He's Behind You

"How can anyone hate panto?"

Writer: Dave Sudden

Format: Short Story

Released: October 2020

Printed in: The Wintertime Paradox 01

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis 

Did you Davros and the Doctor met for three Christmases, on different planets, across time and space? Have you heard the one about the time the Plasmavores came to pay a festive visit? Or when Madame Vastra fought a cyborg?

The perfect collection of the bleakest – and sometimes brightest – time of the year, these are the tales to get you halfway out of the dark...

Verdict

He's Behind You was an excellent short story to kick off my reading of The Wintertime Paradox! I never really know what to expect from short stories but these forty pages absolutely flew by which is obviously a great sign! I loved how it was established very early on that this featured the Tenth Doctor and Rose, and we weren’t far removed from The Christmas Invasion in the slightest. I liked that placement as there definitely is a decent gap there to fill before New Earth as even the Doctor Who Magazine comic strips went there so I like the uniqueness of that placement. Rose was still getting used to the Doctor’s regeneration which was brilliant to explore and I loved the suggestion that she might feel guilty for her old Doctor to have to sacrifice himself and become this new version. A version that didn’t seem so war torn or battle heavy, generally just a more relaxed figure. Rose was keen to point out though that he could still turn dark and just reacted differently to the memories of home and his people. Given the placement, I wasn’t expecting a story featuring Rose to focus so heavily on the Time Lords. On screen, Gallifrey wasn’t actually named until she was lost in a parallel universe so exploring some Time Lord mythology and history here was brilliant. I was intrigued by the fact the Doctor wanted to actually witness ‘The Saga of the Time Lords’ play because he wanted to be lied to. He knew that they’d get details wrong and that was all part of the charm. Rose’s reaction to the Time Lord collars was hilarious as she assumed that couldn’t possibly be accurate, but the Doctor was keen to move on from that conversation! Betomax was a fun character and she really did revel in her celebrity status from the theatre! I liked the discussions between the Doctor and Rose about theatre and pantomime in particular. I am far from being a fan of pantomime but the story of Rose’s childhood where she froze on stage during a performance was pretty sad. It was nice that the Doctor was genuinely sorry about that. The relationship between Rose and the TARDIS was fun to explore as the former was actually apologising to the console when the Doctor harmlessly asked her to keep a quick eye temporarily. They really have gone through a lot! The return of the Autons was an unexpected treat, especially after the clever red herring of the Daleks featuring! They turned out to be mere props but Rose was still taken aback by the fact she was surrounded by hundreds of them. The Auton return was terrific and I really loved the idea of them pretending to be characters in the pantomime for so long that it actually became part of their programming. Their hunt for Time Lords and survivors of the Time War was brilliant. It worked well and whilst the Nestene featuring would have topped it off, I loved the explanation for their presence and what they were up to. Rose obviously has history with the Autons so it is really cool to know that one of her earliest adventures with the Tenth Doctor was also with the plastic foes! Rose being confused with the Doctor as a Time Lord due to some psychic paper shenanigans was great but when things got serious she was keen to point out that she wasn’t actually a Time Lord! I liked the play on famously unfinished as part of the pantomimes and having Rose actually conclude the story and get her big moment on stage after the Doctor provided the words she needed to say to solve everything was tremendous. It was a fitting to a fine opener in this collection! The After section has me wondering if there will be an overlapping arc throughout the book, or if it was just a play on the fact that Gallifrey did survive but the Doctor just doesn’t know yet. Either way, a brilliant adventure!  

Rating: 9/10

Doctor Who and the Brain of Morbius

"I could sustain life in the organs of the dead."

Writer: Terrance Dicks

Format: Novel

Released: June 1977

Series: Target 07

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane

Synopsis 

Why do so many spaceships crash land on Karn, a bleak, lonely and seemingly deserted planet?

Are they doomed by the mysterious powers of the strange, black-robed Sisterhood, jealously guarding their secret of eternal life? Or does the mad Dr Solon, for some evil purpose of his own, need the bodies of the victims? And more especially, the body of Doctor Who...

Verdict

Doctor Who and the Brain of Morbius was an outstanding novelisation of the horror classic! This really is Doctor Who at its very best and ever since my first visiting I have absolutely loved the televised serial and I’m delighted to say that the novelisation did not disappoint! It lived up to its tv counterpart in style and I must admit that I was very confident this would be the case with the book. Terrance Dicks absolutely does not fail in bringing this classic to life and I really appreciate the little nuances he adds from on screen. We get a bit more of an exploration of Karn and it really makes for a superb setting. I love that it has now made a comeback in the modern era but this a sublime way to introduce it and the Elixir of Life. The Sisterhood of the Flame are just brilliant and the way their history is expanded and developed as we move through the book is terrific. The Doctor is on a rampage at the start arriving on Karn as he very much didn’t intend on going there. He was seemingly sent on a mission by the Time Lords and I appreciated the description of the Third Doctor’s exile and being freed with the caveat of just doing an occasional mission when needed. The Doctor never got any warning about these missions which was fun to hear him get outraged by, but I was a little surprised that the reader never actually got full confirmation that the Time Lords did actually send him! Of course, knowing what we do with what happened involving Morbius and his Time Lord history, it’s a safe bet that this was the situation. Solon was a superb character as a crazed scientist that was absolutely devoted to Morbius. It was good that the Doctor knew of him by reputation and he knew even more about Morbius which took the scientist by surprise. Condo was a good character as well and the entire journey he went on was very emotional. He was only helping Solon because he had been promised his arm back that had been replaced on his crash landing, and his reaction when he saw the Morbius creature Solon had created actually having his arm was torment. He couldn’t believe it and it would ultimately end his life. The entire basis surrounding the brain of Morbius was tremendous throughout and I just love the science behind it. Solon is so particular and whilst it’s clear he is so intelligent, his mindset is absolutely struck on bringing Morbius back to life outside of a brain tank. The desire he has to find a head was quite something and the complete lack of subtlety when he sees the Doctor and marvels about his head is just glorious. The Sisterhood tolerate Solon and his experiments but it’s clear the two parties are from being on the same page! Sarah Jane has a brilliant outing here and I love how she deals with being temporarily blinded. She does so well to save the Doctor from being sacrificed, not that he knew anything  about it despite his brash confidence and mockery when death was looming. The idea of the Flame going out and running low on Elixir was very good and the simplicity in which the Doctor restores it is almost unfair! He’s another level. He scared Solon simply by injecting the fear of the Time Lords in him from look and verbals alone. That was impressive. I thought the characterisation of the Fourth Doctor himself was tremendous and the plan to challenge Morbius to the mind bending game was really good stuff. Of course, the scene on screen where we see what are interpreted as past unseen incarnations of the Doctor prior to the First Doctor is now infamous, and even more so since the Thirteenth Doctor’s era seemingly legitimised them, but it wasn’t really given too much significance here. It was just described as confusion from Sarah which was neat and in 1977, it was probably a delicate issue! I know it was met with a lot of controversy. The ending with the Doctor being out and the Sisterhood using flames to push the Morbius monster to a gruesome demise off a cliff edge was pretty gory which fitted in well with the atmosphere of the story. I really appreciated that and what was as a whole a tremendous read!

Rating: 10/102

Dead Man's Switch

"You are meddling with dark forces."

Writer: David Llewellyn

Format: Audio

Released: November 2019

Series: Torchwood Monthly 33

Featuring: Bilis

Synopsis 

A devious antiques dealer, a property developer and a heartbroken hairdresser. Three strangers sit on a train that's going nowhere. 

They are joined by a mysterious figure.

Bilis Manger wants to tell them how they died.

