Frontier in Space

"The path you are treading leads only to war."

Writer: Malcolm Hulke

Format: TV

Broadcast: 24 February - 31 March 1973

Season: 10.03

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

It is the year 2450, and a fragile peace exists between the great empires of Earth and Draconia. The TARDIS materialises aboard an Earth cargo ship which comes under attack. Arrested and accused of espionage, the Doctor is sentenced to life imprisonment on the Moon, but salvation arrives in an unexpected form... 

Can the Doctor and Jo stop the Master's plans to provoke a galactic war and reveal the deadly enemy waiting for the chance to destroy both empires?

Verdict

Frontier in Space was an excellent serial! I probably shouldn't have watched this one long after watching the following serial of Planet of the Daleks as things very much felt like they were not finished by the end, but as a whole this was a fantastic adventure! I really enjoyed the dynamic of the futuristic setting with the empires of Earth and Draconia very much established and with a lot of history that had led to a peace treaty which we saw very much under threat here. I was really impressed with that aspect of the serial and I thought it worked very well to not introduce the Master until around halfway through proceedings. The Doctor and Jo's arrival on the cargo ship established us with a good start and their role in increasing tensions between Earth and Draconia was great stuff. The relationship between the Doctor and Jo throughout was wonderful and it was so much fun for them to just be getting on and enjoying each other's company. I totally forgot that the Ogrons appeared in this serial and it was something that amused me greatly given that I had just read The Romance of Crime a few days ago and that was a novel they were very much prominent in! They didn't actually have a lot to do in this story but they still continue to be amusing and I liked how Jo sold them being the brutes that they are as she was genuinely frightened of them. However, the Doctor didn't seem overly worried given their stupidity and that role playing into their inability to be subjected to the mind probe was great. The Master's arrival into proceedings as the Commissioner was magnificent and a perfectly subtle reveal as he just sauntered onto the screen in his full garb. The music effects that accompanied that were very good and Jo's reaction was marvellous. The explanation as to how the Master knew the Doctor and Jo were involved being that he had been sighted the TARDIS after the Ogrons captured it was brilliant. Jo had a sensational serial and this might be my favourite story for her. The way she was deducing the plan when trapped was a lot of fun with how it was annoying the Doctor as he tried to think and then her keeping talking to consume the Master's ears while the Doctor escaped the cell was wonderful. A highlight for me was the nursery rhymes reciting to prevent the Master from hypnotising her. Magnificent. The political nature of the serial was terrific and something I really liked and works really well. The plot of the Master is superb with him pitting the empires against each other and using the hallucinogenic sound to make each side see their opposition when it was actually the Ogrons who were attacking and taking cargo. Williams in particular not having any of that and his distain towards the Draconians was obvious. I thought the Draconians themselves were brilliant and their design and look is really great. It's an instant classic in terms of their costume and I also enjoyed the Doctor having a history on Draconia where he was granted nobility by the Fifteenth Emperor. With the talk of a space plague that he helped prevent, I'm amazed Big Finish are yet to turn those events into an audio drama! The moment where the Daleks are introduced is very good despite it probably coming a little too late, but it's still an impactful moment and the image of the Master and the Daleks together is sublime. What more of an alliance could you want? The end result is more of a lead into the next serial but that brief partnership is a delight. The Gold Dalek sounded a little strange but its air of authority was very good. I thought the ending of events between the empires was a little rushed as we headed to all things Daleks, but it was good to leave things in a sense of agreement between the empires. Overall, a brilliant serial! 

Rating: 9/10

The Flames of Cadiz

"We are all sinners."

Writer: Marc Platt

Format: Audio

Released: January 2013

Series: Companion Chronicles 7.07

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara

Synopsis

The TARDIS materialises in Spain in the late sixteenth century. The country is at war with England – and the travellers find themselves on the wrong side of the battle lines.

When Ian and his new friend Esteban are captured by the Inquisition, the Doctor, Susan and Barbara plan to rescue them.

But these are dark days in human history. And heretics face certain death...

Verdict

The Flames of Cadiz was a decent Companion Chronicles audio! I thought this was a pretty solid adventure for the most part and a welcomed extension of the format for this range in that it was a four-parter spread over two hours rather than usual two-parters. It allowed for some more development the of the plot and one thing that I thought was hugely beneficial with the time was the way the setting was presented and the allowance for the TARDIS crew to interact with its elements. I liked the setting of the sixteenth century and the unique spin of having the TARDIS land in Spain rather than the usual England was terrific. I was a big fan of that and the problem of Ian and Barbara being English but stepping foot in Spain when the two countries were at war was fantastic. That was a really fun dynamic and it was also intriguing for the Doctor and Susan to almost be disassociating themselves with being English. The indication that Ian and Barbara had forgotten that fact was very interesting indeed. As is inevitable with a historical story set during this period, the religious theme worked very well and I liked how Barbara was using her knowledge as a history teacher to try and maintain the safety of herself and her friends. That safety didn't last for too long as we might expect and I thought her reaction to Ian being lost was great. She was devastated because she knew what this era entailed which was very good indeed. I thought the Doctor was a lot of fun during this Chronicle and his continued insistence that the planet's history couldn't be meddled with was terrific. I liked how the historical event at hand was the Spanish Armada which is of course a crucial part of history that almost anyone raised in the four nations of the UK would have learned about to some degree. Ian struggling to recall some of his history lessons at school was really good as well and I enjoyed that he didn't have much more than micro-bits to fall back on. His befriending of Esteban was a nice touch and he was a pretty decent character that served as another voice for the main cast. The cliffhangers were pretty impressive and definitely worked well for the historical fans like myself. I particularly enjoyed part three's where it seemed that the Spanish Armada had been thwarted before it even set sail, only for the Doctor's embarrassment to follow as he'd got the year and his historical facts wrong as we were actually one year prior to that sail and Ian's actions with Francis Drake had actually ensured history took the right path as he caused damage to the Armada enough to delay it a year in its advances. Utilising the First Doctor here was brilliant because at this early stage in his travels, he clearly wasn't so well versed in Earth's history. Despite all of the good, I thought the pace could have been a bit improved and I wasn't a huge fan of Ian going off for three days to fulfil his desire of meeting his hero Francis Drake. I was very surprised that Barbara was so willing for that to happen so soon after he had been freed and that was just something I couldn't buy into happening freely. However, the Doctor's reaction to finding out what he'd done was terrific, although he could have been slightly more chastised once they were reunited. Regardless, this was still a good audio adventure! 

Rating: 7/10

The Romance of Crime

"I will strip the flesh from your bones and bathe myself in your blood!"

Writer: Gareth Roberts

Format: Novel

Released: January 1995

Series: Missing Adventures 06

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II, K9

Synopsis

'How do you kill someone?' asked the Doctor. 'Eviscerate them, crush, reverse their particles. But do the dead always stay dead?'

The TARDIS brings the Fourth Doctor, Romana and K9 to the Rock of Judgement: a court, prison and place of execution built into a rocket-powered asteroid. There they become embroiled in an investigation by the system's finest lawman.

What connects the macabre gallery of artist Menlove Stockes with the slaughter of a survey team on a distant planet? Why is Margo, chief of security, behaving so strangely? And which old enemies of the Doctor are aboard the unmarked spaceship making its way towards the Rock?

