I, Kamelion

"Stop with this act, you are not a robot!"

Writer: Dominic G. Martin

Format: Audio

Released: January 2022

Series: Interludes 01

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Turlough, Kamelion

Synopsis

The planet Tairot is a haven for technology, dedicated to improving the quality of life for its inhabitants one cerebral implant at a time. And yet with no memory to guide him, Kamelion finds himself to now be one of those inhabitants, taken from his self-imposed exile and forced into a human body. A seemingly permanent one.

With a new conspiracy unfolding around him, Kamelion begins his quest to find answers. Why have the Doctor and Turlough become public enemy number one? What is the truth behind the planet's technology? And most of all... how does an android dream of electric beasts?

Verdict

I, Kamelion was a great little story to kick off the Interludes series of bonus adventures! I must admit that when I completed my listening of Forty earlier this year, I completely forgot about this and it was only when the second and third Interludes were announced that I remembered I had this get through! I was quietly pleased with what I listened to as I didn't envisage a story with this title being overly exciting, but it was an intriguing look into the character of Kamelion and a fine utilisation of his robotic and shape-shifting abilities. I thought Dan Starkey did a fine job with the narration with his impression of Turlough in particular impressing, and the characterisation of the Fifth Doctor helped him find the voice of this incarnation. The body switch story is not new to Doctor Who but the added layer of a robot swapping with an organic was really well done. I liked that concept a lot and it provided a difficult predicament for Tara. Her husband was right in front of her but he had no idea who he was or where he was located, and kept calling himself Kamelion! I can't imagine what it must be like to be looking at your signifiant other but have them completely clueless on your identity. That must be tough. It took Tara a bit of time to be convinced by the situation, but when she did I liked how much she was able to help. With the title, it was always going to be the case that the Doctor and Turlough were a bit on the back burner, but their getting captured and blamed in a public way was excellent and was all that Tara needed to be convinced of her husband's fate. Kamelion coming to terms with the simple acts of breathing and experience a number of emotions was terrific, and I liked the distinction that he didn't understand them just because he was human now. Kamelion questioning his purpose was strong stuff and I liked him being in isolation. Having Phoenix in the form of Kamelion was good and I liked the moment where Kamelion in his human body confronted the Doctor and essentially asked for help. The Doctor would of course oblige and retrieving the memory banks and essentially resetting him to an earlier time worked well and was a neat resolution, but that brief moment where Kamelion stalled on whether he wanted to return to his robotic form was brilliant. He didn't know if he would be able to remember his experiences and feelings when he became a robot again, and that was really good to challenge and present. For a story with a robot at its heart, this was very emotional stuff! The Tairot world was very good as the backdrop and I liked how everyone came together by the end with the ruthless head of technology in chains. Phoenix was very pleased with that situation when everyone was back in their rightful place, and I also loved how appreciative he was of Kamelion for helping his wife. As a whole, this was a really strong exploration into Kamelion's character and a much welcomed bonus adventure! Overall, a great listen.

Rating: 8/10

Heritage: Spring-Heeled Jack

"People have gone missing in droves."

Writer: Gemma Arrowsmith

Format: Audio

Released: October 2019

Series: Paternoster Gang 2.03

Featuring: Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

People are being stolen from the streets by a monster. By all accounts, it has burning eyes, breathes blue flames, and can leap the heigh of a building at a bound.

While Vastra and Jenny fend off an over-eager member of the gutter press, Strax dives into dangerous waters.

Is this Spring-Heeled Jack of legend, returned to terrorise the capital? Or are there more sinister forces at work?

Verdict

Spring-Heeled Jack was an outstanding story to conclude the second series of Heritage adventures for the Paternoster Gang! This was definitely the best story from the spinoff range so far and was just all three characters at their best and a brilliant Victorian setting and plot at the heart. I really had no complaints, this was everything I could ask for from the series. I liked the mystery of the start and that dark atmosphere was established very early on with the disappearance of Jimmy right in front of his partner Elizabeth. She was clearly distressed by the incident and went to the Paternoster Gang to enlist their help, and with Jenny's reaction to the titular perpetrator of the disappearance she had certainly come to the right place! I mentioned in my blog entry of The Screaming Ceiling that I hoped we would see Jenny come to the forefront for this finale and I was certainly not left disappointed. She was keen to investigate based on the supposed presence of Spring-Heeled Jack who was an intriguing figure of legend. Vastra was once again showing Doctor qualities in not believing that the actual legend could be the person or thing responsible for Jimmy's disappearance, and he was not the only one who had been lost in the last fortnight in London. The feel of the audio was really impressive and eery, so having bubbly journalist Gwendoline Platt arrive on the trail of a good story was a fun twist. She was a marvellous character and I adored how Jenny pretty much despised her publication because of the details it revealed about ongoing police investigations and crimes. Gwendoline failed to see the danger and was only in it for a story, so much so that she barely registered the fact that Elizabeth was also taken by Jack right in front of her! Talk about being consumed by your work, that really didn't go down well with Jenny. I thought Strax had another glorious outing and the humour that came from him ending up with a solution to clogged chimneys when going off to investigate the large footprints on top of buildings was brilliant. He loved the sound of Jack as a potential something to engage in combat and his comments about Jenny being neither captured nor dead when she was used as bait were just terrific. I thought the truth about Jack being a Tomanu was a nice logical explanation to events, and the species were actually one involved in saving. Jimmy had been in league with the creature all along which was a good surprise. The fact that the potential victims were people close to death was a fantastic concept, so not only did he remove them from dying, but Jack removed them from time altogether! That was nicely done and the way it was incorporated into the Paternoster Gang themselves with Gwendoline being the next victim intended was great, and she was indeed soon forgotten as Vastra and Jenny reminisced of that journalist reporter and this case. Overall, a simply brilliant audio adventure to conclude the boxset! 

Rating: 10/10

Heritage: The Screaming Ceiling

"I demand to see your spooks!"

Writer: Guy Adams

Format: Audio

Released: October 2019

Series: Paternoster Gang 2.02

Featuring: Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

In one of the earliest cases of his illustrious career, Thomas Carnacki heads to the Highlands to embark upon the terrifying investigation of Castle Kraighten.

On arrival, he finds that another party of sleuths has been engaged – surely these amateurs of Paternoster Row have nothing to teach the great Ghost Finder?

But this is no ordinary haunting. A room in the castle has a mouth in its ceiling. And it screams...

Verdict

The Screaming Ceiling was a terrific adventure to continue the second boxset of Heritage! The second series of stories for the Paternoster Gang improved in a big way with a really fun and enjoyable outing. I thought the format really helped the listener and it was a stark reminder of things throughout to hear from Thomas Carnacki in retrospective, especially with the twist and red herrings he had laid throughout the story. I kind of expected him to be more than he seemed, but his failure to focus on the humans in stories revealed his true nature. I thought his arrival to the Highlands was very amusing and that seemed the perfect place for a ghost story. Vastra was keen to echo sentiments of the Doctor in mentioning that she believed in things that humans perceived as ghosts, without actually believing they existed which was good. She once again oozed leadership of the Gang, but the highlights absolutely came from Strax. His firm assertion that he could kill anything, even the dead, was a glorious moment and hearing refer to a portrait of the Queen as a repellant woman was magnificent. This was Strax at his best. I thought Jenny had another pretty quiet story which was a bit of a shame, but I remain hopeful she will get a starring role in the boxset finale. The interaction between Carnacki and Dorothy was amusing and both he and the Paternoster Gang being called to investigate the mysterious goings on at Castle Kraighten was very good. Carnacki liked to think that his reputation preceded him, but nobody had ever heard of him! That was the basis for some good humour, and it was a nice touch for him to have knowledge of the Gang. The concept of a room with a mouth as its ceiling was very intriguing and painted quite the image in my head, especially with it screaming! I feel like I should have guessed from the fact the castle had a mouth within one of its rooms that it would turn out to be sentient, but the extent of the time passed was something that struck me. It can't have been fun to be in essentially a coma for around eighty years, but it provided a relatively simple resolution in the end to take out Dorothy's connection to Kraighten itself. It did all tie together nicely with the building constantly getting people lost within because of its size and seeming to be a bit jumbled to prevent Strax and Carnacki getting back to where they were required. I thought the anecdote at the end from Carnacki was a lot of fun and after trying to big up his reputation throughout as a ghost finder, he admitted he was not cut out for the job after the Paternoster Gang had eventually dealt with the Kraighten threat. However, Vastra was less dismissive of his abilities and seemed like she might be willing to train him up after all which was nice because Carnacki really was a brilliant character! I'd like to see him back alongside the Paternoster Gang in the future, but for now this was a really fun and eery adventure! 

