The Other Woman

"The great wanderer, his wings forcefully clipped."

Writer: Philip Lawrence

Format: Audio

Released: November 2015

Series: Short Trips 5.11

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

UNIT is called in when an alien escape pod brings a woman to the Kent countryside. The Doctor offers to repair her stricken, dimension-hopping ship, seeing an opportunity to escape his exile. But while Calandra charms the Doctor and the other men of UNIT, Jo is less trusting. Are her suspicions well-founded or is there another green-eyed monster at work?

Verdict

The Other Woman was a very fun Short Trips audio adventure! I was really intrigued by the title of this story and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The implications of course point towards there being another female interest for the Doctor and that was definitely something Jo was tackling here. I’m not sure she handled things in the best way and that was part of the story’s appeal. It seemed like it was quite a way into Jo’s time with the Doctor and UNIT and probably somewhere between Seasons 9 and 10 with the Time Lord thinking his exile would soon be up, and that made it harder for Jo to accept that the Doctor’s end goal was always to leave Earth. Of course, he was always going to take her with him but that was far from obvious here. I liked the reality of Jo going out on a date and her thinking that the Doctor was off doing the same was very amusing! The arrival of Callandra was great and I thought she was a decent character. I enjoyed that she was a traveller between dimensions and the Doctor pouncing on that immediately as a potential way off the planet was brilliant in fitting with its era on television. The fact that Callandra was drawn to the planet by the TARDIS was good and I liked the concept of them linking the time and space machine with her own dimension hopper. Callandra was far from harmless though and she was actually on the run. The idea of the Judgementors was pretty good and I just loved their name! It sounded impressive and the basis for a lot of potential, but there wasn’t quite enough time to expand on them which was a shame. The story definitely had Judoon vibes but this probably wasn’t the right time for them to interact with the Third Doctor. Speaking of which, I thought Katy Manning did an excellent job with the narration and the way she transitioned between her character of Jo and the stubborn figures of the Doctor and the Brigadier was terrific. I was really impressed. I liked that the entirety of UNIT was present and going to Kent really provided the story with some scale. I thought the ending was slightly cheating in that the Doctor predictably wasn’t actually going to go against her and had been expecting her to arrive for a few weeks now after receiving her signal, but the description of Callandra’s reaction to being betrayed was tremendous! Overall, a really fun story. 

Rating: 8/10

Heritage: Truth and Bone

"We are Sontarans. We are exiled against our will."

Writer: Roy Gill

Format: Audio

Released: May 2020

Series: Patermoster Gang 3.03

Featuring: Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

Bloomsbury troublemakers Stonn and Tom Faster are back, and in much more trouble than ever before.

Sontar has turned its attention to Earth as Requisitioner Skark looks to retrieve missing soldiers. And Jenny finds Vastra preoccupied with the past, which may lead to a very dark future...

Verdict

Truth and Bone was an excellent story to conclude the third volume of Heritage! This has been a really strong third series and this finale was probably the best of the bunch. I thought it was brilliant continuity with the spinoff as a whole to bring back Stonn and Tom Foster as part of the Bloomsbury Bunch from A Photograph to Remember and they really felt at home being back. They're so fun and contrasting them with a likewise set of characters in the Paternoster Gang works so well. I will admit that Vella was missed but I do hope there is something more to that as Vastra seemed to be longing for interaction with her own species. This was a brilliant story for Strax and I'm a big fan of him dealing with some Sontaran past and his purpose of being cloned. His relationship with Stonn was glorious and just hearing them interact was an absolute delight. They had so much chemistry and they just gelled. Tom Foster being the one to bring the Paternoster Gang around was fun and hiding that from Stonn as he embarked on a crazy mission to replace the postal service was good stuff. I thought his attempts to reconfigure the aviation species was just ludicrous and Vastra's drawing of her own conclusion at what she thought Stonn had planned was a terrific moment. Her reaction to finding that it was all a money device was very fun. I enjoyed the continuity from Whatever Remains with Vastra dealing with the spirit of Anura inside her mind and that came into full impact here. She needed help and almost persuasion to get at Skark and the ancient Silurian spirit had no trouble in providing it. The concept of conflict and history between the Sontarans and Silurians was excellent and that is something I would love to explore further as Vastra now embarks on a mission to discover prehistoric artefacts. That's a good direction to head in for the final boxset and I can't wait to get there. Skark was a fun Sontaran character and it was great to have a traditional Sontaran commander around, not that Stonn chose to recognise his authority though. Strax admitting to Stonn that he was actually happy as a butler was fascinating and it's lovely to know that he feels that way and content with his life. His asking of whether there could be other glories that weren't war was brilliant as well. I loved the challenging to the Sontarans of their ancestors and the reference to The First Sontarans with their origins was brilliant. I loved the reaction of Skark to that forbidden knowledge. Skark wasn't shying from knowledge though as he sparked a similar reaction in Vastra when mentioning a number of other Silurian hibernations. Vastra was seemingly longing for attention of her own race. The relationship between Stonn and Tom Foster was really nice and I liked how the Sontaran seemed happy to now take and protect his man. I do hope we haven't heard the end of them though! The conversation at the end between Jenny and Vastra was emotional and there was real concern in the human for what the spirit of Anura had done, but it seemed she was rid of that now. Overall, a strong finale! 

Rating: 9/10

Heritage: Whatever Remains

"Ignorance is no defence."

Writer: Robert Valentine

Format: Audio

Released: May 2020

Series: Paternoster Gang 3.02

Featuring: Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

The Great Detective's latest case takes Vastra and friends to the Jurassic coast. A local landowner has vanished. The only clue – the footprints of a gigantic creature! 

As Strax suffers the attentions of an amorous landlady, Jenny gains an admirer of her own. And Vastra discovers something buried deep...

Verdict

Whatever Remains was a brilliant episode to continue along the third volume of Heritage for the Paternoster Gang! I really liked the challenge and exploration of the Siurian history for Vastra and it was clear that this was going to be the direction right from the off as we heard the cry of a legend in the presence of Dudley and Poorgrass who were fun but typically Victorian gentlemen of the upper class. Dudley descending to the depths of the cavern had me remembering the sites of The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood with the description of his fate. Lullwind Cove made for a really fun setting and just going to the Dorset coast and getting out of London was nice and refreshing for the gang. The legend of the sea creature was intriguing and the mystery of where Dudley's body was made for a fun setup as Poorgrass came to seek the help of the legendary veiled detective. The fact that the only incriminating evidence was a giant chicken footprint was very amusing! I loved the suggestion of Vastra and her detective work being the basis for Sherlock Holmes and Strax's recollection of an encounter with Arthur Conan Doyle was marvellous. He was on top form throughout this adventure! Vastra recognising the area of Lullwind Cove on the map but noticing some little changes was great and it was a place she will have been to before, but very long ago. Encountering some of her own people is terrific, but one of the standouts was human Mrs Slinger. She took an immediate shine to Strax and his mistaking her affection for cunning was just outstanding. The fact she was trying to sneak into his room for some romantic reasons but Strax believing he caught her in stealth mode was just tremendous. I loved it. I liked how much Vastra was enjoying exploring the cavern but that quickly changed once Dudley's body was found clawed in a bad way. Vastra finding the drawings of the Silurian origin myth was exciting and I thought her deducing the area as the Temple of the First Empire was fantastic. Jenny did not take well to being left behind and that really was a sore point as the episode went on. Vastra was ready to fight with an old one of the first blood whilst Strax was keen to point out that Jenny should respect the chain of command. Strax seeking to singlehandedly fight the creature of legend was glorious but Jenny's suggestion of a tactical withdrawal was a fun way to ensure the Sontaran would run away. Batraxus guarding Anura's tomb was fascinating and the fact she never went into hibernation didn't seem believable given the millions of years spanned since the time of the Silurians. The power that she was guarding had kept her alive, but that seemed to be dissipating now. Vastra being chosen as the new guard was fun as she obviously didn't fancy that task. Merripit was a good character and his play to gain the crude oil fossils after Dudley let it be known he was going to sell was excellent and he had quite the motive of greed! He used the legend to scare off other buyers and was going to snatch the land up cheaply. Jenny deducing he was behind it all and actually American linking everything to a US company was impressive, but Merripit's 'real' American accent was horrifyingly bad. The hilarious ending with Strax trying to unmask him as Slinger going unsuccessful was marvellous too. Jenny's poignant discussion with Vastra about being the maid and accepting that front for them was excellent, and Vastra now being frightened was a nice addition of vulnerability. Overall, a fantastic episode! 

