The Power of Thoueris!

"No god's spoiling my holiday."

Writer: Scott Gray

Format: Comic Strip

Released: August 2003

Printed in: DWM 333

Featuring: Eighth Doctor

Synopsis

Egypt, quite a while ago: The Doctor has decided to take a holiday... which of course mean that something is bound to turn up and ruin it for him. It just so happens, that a wannabe Osiran God is the answer...

Verdict

The Power of Thoueris! was a terrific little comic strip to continue my sporadic reading through The Flood graphic novel! I have really enjoyed this collection so far and with this one being only one part long, I must admit I feared the worst as those do not always tend to be of the highest quality because there just isn't enough time to provide the depth a good story needs. However, I thought the pace on this one definitely aided my enjoyment of the reading and it was very frantic and exciting! It was amusing to think that the Doctor could enjoy a holiday as if history has taught us anything, there would always be something that would crop up and interfere with his plans for relaxation. It just so happened that on this occasion it was a wannabe Egyptian god from the planet Phaester Osiris which I loved. The continuity of the Osirans is strong and I really like that they never seem to venture far from the Doctor across his many incarnations. I liked how the Doctor mentioned the Osirans being told to go home by Horus and I was surprised that there wasn't a mention of Pyramids of Mars and Sutekh given the connection shared by Thoeuris, but that didn't make the story any less enjoyable. Ediphis filling in the companion role for the comic strip was nice and I just enjoyed the idea of the Doctor getting to know an Egyptian in the old times. I would have preferred getting a specific year for the setting in Egypt, but it was actually quite fun for the simplicity of it actually stating in the comic strip that these events were 'quite a while ago'. The title of the adventure also acting as dialogue was a nice touch and probably where the almost exclusive to comic strip exclamation mark comes from. I thought the artwork was pretty funky for this comic as well as it almost seemed blocky which was a lot of fun. The Doctor was not in his usual attire which was a refreshing little change and I was intrigued in my research after reading that the hat adorned was intended to be the same one of the Fifth Doctor's! That's a nice little touch. I liked the focus of the Nile as a resource and the Doctor explaining how it was a fine example of stopping people hunting with the constant fish supply and developing holidays was fun. What else would be a prime example of a developed civilisation? I really liked how the Doctor didn't take anything for granted and when Thoueris quickly established herself as the god and in control of the land, he got into gear and cut his holiday short. He wasn't having any of it with her being essentially a big bully, although it was amusing for her being big and glowing as enough to represent a god as far as Ediphus was concerned. The Doctor and Ediphus teaming together against Thoueris was really good and some fine action, as the former was able to take out her control and have the crocodiles in the Nile that she previously commanded to attack her and weaken her enough to send her back to her own domain. The reaction of Thoueris when the Doctor mentioned her own planet and people immediately took any credibility away from her, which was really impressive as far as the Doctor's authoritarian demeanour was concerned. Overall, a great little comic strip! 

Rating: 8/10

The Stuff of Nightmares: The House That Hoxx Built

"By restoring the house... you've restored its ghosts as well."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: July 2022

Series: Classic Doctors, New Monsters 3.01

Featuring: Third Doctor, Sarah Jane

Synopsis

When the Third Doctor and Sarah journey far into the future of Earth, the last thing they expect to find on the planet is a haunted house!

Invited to dinner by the Hoxx of Balhoon and his ovine ward, the TARDIS travellers experience strange and disturbing phenomena, and the Doctor is determined to discover the cause...

Verdict

The House That Hoxx Built was a great story to kick off the brand new third series of Classic Doctors, New Monsters! I have long been waiting for a return of this range and I can't quite believe it's been five years! It's such a wonderful idea and there really is an abundance of potential to mix Doctors of old with monsters of new. This was an intriguing and unique place to start as I don't think the Balhoon was high on the fantasy list of nominations for fans dreaming up combinations that could exist in this range, but it works well and it's a strangely brilliant dynamic to mix them with the Third Doctor and Sarah Jane. I was so happy to be listening to a new story with this TARDIS pairing and having Tim Treloar and Sadie Miller playing the roles respectively was done very well. They did justice and beyond for the characters and their chemistry was really strong. It was an easy listen. The humour that came from the Doctor being the one to have to work in the kitchens was terrific and a dynamic of presenting men as inferior that ought to be utilised more often considering the depth of places Doctor Who visits! I did enjoy that the setting was extremely far into the future which played in well with The End of the World and it made for a very unique setting for the Classic era. The titular house made for a strong setting and I loved the concept that adorns my quote with the recreation of an old house also bringing back the spirits and ghosts that haunted it. I really liked that. The house was said to be the most haunted place on the entire planet which gave it some credibility, something Sarah almost immediately lost on their arrival when nearly blurting out she was from Earth. The tackling of publicity versus disturbance for Hoxx when it came to promoting the house commercially was a great dilemma and I really loved the protective relationship he had with Francesca. The familial connection between them was nice to hear. The fact that we had a butler called Butler was amusing and I thought it was fun for him to be a digihuman that glitched. It made for a unique conversation for sure! The idea of the house actually being the Earth's tomb was unexpected but one I really appreciated, and it seemed to sadden the Doctor who had a bond to the planet – even when he didn't want to during his exile! I liked the placement of this episode being very close to Planet of the Spiders as the Doctor felt that his time was coming soon which was rather eery! Francesca being held below and the culprit being the Butler was fun and I enjoyed how the Doctor knew that all along. The reveal of the Benighted as creatures of the molten tide worked well and I liked how they were living in the planet's core, something that seemed impossible! The explanation of their frequencies asking for help being the paranormal activity because they couldn't be interpreted was brilliant and it was a simple resolution in the end with the Doctor freeing them from the core and setting them on the way. Overall, an intriguing and fun way to kick off the series! 

Rating: 8/10

Carnival of Angels

"I saw myself die."

Writer: Roy Gill

Format: Audio

Released: January 2020

Series: Diary of River Song 7.04

Featuring: River

Synopsis

New York. 1930s. Melody Malone is new in town and her detective agency is called on to solve an impossible murder. 

River's investigations lead her to a curious carnival ride, offering trips to either Heaven or Hell. But with Angels in waiting, Heaven may not be the best choice...

Verdict

Carnival of Angels was an excellent story to conclude the seventh series of The Diary of River Song! I've enjoyed this volume with it firmly being focused on River and what she gets up to when the Doctor's not around, so having a prequel to The Angels Take Manhattan with River already in New York amidst a swarm of Weeping Angels prior to the arrival of the Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory was a magnificent idea. It served as a fine finale and it was a lot of fun to have her as a private investigator in New York. Marty Stone arriving to her with a special case requiring investigating was excellent as what he described was pretty awful! Marty actually saw himself die which was easily explained by the presence of Weeping Angels, but just imagining dealing with that was tremendous. Such a striking image! The coin containing Heaven and Hell on alternating sides was very good and I loved the description of Angel wings adorning it. River unsurprisingly took the case and having her accompanied by Luke as her assistant was a nice throwback to Animal Instinct where he helped her with the Decaying Master. His quest for information on the coins was really well done and I liked how River was on hand detecting the issues and interference in Time. That did well for explaining the disturbances that would be mentioned in the aforementioned televised episode to come. Her insistence on staying with Marty to try and prevent him from being touched by an Angel was really good and their relationship was pretty quirky. Some of the American accents in the episode were amusingly questionable! I thought Miss Quirke made for a tremendous villain and her owning the Carnival of the Charmed and Strange put her in a prominent position. River wanting the chance of getting to Heaven on the carnival ride was terrific but things took a dark turn when Marty was being hunted by an Angel in the mirror board. River trying to create a paradox to save him amidst the time disturbance was exciting, but his fate was inevitable as he didn't keep his eye on the Weeping Angel. The fact he was only sent on a short hop as more of an Angel snack than full feed seemed good, but River knew that meant a much more powerful Angel was in New York if it was controlling a number of weaker ones. The Trip to Heaven ride acting as a source of food for the larger Angel was really good and fitted in well with the carnival theme. If you got to Heaven, you didn't come back. So of course River wanted a ride! The suggestion of the Liberty Angel being in control was brilliant and I also thought it was good continuity for Luke to still be fighting the mutation. His taking things upon himself despite the Angel threat was admirable. Quirke being in telepathic contact with the Angel was a nice way to incorporate them into audio and I was intrigued by her desire to use the Angels as a time taxi and go back in time. Her plan to turn off the power and plunge the carnival into darkness for an Angel feast was magnificent, but the Angel was unhappy with the numbers harvested and she was brutally killed. The lightning strike on the sand fusing the crystals and keep the Angel staring at itself was a unique resolution, and I loved the temporary nature of the trap given the Doctor's impending arrival. Overall, a terrific episode to conclude a strong series! 

