The Savages

"They wouldn't have prisoners in a place like this."

Writer: Ian Stuart Black

Format: Novel

Released: September 1986

Series: Target 109

Featuring: First Doctor, Steven, Dodo

Synopsis

Landing on a distant planet, the Doctor confidently announces to his companions that the TARDIS has brought them to an age of great advancement, peace and prosperity. 

The Doctor's calculations seem to be confirmed when the travellers are greeted by Jano and the Elders who take them on a tour of their city – a haven of beauty, harmony and friendship, set in a wilderness inhabited by tribes of savages. 

But the security of the city is founded on one deadly and appalling secret. Soon the Doctor and his friends discover that it is not only outside the city walls that savages dwell...

Verdict

The Savages was an excellent novelisation of the televised serial of the same name! I must admit that I find it a shame when the later Target novels don't take the 'Doctor Who and the..." approach to the title, but that had no bearing on my enjoyment of this book! I thought this was a brilliant read from start to finish and was done very easily in two sittings which is always a delight. I remember really enjoying the reconstruction of this sadly entirely missing serial when I watched it some eight years ago, but this novelisation is by far the most 'complete' version currently available to the Doctor Who fan. It's so nice to have a book of a missing serial to ensure that even if we don't get to watch the performed version, we know exactly what happened and get a full account of events. It's a very solid story from start to finish and goes with a unique approach for this era by having the Doctor land the TARDIS on a planet where he was actually expected! I thought it was really fun for the Elders to have been tracking the Doctor's journeys across the light years and they anticipated his arrival here. He was known as The Traveller Beyond Time which was really good and I was intrigued that he was almost immediately offered the chance to become an Elder himself. He was seemingly accepting, but attached conditions because he wanted to know just how the Elders and their society had become so advanced. The truth was in the story's title and cast a dark shadow on progress. The concept of transferring life from the so called Savages into the Elders was horrifying, and they really did seem to treat them as a completely different and sub-par species despite the obvious similarities. That was something that horrified the Doctor. He saw all humankind as the same and even one life was not worth their progress. I thought Steven and Dodo had pretty strong outings as companions in this one, with the former standing out for obvious reasons as this is his departure. It's often forgotten just how long Steven spent as a companion with the First Doctor and this doesn't seem like an obvious conclusion for his travels, but installing him as leader to ensure stability and progress between the Savages and the Elders is a fitting place for him to finish. The Doctor couldn't think of anybody better suited to the challenge, and after an initial doubt he was more than up for the challenge. How that came about was really well done and I loved that Jano was essentially transformed in taking the life essence of the Doctor. He'd incorporated a sense of right and wrong which have a profound impact on the society. That was brilliant and so well done in explaining it by showing that he had the chance to shoot Steven as he was escaping, and also aided him and Dodo by pressing the button that set them free. Suspicions were ripe amongst the Elders and after a few slips as the Doctor's mind seemed to be almost within Jano, it was clear that the transformation had given Jano more than he bargained for. Senta was a good character as the doctor in charge of the transformations and he really was committed to his work. I also thought it was a nice shift to have the chapter titles as quotes from within each chapter which was nice as a little hint as to what was to come. Overall, a fantastic read!                    

Rating: 9/10

Time War: Assassins

"He is not a god."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: March 2019

Series: Gallifrey 10.04

Featuring: Romana II, Narvin

Synopsis

Pushed to the brink by Rassilon's actions, Romana is thinking the unthinkable. 

A new threat has breached Gallifrey's defences. And its target is clear. A race of assassins has evolved at the heart of the Time War, dedicated to one purpose. The Sicari are coming for Rassilon...

Verdict

Assassins was a very good audio to conclude the second saga of Time War for Gallifrey and its tenth overall series! It's been an incredible journey so far and we are from done as the end of the episode indicates, but this intimate chapter of the Time War and focus on Ysalus seems to be over. There has been a great deal going on and it's been nice to not be overpowered by Daleks for the moment. This boxset was rightly all about Rassilon and the interaction he shared with Romana here was delightful. The references to the comically bad Zagreus were fun continuity and it's nice to utilise their history. Rassilon referring to the likes of Romana and Narvin as either a Daughter or Child of Time was intriguing and I loved how he mentioned things being better in the Old Times. This was something he was trying to bring back, at least the attitude. He was impressed with Narvin which was a bit of a surprise but his intention to wipe out the Daleks at their genesis hadn't gone unnoticed, even if the agent used to carry out that mission was wholly unreliable. Romana's comment about the Doctor not being able to stay out of the War for much longer was very good and some fun placing of the timelines as the Eighth Doctor's own Time War saga was already in full flow by this point. It's nice for Romana to know he might be coming though. I appreciated a lot of mopping up references here with Leela's position in The Lady of Obsidian explained and whilst I'm a huge fan of her character, the idea of her escaping the death endured at the hands of the War Master is something I'm not in favour of. Her supposed death was so impactful and whilst I do like the idea of Romana and Narvin searching for her at the heart of the Time War, I just wish characters stayed dead! The suggestion of Ace also being found was good and I loved how Braxiatel was blamed for involvement and the contradictions of her timeline going back to when she left the Doctor. That was a strong in-universe joke. It's nice to know that Narvin has been trying to find Ace and Leela and showed he cared. His being offered a brand new regeneration cycle was a brilliant moment and he was fully ingrained into the War Council without much of a hitch! The revelation that Livia had turned onto the side of Romana and against Rassilon was great but the President Eternal was expecting it and seemed to get the upper hand. Except the Sicari were on their way to try and assassinate the President, and why would the Time Ladies stop them? That was fun, but he survived and would go on to actually broadcast his regeneration live in a bid to showcase his power. The Time Lords were still the only interest when it came to surviving the War and it's really nice to have a direction for Romana and Narvin to head into the heart of the Time War. Romana drawing parallels with the Doctor was lovely here and I like the idea of her and Narvin actually getting to travel the universe a little. Overall, a fine end to what has been a really impressive and consistent boxset! 

Rating: 8/10

Time War: Collateral

"Our only thought now must be victory."

Writer: Lisa McMulin

Format: Audio

Released: March 2019

Series: Gallifrey 10.03

Featuring: Romana II, Narvin

Synopsis

As the scavenging Sythes descend on Ysalus, Narvin discovers how far his people will go to protect their interests. 

The universe is discovering that no place is safe from the fury of battle. 

Every victory in the Time War comes at a price, and too often it is the innocent who will pay...

Verdict

Collateral was another great audio to continue my way through the tenth series of Gallifrey and the second instalment of the range's Time War saga! I'm really enjoying the intimate approach of this particular boxset and not focusing on the all out war with the Daleks that we might expect from descriptions of the conflict from other sources. This series so far has centred on Rassilon and the extent at which he will go to in order to ensure victory against the Daleks. There could be no other outcome and the means at which to achieve victory for Gallifrey were pretty horrifying. The fate of Ysalus here was extraordinary and after it being put in a time freeze at the end of Partisans, I wasn't expecting it to already be freed! I liked the continuity and the build to the revelation that it was actually the War Council that were the ones to free it from its freezing was really well done. Rassilon sounded eery and like a man out of time which I think is the point, but his devotion for Gallifrey is unquestionable. He sees the Time Lords as the epitome of existence and if they wouldn't survive, well then with the Daleks victorious there wouldn't exactly be a universe left. I kind of understood the logic, but the destruction of Ysalus from its genesis over 47 million years ago was frightening. Romana was outraged when she heard the plan and it was nice for her to still have some followers on the inside of the War Council. Dalia was not afraid to hide communications and reveal War Council communications to Romana regarding their intentions for Ysalus, and that would later come back to hit him hard as he was removed from the Capitol altogether by the episode's conclusion. He was a really good character though and I hope this isn't the last for him as he could grow into a strong character in my opinion. Knyla was a fantastic character and I loved how she hacked into top Gallifreyan communication lines with intel from five years in the past. The mission that would be had for Eris was fascinating and I liked that with there being no means of saving Ysalus, the next best thing for Romana and Narvin to try was a planetary evacuation. Livia's explanation of sending a message and not setting a prophecy for sympathy  was pretty gruesome and showed the direction of Gallifrey under Rassilon. They were not to be messed with and they did all of this to Ysalus simply to send a message to the rest of the universe. That was absolutely horrifying and I would love now to see this Rassilon in action against the Daleks. The casualties will be in their masses, but placing Romana as someone against the War Council's direction is a really good way to go with the series. The ending was really good as despite their best efforts, the plan of Romana and Narvin failed and not one person was freed from Ysalus as it was destroyed before it came to be in existence. Dalia was off the War Council, but the swagger in the voice of Mantus when he proclaimed that Rassilon wanted some CIA involvement on the Council was brilliant. He was a dastardly politician using wartime to his advantage. That sounds familiar. The threat of the Sicari coming to Gallifrey is interesting and it could be nice for the Daleks to not be the only enemies in the saga. The Sythes could have been longer lasting as there was huge potential in them feeding off war and having a collective consciousness, but they worked very well whilst they lasted. Overall, a really good audio!