Verdict

The Romance of Crime was an excellent novel! This was a great story from start to finish and it was a perfect example of capturing the era of the Fourth Doctor and Romana during Season 17. The way things started for the TARDIS crew and their game of Monopoly was magnificent and I loved the humour of the Doctor being on the verge of bankruptcy and losing the game. Gemma and myself do enjoy a game of Monopoly and we have quite a few variations so I really loved seeing the likes of the utilities and other streets and property mentioned. This book had an abundance of impressive characters and I think the standout had to be Pyerpoint. His role as the head of the law hierarchy on the Rock of Judgement was excellent and I loved how the initial occurrence of Voltt's rushed execution coming full circle with his plans on Planet Eleven and the mining of helicon. It worked very well and his hiding of the plan throughout was really good. He schemed well and the proposed alliance with Xais was very good, even if it was clear that both personalities were not going to join together and share the spoils. They wanted it all for themselves which made for a fun dynamic of having two separate villains that were also joined at the hip. The extra layer of the brothers Nisbett being thrown in and how Xais was trying to do a double double-cross was brilliant. I thought they were a strange pairing and the references to their mum along with their bickering didn't exactly make them out to be the villains their reputation would have you believe! I thought the return of the Ogron was a lot of fun and even though it was clear from the book's cover and the chapter title in which they emerged, the lack of surprise didn't hurt things. They're a comical race of brutes and I almost get to the point of feeling sorry for them on times because here they were just out to do as they were employed. No compassion was shown to them and the way they were destroyed was pretty harsh and instantaneous. It certainly had a big impact. I thought Stokes was a fun character and whilst it didn't seem entirely logical for an artist to painting portraits of those on death row, the distain he had towards Zy and his ability to sell his work was terrific. He wasn't exactly the bravest of characters though so when his student met a brutal demise, it was obvious that he wasn't responsible. Spiggot was also a really good character and his investigations into the matters on the Rock were intriguing, and the way the Doctor and Romana ended up coupled with him was fantastic. The reaction of Pyerpoint once the full clearance came through for Spiggot was excellent stuff. His initial thoughts that the Doctor was a decoy was great too. I liked learning of the history behind Xais and her execution of three years previous, and the way Stokes was utilised with the helicon mask was a really intriguing way for her to somehow survive through her soul living on. The way she was able to manipulate Margo was really impressive and I thought she made for a brilliant villain. The reaction she had after the Nisbett brothers surveyed Planet 11 and found only a residual trace of helicon was magnificent and it showed the tenacity of Pyerpoint to have already extracted it for himself in the hope of taking the power from Xais and living on. I thought the writing of both the Doctor and Romana was sublime from start to finish with the characterisation of their relationship ever so well presented in prose. Throwing K9 into the mix as well was lovely and I found it amusing how often he needed to be carried! The reveal that Pyerpoint was the Sentinel all along was not the biggest of surprises to say the least, but I liked how it occurred after he had been relatively quiet during events. Xais manipulating him once he got desperate after realising that he had been played and her formula could not be replicated was fantastic and the way he met his demise by the mining robot whilst wearing the mask of Xais was very sudden but a clever way to tie everything up. The Doctor and Romana having to leave and watch on as the mask and helicon devoured Planet Eleven was really powerful and showed just how evil she was for them not to even attempt to help! Overall, this was an excellent read!

Rating: 9/10

The Lights of Skaro

"I wonder if the Daleks were my fault."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: June 2014

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 1.04

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace, Benny

Synopsis

Bernice Summerfield is on Skaro, and she's very much on her own. The Doctor can't get to her, not this tie. All Benny can do is stay alive for as long as possible. And, in a city full of Daleks, that's not going to be very long.

Verdict

The Lights of Skaro was an outstanding audio adventure to conclude the first series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! It's fair to say that this has been an incredible boxset that has exceeded all of my expectations and was definitely worth the £9.99 price I grabbed the download at in the sale last year at Big Finish! This is honestly right up there with my favourite volumes they have released as not only has each story been to an incredibly high standard, but the series itself has had a fantastic story running through it that led to this wonderful finale. Even though they're both perfect ratings, I probably still slightly preferred Random Ghosts by a very tiny margin but this was honestly so great. The immediate follow on from the previous episode was very good following the announcement from Ace that we were on Skaro and the scene was set immediately with the Daleks exterminating Klinus at close range. Benny was devastated by that and went as far to say that she loved him so her distain towards the Daleks was enhanced immediately. The entire concept of the audio continuing the theme of time being broken and the ghosts we got from that was just tremendous. This was like a venture through Dalek history on Skaro and the contrast between the Daleks familiar to the later eras of Doctor Who compared to those first versions witnessed in The Daleks was just outstanding. The early Dalek who so brilliantly adorns the CD cover discussing with its future version was an incredibly powerful scene and a fine example of showing just how far the Daleks had come. The early version was content with eliminating the Thals and ruling Skaro, but the later version had much bigger ambitions which was very impressive and hugely enlightening. It was a fine use of the Omega Device by Benny to create a paradox by having the earlier version exterminate its future self to break the time lock around Skaro, but that was only after a wonderful visit down memory lane. The cameo appearance by Davros at the start of the episode was superb and he is a terrific villain so anything new with him always seems like a treat. I think it might have actually been a Davros sale that I managed to get this series as part of! Experiencing the Dalek perspective of the events of Remembrance of the Daleks and their sun going supernova was sublime and full of action and panic which we don't associate with the Daleks. Benny conversing with the Dalek Emperor shortly after the events of The Evil of the Daleks civil war was brilliant and I really enjoyed how the voice was reminiscent of the Emperor seen in The Parting of the Ways. The revelation that Klinus was always a ghost and actually a Kaled was fascinating and reminded us of the extensive history of Skaro and the deadly war that ended up creating the Daleks. The idea of the Daleks wanting to destroy the Thals to bear their own survival was incredibly intriguing and the concept of the stranger being responsible for the Daleks – of course meaning the Doctor – was excellent. The Doctor himself having to toy with the idea that he was responsible for the rampaging Daleks that would follow him through his regenerations was excellent. After all, he had armed the Thals whilst telling the Daleks of infinite life and time travel. It's such a fun concept. Finding out that Ace was on a mission to destroy the Daleks with stolen Time Lord technology was a lot of fun and I enjoyed how she was hoping to save Benny's mum amongst a whole load of other people! Varna also being a Kaled and failing to understand that the Daleks were what her people had become was sublime and the Dalek not bearing the sight of a Kaled fully formed and bearing limbs was powerful stuff. So of course she was exterminated. Foster trying to exploit the Daleks developed his character well also and it was good to know he was more than just a documentarian. As a whole though, this was just fantastic from start to finish! Overall, a superb audio adventure to finish the series.

Rating: 10/10

Random Ghosts

"Time doesn't like it when you interfere with it."

Writer: Guy Adams

Format: Audio

Released: June 2014

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 1.03

Featuring: Benny, Ace

Synopsis

Welcome to the Forbidden World. This world has a secret. The problem is that no-one can remember what it is. Time is broken here. Those trapped here must live the same day over and over – forming alliances, lying to each other, trying to escape. Welcome to the Forbidden World.

Verdict

Random Ghosts was an outstanding audio adventure to continue the first series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! This really was sensational from start to finish and just furthers the quality of this boxset. It really is a superb series so far and the way the finale has been set up is just brilliant. I loved the continuity we had from Good Night, Sweet Ladies with Benny en route to finding Ace despite the warning received from her fellow companion and the way everything is tying back to the end of The Revolution and the series as a whole is really impressive. I'm a huge fan. I thought the unique format of this audio was sensational with the time jump and how we weren't always experiencing the audio in the chronological order of events. It was really intriguing and how everything eventually came to circle around and become clear was fantastic. It must have been rather difficult to write but thankfully the end result here was magnificent. It was almost something like Sleep No More with how the cameras recorded everything, except there was a whole time factor slipped in as well which just enhanced the experience. I was looking forward to the meeting between Benny and Ace and whilst I remain none the wiser regarding their run together with the Seventh Doctor in the New Adventures novels, I had listened to them together in the likes of The Shadow of the Scourge and I thought they were really good here. It was obvious that there was some baggage and tension between the pair which was excellent, but for the most part Benny still cared for Ace and wanted to find her. Except she didn't want to be found and didn't wholly appreciate that Benny had come looking at the behest of the Doctor's orders. Kilnus was a very good character and I liked the idea of Benny having a relationship. Although my experiences with her are limited, she definitely has a sense of being more realistic and just more oriented to an older audience when it comes to her engagements. The sexual innuendo and activity was clear and did occur and her comments about the cameras always recording were amusing. She didn't like the idea of her privacy being watched! His hitting on both Benny and Ace at the different points in which they arrived and were experiencing the day said all that was required for his character. The whole concept of the planet recycling the day was great and fascinating but the fact it wasn't quite a time loop was a nice little twist. Everyone getting to see their past recordings stored in the cloud was very good and I loved that Benny was almost flabbergasted that she was in a relationship based on video recordings. Foster and his documentary was fantastic and I thought the little snippet of that was terrific. He was a great character throughout. Varna was another intriguing character and her believing that the ghost planet was her home was really good! Her theory on the planet and how they were caught between planes of existence and differing realities trying to take hold was marvellous. I loved the idea of the planet being time locked and the forbidden world concept being explained as the universe trying to rid itself of a planet was superb. I was a big fan of everything going on in this story, and the reveal that the planet was actually Skaro was sublime. The use of that famed Classic Dalek music effect was just perfect and it has set things up ever so well for the finale! Overall, a wonderful listen.