Rating: 9/10

Barrister to the Stars

"I've already been murdered."

Writer: James Kettle

Format: Audio

Released: January 2020

Series: Diary of River Song 7.03

Featuring: River

Synopsis

River stands accused of murder. Her one hope is being allowed to choose the legal system under which she'll be tried.

Enter Roger Hodgkiss: curmudgeonly barrister, plucked from a 20th Century English courtroom. He may be out of his depth, but he'll always stand up for the underdog.

Verdict

Barrister to the Stars was an excellent episode to continue the seventh series of The Diary of River Song! This was definitely my favourite of the volume so far and it was just a lot of fun whilst being a very unique kind of adventure. Of course, a trial is not new to the Doctor Who universe but inserting River was certainly a different approach and her arrival was emphatic. The idea of there being justice technology in the 32nd century was intriguing and River had identified Roger Hodgkiss as the barrister she wanted to defend her. Why did she need defending? Well, she was accused of murder of course! I loved the idea of her being tried by any legal system of her choosing and that was such a fascinating element of the Institute of Reconciliation and Restitution. She had chosen English law at the turn of the millennium because she needed time, and that famously always took the longest! I thought that was very amusing. The Contingent made for a strong character and it being a telepath communicating with Roger was amusing with his attraction for her being appreciated. River needing to find the true killer of the Duke of Ferrox was a good direction for the story and being able to communicate with him in a digital afterlife was an unexpected treat. Having a Scottish accent for a warrior species worked fantastically, especially with the Queen at the end! Rodger being confused by River's romantic comments was a fine moment too. The Integers were a fun element of the story with them doing all of the jobs on the Institute and Roger's relationship with them had a big impact on their evolution by the end. River explaining that she chose Roger as her barrister because he always stood for the accused no matter what was a terrific reason! The Integers suggesting that the last of the Unnatural Children - a brilliant name - saw them prior to the crime was very good and it was clear that they knew it wasn't River who was the killer. Stark as another Ferrox was a fine character and his anger at his master being taken was brilliant at the start. He didn't like River and Roger investing the crime scene and them finding the works of Wordsworth was not expected! The humour of the incomplete quatrain revealing that the Duke was one for poetry despite being a warrior was tremendous. The Unnatural Child existing out of time and being half an hour behind was a lot of fun and actually became helpful in identifying the true murderer! Hodgkiss trying to use the Contingent's telepathic ability to prove River's innocence was admirable but that had no place in English law. The Contingent actually getting into his mind provide comical scenes in the courtroom as well as Hodgkiss fought with his inner self. The reveal that the Contingent was having a fling with the Emperor of Eternal Abundance was fun given the two make ups of those species and hearing River's delight in being the one to spill it was fantastic. Roger confronting the Duke on actually being a warrior seemed strange, but it was all a fine ploy to show that it was Stark who killed him because his love for poetry! I thought that was brilliant. River suspecting this all along and being one step ahead in ensuring Stark's weapons were turned on himself to kill hm was very Doctor-like in not revealing the truth which I appreciated. Integers gaining independence was a fun aspect of the conclusion, as was the Duke's suggestion he would read Wordsworth slowly to Stark over and over through the afterlife. Overall, a fantastic audio! 

Rating: 9/10

Abbey of Heretics

"The unknown does tend to be frightening."

Writer: Lizbeth Myles

Format: Audio

Released: January 2020

Series: Diary of River Song 7.02

Featuring: River

Synopsis

Outside the walls of a remote 12th Century Abbey, England is at war. 

Inside, a strange sickness runs rife, and there are rumours of a devil in the woods. Death stalks the novices. When Sister Melody arrives in search of a book, she may be their only salvation.

Verdict

Abbey of Heretics was another decent episode to continue the seventh series of The Diary of River Song! I was excited about the setting of this one and with the CD artwork being incredibly striking, the prospect of River Song impersonating a nun had a lot of potential! Whilst I don't think I was necessarily let down by that aspect of the story, I do think there was a little more fun and cheekiness to be had with her in that role. However, it did mean we got a slightly more serious River which is not always the case and I couldn't help but enjoy her frustrations at the devotion of the sisters to God. Whenever a threat was coming, they just prayed and believed it all to be God's plan which was just silly. I don't try and hide my Atheism and distain of organised religion, so anything that makes humour of it is something I appreciate with science most definitely winning this race. It was amusing for River to take on the moniker of Sister Melody and that just had a really nice ring to it. Her interest in The Book of Stars was intriguing and I liked how it was an old and mysterious book, even by the twelfth century. Her description of the artwork as showing two different constellations and them meeting in the middle was poetic and something I admired. The threat of the nuns coming down with a disease was good and provided the threat, with some of the guest cast certainly impressing. Ursula as the library curator was a fun character and her reaction when River tried to touch a rare book was fantastic. Sister Magdalene was an older nun and after welcoming River to the Abbey, Sister Patrick wasn't interested in her interference. The way she was questioned on her medical knowledge and the uses of cinnamon in particular was a lot of fun. I thought the line about books not being able to kill people but their words being able to was outstanding. The arrival of a spacey monk was a little bland with it seeking assistance, and I'm not sure we needed another extraterrestrial threat. Keeping it as purely historical as possible would have been in its favour in my book. Thomas Aspley's arrival was good and I liked the dynamic of Patrick assisting him. The story of the Mother Abbess dying just before everyone got sick was obviously no coincidence, and I thought the suggestion of suicide having serious implications at this religious point of time was a great use of the setting. Her bones were smashed, but she could have been pushed. The user interface needing assistance being referred to as an apparition was neat and its clutch on Patrick was quite disturbing at times. Ursula not being who she seemed was a nice twist and the suggestion of her creating The Book of Stars was a big surprise. The scanning of the entire Abbey was decent and I quite enjoyed the effort of weaving the membrane which was causing the radiation sickness in the sisters. Her only having one way home worked well and the Abbess being her last surviving colleague was a strong explanation. The idea of The Book of Stars being their story was good and their way was to blend in, so much so that they had seemingly developed faith. Magdalene burning the books was an unexpected conclusion as she and Patrick didn't survive, and neither had the books. River performing her angelic disappearance at the end was nicely done. Overall, a decent listen! 

Rating: 7/10

Colony of Strangers

"We don't really have crime here."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: January 2020

Series: Diary of River Song 7.01

Featuring: River

Synopsis

On the bleak Nordic colony of Bondar, bodies are washing up on the beach.

The Mayor and the police are mystified. But then a prime suspect turns up. A suspect who might be their best hope of solving the case. 