Rating: 8/10

Time War: Partisans

"The only good Neo is a dead Neo."

Writer: Una McCormack

Format: Audio

Released: March 2019

Series: Gallifrey 10.02

Featuring: Romana II, Narvin

Synopsis 

When the world of Ysalus becomes a strategic target for the Time Lords and their opponents, Gallifrey takes an interest in the planet's civil unrest. 

But the CIA and the War Council each have their own strategy. 

And, as good intentions only make things worse, the true horror of the Time War will be visited upon the people of Ysalus. 

Verdict

Partisans was was another great episode to continue my way through the second volume of Time War adventures for Gallifrey! It’s incredible to think that this is the tenth overall series of the spinoff range and I’ve liked how despite the threat of war and the Daleks looming, this boxset so far feels a little more traditional. There’s always mentions of the War in the background and here it was commented on ‘the times’ that Gallifrey was under, but it wasn’t just the Daleks that were the enemy. I like the strife between different divisions on Gallifrey and that’s what happened here with the War Council and the CIA. Romana was in the business of going off the record and behind the Council’s back when it came to the urgency of Ysalus. I liked its position as a rich source of olirium with that being a crucial element to the Daleks’ time travel capabilities. This was an excellent use of the Time War without the repetition of the Daleks actually featuring and I loved the strategic manouvering that was going on. I’m loving the politics on Gallifrey and Narvin wanting to be the one to go on the mission to Ysalus was really good. Romana was more interested in blooding some youth in the form of Eris so a compromise was made for them both to go. Mantus being alerted to the fact that both Narvin and Eris were missing was good and I liked how he was listening in on the conversation between Romana and Narvin regarding Ysalus. He’s going to be a player in this series I think, but I must admit I am waiting for a more triumphant emergence for Rassilon. I sense that may wait until the finale but it was important to keep his presence in the background. The extent of going to wiping out an entire planet and its people as casualties meant nothing in the grand scheme of things to him. Aladra arriving on Ysalus as the War Council’s representative was good and Narvin’s shocked reaction to a TARDIS materialsiing was a lot of fun. I thought she was great and the fact she actually came with weapons to sell on rather than just a ruse was brilliant. Narvin was horrified by that and it didn’t take too long for him to realise that she wasn’t on Ysalus to ensure the same side would win the war. The War Council actually wanting to lure the Daleks into a false sense of security of their work being done for them was a little strange, but it was a nice twist and showed the very different approach to the Time War that the Council had. Ystra was a great character as one of the planet’s natives and her choice of killing Alandra was incredible, especially with her reaction to witnessing regeneration! She just kept on shooting which was incredible and a really powerful moment highlighting a strong sense of desperation. Narvin’s reaction said everything as he was pretty stunned! I liked the conclusion in the fact that it appears more is going to come from Ysalus and the planet and that’s no real surprise given its importance to the Daleks. Narvin coming up with a plant to freeze the planet in time to ensure that it wasn’t destroyed and its inhabitants didn’t die was good, and the freezing taking place just as Ystra was going to shoot Temmis was excellent! Will he be shot immediately upon unfreezing? Or will that ever happen given how the Time War ends. I’m surprised that we haven’t heard more from Livia in this series and I do hope that we get more of her in the final two episodes, but it was nice to hear her again with Romana and not wanting to interfere. Overall though, this was a really strong adventure and I’m enjoying this instalment of the Time War saga very much! A great listen and good continuity to move forward.

Rating: 8/10

Time War: Havoc

"Rassilon is the only one who can lead us to victory."

Writer: David Llewellyn 

Format: Audio

Released: March 2019

Series: Gallifrey 10.01

Featuring: Romana II, Narvin

Synopsis

In the aftermath of Rassilon's return, Romana finds herself at the heart of the War Council's machinations, with the High Council, the CIA, and the Lord President's new security force all vying for control. 

But then, a mysterious stranger arrives in the Capitol itself. And they bring a terrible warning from the future...

Verdict

Havoc was an excellent start to the second volume of Time War audio adventures for Gallifrey! After a sublime cliffhanger at the end of the first volume with Rassilon returning, this was a fine opener. I really enjoyed the political nature of the episode in dealing with Rassilon’s return as the President Eternal. I think that’s a really fun title and does a lot to show just how prominent a figure he was. Rassilon was audibly not himself for much of the story which might not be much of a surprise given the fact he was resurrected and had been dead for a considerable amount of time. I thought Narvin also did a tremendous job during the story in selling how prominent and important a figure Rassilon was when it came to his comments about looking into his eyes. He felt inferior and that was intriguing to hear him admit. I liked how the episode started with Jevon being murdered and the mystery surrounding that worked very well. It was good that we didn’t know the identity until close to the end and the quietness of the pilot was really strong in enhancing the impact. The suggestion of the TARDIS that arrived with the murderer being from the future was good and I did wonder how that fitted in with the Time War and the time lock. It did seem that considerable effort went into getting him there and after a relatively straightforward murder, he hid himself away. Livia’s position was certainly feeling less than during this story following the emergence and resurrection of Rassilon, and with him as President she became Prime Minister which was very fun. It didn’t exactly bring a lot of power and prestige when it was newly created! Livia helping acquit Romana was a bit of a surprise and suggested a new direction for this series which I would definitely be a fan of hearing. Despite trying to reason and form an agreement with the Daleks, Romana worked her way back into prominence rather nicely here. I appreciated the reference to her having already encountered Rassilon and now she wanted full jurisdiction on the murder investigation. That seemed a logical move and was a good way to utilise her strengths. Rassilon wasted no time in reforming Gallifrey with the creation of the Internal Defence Unit and dissolving the Chancellory Guard which I liked as a way to assert his authority. The Drylands precedent being invoked was really good and with it being an ancient law that was never revoked, it caused a lot of uproar and chaos which was fun. Something that was not fun was Narvin actually going as far as killing the pilot that committed the murder of Jevon. He didn’t intend on shooting him dead but when it appeared that he was going for his staser, Narvin had no choice. Of course, it turned out that he wasn’t actually reaching for a gun but for a video communicator intended for Narvin to see. The CIA Deputy was audibly distraught by his actions and would do all he could to repair the staser blast damage of the video message. The revelation that the killer and future TARDIS-pilot was actually a future incarnation of General Trave was something I did not see coming! I liked it though and things really have escalated for him and Livia since their roles in bringing back Rassilon was perhaps outdated now on Gallifrey and hearing Romana also attempt to form an advisory board to bring up to scratch with the modern era on the planet was done well. There was strong scheming and politics at its best which is what this spinoff range does so well. I’m not sure I was exactly expecting Trave to be executed given the obvious paradox it created but the way it happened was pretty brutal with the gamma ripping him apart almost instantly. It was quite the way to set an example and I’m sure it will have had the desired effect. I’m looking forward to hearing if that is the case as we move forward with this series. The ending with Narvin getting the video communication from Trave to play was good and I enjoyed how it was a grave warning to the past from a world ravaged by war that was on its last legs thanks to Rassilon. Hearing a future version of Narvin warning his old self about the chance for change was startling, but it was something I really enjoyed. Overall, a fantastic audio to kick off the series!

