The Quest of the Engineer

"A ship disguised as a planet."

Writer: Andrew Smith

Format: Audio 

Released: February 2020

Series: Fourth Doctor Adventures 9.04

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II, Adric, K9

Synopsis

The TARDIS crew's attempts to escape E-Space lead them to a strange planet with a surface that shifts and changes constantly.

Losing their ship down a fissure, they venture into the depths of this world and encounter the man who rules this place – a man known only as 'the Engineer'. He tells them that he's on a quest for illumination, and to find a rumoured portal in space that may lead to another reality, with knowledge unknown in this universe. 

It seems he may be on the same quest as the Doctor and his friends. But can he be trusted? And who is he really?

Verdict

The Quest of the Engineer was a great story to conclude the second volume of the ninth series of Fourth Doctor Adventures! I have really enjoyed this series with it being an exploration through E-Space with a TARDIS team we only saw on television three times, with one of those seeing an arrival and another seeing a departure. So to flesh out the quartet of the Fourth Doctor, Romana, Adric and K9 was a brilliant idea and I thought this was a good way to finish! I liked the mystery of their arrival and also starting seemingly mid-adventure was a unique little twist that had me guessing if I had accidentally skipped ahead on the Big Finish app. The planet that was actually was a ship was a really intriguing concept and the Doctor realising that fact was very good. The Engineer made for a brilliant villain and he was a pretty deranged man. The scientific element was really nicely done and I think the imagery of the ship and how it was moving around at incredible speed with zero inertia technology was terrific. I don't think this kind of story would have worked during the Season 18 era, so it was a fine use of the audio format which I always enjoy being taken advantage of. I thought Anla was a wonderful character and I really enjoyed her relationship that was built with the Doctor. I loved how he even stated that he thought they would get along so I was stunned at the cliffhanger to part two when she lovingly went to embrace her son who she had held dying in her arms, only for him to shoot her amidst a violation of the rules! The resolution at the start of part three was pretty weak sadly with her still surviving intact, although it did provide for a difficult dynamic as she had to deal with Jonas and him not actually being her son. At least, not anymore. She appealed to the Engineer later in the story that Jonas was more than just the physical carcass that the Engineer had created and experimented upon to merge muscle and metal, but he was too deranged to understand. The truth about the Engineer was clear when he found to that Romana was from N-Space and the portal through which he was searching, and simply asked if they had the technology to save the soul. That was chilling. His assumption that he had gathered all knowledge in E-Space and wouldn't find anyone superior really did say a lot about him. His reaction to finding that Adric was actually from his own universe was amusing. I also thought K9 being taken out and largely inactive for the story was a shame and I felt he could have contributed more with the Enforcers in particular. Finding out that the Engineer was doing everything he was for his wife was a little unexpected, but going so far as blowing up a moon to get the debris headed towards a space where a CVE may be was incredible. That really was quite the moment. Regis Tal was a fine character and he enjoyed a good relationship with the Doctor too which was nice. He added a lot of local knowledge, but Anla was the main party there for me and her knowing about the truth of the Engineer when his name was revealed was very good. His staying behind at the conclusion to die despite 

Rating: 8/10

The Space Pirates

"Underneath a rocket at blast-off was no place to linger."

Writer: Terrance Dicks

Format: Novel

Released: March 1990

Series: Target 147

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Zoe

Synopsis

The charges detonate in a series of silent explosions, and space beacon Alpha One disintegrates into lumps of metal. The space pirates have discovered a new source of precious argonite...

General Hermack of the Space Corps diverts his V-ship to investigate – and arrives in the Pliny system in time to witness the destruction of another beacon. Determined to trap the pirates, he leaves a squad of guards on beacon Alpha Four – and shortly afterwards, in the beacon's computer bay, the incongruous shape of a blue police telephone box materialises. 

Suspected by the Space Corps of being pirates, and then pursued as spies by the pirates themselves, the Doctor, Zoe and Jamie risk asphyxiation in the vacuum of space, execution and explosion in their attempts to unmask the mastermind behind the thefts of argonite.

Verdict

The Space Pirates was an excellent novelisation of the Second Doctor serial of the same name! This story does not have the greatest of reputations amongst Doctor Who folklore and I have to say that I remembered very little from the reconstruction I watched seven years ago. I don't think this adventure is high on anyone's list of stories we would like to have completed in the BBC archives, but with this being Terrance Dicks' final contribution to the Target range, it's an important book. And it was fantastic! I absolutely flew through this one on my son Albie's nap breaks and it really was brilliant. I think the format helped with that as we could have a quick pace that really helped, and upon reflection I did think it would be a struggle for this one to reach six episodes with any real quality. But as a book this was terrific! I thought the space setting worked really well and was a little unique for the era of Season 6. The Doctor and Zoe were very good and got to showcase their scientific knowledge very well with the ships and the magnetic make up of its sections. One strength of this book was the quality of the chapter cliffhangers. I thought they were outstanding to be honest and we had the Doctor getting gassed, Jamie supposedly murdered and then the TARDIS trio falling deep below! It was all very good and whilst the resolutions were a little matter-of-fact and not pouncing on that excitement, I thought they added a lot. I was a big fan of the ruthlessness of the titular space pirates and Caven in particular made for a very strong villain. He was remorseless and only concerned with obtaining the argonite and going to any means possible, not being bothered by those who would have to forfeit their lives in the process. His relationship wit Dervish was good and I liked how he was scared of Caven because of the hold and threats he had on everyone. Hermack was a good character too and I liked the three-way storytelling with the Space Corps, the pirates, and then the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe's arrival. Their convergence on Alpha Beacon one and how everyone got mixed up was a very strong start. Jamie wanting to get physical with Caven was good and I really enjoyed his relationship with Clancey. Milo was a great character and his position as one of the old guard and outlaw that didn't exactly adhere to the law and order enforced by Space Corps was terrific. Him being mistaken as the lead of the space pirates was very good and I loved how he was true to his word in finding the Doctor, Zoe and Jamie when they went against his orders of not exploring the tunnels on Ta. Madeleine Issigri was another stellar character and her working relationship with Caven was a very strong reveal. I liked how she drew the line at death and stood by her principles, something Dervish was not able to do. I enjoyed the moment where Jamie accidentally found the audible noise to unlock their cell door, especially after him calling the whole process ridiculous. I really liked the conclusion and the tension and excitement that came from the potential blowing up of the ship and planet against the missiles striking Caven on his escape before giving the signal was excellent. It was a really fitting end and Caven met his maker to finish things off. The humour that came with Milo and the TARDIS trio heading off when they were ordered to stay for a report was a lovely conclusion to what was a brilliant read! 

Rating: 9/10

The Truth of Peladon

"It's important to maintain tradition."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: January 2022

Series: Peladon 1.04

Featuring: Eighth Doctor

Synopsis

Arla, last of Peladon's great seamstresses, is commissioned to make a great cloak for the latest coronation. She'll need a new assistant to complete her work in time, and one appears: the Eighth Doctor! Determined to show Arla the truth of Peladon, the delicates threads he's drawing together will change Peladon forever.