Verdict

Colony of Strangers was a decent start to the seventh series of The Diary of River Song! I am so happy that this spinoff range just keeps on going and having a series seemingly focused on River in detective mode is definitely exciting in my eyes. It seems for the bulk of this seventh volume we won't be too heavy on past continuity or connections with Doctor Who in general until the final story, and that's absolutely fine and an approach that has worked well for other series in the past. It allows River to really take centre stage and shine, and she was certainly the highlight here! I thought the setting of Bondar was a little odd in that it didn't quite feel like a colony but was so clearly not Earth and that uneasiness probably worked in its favour a bit. I think there may have been an attempt to create that popular Nordic feel but in space in almost futuristic version of It Takes You Away, but in my opinion the result was not as strong. I liked the way River arrived just as things were taking shape on the colony and addressing that was amusing in a wider way as when the Doctor or River in this case arrive, things suddenly start to go wrong. I liked the approach of River being sent to this colony by the Doctor and it's nice to know that he trusts her to put things right, especially in a place where he didn't want to go himself! He was getting his wife to do the dirty work and that's quite fun knowing their relationship. I must say, I was not a big fan of Karl as the detective, partly because he was in that role with no experience whatsoever. When an actual crime occurred, he was helpless and that just seemed to defeat the point of there even being a detective! It was a harrowing realisation though when he explained that there was no crime because the people on Bondar had nothing. That was a very powerful line. The way he spoke though seemed odd and I just didn't get on with the performance, it really felt a bit boring and took me out things as far as he was concerned. On the other hand, I was very much a fan of Gudrun as the mayor. She was a really strong character and the twist that she was actually trying to stop the slow invasion of the creatures was something I didn't see coming. I really did anticipate her to be helping them arrive given her position. The concept of the slow invasion and replacing the population one by one is decent but definitely not unique so certain elements did feel repetitive, even if the execution was very well done. River revealing all she knew was a terrific moment and the helplessness of Karl when she commented on him already being replaced last night was fantastic. I love it when River is in control. I thought the conclusion was a little quick in how the threat was prevented from a simple shot, but River doesn't like to leave a mess! It would have been fun for a little cameo of River going back to the Doctor, but alas it's nice to know that this was a successful mission! Overall, a good little start to the series.

Rating: 7/10

House of Blue Fire

"The age of man is over."

Writer: Mark Morris

Format: Audio

Released: August 2011

Series: Monthly Adventures 152

Featuring: Seventh Doctor

Synopsis

aquaphobia n. An abnormal fear of water, or drowning.

blattodephobia n. The morbid fear of cockroaches. 

cataptrophobia n. Fear of mirrors, or seeing one's own reflection.

There's a whole ABC of horrors at Bluefire House – as four young people, drawn together to this tumbledown hotel at the edge of nowhere, are about to discover. But whatever the ancient and foul thing that has emerged from the wilderness to drag them here, speaking of it will only strengthen it.

The Doctor alone knows what lurks at the heart of Bluefire House. But the monster of his childhood dreams is coming. The Mi'en Kalarash is coming...

Just this once, the Doctor is afraid.

Verdict

House of Blue Fire was an excellent audio to continue my way through the Monthly Adventures! I've really enjoyed the trilogy of solo adventures for the Seventh Doctor going back to Robophobia and The Doomsday Quatrain and I was a little surprised that he didn't feature right up until the cliffhanger of the first part. Sally and Rachel as No.18 and No.5 respectively more than carried that opening episode and I really did come to like them as a pairing. They were suffering from the effects of a mind wipe which was brilliant and placed them in a very tricky predicament. Sally was inquisitive from the start and I took a real liking to her character as she deduced that she could remember the society, but not her place within it. That was a terrific concept and must be very frightening to not know who you are or where you fitted. That theme played out well in the Bluefire House setting which I thought was tremendous. It sounded very cool and the result was not a disappointment. I loved the idea of each member of the house having a specific fear and the way they varied from cockroaches to mirrors was really good. The Doctor being there was always going to come, especially when Sally and Rachel had spotted him from afar briefly! I thought he was actually going to end up being the master of the house, but his reaction to them mentioning 'the master' was glorious! He suspected his old enemy was back for more shenanigans. Alas, that was not to be but he was not missed! I thought the cliffhanger to part two was definitely the best and really extended the life of the adventure as we found that the Doctor was actually in a facility and had hooked himself up to the Blue Fire system. I did not see that coming so that was something I particularly enjoyed. The fact he'd created the House of Blue Fire from his own mind was great and his comments later about the Mi'en Kalarash needing rope rather than thread as an analogy for the strength of his mind was amusing. The concept of the Mi'en Kalarash was fantastic and I liked its position as an Elder God, something that the Doctor was even potentially afraid of. Exploring the Doctor's fears is always intriguing and I'm glad this one stayed away from the more cliche threats of the Daleks or Cybermen. The Doctor suggesting that he was scared of the Old Times returning was magnificent and would be a fun direction to take his audio adventures moving forward. Dr Soames was a good character as the host of the house to start with and his role expanded nicely before his death which was pretty gruesome. The idea of your physical body also dying if the mind body died was strong and eliminated any suggestion of safety in a different realm. The Mi'en Kalarash being linked to Pritchard from when she was a youngster and hit by a car was fascinating, and with her temporarily in between life and death it pounced on her as it was something that could inhabit the gap between realities. I thought that was very strong. The feeding on emotion and it being strengthened just from being spoken about was great stuff. The Doctor was on hand to rid it from this dimension though after being the one to actually bring it through, and his desire for escape even when it seemed impossible was a nice touch and a terrific trait! The continuation of the TARDIS being black is a little strange as I wonder what the endgame there is, but having Sally seemingly join on board will be a nice refresh for the Seventh Doctor for sure! Overall, an excellent audio. 

Rating: 9/10

The Deepest Tragedian

"I'm not a mystery to be solved."

Writer: Penelope Faith

Format: Audio

Released: Apri 2022

Series: Companion Chronicles: Second Doctor 3.04

Featuring: Zoe

Synopsis

Zoe is brilliant. Zoe loves to prove it, helping the Doctor and Jamie in their travels, coming to the rescue with a realisation or solving a puzzle. But she's about to meet a puzzle that's difficult to solve. A puzzle with a face. A puzzle with a heart. A puzzle that spells doom for the Doctor...

Verdict

The Deepest Tragedian was a great story to conclude the third volume of Companion Chronicles for the Second Doctor! Well, I say the Second Doctor but he didn't actually feature in this episode which was an intriguing twist. Zoe is brilliant as the synopsis states though so he wasn't missed and the mysterious Tom was still out for the 'travelling man' and to find the TARDIS which implied that the Doctor was wanted. I read after listening to the audio that Tommy was perhaps a Time Lord sent back in time to recruit the Second Doctor to the Time War, and whilst it does make sense with the sky trenches mentioned I must admit that this wasn't a vibe I got from listening. I think it would be fun if that's the case though given what happened with the Time War implications of the third volume of First Doctor Companion Chronicles as well. The theme of drama in this episode was fascinating with Tommy often performing words and scenes as a means of continuing the story and just communicating. It had a very weird feeling and that was definitely a positive! I like when adventures give an uneasy feeling and are just unique, which this one definitely had going for it. Zoe continuously seeing Tom as a puzzle was excellent and I liked how she was committed to solving it. Tom's reaction to constantly being referred to as a puzzle instead of a person was enlightening though and something I really appreciated being mentioned. Tom was clearly a troubled character and his shifting between different characters he had performed as was great and didn't make Zoe feel comfortable in the slightest. That definitely resonated with the listener too. Any mention Zoe made of the Doctor and the TARDIS were latched onto with aggression which just added to that uneasy atmosphere, although slightly more on why Tommy was out for the Doctor would have been beneficial. It did seem a little odd for Zoe to be on her own for much of the story, but with the cliffhanger mentioning the Doctor I was pleasantly surprised that it lasted. She was tremendous, and Wendy Padbury seemed to have some fun when it came to the improvised acting in a number of impromptu performances. Tom revealing that there was more than one of him that had been splintered in time did add to the potential of him being a Time Lord given the weaponry available in that temporal war, and it was no surprise that he was a little crazy especially with each remnant seeming to hold the combined memory. That was nicely done. I liked the nature of the story in how it literally seemed to just fizzle out as Zoe returned to the TARDIS. I was expecting a cameo from Frazier Hines as the Doctor and Jamie, but it probably worked better to not get that and really show that this was all Zoe's adventure, and what better for her than a puzzle? Overall, an uneasy but great listen to conclude the set.