Rating: 9/10

Heritage: Dining with Death

"I did not take the easier path, now you must take yours."

Writer: Dan Starkey

Format: Audio

Released: October 2019

Series: Paternoster Gang 2.01

Featuring: Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

When negotiations between two warring alien races are sabotaged, Madame Vastra offers Paternoster Row as neutral ground upon which to continue their diplomacy – and to celebrate the treaty with a feast.

While Strax frets about hosting two species with very different dietary needs, Jenny investigates the dissenters who want to halt the peace process.

But a deadly plot is brewing, and the diners may not survive the cheese course...

Verdict

Dining with Death was a decent story to kick off the second series of Heritage from the Paternoster Gang! I'm delighted that there is another trio of adventures with the brilliant threesome of Vastra, Jenny and Strax and starting off with some peace making was a decent direction to go in. I think it's terrific that Dan Starkey got to write this one and he really did allow Strax to shine without having him overbearing in a lead role. The role of the Sontarans in general here was fun and the revelation that they were actually one of the enemies as part of the peacekeeping. The dinner setting for that was fun and fitted in really well with the Victorian setting of the series and was a good use of exploring the past. That's a big benefit of the series and I'm keen to take that further in the future. Vastra always seems in control of the Paternoster Gang and that was no different here. She was the one chosen to act as a medium for the peace discussions and I loved how she reacted to being thought of as human. She didn't take offence but wanted to point out that she was actually a survivor of a species that ruled the planet over 65 million years ago so she was more than able to speak for the planet! Vastra was terrific in affirming that Earth was protected and if anyone could speak for it then she was certainly well placed after all she has done. Her conversations with Strax were great and I loved the Sontaran's reaction to being told he should play along with being thought of as a human. Well, that was an incredible insult to Strax and his honour as a Sontaran! The moment where Vastra also told him to reveal who he actually was and stuck to his human guise and mentioned the glories of association football was a delight. I thought it was good to have Jenny go off on her own and investigate the gasworks, and it was a stark reminder of Victorian society when she had to pretend to be a man. She wasn't the most convincing in that role, but she embraced it which was brilliant to hear. I thought the story perhaps went a little too long considering the entire basis was a peace discussion, but the dialogue was still pretty strong and never bored. The Flambo family were an amusing bunch and it was just nice for the Paternoster Gang to be interacting with some aliens rather than typical Victorians. That was a good change of pace and something I admire from the story direction. The ending could have benefitted from a slight injection of excitement or pace, but it was clear that peace was never going to be achieved as initially intended. Strax was humorous here as he was throughout, and he never seemed like somebody that was going to embrace peace. His highlighting of Rutan technology was a great moment too. Overall though, this had a very solid story at its heart and I think it just went a bit longer than required, but it was still a good start to the second series!

Rating: 7/10

The Iron Maid

"The armies of the dead are on their way."

Writer: John Pritchard

Format: Audio

Released: June 2018

Series: Companion Chronicles: Second Doctor 2.03

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Zoe

Synopsis

"I saw a wheel up in the heavens – a wheel of fire and swords... And I saw a heap of armour that was waiting for a Maid to put it on. I feared that it was meant for me, but a voice said otherwise – that another Maid was coming and she would save our country from its enemies..."

The TARDIS has arrived in France in the fourteenth century – a time of devastation and despair. In an empty church beside a crowded graveyard, Zoe meets a woman who claims to see a dreadful future waiting for the world.

Verdict

The Iron Maid was another strong story to continue what is shaping to be a very good and consistent second volume of Companion Chronicles for the Second Doctor! This time around it was the turn of Zoe to take centre stage and whilst I fully appreciate the format of this range, there really was not a lot of time for the Doctor or Jamie to feature which was a bit of a shame given the talents of Frazer Hines available for both of those roles. I enjoyed how things started with the discussion of history after landing in fourteenth century France, and that in of itself was a really strong pace to set a story. It seemed to fit this trio well and it was actually a nice change for even Jamie to be somewhere in his past. Zoe not even knowing what France was made me chuckle and the time she is from really did think humanity of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries were primitive! She didn't hold back with that opinion which was fun. I liked the mystery of a wheel in space coming towards the planet but leaving no imprint, and I was stunned that Zoe made no reference or even reacted to the title of her first serial being mentioned. There was a missed opportunity there. I liked that the village had been slightly tormented for half a century and the result of the fallout and scraps actually coming from a future war was terrific. I was a big fan of that idea and the particular war being the Great War was really good. France in the fourteenth century was a much different world to the society and times of that conflict, and finding the armour that was bulletproof was really great. Marie was a fantastic character and I really enjoyed her relationship with Zoe throughout. They got on well and she was almost confiding in the futuristic companion about the visions she was seeing and the deadly prediction of the world's future. Zoe was trying to reassure her that she need not worry about her world because the danger she was seeing was six centuries into the future, but her religious tendencies wouldn't allow her to fully believe that. Jamie going off into the woods and having the threat of walking into World War One was a strong threat. The merging of the time zones was a fun and exciting conclusion with Berger on hand to cause a bit of chaos. He was a typical character and his acknowledgement of the Highlanders was very good and something I very much enjoyed. The ultimate conclusion was a little straightforward and easy with the Doctor intent on letting the time glitch amend itself, but it was neat and we'd had a strong story for the 67 minutes that made up this adventure. I liked the descriptions of sounding like stone because that was a bit strange and off-putting, and really added a bit of eeriness to a historical that mixed well. Overall, this was a really strong adventure and a nice chance for Zoe to shine in a setting where that might not have been likely. 

Rating: 8/10

The Last Beacon

"Enjoy your trip below."

Writer: Gareth David-Lloyd

Format: Audio

Released: April 2018

Series: Torchwood Monthly 20

Featuring: Owen, Ianto

Synopsis

A signal in a Welsh mountain is calling an ancient battlefleet to Earth. Owen Harper and Ianto Jones head up into the Brecons to stop it.

The problem is – Ianto really loves camping. 