Verdict 

Dead Man's Switch was a really good continuation of the Torchwood monthly adventures from Big Finish! I’m loving that we get full stories with Bilis as the lead character as he really did make such an impression during the Series 1 finale of the televised show. He has so much potential on audio and he might even be creepier and more eery in this format! I thought the mystery to start with three strangers having fallen asleep on a train was good and now they’d woken up with their carriage in the middle of nowhere. The argument over which train they were actually on as each individual thought they were heading to either Grangetown, Heaton High Level or Bargoed, and with my local knowledge I can confirm those are very different lines to be on! The format of the three recalling their recent memories was great and I liked how Rowena’s was all about a mysterious mirror that it turned out she had won at an auction outbidding Bilis. He wasn’t too happy and did all he could to get it off her hands, but she wasn’t having it. She was delighted with her purchase. Rowena’s strange moment in the shop was intriguing as she had no memory of being there just five minutes beforehand. And there was CCTV footage to prove it! The fact she saw herself in the mirror was great stuff and chilling with it seeming that her doppelgänger pulling her into the mirror was how she got to the train! It was a fascinating start. Piers was a bit of a knob and I know that was the aim, but man he was just not someone I would get along with! His description of his last memory surely being a dream was interesting and I liked the mystery surrounding Bilis and his shop. Piers was working with the building manager and in an effort to rejuvenate Cardiff, his lease was going to see him evicted. That was surprising! Piers celebrated by getting high and whilst blown off by a love interest who amazingly didn’t want cocaine, the music being tampered with was fun and I loved the bats coming to him after he rigged the exterminator report. They were certainly endangered after they were breaking the window by smashing into it! And then he’d fallen before ending up on the train. Zoe was a decent character and I enjoyed her housing association struggles. Wedmoor Court was going to be knocked down and her and Bilis were the final tenants. Was this his new property after eviction? She was a hairdresser but whilst working she’d seen something that was a dark shape and hunchbacked. The noise not being squatters was good and I liked how within she’d seen her own flat! That was really good eeriness. Bilis not being recognised by all of them despite their encounters was delightful and a simple perception filter did the job. I thought the revelation that it was all part of a complex puzzle was great and the Committee being involved was an unexpected treat! The three were to be doppelgängers as part of the Committee’s plan to replace everyone, but Bilis had snatched them before that could happen. But he was far from a good guy, as he’d held all three on a quantum prison travelling through a temporal loop. He’d allow Zoe to leave, but then we had a sudden ending as Bilis revealed the Committee needed all of them for their plan to work. But then Zoe was freed and we were done. An abrupt end, but a really strong audio!

Rating: 8/10

Hidden Depths: Flatpack

"We pride ourselves here on making the impossible possible."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: November 2022

Series: Ninth Doctor Adventures 7.03

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Liv, Tania

Synopsis 

Liv Chenka and Tania Bell are spending Sunday afternoon on that most traditional of couple activities, Furniture-shopping! 

But just how long has London's newest Flatpack stores been open? Who is its mysterious manager? And is it even Sunday? Liv is about to run into a very old friend...

Verdict

Flatpack was an outstanding episode to conclude Hidden Depths! This was a clever use of the umbrella title of the series and I just thought this was an excellent story from start to finish. I must admit that when the details about this boxset were revealed, I was disappointed that of all the previous companions the Ninth Doctor could encounter it had to be ones I am almost wholly unfamiliar. Now, it’s not too long since I was introduced to Liv Chenka in Robophobia so I could appreciate her reaction to regeneration as the Seventh Doctor featured there but she’s synonymous with the Eighth Doctor. I had no idea about Tania but she was good as Liv’s partner and we had a fun little trio on our hands! It was nice that it didn’t feel wholly reliant on past knowledge. The start set things up very nicely as we were introduced to Flatpack. A number of those within wore masks and I liked the eeriness of there being no individual identity beneath. Fraser’s arrival to question about planning permission for their complex was good and I liked the ridiculousness of nobody being able to remember Flatpack being built. Liv struggling with the concept of linear days was interesting and I look forward to experiencing her further adventures with the Doctor. Flatpack essentially being IKEA was fun and I liked that Liv thought the building was new whilst Tania seemed to think it had been there for ages. It was her hometown after all! The reintroductions between the Doctor, Liv and Tania were pretty quick as the episode picked up pace and it was fun to have them get lost within the store. The TARDIS lock even being taken was excellent and that made the Doctor angry especially with several other police boxes highlighting the mass production! That was tremendous. I thought it was fun that Tania already knew of the missing people associated with Flatpack and brought the mystery to Liv after her recent struggles. The idea of people coming to Flatpack and them not leaving was intriguing, especially when it appeared that they weren’t actually disposing of them! So what did they do with the people? That was a strong mystery. The concept of Flatpack extending into the past and future was brilliant and I loved that through that expansion it had always been there and always would be. The Doctor’s insistence that Flatpack’s manager was not a Time Lord because he’d experienced the Time War, and he was the only one left. That was a dark moment and Liv could see that the Doctor had gone through something major. The Doctor and Tania’s compulsion to buy was a great moment of comedy. The masked woman helping Liv actually turning out to be a future version of herself was predictable from the voice, but it sold the temporal nature of the store very nicely. Liv was not feeling compulsions because she hadn’t drunk in the cafeteria so no chemicals were making her susceptible. Flatpack being temporally transcendental was just magnificent and it really did remind me of IKEA and the horrendous one way system that doesn’t let you escape! The Doctor realising it literally could have been a flawed business model with a quantum shop in the future going wrong was great! That was logical and it was fun for an older version of the Doctor to pick up a horrific accent and be the manager. The Doctor and Tania being taken in by the susceptibility of the store was fantastic comedy and that left things to Liv. Tania being Operative 117 as the older version was terrific. Liv’s plan to get on the customer announcements and reveal that the cafeteria was giving full refunds was brilliant! An infinite number of people across time would be confronting for their money, and the customer was always right after all. The collapse that caused was excellent and made for a fitting conclusion! I really liked the reminder at the end from Liv to the Doctor that she was always there for him and he may need someone with him one day. After all, she was needed here so she didn’t want him to rule out a companion in the future. Overall, a superb audio!

Rating: 10/10

Hidden Depths: Lay Down Your Arms

"Everyone needs a title."

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: November 2022

Series: Ninth Doctor Adventures 7.02

Featuring: Ninth Doctor

Synopsis 

1864. Instead of relaxing at the Bad Homburg Spa, its visitors are fighting. And Bertha Kinzky, housekeeper to Alfred Nobel, is appalled. Perhaps the mysterious Herr Schmidt can help?

Soon, Bertha is contending with aliens, as well as her mother's matchmaking, as she and the Doctor try to keep the peace.

Verdict

Lay Down Yours Arms was a good episode to continue my way through the Hidden Depths seventh volume of Ninth Doctor Adventures. I liked the setting of 1864 very much and it was fun to have the ninth incarnation back on Earth, but in a much different time and place compared with what we are used to on screen and beyond. He must be the most Earth-centric incarnation of them all, and that’s even including the third who was exiled there! I liked Bertha and she definitely had some companion qualities, but I think one of the issues with this current run of Ninth Doctor audios is that we know all roads lead to Series 1 and meeting Rose so it’s difficult to get fully invested. There’s no overall arc and there’s no companion coming, so I worry that the appeal of individual stories can only last so long. I’m still thoroughly delighted to be getting more and more adventures with the Ninth Doctor, but I hope that if there is a third batch and beyond we can get something a little more. I must admit I thought things started a little slow with the Doctor teaching Bertha how to sing and the Judoon song was pretty atrocious! No wonder the Judoon arrest themselves for crimes against music. Bertha’s mother was a little annoying in pushing her to find a husband as a matter of need, but I liked that she wasn’t really interested in marriage. She seemed ahead of her time a little which was nice and probably added to her companion qualities. The Doctor being in town as Herr Schmidt was good and I thought that suited with the constant mentions of the importance of titles. The Doctor having to point out that he didn’t actually want to marry Bertha was fun because initially Sophie didn’t want that for her daughter, but upon finding that he didn’t want it she was offended! The Doctor was actually in town looking for the Tsar which was good, but this was not the real Tsar. The idea of an alien Russian doll impersonating the Tsar was very fun although once the excellent description of him dismantling was done with, I wasn’t a huge fan of the Trictokites (I’ve surely butchered that spelling!) as a whole. The concept of branding for war was decent and I liked that the Doctor could utilise the Shadow Proclamation in seeking them out to prevent them fighting amongst themselves. However, they sounded a little off and didn’t seem like a real scare despite the intention. They didn’t seem to match the image on the artwork either which didn’t help with my visuals of them.  The use of infecting the water with bath salts was intriguing and I did think the Doctor putting emerald passifite into the sprinklers was fun but easy. He revelled in stopping them which I always enjoy. The Doctor, and particularly this incarnation at this early point in his life, having discussions on war was powerful stuff. It worked well with the Doctor questioning if soldiers really didn’t know what they were fighting for. He knew when he was a solider. Everything being in the title and stopping war by soldiers simply laying down their arms was good, but slightly predictable. It was a nice touch to conclude with the Doctor visiting Bertha fifteen years after these events where he was able to encourage her to marry Arthur and write her book. He then jumped forward again to 1905 when her husband had passed and she picked up the Nobel Prize. That was great and showed a soft side to the Ninth Doctor we didn’t always see. Overall, a decent episode!

