Purity Undreamed: Chronomancer

"It's not personal."

Writer: Robert Valentine

Format: Audio

Released: August 2022

Series: Sixth Doctor Adventures 2.03

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Mel, Hebe

Synopsis

The Doctor, Mel and Hebe take Patricia to see 26th century Sheffield, but their trip is cut unexpectedly short. Caught in the crossfire between time-criminal, Khavul, and dashing 'chronomancer' Tannus Vallon, the TARDIS crash-lands back in the present. 

With a dimensionally transcendental artefact lost somewhere in the city, the Doctor and his friends must find it before Khavul can... but with resentments and prejudices finally unmasked, is an even bigger threat about to engulf the world?

Verdict

Chronomancer was an outstanding episode to conclude the Purity Undreamed second series of Sixth Doctor Adventures! This really rounded out a superb boxset and I must say I am really enjoying the direction of this series. I can't believe there isn't yet a release date for the next boxset after the cliffhanger finish. I liked the immediate continuity from Reverse Engineering with Patricia welcomed into the TARDIS for a trip to the future, but her reaction was uncanny. I honestly thought for a long time that she had become possessed by something from 26th century Sheffield so to find that she was horrified by the future she saw was a shocking moment. I really was stunned by that and the Doctor's reaction was so powerful as well. The sickening nature of her mindset to be so dissatisfied by the fact that there were still disabilities in the future. I was stunned and I'm so glad that the Doctor reacted in the way he did. He couldn't believe that he had offered someone like her a chance to travel in the TARDIS and after getting that privilege, she wanted to be returned home so abruptly. That was a surprise for Hebe and Mel, but the conversation had by the former and Patricia was equally as powerful. The claim from the professor that her thoughts weren't personal were so absent of thought and a perfect example of unknown privilege, the prejudice was off the charts. Hebe was allowed to shine and I loved the way she stood up for herself and others like her. Hebe embraces her disability and that's lovely, and it was so nice to hear how the onlookers of 26th century Sheffield thought her wheels were very cool. I liked the humour that came with Hebe suggesting she get an upgrade too. It was nice to round out the box set and link back to The Mindless Ones with Elise returning when the TARDIS team needed somewhere to house temporal traveller Tannus Vallon. Hebe taking a shine to him was terrific and allowed her to express herself very nicely. I was a big fan of that harmless humour. The chronomancer element of the story was not as powerful as the discussion on disability, but it was a really good backdrop and Khavul made for a strong villain. I liked how Patricia sided with him when she was handed the dangling gem of chaining the future, but he wasn't really interested in humanity. He was just after the artefact and it was fun for Elise to know where it was. The cameo from Ron was delightful as he eventually agreed to go and stay at Bernard's, and I do hope we haven't heard the last of him! I liked the simplicity of the conclusion when it came to the countdown and the Doctor just taking out the box, and Hebe even commenting on the apparent ease made it perfect. She's a fun companion and I'm excited to hear where things move forward. The double cliffhanger with Patricia being implanted with the travel device and then Hebe seemingly ceasing to exist after the Doctor felt the temporal judders was a fantastic way to setup the next series! Overall, a tremendous finale to a really strong boxset. 

Rating: 10/10