Verdict

The Last Beacon was an excellent continuation of the Torchwood Monthly adventures from Big Finish! I thought this was a quite delightful episode and could be something of a sleeper in the range. It was so much fun to have the pairing of Ianto and Owen together and they really did work so well together. The very concept of them nothing packing their bags and catching a bus to Hengoed in the Brecon Beacons was marvellous and just something so fun to think about. I loved the placement of the story as being somewhere early on in Series 1 with Ianto still out to prove himself, especially with everything that went down in Cyberwoman. Owen understood that and Ianto was often keen to deny the suggestion of calling the likes of Jack and Gwen in for help. Owen didn't get on well with people, especially when he was referred to as Chepstow which was an amusing comment. I wouldn't consider the Brecon Beacons to be the most Welshy of regions in my nation, but Owen was clearly an outsider and didn't fit in with his accent. The author being Gareth David-Lloyd allowed for some really strong local knowledge and you just wouldn't get an episode based in Hengoed from an English writer. They wouldn't have heard of it for sure! The humour that came from the numerous kebab shops all being called Yummies was brilliant and Ianto didn't care about the one-star hygiene rating when it came to picking up some food. Hearing of his connection and past with the village was a nice touch as we learned about Ianto's nan and his bus rides to see her, and also how he dealt with it following her death. Owen understood that. The scenes in the pub with Kerys and Jemma were a lot of fun and the way Owen and Ianto managed to bring them around after a misunderstanding about getting a cheeky shag in was fantastic. The teenagers that Owen got alcohol for were also a fun element of the story, especially when it turned out they were up to something sexual at the old rugby club and a quite extraordinary cow milking line! The search for the signal was a good direction for the plot and Owen was less than pleased at their hotel location, along with the fact he'd have to share with Ianto! There were some quite brilliant lines in their check in, once the hoover was switched off and they could actually get into their room. The Taliskotian responsible for the signal that was being emitted from the beacon turned out to be pretty harmless and the change of tactic from Owen to try and do what Ianto wanted was really nice. He showed a lot of understanding towards Ianto and his situation which I admired, and it was excellent for him to tell Ianto how valued he was and how lucky Torchwood were to have him. Getting a ghostly glimpse of Ianto's nan was a great way to add to the emotion, but the humour that came from Owen refusing to believe there was a ghost on fire earlier on in the adventure was brilliant. I thought the simple nature of the conclusion in revealing that the Taliskotian people had been dead for half a century was blunt but what was needed, and it was fantastic that Ianto and Owen got the job done. Especially with Owen letting the alien survive and stay where she was comfortable, taking anything that came their way from Jack on the chin. Overall, a terrific Torchwood audio!

Rating: 9/10

Special Features

"Everyone likes my stories."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: December 2010

Series: Monthly Adventures 142d

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa

Synopsis

At last, the cult 1970s horror anthology Doctor Demonic's Tales of Terror is set for release on DVD, complete with a commentary from director Martin Ashcroft, leading actors Sir Jack Merrivale and Johanna Bourke, plus the film's historical adviser – the mysterious 'Dr John Smith'! 

Verdict

Special Features was a sensation story to conclude The Demons of Red Lodge anthology that makes up the one-hundred-and-forty-second Monthly Adventure! I still maintain that I much prefer having just one story spread across four parts at a length of around two hours rather than four individual adventures as was the case here, but I'm delighted that they saved the best until the last! I thought the style for this adventure was actually brilliant with it essentially lasting as a DVD commentary for the entire episode. It was a lot of fun and it was amusing to think of the Fifth Doctor just sitting there talking about the film Doctor Demonic's Tales of Terror. I thought it was a neat touch for that particular horror to be an anthology of shooter tales much like this particular audio release being a series of smaller adventures to comprise the whole thing. That worked very well. I liked how Nyssa was actually an actress in the film and the director was very keen to remark on her performance. He was very impressed with it and mentioned it on more than one occasion throughout as the material unfolded before the panel's eyes. Martin Ashcroft was a little bit of a strange character and he seemed slightly off as a lead for the commentary. The other actors present in the form of Merrivale and Johanna were amusing characters, with the latter believing that aliens was the reason for the missing footage. That in of itself was a fun mystery and just really fitted with the style of the audio. Of course, it was clear that Nyssa wasn't really acting which was great in showcasing her fear as the threat was very real! The plot unfolding in the film and in the background of Ashcroft's commentary was excellent and I thought it was funny when he kept blurting out all of those unfortunately who had died, with Johanna quick to mention if they would discuss anyone actually alive! The Doctor was quiet and his aim to be silent amidst a commentary was very amusing, as it was pointed out that it was hardly worth him being present. His position as advisor was good and I liked how Ashcroft realised that the budget for his commentary didn't technically allow the Doctor to be there, but then one of the original actors sadly died so who took his place? The Rasht being revealed as the enemies and those being fought in the horror was fantastic and their disgust at having their language used against them was marvellous. They were not pleased in the slightest! That provided a tense and very pacy conclusion as the film came to an end with the pictogram sealing the fate of the Rasht once and for all. I liked that Nyssa was actually there all along at the commentary and filming, and Ashcroft referring to her as Nyssa Traken throughout was really good. The differing reactions of Merrivale and Johanna to the situation and the presence of the Rasht was fun and they really were quite stuck up characters. As a whole, this was a quite marvellous conclusion to what was a really strong set of adventures! 

Rating: 10/10

Doing Time

"You must arrest me!"

Writer: William Gallagher

Format: Audio

Released: December 2010

Series: Monthly Adventures 142c

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa

Synopsis

On the planet Folly, justice catches up with criminal mastermind 'The Doctor' – but can he endure a year in the jug?

Verdict

Doing Time was an excellent story to continue The Demons of Red Lodge anthology comprising the one-hundred-and-forty-second Monthly Adventure! I think this is definitely the best of the three stories so far and I really liked the frantic nature of the episode. It was quite fun to have a mini pre-titles sequence and that comprising the reveal that the Doctor was imprisoned was very good. It’s always fun for the Doctor to be in prison but considering the amount of times that has happened in the past, this story did a stellar job in selling that he couldn’t escape and that this was just different. The time field was a nice touch to add to a prison and the concept of a one minute walk taking an entire year off your life was frightening and frankly dangerous! It was a good twist for that to actually help the Doctor when it came to the plot resolution. I thought it was fun for Nyssa to be trying to commit harmless crimes in order to get herself arrested and then imprisoned to get back to the Doctor, but she wasn’t having much luck! She picked the only empty warehouse out of over one hundred to try and claim a robbery and she just couldn’t sell that she was a conwoman. That just isn’t in Nyssa’s nature. It worked well to have the Doctor and Nyssa split apart for the majority of the episode and once again allowed Nyssa to really shine on her own. She could easily lead her own spinoff series but as it stands I’m very much on board with continuing the pairing of her and the Fifth Doctor. Peter Davison had a strong outing as the fifth incarnation and the Doctor being imprisoned based on his usual moniker of John Smith was excellent because that name was applied to all of those criminals on Folly. The prison setting worked well and it’s amusing to think of the name and all it applied. It was good tongue and cheek. Janson Hart was a strong character as a fellow inmate and his communication with Nyssa was very helpful in telling the story and updating the situation regarding his confinement. The Doctor warning of an explosion detected through the time signature was a fun direction and it going on deaf ears as far as Governor Chaplin was concerned was terrific. She was firmly in belief of the Doctor and actually wanted to use the event for her presidential election! She chucked the Doctor in solitary confinement without hesitation and he lasted longer than anybody else and that was celebrated, even by the guards! That showed how good the Doctor was with the people and Chaplin admired that and wanted his help. Nyssa’s relationship with Michael was an interesting anecdote to the story and it was a bit of shame that she mentioned the wedding, as she clearly had some sort of feelings for him. She managed to get a job thanks to him and I loved how much Nyssa was enjoying her scientific work. Dask worked well as the guard in the prison and you could tell he didn’t want to put the Doctor in solitary confinement. The conclusion was brilliant and well paced which really added to the sense of excitement. The Doctor actually using the time field to his advantage and having a year to put things right, gaining a beard in the process, was magnificent and the admiration that received was nicely done. Overall, I thought this was a really solid half an hour and just a thoroughly enjoyable adventure to continue the anthology!

Rating: 9/10

The Entropy Composition

"An MP3 player on a planetary scale!"