Verdict

The Truth of Peladon was a fantastic audio adventure to include the Peladon series! This tied things up very nicely after what has been a hugely successful series and exploration of the planet that has become something of a legend in Doctor Who across a number of mediums by now. I loved the approach of different familiar characters visiting Peladon at different points in its history and this was a fitting conclusion. I liked how it started with Chancellor Barok organising the coronation with Arla, the last of the great seamstresses, tasked with created the great royal cloak. The arrival of the Doctor was a lot of fun as he was persistent with his knocking and proclaimed himself as Arla’s new seamstress. He was keen to point out the strange mood on Peladon with there seemingly being no mourning period on the streets despite the death of a monarch required for a coronation. My intrigue was furthered when it came to Arla not really knowing who the heir was to be coronated. That obviously didn’t really add up. I thought the fur of Aggedor was a nice touch and Arla having some access to the first cloak that would preserve the wearer after death was very interesting. The clothing theme seemed odd on paper but I thought it really worked well and the fun of the Doctor putting on a cape again was brilliant! I was glad that some other agenda of the Doctor’s was slowly revealed when he was secretly in communication with an Ice Warrior and he knew that Barok had a hold of the planet now and didn’t operate with the nicest of actions. Arla being arrested for her cloak design was a great twist and the night sky that she depicted on it actually representing Arcturus instead. The mystery of whether this was the fault of the Doctor or the astronomer from whom it was sourced worked well, but one thing for sure was that a political statement had well and truly been made. The Doctor visiting Arla in her cell was good and I liked how he wasn’t actually coming to mock or confront, but to take her on a wonder and show how Peladon was far from being the provider it was made out to be. The return to Mount Mageshra was good continuity from The Death of Peladon and the trisilicate still infecting the water was a big shame but a good story development. The Doctor not understanding why the Pels had such a fear of outsiders and the planet was just experiencing the same problems over and over again and that seemed to hurt him emotionally as he cared for Peladon. Arla’s fear of Ssilas was palpable and I really liked how she seemed blind to hope despite all the Doctor had shown her. The venture into Barok’s councillor chambers was good and I loved the idea of showing Arla the truth of the people after showing her the truth of the land. That leading to them hearing that Barok was actually in league with the Arcturans was excellent and the whole ravaging of Peladon in beaming the trisilicate away to Arcturus and impacting the tectonic stability of the planet was just brilliant. I was a big fan.  Finding out that Arla turned in her previous apprentice after finding she was part of the resistance was shocking and the Doctor challenging her on that and mentioning his lost body was powerful stuff. This was the darker side of the Eighth Doctor and it was excellent. Arla seemingly going against her new apprentice when telling Barok of the secret passage was good, and the shock of the loom house workers being rounded up was fantastic. The sickly Aggedor making their way to the streets was good and the unhappiness that would follow from the people when seeing the decadence of the new ruler with all their rationing was nicely done. The Doctor appealing to the people was terrific and Arla revealing she was actually in league with the Doctor was marvellous. Barok’s power facility was destroyed and that would beam back to Arcturus which wouldn’t do wonders for the stability of that planet! Arla calmly admitting to killing Barok showed she had a ruthless streak, and the Doctor wasn’t happy as he wanted him to stand trial and face up to his actions. His departure following him putting Arla to the people and being accountable for her actions was a little surprising, but again this was a fantastic insight into the darker side of the Eighth Doctor. Overall, a brilliant conclusion!

Rating: 9/10

Camelot: The Last King of Camelot

"It is my moment of glory."

Writer: Kate Thorman

Format: Audio

Released: February 2022

Series: The Lone Centurion 2.03

Featuring: Rory

Synopsis

Camelot is under attack. Arthur and Guinevere have fled and Merlin's direst prophecies have come true. Can Rory prevail before the kingdom falls?

Verdict

The Last King of Camelot was an excellent story and a terrific way to conclude Rory's adventures as the Lone Centurion in Camelot! This really concluded what had been built up in The Once and Future Nurse and The Glowing Warrior with a final battle ensuing between Rory and Merlin after the latter's desire to obtain the former's Pandorica. I wasn't expecting Merlin to have essentially usurped Arthur as the King of Camelot and it was good for the legendary monarch to make an appearance in the series as I was fearful that it may not happen! I really liked that the entire quest that Rory and Lancelot embarked upon was all a ploy by Merlin to get them out of Camelot so he could take over. His bewitching of all of the knights was great and I loved how Rory cottoned on to what had happened rather quickly. Lancelot was slower to realise the truth and he initially refused to believe that Merlin would go against Arthur which was brilliant. I thought Lancelot was absolutely magnificent once again and his comments about Rory's swords and the offer of bathing together in the lake was comedic brilliance. Their relationship has been a real highlight of this boxset and I thought the moment they shared at the end was a fitting way to finish. Guinevere was really strong in this one and she was a woman that really stood up when Camelot needed her most! Her strategy was sound and I thought her first take of a sword was really impressive! Rory was no fighter and he couldn't believe how quickly she took to the weapon! It was really amusing to hear how the dynamic changed for Rory and Lancelot when it came to fighting with the latter usually having the superior intellect, but this was one are our centurion did not shine. His struggles of climbing a horse were so much fun as well and trying to have Rory lead an army into battle without being able to do something as simple as that really provided some struggles. I thought the action in the audio was very good and even though this one was only an hour, it absolutely flew by and that's obviously a big positive. Merlin's arrival onto the scene to try and take out Rory and gain the Pandorica was very good and I liked how Rory's words nearly slipped into admission that this was what he was guarding. Arthur being mortally wounded was unexpected and I also found Lancelot still wanting to fight as his champion despite having a broken leg brilliant, especially with his point of fact response regarding his legacy and having songs written about him after a noble death. Guinevere didn't understand that about men so it was really nice for her to actually be appointed king by Rory and the people after Merlin was defeated. The way that occurred with Rory was nicely done and it was clever to have him slip away and potentially return in what I hope will be a third series! Rory's departure from Camelot was heartfelt as he emotionally embraced Lancelot for a goodbye and this time the squire finally got the hint that Rory didn't want to be accompanied. Overall, a really strong finale to what has been a terrific series! 

Rating: 9/10

Camelot: The Glowing Warrior

                                         

"It's never like the stories."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: February 2022

Series: The Lone Centurion 2.02

Featuring: Rory

Synopsis

Arise Sir Rory! Every new knight must embark upon a quest, and soon Sir Rory (and his noble squire Lancelot) head out to solve the mystery of the Glowing Knight and save a damsel in distress. But are they walking into a trap?

Verdict

The Glowing Warrior was a terrific story to continue the Camelot second series of The Lone Centurion! This was a really fun 64 minutes and exactly what I'd imagined a spinoff series with Rory as the lead character would be. It was fantastic comedy and it really built on what was started in The Once and Future Nurse. The idea of Rory being knighted is marvellous and having him here embarking on a quest was the perfect basis for a story. Lancelot eagerly joining him as his squire was superb and I thought his character was honestly sublime throughout. The relationship between him and Rory was outstanding and has been a real highlight of the series so far, and it was taken to some extremes here with the involvement of Lynn. Her being saved as the damsel in distress was terrific and her thoughts on Lancelot's feelings for Rory were very fun. She didn't hold back in playing on that and using it to her advantage, and it was clear that she was superior to the fun squire. Whether she had any position or status didn't matter, she oozed authority which was very good. The scenes where Lancelot and Beau got stuck in the big was so ridiculous and so good and I honestly don't think it was long enough. I was laughing to myself so much at what I was hearing as Lancelot was willing to die there for Rory as a noble sacrifice, whereas you could tell that Rory was holding in his true thoughts. He'd already given a lot of medical opinions after the Glowing Warrior emerged covered in phosphorus with links of lead around, and finding the fish floating and following the river to the source was very cleverly done. The Christmas setting was a nice addition and it provided a strong and poignant reminder for Rory of what he was doing and what this time of year was traditionally like amongst loved ones. His mentioning of a mission he was bequeathed to and Merlin overhearing as he wanted full and audible confirmation that Rory was the Lone Centurion guarding the Pandorica was brilliant, and given the revelation at the end we seem to have set up quite the finale between knight and magician! Merlin being the one to organise the entire charade quest seemed obvious once it was revealed, but the twist with Lynn actually being Beau's sister was very well done and she was quite apologetic at the end as she had to play along with her love Gareth imprisoned by her brother. The way the story was bookended by her telling the story as a Christmas tradition with Gareth to their family was really lovely, much better than Lancelot's gesture of providing a sock as a stocking! I thought the way Beau was diagnosed with lead poisoning was good and quick, but for me that was all that was required as that wasn't the most important element of the story. This was quirky, fun, fast and just a right old romp which I loved, whilst also setting us up for an epic finale! Overall, a really great listen.

Rating: 9/10

Camelot: The Once and Future Nurse

"Tend to your patient!"

Writer: Alfie Shaw

Format: Audio

Released: February 2022

Series: The Lone Centurion 2.01

Featuring: Rory

Synopsis

Camelot is in trouble. Lancelot is wounded and Merlin warns that dark times are ahead. The wizard's convinced the solution lies in the mythical Pandorica. Meanwhile, Lancelot owes his life to a humble servant named Rory.