Rating: 7/10

Hidden Depths: The Seas of Titan

"This moon will kill you."

Writer: Lizbeth Myles

Format: Audio

Released: November 2022

Series: Ninth Doctor Adventures 7.01

Featuring: Ninth Doctor

Synopsis 

Out on Saturn's moon, Titan, an outpost all-but-forgotten by Earth struggles on against the odds.

As the Doctor joins explorers deep in the methane seas, they discover a hidden civilisation. But will the Sea Devils prove to be the colony's salvation or its final destruction?

Verdict

The Seas of Titan was a great story to kick off the Hidden Depths seventh volume of Ninth Doctor Adventures! I’m loving that Big Finish is giving us further stories for the Ninth Doctor and it’s lovely for him to get to encounter some classic foes. We’ve had Cyberman and Sontarans which we unfortunately didn’t get on screen, and now the Sea Devils join the fray! With an expected theme of going underground for this boxset, it was inevitable that either the Silurians or Sea Devils would be featuring and I thought the latter were a smart choice. With so much of the Ninth Doctor’s time focused on Earth, it really is brilliant to have this one set on Titan. I thought it was a really strong setting and the impossibility of life made it a perfect place for human curiosity and potential discovery. That was what Diana was interested in and even when it appeared that she would die, the fact she had confirmation and a visual of life beneath the depths was more than enough to warrant the trip and expedition. Rachel as her assistant was a decent character too and I liked the later revelation that she was the culprit of sabotaging the submarine because she already knew there was life below and didn’t really want the news getting out. A submarine setting on a moon is a tremendous setting, but I think one thing that could have been improved was the atmosphere. It didn’t have the kind of underground feel associated with so many other Doctor Who stories set underground or similar. Diana describing herself and Rachel as the dregs of Earth because they were the only ones left on the mission looking for like was good and showed how much she cared about the discovery. I enjoyed that there was dissension amongst the Sea Devil ranks and Mirtar being one of the good ones and not wanting to see innocent life killed was good. It was a worthy sentiment of the Chief Councillor and he maintained those good qualities throughout. The issue of sickness in the colony was really good and I liked how with Taroth being the one to release that, it showed the advancements of Sea Devil science. She was the Chief Scientist after all! She was against what the humans had been doing to her species in subjugation, and with Solomon’s fishy comments it initially seemed like that was warranted! He was an interesting character as the Governor and he was solely interested in harvesting hydrocarbons to stop with. A typical businessman. Diana kidnapping him to show him the Sea Devils and those he would be impacting was good despite the criminal means, and the Doctor wasn’t wholly against it! She needed to get him to talk to the Sea Devils and it actually ended up working pretty well! In a world where one attack by humanity was met with a retaliation from the Sea Devils, and vice versa, the concept of Solomon offering Mirtar the chance to see their colony was unlikely so it was a nice surprise when it happened! The humans not exactly being receptive to the Sea Devils was expected and I liked that Mirtar was the one to get injured in the ambush. It initially seemed that any possibility of harmony was a no go, but Solomon stepping up and convincing his colony that uniting and living together was right made for a triumphant conclusion! The idea of humans and Sea Devils living together in an underwater secret colony was delightful, and it was nice for a happy ending with reptilians! Overall, a strong start.

Rating: 8/10

Smashed

"I've got to get more booze."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: October 2019

Series: Torchwood Monthly 32

Featuring: Gwen

Synopsis 

Glynteg was never much of a place. Since the refinery's shut down there's been nothing much going on – no jobs, no money, more pubs than buses. One of those sad Welsh towns where there's little to do but drink. 

The the fracking company came and there was a brief spark of hope – maybe there'd be some jobs, at least. But that fizzled out. Instead the peel started falling ill.

Gwen Cooper's come to Glynteg to find out what's happening. Something ancient has woken up beneath the ground and will do whatever it can to protect itself. The Hunters have been unleashed. And there's only one way to stay safe.

Verdict

Smashed was a pretty decent story to continue my way through the monthly audio adventures of Torchwood from Big Finish! I must admit that whilst fully aware of the connotations associated with the title of this episode, I really didn’t anticipate that Gwen would be drunk for nearly its entirety! Credit must go to Eve Myles for what was as a whole a stellar performance in what were surely difficult circumstances, but I think it was probably a little too much at times. I thought it was nice to have Gwen going solo and mention how she used to be pretty good at saving the world. It seems that the days of Torchwood are somewhat behind her and I was fascinated by the concept of money playing a part as to why the organisation was no longer in full operation. In fact, Gwen seemingly took the independent investigation of events with Drillpak purely to help the Torchwood bankroll in the hope of getting the band going again. That was a nice concept and it really is terrific to know that there is life to Torchwood after Miracle Day and beyond. Gwen’s call to Rhys was good and I thought the Glynteg setting was really well done. The fact that there was no signal in a little remote area of Wales was incredibly believable and Gwen’s humorous warning to Rhys about not eating Anwen’s fish fingers was equally so. I thought it was a weird vibe in Glynteg and that soon became completely unsurprising given that everyone was drunk to endure they weren’t taken over by the pathogen that had run rapid in the water supply and beyond. Even a lemonade on tap from the local pub was not safe, and of course that’s exactly what Gwen had to get her infected. The slow build of that infection taking place was great and I liked the deterioration into drunkenness before it became the constant. You could almost hear the rationalisation within the drunkenness of Gwen when that became the norm and she needed to try and sort things out whilst inebriated. The little hint regarding that at the start of the episode was good to come back to, and I can only keep praising Myles for her performance! It was impressive, but I just can’t believe it lasted so long for everyone to be drunk! It got a little tiresome as a listener to be honest and I think that’s a big reason for losing a few marks on my rating. Martyn was a good character as an environmentalist and he complimented Gwen well. It was fun for him to resist the pathogen for so long only to be taken over and make a good drunken pairing with the Torchwood operative. Just hearing drunk people have fun together is always amusing and that was presented really well here. The truth about Drillpak and them not actually being the culprits of everything going wrong at Glynteg was pretty well done and Rhian turned out to be a fascinating character involved in the cover up. She knew about the independent investigations and I must say Gwen’s approach of asking locals what she shouldn’t be asking was marvellous. More definitely should have been made of that! I thought the story did go a little too long but the conclusion was decent in seeing off the pathogen as the effect of inebriation wore off. Rhian was defeated and sent packing in a somewhat triumphant moment, but as a whole this will simply be remembered as the Torchwood audio where everyone was drunk. That’s unfortunate as Eve Myles deserves better for what she brought to the table here, but it was just a little too odd and long in parts. Still, a decent listen!

Rating: 7/10

The Return of Robin Hood

"There can be terrible consequences to tampering with the stuff of legend."

Writer: Paul Magrs

Format: Novel

Released: July 2022

Series: BBC Books Special 07

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane, Harry

Synopsis 

Gold has come to the Greenwood...

Robin Hood is disenchanted. Maid Marian has disappeared, and the legend of the Doctor has retreated into the shadows of Sherwood Forest. 