Rating: 10/10

Good Night, Sweet Ladies

"I never thought I'd grow old."

Writer: Una McCormack

Format: Audio

Released: June 2014

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 1.02

Featuring: Benny

Synopsis

Bernice has come to the Moon of Adolin on a desperate mission. Instead, she finds an abandoned labyrinth, two confused survivors, and something ancient that needs her help.

Verdict

Good Night, Sweet Ladies was another excellent audio adventure to continue the first series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! This is shaping up to be an excellent boxset and I really enjoyed the immediate continuation we got from The Revolution with Benny on board the ship and quickly crash landing on Adolin in her search for Ace. The enigmatic feel of the audio was outstanding and certainly one of the highlights for me, and I loved how the atmosphere was perfect for the story that was being told. The deserted Moon made for a brilliant setting and the fact that there were people there to greet Benny when she was certainly expecting to meet nobody was great. Claire was a hugely intriguing character and right from then off it was clear that there was something more to her than what first appeared. The fact that Steven Day didn't know who she was and she'd only turned up when Benny's ship began to crash land extended that position for me. She also knew Benny's name which was cleverly integrated into the introductions. I wasn't expecting a Dalek to show up and when that did happen it thrust the audio into action in a big and exciting way. It was excellent stuff. I loved how Benny sold the fear sparked by the Dalek but then used her knowledge to ascertain that this particular one was damaged and weak. Steven got to the point of nearly feeling sorry for it which said a lot, but once he was paralysed by one his opinion soon shifted! I thought it was wonderful to have a repeat of what we saw in The Daleks where Ian was paralysed temporarily by a Dalek blast as it's nice to know that this is a somewhat regular occurrence. It also did well in showcasing that the Dalek was weak which I liked. Benny realising that the Dalek had always been blind was terrific and it certainly explained why they hadn't been killed, although the potential emotional thoughts behind why the Dalek wasn't killing them were an interesting prospect! Adolin showing numerous signs that Ace had been present was fantastic and I really loved how Benny recognised her explosives signature. That was a nice touch and the keypad sequence where she opened the door was a lot of fun. Claire explaining that the Dalek was actually her guardian on the way to finding Ace was a great move and the mental torment that came from her with the ghosts and her turning out to be a manifestation of Benny's mother was incredibly powerful. That was audibly difficult for Benny and it was hard to hear the choice she was presented between her mum and Ace. Of course, Ace was real so there was only one option but it was still very difficult. I liked the little recorded message from Ace where she warned off anyone from following her to the eery sounding forbidden world and whilst it was obvious that Benny wouldn't be adhering to that request, Benny's decision to follow her was fun and again sets us up very nicely for the next episode. I'm a huge fan of the direction this series is going in and I'm really interested in finding out just what Ace is up to. Benny being close behind her is great and I'm sure they're going to meet up in the next story before a big finale with the Doctor joining them to bring everything full circle. But for now, this was a brilliant audio to continue the series!

Rating: 9/10

The Revolution

"We don't want to harm you. We want to kill you."

Writer: Nev Fountain

Format: Audio

Released: June 2014

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 1.01

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Benny

Synopsis

On the planet of Arviem 2, Bernice Summerfield has a lot of problems. Pursued by robots, maniacs and miracles, she has another issue to contend with. The Doctor's come looking for her – and he's not feeling himself.

Verdict

The Revolution was a brilliant start to the first series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! I didn't really know what to expect from this boxset and whilst it is still very much early days, I thought this was a terrific way to start and it served as a superb little adventure. I am somewhat unfamiliar with Bernice Summerfield when it comes to her as a companion and everything that occurred to her in the New Adventures novels which I am yet to start as well as her own extensive audio range, but I'm sure that one day I will get there! For now, this was a delightful reintroduction to her from my perspective and it was so much fun for her to be drunk in a galactic bar. Lisa Bowerman played that ever so well and her having to hide by taking on the guise of a human in suspended animation hanging from the bar top was hilarious. The fact that the other body in that position was a delightful revelation! That was so much fun and I was really impressed with the chemistry between the Doctor and Benny. They made for a wonderful pairing and I was pleased that this was essentially a standalone episode to start the series. I liked the galactic feel this story had despite not actually venturing far beyond the bar and Renk made for a really good character. I enjoyed his relationship with Benny and the way he was attempting to hit on her was very good and added a nice sense of realism to the series. It's what I'd expect from a character like Benny and showcasing her drunken tendencies at the start was further evidence of these character traits. She was enjoying the attention and why wouldn't she entertain the idea of a hookup? The theme of science of Arviem 2 was magnificent and I loved how literally anything that was spoken that went against scientific law could end in imprisonment or containment. It provided a great dynamic and having what you say looming over you all the time was a terrific proposition. The little moment we got with a local trying to grass up another of his population by her loose use of terminology, only for him to call the falling frogs a miracle was tremendous. Sylvester McCoy had an excellent showing as the Seventh Doctor and whilst this incarnation probably does fall bottom of my list, I loved him here. The confidence he had in the belief that his future self had orchestrated an escape was terrific. Benny's comments about the Doctor use being an annoying man in a hat when he was without the TARDIS seemed a little harsh, but he was annoying her so that seemed fair game. Renk getting knocked unconscious after the Doctor's comical arrival on the ship and changing the coordinates to tackle the probability algorithm that Xavier was using to track Benny was fantastic. I was a big fan of all of the science occurring and the literal word of law worked so well. The mythos of a pink dragon breathing life into the planet was fun to play with and that obviously didn't seem scientific! Renk using all of this to simply set up another bar establishment was fantastic and something that was so silly and yet logical that I didn't see it coming. I thought it was good that the Doctor didn't know why he had come to seek Benny, but then it suddenly hit him at the end as Ace had gone missing and the Doctor needed help finding her. So, she was able to take Renk's ship and hopefully find her which has set up the next instalment in the boxset very well! Overall, a terrific audio!

Rating: 9/10

The Face of the Enemy

"They weren't bound to the TARDIS any more."

Writer: David A. McIntee

Format: Novel

Released: January 1998

Series: PDA 07

Featuring: Brigadier, Ian, Barbara

Synopsis

The Doctor and Jo have gone off in the TARDIS, leaving the Brigadier and UNIT facing a deadly mystery – and a moral dilemma...

Robbery and murder are on the increase in Britain as disputes between underworld gangs escalate into open warfare on the streets. The Master seems inextricably linked to the chaos – despite the fact he is safely under lock and key.

Meanwhile UNIT is called in when a plane missing in strange circumstances is rediscovered – contaminated with radiation and particle damage that cannot possibly have occurred on Earth. 

As the mystery deepens, what little light they can shed on the matter leads the Brigadier to believe that with the Doctor away, Earth's only hope may lie with its greatest enemy..

