't have impress. The chemistry is sublime and is instantly recognisable as the Doctor versus the Master which is testament to the actors. I thought the spy theme of the two episodes was great and the Kasaavin were an impressive menace. Of course, it was Daniel Barton who was the more focused villain alongside the Master and I have to say that Lenny Henry was excellent in the role. The business of Vor was really good and I liked how technology was used throughout. The links it had with the Kasaavin and rewriting DNA was very well done. I thought the scenes at his birthday party were terrific and the moment where the Doctor is playing blackjack and keeps asking for cards before triumphantly yelling 'Snap!' is a favourite of my girlfriend and I's. It went down very well in this household again as we watched. Jodie Whittaker had a very strong outing as the Thirteenth Doctor and I love how she can effortlessly glide from comedy to serious. The change in pace in part two with the visits to 1834 and 1943 with the Doctor joining forces with Ada and Noor worked really well and was definitely beneficial for the two hours run time. The image of the Master as a Nazi captain was marvellous and he and the Doctor atop the Eiffel Tower draped in Nazi banners was quite the image! The Doctor sending a signal to the German forces faking that the Master was a British spy and also distorting the perception filter was really great, but the moment at the end as the Silver Lady is being used and Barton's plan goes up in smoke, the arrival of the Doctor and the way she so emphatically destroys the Master's plan before it's even happened and reveals she has the upper hand is really excellent. You can see the torment in the Master of being defeated yet again. I should mention the companions and I think it's quite fun to play with the idea of Yaz and O having a little flirt before we realise who he is was terrific and disturbing at the same time. The driver assassination along with that of C being revealed as part of the Master's plan from the start was very good and I do have to mention how good the cliffhanger is, because it really is spectacular. The resolution less so, but it's still a lot of fun seeing then Doctor put that plan into action at the end. The revelation that the Kasaavin were invading against spies across time was good and the temporal map was terrific. The Master's TARDIS is fantastic and was great to see and I liked his frustration at having to go the long way round after being left to the Nazis in 1943 by the Doctor. Planting the seeds of Gallifrey's destruction at the Master's hands and the lie of the Timeless Child sets things up nicely for the finale, and it's just refreshing to get long term continuity with this era. The fam learning more about the Doctor is also really good. Overall, a very strong opener!

Rating: 9/10

Mutually Assured Destruction

"Only Dalek lives matter."

Writer: Lizzie Hopley

Format: Audio

Released: 10 December 2020

Series: Time Lord Victorious #3

Featuring: Eighth Doctor

Synopsis

The fallout of the great battle.

Outnumbered and alone, on a Dalek time-ship careering through the vortex, the Doctor must use all his cunning to survive. As the saucer disintegrates around them, the Doctor is trapped with a crew of increasingly desperate Daleks.

Or are the Daleks trapped with him?

Verdict

Mutually Assured Destruction was a very good audio adventure to finish off the loose trilogy of Eighth Doctor stories within the Time Lord Victorious arc from Big Finish! This wasn't quite what I expected after The Enemy of My Enemy but I guess I shouldn't be surprised that all indications suggest this was set after All Flesh is Grass, which was seemingly set up brilliantly from the Eighth Doctor's perspective in the previous audio. This was very much the aftermath of whatever goes down there which is intriguing and frustrating at the same time. I really don't understand why they couldn't just release things in story order! I know that not everything essentially ties in and follows on explicitly like the Master Short Trips collection and Defender of the Daleks for example, but when things so clearly follow on I just wish they would release them that way. Anyway, onto the story itself and it was a really fun hour. I think the contained setting was unique and having the Doctor trapped on a Dalek time ship as it travelled through the vortex was terrific. The Doctor relished being in unfavourable circumstances and the Daleks leaving him to die in the engine room at the hands of extreme heat was pretty brutal even for them. Of course, the Doctor didn't die and had an ace up his sleeve to cause chaos with the Dalek systems and get himself reunited with the TARDIS which was in the hands of the Dalek Time Controller. I was a big fan of the continuation with The Enemy of My Enemy and the Doctor discovering that the Devolver was actually used on the Wraxians. His reaction was great and as expected. The Dalek hierarchy and roles coming into play in a big way was definitely the highlight of this story for me and the dissension amongst the ranks was fantastic! The battle of wits and claims of authority amongst the likes of the Dalek Scientist, Executioner, Time Controller and Strategist was magnificent and the power struggle amongst the latter two in particular was very good indeed. I'm a big fan of the Strategist and I think this Dalek has been the highlight of the story arc and I'm enjoying his relationship with the Doctor. The Time Lord's survival being in the interests of Dalek strategy seems contradicting but that's what makes it part of the fun. It's certainly intriguing! Tiska and Groth made decent characters but I'm honestly not sure they were entirely needed. Them being the last of their species was a good dynamic and I loved the Daleks referring to them as cargo. That immediately showed where they stood amongst their captures. The Doctor's use of the Dalek path web was terrific and the way he manipulated the Strategist despite their 'alliance' to cause Dalek chaos was great. He seemed to revel in it and Paul McGann was also on top form as the Eighth Doctor. I am rarely unimpressed. The Dalek extermination of Groth was a powerful moment as he hunted for Dalek weaponry and ignoring the Doctor's suggestion of hiding instead. The relationship the Doctor then grew with Tiska was nice and I liked how things seem to have set her up as a potential companion with how she was inside the TARDIS amidst the escape from the time ship on the brink of destruction. Her reaction of logic to the TARDIS interior was magnificent as well and I enjoyed that the Doctor liked her to the point deductions. I think they could make a good pairing, but it's interesting to think where things might go from here for the Eighth Doctor. Overall though, a really enjoyable audio!