Rating: 9/10

Heritage: Family Matters

"You are welcome to the most magnificent freak show on Earth!"

Writer: Lisa McMulin

Format: Audio

Released: May 2020

Series: Paternoster Gang 3.01

Featuring: Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

Jenny's past comes calling at Paternoster Row, as Strax takes care of a guest, and the travelling circus comes to town – spelling danger for some of the gang.

But when family matters intrude on their marriage, the last thing Jenny wants is Vastra having her in-laws for dinner...

Verdict

Family Matters was a very good episode to continue the Heritage spinoff series for the Paternoster Gang! This opened the third volume in a very good way and the humour that was associated with the opening was magnificent. I really can't say how much I love Strax and just adore the type of comedy that comes with him. His snoring and being mistaken for a burglar at the start was terrific, as was Jenny's reaction to Vastra accusing her of it! Strax had of course been knocked out though with a shot to the probic vent, but it seemed harmless with some stray lions being the ones to have broken in. As the episode went on, we found out that wasn't correct and the care taken for the Sarcosuchus was nicely done and some good continuity with Spring-Heeled Jack. Barty Crump was a pretty fun character and his accompanying Vastra down the tunnels below the Thames was a bit eery, especially when he seemed to suffocate her into kidnapping! Vastra was taken to a freak show which was pretty harsh and she was not best pleased with Crump posing as a mud lark to just make her an attraction. Irinda was an intriguing character too and she didn't seem too bothered by the fact she was viewed like she was in a zoo. The description of her being blue skinned and having four arms painted a good image, but there was clearly more to her than met the eye. The arrival of Jenny's Ma to Paternoster Row was brilliant and it was clear they had quite a strained relationship. Ma was quick to engage in theft by stealing some of the china but I was fascinated that she had obtained a Sontaran homing device. The threat of her going to Sontar was amusing! Albert, who turned out to be Jenny's Pa, being attacked by Vastra was good stuff and I liked that Barty also seemed to be her brother! It was quite the family reunion. Vastra's stubbornness with Jenny about not being told of her wife's family was a little harsh, but they reunited to a good understanding by the end. Vastra tolerated humanity for people like Jenny. I thought the moment where Jenny retorted to her father about not being married like her parents because she was happy was just glorious. A stunning line. The mystery of Barty deepened once we learned he'd only been back for a week and Jenny questioning if he was the real article was good. Learning that Jenny had another sibling Dorothy but her fate was not good as well made for a strong emotional family connection. Her parents were pretty poor when it came to doing their job. The reveal that Barty was the same species as Irinda was decent and the whole Scondorofax artefact story was intriguing. Vastra got to challenge Barty quite strongly and the suggestion of the artefact holding back the end time was very good. I liked the flashback tot he Scondorofax decision to head to Earth to find the Silurians and prevent them activating the artefact and completing the prophecy that would end time. The conclusion was a little drab with the Scondorofax just disintegrating by will and would reassemble over time, so I do hope this isn't the last we hear from them! Overall though, a strong and enjoyable opener!

Rating: 8/10

Instant Karma

"We can do anything."

Writers: David Llewellyn, Jonathan Morris & James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: July 2018

Series: Torchwood Monthly 23

Featuring: Tosh

Synopsis

Imagine. All those people. The ones who make each day that little bit harder. That little bit more unbearable. 

Imagine if you could silence them. Just by looking at them.

I mean, just imagine. If you could do that. To all the people who annoy you. Would you do it?

Verdict

Instant Karma was a somewhat average audio adventure to continue the Torchwood monthly series from Big Finish! I thought the CD artwork for this one was striking but I never felt that the story injected that same feeling. It seemed like it was always at an introductory stage which was slightly weird, and that was a shame after a very strong opening pre-titles sequence from Simon. His discussion on other people and all of those annoying in our lives was fascinating and the suggestion of being able to silence them, and whether one would take that option if they had the opportunity, was excellent. Sadly, I don't think things progressed too impressively from there. Once Tosh joined the group and the opening was retrospectively turned into a class teaching, the impact was lost on me. I liked the intrigue of the first session taking it out of you physically with Tosh showing some adverse effects, and that suggested something more sinister was at work. The death of group member Carl set tings in motion and got Tosh in full investigative mode which is where she shines best. The mystery of Carl's family not seeing the death certificate and multiple reasons given for his death which occurred after his first meeting showed things here were very dangerous indeed. Carl had been keeping a record of the mysterious events and deaths surrounding Simon and the group and obviously had gotten more than he bargained for! I enjoyed the ability of Simon to channel resentment and anger as a weapon and there was a lot of potential there. I don't think it quite reached the heights it could have, but I still appreciated the power. Others not even realising that it was happening was good stuff too. Simon was sick of being ignored and it seemed he had quite a few personal and anger issues. Tosh standing up to him despite showing fear was great and she didn't adhere to the warning to back off. Gooch being another one dead and the group being blamed this time was good and Simon actually taking the power of the group made of members feeling strong emotional detachments and experiences was good, but he still just seemed petty to me. Tosh's appeal to Janet to get through to Simon about what he was doing always felt like it would fall on deaf ears, and it didn't make sense with her having the crush on him. Janet joining with Simon to kill the group of lads mocking their public show of affection was a sinister moment, but the pair never felt believable as a couple. The conversation on the phone with Simon getting angry at his barking dog and so much so that he used his power inadvertently to kill his dog was just uncomfortable and unnecessary. Simon challenging Tosh on whether the Torchwood team actually liked her or if she would be missed was good, but Tosh knew her importance which I admired. Janet leaving after Simon was done for despite Tosh assuring her she would place all blame on Simon was a bit of a sour note to finish. Overall, some good moments and a lot of potential but definitely some missing links. 

Rating: 6/10

The Phantom Piper

"Sometimes we need to forget things."

Writer: Martin Day

Format: Audio

Released: April 2022

Series: Companion Chronicles: Second Doctor 3.02

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie

Synopsis

Life in the colony world of Sora is idyllic, thanks to a device implanted in all citizens which helps memory recall. As a human visitor, Jamie receives one too. But soon the Doctor has concerns about his friend which lead to the office of local scientist Dr Hunter, and into the past of James Robert McCrimmon...

