The Stuff of Nightmares: Together in Eclectic Dreams

"Danger is what happens when we wake."

Writer: Roy Gill

Format: Audio

Released: July 2022

Series: Classic Doctors, New Monsters 3.03

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Eighth Doctor

Synopsis

The Sixth Doctor takes companion Mari to the Archipelago of High Dream to try and stop the nightmares she's having in the TARDIS. 

Instead, they find the Lethe Foundation, a research facility overseen by musician Tara, lulling her clients to sleep with soothing melodies. But the Kantrofarri are hunting, and a mystery Green Man holds the key to escape...

Verdict

Together in Eclectic Dreams was a great story to continue my way through The Stuff of Nightmares third series of Classic Doctors, New Monsters! This was a brave episode and whilst the Kantrofarri might not have been the most appealing of new series monsters to make a comeback with a Classic Doctor, this worked well despite some worries of mine given what occurred in Last Christmas in their only television appearance. I must admit that their Christmas Special is not one that I remember overly fondly, but this was a pleasant surprise. I liked that the listener had the benefit of knowing the Kantrofarri already and it was clear right from the story synopsis that events were in a dream given that Mari was no companion of the Sixth Doctor. I must admit that after listening, I am kind of glad she was a dream one-off in that regard as I wasn't a massive fan. Maybe it was the lack of origin story, but the emotion injected when she had a lifetime of memories with the Doctor to only find out that it was all a dream. The threat of the Kantrofarri was really strong and the way the concept of seeing them meaning they could see you was delayed worked well. There was a lot of anticipation and that was a great thing to have throughout. I loved the twist of the Green Man actually being the Eighth Doctor and I do wonder if that will tie into the final episode in the boxset where the Dream Crabs are also present. I'd be very surprised if that wasn't the case! It won't really matter though as his appearance here was a delight. I was slightly taken aback when I heard Paul McGann's voice as the Green Man but it worked tremendously. His reaction and thinking his jacket was actually brown was amusing and his surprise that it was actually an earlier incarnation of his own that was present at the Archipelago was excellent. The fact he was expecting the one with the ears in the Ninth Doctor was fantastic and I am definitely going to need to hear a meeting between those two! The potential of a story featuring the incarnations either side of the Time War is dazzling. But alas, it was the one with the curls and patchwork jacket so the Eighth Doctor knew that dreams were in abundance as he didn't ever remember travelling with Mari, and his recall was that he came there alone. I thought Tara was a strong character and her reaction to realising everything was a dream in not being able to sing her own sons she was supposedly famous for was a little sad. Sam was a good character to as a sleep mentor and his ability to jump in and out of dreams was excellent, and very useful! The efforts to save the Eighth Doctor were terrific and I loved the Sixth Doctor's reaction to seeing that his future self was the Green Man too. The lack of Mari knowledge proved a little emotional for ol' Sixie as he seemed to have been travelling alone for too long now, but that wouldn't stop him on future adventures! The scene in the TARDIS when the Kantrofarri grasp was loosened was really nice and it was fun for him to recall accepting the flask from the High Dream. Overall, a really strong adventure! 

Rating: 8/10