Verdict

The Once and Future Nurse was a great story to kick off the Camelot second series of the Lone Centurion! I am so glad that a second volume of Rory's spinoff has happened and taking things to the mythical realm of Camelot, which is apparently in Wales, is very fun. It's a clever way to utilise the situation of The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang with history falling apart and taking place all at once, which was evidenced with the multiple King Harold IIs at the start. I was a little surprised with how Camelot was presented here and it was definitely a good thing. Merlin was a lot more conniving and cautious than I would have imagined but that made him a great villain and someone that I imagine will pose quite the challenge to Rory over the course of the next two episodes. His desire to find The Pandorica was excellent and I like how that shows the legendary status it has acquired. Its centurion guard had also gone down in history and someone with the status of Merlin wanting to have the power it contained really highlighted its stature. I thought that was very good and Rory feigning innocence on its whereabouts and the identity of the centurion was terrific. Lancelot was a lot of fun and his falling for Rory was tremendous, but the highlight of the story was arguably the declaration of love poem that he told to Rory and our centurion innocently just took it as him presenting his symptoms for diagnosis! It was subtly brilliant humour. Rory's position as a nurse was good to incorporate and his strained relationship and differing medical opinions to Malthus was brilliant. The contemporary medic's desire to balance the humours by cutting legs and limbs off the sufferer's body was amusing and his desire to even use herbs when Lancelot was choking whereas Rory just hugged him from behind was marvellous. Rory's reaction to supposedly being tortured was also very good as he could easily withstand the apparent pressure. Guinevere was a decent character too and I hope she gets more chance to shine in the upcoming episodes, but she wasn't shy here in asserting her or the king's authority when Rory seemed to question or give instructions to them harmlessly. Merlin not enjoying being sent on a wild goose chase for the Pandorica was good and I liked how Rory then challenged him when it came to Lancelot's poisoner. The hypothetical standoff was superb and Rory giving his outburst at his current predicament and why he was protecting the Pandorica and who was inside was fantastic. He really loved Amy and it showed here in a strong way. The way the episode ended with Rory being knighted for ultimately saving Lancelot from the evils of Le Fay, a convenient thing Merlin could place blame upon, was terrific and having Rory stuck at Camelot was a fantastic set up for what is to come. Merlin seems confident he's closing on the Pandorica and his offering to personally fund the armour and extra finances required for him to stay, whilst appeasing to Rory's duty and position as protector was fantastic. The tension between the pair is palpable and I look forward to hearing where things go from here! Overall, a good and fun start to the boxset.

Rating: 8/10

Protectors of Time: Stolen Futures

"There's something very unsettling about a mirror with no reflection."

Writer: Lizbeth Myles

Format: Audio

Released: March 2022

Series: Eighth of March 2.01

Featuring: Romana, K9

Synopsis

Romana and K9 have stayed in E-Space to help an ancient and noble people, freed from their shackles. But first they must heal divisions in the ranks, and those who see a very different future for the Tharil race...

Verdict

Stolen Futures was a good start to the Protectors of Time second Eighth of March series to celebrate International Women's Day! I think this is such a good idea and I honestly think it should become an annual tradition. The first series was great and I'm glad that we get a follow up, and who better to start with than Romana II? She's probably my all time favourite companion and having her in the lead in E-Space was great placement. It was an action-packed start and I liked how Romana was very clearly in charge on the ship her little gang were infiltrating. They were freeing Tharils from stasis pods which I liked but Lupan showed she would be a problem when she shot her gun. Romana was not best pleased. The Tharil also killing the captain was less than ideal and was not what Romana stood for. K9 was terrific and I liked that he was alongside Biroc. This was much better continuity wise from Warriors' Gate than my recent listening of The Kairos Ring which explored Romana's life after the Doctor. The mirror theme was good and I liked the concept of it only showing darkness. The past was obscured on the planet of Tharil ruins. The strong interference that took place was decent and I liked that Romana and K9 were flung away as a result. I thought the chase from the Gundan could have been improved with the likes of birds and snakes not quite transitioning well into audio, but the time shift from Tyro that saved them was nicely done. He was an intriguing character as a Tharil that was free of the gateway and even had a Seer that was surrounded by mirrors acting as previous gateways. Romana being shown a future of war was excellent and I liked that Lupan was deemed to have some involvement too when it came to the Tharils freedom meaning the death of the crews. She would go onto attack a space part so Romana had to warn of the imminent time storm which was a good direction to go in. Lupan's desire to only stop when the human ports and means of travel had gone was interesting and it was the only way she would think they had freedom. Tyro and the Seer limiting what Romana saw in her future was hardly subtle but it was terrific that she knew she was in a trap, and walked straight into it willingly. The threat of her being trapped with the time winds still was good but more should have been made of it in mu opinion. Lupan being there seemed sudden but she worked well in looking into her future too long and being consumed by it. Her showing the way out by drinking the poisonous fountain was a shock but it wasn't all it seemed. Tyro also being in the past was a nice gathering of foes and his desire to return to feudalistic ways should have been more prominent. Biroc going so far as to drink from the fountain too seemed odd but I did like that he proved it was his choice and that time had no bearing on it. The threat of Romana continuously regenerating was exciting but a little random, as Tyro got a little maniacal but she was able to echo to K9 to destroy the mirrors. I thought it got a little confusing and timey-wimey when Biroc aided in going back to the moment right before the mirror were destroyed with their past selves being washed into the present. I was more on board with needing to destroy the mirror on both sides. I liked the little twist that the Seer was the one who brought everyone together to stop Tyro after the threat of the futures under him she saw. After all was settled, Romana wanting to learn more of the gateways and get a better understanding of her new universe was a nice way to leave things for more potential E-Space adventures. Overall, a decent start! 

Rating: 7/10

Return to Skaro

"These are the travellers of legend."

Writer: Andrew Smith

Format: Audio

Released: March 2020

Series: First Doctor Adventures 4.01

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara 

Synopsis

A new plan to return to Earth actually returns the TARDIS to another place its crew have recently visited – Skaro, homeworld of the Daleks.

But it is some time after their previous visit. The Thals have moved on with developing their species... Yet the shadow of the Dalek city always looms large over them.

Venturing into the abandoned metropolis, the Doctor and his friends discover the Daleks aren't as dead as they might have thought... and it isn't only their enemies who have secrets.