Rating: 9/10

The Revolution Game

"Your reign of terror won't last."

Writer: Alice Cavender

Format: Audio

Released: July 2019

Series: Further Adventures of Lucie Miller 1.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Lucie

Synopsis

It's Lucie's birthday, and her birthday treat awaits. But whatever she's expecting, it's not what she's getting on the colony world of Castus Sigma in the year 3025: ringside seats for the interplanetary Retro Roller Derby – sponsored by Heliacorp ("Turning sunlight into gold"!)

It's more than just a game, though. For the competitors, it's a matter of life or death – a New Life with Heliacorp, or a living death on Castus Sigma. 

Or, on this fateful day, a very actual death. Because there are strange creatures living out on the plain, beyond the colony. Creatures with every reason to want to sabotage the games. Creatures with a grudge. 

Verdict

The Revolution Game was a decent story to continue my way through the first volume of the Further Adventures of Lucie Miller! I’m still so happy to be getting an extra boxset of adventures for the Eighth Doctor and Lucie and having this as the companion’s birthday was a lot of fun. The Doctor didn’t exactly live up to expectations when it came to throwing a celebration and to be honest, I wouldn’t have expected anything less. It was fun to hear Lucie all joyful and full of hope, but at one point as the episode spanned more than a day the Doctor was quick to tell Lucie that it wasn’t her birthday anymore! That was a bit harsh and pretty humorous. The dynamic between the pair was strong and I enjoyed the premise of the episode, but my gosh the pace was absolutely frantic. There was an awful lot to try and fit into the one hour and that became slightly to its detriment. I think if this was expanded into a two-parter or more traditional two-hour release, it would have been much better and really able to flesh out the ideas. Instead, there felt like there was no room to breathe in some instances and whilst that helped with excitement, there was little time to reflect and enjoy what was going on. Sash was a really nice character and I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship she built with Lucie. The impact George had on her was understandable and became an important aspect of the story, and it was just nice to have focus on her. The fact she took over as the Glasweigan Kiss for the games was good stuff and her punchline regarding Blackpool rock was so incredibly awful that it was brilliantly funny. The Castus Sigma setting was strong and I liked how Lucie would become the bionic women with the low sense of gravity there. She was able to utilise that to her advantage on more than one occasion which worked really well. I liked the Jengu as a concept and the way they were essentially harvested for the protein in their wings was horrifying. That was a good revelation and whilst a little predictable, Clegg’s reaction to the realisation that the Doctor knew all was very nicely done. He was a decent villain alongside Spartacus as the missing Jengu and the way everything tied together was pretty good, but I just couldn’t escape that feeling of it being a little rushed. There wasn’t anything particularly bad about the story as my rating reflects, it was just trying to do a little too much for one hour. I liked the direction and the plot twists for the most part, and there was good fun with the Roller City Derby for action and sporting involvement. Spartacus having already laid the explosives that would eventually bring about his downfall was a little convenient but did manage to tie everything up pretty nicely for the most part despite being slightly underwhelming. I just wish Lucie had a better birthday celebration! Overall, a decent listen. 

Rating: 7/10

The King of Terror

"I've been used by the devil himself."

Writer: Keith Topping

Format: Novel

Released: November 2000

Series: PDA 36

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Tegan, Turlough, Brigadier

Synopsis

'All this useless beauty. All these great leaps forward. And for what? So that the first alien with an advanced degree in interplanetary warfare can take it all from you?'

As the millennium draws to a close, the future of humankind hinges on the activities of one multimedia company, InterCom. Suspecting that old mistakes are being repeated, the Brigadier asks the Doctor and his companions to investigate the company's Los Angeles headquarters. But their infiltration is disrupted by the murderous games of terrorists seeking the fulfilment of age-old prophecies.

When the Doctor and UNIT encounter aliens in the boardroom, Tegan meets a pop star, Turlough finds himself a victim of his own desires and Los Angeles becomes a war zone in which humanity is merely a helpless bystander. 

Verdict

The King of Terror was not the greatest of books I have ever read unfortunately! It’s been quite a while since I have been able to divulge into a novel with buying a house recently and the everyday life of having a one-year-old son, along with recent footballing trips to Poland, Netherlands and Belgium, so I was so excited to finally sit back with a book. However, this did not leave me with the best of tastes and I had the inclination from the first forty or so pages that this was not going to be a good read. I wouldn’t exactly call it a slog, but it took some perseverance to get it read within 48 hours. It just never felt right in terms of atmosphere and tone to match the era of Doctor Who that it was from. It was fun to play around with different incarnations of the Doctor meeting the Brigadier out of order, but this seemed to contradict Battlefield a bit too much with the Brigadier back in office even over a decade after the events of that adventure. That was a bit much to accept. I did though relish in the opportunity of the Fifth Doctor and the Brigadier pairing up once again and some of the comments about this fifth incarnation were intriguing and really interesting to know how he was perceived. Just having a full on UNIT story in the Fifth Doctor era was most welcomed, but it was far from what we saw on the show during the 1970s. Paynter and Barrington were the closest we came to Benton and Yates but the adult tone of the book really took them to a different level. I thought some of their dialogue together was far too long and just excessive, and I wasn’t a big fan of some of the comments against women. I know it’s soldier mentality and all that, but I don’t think it had much of a place in Doctor Who. Paynter did grow on me a lot by the end of the story though and that was all down to the relationship he built with Tegan. They freely admitted to loathing one another after Milligan was murdered and the UNIT soldier, shot in the leg himself, had to try and save Tegan whilst taking out the two other assassins on their way. That provided good context for the kiss that came after an uncomfortable slapping session, and Tegan’s reaction was humorous as she was shocked by the fact she’d kissed a man she hated and the kiss being brilliant. They did seem to get on more towards the end of the book and the Doctor teasing Paynter over Tegan and how she was supposedly singing love songs was delightful. From a personal perspective, I was a little disappointed to find considerable references and continuity with The Devil Goblins From Neptune which is a book I have yet to read. I understand Control and other characters featured there which the author of this adventure co-wrote and whilst I was impressed with the background being explained, I always try to do things in order where there is follow on but with my method of consumption overlap is impossible to completely avoid if I’m also to be free of spoilers. The ordeal endured by Turlough in this book was horrifying and whilst I actually liked the concept of InterCom being out for him because he was an alien, the descriptions were brutal and very umcomfortable. I’m not sure an anal probe was necessary, and a Doctor Who companion murdering someone the way he did to Eva was baffling. It was absolutely gruesome. It wasn’t quite on the lower levels of Tegan just calling Paynter a dickhead. The idea of a war in heaven was decent but trying to sell the Jex and Canavitchi on the same level as the Daleks was just ludicrous. That was a comment that never should have been put in the Doctor’s mouth as it is never going to be accepted or thought of as believable. The history of their races was explained very well and one slave race turning on their masters after being well equipped was a sound enough background, but the build-up to the war that occurred was just lacking. It meant nothing. Having them wait to extract the DNA they needed from Turlough in efforts to rewrite the nature of the human race just because they wanted to see what UNIT had on them made zero sense to me. It just made them look stupid. It was a shame as some of the characters were really good. Newton and his religious take on things was fascinating and I also thought the likes of Sanger and Cheng Sun had a lot of potential. The description of the war above the planet was good but the scale of the events was almost too huge. An entire web protecting the planet from the battle’s devastation was almost plucked out of thin air it was so quick. I did like them dealing with the little sections in which it was broken through, but I was then astonishingly perplexed by the book’s ending with the war being declared over and both races simply leaving Earth! The Doctor didn’t have to do anything! How utterly ridiculous. I’ve focused on the negatives of the book with this blog entry, which is slightly harsh as there were some strong characters and a unique setting of Los Angeles which I appreciated, but as a whole this is not a book I would be recommending. 