But the Doctor is back! (Although this is his first visit – time travel does strange things to a story).

And the timing couldn't be better. A new Sheriff of Nottingham is in town, out to get the Outlaws, and behind the scenes, the mythical Mother Maudlin has designs on the realm that are not of this earth...

With the Kingdom in peril, it's time for the return of the Lionheart.

Verdict

The Return of Robin Hood was a terrific novel! I am a big fan of this mini series of blending Doctor Who into famous literature and whilst Robin Hood has been done on screen pretty darn well, there’s something different and special about having it in prose. It really was a breeze of a read and I think the quick chapters and lighthearted feel really helped things. It really was a delight from start to finish. I don’t think I’ve ever actually read any of the Robin Hood prose nor watched any of the numerous TV series that the legend inspired, but of course it’s one of those things that are part of folk culture that you just know. I was really glad that Robot of Sherwood was mentioned and this particular story was actually set twenty years after it. There weren’t really any major connotations to that, but it was important to establish that Robin Hood had met the Doctor before, except of course that was the Twelfth Doctor! I thought it was fun to mention how Nottingham Castle lifted off on that occasion and the Doctor quickly deduced that this was to come in his future. It was also a nice touch that even for the Fourth Doctor, the name Clara Oswald sounded familiar. I liked that and it ties in very nicely with her Impossible Girl story arc. On this occasion, we had the delightful trio of the Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane and Harry on a quick diverted adventure between Revenge of the Cybermen and Terror of the Zygons. The Brigadier could wait! That was fun stuff and I loved how Sarah and Harry reacted to the incredulity of encountering Robin Hood. The Doctor took it in his stride which was a lot to different to how his future self would deal with encountering legend! The Doctor actually referring to himself and Robin as legends was cheeky fun and great characterisation of the fourth incarnation. I loved the story and its simplicity, with Marian initially needing saving from the castle and then moving directions in having Harry left behind as the Doctor and Sarah sought out an old friend! Reverting back to The Crusade and the Doctor trying to convince Richard the Lionheart to return to his homeland and take his rightful thrown was marvellous. It was good stuff for the Doctor to merely claim to be in a disguise as explanation for his change in appearance. I thought Mother Maudlin made for a tremendous villain and I loved the extra detail that she was a Carrionite! That was a really nice touch that makes this feel a lot more Doctor Who than if she was just an ordinary witch. I liked her devious nature and having her take over Sarah for a while was very good, but of course the Doctor knew immediately that his companion wasn’t her whole self. Harry reacting to her more stern replies and comments about him was marvellous too as he’s so innocent. The insinuation towards the end that he may love her is something I’m not entirely convinced by, but I do really enjoy their relationship. The Sheriff of Nottingham was a tremendous character in this iteration and his glee at the prospect of impressing King John and killing Robin and his Merrie Men by having them hung, drawn and quartered was something to behold. His earlier outburst at why bad things happened to him and destroying his impressive French chair was equally great! The pressure of royalty was very much felt here and once Richard the Lionheart emerged from the TARDIS, the game was quickly up. I thought events preceding that with Harry and Robin were delightful as their plan didn’t seem all that intelligent! Putting all of that trust into Guy was humorous, especially as the deeper into the castle they got it appeared the cavalry would not be coming. Harry pointing out how this was no different to them simply being captured really was brilliant. Marian believing that she was falling for Harry was unexpected, but it was nice that she did end up finally wedding Robin in the presence of the true King by the end. I enjoyed the cheeky mention of sinning in the forest as well! It’s only natural. The way the Carrionite was defeated was pretty good in using iron and killing her whilst in the body of what she thought was a willing servant. It was great that a rook flew off shortly after and I think it would have been better to leave things there, but then concluding with the witch using her powers to take away the memories of this story explained the Twelfth Doctor’s take on Robin Hood! I always think it’s a shame when characters lose memories, but I guess this was a necessity! Overall, a really brilliant read!

Rating: 9/10

Time War: Unity

"To stay here would mean certain death."

Writer: David Llewellyn 

Format: Audio

Released: February 2020

Series: Gallifrey 11.04

Featuring: Romana II, Leela, Narvin

Synopsis 

On a dusty frontier world, destiny awaits Romana...

Betrayal, deception and death are the currency on Unity. And as the Daleks close in on their target, there will be a price to pay.

Verdict

Unity was a decent adventure to conclude the third Gallifreyan volume of Time War and the eleventh series overall! It really has been quite the journey in this spin-off range and it shows no sign of letting up which I am absolutely delighted about. I must admit, I don’t think this latest iteration of the series has quite captured the Time War how I would have imagined it, but this series has been all about the search for Leela. I can’t help but feel slightly let down by events in this episode despite my strong rating as I just felt a little underwhelmed by the reunion between Leela and Romana & Narvin. It didn’t feel like it meant too much after over two series of waiting for confirmation that Leela was alive which was a bit of shame. After the Leela-centric previous episode of Mother Tongue, I really was surprised and disappointed that Leela was once again in an established position in an unfamiliar place and time. It felt repetitive and with Leela choosing to fight the Time War at the end of that episode, I couldn’t understand why she refused to go to Gallifrey where she was needed. That just seemed at odds with what has happened already. In that said, when listening to the episode in isolation and trying not to think of the overall arc, which is very difficult, this was a decent episode! I liked Veega a lot and her being the ill mother who sadly succumbed to her illness was a very powerful moment full of emotion. Leela having not appeared in over two series also provided its own emotion as she learned of what had happened on Gallifrey under Rassilon’s regime and all of the losses endured there. The setting of Unity was really good and I loved the proximity to the Time War with it being a power source for the Daleks. Getting them features was nice and Romana standing up to them was terrific. I thought she had a strong outing here and linking back as far as The Apocalypse Element again with her identifying herself as Unit 117 was fantastic. Romana was growing frustrated throughout though as Leela was not going to come back to Gallifrey and aid with the war effort. She even performed a little tantrum at one point which was very amusing! The extent she was willing to go to in this episode was magnificent to hear though. The dilemma she was in regarding Unity was good as she knew that the Time Lords would destroy the planet if she told them about it, but she couldn’t let the people she had to come know and Leela was protecting just die. The inclusion of the chameleon arch was great use of Gallifreyan technology and Romana seemed prepare to lose who she was in order to ensure Leela would leave. Except, Romana faked the whole thing which didn’t surprise me and Narvin was in on it all along. I look forward to Leela’s outrageous reaction when she finds out that happened as inevitably will be the case! Rayo was a decent character but I was surprised that he would actually join Narvin and Leela in leaving Unity. I’m not sure what kind of future he will have on Gallifrey, but I’m more than willing to give him a chance! He’s certainly different I’ll give it that. I thought the ending with Romana then encountering the Daleks and standing up to them without fear was nicely done and a fine moment for her to shine, but the cliffhanger finish of her being seemingly exterminated was a good surprise. Is a regeneration incoming? I suspect not, but alas it keeps my interest. Overall, a decent episode! 

Rating: 7/10

Time War: Mother Tongue

"I should be dead."

Writer: Helen Goldwyn

Format: Audio

Released: February 2020

Series: Gallifrey 11.03

Featuring: Leela

Synopsis 

Leela was thrown into a Vortex ravaged by the Time War, lost in space and time – but the Trell have shown her mercy...

She finds herself in another realm, another life. One where the warrior is also a mother. Where she must help her son to choose the path to avoid his world's destruction.