Verdict

The Face of the Enemy was a very good novel and a unique read to say the least! It seems slightly out of place in the Past Doctors Adventures range given that the Doctor is not appearing in this book outside of the opening and closing couple of pages, but it's a great chance to explore the Doctor Who universe when the Doctor isn't around. It brings a lovely amalgamation of characters together and we end up with a lot of intriguing happenings. I like how the scene was set in the opening chapter of the robbery of Magnum Bank which I thought was very exciting and even though we knew that the Master was going to be involved, keeping him hidden until 55 pages in worked well and it made his arrival have an impact. UNIT taking the lead in the book was wonderful and I'm surprised that this didn't spawn a further range of adventures for the organisation! The Brigadier really did shine without the Doctor and even though the scientific advisor had swanned off in the TARDIS with Jo, his lack of presence was very much felt which I liked. But they couldn't just wait around with what was happening! I thought the role of that bank robbery and the Master losing money in the millions was good but the bravado of the Delgado incarnation was captured in the prose wonderfully well. I was really impressed with how well he was written and I loved just how calm he was throughout! The arrivals of Ian and Barbra into the story were wonderful and I think it's a lovely idea to bring them back into the fold a decade or so after they returned from their travels in the TARDIS during the The Chase. There were countless references to a number of their televised adventures which was great and right up my ally, and I also loved just how much they were in love. I think it's crazy that the pair were never explicitly depicted as being together on screen but at least here we get to know that they are married and have a son called John. Their reaction to finding that the Doctor had a job at UNIT was terrific and I would have loved to have seen their face when they learned this. The story taking place concurrently with The Curse of Peladon was a really clever idea and whilst I love the opportunity this book presented through its setting, it was a shame that the Doctor didn't get to be reunited with Ian and Barbara. Those two were fantastic throughout and I thought the moment where Barbara's death was faked was spectacular. His reaction to that was understandably distraught and the fact that he was suicidal and nearly followed through on that was incredibly powerful. The fact that it was the Master that talked him out of it was incredible as well! However, the Master showed how callous he could be when it came to him being told that the body wasn't actually Barbara, but he didn't tell Ian that fact because he wanted to harness his desire for revenger against Boucher and co. For a lead villain of the Conclave, which was brilliant organisation in of itself, Kyle was tremendous. I was really impressed with her throughout and she was a great character to go up against the Master. Her knowledge of him and his previous aliases was really good and presented a fun dynamic and it was really nice to know that we had a very knowledgeable villain. The links this story had with Inferno and it essentially being a sequel was excellent and something I didn't see coming. It was a really impressive way to explain the doppelgänger situation that was happening and the political links worked well as well. The description of the Earth from the parallel universe that the Doctor narrowly escaped from after the Inferno Poroject went wrong was superb and I really liked how the few survivors from that disaster wanted to take their place on this universe's Earth, but also to take out their counterparts. That was a really fun concept. I thought the likes of Benton and Yates had strong showings in the book, but it was all about the Brigadier for me. He was marvellous and had wonderfully strong feelings against the Master. His imprisonment and having this placed between The Daemons and The Sea Devils was marvellous. Everything worked out well. The deaths of Grant and Boucher at the hands of the Master extended his position as a great villain and the impact they had was felt in a big way. The death of Boucher in particular was quite something after Ian showed what he believed to be his wife's killer mercy. The little epilogue at the end with the Doctor and Jo returning from Peladon was fun and the Brigadier not explaining the events of the previous week or so was great stuff. Overall, a very good novel! 

Rating: 8/10

The Tip of the Mind

"He seemed to be offering lots of information but in fact he was asking all the questions."

Writer: Peter Anghelides

Format: Short Story

Released: April 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Companions 01

Featuring: Third Doctor, Zoe

Synopsis

Adventures in time and space are no fun if there's no one to share them. The Doctor has taken along many people on his travels – humans, aliens and robots. Did he really care for any of them? What in their previous life fitted them for the role of companion – and how did they cope after they left the TARDIS?

These seventeen stories look at the Doctor's trusty companions, before, during and after their travels with the eccentric Time Lord. Discover the truth about Romana's regeneration, find out what happened when Zoe encountered the Doctor again, and learn which of his companions the Doctor cared for the most...

Verdict

The Tip of the Mind was a good little start to the Companions anthology of Short Trips prose from Big Finish! It seems to have been a hell of a long time since I have delved into a collection of this sort but after finding it online for a very good price, I couldn't say no and I'm now excited to have started these ventures into the lives of the Doctor's companions. The synopsis intrigues me greatly and with Jacqueline Rayner as the editor, a writer who is a favourite of mine, I think I have somewhat high expectations for this collection of adventures. I thought the use of first person was rubbish though as I am not a fan of that writing style in the slightest. I probably wouldn't have minded so much if that perspective was from the point of view of a familiar character like was the case with Ian in Doctor Who and the Daleks, but here I just didn't care because I didn't know who Sandra Urtiman was and that meant I didn't really care about her. I think the nature of the format in being short also prevents a lot of difficulties in getting to know her and as soon as Zoe was mentioned, she was all I was interested in. I loved the idea behind this story though and having the Doctor encounter his former companion after the events of The War Games for both of them was intriguing given how things ended for the companion with her having her memory wiped by the Time Lords, ensuring that she forgot everything encountered with the Doctor except her first meeting. I thought it was nice touch to have Zoe recognise that this 'John Smith' was similar to the Second Doctor whom she met in The Wheel of Space and referenced those events nicely. The Doctor feigning being sent by an institute when t was actually the Time Lords was very good and I loved how that fitted in with the era of the Third Doctor. The description of his hair and blue velvet jacket was also really good and the characterisation for his appearance was very well done. Tobik and Xafta were decent characters but I think the main focus should have all been on the Doctor and Zoe. It was nice to know that they were discussing scientific theory and in particular having extensive conversation about time travel was delightful. I can imagine the Third Doctor being a perfect match for Zoe. The trouble being caused by her having all of her research and findings in her head rather than by publishing a paper was really fantastic and something new which I liked. Unfortunately, in such a small format there was just too much about Urtiman which got to a point of being somewhat annoying. I didn't care much for his messages from her mother that he she was putting off and the highlight for her definitely came when she was challenged by the Doctor and he challenged her with his influence and going to Director Sheerstock. The Doctor explaining that he had been instructed with a task by the Time Lords but later realising that it was all a ploy for them to ensure that Zoe's eidetic memory was rid of the dematerialisation codes that the Doctor so desperately wanted. His reaction to that was quite sad, but his words about Zoe were terrific. It was really nice for him to talk fondly of her. Sandra bringing Zoe to the TARDIS after the Doctor explicitly said that it would be troublesome was horrible and her fainting was a sad development because the Doctor had to quickly leave as her memories were already damaged enough. Overall, a great idea at the heart of the story but I didn't care much for the perspective.

Rating: 7/10

The Locked Room

"A chance to say goodbye."

Writer: Simon Guerrier

Format: Audio

Released: June 2015

Series: Companion Chronicles: First Doctor 1.04

Featuring: First Doctor, Steven

Synopsis

Steven Taylor left the Doctor and the TARDIS to become king of an alien world. But it's now many years since he gave up the throne and went to live in a cell in the mountain, out of sight of his people. He's not escaping his past – quite the opposite, in fact. As his granddaughter, Sida is about to discover...