Rating: 5/10

Year of the Drex Olympics

"Who would have thought the Earthlings could be so wonderful?"

Writer: Paul Ebbs

Format: Audio

Released: April 2019

Series: Short Trips 9.04

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie

Synopsis

All the Doctor wanted to do on Venus was learn their aikido. But as ever, his plans have gone awry. The TARDIS has been stolen to be a prize in the Venusian Olympics. The Doctor is furious, not only at the theft but also that it is the third place prize! Now Jamie and Victoria must compete to get the TARDIS back, and soon find themselves winning every event. 

The TARDIS crew normally win, but this time it might cost them everything...

Verdict

Year of the Drex Olympics was a very decent and solid Short Trips audio adventure! I really like the idea of taking the Doctor to Venus as it’s something that has been alluded to on a number of occasions but we didn’t quite get it on screen which is a shame. This audio’s setting of Drex worked really well and I liked how it was essentially the Solar System’s second planet’s capital city as the biggest there. That was important context and gave credence to it hosting the Olympics. I love the idea of the Olympics not being exclusive to Earth and some of the imagery painted here was great. The Doctor giving a speech on biofuel extraction was not what I was expecting for a story referring to Olympics, but it was something I’d expect from him in showing the benefits. The fact that he was doing so to be taught Venusian Aikido in return was absolutely tremendous and I have to say I was so disappointed by the ending with him being confident in the art now based on what he saw from Finflalofix instead of actually taking the lessons. The concept was sound but I just didn’t understand the ending! Jamie trying to explain to the Doctor that the TARDIS was gone was humorous stuff and I always enjoy the threat of the isolation without it. The idea of having to partake in the Olympic Games to win it back was nicely done! It turned out though that it would be Jamie and Victoria competing but they were actually doing too well which was slightly odd. The prize for the third place only was the TARDIS, so the fact that Jamie and Victoria were topping the leaderboards was not good! I enjoyed that aspect. The companions were wowing the crowds but that wasn’t something the Doctor was pleased about for obvious reasons! The distortion of Victoria’s voice was a little odd and whilst it allowed her a lot more dialogue as it eliminated the need for Frazier Hines to do an impression of her, it just felt very wrong. It lasted the duration and whilst it was a clear way to show the DNA virus that was on the loose, it just didn’t sit right with me. I’d expect her to be a bit more hysterical if that happened to her in all honesty. The mystery of someone sabotaging the sporting equipment and endangering the health of Jamie and Victoria was good with the effects of the mutator wave more than being felt. Mother Superior was a good character and I liked her confusion as the wave was well known on Venus and especially Drex. It was created for the warrior nuns during a previous war and had the sole purpose of giving strength and desire. This was what had consumed Jamie and Victoria and explained their sporting edge nicely, as I just couldn’t believe that Victoria would be winning at something like javelin! Not on an Olympic level that’s for sure. Finflalofix being the cause was actually something I didn’t see coming and it initially seemed underwhelming for Mother Superior to just return the TARDIS, but that was something Finflalofix wouldn’t allow. He wanted to continue the monopoly he had on energy and wasn’t on board with the Doctor’s speech. His threat of taking the TARDIS and throwing it into a volcano was excellent and whilst it would be indestructible below a magma chamber, there was no means of entry. Quite the threat! I really enjoyed the potential of the TARDIS being destroyed and the means were pretty foolproof, but I was slightly late disappointed by the resolution at the end with the Doctor disengaging hover mode to save the TARDIS and had also concocted an antidote a little too quickly for my liking. Admittedly, the format is short but it was a little too easy and just described rather than explained. Perhaps I was just more disappointed by the Doctor not actually getting the Venusian lessons. Overall though, still a very solid audio with a lot of fun ideas. And faultless narration by Frazier Hines as always!

Rating: 7/10

The Power of the Doctor

"This is the day you die."

Writer: Chris Chibnall

Format: TV

Broadcast: 23 October 2022

Series: BBC Centenary Special

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, Dan, Ace, Tegan

Synopsis

Her final battle. Her deadliest enemies. The Thirteenth Doctor faces multiple threats from Daleks, Cybermen and the Master in a fight for her very existence.

Verdict

The Power of the Doctor was an outstanding feature-length special to conclude the run of the Thirteenth Doctor! There was just so much going on from start to finish and it really did not disappoint. It brought a really nice end to the current run of the show whilst also paying homage to years gone by in a rather splendid way. With this episode celebrating the show and it's place on the BBC for fifty-nine of its century of years, it was fitting to finally combine the forces of the Master, Cybermen and Daleks. Their alliance being based on a hatred for the Doctor more so than hatred for themselves was excellent and the only motive necessary. I thought the departure of Dan was slightly abrupt but it was more than understandable that after a very close shave in space, he wanted to ensure he had a life to go back to. But things moved so fast that we didn't ponder and two companions from years gone by made emphatic returns! The moment the Doctor laid eyes on Tegan and Ace was sensational and it was such a look of joy and guilt all rolled into one. Ace was certainly more happy to see her old professor whilst Tegan was rather peeved not to have any contact in the thirty-eight years since she departed in Resurrection of the Daleks! The later scene where she barged her way onto the TARDIS was incredible as well. She was not messing around. Despite all the nostalgia and sentiment occurring, the star of this episode for me was by far the Master. Sacha Dawan gave an astounding performance as the renegade Time Lord and honestly it might be my favourite ever from a Master. The moment where he has the Doctor imprisoned in a Dalek casing is sublime and the Rasputin song overplaying is just glorious. So incredibly good. The concept of the Master being Rasputin in of itself is extraordinary and I love that as an in-universe explanation for the pull he had on the Tsar. The threat of the Daleks and the volcanos going off to destroy Earth was strong and the multiple threats for the Doctor to tackle at once provided strong jeopardy. I loved the familiarity Ace and Tegan brought as they both instantly reacted to mentions of the Master and Cybermen. The references to Logopolis and Survival were absolutely delightful as the Master asked after Tegan's aunt Vanessa whilst then describing his Catkind stage as experimental. Superb. Kate was brilliant as well and it's fitting that UNIT featured in such a celebratory episode. The idea of the Master forcing the Doctor to regenerate and him take over as her was sensational, even more so was the fact he was successful! The attire he wore with remnants of so many Classic costumes was just wonderful and the moment he screamed in Yaz's face that he was the Doctor was so chilling. Fantastic stuff. The scene that made me smile most was seeing the Thirteenth Doctor on the edge of regeneration and the remnants of her former selves, with the First, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Doctors all making splendid surprise cameos! That was such a lovely treat and I love that there was no effort to hide that they were much older now. Having the moments between the Fifth & Tegan and the Seventh & Ace was also gorgeous stuff that actually made me quite emotional. I loved it. The Fugitive Doctor being on hand to help Yaz with the forced degeneration was tremendous and harnessing the regeneration energy from the Cyber Masters was magnificent. I thought Ashad was a little quiet, but it was nice for him to torment UNIT. The Master forcing the Doctor into regeneration was a fitting way to round out her era as he seemed doomed on the metal planet destructing, and the Doctor was able to postpone her regeneration just long enough for a heartfelt goodbye to Yaz. It was a really emotional ending and I have to say that Jodie Whittaker has been truly wonderful. I am going to miss her greatly, but this was a fitting sendoff and her regeneration was handled lovely. She had an extended fam and getting to see that with a club with Graham, Jo, Ian and Mel making surprise returns was also glorious! Ian getting a line about the Doctor being a her was just so much fun. But that moment of regeneration on the clifftop was so perfect, and a familiar face became the Fourteenth Doctor! David Tennant is back as a completely new incarnation, one he remembers but clothes as well? Just what is going on? Well, it looks like we have to wait over a year to find out! Overall though, a wonderful special.