Verdict

The Phantom Piper was a fantastic story to continue the third volume of Companion Chronicles for the Second Doctor! I have been really impressed with this set as I reach the halfway mark and it's fun to have the Second Doctor and Jamie together by themselves, with Victoria left alone atop the space station. That dynamic works well and allows Frazier Hines to shine in both lead roles. Starting with Jamie having an implant was intriguing and I liked the idea of Shard technology. Clearly, more had happened than we had experienced as listener but that allowed us to get to know Professor Hunt through her discussion with Jamie which was enlightening. I was a big fan of hers and the theme of memory was brilliant. It was fun to have the Doctor outside of the room whilst Hunter was essentially talking Jamie through a memory experiment and the urge to interfere must have been strong for the Time Lord! He'd escaped needing an implant by not being human and the format was established strong in setting up the Chronicle format with Jamie being told to state his memories and what he was feeling. I thought that was clever utilisation. The Sora setting was very good and I liked the uniqueness of everyone being given an implant when reaching the age of 21 to help with their memory when they were now considered fully developed. Jamie recalling the arrival to Sora was strong and I liked that there was a protest ensuing that they got involved in almost immediately. Jame mentioning how getting split from the Doctor was nothing new was a lot of fun and certainly correct! The little flashback cameo of events of The Highlanders was really nicely done and it was excellent to be exploring some of Jamie's past. The story of his best friend James Drummond and how they altered nicknames because they shared the same name was lovely, but learning about how he did in Jamie's arms was a sharp injection of reality. Jamie going back in his mind to the clan celebration was great and I was really intrigued to hear Jamie seeing his mum. Hunter explaining how childhood memories were more difficult to manage and control was nicely done and I enjoyed also hearing Jamie visiting his grandparents as a ten-year-old. The Shard implant actually causing an impairment to recall was interesting and I loved the idea of all of the memories feeling dark. The arrival of the phantom piper as the cliffhanger brought back vibes of The Moonbase and Hunter's belief that the McCrimmon legend of seeing the piper before death was a convenient one was brilliant. Jamie had different beliefs! Hunter forgetting about the note that Jamie gave us was magnificent because that showed the implant wasn't bulletproof when it came to recall. She admitted that the Shard tech was dangerous and as soon as it appeared that they were removing memories, my interest peaked! The implant removing Jamie's Culloden memories was fascinating and the concept of junk data for brain and memories was superb. They needed to override the blockers to get Jamie his memories back which was fun and logical. The talk with Jamie's granny on her deathbed was outstanding and full of emotion, and the suggestion that his grandad made up the piper story was terrific. The family history was wonderful. Hunter being the one to rewrite the code of the implant to ensure that consent was required before any memory removal was very good, and the Doctor suggesting that it was Hunter who implemented it in the first place because she was trying to forget a tragedy was fantastic. Overall, a really strong audio adventure!

Rating: 9/10

The Talons of Weng-Chiang

"The Master of Magic and Mesmerism. Show us a trick." 

Writer: Robert Holmes

Format: TV

Broadcast: 25 February - 2 April 1977

Season: 14.06

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

Women of Victorian London fall prey to an unknown menace, while monstrous terrors lurk in the sewers under the city. Chinese gangs scurry in the dank fog, and a sinister stage magician seeks to serve his mysterious master. The Doctor and Leela arrive, only to find themselves plunged into a series of macabre horrors...

Verdict

The Talons of Weng-Chiang was an outstanding serial to conclude the fourteenth season of Doctor Who! This is one I have been waiting to rewatch for quite some time now but the six parts makes it a little difficult with an 11-month old around but I was glad to revisit one of my all time favourites for the first time in what must be a decade. This is such a strong serial and right from the off it's excellent. I love the Victorian setting and introducing Leela to that and the tribe of Cockneys was tremendous. I enjoyed her getting to grips with the new society and proclaiming herself as a proud member of the Sevateem was great stuff. We had the now infamous mention of the police as blue guards and it was just so much fun to have her interact with the law. The magic theme at the theatre is brilliant and the dynamic between Jago as the theatre manager and Chang as the performer was so well done. Of course, this serial is infamous for its poor representation of the Chinese and the fact that there are actually no Chinese actors playing the role doesn't look good in hindsight and certainly wouldn't happen these days, but it's incredibly reminiscent of the time this was made in the 1970s and that's how I choose to look back on it. The perceptions of the Chinese in the Victorian era was brutal in parts and there was definitely a semi-racist undercurrent going throughout without any real malicious feeling which I'm not entirely sure is good. But the story itself is just outstanding. The atmosphere throughout is dark and it really does take you aback when the Doctor and Litefoot are exploring the Thames in broad daylight. That feels so out of sync which is testament to the quality of a large bulk of the adventure. The god-like status of Weng-Chiang was marvellous and I think Magnus Greel does make a very strong villain, but after watching I did my research and for the first time I found out that this was intended to be revealed as the decaying Master. Well, that would have been extraordinary and make so much sense! The rejuvenation was brilliant and missing girls seemed to fit in well with Victorian society and the dangers. I like the pace of the story and the cliffhangers are really strong. I was even impressed with the rat model that attacked Leela as I seemed to remember that being quite awful. Mr Sin is a delightfully creepy character and having him go from the means of a ventriloquist to a dagger-wielding madman is glorious. The fate of the character was absolutely gruesome though in the way that the Doctor saw him off. That really shocked me! The relationship that built throughout between Jago and Litefoot was excellent and it's no wonder that they've gone on to become so revered and even have their own spinoff series. I'm now looking forward to delving into that and listening to their further interactions in other audio series. Their reaction at the end to the TARDIS taking off and the comment about the policemen being excellent was sublime stuff. The fate of Greel in being put into his own device and seeing it blow was good and final, and after a jolly good Victorian mystery things definitely got gory in the final episode. That allowed the serial as a whole to have a strong impact and overall, it really is one of the very best! 

Rating: 10/10

Silver and Ice: Bad Day in Tinseltown

"I'm known for my devastating charm, not my fists."

Writer: Dan Starkey

Format: Audio

Released: June 2022

Series: Seventh Doctor Adventures 1.01

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Mel

Synopsis

The Doctor and Mel drop in on the frontier town of Brightedge – dubbed 'Tinseltown' after the curious by-products from its depleted mine. The Mayor thinks the future lies in entertainment, but as the locals start behaving oddly, a hidden force of Cybermen has other plans...

