Spirit

 

"Trust has no meaning on your world."

Writer: Stephen Cole

Format: Audio

Released: May 2005

Series: Gallifrey 2.02

Featuring: Romana II, Leela

Synopsis

Leela is tired. Tired of the backbiting politics and intrigues in the sterile society of Time Lords. With the fate of her husband now known, she feels lonely and out of place on Gallifrey.

Romana is tired. Tired of justifying herself and her policies to a hostile council. With the line between allies and enemies beginning to blur, she persuades Leela to go with her to the presidential retreat of Davidia, a protected paradise. 

Then an anomalous time ship arrives, carrying a single passenger. His hands are crushed, his tongue torn out, his mind destroyed. Is this broken man a victim of some terrible crime or part of a trap now primed and ready to spring? After this strange encounter, Romana and Leela may never be the same again.

Verdict

Spirit was a great continuation of the second series of Gallifrey! This was quite unique to the range which was good given that hardly any of the adventure actually took place on Gallifrey but the role it served in the story arc that encompasses the second series was really interesting. I liked how Leela was expressing how unhappy she was on Gallifrey and with all that had occurred with Andred, who could blame her? The mention of him having escaped from his prison cell was good and I hope there is more on that in a future story. I loved Leela's take on feeling lonely on this planet without her husband and almost pleaded how she had her own voice and just a singular body. The idea that Gallifrey's bio-fields have kept her young was fantastic though! The politics continuing on Gallifrey with the likes of Narvin and the Inquisitor is great and I like the threat of a dictatorship should Pandora get the upper hand in taking over Romana. Her now being on gardening leave with a presidential retreat to Davidia was really good and I liked that she wanted to take Leela with her for a well deserved break. This was an incredibly strong story for their relationship which was wonderful to hear. Hallan was a humorous character as the presidential escort and Melyin trying to manipulate him into some sort of a sexual encounter was intriguing, and I loved the twist at the end with her just using him to get removed from her role and secure her freedom. Leela and Romana agreeing to an activity of choice by the other was terrific and I loved how Romana was being taken into the wild lands. Leela's talk of fruit and spirits was magnificent and Romana countering that with her scientific explanation was equally as enjoyable. The contrast of Romana feeling like she didn't belong within the woodlands was brilliant but then things moved in a different direction quite quickly once the TARDIS containing the broken man arrived. Hallen's startling Romana and Leela in the wild was amusing and I thought the audio for this limited character was impressive and disturbing, which I think was the aim. Romana attempting to make contact was useless as his mind was broken and I loved how Leela was determined to provide a herbal remedy. Braxiatel conforming that the TARDIS print hadn't yet left Gallifrey was a nice surprise as I enjoy the issues caused by time travel on or concerning Gallifrey. There are all sorts of quandaries! The identity of the man, presumed Time Lord, was still unknown and the lack of tongue, hands and mind didn't make things easier. The prospect of the only way to discover him being if Romana connected with the Matrix was great because that opened up Pandora's way out which I liked. Almost as if everything was planned. Romana's idea of relaxation being the sensory tanks that she would endorse upon Leela was good and she also wanted the broken man to experience the heightened senses. What we got within was very interesting and it was so much fun to have Romana and Leela jumbled together. Lalla Ward's take on the savage was just wonderful. Really impressive. Things did get admittedly a little confusing within the dream as it wasn't clear that this was what it was. It turned out to be a shared dream and warning from the broken man on what would happen should a regeneration be forced and the symbol of the bat creatures was very good. The herbs from Leela had allowed the broken man to share synapses in the water and created a shared dream, and the warning it served was horrifying. It seems they have to condemn the broken man to continued torture and Romana to the Matrix. Overall, another really good audio adventure from the range!

Rating: 8/10