Verdict

The Locked Room was an excellent audio adventure to conclude the first volume of First Doctor Companion Chronicles! It also served as a fine finale to the older Steven trilogy that started with The War to End All Wars and The Founding Fathers and I really liked that this was a Companion Chronicle that didn't take the form of Steven recounting a previous adventure with the Doctor and instead kept us with the narrative point of view that we had come to learn and know from the two aforementioned Chronicles. It was excellent to have Sida in a lead role again here and she really does shine as the daughter of Steven. I was intrigued to find that this story picked up after the previous episode some three years following Sida's inauguration. That had been quite the time jump and I was also fascinated to learn that Steven's age was close to a century! I'm very envious of that and I'd certainly be happy if I reached that age! Steven talking his way into getting Sida inside the locked room where she could learn all about his government money spending was a lot of fun, especially when she had made a big point of all of the meetings she had scheduled. She freed her grandfather an hour, but now she wouldn't be outside of the locked room until morning. Discovering that Steven had been enacting a long-thought plan to reunite himself with the Doctor was fantastic and I love the idea of him wanting to be with him again, even in his old age. The connection that came with Sida making contact with the Doctor and almost bringing him in was thrilling and the emotion in her grandfather's voice was palpable. It showed how much he wanted to be with him again which was nice and he felt something different to the jar-Doctor that he felt such distain for. I loved the idea of setting this story mid-The Tenth Planet for the Doctor and as he was dying, his mind was being sent across the cosmos where Steven could link with him. Of course, there was something more at play but as well as battling Cybermen, the First Doctor had a lot going on before he regenerated when we consider this coupled with Twice Upon a Time! He really didn't want to regenerate, did he? The Doctor explaining his predicament to Steven was intriguing and I was fascinated that again the Doctor seemed to be deciding if he was going to regenerate. He didn't explain the process which was good, but Steven having trust in the Doctor that he could save himself if he reached the TARDIS was wonderful. I was a big fan of the cliffhanger with the emergence of a Vardan and I really think they are an underrated enemy in Doctor Who history. I think there's so much potential with them and their return here was full of great stuff. The emotion that came with finding a survivor from the events of The First Wave was brilliant and Steven was quite saddened to find that Oliver seemingly had died for nothing. The little flashback sequence was also a nice addition and I also loved Sida's monologue at the start of part two where she reeled off all of the lost endured by Steven on his travels with the likes of Katarina, Brett and Sara getting a mention. Finding out more about his daughter Dodo's death was also a big shock as he seemed to have been the one to give the order, with only almost-certain knowledge that she had died or turned anyway. I couldn't do that without full certainty, so it was clear why she was such a sore subject for him. The ending was magnificent with Sida tricking the Vardan into the jar-Doctor and Steven helping both return to Earth to try and save the Doctor's life was terrific. Overall, a really great adventure!

Rating: 9/10

The Founding Fathers

"A man is a sum of his memories."

Writer: Simon Guerrier

Format: Audio

Released: June 2015

Series: Companion Chronicles: First Doctor 1.03

Featuring: First Doctor, Vicki, Steven

Synopsis

The TARDIS lands in Leicester Square in the summer of 1762. When the Doctor, Steven and Vicki find themselves locked out of the TARDIS, only one man can possibly help them. But the American, Benjamin Franklin, has problems of his own...

Verdict

The Founding Fathers was a really good little audio adventure to continue my listening of the first volume of Companion Chronicles for the First Doctor following the discontinuation of the range as single releases. This also follows on nicely in a narrative point of view from The War to End All Wars which was really great and I'm loving that we are simultaneously getting brand new adventures for the First Doctor and Steven, whilst also continuing events post-The Savages. It's terrific to explore Steven as an older statesman now and with him being old enough to have a grandchild in the form of Sida, his distain towards the Doctor's mind copy that featured heavily here was really interesting. It must be quite hard for Steven having spent so much time travelling with the Doctor who I am sure he would consider a friend to now have this alternate version of his old friend playing such a big role in the society he now found himself in. Steven getting free travel as a former King was nice and I enjoyed the relationship he had with Sida again here. She's a lovely little character who I am growing to enjoy and I am looking forward to her potentially meeting the Doctor in the next episode after where things were left here. Steven using the core story as a basis of proving that the Doctor in the jar was not the real Doctor was an intriguing development and I liked how throughout that the jar-Doctor wasn't understanding what was being gained by Steven from this example. The idea of the First Doctor and Benjamin Franklin meeting was delightful and not only did that happen, they ended up inside the TARDIS which was a lot of fun. I really liked how the Doctor just wanted to meet the historical character and get to know a renowned figure whilst they were stuck in one time period. The issue of the TARDIS being locked and the Doctor, Steven and Vicki being stuck outside was magnificent and I was surprised that the Doctor wasn't more frustrated! It was a nice issue to have and quite different for any TARDIS related problems in the past. Steven and Vicki being companions from the future is a fun dynamic and I liked their reaction to the eighteenth century London. They didn't recognise many landmarks which was good. Vicki didn't have a massive role to play in the story and I was a little surprised to find that she featured, I was expecting Dodo after the previous Chronicle in this loose trilogy. The Doctor trying to use science without revealing scientific developments beyond their time to get back into the TARDIS was good and the attempt to fly a kite and harness the lightning during a storm was great. The Doctor and Franklin being short-circuited into the TARDIS was terrific and a really fun cliff-hanger. I thought the mystery of Abigail Holt was very good and I liked how after all of the hints over the course of the story, she didn't turn out to be a time traveller. She was in love with Franklin but was actually in the employ of the Penn family who the would-be founding father was engaged in a butter legal dispute. That was brilliant and I enjoyed Steven and Vicki being in the carriage and picking her up when she was in her lady disguise. It was a sad tale in the end for Holt as she would be forgotten by history and Steven using her example and how the jar-Doctor claimed she wasn't important as a prime example of why he was not the Doctor he knew. That was really well done. It was a nice touch for Sida to have then stood and won election and then elude to Steven's experiments being a success in order to bring the Doctor back. Overall, a really good audio! 

Rating: 8/10

The War to End All Wars

"There was no enemy. They were at war with themselves."

Writer: Simon Guerrier

Format: Audio

Released: April 2014

Series: Companion Chronicles 8.10

Featuring: First Doctor, Steven, Dodo

Synopsis

Years after he gave up travelling in the TARDIS, Steven Taylor is the deposed king of a distant world.

From the confines of his cell, he shares his story with a young girl called Sida.

And one story in particular – a visit to a whole world at war, which will mark Steven for life...

Verdict

The War to End All Wars was a really good little Companion Chronicles audio adventure! I really liked how there was so much focus on the events after The Savages for Steven and it was really intriguing to learn of everything that has happened to him since his days in the TARDIS. It was very emotional to be honest and I liked how he had enacted change in his new home. I really liked how the adventure he told with the First Doctor and Dodo played a part in his decision to depart the TARDIS and take up the throne on his current home world. I thought Sida was a lovely character and with Steven locking himself away in a cell up in the mountains, she was challenging him a little which was marvellous. I loved learning about Steven's life and the revelation that he had daughters and even named one of them Dodo was really interesting and just lovely to know that he had started a family. It was clear that there was some dissension amongst the family though and the claims of favouritism towards his Dodo daughter made for a good development. Steven claiming to have just liked the name rather than it being anything to do with the person he travelled with didn't seem too necessary, but he did emphasise how he hadn't travelled with her long after she joined in The Massacre which was true. I thought the Doctor getting captured early on was a good way to basically write him out of the story but his role in the conclusion was delightful and definitely something I could see happening back in the 1960s if this adventure took place on television. Speaking of which, I liked how much this story felt a part of its era and the characterisation of all the characters was great. It's just good to get a new adventure with Dodo as they can be pretty rare and exploring the relationship she shared with Steven was really good. Their getting physically tested after the arrival on Comfort was good and I liked the issue of them being separated because of their results. The cliffhanger with Dodo being revealed as being on the other side of the war was unexpected but I loved that it turned out that the people of this planet were at war with themselves – and they didn't even know it! It later turned out that it was a prison planet for a particular type of criminal with intelligent personalities. So, the war turned out to simply be construct and the computer deciding who went where ensured that it was an endless stalemate. I liked that a lot and it was pretty unique! I liked how when Steven worked that out he then campaigned to get elected into office and hearing his election speeches and propaganda was terrific. I loved how he had taken a leaf out of the Doctor's book in trying to get the attention of those really in control instead of confronting the politicians and change their perception of the world they had grown up in. It all tied up very nicely and the glee in the voice of the Doctor when he claimed surrender on one side of the war was magnificent. Whilst I think the title and the finality of its title didn't really seem overly apt for the adventure we got, it was a really strong story and a nice exploration of Steven and his life after the Doctor. And there's definitely more to come with how things are ended as we don't have any feeling of closure regarding Sida and his relationship with her, or exploring the current state of affairs with there being no monarch and his relationship with his daughters. Exploring the death of Dodo was heartfelt and losing one's daughter must really have been tough. Overall, an intriguing tale with the aspect of the narration feeling like the main story a nice twist.