Verdict

Mother Tongue was another strong episode to continue my way through the third Time War volume that makes up the eleventh series of Gallifrey! This was a story unlike any in the spin-off range before and that was really intriguing. It once again felt very dark and all of the imagery presented just seemed to have a black background for me. Darkness was the overarching atmosphere for me and that fitted in really well with what was being presented. We followed up where The Devil You Know left off as Leela was thrown into the Time Vortex by the Master, but amazingly she somehow survived. I’m still not sure where I stand on her survival, especially with it coming two series later, but I liked that it allowed us to have this episode and really great setting in the form of Nateus. I loved the idea of a planet hidden from everywhere else thanks to the Trell, natural plant life that was literally connected to the Time Vortex. The impact of the Time War being felt here with the potential for the Trell to be weaponised was brilliant and despite this feeling very far removed from Gallifrey, it was a good way to tie into the overall arc. Initially hearing Leela in the Vortex was intriguing and I liked how she seemed to hear her mother, before the shock of having her own child in the form of Sholan! That was good for selling just how much of an anomaly the planet was. The Trell were talked about throughout and I liked the discussions about the science behind Nateus and its proximity to the Vortex. The genuine fear and confusion that was had when the Trell were temporarily disconnected from the Vortex was intriguing as the planet was visible for the first time. Leela moving through Time was a strong look into the makeup of the planet and having her actually go back to Sholan’s birth was terrific. She was adamant she had no child and was none the wiser about where she was, but this proved she was a visitor as being so close to the Vortex meant she couldn’t maintain staying in one timeline. That was a fun concept that deserves more exploration in the future. Drah was a great character and I liked her relationship with Leela from the off. She didn’t want her talking of the Time War though as at this point, it had only just begun and was unspoken of. Drah believed that the Trell could hide them all but Leela thought they should be better prepared. The Trell all being interconnected was good and heightened their ability as a weapon, meaning the entire planet had to be moved if they were required. It was a small planet though! That idea was horrific but showed the extent some Time Lords were going to as part of the war effort. Zeno possessing Renucha and her being a War Council member was very good and she was very much planning to just take the planet as a weapon. Quite the concept! I thought the revelation and journey through time showing that it was actually Sholan who would become the Lord Warrior was nicely done, but perhaps slightly too late to let the impact be truly felt. Leela showing some motherly instincts in wanting to go back in time and have Sholan make the decision for himself that would actually prove his demise as a sacrifice was a quite emotional conclusion. With Zeno’s race run thanks to Time changing once again, she was out for revenge and if she couldn’t have the planet weaponised then it ought to be destroyed. Nobody would even know if the Trell were hiding it and it couldn’t possibly be left to fall in enemy hands. Of course, that wouldn’t happen. I wasn’t much of a fan of Leela talking to the spiritual Sholan at the end and it seemed a little cheating to just say she was a mother in this version of events, but now she had a choice. Leela not choosing to die because there was a war to fight was admirable and I look forward to the inevitable reunion with Romana and Narvin in the finale. Overall, another good episode!

Rating: 8/10

Time War: Nevernor

"You come from the place where the ghosts are."

Writer: Lou Morgan 

Format: Audio

Released: February 2020

Series: Gallifrey 11.02

Featuring: Romana II, Narvin

Synopsis 

Narvin and Romana reach the distant, rural world Njagilheim. But even here the Time War follows – and there are more things to fear in the Vortex than warships and weapons. The Orrovix have caught a scent and they are hunting... 

Verdict

Nevernor was another great episode to continue my way through the third volume of Time War from Gallifrey’s eleventh series! This followed on nicely from the opener as the hunt for Leela continued by Romana and Narvin, and following the savage’s bio data stream to Njagilheim set things up nicely. That planet made for a decent setting and I’m enjoying the dark feeling and atmosphere that is making up this series. That fits in well with the Time War and here Romana and Narvin got an up close example of just how much it was having an impact. I liked that given the overlapping arc of the Time War that it was still being felt despite our main characters being far from the heart of conflict on Gallifrey. I think given what happened to Leela at the hands of the Master it is right to give us a series that feels dark and the eeriness was just excellent throughout. It was an unusual environment for Narvin in particular as he didn’t travel in the TARDIS with the Doctor whereas Romana has experience with all sorts! I liked the hearing of voices and the horror theme was tremendous. It was good that Romana and Narvin weren’t exactly hearing the same voices and having them sound almost desperate was startling but good stuff. Agata was a really solid character and her being pregnant just added a bit of jeopardy to her. It was really good though to have the amalgamation of timelines with Romana and Narvin experiencing and seeing two different times at once. That was a bit of a mind twist but one I really appreciated. I think obviously visuals would have helped in a different format, and there was perhaps a little too much of a reliance on Romana and Narvin explaining what was happening to the listener, but it was new and a fine use of the Time War. Time was simply damaged and happening all at once, with our two leads meeting characters at different points. The pregnancy element of that was fun. I got the feeling throughout that Narvin was not comfortable in his surroundings so it was nice for Romana to be able to showcase her experience in such situations. I liked how she was the one that was bitten and whilst it seemed relatively harmless initially other than physical injury, we soon learned the extent of the Orrovix and what they were after. Leela had been around here previously and whilst Narvin was getting frustrated by the mixed signals of her bio data scan, showing she was there and was not, her impact was very much felt here. She was involved in the time amalgamation, but I really did enjoy the threat of Romana and Narvin getting caught in the time loop. They were aware that may happen as the bedding was ripped which was decent and despite the timey-wimey nature of the episode, everything did tie back nicely despite some potential confusion. The title of the story came into play very well with the discussion of the Nevernor test back at the Academy something I really enjoyed. It was used to recruit spies and the only way to pass was not to care what was on either side of two doors leading to two linked events. That was a fun idea and it seemed neither Narvin or Romana passed. Curiosity always gets the better! Romana not admitting that initially was fun so I enjoyed the moment she admitted to not passing. Narvin highlighting the presence of a temporal storm was something else I liked in highlighting the effects of the Time War. The Orrovix were a good threat and I thought the conclusion with the older version of Agata being the one who could break the time loop and sacrifice herself where Leela arrived was good and emotional stuff. Any sacrifice is always a strong moment, but this one felt big and helped extend the threat of the Orrovix. It was only her that could break the loop so it was clear that was how we’d get out of the mess, but it was nice for the episode to come full circle at the end as we heard her baby being born. It seems the hunt for Leela is drawing to a close and I do hope she shows up in the next episode! Overall though, another strong story to continue a strong start to the series. 

Rating: 8/10

Time War: Hostiles

"Time is breaking, and it keeps on breaking."

Writer: David Llewellyn 

Format: Audio

Released: February 2020

Series: Gallifrey 11.01

Featuring: Romana II, Narvin

Synopsis 

Exiled from Gallifrey, Romana and Narvin are fleeing from their own people and the Time War. Seeking refuge on a derelict wreck they find they are not alone. And that Time Lords have enemies everywhere...

Verdict

Hostiles was a very good audio to kick off the third volume of Time War for Gallifrey in what is incredibly the eleventh series overall! This looks set to be a departure from the planet Gallifrey itself and more focused on the lead characters who have shone the way across much of this spin-off range. I like the idea of Romana and Narvin fleeing Gallifrey with Rassilon wreaking havoc as President and I think that gives a lot of credence to the position of the Time Lords and what they had become during The End of Time. For such esteemed Time Lords as Romana and Narvin to flee showed that Gallifrey was being consumed by the war, and they were hoping to try and find Leela. Now, I think it’s bitterly disappointing that the cover artwork has spoiled that she will be returning and as much as I adore her character I am massively against her return. Her death at the hands of the Master was sensational stuff and that impact will be diminished with her impending return. I do appreciate that things are potentially a little different with Gallifrey given the instability of timelines in a Time War, but I do wish characters just stayed dead! It’s nice for Romana and Narvin to be out searching for her bio data now there’s a chance and I’m looking forward to hearing where they end up. If this episode is anything to go by then it could literally be anywhere! The Dreadnought Septima made for a strong setting and I loved how it just felt dark right from the outset. That was exactly the feel and atmosphere wanted. Trellick was an intriguing character and it was obvious from the start that there was more to her than she was revealing. She knew a lot about the situation she was in on the Septima and it was a fun concept for Qatal to be in control of time. She had not managed to work out, but he was able to reverse and reset time to his advantage and ensure Trellick didn’t escape. She was a Time Lord herself but none of the TARDISes there were functional as a whole, quite simply because they couldn’t be. With Narvin on the hunt for a directional unit as part of the dematerialisation circuit, I liked that there was a clear direction for the episode too. This was all about Romana and Narvin surviving. Qatal sounded a little off but the distortion was understandable given what had happened to him with the Time Vortex. Trellick trying to understand the science behind his time control was good, and I thought the later revelation that Romana and Narvin were not the first Time Lords she had assistance from. Qatal being the subject 442 was very good and it was great to delve more into the history on the Dreadnought as the episode rolled on. Qatal being consumed with asking why was uncomfortably great and the resolution of the entire story being just getting an answer was logical and quite simple for such a complicated story surrounding Time! I was a fan of that and it was pretty admirable for Trellick to sacrifice herself to allow Romana and Narvin to escape. Romana had exuded her Coordinator privileges despite being deposed, but those systems here hadn’t got the update which was fun. Trellick reacted humorously to the names of her new Time Lords initially, but she was in no doubt by the end. There needed to be an end to the Time War. Overall, this was a really solid start to what should be a very intriguing collection of stories for this volume of Time War adventures! 