Verdict

Return to Skaro was a sensational start to the fourth series of First Doctor Adventures! I didn't know what to expect from a sequel to The Daleks, but I know I was incredibly excited for it and I certainly wasn't let down. I loved the trepidation at the start of the story with the use of the fast return switch after all of the complications it caused in The Edge of Destruction, but it seemed to burn out after use. The Doctor suggestion they wouldn't necessarily arrive back at Totters Lane and could be on Barnes Common was a nice allusion to Doctor Who and the Daleks, but they were far from either location as they'd arrived on Skaro! I absolutely adored the landscape of the Dalek planet and the idea of bringing the original TARDIS team back to the forest that wasn't so petrified anymore was outstanding. This is essentially the second Dalek story when it comes to chronology which I really enjoyed, and the contrasts were fantastic. Radiation levels on Skaro had lessened and the lightning coming from the tower being unnatural was a new addition. The idea of ionising the atmosphere was good and a fun explanation of why radiation wasn't a problem anymore. Damadus as the leader of the Thals was good and I loved that he was a descendant of Alyson and Dioni. The continuity from the travellers' first visit was excellent and we were introduced to some strong new characters with the likes of Kreos as the head of Thal military and Tyrana as the cautious scientist. Barbara pondering on the Thals no longer being pacifists was really good stuff. I liked how in the fifty cycles since the Doctor and co were previously on the planet that the Thals had utilised Dalek technology to aid their development, but they stayed away from the derelict Dalek city. Jyden was a decent character as the son of Tyrana and his wanting to take Susan into the city because of her past knowledge and experience was a little eery for her. The threat of varga plants was good continuity with The Daleks' Master Plan, and I loved the foreshadowing of Planet of the Daleks with how revered the TARDIS quartet were with the Thals and how their historical standing amongst their people. The Daleks watching them made for a good cliffhanger and I liked how Jyden wanted to go down to the levels that previously held the Daleks. The control room was in pristine condition which didn't add up with Susan recalling the damage it endured, and there was an alternative power source on a level even below the floor plan which all pointed towards the Daleks returning. It was nice to hear Susan's enquiring mind in action and it soon led them to getting locked in. Onwards they went! It was good for the Doctor to find Jyden's backpack and the have the increasingly shady Tyrana find the way in feigning innocence, and it was terrific for the Doctor to show that he suspected her all along. The Doctor, Ian and Tyrana was a fantastic trio and dynamic and their going below to the Dalek level was good. I liked how the Doctor knew he saw would Susan would have and she was able to showcase her abilities. The pool was chilling as it contained Dalek mutant creatures and their survival being drawn from the nutrients in the Lake of Mutations was superb. Ian's exclamation of "they survived!" was a tremendous moment and I was just loving everything about this adventure. Tyrana being in league with the Daleks was not a big surprise but I still enjoyed the confirmation, and the Dalek Supreme emerging as a larger mutant within the pool made for a brilliant cliffhanger! From there we had some fantastic Dalek deception with them not even being armed and positioning themselves as the Thal benefactors wanting peace. I appreciated the explanation of them no longer needing radiation with the Supreme having been in the fluid for so long, and Tyrana working with them for over two years surprised the Doctor in a big way. His wanting to see the source of power Tyrana had granted them from the Thal city was very good and I thought David Bradley was outstanding with his first Dalek story. I'm definitely a fan of his take on the First Doctor now. The discovery of the secret tunnel that could lead the Daleks into the Thal city was tremendous and I loved that the ambush had been planned all along. This was the early Daleks at their finest and it was so well done in capturing the feel of that first Dalek serial. I was hugely impressed. Hearing what was essentially the birth of the Black Dalek as it encased for the first time was wonderful stuff. The simplicity in which Tyrana was exterminated was telling for the Daleks and they kept the Doctor alive because they wanted time travel, something it was worth remembering they didn't have at this point in their timeline. Damadus address the Thals as they seemed to welcome peace with the Daleks was met with shock and awe before the massacre ensued in typical Dalek fashion. Jyden going inside the Dalek with Ian as his prisoner was fun to have happen again on Skaro, and the Doctor showing his brilliance in reprogramming the nano particles so the towers would target pure Dalekanium was outstanding. When full power mode was initiated, the Daleks were destroyed once and for all which was a fitting conclusion to a sublime audio! This was certainly the best First Doctor Adventure so far. A wonderful listen.

Rating: 10/10

Doctor Who and the Claws of Axos

"The British had been invaded by a giant pumpkin from outer space."

Writer: Terrance Dicks

Format: Novel

Released: April 1977

Series: Target 10

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo, Brigadier

Synopsis

"Axos calling Earth, Axos calling Earth...'

The creatures stood before them, beautiful golden humanoids, offering friendship and there priceless Axonite, in return for – what?

Only Doctor Who remains suspicious. What is the real reason for the Axons' sudden arrival on Earth? And why is the evil Master a passenger on their spaceship? He very soon finds out...

Verdict

Doctor Who and the Claws of Axos was a great novelisation! It has been far too long since I've delved into the Target range and as I aim to slowly increase my reading as I get to grips with life as a dad to a seventh month old, and this was a nice way to ease my way back in. I thought it started well and on a large scale with the approaching UFO and identifying all of the relevant organisations, and it was nice to have UNIT as one of those. Season 8 is a fun time for Doctor Who as the Doctor gets to grips with his exile and by this point Jo has established herself as the companion and the Brigadier is trusting of the Doctor as his scientific advisor. The Master is also always around and him garnering a reputation that caused a representative from Washington to be sent because of their concern was terrific. Filer made for a strong character, but I think what I enjoyed most about the novelisation was Chinn and how he was very prominent. I don't think it felt that way on television, at least not as much, but his manipulation of power and going above the Brigadier and getting the authorisation from the Minister was very fun. The arrival of Axos was very good and it was terrific for the Doctor to showcase his abilities to those sceptical of his lack of files and official existence in calculating where the UFO would land. The organic description of the ship was eery and whilst I think a little more description could have benefitted the differing types of Axons we encounter, it was still a great base for the alien menace in this story. The Master being a prisoner on board was fun and his introduction to the Doctor was a real highlight just when he hoped to escape. The concept of Axonite was good and it was clear that it wasn't going to be the complete offering of expanding humanity's resources it was set out to be. I liked how it was clear the Doctor wasn't on board with their offering, but Chinn was quick to want to give them whatever they wanted for it, and to ensure it was Britain's to export. The Axons needing 72 hours to get a widespread distribution of Axonite was a good timeline and the Master being the one to bring them to Earth as a way to get at the Doctor was fantastic. His infiltration of UNIT by hypnotising the lorry driver was good and his luck at the transportation of the TARDIS was good stuff. The Master's reaction to the state of the Doctor's TARDIS was brilliant and I loved how he compared it to a gas stove. The pace of the book was very good and exciting with some really great cliffhangers at the end of chapters. The concept of the Doctor and the Master teaming up was excellent and I loved how Jo sold it because she genuinely thought that he would go alongside him if it meant that he could leave Earth. It's worth remembering that this is still very early for Jo so the Doctor constantly wanting to escape Earth is a sore subject for him. When the Doctor duped everyone and bypassed the Master to set Axos into a time loop was a fun moment, and the TARDIS helping him and getting out was great. I just thought we needed a little more clarity on Axos abandoning their desire for time travel, even when they could already time jump, but the Doctor technically giving them what they wanted in the end was fitting after their deception. The Brigadier getting the warning out to everyone that Axonite wasn't all it set out to be was neat and convenient, but as a whole I thought this was a very strong read and I liked the scale of everything and the threats despite a contained setting. Overall, a very good book!

Rating: 8/10

Empire of the Wolf

"Two TARDISes. Two Doctors. Two Rose Tylers."

Writer: Jody Houser

Format: Comic Strip

Released: November 2021 - February 2022

Printed in: Empire of the Wolf #1-4

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Eighth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

When searching for his next adventure, the Eighth Doctor meets a strange young woman from another universe... Rose Tyler. He has no idea of the destiny they share, but makes it his mission to discover what brought her here, and how to get her home. 

Meanwhile, the Eleventh Doctor is summoned by a mysterious empress plagued with visions of another life. It's Rose Tyler, but not the one he knows! Haling from an alternate timeline and trapped here alone, she has become a liberator, conquerer, and now empress. And when she finds out she's not the only Rose in this universe, something must be done...

All hail the Bad Wolf!

Verdict

Empire of the Wolf was a decent story to kick-start the 2021/22 comic era from Titan Comics! I liked the idea of celebrating 25 years of the Eighth Doctor, but the focus was far from being on just his incarnation. Having him meet the Eleventh Doctor was a very exciting prospect and I thought the moment where they met for the first time could have been better, but they did grow into some good chemistry as the story unfolded. Rose was fundamental to this comic strip in more versions than one and I liked the idea of her meeting two incarnations of the Doctor she hadn't interacted with before, and it's quite fun that they bookend the two versions she did travel with. I thought her reaction when the Eighth Doctor rocked out of the TARDIS was fun as that wasn't who she was expecting, and having Rose meet a Doctor that hadn't yet experienced the Time War was excellent and I think more should have bene made of it. I loved the artwork design of the Eighth Doctor's TARDIS console, but I thought it was severely lacking in presenting the whole console room and that's something I couldn't understand as there was a lot of white/blank panelling. The placement of this story for the Eleventh Doctor was good as he had just lost Amy and Rory in The Angels Take Manhattan, and his comment about not getting on with statues was terrific. His interaction with the TARDIS was lovely and I liked how he reacted when wanting a holiday but finding himself amidst a paradox. The characterisation of this incarnation was strong throughout and I loved his reaction to finding that Rose was back. I thought the explanations as to how Rose managed to travel from one universe to the other and then back again were pretty lacking, and I felt there was missed opportunity in this comic strip. I loved exploring that she and the Meta-Crisis Doctor had a child together and seeing Rose as the mother of a teenager was startling to think how much older she was! The Empress version of her was a less enjoyable character but it was fun to think of what could have been with a majestic version of Rose having subjects and an entire empire! Her spiel to the Eighth Doctor about everything she'd done regarding the Bad Wolf was very good, although she had a lot of confidence in his words about the earlier version not retaining memory during a paradox. D'Pau taking on the villain role was a fun twist after Rose faked being the Empress and tried to stop the invasions, and the cliffhanger at the end of part three with his alliance alongside the Sontarans was fantastic! But then things really sizzled in the final part which was unfortunate and I was honestly stunned at how little the Sontarans did. They did nothing at all! The same image of their army was used countless times which was frustrating and given their design I was hopeful that there would be some connection to Flux, but nothing was stated. It was underwhelming after such a good build and all of the ingredients on offer here. I just feel like this was a missed opportunity as it could have been something special! Overall, still a very worthy read and I liked that Rose pushed the Doctor into not wanting to travel alone leading into The Snowmen with his isolation, but this could have been very special.