Verdict

Bad Day in Tinseltown was a very fun start to the Silver and Ice first series of the Seventh Doctor Adventures! It's nice to get a fresh start for the Seventh Doctor and Mel as with just one series and four serials on television, this is a pairing that warrants more time and exploration. I liked the vibe of this episode and it just felt right for an opener with its lighthearted and almost comedic feel. General Juno was an unexpected start of the show and it really was a sublime performance from Jeany Speak. She went over the top and that was the precise intention with the character a little deranged but just intent on getting rich thanks to some ancient stories of a warrior race trapped in a cliff edge. Of course, that race turned out to be the Cybermen and with the promise of two generations of Cybermen meeting I felt that it wasn't quite all it could have been. However, it was still a lot of fun and at times the Cybermen were put on the back burner which was absolutely fine. I really liked the setting of Tinseltown and the idea of tinsel as a material that was crucial to a planet's society and economy was strange. It's not exactly the most traditional of things and usually only makes an appearance at Christmas! I liked how it was used to light up the planet despite there being no sun or moon, and the imagery at the cliffhanger with the tinsel transforming into silver was excellent. I didn't see that coming but Mungo emerging and thinking that everyone was playing dress up as tin soldier was very amusing. Juno tackling with her unwanted position as Cyber Leader was very good and the augmentation was a little calling. Gerald as a fighter with Cyber arms hardly seemed fair and it was no surprise that his winning record was so good! Mel posing as a journalist was fun and I thought she fitted in that role seamlessly. She developed a fine relationship with Mitzi who was quite the performer and her taking to the Doctor as a potential magician was great. I liked the work ethic at Tinseltown and Mungo not thinking kindly on civil servants was fun and showed how much of a grafter he was. The election slogan focusing on manual labour was a nice touch as well and brought the society out well. One element of the Cybermen I did adore was hearing that eery monotone voice of the very first Cybermen in the Second Doctor era. That really was tremendous as a nice bit of nostalgia. Nicholas Briggs did a brilliant job in bringing them back to life. The two different generations of Cybermen recognising each other was fantastic, but I thought it was a little odd that they weren't gun happy and trying to make others like them. That's Cybermen 101! The fate of Juno and the Cybermen that were in her command falling to the self destruction of the ship was a bit of a shame as I really think she would make a fine recurring character. There was a lot of humour and she's definitely someone I'd love to hear again! However, this was a really good start to the series and I'm sure the best is yet to come for the Seventh Doctor and Mel. Overall, a fun audio!

Rating: 8/10

Intervention Earth

"You think you can defeat the will of Omega?"

Writers: Scott Handcock & David Llewellyn 

Format: Audio

Released: February 2015

Series: Gallifrey 07

Featuring: Ace, Romana III, Narvin

Synopsis

Times change...

Romana is approaching her final term of office, and hopes to leave her world in a state of peace and harmony. Narvin is concerned about the implementation of a controversial Precog programme, one that seeks to predict the Time Lords' future. Ace is an operative for the Celestial Intervention Agency, having learned the art of interference from one of the best...

And somewhere, across the stars, an ancient force is stirring: one of the Time Lords' greatest heroes is returning to our universe. But he may also prove to be their greatest threat.

When the history of Earth is threatened, and an ancient conspiracy reaches the heart of Time Lord government, can even Romana's closest allies truly be trusted?

Time will tell... but by then, it may already be too late.

Verdict

Intervention Earth was a fantastic feature-length story to serve as the seventh series of Gallifrey! I have really loved this spinoff series and after six series of an intertwining story arc, this was a welcomed break. In fact, much of the main cast actually changed which was refreshing and different but there were still some nice references to the series gone by with a poignant moment for Romana with mention of her past friendship with the savage, meaning Leela of course, and the use of Axis technology which was so crucial to the last few series of Gallifrey. Narvin was prominent as well which was fun and I enjoyed having him interact with this new incarnation of Romana. Their relationship was very different to that of the second incarnation and he was not shy on challenging this new President whilst in her final term. That was great to hear. The dynamic of having Ace on Gallifrey was really well done and I thought it was fun that she wasn't even sure how she had ended up there. Another scheme of the Seventh Doctor's perhaps? Romana mentioning sharing a bond with her because of their travels with the Doctor was nice as well, but the two didn't really get to interact a great deal. I thought the focus on the return of Omega was magnificent and the historic Time Lord has always been one of my favourite villains. He returned emphatically here and didn't take long to subject his loyal follower of Tauras to the wastelands. The regeneration of Rexx into Tauras was a fantastic moment and certainly one I didn't see coming. The paradoxical nature of that was terrific as well. The Precog programme showing all futures as being without the Time Lords was intriguing and perhaps hinting at the Time War which felt like it was imminent at the end of Series 6, but Narvin's position on the entire Precog existence was excellent. It was an abomination against all Laws of Time. Romana insisting on her position of non-interference was strong and traditional but didn't seem to be helping the current predicament too much! I thought part three was fun in placing Narvin on prehistoric Earth and engaging some of the locals in conversation about the fun of mating and showing them his staser weapon. He was deemed a wizard of the Time Lords which was a fun moniker! The venture into the universe of antimatter was really good and I loved the continuity with The Three Doctors with Omega's will being all that kept it going. The link of his TARDIS was good and I liked the ambiguity of the ending with him being out there somewhere, perhaps leading into Arc of Infinity. He would always have his followers. The Adherents of Ohm were really good to include and Endrogan being revealed as one was worked marvellously. I enjoyed her relationship with Lukas a lot but Narvin showed no mercy in killing her to protect the man enlisted to keep tabs on him for the President. It was so good to hear Stephen Thorne back reprising the role of Omega and it was intriguing for the character to be a little humanised with a lot of his performance sounding humanised. The use of Romana jettisoning rooms to escape back into the normal universe was excellent too and some strong excitement! Overall, a fantastic audio adventure! 

Rating: 9/10

The Nightmare of Black Island

"Those monsters don't create the nightmares. The nightmares create the monsters!"

Writer: Mike Tucker

Format: Novel

Released: September 2006

Series: NSA 10

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

On a lonely stretch of Welsh coastline a fisherman is killed by a hideous creature from beneath the waves. When the Doctor and Rose arrive, they discover a village where the children are plagued by nightmares, and the nights are ruled by monsters.

The villagers suspect that ancient industrialist Nathanial Morton is to blame, but the Doctor has suspicions of his own.

Who are the ancient figures that sleep in the old priory? What are the monsters that prowl the woods after sunset? What is the light that glows in the disused lighthouse on Black Island?

As the children's nightmares get worse, The Doctor and Rose discover an alien plot to resurrect an ancient evil...

Verdict

The Nightmare of Black Island was an excellent novel for the Tenth Doctor and Rose! This was a really great New Series Adventure and a book that had me hooked right from the off. I'm a sucker for a Welsh setting so I really liked the uniqueness of Ynys Du and that obviously translating into the Black Island of the title was really nice. Rose having a nightmare in the TARDIS was a strong place to start, and I loved that it seemed the TARDIS was also having the same dream! That clearly showed something was going on telepathically and the nightmare was pretty vivid with a little boy being taken and the death of the fisherman. That turned out to be Carl Jenkins who was targeted because he wouldn't be missed and the little prologue was quite sad in hindsight with him just wanting a holiday coming over the Severn Bridge and having a little escape. The description later of his fishing equipment just being bagged and thrown in the cellar was horrific. No remorse. The island was a dark place and nighttime was no place to be out in public. That meant the pub was full but it was from a usual jolly atmosphere. The reaction of the locals to the Doctor and Rose's arrival was great, and I liked how the former had no sense of being watched. We soon learned that creatures came at night and that being linked to children being asleep was terrific. I thought it was fun to use children's imagination to create nightmarish creatures, and Rose suffering the same fate and ensuring the brief creation of Daleks, Nestene and Slitheen was brilliant. I did appreciate the false herring of the Daleks as just for a brief moment it seemed like they might be responsible for events, but of course continuity with Series 2 just would not allow that. Ali was a really nice character and I loved the relationship she developed with Rose. She was a courageous child and a strong member of a gang that required completing a dare to get in. There was some nice childhood nostalgia there. I was a big fan of Morton as well as he was mysterious from the off. The Doctor and Rose putting him in an uncomfortable inspection was very good but I enjoyed how Morton knew the psychic paper told him what the Doctor wanted him to know. There was brilliant dialogue between the Doctor and Norton throughout, but for me the back and forth with Peyne in the penultimate chapter as the story unraveled was outstanding. Peyne as a member of the Cynog species was good as a villain and the description of the other members of her species having a mask and disguised as humans was great. Beth was a fun character as Ali's mum and the barmaid, and she was keen to help the Doctor and Rose where her husband was not. Bronwyn was a fun character too and her link with the past and Morton, along with losing her son Jimmy, all tied up well in the end. Balor as the god of the Cynog was a strong and powerful mythological figure and Peyne sending half a century in collecting the children that witnessed the crash where he was broken up and a part went in each child was extensive! The fact that the intelligence was in Bronwyn was a fun twist and really connected the puzzle in the end. Morton's reaction to finding out that his rejuvenation would come at the cost of every child in the village was telling that his intentions weren't all bad, but the fate of Peyne at his hands in biting her head off once he became the Morton creature was incredible. It was done so simply and effective. The role of Ali in turning off the transmitter at the lighthouse was good and having to fight sleep was excellent. Rose being asleep just as Ali succeeded was amusing, and I thought it was nice that Bronywn was the one that got rejuvenated at the end. Overall, a really great read!