Rating: 8/10

Nightshade

"Life seems to be stranger than fiction now."

Writer: Mark Gatiss

Format: Novel

Released: August 1992

Series: New Adventures 08

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis 

"I have done enough!"

Ace has never known the Doctor so withdrawn and melancholic. He is avoiding her company, seeking solace in the forgotten rooms and labyrinthine passages of his ancient time machine.

Perhaps he will find the peace he yearns for on his favourite planet, Earth, in the second half of the twentieth century – in the isolated village of Crook Marsham, to be precise, in 1968, the year of peace, love and understanding.

But one by one the villagers are being killed. The Doctor has to act, but for once he seems helpless, indecisive, powerless.

What are the signals from space that are bombarding the radio telescope on then moor? What is the significance of the local legends from the Civil War? And what is the aeons-old power that the Doctor is unable to resist?

Verdict

Nightshade was a brilliant novel to continue my way through the New Adventures books! It’s quite weird reading this knowing that the story was written over thirty years and the book cover must have looked a little odd considering I was reading most of this in the reading room at Doha’s Hamad International Airport! The New Adventures have long fascinated me and I’m liking that I’ve got past the umbrella title stories and into a singular adventure with more of a continuation theme than linked adventures. That format works well here and for the longest time it seemed like we would be saying goodbye to Ace! I thought she had a really strong story and was arguably her best from the range so far. The Doctor was acting rather grumpy and she wasn’t too keen on that, especially when she was just being ignored which didn’t feel right. It’s a little difficult to try and remember that at the time of publication, this was the only official continuation of Doctor Who following the end of the Classic televised series so it can play around with the characterisation of the Seventh Doctor. I’m certainly interested to see how far this will go as the ending of this book was certainly a surprise! The Doctor pondering on whether he could carry on with his position as essentially saviour of the universe on a consistent basis was intriguing. If he was nearly a millennium old, it’s not too much of a surprise that the weight of this task would be considerable. Did he have the right to continue to interfere? That certainly wasn’t the attitude of the Doctor I know! Ace having to buck him into gear and show that what he was doing, and all he had done, was for the good worked well and allowed her to shine. I really enjoyed the setting of 1968 and Crook Marsham! It was nice for Ace to be close in time to when she was from as she was wondering what her mum would be doing right about now. The village was also great and having it be cut off from people leaving was excellent. I did think the opening chapter was a little slow and was doing an awful lot of setup, but the benefit of that was felt as we got more accustomed to the main characters. The obvious standout was Robin who almost instantly hit it off with Ace. I was surprised that given the mature theme of this range we didn’t get mentions of them doing anything more than kissing, but it was clear that this was their relationship was heading! I thought Holly and Vijay were wonderful characters too and they had a deep-rooted connection, but that proving problematic when the former’s deceased fiancé emerged through the Sentience was terrific. I felt very sorry for Vijay as even though Holly had said she loved him, and he very clearly was mad about her, it was clear she yearned for her first love and actually claimed to still need him. That didn’t sit well with Vijay as at one point under the threat of the Sentience taking Holly over he just knocked her spark out! Well, that was a disaster and actually opened up a clear way for the Sentience to get in and brutally kill her. The Sentience were a really strong villain and I liked how they didn’t even know where or when they came from. They told the Doctor they just were and they had a constant need. Their feeding on past memories was good and I loved how all their victims and those suffering all saw people close to them. The moment the Doctor saw Susan after an earlier outburst to Ace in the TARDIS regarding her old Coal Hill school sweater was sublime. The Doctor missing his family and mentioning the likes of Jo, Jamie and Victoria as family, was heartfelt and I genuinely felt sorry for all of the loss he has endured. His comments about Ace and how he’s watched and help shaped her growing up were spot on too. She has come an awful long way since Dragonfire that’s for sure! The title of the book actually being an old BBC programme was a fun element of the story and Trevithick was a delightful character in his old age. With his show being repeated, he was enjoying a mini resurgence in fame! His sacrifice to help the Doctor and Vijay was admirable too and he was just a delight as the old Nightshade from television. The villagers used to stop and watch so they really liked his presence. Hawthorne was a less likeable character, in fact he was wholly unlikeable with his outright racism. The book was certainly written in another time as I’m not sure his unacceptable comments would fly these days even as the thoughts of a character. Residents of the village falling victim one by one to the Sentience was very good and the description of their fate was pretty horrific!  They decomposed almost instantly and the smell was horrific. That’s not a fun recipe! The Doctor seeking solace in the monastery was nicely done but even then the Abbott fell victim to the Sentience! The Doctor not being thrilled that he’d gotten involved again was a bit of a surprise given the timing of that statement late in the book, but he was doing all he could to prevent death which was surely good? Ace decoding to stay with Robin was far from a surprise and it seemed to all fit nicely with the Doctor’s sentiments about wondering if he was helping or hindering Ace. The TARDIS was the only home she had ever had, but now it was time to move on. The Doctor wanting her help for one last trip to see off the Sentience with the lure of the exploding star and then have it consumed by a blank hole was good, but the manipulation in not returning her to Robin was unforgivable! The epilogue was so sad as he had waited five months, but she was nowhere to be seen returned. That’s a shame as that would have been a worthy first sendoff for Ace, but in saying that I am incredibly excited to see how this impacts an already frosty relationship moving forward! Overall, a fantastic read.

Rating: 9/10

Venusian Lullaby

"Don't question miracles."

Writer: Paul Leonard

Format: Audio

Released: October 1994

Series: Missing Adventures 03

Featuring: First Doctor, Ian, Barbara

Synopsis 

"You want me to help you eat your children?" Ian said. Jellinhut's eye-stalks twitched. "How else would we remember them?"

Venus is dying. When the Doctor, Barbara and Ian arrive they find an ancient and utterly alien civilisation on the verge of oblivion. War is brewing between those who are determined to accept to death, and those desperate for salvation whatever the cost.

Then a spacefaring race arrives, offering to rescue the Venusians by moving them all to Earth – three billion years before mankind is due to evolve. Are the newcomers' motives as pure as they appear? And will the Doctor allow them to save his oldest friends by sacrificing the future of humanity?