Rating: 7/10

Prime Winner

"A space casino!"

Writer: Nigel Fairs

Format: Audio

Released: February 2016

Series: Short Trips 6.02

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

The TARDIS makes a forced landing in a lavish room looking very much like the foyer to a 1930s casino. But the games being played in the halls are unlike anything they would find on Earth, and the players are far from human. And then Peri sees her stepfather...

Verdict

Prime Winner was a great little Short Trips audio adventure! I really enjoyed the concept behind the space casino and I liked how the Doctor and Peri were clearly following on from an eventful outing in Paris. I would really like to hear that one as upon research after completing the story, it doesn't seem to relate to any story currently available across any format! The time storm that followed on from their Paris outing was good and I liked how the Doctor was less than pleased with the situation. It was quite fun to have some continuation from Revelation of the Daleks with the Doctor being in that famed blue coat and Peri didn't think it was too fashionably appeasing which was amusing! The treatment of Peri by the Doctor was a little harsh at the start but that made me think this was quite close in proximity to the end of Season 22 on television with this attitude of the Sixth Doctor. It was brilliant to have Peri stand up to him though and I thought that really allowed Nicola Bryant to shine with the narration. It was intriguing for Peri to think she saw her stepfather Howard at the casino after the TARDIS landed in tumultuous circumstances, and the cruise itself was a tremendous setting. I loved that the Doctor pondered on whether the version of Howard was actually Kamelion prior to them actually meeting him, and the potential of an encounter with the Master was exciting! It didn't come though unfortunately. The Doctor not quite intending to arrive on the cruiser was fun as he's not a fan of getting things wrong in this incarnation. The prime win at the casino being the jackpot was good and the fact it was happening frequently rightfully raised suspicions. The Doctor having second thoughts on what Peri thought was her stepfather actually being the true article was interesting and it seemed that it would have some connection with the temporal disturbances that had happened. The Doctor and Peri being on the hunt for the source of that was a decent basis for the plot and I liked how the cruiser had also experienced turbulence as a result. Peri finding a second version of what she supposed was Howard really intrigued me as that was surely more than coincidence, and the Collector was getting suspicious about there being more than one prime win. It was unprecedented! Especially in the same game session. The TARDIS being taken is always something I like because of the jeopardy it provides. Peri taking on the guise as the princess from the Fourth Quadrant was a lot of fun and it was something she really embraced! The man who wasn't actually Howard, but Quenning, possessing a time manipulator was excellent and I liked the confusion of all of the events duplicating. It could have been presented a little smoother, but it worked very well. I really liked how even the TARDIS controls were immobile as that is very much not ideal for the Doctor, but the manual override through a roundel was wonderful. The Doctor confronting Quenning strongly was good and I liked the timey-wimey nature of stopping him before he actually enacted the first manipulation. It was neat and simple which I always expect from Short Trips. The Doctor using Maxil as an example of the coincidence of what she thought was her stepfather was lovely stuff, although I do think a bit more of an explanation was warranted. Still, a very fun audio adventure! 

Rating: 8/10

The Planet of Witches

"The light of reason is dying."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: February 2020

Series: Fourth Doctor Adventures 9.03

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II, Adric, K9

Synopsis

Whilst attempting a detailed scan of E-Space, K9 detects the trail of a large spacecraft. Seeking a lead for their escape, the Doctor sets out on its trail towards a misty yellow planet.

Arriving just in time to witness a crash-landing in the planet's swamps, the Doctor and his crew discover a number of escaping prisoners fleeing from someone claiming to be a Witchfinder... whilst terrifying 'familiars' float around them.

For this is the planet f the witches... and the witches may just know the way home.

Verdict

The Planet of Witches was a very good story to kick off the second volume of the ninth series of Fourth Doctor Adventures! I thought this boxset kicked off very well with a fun and intriguing little tale. I loved the idea of K9 trying map E-Space and give the TARDIS some aid in getting back to N-Space, and they got pretty darn close to a CVE here. The humour that came with Adric's concerns about the food machine not working was actually quite serious and it was intriguing to know that they were still reliant on it. Brilliant continuity. Anjilis was a terrific character and I really liked her pairing with Tanhar, as well as her initial position with Inga on the crashing ship where witches were present and magic took place. I was really impressed with how this adventure took the medieval nature of a witch story and applied it on a cosmic scale. Where they made planetfall was an eery setting with swamps and a yellow mist providing a telling atmosphere. I liked how the Doctor and company witness the crash landing and hearing from the passengers within and their challenge of staying onboard or jumping was excellent action. They inevitably met up with the TARDIS quartet and K9 in particular had a fun outing on the differing land masses to navigate across. Romana's reaction to having to carry him was terrific. I thought the first cliffhanger of the Wicker Men arrival was pretty weak as they didn't have much bearing on the long term direction of the story, and the focus was rightly on the witches. Raxxil being a Finder was very good stuff and I liked how that was taken onto an interstellar track. Explaining the magic through scientific lingo like teleport and graviton beams was really fun, but not as fun as Adric being designated as an A-class brain whilst the Doctor was D-class! That was nicely done. The Moirai was excellent and a little bit of a weird concept but the moment they were revealed as androids and serving Tiresias with the same outer skin was chilling. I thought Crone made for a good villain and her developing into Smite was well done, and I found the concept of the brain patch to limit intelligence very odd but quite funky and worked for this type of story. Her role in the second cliffhanger and the apparent death of K9 was superb as he was shot and thrown beneath the swamp. The emergence of Tiresias was good and I liked how he repaired K9 but the cost was the robot dog becoming part of the neural pathway. Smite's position as leader of the Knights of the Fire was good and I liked how she wanted to head heavenward to N-Space. Tiresias being built on Earth was a good revelation and the potential of him having the CVE location and needing the TARDIS as safe passage meant quite the bargain was had. Romana struggling with the Malevolentity and the whole religious aspect of Smite's belief was terrific, but for me the highlight was the conclusion where the Doctor thought he was in cahoots with K9 regarding the coordinates of the CVE being wiped from his memory, but when he got back to the TARDIS and wanted them retrieved, K9 had wiped them anyway! That was tremendous stuff. I thought Tiresias blowing up Smite and not being trusted was a fitting end to tie things up, and the Doctor sacrificing the CVE location unbeknownst was just marvellous. Overall, a strong opener! 

Rating: 8/10

Tick-Tock World

"If you don't get away, this is where you all die."

Writer: Guy Adams

Format: Audio 

Released: January 2019

Series: First Doctor Adventures 3.02

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara 

Synopsis

When disaster befalls the TARDIS, its occupants find themselves in a bizarre location, somewhere between space and time.

Desperate survivors hide among ruins, greedy scavenging creatures hunt new prey, and ghosts scream out warnings across time. 

All the while, a mysterious woman watches the TARDIS crew, knowing, as sure as tock follows tick, that a terrible fate awaits them...

