Last Chance

"History fights back."

Writer: Guy Adams

Format: Audio

Released: April 2018

Series: Tenth Doctor Chronicles 1.04

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Lady Christina

Synopsis

Trying to spare a few creatures from extinction, the Doctor bumps into an old acquaintance on the African plains – Lady Christna de Souza. They are about to find themselves on the endangered list...

Verdict

Last Chance was a fantastic adventure to conclude the first volume of the Tenth Doctor Chronicles! This really was a fine finale and saw us get a long awaited reunion between the Doctor and Lady Christina de Souza! She really did make an impression back in Planet of the Dead and even now has her own Big Finish spinoff series, and having her alongside the Doctor once again during his final holiday as we head towards The End of Time was terrific. I thought the setting of Kenya in the African plains was excellent and I was intrigued how we initially started in 1844 off the coast of Iceland, but that all came around full circle in a very nice way. The talk of beginnings and endings was poignant as far as the Doctor was concerned considering where in his timeline this was placed, but the double meaning it would have with the focus on endangered species was brilliant. That was a clever theme. Christina was up to her old tricks in robbing Ivanov on his hunt and from his hotel rum which was good, and I loved how the Doctor made an entrance on a rhino to pick up his old thief-friend! That was classy and well in with the setting. The Doctor talking of how he, and in turn his species, were close to extinction was superb and the writing really did nail the characterisation of the Tenth Doctor during that run of 2009 Specials. Christina reflecting on being told no when she wanted to travel with the Doctor was nice and I liked that it was clear she still wanted to see the universe. The escape from the spaceship into the TARDIS, rhino and all, through the doors and Christina not thinking they'd all fit was lovely and I really like that she got to go inside the TARDIS! That was a really nice touch. She was definitely impressed. The Doctor being on a mission to collect endangered species and house them in the TARDIS was intriguing and I liked how the Deagle, the spaceship owner, was doing the same as part of his latest ruthless hobby. A current theme across his pastimes was that he dreamt of destroying the Doctor which was good. They had an unseen history with the Doctor always stopping Deagle's fun. The ravager's final stop and species on his checklist being the Great Auk took us back to Iceland but Deagle had blocked the TARDIS from entering the island, so there was some ingenuity used to have the TARDIS on its side and get there by more contemporary water-based means! That provided some fun humour. Christina showing some emotion and being saddened by all the endangered species was nice to include and develop her character a little. Deagle's plan once paying for what he thought was the final Great Auks being to catalogue, freeze, stuff and then display them at his holiday home was despicable so it was marvellous when the Doctor revealed they were fakes and holograms! The Doctor going to Deagle's ship, which was interestingly sentient, was good and I was intrigued that despite having no morals Deagle always wanted to stay on the right side of law. The Deagle getting a big incentive when the Doctor revealed he was the last of his species was nicely done, but the Deagle's own ship turned on him after revealing it hated its owner which was pretty amusing if not a little silly! They were going to leave to fate and have nature take its natural course which saw the Deagle become lion food in a pretty gruesome ravaging! The poignant ending with the Doctor not wanting Christina to ask to travel with him again was a firm reminder of what was to come for the Doctor, so I'm glad he got to have another outing with Christina before it was his time to go! Overall, a fantastic listen!

Rating: 9/10