Verdict

Venusian Lullaby was a good little novel! Whilst there were certainly some elements of this book that I didn’t enjoy, I thought as a whole it was a more than solid adventure. I really loved the placement between The Dalek Invasion of Earth and The Rescue as that allowed us a whole story with the trio of just the First Doctor, Ian and Barbara! We never got that on television, unless you count the start of the latter serial mentioned, so a whole novel with the three of them was a delight. It was clear that Susan’s departure was still very fresh and the Doctor was putting on a brave face despite clearly hurting to no longer have his granddaughter travelling with him. It was nice to see that softer side of the first incarnation but it didn’t last long! A glimpse was more than enough. It was fun to have Ian suspicious of the Doctor once again and it couldn’t really be argued that he had locked Susan out! Ian pondering on whether the Doctor actually did have control of the TARDIS was a delight as he did say to Susan that he would come back! There was logic there and I enjoyed the cagey atmosphere that came from it. Barbara was less suspicious and wouldn’t believe that the Doctor would essentially keep them hostage. The setting of this one was incredibly unique and I really liked that. Going to Venus in of itself is exciting given its proximity to the Sun and the impossibility of life, so venturing over three billion years into the past was brilliant! I thought it was excellent and it was a joy for the Doctor to already be known on the planet. His suggestion that the TARDIS was more controllable in the distant past had its merits, although that did seem to be forgotten as the book went on. Things really shifted into gear when Barbara gave her extraordinary outburst to the Doctor in a move that emboldened her with a serious amount of courage. Of course, what had happened to her in the early arrival on Venus more than warranted it as the Doctor was still just out to appease his own curiosity which is a theme I rather enjoy. The very idea of eating the meat from a Venusian corpse unbeknownst is pretty horrifying, but it giving you their memories within your mind as part of it was frightening! That must have been so uncomfortable and it was a little weird to read. I enjoyed it though as that was the intention and it would prove quite useful as the story went on. I liked the clan makeup of Venus and having the Doctor’s walking stick referred to as a third leg and his people as the Stickwalkers was excellent. Venus being in natural danger was a great threat and I loved how that sparked a number of belief systems. We had the Acceptancers (which I think I would have been a part of!) and the Rocketeers to the Volcano People and the Magnetologists. It was really fascinating to read all of the different viewpoints put forward and hVs scientists challenging each other. Now, a big grievance of mine is probably a selfish one but I thought the Venusian characters all had unnecessarily difficult names. It didn’t make for easy reading and whilst I appreciate the intention of highlighting how different Venusian society and culture was, I really would have liked more simplicity. Vivojkhil was probably my favourite of the Venusians as she offered a lot and definitely felt like a focal point, whilst Mrak-ecado was also really good as a more senior figure sharing a strong relationship with the Doctor. Mrodtikdhill also offered a lot but just reading these names time after time being tiresome and I’m convinced it extended my reading time! I read most of the book on the train journey to the airport as I headed for Qatar, but I didn’t think I’d finish it halfway through my trip on the Gulf! I must admit though, it was lovely to be reading in the sun on a stunning beach with the Doha skyline backdrop. The arrival of the Sou(ou)shi came unexpectedly and again the difficulty of their name! Do we pronounce the brackets? I just couldn’t wrap my head around it. They were an intriguing race though and their intention to save the Venusians by memory alone and eat them was a bit of a rubbish deal if you ask me! But they’d manipulated things to get permission for that to be the case. They were offended at the insinuation they lied despite openly admitting they didn’t tell whole truths. Is there much of a difference? They haunted Ian in a pretty drastic way when they simply murdered and then ate the corpses in front of him, and they really didn’t understand his shocked reaction. Ian going so far as to slap one of them was brilliant, but it didn’t have a big impact. The Sou(ou)shi were rather to the point and I imagine that sS annoying for the companion. Splitting the story into five books was a little odd and not entirely correct as it was very much all one story, and it was probably just the Missing Adventures finding their feet when it came to incorporating parts to their story in line with what happened on television. Except, we don’t need that in a book! It didn’t harm anything though. Trikhobu going into the TARDIS was nicely done and I was intrigued that she actually found a way to pilot it by tracking an individual! Well, that was brand new for this era. I appreciated that Barbara wanted to see her mum and the 1965 date for that along with Ian mentioning that Christmas had just broadcast was a nice nod to the broadcast date of Susan’s departure serial. I thought the impending volcano was good and that genuinely worried the Sou(ou)shi, but I was a little unsure about the Doctor’s methods in defeating them. Using an unknown sonic device is a nice nod to what I assume (and hold!) was the sonic screwdriver in its earliest iteration, but I don’t understand why it couldn’t just be named! It sounds so poor to just have an unknown device be the resolution to an entire book! Anyhow, the reunion between Ian and Barbara was really lovely and their relationship really blossomed here. The idea of the trio now heading off to find some gold for Susan’s wedding ring was nice, and a reunion with her so soon would be odd but certainly welcomed! Overall, a good read. 

Rating: 7/10

The Scream of Ghosts

"A television begging for its life."

Writer: Guy Adams

Format: Audio

Released: May 2019

Series: Third Doctor Adventures 5.02

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo, Brigadier

Synopsis 

When the Brigadier and Jo are called in to look into a breakthrough in the field of portable communication, the Doctor has to stay behind with communications problems of his own – a strange signal coming through the TARDIS console that's burned out its circuits. 

When Benton approaches the Doctor with an odd story about an old friend, the Time Lord realises his troubles and the Brigadier's investigations may be connected, and hot-foots it in pursuit.

Soon they discover that terrifying sounds are walking in the woods of the English countryside... but what lurks behind these sounds may be even more dangerous...

Verdict

The Scream of Ghosts was a tremendous story to conclude the fifth series of the Third Doctor Adventures! I thought this was a really great way to finish another stellar release for the third incarnation. I liked the continuity from the opener with Jo mentioning Liz and how she was feeling that there were a lot of scientific women around with the Professor. The idea of telephony technology being developed so wonderfully 1970s and that really did give it an authentic feel. This felt like it could easily have fitted in with any series from 8-10 and that’s a huge compliment. I think this series might be the best in capturing the era in which its stories are set and whilst that does help when the Doctor is grounded, it really is impressive. I thought the focus on telecommunications was great and with all of the mentions of television, I was almost thinking that we were going to be getting the Wire! That thought was sparked further when it was mentioned how a number of people watching their televisions were all taken away, but alas what we got what was even better! I absolutely love the Vardans so the reveal that they were behind the telecommunications invasion was a delight. They have so much potential and I think Big Finish has utilised them brilliantly in the audio format. They work so well and getting an encounter with the Third Doctor is brilliant. I loved that the Doctor recalled losing Oliver in The First Wave as a way to show how much he knew of the Vardan threat. That continuity was most welcomed and I think it’s important to remember an old companion that perished, even if they weren’t around for too long. I also loved the importance the Doctor placed on Jo throughout the story with him even claiming she was the most important human at one point. No pressure on her then! The relationship between the pair was delightful throughout and I really loved how she was instructed to act as the Scientific Advisor’s assistant. She played that role wonderfully well and Jo just oozed fun in embellishing a bit of power that would ordinarily lay at the Doctor’s hand. She was less than impressed with the demonstration provided, but the Brigadier knew that if even a little of what she claimed possible was on show or evidence there about then she would get her funding. I thought Jon Clushaw was excellent again as the Brigadier and he’s arguably the best recast that Big Finish have ever done. The scene where the Doctor was essentially ignoring the Brigadier over the screaming sounds of bustling people was hilarious because as soon as Jo arrived on the scene he was all ears! That was the Third Doctor at his best. The Bulbury setting worked well and I loved also having Benton there played again by the terrific John Levene! It really added to the authentic feel and gave a lot to UNIT playing a big role. Armitage was a fun character to interact with the Professor and their protecting of the telephone prototypes was great stuff. The title is a little misleading and it was fun for the Doctor to dismiss the idea of ghosts right from the off. The threat of static to wipe out the Doctor and all of those captured was superb stuff and I thought the cliffhangers were really impressive. Hearing the Doctor become static with his voice at first was really well done, but when they were literally made of sound waves the threat of white noise was brilliant. I liked Jo’s role in the conclusion and highlighting her importance again was something I was really on board with. I thought the eery ending in hearing the Vardans say they will be free one day within the Doctor Who theme was outstanding. They will always survive in that theme! A wonderful concept. Overall, an excellent story to conclude the series! I already can’t wait for the next one.

Rating: 9/10

Anti-Genesis: He Who Wins

"Your army awaits its conquering."

Writer: Nicholas Briggs

Format: Audio

Released: December 2019

Series: War Master 4.04

Featuring: War Master, Unbound Master

Synopsis 

The Master has achieved an ultimate victory. But at what cost?