Writer: Rick Briggs

Format: Audio

Released: December 2010

Series: Monthly Adventures 142b

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa

Synopsis

A lost prog rock symphony is unearth from the vaults – with catastrophic consequences for the entire cosmos.

Verdict

The Entropy Composition was another very good story to continue The Demons of Red Lodge anthology of adventures comprising the one-hundred-and-forty-second Monthly Adventure from Big Finish! I hadn’t realised until after I finished listening to the story that this story actually won a submission from a pool of over one thousand contestants akin to the annual Paul Spragg Memorial Short Trip release. That’s a really fun idea and it makes to do it when the stories are of a much shorter format. This anthology is sharp and snappy and the musical theme of this particular instalment was most welcomed. I thoroughly enjoyed the pairing of the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa once again, and it was a shame they didn’t get to the Tereleptis Event Horizon Fold as that sounded pretty spectacular! Instead they were in Concordum which worked well as a setting and alternating there to 1968 was a good and unexpected touch. For a story of only twenty-three minutes I didn’t expect to hear two TARDIS materialisation arrivals! The pace was frantic and that just added to the excitement which suited the theme well. This was about music and not the classical kind. The moment where the Doctor and Nyssa tried to get in to see Geoff Cooper was glorious because the Doctor had fallen in right away and given away the fact they weren’t actually friends of his because they called him formally Mr Cooper. But the way Nyssa shifted completely out of character and claimed to be a woman the musician had picked up was extraordinary! The accent stunned the Doctor and this was another terrific example of showcasing Sarah Sutton’s talent. It was such a fun moment. Continuing exploring the relationship between Nyssa and her father was a nice touch and I liked how she could remember his favourite composition here. That was good continuity from the previous episode and it was obviously going to be a bit of a touchy subject for her, but she dealt with it admirably. I was impressed by that. Hearing the likes of quantum sounds and sonics that even the Doctor hadn’t heard before was intriguing and this was a stark reminder of the power of sound. Having somebody actually disintegrate into just the clothes they were previously wearing was pretty darn extraordinary! That said a lot about sound and if manipulated, it could be an incredible weapon. The perfect weapon for a musical adventure! It’s a shame we never actually heard a song in this story, but the theme definitely worked. Mrs Maloney was a fun character to comment on the Doctor and Nyssa with his vegetable wearing and her not thinking twice about Nyssa being the next in a long chain of girls for Cooper. If only she knew the real woman! I liked the incorporation of the music of the spheres and having that likened to Entropy Sirens was great. Their position as being from shortly after the universe was created was strong and something I very much enjoyed. I’d like to have explored them further if time allowed. Naloom was a nice character as the collection curator and that obviously meant he’d get on well with the Doctor. For me though, this story was all about Nyssa as she took centre stage and shone! The use of bookending sound waves from across time was very clever and just sounds like a brilliant resolution! A virus and music worked well, and this was a fine story to continue this particular collection. Overall, a great listen!

Rating: 8/10

The Demons of Red Lodge

"We have to fight this sense of fear."

Writer: Jason Arnopp

Format: Audio

Released: December 2010

Series: Monthly Adventures 142a

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa

Synopsis

A long, dark night in 17th century Suffolk for the TARDIS travellers – when they find something nasty outside the woodshed.

Verdict

The Demons of Red Lodge was a very good start to the anthology release that makes up the one-hundred-and-forty-second Monthly Adventure from Big Finish! I must admit that I’m not a huge fan of the format for this release in splitting the usual four-part two-hour adventure into four singular stories of around 20-30 minutes, but in judging the story for what it is this was definitely a strong start! I’m a big fan of the pairing of the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa and I think this series has done a stellar job in expanding their adventures between Time-Flight and Arc of Infinity. The way things started here with the pair disoriented and just coming around from some sort of accident was intriguing and immediately set an uneasy atmosphere which was excellent. It lasted throughout and was certainly a highlight of the adventure. I like when the Doctor in particular has no memory of events because that angers him and he’s usually not one to get on well with memory loss, unless it’s post regeneration. I thought the description of the looming shadows was very good and just added to that eery feel. Sarah Sutton did a wonderful job as Nyssa in being able to sell the darkness of the story. The idea of artificial fear was brilliant and is definitely something I’d enjoy being expanded upon further in a much longer story. The fact that the Doctor and Nyssa actually locked hands out of that fear really sold just how scary their situation was, and it also was enough for them to realise that their fear was not natural. That was a highlight for me. The mystery that came from the strange alternate versions of the Doctor and Nyssa was very good and I thought they sounded like something along the lines of Autons or Gangers! They were so clearly off and the initial suggestion of them only being 50% complete added to my intrigue. They were watching on mysteriously and that added to the strange feeling, especially when they needed to recharge. The source of that charge being humanity was very good! The aim to get to the cottage was great and there’s something about a cottage that just feels isolated and dark. It worked well on audio. Emily Cobham made for strong character to show the TARDIS duo inside and the arrival at Red Lodge village was excellent. That was a very apt name and matched the feel of the story perfectly. Ivy was a mysterious character by virtue of her being the twin of Emily, but having no knowledge of a sister! Nyssa’s reaction to that was terrific. I thought Peter Davison had a good outing as the Fifth Doctor and he was quick to challenge the Speera on their duplicates. They weren’t the most incredible of enemies and it seemed a bit of a mishap that they needed two instances to fully duplicate and take over a human, but that did provide the opportunity for defeat. I thought it was so well done though that the Doctor and Nyssa were able to utilise their genetics and natural non-human makeup to defeat the Speera, even if the clarity was a little cloudy regarding that until the later explanation as the pair returned to the TARDIS. There were some moments where it looked like Nyssa would succumb to her duplicate and having the death of her father almost taunted and used against her was powerful stuff. Overall though, for just twenty-seven minutes this was a really strong start to the anthology and a great audio adventure!

Rating: 8/10

The Miniaturist

"There's no sound, and yet there is."

Writer: Lizzie Hopley

Format: Audio

Released: April 2022

Series: First Doctor Adventures 1.02

Featuring: First Doctor, Dodo

Synopsis

Coulton Salt Mine: a rare environment for geological exploration on the North Yorkshire coast. The Doctor is fascinated by the experiments of Professor Media on the Zechstein seabed, but Dodo is distracted. Didn't her family settle in this part of Yorkshire?

As the Doctor delves deeper into the work of Professor Medra, Dodo is helped by security guard Mick Huff, who is concerned about the strange happenings in recent weeks. Who are the children that keep appearing around the mine workings? Why are local landmarks vanishing? And how can the bedrock of a geological 'quiet place' be screaming?