Rating: 8/10

The White Dragon

"This is Bruce Lee, the most famous face in Hong Kong!"

Writer: Scott Gray

Format: Comic Strip

Released: December 2020 - March 2021

Printed in: DWM 559-562

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, Ryan, Graham

Synopsis

Hong Kong, 1940. A lucky find in the sea breaks a long friendship.

Hong Kong, 1972. The Doctor and her fam arrive and get quickly embroiled in a local scuffle. A loose pendant becomes the target of thugs, and when Yaz and Graham are kidnapped, the Doctor and Ryan enlist help of the unlikeliest source...

Verdict

The White Dragon was a decent comic book story to welcome back the Thirteenth Doctor and the fam to the Doctor Who comic strip, but despite it being enjoyable and a solid adventure I just couldn't help but have a feeling of wanting something more. I mean, don't get me wrong this was far from being a bad story as my rating reflects, but when it comes to the comic strip format I think they should feel somewhat bigger than the television format with the possibilities on offer with pretty much extensive creative freedom. There's no restraint. Obviously, the inclusion of Bruce Lee here is evident of that usage and maybe it's just my age as a relative youngster at 24 which is why I perhaps didn't appreciate what was happening here as much as one might. I obviously am aware of the reputation of the actor but it's fair to say that I'm not overly aware of the culture of the 1970s! It was brilliant thought to take the Doctor and fam to Hong Kong in a historical setting and I thought the artwork for the city as a whole was magnificent. I was really impressed with that and it looked just totally different to any traditional or 'normal' Doctor Who setting. The city landscape was good and I enjoyed how the Doctor and co got embroiled in some local trouble almost immediately. The mysterious pendant that was found at sea in 1940 coming into play almost straight after in 1972 was unexpected but it was good and I thought it was quite amusing for Yaz to have bought a market pendant and them get mixed up in the scuffle. Graham's reaction to her complete lack of trying to haggle was very good and I enjoyed the pair's relationship together during the comic strip after they'd been kidnapped. The Doctor getting too caught up in the market to see that her companions had been kidnapped was great as well and I thought the characterisation throughout for her was excellent. Tung-Mei was a decent character and her being the one that got the fam in trouble with the pendant was good as she tried to escape the employ of Chen Luo. He made for a good villain and the way he didn't take any trouble was what I would expect from  a character like him with financial backing and almost mafia-like control over the city. His son was an intriguing character but I just wasn't overly fussed on the development into the four-armed man. It was quite the image but for my liking there was far too much action. I know that is what might be expected of a Bruce Lee story, but it was a bit overboard for a comic strip to my taste. It was entertaining, just too much. Ryan's reaction to meeting Bruce Lee and subsequent relationship with him was good and I liked how the latter later taught the former some skills in fighting and to deal with his dyspraxia. The Doctor lending a hand and teaching Bruce some Venusian aikido was fantastic though and I love that this gives her another name to drop in random conversations, something that's become quite the trait of this incarnation. The Kalatra looked pretty impressive as the controllers who had the ability to grant the control of Earth, and Bruce Lee being the designated champion was amusing if not slightly silly. It just all felt slightly recycled with elements of The Christmas Invasion in particular feeling strong. The whole comic strip run of the Thirteenth Doctor, whilst solid, hasn't felt emphatic or leading to anything and the Covid and Time Lord Victorious interruptions won't have helped that, but I feel like I'm still waiting for something big to happen. Overall though, a more than solid little outing!

Rating: 7/10

The Age of Sutekh

"Sutekh is not interested in creation, only destruction."

Writer: Guy Adams

Format: Audio

Released: May 2018

Series: FDA 7.08

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

The world has changed. And the evil Osiran Sutekh is returning.

As blood sacrifices and worship boost the strength of the God of War, servicer robots walk the streets, killing those who have not converted.

Leela is working with the homeless population of the city, while the Doctor co-operates with the police.

A brutal battle is ready to begin. And if the Doctor and his friends fail, everyone in the galaxy will perish.

Verdict

The Age of Sutekh was another very good story to conclude the seventh series of the Fourth Doctor Adventures! This also served as the second part to the story already started in Kill the Doctor! and I liked that we had immediate continuation with the planet of Drummond remodelled in the design of Sutekh. From there I enjoyed the religious theme and the talk of sacrifice to honour Sutekh was very intriguing and brought a tense atmosphere to proceedings, especially as far as Rania was concerned. I thought Leela had a really strong episode and I liked how she was instantly aware that the world around her had changed from just the air. I am always a fan when Leela's huntress instincts kick in and this was a delightful example. Rania being referred to as an Empress was good and an interesting position for her given that it wasn't long for her to fight back against Sutekh. Her being commanded to order the sacrifices of those supposedly loyal to Sutekh after seeing the world changed around them and them being influenced by the handhelds of Rene.net was an incredibly powerful moment. The noise of so many people willingly falling on their swords in devotion to Sutekh was extraordinary and the way he toyed with his puppet and almost mocked her for order the deaths of so many for her own selfish preservation was great. Now she had blood on her hands, but that would come back to bite the Osiran God. I liked how involved the Osiran Robots were and the description of their mummy-like appearance was terrific. They were definitely a highlight of Pyramids of Mars and their role on the beautiful CD cover was done justice by the story itself. Leela taking them on was wonderful and I loved how she was trying to unite the population of Drummond to continue her comments from the previous episode and how it was wrong that Kendra had to resort to stealing because there was no unity amongst people. I liked how Sutekh had renamed the planet to a new version of his original Osiran home and that fed his ego in a big way which worked well. The cliffhanger was a little surprising with the Doctor standing up to Sutekh and bringing the gift of life, and whilst it was a fun moment it didn't really spark much of a threat. I don't think we followed up too well, but it was still a nice addition. The Doctor, Leela and Joyce disguising themselves as Osiran Mummy's was a fantastic image and the muffled sound effects worked well. The slow burning development of showing that Sutekh was weak without the Rene.net network behind him was nicely done and I enjoyed that Rania finally challenged him. The moments where the original reality of Drummond was breaking through and flashing was great and I liked how Leela picked up on that. It was a good way to show that Sutekh's will was waining. He was draining energy and used the network to take Rania's body for himself which was a good for him to be reborn. Using his will to project his image was good and I thought the scene where he was toying with Leela and using the trees to essentially pull her apart was fantastic. Discovering that the realm of Drummond was that of Sutkeh's brother Horus was intriguing but the way Rania was able to rise from within and put paid to Sutekh was fantastic. I loved the comment of her cutting the puppet strings and that was Sutekh defeated. I must admit, I think he's a pretty overrated villain but it's great to have him return here for a more than decent double finale! The ending with the Doctor having left the food machine on Drummond was magnificent and definitely a story highlight. Overall, a great listen!

Rating: 8/10

Kill the Doctor!

"Why did everyone wish to kill you?"

Writer: Guy Adams

Format: Audio

Released: May 2018

Series: FDA 7.07

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

The TARDIS crew arrive on the planet Drummond, an Earth colony in the far future where everybody uses handheld computers from morning to night. Rania Chuma is the mastermind behind Rene.net, the datastream network that tells you everything you need to know. Anyone who's anyone uses Rene.net.

But ever since Rania was young she's heard a voice in her head. That voice is the key to Rene.net's success. And it's a voice the Doctor might find familiar.

Whilst Leela chases a thief, the Doctor looks into the planet's datastream and something evil looks back. A subliminal command flashes through Rene.net to Drummond's entire population: 'Kill the Doctor'. When the entire planet is against you, where can you possibly hide?