Rating: 10/10 

Queen of Rhodia

"Your reign of terror won't last."

Writer: Blair Mowat

Format: Audio

Released: April 2020

Series: Class Vol 4.03

Featuring: Miss Quill

Synopsis

Quill wakes to find herself unexpectedly back on Rhodia – which is impossible – though not quite as impossible as the life that waits for her there. To save her future, Quill must turn her back on the past. But is this the end or a new beginning?

Verdict

Queen of Rhodia was a great audio to conclude the fourth and final volume of audio adventures for Class! I have come to the end of the audios for this spinoff range and whilst there is potential for more in the future, this serves as a fine end and definitely has more of a finale feeling than what we initially got on television with the Weeping Angel cliffhanger. I still can't quite believe that this cliffhanger remains unresolved and whilst it has been fun to have four series to go alongside the one we got on television set within it, I would love for a future continuation as there's a lot of potential to explore with the main characters as they grow up. This volume has been focused on Quill which has been really terrific and having her wake up on Rhodia was a nice touch and it was brilliant just to visit the planet in full despite it not being the real article. Quill was impressed at first as she assumed it was some kind of recreation given the impossibility of her planet being returned after the Shadow Kin destroyed it. She was a lot of fun here and suffering from supposed amnesia worked well as it turned out she was actually in command! Rhodia was far from the version she knew, especially when Tanya emerged as its Queen! The idea of her being royalty on Rhodia was amusing and Quill couldn't quite believe that someone she knew from her torment teaching physics was supposedly on top of the hierarchy on her homeworld. The difference between the war and Quill actually being on the side of Rhodia was a fun twist but not one that was quite believable. Corporal Blood was a strong character and the suggestion of him being a blood cell and Quill dealing with a virus was something I definitely could have seen expanded upon. In saying that, I was kind of glad that this wasn't revealed as the case, but it was a fun idea and one that could certainly have worked. Charlie being on the other side of the war was a fun twist too and Quill wasn't buying that he wasn't the Prince. She was blasphemous at times regarding the royalty which was good stuff and this was a fun exploration of her character. The little cameos of April and Ram were welcomed and I have been surprised by how little the latter has featured in this boxset. It was a good way to show Quill that the planet and dimension was a little too personalised to her life on Earth and that was also evident from her being referred to as Andrea. That was the alias she went by on Earth, but that wasn't her true name. I thought it was great for her to work all that out and tying in with the loose story arc of the boxset with the gaps in time and space was brilliant. I was a big fan of that. It's ironic actually that by the end of the episode, Quill wanted to return to Earth and her imprisonment there at the hands of the angry Scotsman which was how she humorously described the Twelfth Doctor.  I loved the dialogue at the end which really did feel like the spinoff range had come to an end as they reflected on leaving things on a cliffhanger with it opening up new stories as one closed. I'm not at all a fan of it happening and things going unresolved, as Agent Carter did, but this was a nice way to address things and give a comfortable conclusion. Overall, a very strong audio!

Rating: 8/10

The Creeper

"Something is breathing in my ear."

Writer: Lizzie Hopley

Format: Audio

Released: April 2020

Series: Class Vol 4.02

Featuring: April, Charlie, Matteusz, Miss Quill

Synopsis

While the pupils of Coal Hill Academy celebrate Hallowe'en, Quill and Matteusz investigate an alien distress call emanating from a boarded-up house in Shoreditch. Can April and Charlie reach them before it's too late? And what is the 'Creeper' inside?

Verdict

The Creeper was another great audio to continue my way through the fourth volume of Class audio adventures! I really liked this one as a strong follow up to the excellent oopener of Mock and this was a very different take on the school setting and age of the characters. This very much feels like my university life and whilst the main characters here are attending Coal Hill Academy, the use of a Halloween party was terrific. Having that as a setting always works as the spooks are never going to be purely innocent and there’s potential for them to become real. That’s kind of what happened here and there was a lot of fancy dress humour which worked well. April had arrived in the popular costume of a zombie with it being the Day of the Dead and she wasn’t happy to find so many others matching her. She knew she should’ve stayed in her sexy witch outfit and that’s something that bypassed Matteusz. With Ram not around to provide her with a Dracula, April was on the hunt for Charlie. He l less thrilled by the prospect of the Halloween party which provided some good amusement, especially with him admitting he was claustrophobic. That didn’t bode well as the episode endured. It was really nice to have four of the main cast all featuring here with April, Charlie, Matteusz and Miss Quill in main roles and that really did make a difference. Whilst it’s been nice to pair off different elements of the cast, this arguably felt like the most authentic from the audio range yet. The Creeper as the titular character and how she was later referred to was a really good character and fitted in well with the Halloween setting. The distortion of her voice was decent and I liked how mysterious she seemed. Mattheusz and Miss Quill going missing in the Creeper’s home was good and provided a strong plot basis. It heightened the threat which was perpetuated by the distortion. The enigmatic nature of the symbols all being a mess on the floor was well done and I liked the use of background voices in creating an eery atmosphere. I appreciated everything that was going on.  The bones covering the floor added to that and the Creeper being the cause of that was a really great revelation. It wasn’t much of a surprise, but her comments about human blood being sweet and some people taking longer to die than others were outstanding. I will say that the voice probably sounded too much like Quill and I thought it was her in a different dimension at the start, but it worked when she wasn’t overpowered with dialogue. The image of her carving star charts into the stones with her nails was horrifying and it was fun to play on Charlie having two faces as she could see the real him behind the human facade. The supposed truth regarding the Creeper as being the guide for an interspace tourist trip going wrong seemed slightly odd, but the concept of spatial dislocation breaking down and the Creeper not being able to leave was fantastic. The star charts being a beacon to try and escape was very logical and April having to be the one to try and get through the passage to the dimension and free Mattheusz and Quill was very good. It tied in with Charlie’a earlier fears and the Creeper playing on that and April being isolated was very well done. It was pretty fun for the Durant as those trying to break through attempting to latch on back through the dimension and whilst I thought they might have been revealed a little late, it was nice when that moment came. I was impressed with how April used the nun story that Mattheusz recited to her from his grandmother to focus his mind and keep him stable despite almost falling apart in the distorted dimension. Mattheusz found his way back through the passage, but was possessed as the Durant came through. They were priests of war just requiring a door, and now they’d got that. I liked how the Creeper was named as such because that was her signature named after how she moved through space. April was encouraging a new one and conjured up Miss Steel which was a popular choice. The drama of the conclusion with Charlie altering the star chart to divert the signal away and shutdown the passage worked very well and I liked how he took it upon himself and Quill to have responsibility for her now that her only way home was gone. The twist at the end was wonderful with the Creeper seemingly have been playing all along and now had a planet of her own to play with. She knew the Creeper story and the younger voices recalling that was great. I’m not sure we will get one, but if this leads into a follow up for the finale then I’ll be very happy! Overall, a really great audio. 

Rating: 8/10

Mock

"They weren't welcome on their own world."

Writer: Alfie Shaw

Format: Audio

Released: April 2020

Series: Class Volume 4.01

Featuring: Charlie, Miss Quill

Synopsis

As the students of Coal Hill Academy prepare to tackle exam season, Quill and Charlie find themselves tested to their limits. Childhood memories from their homeworld threaten to hijack the present – and there are no easy answers.