Rating: 9/10

The Home Guard

"Did you know there's a war on?"

Writer: Simon Guerrier

Format: Audio

Released: November 2019

Series: Early Adventures 6.01

Featuring: Second Doctor, Polly, Ben, Jamie

Synopsis

It's the middle of the Second World War and Ben Jackson has returned to visit his married friends Polly and Jamie in their quiet English village. But they can't quite shake the feeling that something's not right...

Verdict

The Home Guard was a brilliant Early Adventures audio! It's so good to be getting a full performed story with the Second Doctor pitted against the Master and I believe now, we just need the Ninth Doctor to face the old enemy, although with all of the Time War permutations that is going to be difficult without some time-wimey jiggling around. But here, it was really good to have that early continuity from The Destination Wars with this early incarnation of the Master present. I also loved the placement of the era with the Master also being fearful of the Time Lords with him also on the run from his home planet, something shared with the Doctor. I also thought the references to The Macra Terror were very good and outlining that Polly still had short hair, despite the cover artwork, was very fun. This kind of adventure definitely seemed to fit in well with the era and I could see this working on television. The whole brainwashing theme was really strong and the concept of Jamie and Polly being a married couple was very amusing! When the effect had worn off, Jamie not being too disappointed by that aspect of the mind control was terrific. He definitely wouldn't be disappointed to wind up living with her! Now, I would have expected the married couple to actually be Ben and Polly so having the Navy sailor come and visit them just felt awkward from the start which created the intended atmosphere. I thought the tone was dark and very much in line with the Master conducting an experiment. Having the Doctor as the Captain of the Home Guard was very fun too and just hearing him give commands felt wrong, especially in his second incarnation. I thought Frazier Hines did a tremendous job in bringing the Second Doctor back to life and it was wonderful for Anneke Wills to narrate and transition into Polly so seamlessly. Elliot Chapman as Ben was outstanding as well in recapturing the glory of that companion. From the cover and title, I was actually expecting the war to be one from history rather than one against spiders! I thought the spiders provided a good dynamic and threat and made sense for a Master experiment. The little hints at the truth were really good and I thought the pace was flawless in the mind control wearing off. The cliffhangers were great too with the first one being a predictable but still enjoyable firm arrival of the Master, and the final one seeing Robert shoot Ben after some hesitation by Polly! I thought that was really well done. Jill was a strong character too and her wanting to win the war right until the end showed just how much she was being controlled. But even when all was revealed and the Master was defeated, she just wanted to live in the fake history after an escape. The concept of the Master going on trial after breaking Galactic Law was amusing and having to enlist the Time Lords to defend him was all the impetus the Doctor required to get moving quickly. Hinting at the Doctor's origins prior to The War Games is always fun and even simple things like Jamie reacting to the Master also having a TARDIS are tremendous. It really is the little things! Overall, a really fun audio adventure!

Rating: 9/10

The Tears of Isis

"Death will walk amongst us."

Writer: Una McCormack

Format: Audio

Released: June 2015

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 2.04

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace, Benny

Synopsis

Russell Courtland prophesied the world would end on Tuesday. No-one was more surprised than he was when it did.

Verdict

The Tears of Isis was a fantastic story to conclude the second series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! I have been very impressed with this series and it was a fitting return for Sutekh. I'm glad he got to encounter a new incarnation of the Doctor and the meddling and sneaky nature of the seventh version made for a fitting pairing. I thought the media involvement at the start of the episode with Russell Courtland on the news was not where I expected things to start following on from where The Eye of Horus finished, but that put things on a grand scale with Sutekh proclaimed as coming. I liked the idea of Sutekh having his own cult of followers and that really did show that the obelisks were doing their trick. The followers actually offering up Earth as a gift to their god was a bit of a surprise, especially with them wondering what would be left for them later in the episode. The Earth presented here was completely desolate and destroyed thanks to Sutekh with very little life to rule. That was a lot to take in for Ace and Benny. I was also a little surprised that the Doctor seemed so accepting of defeat, but he had a larger plan at work which was fun. I've certainly come to appreciate the manipulative nature of the Seventh Doctor by now after not getting on with him too well for a very long time. Isis appearing and also seeming to accept that her brother was victorious was good and sold just how desperate times were. I thought Russell trying to rally the troops as they started to question was amusing and the lack of Sutekh arriving led to several of them losing faith. Susannah telling Russell what to say to keep the following was very amusing at times and good comedic value. Benny's outbursts to the followers of Sutekh was a standout moment for her as a companion and showed just why she had her own series. She tried to explain that the acolytes would just be next for the God of Death and that proved right as he arrived to devour them in person. Some reward! The Doctor wanting to believe without Benny was a surprise but that allowed Ace to refuse and ensure her friend was also safe. Alyx was a very good character as the adopted daughter of the house and giving herself as a sacrifice to Sutekh was a surprise. Isis emerging and Sutekh killing her was chilling, but the calm nature in which he just despatched of Russell and Susannah when they were arguing over who should be sacrificed was incredible. The Doctor getting the upper hand on Sutekh when revealing that they were actually in the 29th century, where humanity had already fled Earth from solar flares, instead of the 21st was terrific as this Earth was already scorched and defeated. Sutekh was not in control. The fact that he then took the Doctor's body and the pair went back in time to the events of The Pyramid of Sutekh was excellent and Benny had already met this version as Sutekh was trapped in a loop. That was a fitting way to defeat a god! Alyx as a fragment of Isis reaching into the storm to pull the Doctor out was great and using her tears as the God of Life to bring the gift of life back to humanity was superb. Overall, a brilliant story!

Rating: 9/10

The Eye of Horus

"It's good to have a goddess here."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: June 2015

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 2.03

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Benny

Synopsis

Ancient Egypt is enjoying a golden age – peace, prosperity and a powerful Pharaoh. But something is moving through the sands. A forgotten requests an invite to the feast.