Verdict

Kill the Doctor! was another great little adventure to continue the second half of the seventh series of the Fourth Doctor Adventures! This formed a good first part of the double-length finale and it brings back a famous foe of the Fourth Doctor in the form of Sutekh, although it does in circumstances I didn't quite expect. I liked how we started with the Doctor and Leela landing on Drummond with the need to repair the TARDIS scanners. Whilst that was enjoyable and I never tire of Leela questioning the Doctor and him having to defend his old ship. That is always terrific. Whilst I did like that, I would have preferred some continuity from The Bad Penny and a comment about their intended destination of the Great Exhibition in 1851. We were incredibly far from that so I think it would have been beneficial to just elude to that. I loved the discussion between the Doctor and Leela about clothing attire and what that told about a person and the latter seemed genuinely interested in what her clothes represented. The Doctor explained that it showed she didn't feel the cold and she was good at using a knife, so she quickly brandished her knife for everyone to see with pride. That was great. The theme of data in the episode was excellent and I liked the intended going overboard with everyone being interested in their handhelds. Of course, society today is inundated with mobile phones so I appreciated what this represented and the dangers that come with it. Leela's comment about escaping often when asked if she'd escaped from somewhere by Kendra who obviously thought she was mad was just delightful and their relationship blossomed quite nicely from there. Her confusion of Kendra's homeless status despite referring to a box as a home was great stuff. Leela venting her dislike of cities was fantastic and I loved how she tried to lend her hand to an uprising after seeing her have to resort to stealing food. She wasn't impressed with this society with its people not looking after each other. The message instructing the society of Drummond to kill the Doctor was great and the Fourth Doctor was perfect for that. His fascination with the air bike was magnificent and the imagery to go along with the CD cover was marvellous! It was just lovely to hear the Doctor having fun. The cliffhanger with the emergence of Sutekh and revelation that he was in the head of Rania since she was an infant was excellent to go along with the Doctor being surrounded by the local population intent on killing him. Leela saving the Doctor on the air bike and not finding difficulty in using it was tremendous and I was intrigued to find how much of the episode they'd spend apart. Rania acting as Sutekh's puppet was great and she was a really good character! The Doctor trying to explain to Leela that he couldn't stop homelessness everywhere despite his abhorrence of its existence was a really powerful moment and I loved that she didn't accept that. She'd given her word to help and would not go back on that which was outstanding. Her leading the wholesalers break in was really entertaining and I loved her confidence when it came to dealing with the six guards. A number like that meant she'd be very quick! The Doctor going to Rania was good and I loved how we had a conversation from there with the Doctor and Sutekh through her. Rene.net being a network of all of the minds on Drummond was quite impressive and how Sutekh would utilise this was magnificent. It was a really good way for him to get his power back. Joyce protecting the Doctor after being interested and investigating him throughout the episode was a good move and I liked how he was able to provide protection by virtue of being a corpse finger. That concept was good and pretty amusing. The cliffhanger at the end with Sutekh having the network go live and the city being instantly rewritten in Sutkeh's design was brilliant. The Osiran service robots making a comeback to take the place of the guards in the new Golden Age of Sutekh was fantastic and a great cliffhanger to set up the finale! Overall, a very good audio.

Rating: 8/10

The Bad Penny

"An anomaly can become a paradox."

Writer: Dan Starkey

Format: Audio

Released: May 2018

Series: FDA 7.06

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

In the 1970s, hotelier Ron Tulip is having a difficult time. Many of his customers seem to be absconding without payment. The few who remain complain of strange noises and terrible sleep. And to top it all he's just been summoned to the VIP suite... which is something of a problem as he didn't even realise the hotel had one.

When turbulence in time takes the TARDIS off course, the Doctor and Leela find themselves visiting the same establishment and in the middle of a temporal paradox and a terrible plan.

Because that's the thing about the Cross-Keys hotel.

You can check in... but you can never leave.

Verdict

The Bad Penny was another very good audio to continue my listening of the second half of the seventh series of the Fourth Doctor Adventures! This was another very solid standalone adventure and it actually felt a little similar to the previous episode of The Shadow of London in that where we were wasn't all that it seemed. There was a tense atmosphere throughout which worked really well and I enjoyed how the stage was set with the opening scene of the hotel guest being locked inside his own hotel room amid darkness before leaving in a huff. That was pretty understandable! I don't think I'd have been wanting to stick around if that happened to me that's for sure. I liked the time paradoxical nature of the episode and that starting with the TARDIS getting grabbed at the epicentre of a tear in time was terrific. Unfortunately for Leela, her visit to the Great Exhibition would have to wait but I found it amusing that she wasn't really bothered by that. She had to question what made it great which was lovely and she's just such a wonderful companion who I am enjoying more and more as I explore her adventures on Gallifrey and with the Fourth Doctor. The Cross Keys hotel worked well as the overlapping setting and whilst a hotel isn't a unique setting for Doctor Who, it definitely has a lot of potential as there are so many horror stories that go around several of them on a global scale. Tulip was a good character serving as the hotel's owner and his relationship with Edwin was quite amusing. He was in charge of showing people around the hotel but he wasn't all there and didn't always go ahead with Tulip's plans which brought a smile. The Doctor's comments about playing the fool when discussing musical instruments was outstanding and I loved how you could hear the silent offence of the Doctor and Leela when they were referred to as clientele that weren't wanted after Edwin blurted out that several rooms were vacant. The mystery of the VIP room that Tulip didn't even know he had was excellent and the mysterious occupant showing Tulip his bright future was intriguing to say the least. The out of sync mirror was also brilliant and the Doctor slowly conversing with himself was great stuff. Deborah as the hotel surveyor made for a really good character and I loved the fact that she was from 2003. Time jumping all around the hotel was brilliant and I thought it filling up with a large number of guests from all walks of time over a two-century period was magnificent. I was a big fan of that and hearing the Doctor struggle for room was good. Deborah explaining how the Doctor had showed her the way posing as a caretaker was interesting because he hadn't as far as we were concerned, but then that did happen in a timey-wimey fashion which was fun. The revelation that the man in the VIP room was actually Lord Tulip, a 50-year senior of the Tulip we had got to know already. The blending of timelines here was fantastic and the older Tulip not knowing of the Doctor was evident of that. The Hadean monster acting as his business partner was decent but I wasn't overly fussed on the character as a whole, but that doesn't mean I disliked him either! It was just a little too similar to the creature of the previous episode. Leela's comment to one of the hotel guests from across time about not knowing Michelle or her hen had me in hysterics. Wonderful stuff. Ronald not trusting his future Lord self was very good and although the conclusion was quite quick with the different versions touching each other to spark an explosion that also conveniently sterilised the tear. Overall, a very decent listen!

Rating: 8/10

The Shadow of London

"Where are all the people?"

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Audio

Released: May 2018

Series: FDA 7.05

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

The TARDIS materialises in the backstreets of London in the 1940s. Whilst K9 entertains himself in the time ship's library, the Doctor takes Leela for a walk in the streets.

But England's capital is oddly quiet. There are no cars and very few pedestrians... whilst those people they do meet appear really quite English indeed. And all the while they are monitored by cameras feeding images into a secret control room.

Something strange is happening in the city. Traitors are running wld... and nothing and no-one are quite as they seem.