Verdict

Tick-Tock World was a great story to conclude the third series of First Doctor Adventures! I thought this was a strong finale and I liked how there was an immediate follow on from where The Phoenicians left off with the TARDIS malfunctioning. They soon landed but the companions were without the Doctor which really pained them. The idea of the ship dying was a considerable shock and they had arrived in a pretty desolate and damaged location. There was dust everywhere which meant the travellers hadn't been on the planet long which was essentially a junkyard. The concept of the shadows being echoes of those jumping time tracks was great and I really liked how Susan came into her own with the absence of her grandfather to explain everything and show off her intelligence. The mysterious woman gesturing to them was intriguing and Susan trying to convince Ian and Barbara that it was just a coincidence despite the figure's familiarity was terrific. The Doctor's emergence was slightly underwhelming but that was soon trumped by his surprising statement that the TARDIS had been destroyed! His anger at that was fantastic and I liked how that led to some fighting amongst the TARDIS team, but Ian was quick to stop that. The planet of ruins was hardly the place they needed to fall out. The woman talking to Susan was good and the threat of the mythical creature Xesto was fascinating. The appearance of a ghost of Ian was excellent too and I thought the warning of getting out or dying served as a fine cliffhanger to part one! It wasn't long before we were introduced to some fellow people on the planet in the form of Harl and Katta who couldn't remember how long they had been stuck on it. The similarities between their arrival and ship destruction was startling, but not as much as Ian's reaction to Harl and Katta being together! That was a stark reminder of the time and place he was from. Marvellously done. Nocta was a good little character with her selfishness and madness and it was not a surprise that Katta wasn't a fan of hers. I liked the eeriness of night on the planet lasting for mere moments as that must mess with your head! Susan utilising her telepathic abilities we saw on show in The Sensorites was excellent and I liked how she explained how the planet was screaming. The zero cabinet had a pivotal role in the story which I really liked and referring to it as a magic box was fun. The cliffhanger with Katta being consumed by the Devourer and the Doctor being swallowed whole to follow suit was brilliant and the impact it had on Susan was palpable. The mystery and scale of the purges was frightening with the amount of Devourers that would consume the planet, and Susan knowing them as the Xesto and how they fed on temporal energy was excellent. Her namedropping of the Reavers and Chronovores was very nice too. The Doctor talking to the different versions of himself was terrific and I thought that David Bradley was in fine form with his take on the First Doctor. His potential impact on the temporal damage was good and his interaction with the woman was excellent, especially so with her being there for centuries. The Doctor actually being dead is never something I can take seriously, but the idea of him getting time to appreciate his death was quite something. The woman being revealed as Susan was always coming and it was fun for her to challenge the Doctor on her identity. Her showing how to communicate across the dimensions was good and I liked that she was urging her younger self, Ian and Barbara to find the TARDIS remains. Katta being seen as a temporal echo was a very powerful moment with the devastation that caused to Harl. It was a very emotional moment. Ian standing up to Nocta to defend his friends was a wonderful moment and it was fun that her gun didn't actually work but she wasn't shy on threats. Susan finding the TARDIS console was a fantastic moment and I liked how there was still power, and the idea of trying to pull the Doctor or the TARDIS ghost from the past was superb. Ian coming full circle and delivering the warning message that we heard at the first cliffhanger was really well done and I liked the continual references to the tick tock noise. The elder Susan wanting to sacrifice herself to save the others was admirable and her stepping back on the time tracks was excellent as we went back to the final moments of the previous adventure, and the younger Susan offering a suggestion for the TARDIS troubles and the older version coming into contact with the Doctor for his last chance to not dismiss Susan was wonderful. Overall, a really strong and intriguing adventure! 

Rating: 8/10

Heart of Orion

"Control, take over, dehumanise."

Writer: Nicholas Briggs

Format: Audio

Released: January 2022

Series: Charlotte Pollard: Further Adventuress 1.04

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Charley

Synopsis

The TARDIS intercepts a strange signal, returning the Doctor and Charley to the Garazone System – where once they had a terrifying encounter with the Cybermen, and foiled a bid to change the course of a terrible android-human war.

Now, people are going missing from all over Garazone Central. The Orion War is far from over, and the Doctor and Charley have landed at the heart of it, again!

Verdict

Heart of Orion was a great story to conclude The Further Adventuress of Charley Pollard and the Eighth Doctor! This has been a terrific set to revisit a famed era of the Monthly Adventures and I really do hope that this isn't the last we hear of the pair together. I really like the idea of having a sequel from an early story in their run and Sword of Orion is certainly a fine choice. It's been eight years since I listened to that particular adventure and I must admit that I was a little hazy on the details, but after rereading my blog entry from 2014 and as the story went on, things soon familiarised themselves. I liked how things started with the scrap ship and the captain and Dilly salvaging and claiming ownership of a rogue android ship. It set the tone early as Dilly was quickly killed and sorely told her captain to get running with her final breaths. Once it was established that the TARDIS had received a distress signal from the Garazone System, along with the message continuing familiar words to the Doctor, the harkening back to Deeva was intriguing and I liked that Charley wanted to be cautious. She could see how much it meant to the Doctor to investigate though, so off they set! They found themselves in a bleak situation with missing persons acting strangely as upon their being found they had no knowledge of previous events and saw witness statements withdrawn. I thought Bly was an excellent character and she got on well with the Doctor, which made her concern for the previously missing all the more interesting. Her daughter was one of those and she had been very strange since returning. I thought it was fun to have some Drudgers around in a welcomed return and the female android controller that was running things recognising the Doctor and Charley was great, though it was beyond obvious that it was Deeva. Despite that, her reveal and Charley recognising her did make for a pretty strong cliffhanger. I think it would have been better and more impactful if the Doctor hadn't mentioned his concerns about her and the message. Deeva explaining how she survived after shutting down in space and even being pulled apart was welcomed as it's always good to get an explanation for a return of someone thought dead, even if they're an android! Charley heading to processing was a good threat and I liked that the Doctor and Bly were on the hunt for her. Selka was a decent character as Bly's mysterious daughter and the fact she wanted to report her mum when she and the Doctor were to embark on their mission showed something wasn't quite right. She was being controlled by a signal and that was the case for all of the missing. The impending arrival of the Seventh Fleet was good and I liked how Deeva's mission was to stop it and replace the crew with androids! The Doctor realising that Charley wasn't the real article was amusing, especially with the revelation that came late in the episode.  Deeva revealing that she didn't bring the Doctor and Charley to kill them was good explanation and she saw the Doctor as a means for non-androids to understand her kind's cause which I thought was nice. Deeva actually getting into the TARDIS was fun but she then wanted to kill herself as she was the amplification of the android activation. That was admirable after a lot of wrongdoing! Bly wanted to take out the fleet was a tense moment as Deeva then appealed to her revealing that she hadn't actually wiped everyone out and Selka was alive in the gas tanks. It was a pretty decent moment of emotional release. The birthing modules were intriguing to explore and finding out that Charley was the real article all along was so well done. I didn't see that coming! Her android was never activated. I liked the ending and the irony of the Seventh Fleet celebrations with androids who didn't know they were androids celebrate the culling of androids. Overall, a strong finale to what has been a great boxset! 

Rating: 8/10

The Kairos Ring

"These were the dead who could not die."

Writer: Stephen Gallagher 

Format: Audio

Released: February 2021

Series: Beyond the Doctor 01

Featuring: Romana II

Synopsis

Residing on the threshold of E-Space with the Tharil Lazlo, Romana is on the trail of a terrible enemy. Allies of the enslaves, the duo ride the Time Winds in search of the desperate Sluagh.

Meanwhile, on a bloody American Civil War battlefield, young soldier Joshua is haunted by spectres: pale, vicious-looking aliens who prey upon the dead to raise an army of living corpses. With the fabled Kairos Ring they can carve portals into other dimensions – and, by accident, Joshua is blown through one of them.

United with Romana and Lazlo against the dreadful Sluagh, Joshua finds himself catapulted into a strange new world of learning. But one secret is waiting to catch up with him...