Verdict

The Miniaturist was a sublime story to conclude the opening instalment of the brand new First Doctor Adventures! I thought this was a stellar adventure and it had a feeling of being entirely different which was really impressive considering the mass of Doctor Who content out there. It's really good to explore the travels of the First Doctor and Dodo on screen and playing with the companion's family history is excellent as that's something that was rarely touched upon on screen during this era. I do hope that continues in future releases within this range as there is a great deal of potential. I liked the setting of the Coulton Salt Mine and Mick Huff was a good character for the Doctor and Dodo to encounter from the off, especially when he'd seen the TARDIS arrive which is a surprisingly rare phenomenon. The atmosphere in the North Yorkshire town was uneasy with not just people going missing, but landmarks and even post boxes. I thought that set an eery tone and it was well placed in revealing the truth behind that. Having the TARDIS join the items and people in being missing was outstanding and I thought the Doctor's outraged reaction when wanting to leave but finding he was stranded was tremendous. I continue to be impressed by Stephen Noonan's take on the First Doctor and whilst it is far from being perfect, this was another very good outing. I thought the intentional mistake on his behalf for Mick Huff's name when calling him Mr Mick was so simple but so effective in feeling genuinely like William Hartnell was around. I enjoyed Dodo in this one and playing with the idea of her accepting that the Miniaturist was at first a future version of herself was terrific. That was great. The concept behind the titular villain turned emotional creature was excellent and it being a pan-dimensional being was brilliant. I enjoyed the Doctor being tempted by the opportunity to travel in more than just time and space, and his reaction and will to be able to see the true form of the Miniaturist was really well done. You could hear the awe. Professor Medra was also a fantastic character and I really enjoyed her relationship with the Doctor. She was keen to challenge him on his credentials and the Doctor's calm retort of it being mutual that she'd never heard of him was very amusing. Her knowledge that the disappearances were linked to the mine wasn't a surprise but I did really like that she sought the thrill of finding the rarest of finds, and the Miniaturist was right up there! I thought the booming eery voice of the Miniaturist in her own dimension was sublime stuff and really gave the audio that unique feel and atmosphere. I really liked that and it was just a riveting conversation with the Doctor. Dodo referencing the events of The Ark in particular was a nice touch and I also liked the similarities mentioned referencing The Celestial Toymaker. As a whole, I thought this was a really strong audio and any adventure that takes the TARDIS and shrinks it but maintains its weight is always going to be good in my book. Overall, a simply brilliant audio!

Rating: 10/10

Lurkers at Sunlight's Edge

"Death can't be cheated, but with the Doctor you can never be sure."

Writer: Marty Ross

Format: Audio 

Released: November 2010

Series: Monthly Adventures 141

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace, Hex

Synopsis

1934: the TARDIS lands on a snowy island off the coast of Alaska – one that wasn't there four years, three months and six days ago, according to the Doctor. The island is dominated by a vast, twisted citadel. Inside it, the Lurkers lie dreaming. It's said when they wake the world will end...

Led by the ruthless Emerson Whytecrag, an expedition has come to the citadel to exploit the horrors in its ebon-dark interior. Horrors just like those published in the pages of the pulp magazine Shuddersome Tales, where a hero's only reward is madness, death... or worse. Horrors that the Doctor and his companions are about to wake up.

Verdict

Lurkers at Sunlight's Edge was a very decent continuation of the Monthly Adventures and a somewhat calmer end to what has been an incredibly eventful and emotional trilogy for the Seventh Doctor, Ace and Hex! This one didn't feel like the threat was on the scale of what we heard in Project: Destiny and A Death in the Family, but the theme of death running through for Hex in particular was excellent. I'm intrigued to hear if that will be taken further as it does definitely seem to be coming a common occurrence for this trio, with Hex believing he'd lost both the Doctor and Ace once again. I was a big fan of the Alaska setting as that's quite unusual for Doctor Who and works really well in audio, and having it in 1934 also worked well and provided some fun comments regarding Ace supposedly being a doctor and Hex revealing himself as a nurse. That was met with more than one scoff! The mystery of the island was really good and I think keeping the secret of that for a bit longer would have been a better approach when it came to the impact of the truth. I thought it was fun to have Ace dangling on an ice cliff and the Doctor referencing the infamous events of Dragonfire involving his dangling from one by his umbrella was wonderful. I really enjoyed that. I liked that it was acknowledged that the TARDIS is still white and that remains an image I still struggle to accept and comprehend. CP Doveday was a strong character and I really enjoyed the relationship he built with Ace. The moments where he was talking in almost story form were strong but I never really bought into the danger that he was the most dangerous man on the planet. That just didn't seem to fit right with him writing stories. Of course, the truth regarding his existence is a sad one with Dr Gabriel having influenced his memories and believing that he had a childhood, when of course he was truly a scout for the Karnas'koi. They were an intriguing race as the titular Lurkers and I'd have liked more emphasis on the dream element of their presence, but the explanation behind them and the island was good even if it came too early. Doveday bouncing between human and Karnos'koi form worked well enough and the emotion that came from his death and him not dying in human form was powerful. Ace was really distraught by that which was fantastic. Whytecrag made for a decent villain and I'd honestly have preferred it if it was just him up to no good with no alien involvment. His fascination with the Karnos'koi story of having invaded the Earth millions of years ago was decent, but I must admit I didn't totally get the logic behind their return. Corbin's role in events as the previous lead of the base and going missing was very good, with Atkins also a very strong character to compliment a great cast. I thought the pace was great and whilst the cliffhangers weren't overly threatening, this flowed well and a had a very decent at the heart of the plot in a really good setting. Hex's final comments in the TARDIS about escaping death and getting closer and closer to it was harrowing and I anticipate a foreshadowing of future events. Overall though, a good audio adventure!

Rating: 7/10

The Death of Captain Jack

"First rule of snogging: always check for a hidden weapon."

Writer: David Llewellyn

Format: Audio

Released: April 2018

Series: Torchwood Monthly 19

Featuring: Captain Jack

Synopsis

Captain Jack is finally dying, and it's time for his oldest friend to visit his deathbed. King John has come to tell him a story. The story of the life he should have had.

It's the story of Alexander the Great, sinking ships, falling empires, robot dinosaurs, and alien invasions. It's a story of love, royal weddings, murder, mass murder, genocide, and very tight trousers.

It's the story of the life of Captain John and it's the story of Torchwood. Be careful what you wish for.

Verdict

The Death of Captain Jack was a very fun continuation of the Torchwood monthly releases from Big Finish! I'm a huge fan of Captain John Hart as a villain alongside Captain Jack and getting more content from this delightful enemy is always welcomed. I liked how despite the title this story was more about John than Jack and essentially it was a story of gloating about everything he had done after changing the past and going against the fixed points in time. He basically defied every Law of Time and what I assume would be Time Agency rule, so much so that even the fixed point of Captain Jack was dying. I thought that was an excellent concept. I must admit that I thought there was too much jumping around in time, and I actually feel that you could have gotten an entire boxset out of this idea rather than just an hour-long adventure. There was so much potential there for exploration with Jack and John getting down and dirty with Alexander the Great, John running around as the King, taking on a senior role under Queen Victoria and then convincing Gwen to jump into bed with him before killing Rhys! There really was an incredible amount of stuff going on, and John absolutely revelled in the chaos he had caused. I thought the cameos were very good and a mini celebration of Torchwood with Yvonne and Ianto even getting on in the action but not exactly lasting long. Torchwood One was wiped out. The incorporation of Children of Earth and Miracle Day was so much fun with John not being too bothered by the request for 10% of the world's children and actually seeing if they had any specifics when it came to nationality! The comments about the less being said about the Blessing were amusing too. I thought Andy's cameo was great and the local knowledge of Cardiff was utilised very well here. John wasn't bothered by a Blowfish being around and his analogy to a bear running around Cardiff was fun. He wanted the club bombed and any hostages would go with it just for going to that kind of institution. John was quite the leader of Torchwood! I thought the history between Jack and John getting explored was brilliant and the former leaving the latter to drown on the Titanic without his vortex manipulator was pretty dark I thought, so it was a nice touch when Jack knew all along what John would do with his backup bracelet and where that would take him. After all these years, some 130 of them, Jack had been playing a long game just to take something from John that he so dearly loved. A world where he was King, and now Jack would die and take it all away. That's an incredible concept really and the privilege of immortality to go all that time knowing what was to come. John's reaction was excellent and it really did have a Doctor versus Master feel with Jack getting the upper hand in the end, and always heading that way. One other event incorporated that was a lot of fun was the Roswell explanation and Norton's appearance. He'd planned the whole thing because he was bored. There really was nothing out of bounds here and whilst there was so much going on, it was just a great deal of fun. Overall, a fun adventure! 

Rating: 8/10

The Helm of Awe

"I saw myself die."