Rating: 8/10

The Mistpuddle Murders

"Nobody likes their true story."

Writer: Simon A. Forward

Format: Audio

Released: November 2018

Series: Short Trips 8.11

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan

Synopsis

Welcome to Mistpuddle.

"I'm sure you're all wondering why I've gathered you here. I'm sure you're all wondering why the village is home to woodland creatures with a taste for tea, cakes and secrets. And I'm sure you're' all wondering where the Doctor has vanished to. The truth is not as quaint as the pretty cottages and mostly cute residents would have you believe.

Murder has come to Mistpuddle. And no-one is leaving until we uncover whodunnit."

Verdict

The Mistpuddle Murders was a good little Short Trips adventure! For most of the story it was headed by Nyssa as you might expect with this kind of format and Sarah Sutton as the only actress, but it was a pleasant surprise as well to see how much of Tegan she incorporated into the narration. I liked the style of the story with Nyssa and Tegan almost taking it in turns to recount the events leading up to the whodunnit and that allowed them as narrators to indirectly address the listener which was rather fun. I was taken aback by Sutton's impression of Tegan and for the first couple of lines of dialogue I actually thought it was a two-hander with Janet Fielding! It was uncanny with her Australian accent which must go down as being very impressive. It was really nice to be able to showcase Nyssa as she led the investigation but the surroundings of Mistpuddle were pretty peculiar to say the least. I thought the idea of a wooden audience was intriguing and the idea of characters being created by an author and then coming to life. Given the format and it only being a story of thirty-five minutes in length, there isn't much fleshing out of the details which is a shame as I think given an extended runtime this could have been something special. Incorporating something like the Land of Fiction here would have been tremendous! The confusion of Lynne Woods as the creator and then there also being woods named after her was amusing and the dynamic between Nyssa and Tegan in detailing the key events was a delight. I really was impressed with how well Sutton was able to transition from each character. Pricklethorp turning out to be the murderer was good and I thought the absence of the Doctor throughout was hardly warranting of his face adorning the cover art. Sutton's take on Peter Davison's fifth incarnation was less than impressive, but with the Doctor only featuring for the last five minutes or so that hardly made a lasting impact. I thought some of the twists were interesting with the idea of two sugar cubes in the tea being the way to cause the murder a fresh take. One sugar cube on its own was harmless, but mixing two that contained vicious chemicals when combined meant death. That was unique and a fine crime in the circumstances, Nyssa had even analysed every sugar cube without finding anything suggesting this was the method. Pricklethorp's reaction to being accused was fantastic as even though it was clear he was the enemy, he took such offence. I always like it when that happens as it's just a bit barmy. The arrival of the Doctor from the fridge of all places was not expected, but it was nice how he just took the floor when arriving. He has a certain presence which is just unmatched. He of course could name the murderer and that was that really. Overall, a fascinating journey to a really unique place of Mistpuddle! A worthy listen.

Rating: 7/10

The Haunting of Bryck Place

"Nothing better than a punctual ghost."

Writer: Georgia Cook

Format: Audio

Released: June 2022

Series: Interludes 03

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

Hackney Village, the 1540s. Bryck Place is a new construction: the first house in London built from bricks – but it already has a ghost. The apparition of a young woman, dressed in black, walks the halls nightly, whispering strange incantations. Nobody knows what this entity is, or what it wants, until Ace and the Doctor arrive to unlock the mystery...

Verdict

The Haunting of Bryck Place was a very good Interludes audio adventure! This was a really good bonus to go alongside the Silver and Ice first series of Seventh Doctor Adventures and it was nice to get new content with Ace, as I would argue she is more synonymous with the Seventh Doctor than Mel. However, as there is so much Ace content out there I'm glad the main bulk of the series is focused on Mel. Anyway, into the story at hand and I thought it was a really strong outing. It was nice for it to be a pseudo-historical and just having the Doctor and Ace in 1540s Britain during the Tudor era was excellent. Ace liked to think that she knew London better than anyone, but with it being almost like an assembly of villages at this point in time her sense of direction wasn't quite there which was fun. The number of characters in the story wasn't actually that many, but it was far from obvious that Sophie Aldred was the only actress performing which is testament to her qualities. It was a brilliant job from her with the narration! Her impression of the Seventh Doctor always amuses me as whilst the noticeable quirks of Sylvester McCoy are often there, the Scottish accent is pretty mad. So it definitely caught me by surprise when in the story Ace exclaimed that the Doctor wasn't Scottish! The idea of the Doctor and Ace visiting the first brick house in London hardly seems like the most exciting trips in history, but when that new house was seemingly already haunted with a ghost then we had a strong pull. I liked how Ace was quick to reference Gabriel Chase and the events of Ghost Light with the clear similarities and parallels with that serial, but considering the two lead characters are the same this adventure did well in being different. I was impressed with that. The sceptre being seen in the house depicting the image of Ace was fascinating and I loved the reaction after chasing when she was actually flesh and blood. It was fun for the Doctor to claim that he knew all along what was happening in the house simple from a new frame in a new house depicting an old painting, but that's just good characterisation of the Seventh Doctor! Ace was the star of the show though as you would expect and she really does get a chance to shine. When the Doctor explains that the painting is a memory vault I really liked the concept and the conversation they were having after getting lost being that of which they heard from the sceptre was nicely done. It brought everything full circle and the memory being one from the future was a fun twist. I liked the emotion that Ace invoked when the Doctor almost dismissively asked her to deposit memories and preserve them in the house, but she was abundantly clear that her memories were her own and not for anyone else. I thought that was excellent and I appreciated that the Doctor later apologised for asking that of her. As a whole, the story was brilliant in capturing the feel of Tudor London but then really delving deep into a haunted adventure. It was a terrific balance. Overall, a very strong audio!

Rating: 8/10

Deadbeat Ecape

"It's been raining here forever."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: August 2018

Series: Torchwood Monthly 24

Featuring: Bilis 

Synopsis

"Welcome to the Traveller's Halt. You're in luck – we have one room left. My name is Bilis Manger. Let me show you to your room."