Verdict

The Shadow of London was a very good audio adventure to kick off the second half of the seventh series of Fourth Doctor Adventures! I thought this was a very decent opener and served as a good and solid standalone outing. I must admit that I have been a little surprised that there hasn't been any overlapping story arc throughout the series given the change in format to have it spread across two boxsets rather than single releases as with the first six series, but that's not a problem in the slightest! The pairing of the Fourth Doctor and Leela very rarely fail and they were on top form together again here. The scenes in the TARDIS control room were good and I liked how Leela was questioning why she was dressed in ridiculous clothing again. Her comment about asking what the 1940s were late for when the Doctor announced they'd arrived late in the decade was magnificent and Leela at her very best. She's so thoroughly enjoyable when it comes to taking comments literally. I love it. Their arrival into London was unique given the atmosphere and edge of quietness that greeted them. It felt a bit like the start of The Dalek Invasion of Earth and it was a good point of reference for Leela to hark back to the events of The Talons of Weng-Chiang and that busy London being a stark contrast to where the TARDIS had now arrived. But the systems had shown that this was 1940s London, so what was wrong? Hemmings made for a very enigmatic character and his comments about the edge and use of the word authentic told us straight away that this wasn't the real London, although I'm not entirely sure why it took the Doctor so long to work that out! The local population being particularly English was fun and things changing drastically once the screaming started was a good step. Maddox watching from the control room and reporting on what she saw and questioning the new arrivals was very good and I thought she made for a good little character. The arrival of the animal creature that had the appearance of an augmented life form was good and provided us with the threat the story needed at the right time, and it finding the Doctor and Leela made for a pretty decent cliffhanger, although I never believed they were in firm danger. It was excellent to use Leela's huntress experience and instincts throughout this story and it really made her a fantastic asset as a companion. K9 meanwhile was pretty useless and left reading books in the TARDIS library which I found amusing. Hemmings taking Leela to Maddox was intriguing and the latter's recognition of the former's past at school cost her life in what was a strangely predictable turn of events. The Doctor making a link to The Android Invasion was terrific and I liked that he connected the similarities between the two events. It turned out that we were actually in Germany during 1944 and a World War Two training ground for Nazis where they had recreated their own London! I thought that was brilliant and in a longer format we could have explored that to great effect. The Doctor intending on destroying the base was good and I liked the development that Hemmings was an MI6 agent and released the creature in the first place because of the cruel experimentation it was enduring. The Doctor and Leela finding Maddox dead and quickly realising it was at Hemmings' doing worked well and it was also great that he wasn't actually outright evil, but more so acting for his country and the cause of war. He had been sending the names of all those trained in the facility back to the UK so they could be captured on arrival which I thought was fantastic. The action at the end with the Doctor sparking the house into an explosion and Hemmings ensuring the creature was inside tied everything up rather nicely. Overall, a good start to the second half of the series!

Rating: 8/10

Doomsday

"Together we could upgrade the universe."

Writer: Russell T Davies

Format: TV

Broadcast: 8 July 2006

Series: 2.13

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

It's the end of an epic journey, as two mighty armies wage war across the Earth, with the human race caught in the middle, but as an unstoppable terror emerges from beneath Torchwood, the Doctor faces an even greater dilemma – does saving the world mean the death of Rose Tyler?

Verdict

Doomsday was a sensational episode to conclude the second series of the modern era of Doctor Who as well as the story already started in Army of Ghosts. The stage was set with that excellent opening part and this one certainly isn't a letdown when it comes to the prospect of pairing the Daleks against the Cybermen. I've always been amazed that it took this long for the Doctor's two deadliest monsters to meet and whilst they are very much against an alliance, their combined presence makes for an eventful situation for the Doctor! Rose oozes confidence when the Daleks emerge from the void ship which was really impressive and I thought for her finale she had an incredibly strong showing. It has been clear for a very long time now that she loves the Doctor but being prepared to never see her num again in favour of staying him was a different level. I love how everything comes together in this episode with the Cybermen emerging en masse and tying up the ability to jump between worlds from one parallel universe to another. The Doctor supposedly being proof for the Cybermen that emotions made one weak was excellent and his sense of hope being on its way was a wonderful moment. His reaction to seeing Jake back was terrific and I liked the continuity from Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel with the Cybermen having upped and vanished here. It had been three years since the events of the aforementioned story which was interesting and Pete seemingly having assumed command was great. I really enjoyed his arrival into the episode and the moment he would later share with our universe's version of Jackie was sublime. Rose's reaction in the background of that makes it for me and it's quite something for Jackie to full on experience life with the Doctor. Her comment about ghosts coming back was excellent. I love the concept of the Cult of Skaro and whilst there's more to come from them, this serves as a terrific introduction. The anticipation of the meeting between the Daleks and Cybermen is outstanding and the Doctor's reaction when the former is spotted is marvellous. Their battle to identify first is comedic greatness and I like how with just four of them, it's the Daleks whose weapons work on the Cybermen and not vice versa. That doesn't stop the Cybermen from continuing battle though! The conversion of Yvonne is a powerful moment and her continuing to do her duty for Queen and country after the fact is unexpected. I like the role of the Cyber Leader in the episode and going back to the black handles is brilliant. The Genesis Ark is a great concept as a prison ship from the Time Lords containing millions upon millions of Daleks. The Time Lord science being that it's bigger on the inside was very well done. After all of the battling, it's quite a simple fix for the Doctor in the end thanks to the technology available to him at Torchwood. He simply sends the Daleks and the Cybermen to Hell. Not bad, as Mickey points out well. The void stuff and the reveal of the Doctor's funky 3D glasses was fantastic and I really liked how suddenly he announces that Rose will have to go to Pete's World to be safe after the breach sealed. She wasn't having that, but then nearly ends up falling into the Void if it wasn't for Pete. How Pete isn't sucked in is beyond me, but the emotional scene on the beach that follows is enough to make up for it. It's powerful stuff and I was impressed that Gemma didn't cry besides me given her love for Rose. It's a fitting farewell for her as companion. Overall, a stunning episode!

Rating: 10/10

Army of Ghosts

"A footprint doesn't look like a boot."

Writer: Russell T Davies

Format: TV

Broadcast: 1 July 2006

Series: 2.12

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

The human race rejoices as the ghosts of loved ones return home. As the Doctor, Rose and Jackie investigate the Torchwood Tower, a trap is being sprung, and the whole of modern-day Earth threatens to fall before an almighty invasion force.

Verdict

Army of Ghosts was an excellent episode to kick off the Series 2 finale! It really is a superb adventure and such a good way to set up the conclusion of the finale. Everything about it is just terrific and right from the off it's brilliant. I like how Jackie revels in knowing a little more about something mysterious than the Doctor and the entire concept of the ghost shift is really intriguing. The Doctor's interest is peaked right from the off which is brilliant to see and I love how Jackie feels a little saddened that he has to reduce it to science and ruin it for her. It couldn't possibly be Grandad Prentice coming for a visit when he had died a decade ago. But the more she wanted him there, the stronger the familiar smell came back. The idea of a psychic link was very good and I loved the suspicions of the Doctor right from the off. He was keen to reiterate that the ghosts were being pressed into existence which I really liked and I thought his ghostbuster routine was wonderful. It's a fine performance from David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor. I thought this introduction to the Torchwood Institute was fantastic and Yvonne shines as its head. Gemma stating 'what a woman' when she appeared on screen was enough for me to realise just how good she is. I've experienced a lot of her since the last time I watched this episode in a number of Torchwood audios so it was great to go back to her origin here. She really is a great character. The story arc coming full circle with the Sycorax ship destruction explanation in The Christmas Invasion along with Queen Victoria having set up the Torchwood Institute in Tooth and Claw was really good. Jackie really shines in the episode and the Doctor's reaction when taking off and realising that she was still on board was wonderful. I also love how he fakes her being Rose after arriving at the Institute after tracking the source of the ghost shift. This episode is the prelude for a sore spot for Gemma with it being Rose's departure. The Torchwood motto is wonderful and I was also delighted to hear the familiar Torchwood theme throughout the episode. I couldn't remember that from the last viewing so that was a nice touch. The way the Cybermen are used in the episode is really strong and the 'new offices' hiding their presence is great stuff. Them serving as the advance guard after following the void ship through to this world was really interesting and the Doctor's reaction to finding that the ship wasn't of Cyber origin was excellent. The entire concept of the void ship was brilliant and trying to comprehend the concept of nothing was quite something! Mickey's return in this episode is so well done and I like how Rose manages to keep herself together after trying to fake her way into some answers. The explanation of how the Cybermen just vanished from the alternate universe was intriguing and everything heading towards some sort of Emperor or Cyber Leader being within the void ship was superb, but the twist being that it actually contained Daleks was magnificent. It really is such a good twist and I'd love to have experienced this on broadcast. All attentions being on the Cybermen whilst the sphere activated was brilliant and it serves as such a good cliffhanger for what's to come. This really is a fine episode from start to finish and does such a good job for the opening episode of a finale. Excellent episode!

Rating: 10/10