Writer: Philip Hinchcliffe (Adapted by Marc Platt)

Format: Audio

Released: April 2017

Series: Philip Hinchcliffe Presents 03

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela 

Synopsis

The TARDIS arrives on the remote Shetland isle of Bothness and the Doctor and Leela find themselves threatened by Vikings! Only all is not as it seems. The locals are celebrating the old Norse fire festival of Up Helly Aa, so there's nothing to be worried about. Or is there?

For, unknown to the islanders, the TARDIS crew are on the trail of an ancient artefact invested with mysterious power that has recently been stolen and brought to this remote location.

Somewhere on this island lurks something ancient, and evil, and alien. The Doctor and Leela will have to stop it. Only on this occasion time might not be on their side.

Verdict

The Helm of Awe was another great story to continue my way through the Philip Hinchcliffe Presents series of adventures for the Fourth Doctor and Leela! I liked the mystery of starting with the cataloguing of a mysterious Viking item and I enjoyed the continuity of the Brigadier being the one to call the Doctor to Scotland in 1977. Having the Doctor explain to Leela how UNIT was his tribe was just delightful and it would have been so much fun if the Brigadier did appear, but it was nice to include his presence here. Angus was an interesting character and the lights he saw really set the tone, and I was intrigued by his referencing them as Joanna's inheritance. The Shetlands setting was excellent and the isolation worked, especially with history marking the island as uninhabited. The confusion of the signal the Doctor was tracking was good with it seemingly all around amidst a deliberate pattern. The Doctor's challenging of Angus on the Edinburgh artefact and alien device he'd picked up was brilliantly done and he was always in control. Just who might he be protecting? Leela being part of the festival race was fun and the cliffhanger was a dark contrast and twist as she saw warriors and herself burning alive! The robot berserker attack was good and I liked how they seemed to be made up from parts of the Angus collection. Time being fragile is always something I enjoy and the echoes and premonitions were fantastic. Angus pushing the Doctor below to the Barbezzams (sp?) was intriguing and whilst I wasn't a massive fan of theirs, the push added a new threat to Angus. The star tattoo symbol being an image of protector and the titular Awe was decent, as was Leela's kidnapping to Valhalla. Angus questioning himself and the infection he'd brought to the island was nicely done, and I liked the presence of the Wolf's Eye around. Leela being on the burning boat was incredible stuff and the Helm destabilising as the sky was wrong and the sea was boiling was quite the cliffhanger! The Doctor saving her whilst having all of time in his head was admirable and he conveniently moved them backwards in time. The sleeping beauty being below the island was a nice description and their feigning of being inspectors on the boat was fun, especially when the crew didn't believe them! Finlay Renwick being one of those on board was excellent and of course it would be the Shetland Bus! The warrior droid coming after the Doctor was good danger and I liked the links between past and future as the prophecy he'd already been warned about would happen. The emergence of younger Angus was a nice touch whilst Finlay was warned of the Doctor danger and convinced they were spies. Leela supposedly being shot rounded out a strong set of cliff-hangers, but Finlay actually shot himself which I really didn't see coming. I thought it was slight cheating for the Wolf's Eye to just bring the Doctor and Leela back to the present, but it was necessary for the Doctor to be given the relay and then present it to the older present version of Angus as his memory clicked of the past. The Barbezzam ship being described as too big for the sky was great and I liked how they just absorbed the missile strike from UNIT. Nardos emerging as the head of the aliens was a bit late and not that emphatic, and them being described as a U-boat size showed the scale. The barrier sending time into chaos was strong and I thought it was a nice touch of compassion that Leela avoided telling the truth of Finlay to his descendants. The shields failing leaving a volcano was a slightly underwhelming conclusion despite the action, but I was never sure how the Doctor would manage to defeat them. Overall, still a very strong audio!

Rating: 8/10

The Outlaws

"Are monks allowed to take revenge?"

Writer: Lizbeth Myles

Format: Audio

Released: April 2022

Series: First Doctor Adventures 1.01

Featuring: First Doctor, Dodo

Synopsis

Landing in 13th-century Lincoln, the Doctor and Dodo are soon caught up in the battle between Sheriff Nicholaa de la Haye and outlaw gangs in the nearby forest. King John requires funds for his conflict with France, and Nicholaa is determined to provide them, whatever the efforts of William of Berkshire and his gang of wolves' heads...

After taking refuge in Lincoln Castle, the Doctor and Dodo are separated. The Doctor is detained at the pleasure of the Sheriff, while Dodo indulges her adventurous spirit and plays forest outlaw with William's gang.

But William is not acting alone. The outlaws' true leader knows the Doctor and has a plan for revenge. A man with a passion for meddling. A man who wears a monk's habit...      

Verdict

The Outlaws was a brilliant start to a brand new era of First Doctor Adventures! I must admit that when I heard the trailer for this release I was a little sceptical about another recast of the First Doctor, but I warmed to Stephan Noonan's take on the iconic incarnation as the story went on and a large part of that is down to the fantastic writing of his character. I was really impressed with how well the essence of the First Doctor was captured here and it's so exciting to get a glimpse at the adventures of the Doctor and Dodo between The Savages and The War Machines. There's a good gap there and I'm looking forward to hearing it get filled. I thought Lauren Cornelius did a good job in the role of Dodo once again and I'm certainly a fan of her take on the less remembered companion, and pairing them off against a familiar villain in the form of the Monk is the perfect way to start a series! I'm a huge fan of the Monk and Rufus Hound's incarnation is gloriously evil and clumsy. The references to The Time Meddler here were fantastic and it's so much fun for the pair to meet again in the Middle Ages. This time around, it seemed the Monk was actually on history's side with him wanting to usurp King John, but it wasn't quite as simple as that as you might expect. I loved the interaction between the Doctor and the Monk, and the latter's reaction to finding the TARDIS was an absolute treat. I thought the historical figures in this story were strong with Sheriff Nicholaa an absolute delight. Her dialogue with the Doctor was terrific and I enjoyed how she was trying to protect her granddaughter Idonea. The Doctor seeing Dodo as a granddaughter was a nice touch and I loved his touching upon leaving Susan. Some of the references in this adventure were marvellous with the Doctor recalling the events of The Crusade fantastically when it came to his interaction with history and the royal ascendancy, and also remembering a fine dentist in The Gunfighters when mocking the Monk when it came to him once again being trapped. He'd have six centuries to wait for anaesthesia though! I liked the roles of the titular Outlaws and I was a big fan of the title in keeping with the era's use of historical figures. It was simple and effective. They were dangerous and having Dodo blunder into trouble was great stuff. Her misspeaking about who was on the throne thrust them into a jail cell which was amusing. Sir Hugh was another character who was just a lot of fun and he fitted in effortlessly with the lighthearted feel of this adventure. It had an air of The Romans to it without going overboard with the humour. It was the perfect balance. I thought the Monk's TARDIS being disguised as a tree was such a fun way to conclude things and the Doctor once again causing the Monk to be stranded was wonderful. I thought Noonan's take on the First Doctor was impressive for a debut and I enjoyed the little mannerisms and deliberate misspeaking. I thought it was a fine take on how William Hartnell would have played the role for this story. That's a big compliment. Overall, a really fun start to the range and series! 

Rating: 9/10

A Death in the Family

"I've just opened a very nasty can of words."

Writer: Steven Hall

Format: Audio

Released: October 2010

Series: Monthly Adventures 140

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace, Hex, Evelyn

Synopsis

"The future folds into the past. The homeless hero has fallen. Now begins the time of three tales: The Tale of the Herald, The Tale of the Hidden Woman and The Tale of the Final Speaker. When the last tale is told, all the lights shall fail. The world will end."