Verdict 

He Who Wins was a very good story to conclude what has been a marvellous Anti-Genesis fourth series of adventures for the War Master! While each individual episode has obviously had its minor issues, the overall story arc has been nothing short of brilliant and this rounded things out nicely. I must admit I was hoping for a little more of a high intensity feel as the stakes didn’t quite match the slow pace of the story, but it was delightful to have the War Master interact with the Unbound Master. It was fun for the Unbound version to be visiting the War version in his subconscious. It was good to establish that the reason the Master didn’t recognise his alternate self was because he was from a different dimension altogether. This was no future or past incarnation, this was a different Master altogether. Their conversation was solid and I enjoyed the interaction, but I do feel like it could have been a bit more confrontational given that the Unbound version was actually helping the Daleks to try and re-establish the timeline. The Master having trouble with his Daleks obeying him was good fun and I loved his boldness in claiming he was better and more in control than Davros. His reaction to the true Dalek creator’s name even getting mentioned was delightfully angry and he couldn’t understand how it was remembered. The Master being the focal point of ensuring the initial timeline was restored was good and his ship being what was left of the true progression of things was good. So it seems he was the Progenitor of the previous episode after all! That worked well. I loved the encounter between the War Master and the Dalek Time Strategist, with the former a little surprised by that designation but accepting of it given that all of the Daleks he created had a bit of his genius in them. Well, I thought that was tremendous! His reaction when timelines were not going as he hoped was superb and I liked the action that came at the end as the Unbound Master was sent off into another dimension thanks to some exotic particles whilst the real timeline was restored. A universe where the Master created the Daleks bares thinking about, but for a moment it happened and the likes of Narvin and Livia were far from being in control. I thought the pair were slightly reduced to minor roles in this episode which was a shame, but I guess the focus should have been on the Master and I can’t argue that this wasn’t the case here. I thought it was fun that even after the universe was restored to a normality of Time War and the timelines restored to have Davros as the creator of the Daleks, the Daleks still sought him out given his genius and potential knowledge. The vagueness regarding the secrets of the TARDIS that the Daleks wanting from the Master was a bit rubbish considering they have their own time machines, but I did like the fact they were seeking him out to bring us to a nice conclusion. Overall, a very good end to a terrific series! 

Rating: 8/10

Anti-Genesis: Shockwave

"Where is the rest of the universe?"

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: December 2019

Series: War Master 4.03

Featuring: War Master, Unbound Master

Synopsis 

With all known history threatened, the Daleks take desperate action to preserve their established legacy. When they cross dimensions to recruit an alternative incarnation of the Master, an uneasy alliance is formed... But can either side truly trust the other?

Verdict 

Shockwave was another great adventure to continue my way through the Anti-Genesis fourth series of War Master stories! This adventure was not focused on the Time War incarnation of my favourite villain, but more so the Unbound incarnation! I love the idea of the Master’s actions in the Time War and averting the creation of the Daleks has led to such scale that we need an alternate incarnation from another universe to try and stop him! Given that Gallifrey has its own Time War spinoff series, the scale and depth of this series is becoming pretty extraordinary! We have the Daleks actually coming to Gallifrey to seek help and actually aid the Time Lords all seemingly orchestrated by a version of the Master that apparently had gotten bored and contemplated what it would be like to be good. That was an exciting prospect and everything added up nicely. I thought Jacobi was terrific again and still hearing him maintain his position as creator and master of the Daleks was glorious. I’m a huge fan of the overall series arc in this volume and I’m very intrigued to hear how it will end with just one episode left. The stakes are extraordinary and continue to ripple as the title would suggest. Shockwaves continue to be felt and a version of Gallifrey where the Time Lords did away with temporal science and led a simpler life was so much fun to get a glimpse at. Narvin was managing grain storage and hearing Livia arrive on the luxury transport of a horse really gave strong Game of Thrones vibes which was marvellous. Imagine a Gallifreyan version of that show! I thought the Unbound Master was very good and his confronting the Gallifreyans in their alternate timeline and talk of saving the real future was excellent. He was clearly callous given what had happened to his own dimension with just a castle being left of the universe after implementing the banishment equations! It seems that once the Master had conquered the universe, he got bored in his own company so when the Daleks came seeking help he was more than happy to provide it. The War Master on the other hand was not getting bored and was loving seeing different aspects of Skaro history unfold. Alternate events of Genesis of the Daleks occurring as the War Master watched on was excellent and I loved how he actually wished it was the Third Doctor, Jo and the Brigadier sent rather than the Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane and Harry. If it was the former trio, he claimed he may even capture them which was really nice in showing just how much the Master was a piece of the furniture of the Third Doctor era. However, with it being the latter trio he ordered the Daleks to exterminate them. And they did. The Master relished in that being enacted and he watched it on repeat in delicious fashion! It was superb to hear that evil laugh as he watched on. Hearing the Master have to explain to his own Daleks how they were to become the supreme beings and what 2IC meant as he crowned his Dalek Supreme was good fun. It was the Master at his best! The focus on who the Progenitor was made for a little bit of a mess, as I’m still entirely sure how that will be used, but the ambiguous ending from the Unbound Master as he had an idea on who it might be with just one trip left with their current power supply at least sets us up for the finale. As a whole, this was a really strong adventure that felt a little like filler and I just hope now we get a clash of Masters in the finale as that should prove tremendous! Overall, a really good audio to continue a great series!

Rating: 8/10

Anti-Genesis: The Master's Dalek Plan

"Oh Davros, the things you could have achieved."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: December 2019

Series: War Master 4.02

Featuring: War Master

Synopsis 

As the Master infiltrates the Kaled scientific elite, the Time Lords seek to encounter his interference. But while Narvin and President Livia try to stabilise the past, a new and horrifying future dawns in the wastelands of ancient Skaro.

Verdict 

The Master's Dalek Plan was another great episode to continue my way through the Anti-Genesis fourth series of the War Master’s adventures. After a spectacular opener in From the Flames, this continued brilliantly with the Master relishing his new life deep into the past of Skaro. That setting was terrific and really took me back to the I, Davros spin-off series which was strong continuity. I thought it was presented well and it was also great to reference The Elite which I didn’t see coming. It was logical though and it was just a nice meshing of early Dalek continuity. Of course, this was Skaro before the Daleks given the events altered by the Master to ensure Davros actually died in the bomb strike that crippled him in real time. So, without Davros you would think that the Master had achieved the end of the Time War with the Daleks erased before their existence. Except, in typical Master fashion he had his own play at hand. He would become the creator of the Daleks! I thought that was marvellous. Having the Master in the guise of Sarvod was terrific and a fine use of his love of disguise. The name was clever and I thought it was nice to mention the Kaled tradition of naming children backwards. The comical comment that the Daleks actually should be named as Delaks was a fine moment and it was amusing that it basically went unaddressed afterwards. I mean, it was a good point! I thought Lamarius was less good in this story as I was only interested in everything the Master was doing to be honest. I liked that hand mines were mentioned when it seemed like she would be captured as a slave as that really linked in well with The Magician’s Apprentice and more early Skaro continuity. Her reports weren’t too interesting and that’s probably because she was literally trapped and stuck with options. Arfor was not a favourite character of mine unfortunately as he just seemed a bit much and too easy to change his mind. He was a Muto and they have a lot of potential, but they weren’t utilised too well here. Having Lamarius captured was decent and it was fun to hear the Master reacting to her having a double binary system. That only seemed significant to him with that not being unusual for Mutos to have two of a number of body parts! Narvin and Livia didn’t feature much but when they did I really enjoyed the eeriness that came from multiple versions of Gallifrey and time literally moving and altering around them. Pondering on whether they would actually know if it was happening was terrific and the focal point of Mount Caden was very helpful. At one point it was gone completely but what I liked the most was the idea of it having a giant Dalek eyestalk implanted! The Master had his own fun with Dalek eyestalks and actually repairing vision on a Muto with one to ensure his hypnotic spell could be maintained was chilling. The Master pre-creating the Daleks was just brilliant and hearing them all cry out that the Master was their leader and they obeyed him was sensational. I love the play on words for the title of this story, and the episode does a good job with his Dalek plan. I’m very excited to hear where things go from here!   

Rating: 8/10