Verdict

Mock was an excellent start to the fourth volume of audio adventures for Class! I think this is one of my favourite episodes yet from the range and was a brilliant way to kick off a boxset. I must admit that I was slightly underwhelmed by the prospect of a mock exam to fill a Doctor Who-universe set story, but by the end I really appreciated how clever that was and a fine way of utilising the school setting. This story was all about Charlie and Miss Quill and exploring their relationship an connection harking back to Rhodea, but it was nice to get cameos from the likes of Tanya, Ram and April as the gang prepared for a mock exam. They all had differing opinions on the importance and relevance of a mock exam which really took me back to my schooldays, and I was of the opinion that they did matter and really good practice ahead of the real thing. Hearing Miss Quill give the instructions as the invigilator was hilarious stuff and a perfect use of her character. I think Dervla Kerwan is doing a stellar job in making that role her own whilst honouring the original actress and character's personality. There really doesn't feel like much of a change and whilst the audio format obviously helps with that as there are no visuals, I'm really impressed and I think this must go down as one of the better recasts. The story of Rhodea and the place of the Quill on the planet was excellent and I loved how the voices were in Quill's head. She mistook them for students talking during exams which obviously was not permitted, but she soon cottoned onto what was actually happening and the episode really took off from there. This was a terrific exploration of the relationship between Quill and Charlie, and with them literally being bonded that is always troublesome. However, I think they realised just how important they are to each other by the time this episode was done and that shared connection was crucial. Despite their differences on Rhodea, they were bonded by being the last survivors of their respective race and had it out for the Shadow Kin. The Cleaver made for an interesting perpetrator behind events and the story of Rhodea being repeated, and his desire to free Quill of her bond to Charlie was intriguing and certainly appealing to her! Referring to her by her given name felt a little odd and showed the history the Cleaver had, and I loved how Quill challenged him on how he hid away whilst the Shadow Kin invaded and destroyed. The use of the story throughout was magnificent and I was a really big fan of it in its own right. The students all writing it down on their exam was amusing, but not quite as funny as Quill demanding Charlie use the toilet to get him out of the exam hall when the voices started. Charlie realising rather quickly that Quill wasn't the real article was good and I liked that dynamic. Quill getting a taste of being free from Charlie was really well done and I imagine the temptation for that to become permanent was very strong, but she fantastically emerged and used the story against the Cleaver to send him packing in emphatic fashion. Overall, a really enjoyable story! 

Rating: 9/10

Sargasso

"It's just ducks... rubber ducks!"

Writer: Christopher Cooper

Format: Audio

Released: June 2019

Series: Torchwood Monthly 28

Featuring: Rhys

Synopsis

The seas of planet Earth are choked by plastic. Plastic that no-one has a use for and no-one can get rid of. 

Rhys Williams finds himself stranded on a container ship in a sea of debris. People on board are dying. Because, luckily, someone's found a solution to Earth's polluted waters. The Nestene Consciousness can never have too much plastic. 

Verdict

Sargasso was a great audio adventure to continue my way through this mini arc of Torchwood vs Monsters! I love the image on the CD artwork with Rhys being depicted as an Auton and whilst it was more the Nestene Consciousness that was the enemy in this one rather than its plastic minions, it was so striking and grabbed attention right from the off. I thought it was a good approach to have Rhys in the lead role and placing the timeline as post-Torchwood for him and Gwen was interesting. It showed that Torchwood never really escapes you and despite what then media might say, alien threats are all around. They couldn't be escaped, not even on the Atlantic Ocean and a shipping container fleet. I liked the environmental theme of the story and that proved to be a strong point of discussion for Kaitlin given her views on plastic and the damage it was causing to the planet. Coupling that with the fact her father owned one of the mega plastic chemical companies made her a great character with a strong background. I thought she served her purpose well alongside Rhys and the pair had a decent enough relationship to carry the story through. I liked how Rhys was often making references to Gwen and just hearing how the days of Torchwood were behind her didn't feel right despite everything that had happened during Miracle Day, Aliens Among Us and God Among Us. She just wanted some semblance of normality for Anwen which was lovely and Rhys describing how having a daughter meant all he did was worry was terrific. As a father to an energetic one-year-old, I fully appreciate that sentiment! When it comes to plastics and Doctor Who's universe, the Nestene Consciousness is never going to be far away and it really did seem to be at home in the middle of an ocean. It has always looked similar to a giant octopus with its slimy tentacles so the imagery of it crashing about in the seas and breaking surface was tremendous. It was up there with the image of Rhys as an Auton! I thought the Captain made for a good additional character but for me the focus was always on Rhys and Kaitlin. Tackling the Consciousness's ability to manipulate plastic was good and that even going to the extent of a keyboard on a computer was really good. I like how Rhys also had no idea of what the Consciousness was and that just seemed to make it more frightening given the heightened vulnerability. The mentioning of the ocean containing untraceable but mass amounts of micro plastic was intriguing and echoed a line in Praxeus with all of the plastic around and what could happen if it were to be controlled. The solution being to light up all the plastic was really good and I liked the impact that had on Kaitlin because of then impact it would have on the environment. That was a strong dilemma for her, but there really was no other choice. How else would Rhys go onto defeat the Nestenes? Overall, this was a very strong audio and it was nice at the end to hear Rhys on the phone to Gwen about what he'd achieved and saved. Overall, a great audio! 

Rating: 8/10

The Rise of the New Humans

"Impossible? A pointless word."

Writer: Guy Adams

Format: Audio

Released: March 2018

Series: Third Doctor Adventures 4.01

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

When a man dies after falling from the top floor of a multi-storey car park, the Doctor and Jo wonder why it should be of interest to UNIT. Then they see the protuberances on the man's back... As he fell, he tried to grow wings. 

Looking into the man's past leads the Doctor and Jo to a remote private hospital where the staff aren't as helpful as they could be, and the Chief Administrator is unavailable to meet with them.

Breaking into some restricted wards, the Doctor notes the presence of alien and futuristic technology. The whole thing bears the unmistakable hallmarks of one of his own people's interference, one of his old foes. Except not perhaps the one he might have imagined.

The Monk is back. And this time his meddling may have gone too far.

Verdict

The Rise of the New Humans was an excellent story to kick off the fourth series of Third Doctor Adventures! I have become a massive fan of this range and Tim Treloar really has done an incredible job of giving life to the third incarnation of the Doctor for Big Finish. He is so effortlessly like Jon Pertwee and the chemistry he shares with Katy Manning as Jo Grant is just tremendous. They're such a strong pairing and it's so lovely that we can get more adventures with the Third Doctor and Jo. I thought this was really fun and felt like it would more than fit into the era. The suggestion of the Master's presence was a wonderful part one cliffhanger as the facility with its technology out of time and victims growing the likes of wings and gills suggested his involvement, but alas it was a much different renegade the Time Lord! The Monk is a big favourite of mine when it comes to villains and I've loved him ever since I first watched The Time Meddler. I think it's hilarious that the name of the Monk has stuck and having him mention that he really didn't go by that name was glorious. It's so silly yet brilliant, and here he was simply going as the Chief Administrator. The hospital worked well and the patients it was working on were very interesting indeed. The entire basis of a suicide victim actually trying to grow wings as he jumped from the top of a multi-storey was extraordinary and I loved Jo's reaction to that ridiculousness. The Doctor commenting that there had also been a drowning victim who had tried to grow gills was fascinating and we had quite the basis for the adventure! I liked the idea of new humans and trying to cure everything is a brave and bold aim, especially with the method of adapting to new environments and ecosystems almost instantly. That was of course far beyond the technology of the 1970s, but that was precisely what Dr Kurdi was up to. She was seemingly excelling although she disregarded the victims as failed experiments which didn't go down well with the Doctor. It was a strong speech from him on the need for death and disease, and how the desire for perfectionism is not all it's made out to be. Fear was needed for progression and if Kurdi succeeded, then what would be left to accomplish? It was an admirable statement, but I wouldn't mind immortality myself! Of course, the space and population issue is a big one with no easy fix but that didn't put Kurdi off! Jo getting infected was well done and I liked that it was the push required for the Doctor to find the cure. He did so in pretty quick time which sparked a comment where he could ridicule Kurdi and how he was much cleverer than she was. That was fun pomposity. Charlie was a strong character and the virus going so far as to literally make him wind was unexpected, but that fitting in with the conclusion and getting the cure airborne and into the hospital vents worked very well. It was brilliant that the virus had a psychic element with almost a hive mind, and Jo wanting to kill the Doctor whilst knowing who she was sparked fear for her. The Monk escaping but the Doctor damaging his temporal buffers was amusing with the Monk calling the Doctor the meddler! It was almost as fun as the Monk saying the Master's jacket smelt of Ogrons. Overall, a terrific audio!