21st century London: Nobody No One, the extra-dimensional Word Lord, is again running amok. Only this time, he's unbeatable, and a terrible tragedy is about to unfold...

Verdict

A Death in the Family was an excellent story to continue along this trilogy of Seventh Doctor tales! This followed on right where Project: Destiny left off and finding that the Time Lord contained in the Archive was actually a future version of the Doctor himself was terrific! I really didn't see that coming and set in motion quite the tale of events. I liked the format of this story with it essentially being four different parts all blending together to make one big story and that worked really well. I was so excited by the return of Nobody No One and it's brilliant that a villain who made such a big impact in a smaller scale story like The Word Lord got the chance to shine in a much longer outing. Whilst he didn't really feature in the middle parts, his presence was more than felt at the start and beginning. The power he had just from words was sublime and the glee and giddiness he exhibited when such simple phrases like 'nobody has that power' was glorious. It was fun that this Word Lord had regenerated since we last encountered him and his presence helped bring Hex back around on terms with the Doctor and Ace. The cliffhanger to part one was superb with the Doctor essentially dead and the Word Lord having power over his regenerations, Earth and the Sun! That's not a bad combination to be in control of and he revelled in it. We witnessed a world for both Ace and Hex where they had moved on from the Doctor. Ace had even got married now and I thought her husband Henry Noone was a lovely character. The idea of Ace settling down was hard to believe, but it had been a decade now as we learned with the parchment getting to Hex. He also moved on and having him alongside Evelyn was a delightful treat to have her return to the Monthly Adventures! I think it was both wonderful and very emotional for this to be her final chronological appearance in Doctor Who and it gave the character a fitting end. She died of a heart attack doing what she loved and took the story that gave the Word Lord power with her. That was a glorious way to bow out and whilst her adventures are not over with the Sixth Doctor, this was a fine end to a character that broke the mould of Doctor Who companions when she debuted in The Marian Conspiracy. I thought the references she made to adventures shared with the Sixth Doctor were lovely and knowing of Cassie when Hex introduced himself showed that little Tommy Schofield was where he needed to be. She could tell him abut his mother which was a nice touch, and quite the plan was in action from the Doctor even after death. I loved that Ace falling in love with somebody who had Noone as a surname was incredible and I can't believe I didn't see the revelation coming! Noone was spelt the same as No One which was just excellent and that gave the created Dorothy Noone power over words, and she brought the Doctor back triumphantly. That was really good stuff. The involvement of UNIT was a nice touch as well and it was fun that the Doctor was always in control of them. Hex's relationship still seems likely a sour point with the Doctor, but after all they went through here I'm sure those bridges will be burned. The future version of the Seventh Doctor featuring throughout and even refusing to save himself was brilliant as well. I was a big fan of this story and as a whole, it was a fine continuation of the range! Overall, a tremendous listen.

Rating: 9/10

The Resurrection Casket

"Let's go find some treasure!"

Writer: Julian Richards

Format: Novel

Released: April 2006

Series: NSA 09

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

Starfall – a world on the edge, where crooks and smugglers hide in the gloomy shadows and modern technology refuses to work. And that includes the TARDIS.

The pioneers who used to be drawn by the hope of making a fortune from the mines can find easier picking elsewhere. But they still come, for the romance of it, or in the hope of finding the lost treasure of Hamlek Glint – scourge of the space ways, privateer, adventurer, bandit...

Will the TARDIS ever work again? Is Glint's lost treasure waiting to be found? And does the fabled Resurrection Casket – the key to eternal life – really exist? With the help of new friends, and facing terrifying enemies, the Doctor and Rose aim to find out...

Verdict

The Resurrection Casket was a great New Series Adventures novel! I really enjoyed this one and the idea of a pirate and bandits story in space worked very well. I liked the immediate trepidation caused by the inabilities of the TARDIS and how it was instantly impacted by the zeg. That concept was fun and the concept of arriving on a world where all electrical items were essentially useless was excellent. The Doctor was expecting to exit the TARDIS, which in of itself was a struggle, into an oblivion but Rose announcing they were at a pub was very humorous. I thought that served as a strong basis to catch up on events and the local situation, and the Doctor and Rose really made themselves at home. Starfall was a decent setting and I liked how Sally was the bar-woman and in on all the gossip. Her makeup as part robot and part organic was great and I liked how crucial that was to her demise by the book's conclusion. I loved the story of the lost treasure of Hamlek Glint and the myth it had grown into. Counterfeits had become common, but the search and desire for the real loot of treasure was magnificent. Bobb was a good character and his insistence that little nephew Jimm not go and explore space was intriguing, but the truth was outstanding and bumped the story up a rating. I must admit that I wasn't a fan of Kevin in the slightest and the idea of a great big grizzly monster that apologised for the deaths it was causing was a little underwhelming. It didn't seem so threatening and it was a shame that this was the result of the Black Shadow which was something I liked. Drel McCavity being the one in control of Kevin was interesting thanks to the medallion sold onto him a decade or so previously, and his emotional story with his wife had gone so far now. He was still talking to her amidst a sign of madness and he still had her skeleton in the dress she died in in the hope of finding and using the famed Resurrection Casket. This device supposedly claiming to hold Glint was fun but the truth was so much better. The Doctor was trying to convince Drel that the Casket wouldn't do what he wished for his wife and the truth of him finding that she had cheated on him and then he shot her in the head was horrendous. The screaming sculpture also being the fate of the man she was with was disturbing but it perfectly highlighted how deranged McCavity was. I thought Sally assembling the team to track down the Buccaneer was very good and the Doctor having an ulterior motive in getting to that ship to get the TARDIS away from the zen and able to open again was brilliant. I thought the characterisation of the Tenth Doctor was a little cheesy but that's not a huge surprise after finding out that the book was released prior to the broadcast of New Earth, so there was only The Christmas Invasion to base the incarnation on. References to both episodes in the adventure were welcomed though! Rose had a strong showing in this story and the relationship she built with Jimm was really nice. Her being used to reveal the truth about Sally and her actually being Salvo 7-50 was a fantastic moment. The crew she assembled was actually the old Glint crew which was a lot of fun, but they never seemed overly threatening which was a shame and they were quite fun. I thought the threat of Kevin taking out the Doctor as he had the Black Shadow being a chapter cliffhanger on three occasions was overkill, and I actually sighed at the third time, but the crossword conversation at the end between them was amusing. The Doctor getting story time and revealing the truth about the treasure and Glint was terrific, and the famed and mythical pirate actually being Jimm reborn was incredible! That was the truth about the Resurrection Casket, it started life anew as we found with McCavity. That was really strong. The Doctor showing a ruthless streak with Salvo and making her own choice as she chose revenge was very good and tied things up nicely. Overall, a really great read! 

Rating: 8/10

Dumb Waiter

"Just cake and polite conversation."

Writer: Rob Nisbet

Format: Audio

Released: June 2018

Series: Companion Chronicles: Second Doctor 2.02

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Victoria, Leela

Synopsis

The Doctor and Victoria attend a civilised garden party. But their genial hostess, Mrs De Winter, is convinced that the garden conceals a secret; something about Carlos the head waiter who never speaks.

The hidden truth can be glimpsed by people less accustomed to the mask of politeness and cake. People like Jamie. 

And people like Leela, the mysterious 'warrior of the Seventeen'...