Verdict

Deadbeat Escape was a great audio adventure to continue the run of monthly Torchwood adventures from Big Finish! I love the idea of Bilis getting his own adventure as he made such an impact in Captain Jack Harkness/End of Days and certainly goes down as one of the show's most memorable villains. It was lovely to hear how effortlessly Murray Melvin reprised his role and whilst this wasn't the first time I've listened to him back as Bilis in a Torchwood audio, it was excellent to have him in the lead role. It really worked well having such a small cast with only two other performances which really added to the cramped and eery atmosphere of the hotel. The Traveller's Halt made for a fine setting and the constant backdrop of dripping water was terrific. It really did establish a feeling that never really went away which was certainly a positive. Mr Roberts arrived as a guest on his way to Cardiff but the rain drew him into this small hotel and I was intrigued right away by the fact that Bilis was insistent on him writing down the date when checking into the place. Bilis obviously has tendencies with time so there was clearly something not right there. Later learning that recent check ins spanned a time of over 150 years but not in order and across very spontaneous visits was fantastic. Roberts was very shocked by the fact that Grace's passport showed her to have only been born two years ago, but she was visibly in her nineties. Bilis coming to Grace's room when Roberts was in there on more than one occasion was a lot of fun, but I thought the calm nature in which he revealed that he didn't actually work at the hotel was magnificent. He just came to fix a clock, but there wasn't actually anything wrong with the clock. The problem was with time. The little flashback scene to his initial arrival at the Halt was good and I liked the twist of Bilis being trapped there as well, rather than it being something of his own making. Finding out that the trap was by the Committee fitted in nicely with the continuity of Torchwood at Big Finish and he was not best pleased by the amount of time it had taken him to get out! Roberts was devastated at the fact he wouldn't get out to see his dad whom he had come to say goodbye which provided a lot of emotion, but I loved the villainy of Bilis not wanting to come back and save everyone once he'd escaped the trap of the Deadbeat Escape. I thought the concept of the titular device was very strong and I liked the surprise by Bilis that Torchwood hadn't already come and tried to solve the situation. Perhaps they knew it was a trap for Bilis? Roberts showed a lot of emotion when going out into the rain and ageing twenty years very quickly, and his anger at the phone call clearly not being of his time and getting through to the hospital at St. Helen's when it was a workhouse didn't provide any clarity. He just wanted to say goodbye to his father, but would never get the chance as Bilis was very cold in nature and left all by himself, not looking to fix the trap for all of the others caught up in it! Overall, a really good audio! 

Rating: 8/10

Voyage of the Damned

"You dreamt of another sky."

Writer: Russell T Davies

Format: TV

Broadcast: 25 December 2007

Series: 2007 Christmas Special

Synopsis

A spacecraft set on an apocalyptic collision course with Earth, a host of killer robots and an evil severed-headed mastermind - it's just another Christmas for the Doctor...

The Doctor is astounded when his ship is struck by the Titanic - a space-going reproduction of the luxury ocean liner. Venturing on board, he meets several of the alien tourists, but when the ship is devastated by a meteor shower, the Doctor and his new friends find themselves stranded in the wrecked, timebomb of a craft set on collision course with Earth...

Verdict

Voyage of the Damned was a very good Christmas Special episode! I can't quite believe it has been fifteen years now since this story aired on television and it's been at least six years since my last viewing, but I wouldn't like to estimate a number of times that I've seen this one. Over the last couple of years I have been watching the modern era of the show with my girlfriend Gemma for the first time and this was another instalment on that list. She didn't seem a huge fan beforehand and whilst it's not a bad episode, it's not one of her favourites. Now, I don't rate it as highly as some other Christmas specials but I still think it's a terrific hour and perfect really for a jolly Christmas romp despite all of the death that occurs. I forget how good David Tennant can be in the role and with no companion around, this was another stellar performance. There's obviously a defining moment for his incarnation of the Doctor when he responds to the question of who he is, and the directing and music that accompanies that as then Doctor reels off his personal info and credentials were excellent. With Kylie Minogue guest starring, it's not a huge surprise that this episode ranks as the highest viewed one of the modern era and with the way television is now viewed there is no way that this will ever be beaten in my opinion. Astrid Peth fills the companion role magnificently and I love how the Doctor takes a liking to her immediately as she years for another sky. She just wanted to travel and see, so of course the Doctor would adhere to her request. Bannakaffalatta was an amusing character and I really liked the humour that came with his interaction with the Doctor regarding his full name. He was just a nice character and the truth about him being a cyborg was very good. Astrid mentioning how cyborgs had rights now said a lot about the planet Stow! Mr Copper was an amusing man and his degree in Earthonomics was very funny with the story of worshipping Santa and his vicious claws, and then the UK going to war with Turkey and eating them! The Doctor's reaction to that was marvellous as well. I liked the desperation that came with the missiles heading to the ship and Alonso trying to stop the Captain and play by the book was admirable. He was brilliant in keeping things together despite being shot and the Doctor's reaction to his name and then Allons-Y Alonso line was great stuff. The deaths of Foon and Morvin were very emotional but I liked that they got a lovely moment together over the 5,000 credits spent to enter the competition to win tickets aboard the Titanic. The Host were very strong enemies being controlled by Max Capricorn who looked like a brilliant villain as just a head. The Doctor's joke about getting ahead in business was delightful too. The fate of Astrid in sacrificing herself to take him out was heartfelt and the Doctor was clearly horrified by all of the loss ensued, so much so that he didn't even seem massively pleased when he saved the ship from crashing into Buckingham Palace. The Doctor having to let her go when the teleport didn't have enough power to reassemble her molecules. Overall though, a really strong Christmas episode! 

Rating: 8/10

Fear of the Future

"Your eyes were playing tricks."

Writer: Jacqueline Rayner

Format: Comic Strip

Released: June 2022

Printed in: DWM 579

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, Dan

Synopsis

With the Doctor's TARDIS parked along a sandy beach surrounded by cliffs, Dan prepares for a fun and relaxing day, complete with t-shirt, shorts and sunglasses. Except, when he sees Yaz drowning in the sea the Doctor realises that the sunglasses aren't all they appear to be...

Verdict

Fear of the Future was a good story to continue the comic strip adventures of the current TARDIS team of the Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz and Dan! I've been a little critical of the comic run for the team currently adorning the screen in recent months but after a stellar shift in direction with Dr Who & the Mechanoids, things slowly got back on track with this adventure. Now, with the comic strip content in each issue of Doctor Who Magazine now down to only six pages, that doesn't allow a huge amount of room for story depth or background. But I liked the twist with this single parter in that seemed to be setting up a future adventure to come. That approach works well and could definitely be something to take further before the Fourteenth Doctor arrives in comic strip format, something which seems like it will be quite a way off yet given that David Tennant is filming scenes for the sixtieth anniversary which won't air for another fifteen months yet! Alas, it was nice to get some continuity from Legend of the Sea Devils with Dan and Yaz getting their holiday at the beach and I thought the artwork was very fun. It was amusing to see the Doctor still almost fully in costume despite the sun, but she adorned a classic hat which was lovely. The likeness of Jodie Whittaker and John Bishop in particular was uncanny. I liked the approach of seeing through the glasses and that was represented nicely in the drawn format. Dan's worry at seeing Yaz drowning in the sea was obviously understandable, so his reaction to her just sitting on the beach with the Doctor could have had a little more comedy added given the nature of him as a companion. The Doctor seemed nonplussed by events but when he then witnessed a man falling off of a cliff, things started to tick in her head that all wasn't as it seemed. It turned out the sunglasses that Dan had taken from within the TARDIS were something much more than shades as a neat little advert for a product recall showed. I thought it was typical of the Doctor to conveniently forget the details of these alien shades that were brilliantly called preventicles. That was so funny and just fantastic, seeming to fit in very well with the quirkiness of the Thirteenth Doctor. The funky spectacles were faulty and rather than do as their name suggested, they actually ended up often contributing to the disasters they showed the wearer as was the case with Dan and the man on the cliff. If it wasn't for the Doctor's interference, Dan would have actually made the man fall from the cliff instead of prevent. Faulty indeed! Definitely worthy of a product recall. I liked how Dan stamped on them to break them and not need any more trouble than the trio already got themselves into, but the little moment at the end where a wasp was seen terrorising the trio was an intriguing look into the future! Wasps had already caused concern for Yaz, so setting up a future comic strip there is a fantastic move in my book. I look forward to the direction to come. Overall, a very decent little comic strip adventure.

Rating: 7/10

The Time Capsule

"This is no ordinary diamond."

