The Dead Shoes

"I believe those shoes are dancing to someone else's tune."

Writer: Paul Magrs

Format: Audio

Released: October 2009

Series: Hornet's Nest 02

Featuring: Fourth Doctor

Synopsis

Visiting the English seaside town of Cromer in the summer of 1932, the Doctor happens upon the strange world of the Cromer Palace of Curious. The young Ernestina Scott is unusually beguiled by one of the museum's exhibits, and when the Doctor befriends her, they unwittingly embark upon a terrifying escapade. Chased by animated dolls through a nightmarish model house, the Doctor realises he is being hunted by a familiar enemy. The unmistakable sound of hornets is in the air, and they are keen to speak to him. Overseeing this game of cat and mouse is the Palace of Curios' curator – a certain Mrs Wibbsey...

Verdict

The Dead Shoes was another decent story to continue the Hornet's Nest anthology. I was intrigued with the continuation from The Stuff of Nightmares and even though it was established that this audio would be from the perspective of the Doctor recalling a past encounter with the Hornets, I expected Mike Yates to feature more prominently. Whilst he ended up with what was essentially a pair of cameos to bookend the adventure, and they were great, I was just expecting more of him. It wasn't a bad thing in the slightest and him serving as the subject for the Doctor's tale is fun. There probably just needed to be a bit more interruption on Mike's behalf like in the first instalment. I enjoyed the 1932 setting and that worked well as we meet Ernestina Stott and her dancing performances were revelling the local community. The Cromer Palace of Curios was a fantastic museum setting and definitely seems like somewhere I would want to visit! This serving as the place where the Doctor met Mrs Wibbsey was good and unexpected given the time difference. I thought the Doctor's line of "I never forget a face" was excellent in seeing Stott and it just reminded me of The Day of the Doctor line with the Curator which was tremendous. Ernestina having some hornet trouble was good and the idea of a leech detection device was interesting and I actually expected more to come of that. Ernestina claiming to not meet the Doctor when we had heard that very meeting was intriguing and the concept of her dancing slippers giving her ungodly abilities was quite something. I mean, even for Doctor Who, supernatural slippers is beyond bonkers. This is certainly shaping up to be a unique set of stories! The Doctor hoping Mrs Wibbsey had the answers for whose shoes they were was good and a nice development and I liked how she did know that Stott was in grave danger. The storm that came with the Hornets attempting to take over Stott and control her was pretty good but I wasn't a huge fan of the Doctor using his trusty scarf to essentially lasso her to safety from jumping off a cliff. That just didn't seem believable. Wibbsey having been the guard for Francesca as the Hornet host was an intriguing move and one I liked and I thought the concept of once being infected or infiltrated by the Hive, you were weakened and could never be the same. It was clear that Wibbsey was serving the Hornets as her masters and the intention for Stott to be the new host was great. I was less a fan of Wibsbey's vocal chords being used to miniaturise the Doctor and Ernestina, but once they were smaller it was quite fun to have them in the doll house. The peg dolls coming to life might have served for the basis of what we saw in Night Terrors which was fun to think about. Hearing about Francesca's history as a tightrope walker in a circus was brilliant and I liked how that was a hint of what is to come in the next story, with the Hornets describing how it had been a century since they last encountered the Doctor. Except for him, it hadn't happened yet. They were dancing the temporal tango which was the best line of the audio. The Doctor revelling in not having his mind infiltrated was marvellous and this was definitely an improved outing for Tom Baker. The scarf being used again along with Stott's stockings to escape the attic was a bit repetitive and just not quite believable for me. The line from the Doctor claiming that he didn't wear the scarf for fashion was fantastic though! The use of the sonic screwdriver to return to size was logical if not easy, but Wibbsey's reaction made that a tremendous moment. Stott being forced into wearing the slippers again to fall under control was intriguing and the comment about the Hornets having been on Earth for nearly a millennium was mightily interesting. Might we keep reverting back through time as the series rolls on? I thought Ernestina was freed quite simply but the Reverend's reaction to the shoes still dancing with no wearer was very good. The explanation as to how the Doctor acquired Wibbsey as his housekeeper in the future, 2002 apparently, was marvellous and I like how he keeps having to hypnotise her due to her being susceptible to the Hive. The format of things moving forward with the Doctor teasing where the trail led next was really good and I look forward to hearing the next encounter! Overall, a good listen.

Rating: 7/10