Rating: 9/10

Origins

"Those abominations are not of Gallifrey!"

Writer: Jody Houser

Format: Comic Strip

Released: June-September 2022

Printed in: DWC: Fugitive Doctor 1-4

Featuring: Fugitive Doctor

Synopsis

The Doctor, in a previously forgotten regeneration, has been sent on a mission by the clandestine Time Lord agency known as Division. Partnered with an eager new recruit, Taslo, she must eliminate a terrorist organisation intent on destroying the Time Lords. However, upon arrival at their home planet, they are greeted by a seemingly peaceful tribe...

Verdict

Origins was an excellent comic strip adventure! Ever since this mini series from Titan Comics was announced, I loved the idea and had each issue on pre-order from Forbidden Planet. I eagerly anticipated the fourth issue being released so I could read the story all in one and it certainly did not disappoint! I think venturing into the days of Division and the Fugitive Doctor is wonderful and with some Big Finish audios to come in the future, it seems life for this most fascinating of incarnations of the Doctor is only just getting started. There is so much to explore and whilst I still don't really know where the Fugitive Doctor fits in the timeline given the presence of the TARDIS in police box form and that only being the case since An Unearthly Child, it's fun to speculate. I'm still going with it being between the Second and Third Doctors but it's just a fascinating time. Gallifrey is very early on and we know how important the Doctor was to the Time Lords obtaining the ability to regenerate, but Tecteun had her own mission for the Doctor here without her knowing that she was subject to the regenerative ability. There was still work to be done which was mightily intriguing at just how early on this would be for Gallifrey if even the regeneration process hadn't been perfected yet. This was not the Doctor we know and having her just accept a mission to wipe out a planet with no questions asked seemed weird, but that was the beauty of it. This was supposed to be that way in a fashion similar to that of the War Doctor. This is the Doctor, but not as we usually know her and that opens up a lot of potential and excitement. Visiting different Time Lord colonies was great and admittedly I was hugely surprised by the first reveal that these were Time Lords, but as we ventured to more and more the truth became clear. Someone was after Gallifreyan purity and they believed that was firmly in one shape and look. We never did get the name of the Gallifrey Council member that tasked Division in wiping out these colonies, but the Doctor stood up to him brilliantly before the twist with Taslo. She was a lovely character and made for a strong companion throughout the story, but the shock reveal of her working for the Council member the whole time was something I didn't see coming and it actually made me smile. It worked well and just as the Doctor had faked to the Division member providing the missions that they were wiping out the planets, Taslo had been leaving the means to destroy them every step of the way. The Doctor was horrified, but once Gat made a triumphant appearance the game was up and Taslo showed true companion material in providing the Doctor with the means to save everyone she thought had died at the staggering part three cliffhanger. That was really nice and Taslo knew she had done wrong, but was just carrying out the Division mission. A further exploration of the Division would be tremendous but for now this was a fascinating insight and look into that strange and forgotten time in the Doctor's life. Tecteun using it as research for regeneration was excellent and as a whole this was just a great comic strip! 

Rating: 9/10

Quantum of Axos

"We don't force our gifts on anyone."

Writer: Roy Gill

Format: Audio

Released: September 2022

Series: Tenth Doctor Classic Companions 1.03

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Ace, K9

Synopsis

Ace investigates a new tech company which seems too good to be true and meets the Doctor and K9 as Axos escapes its trap.

Verdict

Quantum of Axos was a brilliant conclusion to the Tenth Doctor Classic Companions boxset! This has been a thoroughly enjoyable collection of stories with the modern era Doctor meeting a wonderful trio of companions from the Classic era. We've had a really nice variety with Leela, Nyssa and now Ace, and I really do hope this is not the last. I thought the start of this story was slightly underwhelming given the excitement and action of the cliffhanger to The Stuntman, but we soon shifted into gear with a gorgeous acknowledgement of Shada and the Doctor and K9 enjoying some punting at Cambridge. That was a fun image and the simplicity of K9 asking for assistance to get back onto land was delightful. Of course, the title of the episode gives away the big return and I like that in a boxset paying homage to Classic companions, we get a Classic monster for the finale. Axos works really well and having the Time War as an explanation for them partially breaking out of the time loop is terrific. They were brought into the modern world here though with an app that took a photograph and could show you as older or younger. On then face of it, it seemed relatively simple but when Ace was used for it she was stunned by the accuracy of her attire when younger. They'd nailed her bomber jacket down to the two Blue Peter badges! No internet or quantum algorithm could have calculated that! The use of quantum science was fascinating in the story and whilst I won't pretend to have any remote understanding of it and the use of refrigeration as part of it, I liked how it was clear this was incredibly advanced technology. The meeting between the Tenth Doctor and Ace was a really fun moment and the description given to him about the woman that had another robotic dog was amusing as all signs pointed towards Sarah Jane. That of course was done marvellously in School Reunion but I appreciated the little note here. The fact that Ace had been given a K9 by the Doctor was a little odd and it later turning out to be the gift from Axos was a tremendous surprise. I enjoyed that plot device a lot. The use of A Charitable Earth and Ace at this later stage in her life was excellent and I really enjoyed the references to At Childhood's End with Ace mentioning meeting another incarnation of the Doctor, on that occasion the Thirteenth, and her charity and its efforts. Aurora offering to help those that ACE aided was a good way to try and lure Ace in, but the attempt to get the Doctor away from Earth was almost laughable. It was nice to have the image of Ace as the 1980s contemporary companion alongside the Tenth Doctor, but the realism of her not caring about Earth and telling the Doctor to leave it to Axos was weak. I still enjoyed the audacity of that attempt and the Doctor was having none of it. The Ace he knew was not cruel. Ace not knowing anything of the Time War was fascinating as she's playing a big part of where I'm at with the Time War saga of the Gallifrey spinoff. The Doctor trying to avoid revealing that Gallifrey was gone to her was done well though. I enjoyed the conclusion and having Axos basically feed back in on itself was simple and effective. The processing power they were using with over two million users of their app was really well done, but they wouldn't be escaping on this occasion. The Doctor giving Ace her very own true version of K9 was a lovely touch at the end and the potential of a future boxset there would definitely interest me! Overall, a fantastic adventure and a wonderful series. 

Rating: 9/10

The Stuntman

"You can stop saving me now."

Writer: Lizzie Hopley

Format: Audio

Released: September 2022

Series: Tenth Doctor, Classic Companions 1.02

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Nyssa, K9

Synopsis

The Doctor and K9 enter a virtual world of a movie stuntman to help Nyssa escape a Time War criminal's scheme.