Verdict

Dumb Waiter was a great adventure to continue the second volume of Companion Chronicles from the Second Doctor era! This is undoubtedly the one from the series I was most interested in as the prospect of throwing Leela into the era of the Second Doctor was so exciting. I love when characters from different eras mix together and the ultimate selling point of this audio had to be the interaction between Jamie and Leela. That is such a magnificent prospect and it definitely didn't disappoint. These are two of the Doctor's more violent companions and the way they were introduced was terrific. The little cameo of the Fourth Doctor was good and he had recalled the events where he first met Leela, and this was quite some time prior to The Face of Evil. I liked the recording method and audio files as a means to incorporate the Chronicle format into the story, and the different versions were fun. It was amusing that the Doctor didn't tell Leela anything about what he was doing with the time ring and before she knew it she had been thrust back in time to the Second Doctor's TARDIS, and she wasn't best pleased with the changes. This wasn't the wooden console interior and the mention of all of the gadgets on the console was terrific. Leela dubbing the Second Doctor as the Chief Intruder was amusing and I really enjoyed how her warrior instincts were used to eventually realise that this Doctor was the same man she knew in the future. The fight between her and Jamie was fantastic and Leela getting the upper hand was delightful. The humour that ensued from her little knife comments and nicknaming was glorious. I absolutely adored Leela's comments about Victoria and her needless gown clothing, going so far as to ask the Doctor why he kept her around! That was Leela at her blunt best. I wasn't a huge fan of Mrs De Winter but it did seem like Louise Jameson had fun playing the role. The need to describe her as pretty massive and wide was a little unnecessary but it did come back at the end when the predictable but fun reveal that she was a Wraith all along occurred. I thought the garden party setting was strong and I liked that it was all about perception with the Wraiths actually taking on being all of the guests. The link with the trees thrusting out the desired image of the party was good and Jamie not understanding the concept and therefore being less impacted was good. I thought the cliffhanger was excellent with Leela taking it upon herself to stab the Second Doctor with a janus thorn! That was a very strong way to conclude the part and the potential threat on the future was intriguing to think about, but it seems the Fourth Doctor would have remembered this. I thought the ending was pretty decent and a nice injection of action with Victoria playing an important role in taking out the transmitter and dealing with the Wraiths once and for all. As a whole, this was a really strong audio adventure and the ending with Leela getting a goodbye at the food machine was a nice touch. Overall, a terrific listen and a nice blend of eras.

Rating: 8/10

Doctor of War: Genesis: The Difference Office

"There is no escape from myself."

Writer: James Kettle

Format: Audio

Released: April 2022

Series: Unbound 9.03

Featuring: Warrior, Romana

Synopsis

The Warrior is President of the Time Lords... and suffering from visions. Is he the right man to combat an invasion? Because there's someone out there in the wilderness of Gallifrey. Someone with the Warrior's face. And he's heading for the Capitol.

Verdict

The Difference Office was a strong story to conclude the Genesis first series of Doctor of War! I've really enjoyed this ninth series of the Unbound spinoff and the movement and setting up of this timeline and world finished strongly here positioning the Warrior as the Lord President of Gallifrey during the Time War. I thought it was a little ironic that this was the story that the Daleks didn't feature in, but they weren't missed in the slightest and it was wonderful to explore a Gallifrey with this incarnation of the man previously known as the Doctor in charge. Colin Baker delivered a dark and calm performance in the lead role and it was fascinating to get alternate versions of Romana and Borusa. I thought both were really strong and it was just intriguing to hear them alongside the Warrior. The voice of the Sixth Doctor so calmly commanding that a whole star system was to be burned was very powerful and just so not what we are used to hearing. It showed how much of a toll the Time War had and it was obviously going to be a very different conflict with the Warrior at the helm of Gallifrey. Except, his presidency was being challenged and it came in the form of an unlikely villain! Having Styggron trying to infiltrate Gallifrey and take over the presidency himself is quite incredible really as that seems very audacious for a Kraal! The links and similarities here with The Android Invasion were actually really strong and it was pleasant to hark back to a somewhat less memorable Classic serial. I can't believe I was fooled by the Doctor that was rounding up the Shoboguns being an android as that was ever so obvious once it was revealed! I really liked the idea behind the Difference Office and its role in seeking out and dealing with paradoxes. The commonality of Time Lords going back into their own time stream to try and kill their past self was extraordinary and hearing Narvin on trial for that was incredible. The Time War really must have gone to some horrific places to send people to that level of desperation. I couldn't quite fathom that. The Difference Office detecting no paradox when it came to the imposter president was further proof that of course this Doctor was an android! I liked exploring the politics of Gallifrey and the differing positions of Lords and Shobogans, and the Warrior dealt with it in his stride which I loved. I thought Zorcha was a strong character to compliment the Gallifreyan contingent in this adventure and her death was such a shock. Styggron had no remorse and it also had a profound impact on Borusa, so much so that he didn't even want to hear his name after the Warrior supposedly went to kill the Kraal. I liked the ambiguity and understanding of the conclusion with the Warrior and Styggron reaching an agreement, and the potential moving forward into the next boxset with a leftover Kraal strategy and Time Lords potentially being androids was excellent. Romana revealing herself as one was a nice touch as well in using the Kraal technology against Styggron. Overall, a strong conclusion to a really great series! 

Rating: 8/10

Doctor of War: Genesis: Aftershocks

"For the glory of a unified Skaro!"

Writer: Lou Morgan

Format: Audio

Released: April 2022

Series: Unbound 9.02

Featuring: Warrior Doctor

Synopsis

The ripples are spreading out. The Warrior is on trial. Or is he? No-one's willing to tell him his crime so how can he know if he's guilty? And who is trying him anyway?

Verdict

Aftershocks was an outstanding story to continue the Genesis boxset of the Doctor of War series in the Unbound range! I thought this was truly brilliant from start to finish and was a little more like what I expected from the range following on from the fantastically confusing amalgamation of timelines in Dust Devil. The idea of the Warrior being on trial here was a lot of fun and it was great that he didn't know what crime he supposedly had committed if it wasn't referring to the attempted genocide of the Daleks in the alternative ending to Genesis of the Daleks. I was a big fan of Narvin leading the trial and he and the Warrior really built quite a great dynamic with their back and forth dialogue. They bounced off each very well and the amnesiac element of the Warrior's post-regenerative trauma was very strong in establishing this new incarnation's personality. I'm really looking forward to hearing where the Warrior develops moving forward and having him on trial on Skaro was really good. I liked how he thought initially that he was on Gallifrey but in this timeline the Doctor's actions had sparked unity on Skaro between the Thals and Kaleds. That concept was extraordinary and it's really fun to think about the disastrous impact of the Doctor's actions that were supposedly going to wipe out the Daleks. But here they still were leading the Skaro Empire and that involved the backward world of Gallifrey that had long been conquered. I thought that was tremendous. The Warrior's dream was really strong and I thought having the Master in his own subconscious was delicious. Geoffrey Beavers put on a wonderful performance and it was really good to hear him alongside Colin Baker for a first time from my perspective. I loved that the Master was slightly revelling in this new incarnation and suggesting that he had a taste for genocide was magnificent. I liked the idea of the Doctor leaving a time ring behind providing Skaro with the means for universal domination, and Commander Esk was a brilliant Skaro native to head their empire before being replaced by the Daleks. She didn't take to that well. The revelation that Narvin was on the side of the Daleks in a strange temporal alliance was great and him selling out the Master was devious. The Master getting exterminated beyond extermination was quite extraordinary! I really liked the conflict from the Warrior in the different appearances of the Master on trial and the one in his dreams because of his positioning in the timeline. The temporal nature of the resolution with the particum was excellent and further use of good confusion. I liked how he was realising that the sky of Skaro was actually green and the same colour as the particum, which meant they were already inside. It was all a bit paradoxical and that was fun as the Doctor had, or would, have the detonator required to put things on track. Narvin's reaction to him then saying he was on Gallifrey at the end was very humorous. Overall, a superb audio adventure! 

Rating: 10/10