Rating: 8/10

The Minds of Magnox

"Am I doing the right thing?'

Writer: Darren Jones

Format: Audio

Released: 03 December 2020

Series: Time Lord Victorious: BBC #1

Featuring: Tenth Doctor

Synopsis

The Doctor travels with Brian, the Ood assassin, to the planet Magnox, one of the greatest receptacles of knowledge the universe will ever know. The Doctor needs to ask a vital question, but the answer is Grade 1 Classified! In order to gain an audience with the Minds of Magnox themselves he must take a dangerous test. Is he smart enough to get through?

Meanwhile, Brian gets involved with the criminal fraternity and is given a job: to assassinate the Minds of Magnox. However, others also have the planet within their sights...

Verdict

The Minds of Magnox was a really good audio to serve as BBC Audio's contribution to the Time Lord Victorious range! It was a great way to use the talents of an original audio and there aren't many performers better suited than Jacob Dudman. He was hugely impressive in his narration but even more so in his impression of the Tenth Doctor. His likeness of David Tennant was uncanny and that was even evident in the mannerisms and expression as well as the dialogue. It honestly did feel like a genuine Tenth Doctor tale which is a huge compliment to the talents of Dudman. The story itself was fantastic and I thought the setting of Magnox was really interesting and did a good job of representing the Dark Times. The Doctor's continued journey in this unchartered period is terrific and I liked how this seemingly followed the events of The Knight, the Fool and the Dead with the Doctor and Brian on the run from an impending war, whilst also having sent the Kotturuh into a frenzy and on the brink of extinction. That was brilliant to hear and I loved the uncharacteristic nature of the Doctor in taking matters into his own hands and not quite following the rules. It shows just how different and a state of mind he was in following the events of The Waters of Mars. I loved Brian in this audio and getting the backstory on how he came to be an assassin was magnificent. It was quite an emotional little story and also presented the overall Ood life and expectation in a very good way. I liked the continued mentions of Mr Ball and how he was a brain. It helping with the data dump was very good. The concept of the Minds of Magnox themselves was very good and I loved how the Doctor knew of them and the legend during this period. His wanting an answer to a question he was keeping hidden from Brian was intriguing and I liked how the traits of the Doctor we know were there as he was seeking knowledge on whether his actions in his current predicament were right. His reaction to realising that the Minds did have the knowledge he desired but was classified was brilliant. I enjoyed that a lot. I thought some of the characters were terrific with Wim a particular favourite. His relationship with Brian was very good and I liked how Brian was bored and so took on assassination task of taking out the Minds of Magnox themselves. There was hardly a more difficult challenge! The planet itself was a great setting and the society there was presented in a really good and detailed way. I felt I knew a lot about the surroundings which was definitely a positive. I thought the role of the Kotturuh in the audio was excellent and their return to Magnox and offering to provide immortality and rescind their judgement in return for knowledge on how to get rid of the Doctor. I thought that sold just how much of an impact the Doctor made with Brian and the Time Lord really has seemed victorious. At least so far! The Tenth Doctor concluding things after Magnox was destroyed and emphatically stating how the Time Lord Victorious would win by any means necessary was very powerful and just an excellent way to set up the final novel. However, the highlight of the audio for me was Peschell's story. I really liked her relationship with the Doctor throughout but her ending and becoming the Oracle of Islos was delightful. Coupling that with a surprise cameo from the Eleventh Doctor running from his end on Trenzalore and making amends was magnificent. Dudman was great in his impression of Matt Smith and I just loved the story of him coming back and providing her with the knowledge and history of Magnox he had extracted from the planet before its demise. Her realisation that he was the Doctor by the end was lovely. Overall, a great little listen!