Verdict

The Stuntman was another terrific adventure to continue my way through the tremendous boxset of Tenth Doctor Classic Companions! I really am loving this series of stories for the Tenth Doctor and having him interact with a number of companions from the Classic era is so delightfully fun. I'm not sure Nyssa would be a widely popular choice of companions, but from a personal perspective she was the first companion from the Classic era I ever encountered and I have loved her character ever since I laid eyes upon The Keeper of Traken. Similarly to Leela in Splinters, this was not the Nyssa we knew for much of the episode and that was fun as it was entirely part of the plot. The basis of this adventure was very unique and far from what I was expecting! Nyssa being trapped within a movie shoot was intriguing and with her going by an entirely different name, the twist of K9 actually being trapped and in avatar human form was tremendous! I really should have guessed it given the name of his avatar basically being a human name version of K9 as Kent Novel, but it was so well done and the transition from human to robot voice was magnificent. I thought John Leeson did another tremendous job as K9 and I love that we're getting a little run of adventures for him alongside the Tenth Doctor. I do hope this isn't the end of this series as there is so much more potential with the Tenth Doctor running into the likes of Peri, Susan and Jamie to name a few. Nyssa was stuck in the film and the relationship with her fake father was really good to explore. Nyssa's father is a strong subject in Doctor Who given what happened to Tremas at the hands of the Master, so using that emotion to bring Nyssa through and realise the truth was really well done. K9 picking up Nyssa's signal for help from within the world of the Stuntman was excellent and the twist of him also getting stuck was uncharacteristic of the robot dog. It was admirable for him to want to sacrifice himself though as he was not technically alive. The Doctor wasn't having that sentiment though! Dr Gommen as a Time War villain was a neat twist and I'm surprised that we had another episode with fallout from that War. Nyssa sending her condolences to the Doctor for what she learned of Gallifrey was a nice touch and it was also nice during their goodbye that the Doctor mentioned that he'd see her earlier, of course recalling that Nyssa would rejoin the Fifth Doctor much later in her personal timeline. That was neatly done. I liked Gommen as the villain and he didn't hold back. The weirdness of Jessica Kelly doing all of the stunts in consecutive actions and shoots was good and her father not exactly being able to explain why was good fun as the Doctor pounced on that strongly. I liked that the Doctor offered Nyssa a lift if she needed it, but she couldn't go back to that life with him. Not yet anyway! It was really nice for the pair to interact when Nyssa was loosened from the avatar and it's just another lovely meeting! The cliffhanger finish to lead, presumably, into the final episode of the set with destination Earth was really well done and I'm very excited for the Tenth Doctor to meet Ace! Wicked. Overall, another brilliant listen! 

Rating: 9/10

Splinters

"Hello savage, been a while..."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: September 2022

Series: Tenth Doctor Classic Companions 1.01

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Leela, K9

Synopsis

The Doctor finds K9 floating in space, and sets off to clear up Time War fallout. First, they find Leela protecting a village from the Spriggan. 

Verdict

Splinters was an excellent start to the Tenth Doctor Classic Companions boxset! This is such a fun idea and the concept of pairing the most popular modern incarnation of the Doctor with a host of Classic era companions is just glorious. I'm sure even David Tennant was thrilled when approached with this idea, and having him paired up with K9 for the duration of the set is really fun. The moment where the Doctor realised the signal being detected in space was from his old robotic best friend was just magnificent and it's great to actually have K9 travelling with a modern Doctor. Whilst he was utilised pretty well in the Sarah Jane Adventures, I think that's one missed opportunity from School Reunion and beyond. K9 wasn't the only old companion the Doctor would be reunited with though as he once again encountered the old noble savage. This wasn't the Leela we know from her time on screen alongside the Fourth Doctor, she was now far removed from the Time War and seemed to have survived where all Time Lords fell. I thought the reference to The Lady of Obsidian was really good and just a strong reference to the War Doctor Adventures. The idea of things getting a little mixed up and complicated with the Time War was good and this story very much dealt with some of the leftovers. Leela was not what we remembered but that moment where the Doctor recognises her was just outstanding and full of happy emotion. The Doctor seemed genuinely thrilled to see her, but she didn't recognise him which was another fun moment in the forest! Leela was introducing one of her oldest and best friends, but she of course meant K9 which was just fun. Leela recalling the Time War and how even Romana, Narvin and Ollistra were gone was a startling reminder of the destruction caused by the Time War, and the Doctor's reaction to hearing Romana's name was delightful too. He was impressed that K9 had been improved upon and wasn't surprised by her doing so. The Spriggan was a fascinating concept and I liked how it seemed to be built somewhere in fairytales. The Doctor and Leela recognised their surroundings and then wooden console showed they were in some kind of distorted version of the TARDIS with the infamous wooden console room! That interior glitching into existence for the Doctor when picking K9 up was good and I loved the idea of the robot dog getting picked up on the breach between dimensions. That's how the Spriggan had fallen through, and as expected it was a distorted version of the Doctor. I thought that was clear from the performance and David Tennant being heard in the creepy voice. Playing by the rules and taking children from the village on their eighteenth birthday was disturbing, and the claim of it being a Lord of Life was brilliant. The Spriggan actually getting into the TARDIS through the wood was great and I loved how Leela was used to be rid of the mythical creature, as she was its offspring and the Doctor knew when he got a splinter. That was a nice touch and the ending was fitting with the Doctor and Leela getting a firm goodbye. Overall, a terrific audio!

Rating: 9/10

The Dalek Trap

"The Daleks will protect us."

Writer: Nicholas Briggs 

Format: Audio

Released: July 2019

Series: Further Adventures of Lucie Miller 1.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Lucie

Synopsis

The thing about black holes is, they're big and they're black and they're deadly, and you'd have to be mad to go anywhere near them. Because anything that falls inside a black hole ends up crushed in the singularity. 

Unfortunately, the Doctor just went mad, or so it seems, and flew his TARDIS beyond a black hole's event horizon, causing him and his companion Lucie Miller to end up marooned on a planetoid just inside the event horizon. Along with a Dalek saucer... and something else. Because this is no ordinary black hole...

This is the Cradle of the Darkness. 

Verdict

The Dalek Trap was an excellent audio to kick off the Further Adventures of Lucie Miller! This is a tremendous idea for a boxset as a nice journey back into the Eighth Doctor Adventures and I liked the references to the Cybermen in establishing that these events were somewhere close after Human Resources and potentially somewhere between the end of Series 1 and the start of Series 2. I thought this was good in really highlighting as more of a lead character than the Doctor given that the focus of the volume is on her further adventures, and it's a brave choice to start the further adventures of Lucie with the Daleks given her demise at the end of Lucie Miller/To the Death. The Daleks weren't quite as threatening here which was fine and I do think there is a lot of scope to use them in a less dominating way. The concept of black holes is always something I find intriguing and difficult to comprehend, so Doctor Who tackling them is a fun idea and just having the Doctor fly beyond one with the TARDIS was terrific! The Eighth Doctor didn't stay in a strong mental state for long though and that's where Lucie was able to shine. The initial arrival of the Daleks was excellent and I loved Lucie's reaction to hearing that they were present, with her recalling the events of Blood of the Daleks where she encountered them. Hearing them say how only the Doctor was able to free and save them was fantastic and eery. It's always fun when the Daleks need help from the Doctor and the uneasiness of that always works. The black hole usage was really good and even the Daleks needing the Doctor to get out of this one showed the predicament's seriousness. The link of the Cradle of Darkness was brilliant and definitely had a suggestion of more to come. The effect it had on the minds of everyone present was really well done and I thought Raz and Jik were really fun characters. The interaction with Lucie was a lot of fun and the moments where their memories were getting hazy, even to the extent of their names was amusing. The mystery of the black hole was good and the absence of the Doctor mentally really made for a tricky predicament. What was at its centre? Some sort of essence being let loose at the end was intriguing and I really am hoping that there is a story arc at the heart of this boxset. The Doctor's return to mental stability came a bit suddenly at the end and whilst brief, it allowed Paul McGann to shine. I thought tasking Lucie with the decision to decide if everyone or nobody died was a lot for her to deal with but she was always going to choose nobody. Whilst that meant the Daleks were free to live, so was everyone else and that was something she had to contend with. Her trust in the Doctor's ability to sort them out was great and I really love their relationship. I'm so grateful to get more adventures with them! The Daleks laying a trap and being in need of help from their greatest enemy is a fine basis for a story, and this worked really well. The Doctor not having memory of the events and getting clued up on what happened from Lucie in the TARDIS was good, but I did like the enigmatic ending regarding the Cradle of Darkness. Overall, a terrific audio!

Rating: 9/10