Verdict

The Eye of Horus was an excellent story to continue the second series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! I was really impressed with this episode and it probably ranks as the best in the volume so far. The political and historical nature of it was tremendous and placing that in a somewhat modern era and fitting all of the mythology regarding Sutekh and his will for the Doctor was tremendous. It followed on nicely from where The Vault of Osiris left off with the Doctor and Benny being transported away, and having the latter arrive on a barge seemingly headed for heaven was quite the start! Of course, it seemed straight away that the Doctor was up to one of his audacious and secret plans so common of this incarnation, and when Benny realised that her reaction was terrific. It was nice to have Benny centre stage again whilst the Doctor was present, in a similar setup to the series opener, but this wasn't quite the Doctor we knew. The concept of him storing away his memories somewhere else in order to make room was brilliant, and with him basically becoming a different man he had garnered quite the relationship with the King. I thought Hatshetsup was a wonderful character and whilst I found it a little awkward for a women to be referred to as King instead of Queen, the comment at the end from Benny to Ace regarding the Doctor being set to be Queen was magnificent. A nice bit of a humour at the end of a very serious episode! Tutmosis was another fantastic character as the son of the King and Sutekh seeking him out as his way into the palace was great stuff. I enjoyed the decaying body of Sutekh which presented some good vulnerability which isn't always easy for a god! It had vibes of the Master first seen in The Deadly Assassin and I enjoyed that a lot. I really am so impressed with the booming voice of the god and it's such a calm and vengeful performance which is just perfect for a villain like Sutekh. The titular Eye of Horus playing an important role was good and the Doctor deducing Benny's presence as falling through Time as proof that the Eye was used was very good. However, I loved that this was actually about the Eye of Sutekh and the threat that posed in using the obelisks as a network was glorious. I thought that the position of Sutekh at the start and end of the episode was startling in its difference, and it was just so fun for him to take control. He had Tutmosis as the Chosen One of Sutekh and through the new King who he'd persuaded to perform a coup on his own mother, the god was firmly in control! The conclusion with Ace arriving in the TARDIS was great, although a little convenient with the timing, but it sets us up for what I'm sure will be an epic finale with the full TARDIS trio back together to tackle an all powerful Sutekh! The Doctor is proclaiming Sutekh's triumph, and that just excites for me what I'm sure will be a tremendous final hour of the series! Overall, a fantastic episode. 

Rating: 9/10

The Vaults of Osiris

"Is this another of your illusions?"

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Audio

Released: June 2015

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 2.02

Featuring: Ace, Benny

Synopsis

Egypt in 2015 is an unsettled place. The trade in stolen antiquities is a murky one, and it's about to get a whole lot worse, as an ancient and terrible force enters the market.

Verdict

The Vaults of Osiris was a strong episode to continue the second series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! This was a little different to what I expected considering how The Pyramid of Sutekh concluded, but it was a nice bit of relative calm before what I expect to be a big storm in the final two episodes! I liked in a series centred on the threat of Sutekh, that things took us to modern day Egypt. The inclusion of Ace was a fun dynamic with the Seventh Doctor only featuring briefly at the start and end of the episode. It was an exciting start with the Doctor and Ace in a flashback as to how they came to get in trouble with some Germans in 1941, and Benny once again then recalling how her version of the Doctor died by crumbling to dust was chilling. It's quite the concept of both companions of the Doctor having a different version of how he died, especially when he emerged from a tomb at the end of the episode! I liked how Benny and Ace were aiming to capture the Eye of Horus after the Doctor's comments before becoming dust in the previous story, and I liked the modern setting in going to the museum to try and get that. Except, somebody had beaten them to the punch! That was a good problem to have. Ace and Benny were a really fun pair and I particularly enjoyed their TARDIS scenes together. The banter over whether Ace could actually fly the TARDIS was terrific. I look forward to getting to the stories where she is on Gallifrey! Alozza was a really good character and I thoroughly enjoyed the female focus in this episode. The fact that she turned out to just be an illusion for the Osiran Isis was tremendous. I really enjoyed that we had another Osiran present and as the basis for yet another mythological god, and her laying a trap for Sutekh was a lot of fun. It was a little strange for it to be in the chambers of a Swiss bank though! But I quite enjoyed that oddity. Vasha and Graul completed the cast for the episode very nicely, with the latter a particular highlight with his role with Sutekh and as a follower. Despite not appearing at all, I enjoyed Sutekh's presence being felt in a profound way. I thought the action with the servitor robots was really strong too and Benny getting to react to them was great stuff. All signs leading towards the Eye of Horus was really good and given the title of the next episode, I thought that was a great direction. The cliffhanger finish with the Doctor and Benny being the ones to get transported away by Isis was fun and it seems that we'll get a full Doctor-Benny two-hander in the next episode. I do find it slightly amusing that Ace is just left behind, but things are all moves go once the Doctor returned in full throttle! As a whole, this was a nice pit stop and an important episode in the direction of the series. Overall, a very enjoyable episode! 

Rating: 8/10

The Pyramid of Sutekh

"The Egyptian Gods were real."

Writer: Guy Adams

Format: Audio

Released: June 2015

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 2.01

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Benny

Synopsis

Professor Bernice Summerfield, archaeologist and adventurer, has discovered a Pyramid on Mars. Inside she finds her old friend the Doctor is fighting a battle with the Osiran God Sutekh. It is a battle he is losing.

Verdict

The Pyramid of Sutekh was an excellent start to the second series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! I thought this was a tremendous opener to what looks set to be quite the series and there was no beating the bush when it came to establishing Sutekh as the enemy and the Martian pyramid setting. I thought that was excellent and obviously we had the references to Pyramids of Mars, but this one felt a little darker and I was impressed with that. I think it's the right move to give Sutekh an entire series to cause havoc in and this episode really set him on his way strongly. The threat of Sutekh was established immediately as when we met the Doctor, he was already under the Osiran's control. Considering he didn't even have a physical form, that was mightily impressive of Sutekh! I like that this is the explanation for him returning as initially he was just present in the form of consciousness, but through the flesh loom a new body was being created. Gabriel Woolf as Sutekh really was magnificent and just hearing that booming and intimidating yet oddly calm voice was superb. It really presented the threat posed very well. Of course, as the title suggests this is a Bernice Summerfield series in which the Doctor is just present. I thought the episode did well in maintaining Bernice as the main character, as if the Doctor is around that isn't easy and not exactly common. I know next to nothing about Bernice other than the first volume of this series and everything that has come in the Monthly Adventures, but getting to know that one of the robots was speaking in the voice of her husband must have been chilling and uncomfortable for her. That was audibly evident and presented a fun dynamic in what was an otherwise dark episode. Even the CD artwork does a stellar job in creating that atmosphere. Benny's reaction to being inside a pyramid of dead Osirans was spectacular and I was amused that she tried to unite them against Sutekh once again as they were returning to life. Sylvester McCoy did a very good job as the Doctor in a possessed state, and just hearing the internal dialogue between the Doctor and Sutekh was terrific. I get the feeling a final confrontation will come later in the series. The line from Benny about doing what mummy said was a marvellous play on words as well. Lisa Bowerman really is underrated when it comes to comedy. I thought a little bit more description and impetus could have been made on the servitor robots being around, but that wasn't a major issue. It was nice to have them back. I liked the final moments between Sutekh and Benny as the Osiran seemed to initiate his intent to take over the universe now his physical form was returned, but the Doctor was still delirious and only able to deliver a final message regarding the Eye of Horus in being able to stop Sutekh. The Doctor turning to dust was an incredible image and should have had a lasting impact, but Benny getting almost immediate confirmation that he wasn't dead was a bitter disappointment! The arrival of Ace on the scene to lead into the next episode was great though and sets us up nicely. Overall, a very strong opener! 

Rating: 9/10

Doctor Who and the Ribos Operation

"Spirits of the Ice, Spirits of the Sun, show what I seek."

