Wicked Sisters: The Moonrakers

"Sontarans on the moon! That is not good."

Writer: Simon Guerrier

Format: Audio

Released: November 2020

Series: Fifth Doctor Adventures: Wicked Sisters 02

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Leela, Abby, Zara

Synopsis

Life is hard for the early pioneers building the first settlements on the Moon. The laws of Earth don't apply here, and there are tussles over limited resources vital to survival. Arriving on the Moon, the Doctor and Zara discover that an aggressive alien species lies in wait. Yet there's something very strange about these particular Sontarans: they refuse to fight.

Verdict

The Moonrakers was another excellent story to continue the Wicked Sisters boxset within the Fifth Doctor Adventures! After a really strong cliffhanger at the end of The Garden of Storms, the way this one started was good with the Doctor and Zara trapped in a dark shipping container. The air release that followed and the effect that had on Zara was a strong way to start things and the reveal of the 'spaceman' actually being a Sontaran was magnificent. Bringing a familiar Doctor Who enemy into a story with the Graceless sisters was terrific and I was intrigued that they had knowledge of the warmongers. Abby and Leela being left with the smoke creatures was entertaining and the prospect of them being fed on was amusing and I really liked that Leela was able to pilot the TARDIS to escape and follow the scar left by Zara and the Doctor's teleportation. The introduction of Stent the Sontaran was wonderful and it's no secret that I'm a huge fan of the Sontar natives. They're just superb and the dynamic of Stent aiding Zara and even offering tea was quite uncanny! The comment about the milk going in last was blasphemy though because everyone knows tea should go in before the hot water. The setting being a human moonbase with a lack of humanity was fun and the introduction of Captain Riya was also very strong. Her mentioning of the leapers was really good and all they entailed followed well. The revelation of the TARDIS being jettisoned was great but I don't think we came back to that properly which was my only slight qualm with the story. Stent having an interest in the Doctor and Zara's lack of requirement for water was superb and I loved the idea of a Sontaran experiment. Considering the power of Abby as a Graceless sister, her fear of the Sontarans was an intriguing element and it did a lot to sell just how brutal the Sontarans can be. Leela's recollection of The Invasion of Time and defeating Sontarans in her past was tremendous, but I don't think I was ready for the revelation of the Sontarans gardening with moon dust! That was quite extraordinary and the idea of them having an artful distraction from war was excellent. Stent proudly showcasing the Doctor and Zara as his modified humans was great and the fact that his fellow Sontarans were impressed was wonderful. The Doctor's impression of a Sontaran was also sublime. Great humour. The situation on the Moon with the leapers and the Sontarans surrounding the food supply was very good and the latter's plan to slaughter rather than have an all out war was of peak interest. The reunion between the Doctor and Zara with Leela and Abby was unexpected as it seemed that the former pair had existed on a different time track with the TARDIS arriving later than they arrived. That was a fun little twist. It appeared that the Doctor and Zara had been experimented on and had become Sontaran soldiers which was superb stuff. The lack of spark between Abby and Zara was good and the latter's reaction to the plan for first blood was magnificent. The truth actually being that the Doctor and Zara were playing the long game of deception from within was fantastic, if not a little expected. This being the only way to avoid slaughter was nicely done, but the conversation that followed in the TARDIS after the Sontarans were defeated was outstanding. The Doctor had unknowingly changed established history because Zara chose not to interfere which was a wonderful dynamic and Leela questioning that from the wicked sister was great. The actions that followed stopped missiles from Earth wiping out the Moon with the Sontaran garden supposed to have haunted humanity with it not fitting in with Sontar character. It started to grow and the reveal that it was actually the garden from the previous episode where the Doctor and Leela first encountered Abby and Zara again was marvellous. Changing the future and the meeting place that brought them to their current scenario was fantastic and I do love a paradox! Overall, a terrific audio adventure.

Rating: 9/10