Verdict

The Kairos Ring was a very decent start to the Beyond the Doctor series of adventures from BBC Audio! I really like the idea of exploring companions and their lives once they have departed the TARDIS and life with the Doctor, and Romana is a very intriguing case given how she left off in Warriors' Gate with her staying in E-Space. I was very disappointed that there was no mention of K9 in this story and whilst it was absolutely fine that he didn't appear, at least some sort of explanation would have been good! I did though enjoy that we got Lazlo returning alongside Romana as he was such an integral part in her departure so it's good to know that they still travel together. I must admit that I found myself a little disappointed that this story wasn't completely contained to E-Space as the potential of an entirely new universe really is endless so I was hoping for the approach taken in the ninth series of Fourth Doctor Adventures that I'm currently listening through. Alas, it wasn't to be but we did get some fun and interesting setting on the barrier between N and E-Space. I loved the use of the Tharil ability to travel the time winds and how that pertained to Joshua was very strong as the story neared its conclusion. He was a good little character to essentially be the focus of the story, certainly the first half, and his interaction with Romana was good and it was nice to hear their relationship grow throughout. It was good to venture to the American Civil War and the initial connections with the Roman era were a nice mix of history there. I thought Romana was strong travelling alone and it's clear that here she hadn't undergone the character growth we would later see with her in Big Finish and the Gallifrey spinoff. I thought Steven Pacey did a pretty good job with the narration for this one and whilst I thought the pace was probably a little too quick at times, he more than held his own and presented the story well. It would have made more sense for Lalla Ward to perform it, but this was not an issue in the slightest. The tale behind the titular ring was excellent and I loved the harkening back to the Greek mythology when it came to its name and the meaning of opening a gateway by force. That obviously had significance for Romana and Lazlo. Some of the descriptions in this audio were impressive with the idea of the dead not staying dead always something I'm fascinated by. I thought it was well done here and was a pretty eery concept in what felt like a relatively calm story. The Sluagh didn't seem massively dreadful and it is difficult when you only have one actor performing to create a convincing new monster, but Joshua and Tharil sold them pretty well. They didn't seem massively threatening and Romana dealt with them well in the end, but they certainly served their purpose. I thought the little monologue at the end describing how Romana and Tharil went on to have further adventures in E-Space as she, like the Doctor, disobeyed and was on the run from the Time Lords. That was a very nice touch. Overall, a decent outing! 

Rating: 7/10

The Death of Peladon

"We can all live on past glories."

Writer: Mark Wright

Format: Audio

Released: January 2022

Series: Peladon 1.03

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Mel

Synopsis

The Sixth Doctor and Mel arrive on Peladon to discover a world on the brink of environmental disaster. Civil war looms and a dark plot brews in the shadows of the court. Unless they can help avert catastrophe, there seems to be little hope left for one of the Doctor's favourite planets.

Verdict

The Death of Peladon was a great story to continue the Peladon boxset! I’m really enjoying this gem of a series exploring Peladon and having the Doctor enter the scene for a full adventure was a real treat. We didn’t start there though as the scene was set pre-titles with Helais experiencing the death of her grandma. She confided in Aggedor which was a fun continuation of the religious nature of Peladon, and this was now a much changed planet to what the Doctor remembered on his last visit. The mines were empty now and Queen Minaris was angry with the situation. She was more concerned with her headache than the resources of her planet and that didn’t go down too well with her daughter Isabelda. She was a good character with an attitude and she didn’t think too highly of the Galactic Federation and their impending visit. I liked that the Doctor and Mel arrived in the mines and the realisation that the torches were lit despite them being in disuse was terrific. Finding a murder victim really set the scene for a dark tale. Alpha Centauri leading Federation’s delegation was great and I liked how she was in semi-retirement now. Isabelda didn’t give her the nicest of greetings which set strong tension. The Doctor realising early that the water was contaminated was good but he didn’t have long to ponder that after the discovery of a thermal detonator in the rocks! That was immediate excitement. Helais giving a speech to her fellow miners to fight up was fantastic and it seemed that she was responsible for the explosion. The impact of that on the village province was far-reaching with a sink hole causing hundreds to be dead and it seemed that Mel was amongst them. That wasn’t the case as she was brought before the Queen which was a fun dynamic. I loved that the Doctor recalled the events of The Bride of Peladon by mentioning Erimem and his reaction to finding that she was a queen was wonderful. Helais confirmed the stories told she was a good queen, but she was more concerned with the land being barren now. The situation on Peladon certainly seemed bleak. Alpha Centauri recognising Mel as a human being was good and they embarked on quite the relationship throughout the rest of the story. I was a big fan of their pairing. The Doctor having a reputation with Centauri as well as on Peladon as a figure throughout history was really good. The royal delegation heading to Mount Mageshra was good and it sparked a number of reunions with the Doctor’s reaction to Mel being warmly heartfelt. The revelation that trisilicate had been infecting water on Peladon for years was emotional as it explained why there was such a death problem, with people falling victim to poison like Helais’s grandmother. I loved the moment where she produced the seal of Aggedor and finding that she was a descendant of Hepesh was strong continuity going back to The Curse of Peladon. Her possession of energy weapons made me question why she waited so long, but it put Peladon in a tricky predicament. The Federation being the only ones to help was a fun prospect and bringing up that trouble comes with the Doctor’s presence is always amusing. Helais taking him as she led her rebellion was great and I also loved that Isabelda was sneaking around the cacophony of secret tunnels. Mel was revelling in the drama! Finding that the princess was in League with the Arcturan was decent and further fine continuity. Helais threatening to shoot Minaris was a good development and probably overdue but the Doctor was having none of it and threatened to blow up the whole temple to ensure Helais backed down. Of course, he was bluffing but it worked. Isabelda being the one to lay the explosives and the murderer wasn’t much of a surprise but it was good to get confirmation. The Doctor and Helais uniting for Aggedor against her was a terrific moment and whilst Centauri got injured in the melee, there was more drama to come. Isabelda being shot by Helais and falling seemingly to her doom after threatening to kill her mother was excellent and quite the emphatic conclusion, and it was a nice touch to have Helais as the new Chancellor. The twist at the end with Isabelda was great and I’m sure it’ll have some sort of significance on the finale. Overall though, a very strong adventure to continue the series! 

Rating: 8/10

The Phoenicians

"The ship will be bathed in their blood. It is called good fortune."

Writer: Marc Platt

Format: Audio

Released: January 2019

Series: First Doctor Adventures 3.01

Featuring: First Doctor, Susan, Ian, Barbara 

Synopsis

In ancient Tyre, the Phoenician civilisation commands the oceans. But times are turbulent – the young King's quarrel with his sister threatens to divide the nation.

On perilous seas, Ian becomes Princess Elissa's favourite, while Susan and Barbara face losing their freedom. In the city, the Doctor falls foul of King Pygmalion.

As they reach dangerous shores, the travellers fight to survive as legend becomes history...

Verdict

The Phoenicians was a great story to kick off the third series of the First Doctor Adventures! I thought this was a very strong start and I liked that the TARDIS ventured deep into the past and to ancient Tyre. I must admit that this was a time and setting I knew very little about but I always enjoy exploring the more unique places and this was certainly one of them! I was surprised that Susan was able to pinpoint when exactly they were but it was just the first in a number of humorous literary references, alongside Ian and Barbara's surprise that the TARDIS had its own library! Susan's comments about The Holy Bible and referring to as if it was any other ordinary book was tremendous and I really liked her insinuations. I'm not a fan of that particular book so I certainly appreciated the comments. The Doctor was also amusing as the story began and trying to blame one of his companions for why the TARDIS never quite ended up where he intended. I've really grown to enjoy David Bradley's take on the First Doctor and I thought the characterisation was excellent here, especially with something so simple as referring to Ian as Chessington. It was very effective. Barbara's extensive knowledge of history was on full display again here and I liked that everyone turned to her when they landed in Earth's past. Elissa was a strong character and her role in exploring the relationship between Ian and Barbara was tremendous. I think this range has done a lot to address that elephant in the TARDIS and the princess getting confirmation from Barbara that she didn't love Ian opened up her path to him, something Barbara immediately regretted! The threat of Susan and Barbara being married off was good and in with the time, and Susan's reaction to potentially having a husband was great and in line with a similar situation in The Aztecs. The cliffhanger at the end of part one was outstanding as it seemed that Ian had been killed in a brutal fashion by being run down by a ship, Barbara's reaction to that showed that they were more than mere fellow travellers, and his return in disguise was good but probably a tad too soon. The Doctor getting left behind in Tyre whilst Susan, Ian and Barbara were shipped off to what would become Carthage was very good and I liked how Susan just shut herself away in the TARDIS rather than face being apart from the Doctor. Pygmalion and the Doctor interacted well and I liked how the king was enthused by having the Doctor under his capture. The moment the Doctor trapped him and turned the table was terrific. I thought Tubal was also a very good character and his prophesying was brilliant. I'm a big fan of that kind of stuff, especially when the Doctor gets involved! The resolution to this one was pretty simple once the TARDIS quartet were all reunited as the Doctor used the TARDIS scanner and speaker to imitate a deity and ensure that history took its rightful path and Elissa would go on to become Dido, whilst Ian wanted her to remember him and name the city she would found as Carthage. It was pretty neat and tidy in the end after a lot of politics and historical drama. I think this would have fitted in well with the first season of Doctor Who, and finding out through Ian's watch that he and Barbara had been travelling for four months was a lovely touch and some great information. Overall, a strong opener! 

