Back to Earth: Auld Lang Syne

"A house like this, it'll reveal its secrets bit by bit."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: May 2022

Series: Ninth Doctor Adventures 5.03

Featuring: Ninth Doctor

Synopsis

Every December, Mandy Litherland gathers the family at Foulds House to see in the New Year. Not everyone appreciates her efforts. At least the caretaker seems friendly – if a little weird.

Mandy hopes she'll see him again next year – but perhaps she already has...

Verdict

Auld Lang Syne was an excellent audio to conclude the Back to Earth fifth boxset of Ninth Doctor Adventures! I thought this started a little slowly with the family conflict between Bette, Sue and Mandy as we learned a little of each cracker and the latter's desire to travel despite currently being stuck working in a shoe shop. There was immediately companion material there for her and the greeting by the Doctor at Foulds House was nicely done, especially when they weren't expected! The idea of the house only being free one night of the year was intriguing and straight away had me thinking there was more to it. Mandy affording the visit thanks to winning the pools was a lot of fun and she took a fancying of the Doctor almost immediately, not hiding the fact she wanted to check him out. Bette being cautious of the house was great but then it seemed the visit was over as the Doctor invited the family back next year as long as they brought the baton that turned out to be the temporal core. The lady in the house being seen within the walls was terrific and the description of it having no eyes painted quite the picture. Bette recalling her gran singing the ghosts was a haunting line and I liked that she was now feeling that same dread this year around. Mandy hearing the Christmas conversation from the previous year really set the audio rolling as we heard windows and walkways into other times. The Doctor not having used the core yet and his personal interaction with Mindy not essentially being in order was very fun. The offer to come back again next year set in motion a fun chain of events and needed the core to be refuelled. Bette arriving for the third year in succession despite initially refusing last year was good and hinted at her emotional fate. Mandy having researched the house was brilliant and I liked that it had a conflicting history. The Doctor not being there for the third year was an unexpected twist but he did invite them back next year as he was at the end of the story. I thought the subtle way in which Bette's death was incorporated into the audio was very well done and the Doctor being shocked that he missed a year injected some urgency to proceedings. The core was overcharged now. I liked the use of fireworks for artron energy as well as finding out that the house was a time ship that merged with the manor and was distressed causing it to be rewriting history. I think it's clear the house was actually a TARDIS and the New Year was when it was vulnerable during the flux of two years which was fun. Mandy travelling through the doorways and seeing her mother as a child was nice and her kissing the Doctor caught me a little off guard! The ordinary description was amusing though. Finding out that Frank was actually an antibody at the house was something I clocked a few minutes before the reveal but it worked very well. The chameleon circuit was in effect and Sue recalled knowing him as a boy, but not much in between. Mandy getting a window into her past and getting the chance to say goodbye to Bette and question her on hiding the illness was an extremely emotional and powerful moment. The Doctor asking Sue to stay with Frank and cause a temporal stabilisation was great and tied things up quite well. The Doctor actually offering Mandy to come with him surprised me given the implications for Rose, but I must say this would have been a stellar opener for a new companion. The kiss goodbye was a bit of a surprise but I loved how the TARDIS temporal feedback explained the singing ghosts. A lovely touch. Overall, a fantastic audio!

Rating: 9/10