Writer: Peter Anghelides 

Format: Audio

Released: August 2008

Series: SJA Audio 03

Featuring: Sarah Jane, Luke, Clyde, Rani

Synopsis

It seems like a regular, routine weekday: Sarah Jane is doing a supermarket ship (and trying not to embarrass Clyde, who is doing his work experience in Betterworth's) while Luke is at the Natural History Museum, helping to catalogue items and set up displays.

But their ordinary day is about to turn extraordinary, as forces from an alien world start to affect Earth and all hell breaks loose. With an icy void opening beneath the chiller cabinet, museum exhibits coming alive and terrifying monsters appearing, Sarah Jane, Luke, Clyde and Rani are soon left fighting for their lives.

Verdict

The Time Capsule was a good little audio for The Sarah Jane Adventures! I liked how this story was firmly a part of the second series of the show's television chronology and I was delighted once again to hear Elisabeth Sladen in the narrator role. She really was terrific and just epitomises this series so having her tell another adventure was a delight. I liked the realism of Luke and Clyde being on work experience and just a nice way to incorporate real world stuff. It also served as a good reminder of just how young Luke and Clyde are as personally it seems an absolute age since I did work experience at an office for a car company. Clyde's work experience took him to Betterworth's supermarket which seemed to suit him well and it was fun for him to not be expecting Sarah Jane to show up doing her shopping. Things escalated quickly when Mr Ploughman got more involved and with him not being seen for around a fortnight for Luke to do his shopping, an alien was at work as we were first introduced to the Persopolisian. The concept of it using anything around it to become a monster seemed to work well on paper, but in action it was a little hooky as we had a creature formed out of food and cereal boxes! If it's even possible, it seemed like we had a Sarah Jane Adventures imitation of the Kandy Man! It was quite the image though. I liked how Luke's work experience was taking place at the Natural History Museum and with him being involved in cataloguing, that sounded ideal. That would be something I would love as well. It was clear that these events were somewhere early in Series 2 of the show as Sarah Jane referred to Gita as her new neighbour and it was fun to have her mentioned and still not getting that Sarah Jane's full name was not Sarah. That gag will never got old. I thought Janksia as the main Persopolisian was decent and the way that Luke was drawn to the black diamond was very uncharacteristic. Sarah Jane knew from the phone call that something was up if he resorted to theft, but he just locked himself in the cleaning cupboard which was quite funny. The component dating back to 1066 and when Haley's Comet passed by was pretty good and I liked the scale of the diamond. The Perspolisian turning into a car monster was another interesting use of its ability, but I couldn't shake off the image of Transformers in my head. Things definitely picked up as we reached the conclusion and the action that came from Luke and Clyde being drawn in from the mysterious Mr Ploughman who acted as host for the Perspolisian was very good. It wasn't always obvious that Sladen was the sole actor performing which is testament to her qualities. I thought Janksia falling victim to a garbage compactor could have been slightly more elegant and I admired that Clyde tried to save, but it just felt a little quick and emphatic without being worthy of a surprise. Still, it was a more than enjoyable listen! Overall, a strong little audio.

Rating: 7/10

The Talents of Greel

"I will return to the future in triumph."    

Writer: Paul Morris

Format: Audio

Released: August 2019

Series: Diary of River Song 6.04

Featuring: River, Jago

Synopsis

River visits Victorian London on the trail of anachronistic technology. But when young women are stolen from the streets, she takes a stand. River's investigation leads to theatre impresario Henry Gordon Jago, and his latest star act: Li H'Sen Chang and the unnerving Mr Sin. But if River's going undercover at the Palace Theatre, she needs to have a song...

Verdict

The Talents of Greel was an excellent episode to conclude the fourth series of The Diary of River Song! I have absolutely loved this collection of encounters for River with a number of Classic era serials and having this serve as a prequel to The Talons of Weng-Chiang was just delightful. It was in similar vain to The Web of Time and that approached worked well as River and Jago were quickly introduced in fun fashion with her auditioning for his theatre show. The comments about her remarkable hair were amusing but she wasn't the only woman looking for a stage. Celestine arrived with a clear aura to Jago and she didn't want to audition, she wanted her own show which was quite bold. River having been declined from her audition was a bit of a surprise, but the humour that came from her supposedly searching for a handkerchief in the cellars was delightful. Jago interacting with Li H'Sen Chang was marvellous and such a good throwback. Sir Angus Peel as the disguise for Magnus Greel worked well and he was clearly deformed, but that didn't mean Jago wouldn't want him as a benefactor for the theatre. Peel suggesting an influx of women to perform was eery knowing what we did of future events and how many women had been killed, and the suggestion of a variety show worked well as cover. Peel's anger when that suggestion was initially turned down by Jago was psychotic and represented a quick shift in atmosphere. Getting a rehash of the famed performance between Mr Sin and Chang was sublime, but I was not expecting the addition of Mr Fez the performing monkey! That was really interesting and him being the means by which Maisie was abducted was quite something. The discussion between Chang and Greel was excellent in regards to the search for the time cabinet on Europe and it really gave their characters some background as we learned of the extent of their mission.  Celestine deciding to help Jago with putting the girls' show together was a little surprising, but Maisie was her best friend and now dead which put a dark twist on events. River joining the show as a singer was very amusing and River challenging Chang on what happened to Maisie was excellent. The way she shook off his attempts at hypnosis was also terrific. I liked the explanation that River needed her vortex manipulator topped up from Greel's time technology, but one of the highlights for me was Jago's logic in thinking that River was a singer because of the Song in her name. Fez being the means for Chang's control was good and River adding in her own tweaks was great stuff. The cortex manipulator was what she was after and the Doctor not mentioning that in his account of the Weng-Chiang events meant that it was something she had to clean up. I was not expecting the backstory of the Chang and Celestine relationship as they had been in love with the former having to make the latter forget so he could serve his god. The duet between River and Jago was just glorious and Chang entering the fray as the main event using a special chronometer for a special guest was intriguing stuff. The clash between River and Greel was excellent and I liked the horror in how he saw female life when saying he didn't want to waste Celestine by just killing her. He needed to feed on Jago's chain of women and he really was disturbed in thinking he was giving them meaningful deaths. Celestine's emotional display to Chang was heartfelt and I liked how Fez was utilised to present Greel's horrific appearance and the way out. River hearing the TARDIS arriving as her cue to leave was nicely done, although another meeting with the Fourth Doctor would have been delightful! Overall, a terrific audio to conclude a wonderful series.

Rating: 9/10

Peepshow

"I'm far too beautiful to be chewed."

Writer: Guy Adams

Format: Audio

Released: August 2019

Series: Diary of River Song 6.03

Featuring: River

Synopsis

Miniscope parts fetch quite a price on the open market – luckily, River knows where she can find one that's about to be decommissioned. Unfortunately, this particular miniscope is chock-full of aliens, as well as unsuspecting Earthlings.

River must face a carnival of monsters before she can claim her prize – across miniature habitats, Ogrons, Sontarans and Drashigs await!