Rating: 8/10

Chase the Night

"Climb high into the sky!"

Writer: Jonathan Morris

Format: Audio

Released: January 2020

Series: FDA 9.02

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II, Adric, K9

Synopsis 

The TARDIS lands in an alien tropical rainforest at night where the Doctor, Adric and Romana discover a set of rails stretching through the undergrowth. These tracks carry a long-crashed spaceship that's been covered to run along them like a train.

The ship has to keep moving because only the night-side of the world is habitable. The sun on the day-side burns so hot that everything on the surface is turned to ash.

But the stress and strain of the constant movement is beginning to take its toll on the ship. Parts are starting to break down, and the relentless heat gets ever closer – but the greatest danger may be on the inside...

Verdict

Chase the Night was an excellent story to conclude the first volume of the ninth series of Fourth Doctor Adventures! This was a definite improvement on the opener of Purgatory 12 and I liked that the TARDIS was answering a distress call from a planet that was only inhabitable on the dark side. That felt very off to what should be normal and the fauna on the planet evolving as such that they created their own light set an eery atmosphere. I thought Engineer Terson was a good character and his realising that the ship was wearing out was very good. Pilot Dena was immediately an intriguing character when it was made out that she had already usurped a mutiny. The Doctor and co being mistaken for a rescue ship was amusing and it was surprising to find that they had been stuck for 114 years! That was quite the amount of time. The story behind the Tantalus was fantastic and I loved the story of survival with how they converted power and the ship actually running on rails continuously as it needed to stay on the dark side of the planet. The Tantalus always needed to be on the move as it was too hot on the light side. That was a sublime concept. Dena having enacted martial law on the planet was good and to disagree with her meant you were tranquillised and tied onto the track as the new dawn approached to see yourself incinerated. That was brutal! The ship's engines being confirmed as faulty and slowing down was excellent danger and having a countdown until dawn caught up was exciting and tense. The Wing Sloaths as the native species were good and Bolan being bitten really set the adventure rolling. It seemed that a fungus was possessing him but it wasn't as a result of the bite, it was something he eat as K9 confirmed. The little robot dog had a stellar outing and the idea of being consumed and taking the host as part of the fungus reproductive cycle was scary. Dena's ruthlessness in suggesting lightening the load by a cull of the crew was fantastic and I loved her ruthlessness in only needing one of the Doctor or Romana to pilot the TARDIS when it came to getting her and the crew to safety. The Doctor being the expendable one and tied down to the cracks made for a strong cliffhanger. I liked that Adric and Laker couldn't reach the TARDIS with dawn getting too close and the companion also being infected by the fungus was some great trepidation. The constant urge to climb high in the sky was eery and Bolan dying really made it a tense situation for Adric. The fungus being something that everyone ate raised questions and I liked how after Romana halted the Tantalus to save the Doctor, he was tasked with fixing it and getting it up and running again quickly. The idea of the fungus using death's last breath to spread their pores was frightening and climbing high to get the biggest possible dispersal was good. The phototropic response of the infected when the light was coming worked well and I liked that the Doctor repaired the circuits, but only for half an hour. The fact that Adric died as the final cliffhanger was tremendous and the revelation of the Atlis was great. The forest was all one psychic brain which I rally liked and within them Adric was immortal and it was they who kickstarted the effects of the fungus. Adric evolving resistance was terrific though and the fungus being the way for the crew to survive was good, but it took some convincing with Dena defying it! Dena wanting to stand by her oath was not a shock as she got more and more deranged as the audio went on, and dawn was coming and the Tantalus was burning up. The Doctor and Romana getting to the airlock in the nick of time made for a good conclusion and I absolutely loved that the HADS were in place to get the TARDIS to safety and to the right side of the planet. Romana again teasing her upcoming departure and wanting more purposeful travels was really well done as well. Overall, a fantastic adventure! 

Rating: 9/10

Old Friends: The Forth Generation

"Cold and precise instruments of logic."§

Writer: Roy Gill

Format: Audio

Released: February 2022

Series: Ninth Doctor Adventures 4.03

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Brigadier

Synopsis

The Forth Generation have emerged. The Doctor, the Brigadier, Sam and Fiona are at their mercy. Is there a way to defeat them? Has UNIT learned from the past? And can the enemy's nature be changed for the future?

Verdict

The Forth Generation was a very strong story to conclude the Old Friends fourth series of Ninth Doctor Adventures! I'm so glad to know that, so far, this is only the halfway point of Big Finish adventures for Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor, but I imagine that they didn't know that at the time of writing and having the Brigadier pushing that the Doctor needed a companion and not to be alone was a nice touch as a possible way to imply that the events of this adventure weren't too far removed from Rose. Following on from the outstanding Way of the Burryman was always going to be tough, but this was a fine finale. I liked that the pre-titles took us back to the late-1880s and a time where Kreel was in disguise and after new technology, but we soon shifted back to the twenty-first century and the Forth. I thought the development of the Cyber involvement in the episode was frantic and exciting and we quickly went from just Kreel to a whole Forth army that consisted of more developed and slightly more traditional Cyberman that even the Brigadier had come up against, with the addition of a Cyber Leader and Cyber Planner to go alongside them. I thought Fiona being the one to end up converted and actually in the role of Planner was a huge shock but one I really liked. I was glad that there was no way back and the emotion that invoked in Sam was clear. It's a little surprising that after all he went through here that he was willing to take on the role with UNIT on the Brigadier's recommendation. It was nice to explore the changed relationship between the Doctor and the Brigadier with the latter much more willing to try the former's method of no military. It was nice to know how far they had come. The focus on the bridge continued to be intriguing and I thought the Doctor's use of the memory arch was very clever. It was slightly cheating to realise that it had captured the memories of everyone at South Queensferry, but I loved the idea of giving Cybermen their human memories back. Fiona's reaction was brutal though as she understood the love she had for Sam, but no longer felt it. That must have been a dagger in the heart for him! Fiona's sentiment and familial history with the bridge was tremendous and I liked how the Doctor used it to appeal to her human nature. Despite the rapid pace and Kreel being toppled by the superior Cybermen, this adventure ended up being somewhat simple which is ironic given the setup and all of the complications. I must say that Christopher Eccleston was on top form again and it was brilliant to have him in a full on battle with the Cybermen alongside an old and familiar friend. The Brigadier mentioning that the TARDIS looked a bit more battered than he remembered was fun, and he challenged the Doctor subtly about him just swanning off again once all was done. It was so good to have the Brigadier back for two episodes and his recollection of The Invasion and its aftermath with Cyber parts swimming up the Thames and then him ensuring every UNIT force had a means against them was brilliant. I liked that it was implied there was more to come from the Brigadier and the Doctor, a meeting with the next incarnation perhaps? I sure hope so. But for now, this was a really strong finale to a great boxset! 

Rating: 8/10