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