Verdict

Peepshow was another very fun episode to continue the sixth series of The Diary of River Song! Fun is definitely the word to best describe this story and throwing River into the mix of the events of Carnival of Monsters and everything that entailed with the Miniscope was delightful. It was a fun clash of eras again and I enjoyed how this story took place concurrently with the Classic Third Doctor serial. It started intriguingly with River and Dibbsworth together already very much embroiled as part of the Miniscope atrocity, and the explanation that they were inside the recycle bin was a clever and sneaky way out of continuity. I thought it was fun to incorporate the conditioning that came with the hexagon on the floor as a way in, and hearing Dibbsworth suffer from memory loss was good stuff. I liked how River was once again after something valuable in the form of an everlasting battery that was utilised in miniscopes, but she would run into a lot of trouble to try and get it! The emergence of the Sontarans was delightful and this branch were of the Special Space Service which was terrific. The Sontarans knew they were trapped and Strumm tackle the dilemma of honour and morale against saving face when it came to the situation was marvellous. River tricking him into turning around and exposing the probic vent by suggesting a Sontaran looked fearful was great stuff too. As if Sontarans weren't enough, we also had Ogrons and the dumb fun that came with them interacting with the Sontarans was tremendous. I liked the suggestion that the power outage that occurred in the miniscope was down to River instead of the eradicator, and River's comments on the Third Doctor as all velvet and having a young girlfriend were very amusing. I enjoyed how River knew all about the events of Carnival of Monsters from the Doctor and was taking them to her advantage but she had quite a problem on her hands in trying to save all of the habitats and species within the miniscope. The threat of the Drashigs really complemented the assembly of monsters and River describing them as omnivores let out by a gorgeous idiot was a nice touch. The humour that came with Dibbsworth offering them a banana and prawn cocktail crisps from his packed lunch was delightful. The action provided from the Drashig chase was really exciting and the threat of the heat from the power outage was a nice addition. Dibbsworth using a teaspoon to attack the probic vent was hilarious and he was such a fun character. River knowing that the Doctor would fix things was good and I loved that we got a cameo from Tim Treloar as the Third Doctor! River stopping to say hello and show him the extra habitation units that needed getting home was lovely and even though it wasn't for long, I loved that we got a little bit of interaction between River and another new incarnation of the Doctor. Overall, another fun and strong episode! 

Rating: 8/10

The Web of Time

"I have to keep history on track."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: August 2019

Series: Diary of River Song 6.02

Featuring: River

Synopsis

The capital has been evacuated. Monsters stalk the Underground. For River, it's the perfect opportunity to steal a priceless artwork, so long as she can avoid looters, soldiers and an alien invasion.

With the gallant Captain Knight at her side, River faces the Great Intelligence and its Yeti army. But her biggest challenge may be keeping time itself on track...

Verdict

The Web of Time was another excellent story to continue the sixth series of The Diary of River Song! I’ve been incredibly excited for every story in this set as I love the concept of River getting involved with the events of Classic serial, so this one taking place slightly before the events of The Web of Fear prior to the Doctor’s arrival was magnificent. The pre-titles sequence with River having an art gallery tour was nicely done and it was fun for her to be given a job to find the missing painting of the Seasons. River was a little exasperated by the location and time of the painting which was good and just hearing her encounter a Yeti stalking the Underground was a wonderful clash of eras. I thought it was good that Maude and Erin were using the webbed situation as a way to steal the same painting River was after, and the inclusion of the Great Intelligence as the main enemy was tremendous. It felt a shift in time and wanted the Yeti to bring the source to him, of course meaning River. It was a brilliant clash! Captain Knight retiring in a co-lead for the episode was wonderful and I loved how he was initially trying to evacuate River from London. She knew all about the Yeti though and was scared for the Army, with Knight even pre-dating UNIT which was a lot of fun. River saving Knight from the collapse because only he was mentioned in the Doctor’s diary was quite something and I adored how she’d done her research with the reference to the Doctor being a keen diarist at this point in time a particular highlight. She knew of the events purely to avoid them and that would explain her reaction to the painting’s location. The fun River had with the UNIT dating controversy and actually identifying these events was glorious stuff and you really can have so much fun with her character. The painting being believed to be destroyed in the aforementioned building collapse was good and I liked how Maude and Erin had beaten River to retrieving it before she could. I really liked how Knight questioned River on the outcome of the future and she had no issue in telling him that London would return to normality which surprised me a little! His challenging of her morals and if she really would just leave once obtaining the painting was superb as he seemed to know her and noticed she'd tried to save his men even though only he was mentioned in the Doctor's diary. It was powerful stuff for River to sympathise with Erin because she had also been on the streets as a child, but that soon stopped when she took her vortex manipulator! I loved the line from River about Anne Travers being the only woman recorded to survive these events and the emergence of the Great Intelligence through Buscombe was brilliant. I liked that it had a presence. Maude being taken over it as well was eery stuff and it describing how her last thought was of her child not going hungry was incredible. River dealing with the dilemma of not actually being able to defeat the Great Intelligence was fantastic as she knew that the Doctor would be arriving soon to do just that. Her escape and then return as the cavalry and utilising the weakness of the pyramid was strong stuff and some good action, and the moral challenge of choosing between Erin and the painting was such a big moment. Knight knew that River would make the right call, even if she didn't! It worked well to have the Great Intelligence merely buried than fully defeated and it would set up new operations at an alternative station leading into battle with the Second Doctor. It's a shame that Knight would not retain the memory of these events as River kissed him with the hallucinogenic lipstick, but the pair developed a tremendous relationship by the end. Overall, another brilliant episode! It's just a shame River got there before the Second Doctor did.

Rating: 9/10

An Unearthly Woman

"Outsiders sticking together, strength in numbers."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: August 2019

Series: Diary of River Song 6.01

Featuring: River, Susan, Ian, Barbara 

Synopsis

Coal Hill School has a new member of staff: an educated woman, who seems to specialise in every subject. Meanwhile, teachers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright have concerns over the behaviour of one of their pupils.

Susan Foreman is intrigued by Dr Song, but something else is stalking her in the darkness and fog of London, 1963...

Verdict

An Unearthly Woman was an excellent story to kick off the sixth series of The Diary of River Song! I can't quite believe that it's been three years since I listened to the fifth series but this was quite the opener. The idea of a prequel to An Unearthly Child is marvellous and actually having River Song employed as a supply teacher at Coal Hill School shortly after Susan started going there was just outstanding. Having River running around in the police kissogram of Amy's from The Eleventh Hour and A Christmas Carol was fantastic and it was so amusing to hear Barbara's reaction to Ian saying it suited her later in the episode. The contrast of River and the 1960s was magnificent! I liked how she was aiming to take over Totter's Lane and that familiar TARDIS hum was a glorious nugget of an effect to include. The dynamic of River being Susan's geography teacher was terrific and I liked how Susan was immediately questioning her on a 1970s slip of then tongue. Lloyd Walker was a strong character and it was nice to hear he was part of Miss Wright's form. River had some strong banter with Ian and the pair had a surprisingly great relationship that extended to the pub as the teachers gathered. Barbara questioning the oddity of a new student was fun and I liked the twist that it was actually in reference to Sheila rather than Susan as we knew from that very first episode. I was quite struck by the awkwardness of Susan playing at a playground and that was just such an alien environment for her, using physics for recreation when referring to a merry-go-round. Lloyd had clearly taken a liking to Susan which was nice and it was a sharp reminder of the 1963 setting that he was seen as an outsider for being black. It's frightening really to think of that being an attitude within living memory. Sheila encountering something alien in the form of the Nightstalker was good and I liked that River was tracking it. I know there kind of needed to be a threat, but I would much have preferred something less prominent and just explore River as a teacher at Coal Hill. It was fun for her to be Dr Song at school but then when with the police she was Miss Pond. The brief encounter between River and the First Doctor was truly wonderful and she recognised him immediately with a fun reaction of "oh no!" Susan knowing that River was not of this time too was brilliant and a fun example of her intelligence. The Nightstalker being exactly what it said on the tin and hunting after sunset was good and I quite liked the concept of it being an energy feeder. The irregularities of River's school references was amusing, but Mr Mitchell as the foster father to Sheila and Lloyd was not. He was a quite horrible man and I wasn't so disappointed to hear him ravaged by the Nightstalker after his treatment of the children. I loved River admiring Barbara's compassion for the children in her care and the mention of history being why she wanted to travel was a terrific foreshadowing of things to come. River needing to protect Ian and Barbara from seeing aliens before they stumbled into the TARDIS was fantastic and ought to have been mentioned earlier, but the threats continued as Sheila was the host of the Nightstalker with sunlight being poison but it could exit into the fog whilst she slept. The Nightstalker knowing of the Doctor and Susan and their vulnerability at this point in their chronology was fascinating! River using the vortex manipulator to kick it out of the dimension was a quick and swift fix, and it was nice to get that conclusion with River going to the TARDIS. Susan questioning how she knew of its name after claiming to have invented it was superb and it definitely had caught on! The little 'Doctor who?' line at the end with Susan pondering on her identity was excellent. Overall, a marvellous audio adventure! 