Writer: Ian Marter

Format: Novel

Released: December 1979

Series: Target 52

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana I, K9

Synopsis

Reluctantly cancelling his well-earned holiday, the Doctor sets off in the TARDIS to trace and re-assemble the six segments of the Key to Time on which the stability of the entire Universe depends.

Assisted by the argumentative Romanadvoratrelundar and K9, he lands on the planet Ribos in search of the first segment and finds himself entangled in the machinations of two sinister strangers, Garron and the Graff Vynda Ka.

Who are they? Is Garron simply a shady confidence-trickster dealing in interplanetary real estate? Is the Graff Vynda Ka just a power-crazed exile bent on revenge? Or are they both really agents of the Black Guardian, intent upon seizing the precious Key in order to throw the Universe into eternal chaos?

Risking his life within the monster-infested catacombs of Ribos, the Doctor has to use all his wit and ingenuity to find out ...

Verdict

Doctor Who and the Ribos Operation was a decent novelisation of the Season 16 opener! I thought this was a little hit and miss in places and definitely was a bit too bulky text heavy, but it served well in novelising the debut of Romana. I was impressed with how much I enjoyed Romana's emergence to the show through this book and the interactions between her and the Doctor were feisty from then off. The first incarnation of Romana doesn't rank highly on my companions list at all, which is ironic given my placement for the second incarnation, but I found myself enjoying her early dialogue with the Doctor as she arrived as an assistant in the quest for the Key to Time. I really enjoy the quest concept but I do think it goes on too long to span an entire season. It's fine in the opener because nothing has been repeated yet, but I do think it was a mistake to locate the segment hidden as the Jethryk so early on as that leaves things predictable of where we are going. K9 had a strong outing in this book and I did not remember his early interactions with Romana being so full of conflict. She didn't seem to get on well with his logical nature which was amusing in parts, but she was apologetic when it came to her snapping at the little robot dog. The conflict between the Doctor and Romana was excellent as well with the former trying to show off despite his inferior exam results at the Academy on Gallifrey. Romana didn't take well to having her inexperience used against her. The setting of Ribos has a lot of potential and it's no surprise that Big Finish will return to it in the Seventh Doctor Adventures. I particularly like the idea of Sun Time and Ice Time and definitely think more could be made of that. It's an intriguing position for a planet to be in, especially with its population being primitive. Binro being referred to as a heretic was good and I liked how he was firmly in belief that Ribos moved and that there were other planets. Garron and Unstoffe being from another world and having advanced technology was something he saw with awe which was nice. The Graff Vynda-Ka made for a decent villain and Garron trying to double cross and con him into buying a false mine was fun, but the monster was onto him and dealt with the scorpions laid for him brutally. I thought the Seeker was a bit too much of a bit-part role for how important she actually was, and there did seem to be a little blending of themes with religion and science. I did appreciate the amount of action that took place in the book with the caves and makeup of Ribos being utilised very well. I also thought the description at the end of the transformation of the segment into its true form was superb, but why Marter decided to rename the tracer as the ludicrous Locatormutor core is beyond me! Sometimes simple works best. I did enjoy the brief moments with the White Guardian in setting up the series arc, but that loses its place a little when things just stop here. I thought the death of Binro was emotional and I liked the fate of Sholakh as the commander. The Doctor swapping the Jethryk back with Garron at the end is so much fun as well and the Fourth Doctor at his best. Overall, a decent read!

Rating: 7/10

Galaxy 4

"At dawn, all of this will explode into nothing."

Writer: William Emms

Format: TV (Animation)

Released: November 2021

Series: 3.01

Featuring: First Doctor, Vicki, Steven

Synopsis

The TARDIS lands on a planet on the verge of total annihilation as it drifts too close to the three suns which it orbits. Trapped on the planet with them are the Drahvins, a race of warrior women, and the reptilian Rills. The Drahvins want to steal the Rill spaceship to escape the planet's death throes, and enlist then Doctor's help, which he is forced to give when Maaga, the cunning Drahvin leader, keeps first Vicki and then later Steven as her hostage. Even though the Doctor is determined to broker a peace deal between the two sides in this conflict and help everyone escape safely, Maaga doesn't trust him. Or the Rills...

Verdict

Galaxy 4 was a decent animation reconstruction of the mostly missing opener to the third season of Doctor Who! I was really excited when this story was announced as the next in line to get the animation treatment and that was solely because we've had a wealth of Second Doctor serials in the last few years, so to get a First Doctor adventure 'completed' was fantastic news! The choice of story may seem an odd one but it makes to get a release out after episode three was found a decade ago but only included on a special edition DVD of The Aztecs. At long last, we have Galaxy 4 in the collection now. I chose to watch the colour animation of all four episodes that make up this serial and unfortunately, I think the animation faltered slightly when it came to the storytelling. It might be a directorial issue or just the quality and design of the animation but for whatever reason, it didn't seem to work as well as the likes of The Macra Terror or The Evil of the Daleks. I can't precisely put my finger on why, but it just felt a little off. I think the animation made things feel a bit slow which was a shame, and it definitely did seem clumpy in parts which was a shame. However, the actual story is a decent one and I've always maintained that the Drahvins would be worthy of a comeback. But, as far as I'm aware, that is yet to happen! I thought the artwork for both Vicki and Steven was decent, although the former was presented as being a little too tall compared with what we normally see on screen. She seemed to be towering alongside the Doctor which just wasn't right. It was a delight on a personal note for me to be blogging something featuring William Hartnell as it seems an awfully long time since I've had that opportunity! The design of the First Doctor was a little strange with the way they designed his hair, and he probably was a bit too active on the barren terrain on the planet's surface, but that's using the animation to your advantage I guess. It just substitutes for authenticity a little. One thing that immediately caught my attention in watching in colour was then opening titles. I thought they were done brilliantly! I was also impressed with some of the panning out of Space and the surrounding planets. Whilst I'm not going to focus too much on the story as a whole here as I have two separate blogs for that, one for the surviving episode and the recons, and another of the Target novelisation, I definitely think the ending was enhanced with this viewing. The imagery of Maaga being left on the planet as it begins to break apart and we see a Chumblie and a Drahvin descend into the lava before she exits the screen was the stuff of nightmares! I cannot imagine that is how the original fourth episode aired. As a whole, it's a strong adventure and definitely one that's a shame to be missing given the importance of an entirely female alien enemy race, but they're recreated very well here. I thought the ending and the lead into Mission to the Unknown was outstanding and I wonder if we will go on to have that episode animated now! Overall, a decent effort and a welcomed addition to the 'complete' library.

Rating: 7/10

The Glittering Storm

"Gold fever is taking ahold around here."

Writer: Stephen Cole

Format: Audio

Released: November 2007

Series: SJA Audio 01

Featuring: Sarah Jane, Luke, Clyde, Maria

Synopsis

When Sarah Jane disturbs a burglar in the night, she is surprised to find a middle-aged woman, her pockets stuffed with jewellery, demanding gold. The next day, she reads a newspaper story about a granny who broke into a jewellers, and then Maria reports that a woman has been stealing rings and necklaces from the girls' changing room at school.

All the women had recently attended the Auriga Clinic, a private health centre specialising in treating muscular aches and pains. Is there a link between the clinic and the odd behaviour of its patients?

Sarah Jane decides to find out, but she soon discovers that the clinic's secret agenda is more sinister than she could ever have imagined...