Rating: 8/10

Forgotten Lives

"Dementia changes people."

Writer: Emma Reeves

Format: Audio

Released: November 2015

Series: Torchwood Monthly #3

Featuring: Captain Jack, Gwen, Rhys

Synopsis

It has been four years since the Miracle, and Gwen and Rhys's lives have gone back to normal, very normal. They're raising their daughter (they've got pictures they'd be only too happy to show you), they're living in a nice house, and they're almost on top of the laundry. 

Captain Jack Harkness has been missing from the world and their lives for a long time. But late one night the phone rings, and they're summoned to an isolated part of North Wales. The Bryn Offa Nursing Home contains a dark secret, an alien threat, and someone who really shouldn't be there.

Gwen and Rhys are about to discover that Torchwood stays with you for the rest of your life.

Verdict

Forgotten Lives was a very good audio adventure to continue the monthly releases of Torchwood from Big Finish! I was delighted to hear Eve Myles back reprising her role as Gwen as she really is one of my all time favourite characters within the Doctor Who universe. I'm sure it has absolutely nothing to do with her nationality! Pairing her up with Rhys here was a no brainer and the pair have such good chemistry and just make an enjoyable couple. Gwen immediately getting called back into Torchwood action was fun and her getting a call from a Welsh woman who had supposedly got her number from Jack was an intriguing beginning. Taking the story to North Wales was great and the basis of a dementia home was fantastic. Mr Griffin claiming to be Jack was a lot of fun and the mentioning of Tosh and Ianto seemed to confirm it. The talk of the Evolver project was interesting and I liked how Jack required a bio stabiliser to improve his condition. Placing Jack's mind within an old man's body was excellent because he suddenly had the ability to die and perhaps imminently so! The use of Jack mentioning hot buns and Rhys remembering his childhood ventures to the best baps in the country being by a slag heap was a stretch, but simultaneously an incredibly fun way to introduce us to Torchwood Wrexham! Now that's a spinoff I would love to listen to! Jack's revival of sorts resetting his mind and realising that the old man was now Ceri who thought she was 15 was good and I enjoyed the description of her memories with an old woman and likening it to becoming a shadow. Gwen enacting a plan to go back to the care home to find out what was happening was great and the moment at the door with Gary knowing of the plan and having Ceri's phone was very humorous. It was wonderful to hear Gwen back as 'Torchwood Gwen' and Rhys reacting to that was brilliant. He was seemingly a lot more accommodating than what he was in the early series on television. Gwen threatening Gary with a vaporising gun was marvellous and her knowing that it was banned by the Shadow Proclamation was very good. Her belief that the care home was dealing with drugs that swapped minds was really good stuff and I liked how Jack, albeit still in the elderly body, stopped Gwen from shooting Gary dead. The mind swap element was a very clever way to include Jack in the adventure without John Barrowman present. His implementation of a lockdown at the care home was decent and his mentioning of the Evolved gave us a good presence to defeat. Jack explaining that his body was far away following the events of The Conspiracy and his search for answers about the Committee. The revelation that they were helping the Three Families cause the Miracle was outstanding and added so much to Jack's search for answers and this range as a whole. I'm excited for where things go from here. Eluned switching minds with Anwen was a little strange and I must admit I did find the voice off-putting. It just wasn't right for an adult to be acting and sounded like she did. The Evolved being the only people to have not been influenced and escaped the Committee was an intriguing development and with how things ended, I think we are far from the end of them featuring in the series. Jack having agreed to an Evolved experiment that was taking place at the care home wasn't much of a surprise and it answered a lot of questions regarding the events there. Their way of life including mind swapping was fascinating and a unique concept that I thoroughly enjoyed. It resulting in their people being nice to everyone because they could end up as them was fantastic! Jack revealing that he'd actually been trapped by the Evolved when they worked out he couldn't be killed was good and I'm sure will set up a future adventure. His tricking them to prevent their gift being spread seemed a little ambiguous and required a tad more explanation, but their retaliation of expanding through Gary was very good indeed. Jack offering his mind in order to free Rhys and Anwen was an admirable but expected sacrifice and I liked the line towards the end with Jack making it clear he would be back. I look forward to the reunion, but for now this was a great audio!

Rating: 8/10