Rating: 9/10

The Doomsday Quatrain

"I'd like to know how the world will end."

Writers: Emma Beeby & Gordon Rennie

Format: Audio

Released: September 2011

Series: Monthly Adventures 151

Featuring: Seventh Doctor

Synopsis

"When the river is gone, ships sail in the sky, monsters bring fire from the heavens. All will fall into a grey and endless sea, and Doomsday has come."

Florence, the sixteenth century. No one thought to pay much attention to the prophecies of the so-called seer Michael de Nostradame, otherwise known as Nostradamus. Until the canals of Venice dried. Until the soothsayer's sayings started coming true...

Because Master Nostradamus is right, in all respects. The end of the world is nigh. The ships are coming. The monsters are coming. The fire is coming. There's only one thing he didn't see coming, in fact: the sudden apparition of a certain strange Doctor, in his even stranger TARDIS. Today, the Earth dies screaming. And all the Doctor can do is watch.

Verdict

The Doomsday Quatrain was a great story to continue my way through the Monthly Adventures! After a weird little break to celebrate the 150th release with a series of shorter stories in Recorded Time and Other Stories, it was nice to get back to a more traditional style of adventure following the Seventh Doctor on his solo travels. I'm not entirely sure what the objective is by having this incarnation of the Doctor travelling alone and whilst it is absolutely fine and quite new, I always prefer to have a companion present. It was fun for the Doctor to be interacting with the TARDIS at the start of proceedings when the readings on her instruments contradicted the existence outside of her dimensions. The Doctor mentioning how he thought they were done playing that game was very fun and it's one that has been played for centuries and beyond. I liked the initial assumed setting of Florence in the sixteenth century and having Nostradamus in a prominent role was a lot of fun as he's obviously a very important historical figure. His prophecies were intriguing and people being annoyed that he'd foretold of their death was excellent and amusing. I thought Nostradamus trying to give the Doctor his prophecy was tremendous and him thinking that Gallifrey was somewhere south of France was magnificent. Nostradamus was pretty cheerful in giving that take on the Time Lord's future, but him later realising that Time was governed by the Doctor rather than the other way around was a nice way for things to come full circle. As the story developed, I'd have actually much preferred if events stayed contained to Florence but of course we weren't actually even on Earth but more so the Poldagon research planet. The entire concept of that planet was fascinating with it being able to reproduce any planet and time that they had on file. The agents at work in trying to obtain the test subject of Nostradamus were good and I really liked Garilund in particular. I thought she was definitely the standout and it was obvious she was onto something when she was essentially fired without notice and left to die as the invasion began early. That provided a good sense of action and the helplessness just increased as she continued to try and get in contact. Kren was a lovely character too in going against the uppers to save her and they developed a really nice relationship by the end, ending up with a little dinner! I thought it was fun for the Doctor and Nostradamus to be in the TARDIS together by the end and the former actually offering the latter the truth about how the world ended was excellent. Of course, Nostradamus had predicted doomsday and sparked himself into arrest for a false prophecy and what he envisioned coming in the form of the crocodilian Kro was nicely done. I wasn't a massive fan of their make up and design, as well as the voices sounding borderline silly, but in the end they made for more than decent villains. I liked that the Doctor and the Time Lords were known to the Poldagons which presented a fun dynamic, and the action that came at the conclusion made for an exciting end! Overall, a fun little audio adventure!

Rating: 8/10

The Cloisters of Terror

"I don't want to be a martyr."

Writer: Jonathan Morris

Format: Audio

Released: June 2015

Series: FDA 4.06

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

St Matilda's College, Oxford is haunted. The building was formerly a convent and, so the story goes, three ghostly nuns wander its passages during the hours of darkness. The story goes on to say that anyone who sees the 'three sisters' will not be long for this world. 

When one of the students mysteriously disappears, the Dean of the College, Dame Emily Shaw, has no option but to call in the police. Her call appears to be answered when a Police Box arrives in her study; the Doctor and Leela have come to investigate and uncover the dark secret that has lain buried beneath the college for almost a thousand years...

Verdict

The Cloisters of Terror was a very good Fourth Doctor Adventure! I thought this was a fun story to actually conclude my listening of the fourth series of the range in a very roundabout way and it started with a nice horror feel as Lynn was frightened of the mysterious Three Sisters who if seen, meant you were next to die. The contrast with her roommate Megan not being scared at all was great and I loved the return of Emily Shaw, now a Dame, to report Lynn as missing. Right from her first appearance it was clear that Sister Beckett was up to no good and that was great to hear throughout the story as she always popped up where she wasn't wanted. The meeting between the Doctor and Shaw was magnificent and I liked how she boasted knowledge of UNIT and explained her history with the Third Doctor, unbeknownst that the man present was the very article just in a different incarnation. The reference to The Last Post was delightful and the Doctor sending his regards to her daughter Liz was wonderful. The line about then police box appearing on the common as an explanation for the Doctor and Leela's investigating was tremendous. I also thought it was amusing for the Doctor to explain in such throwaway detail what Leela was wearing in the fashion of a bicycle suit. The all female college setting of St. Matilda's was a fantastic setting and always felt pretty eery which I guess isn't too much of a surprise when you have nuns on the loose. The strictness of being female only put the Doctor in an amusing predicament and I liked that Lynn had been researching the history of the college before going missing. Clearly somebody didn't want her finding out a truth with the site previously being a convent. I liked the revelation and the Doctor working out the geometric progression of the female disappearances was a very strong concept, although a firm reason on why would have been welcomed. The iconography of the three nuns being the angels that inspired Matilda to found the college was intriguing and I liked the story of how she became a saint shortly after disappearing in 985AD, at the time of the first progression. Leela seeing the nuns and being next in line to be taken was a good threat and the old room in the chapel as the ship navigation room was nicely done. The three pilots there were fascinating as they weren't the originals, and Leela being beckoned provided a strong cliffhanger. Those pilots experiencing a tough ageing process that accelerated them when linked was good and the astral telepathic hypnosis to get the girls required was enjoyable stuff. The removal of a sister meaning the forces of destruction being held back now able to come through was a strong threat and Megan being put in place to postpone armageddon presented a fine dilemma. Megan becoming a ghost was eery and I liked how her link to the navigation computer provided an out. Beckett being party to the kidnappers was obviously no surprise, but the description of the girls having faith and believing their sacrifice would get them into the Kingdom of Heaven was admirable, but I won't get into my thoughts on religion here. Matilda being the first victim worked well and recounting her encounter with the alien 'angels' through Megan was really beneficial in bringing the story full circle. The threat of the damaged warp field engine engulfing the Earth was excellent. I thought the idea of giving your life as a good reason for sainthood was a strong concept but girls now being conscripted was such a brilliant line. All of the girls being summoned was quite the image and the impact of Leela and Lynn becoming two of the three pilots was a shock. The Doctor wanting to start the engine without the warp was marvellous and it would just destroy the college with a smaller bang, rather than the entire planet. Beckett being the one to stay as penance was a nice touch and a noble sacrifice to conclude things. Overall, a really strong audio! 

Rating: 8/10