Verdict

The Glittering Storm was a strong story for the BBC Audio debut for The Sarah Jane Adventures! I managed to stumble upon the entire collection of BBC audios for the SJA spinoff on an Audible free trial so I hope for the next few months that there will be a bit more Sarah Jane in my life. I think the spinoff is still a little underrated and that's a little understandable given it was aired on CBBC and aimed at a younger audience, but I thought this was a fine audio and went along nicely with the Series 1 chronology. It definitely did have a feeling of being early on in the chronology and that was no more evident than with Luke who was still a little rusty on normal human interaction and sentiment. Sarah Jane was still getting used to being a mother and the references to Invasion of the Bane in explaining the current situation was a nice touch and positive continuity. I thought it was also clear just how earl things were with the position of Clyde in the main cast dynamic. He didn't quite feel as part of the team and was almost suggested as a bad influence on Luke which was amusing. That wasn't exactly untrue and I'm not sure it ever wasn't! It was a fun dynamic though and a little different to what I'm used to. I did think there were probably a few too many introductions with Elisabeth Sladen having to set the stage on characters and the likes of Mr Smith and her past a few too many times. I think if a listener is going as far as picking up a Sarah Jane Adventures audio story, there should be some assumed knowledge. I enjoyed the theme of gold and jewellery going missing from Maria's school was good. That being tied with Sarah Jane being the subject of a break in, and not exactly a willing one, was nicely done. Everything tying together to the Auriga Clinic was good and I enjoyed the detective nature of how everything was pieced together. Augur made for a good villain and his baffling deal and belief with the Keratin was typical of so many deranged men standing as enemies in the past. The prospect of the Keratin boiling the oceans of Earth was a bit barmy considering their intentions were to take the one or two particles per billion of the water makeup. I think there must have been an easier way to obtain gold! However, the callousness of them simply saying so what to the fate of the Earth was chilling. I thought the format of the audio could have benefitted greatly from some minor sound effects and I really do think they could have benefitted. Just hearing the effects of Mr Smith opening up would have been terrific. That's not to say Sladen didn't do a fine job though! Maria being treated with gold was excellent and I liked the idea of them even receiving signals and the particles actually lodging themselves behind Maria's eyes. Clyde was fun and he and Luke being crucial to the resolution was strong. The Keratin being slug creatures and susceptible to salt water was further amusement with their plan. Was it really worth the risk? Still, Sarah getting to reference the gold asteroid of Revenge of the Cybermen was delightful and the taking over of the control device was efficient. Sarah and Luke destroying the bacteria personally was good and I loved the insinuation of Sarah calling in UNIT to clean everything else up. Overall, a really good audio!

Rating: 8/10

Question Marks

"Whether you remember or not is irrelevant."

Writer: Philip Lawrence

Format: Audio

Released: August 2011

Series: Monthly Adventures 150d

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

Five survivors of an unknown catastrophe wake to find themselves caught in an inescapable trap. But can the oddly-dressed man in the question-marked collar work out what's really going on before time runs out – for good?

Verdict

Question Marks was a great little audio to round out the one-hundred-and-fiftieth Monthly Adventure from Big Finish! This has been a strong and really consistent volume of four stories and I'm glad things concluded in a strong manner, despite my desire for a more traditional four-part adventure instead of four singular outings. Now, I don't think anything presented in this half an hour was terribly original as we have definitely had examples of the amnesia story before, but the characters here were what made it work and made for a very enjoyable listen! I liked how there was very little indication of an identity for the characters present so the Doctor's attire coming into play was glorious. I thought it was terrific to have him dubbed as Question Marks and it was certainly more alluring and just interesting than Peri's rather bland moniker of Mysterious Woman. That was so bland! Arnie was a really nice character to put alongside Peri and it seemed that before the memory loss had occurred that it was these two who enjoyed some sort of relationship. Arnie clearly hoped that was the case and it seemed like Peri wouldn't be against it either, but of course as things developed it was revealed that Peri and the Doctor were the strangers. There were hints throughout that everything was not as it seemed which were good and the Doctor boasting clearly superior intellect was a fine highlight. Even without knowing who he was, the Sixth Doctor got to display a level of brass arrogance which was delightful. Destiny Gray made for a brilliant captain and I thought Mr Stone rounding out the group made for a very strong cast. Stone's annoyance at not being accepted as having the command and the Doctor getting that instead was great stuff, and I thought the whole setting worked well with the potential of a very dangerous lava threat. That explained the heat and why communications were thwarted. The slow disappearance of individual characters was excellent and immediately led to something more being at play, and the truth of what led to the memory loss was clever. They were all just copies of a dodgy transmat and with Jameson being the one to make the sacrifice, everybody was actually already safe and sound on the outside. But the Doctor and Peri had traced the copies who should only have lasted for mere seconds, but here they were believing they were real and having feels. It was a fine injection of emotion to proceedings as Destiny, the last to go, refused to believe she was a copy. I thought the Doctor explaining his travels and confirming that the events of this anthology occurred in chronological order for he and Peri was nice and some really good continuity. The ending being done on a question as Destiny disappeared was a nice bit of final impact to what turned out to be a strong finale for the collection! Overall, a great little adventure. 

Rating: 8/10

A Most Excellent Match

"Do you think he has intentions?"

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: August 2011

Series: Monthly Adventures 150c

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single girl in possession of a mind of her own must be in want of a husband. But which of Miss Peri Brown's rival suitors will be the one to win her hand: handsome Mr Darcy, or the mysterious Doctor?

Verdict

A Most Excellent Match was another great little adventure comprising the one-hundred-and-fiftieth Monthly Adventure from Big Finish! I enjoyed a foray into the historical once again but this very much differed from Recorded Time in that we were in a virtual reality of fiction instead of interference in established history. I like how different the three stories have been so far and this one worked well in providing drama and just a sense of lavish, particularly when it came to my imagination of the costumes that would have been used had this adventure been made for television. It was not the most traditional of Sixth Doctor and Peri adventures and that was absolutely great! It worked well with the shorter format to just thrust the listeners into events with Peri already well under the grasp of the Mindsmith and thinking she was ready to pick a suitor! That was a fun concept and the very prospect of the Doctor being one of those was very amusing. Of course, that was far from the Time Lord's intentions as he was just there to try and trigger a memory within Peri and show her that what she was experiencing was in fact fiction, but she was seemingly inundated with the prospect of marrying Darcy which I appreciated. He's almost a stereotypical name when it comes to female love interests and the whole Austen Experience sounded tremendous, and I would enjoy a visit in a longer format in the future though the chances of that are I imagine quite slim. It was fun for Peri to take on that historic dialogue and charm, and Nicola Bryant did a really good job with the material. Cranton was a fun character as the man employed by the Doctor to try and get Peri out and back to reality, and their interactions were always fun and good natured despite the threats at hand. It wouldn't do to have Peri returned with just half a mind! Heathcliff being named as the Mindsmith was really good and I enjoyed how even that name was stolen. The Mindsmith was a good concept and I liked how Cranton's reaction to their presence sold their threat. I'm sure they would make a good villain to return in future with more time at hand. I liked the use of AI and Cranton actually utilising his position and the fact he had 90 seconds of access to then mainframe was good, although it felt like much more than a minute-and-a-half from when he said that to the resolution! I thought it was a good conclusion and full of some intriguing action, and Peri's anecdote at the end about remembering everything and writing things down was terrific in fitting with the literary theme. It was also amusing to think that the Doctor had deeds to his House of TARDIS and the Lordship of Time. If only it were that simple! Overall, a charming listen and another strong story to continue the volume.

Rating: 8/10