Ruler of the Universe: Asking For a Friend

"I rather like to be the mysterious one in a conversation."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: September 2017

Series: New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 4.02

Featuring: Unbound Doctor, Benny

Synopsis 

Vast wars are raging across the stars, planets are dying, and the Doctor is sat on a psychiatrist's couch. What's it like to be the Doctor's therapist?

Verdict 

Asking For a Friend was another brilliant episode to continue my way through the Ruler of the Universe fourth series of the New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield! This has been a really impressive start to the series and I liked how this one dealt with the Doctor having to accept his position as the universe’s President. The idea of the Doctor willingly going to therapy was very amusing but to me that showed just how much he cared about his relationship with Benny because it was under her instructions that he was at the session. His therapist Guilana was a very fun character and the relationship they had was unexpectedly strong. The Doctor clearly didn’t want to be there but as the episode went on with each session, he was getting more comfortable but he didn’t actually seem fussed on gaining anything from his therapy and was instead just being nicer and nicer to Guilana. He was bringing her crisps and all sorts of confectionary as he wooed her into submission in not making him talk about his feelings constantly. She could see what he was doing and was still helpless which was rather amusing! I really liked David Warner’s grumpy take on the Unbound Doctor and it was clear that his presidential duties were catching up with him. They’d been a big spanner in the relationship between him and Benny last time out in The City and the Clock and he was at least trying to put things right here which was nice. The way he was questioned about all of those he had failed to save was a bit of a surprise and I couldn’t believe that he was being challenged about only saving thousands instead of millions. That was crazy talk! He had ensured it wasn’t millions who were dying and that was more than admirable. The Doctor admitting to Benny that he was taking liberties with the TARDIS and actually using it to ensure he could actually fulfil all of the futures in his calendar was tremendous! That was beyond cheating but this Unbound Doctor wasn’t too bothered about breaking time legalities. He went so far as to completely disregard Guilana’s wants and needs by completely rewriting her past! Her shielding she put up when she realised he was using time to stick to his calendar was good but her life was altered in the biggest way possible! That was a big surprise as the Doctor ensured that her fiancé didn’t actually die and she now had a husband and children. That sounded exciting, but now she had memories that she hadn’t loved and that was something rather shocking. I can’t imagine what that would be like! It would take such an emotional toll. It’s quite mad really that a therapy session lasted the duration of an episode but it was really enticing. The humour that came from the test of thinking about a polar bear and it being impossible not to think of one was fun stuff and even had me trying it! I knew it was impossible to not think of something when told to, but I still attempted it regardless! The background plot going around the therapy centring on Vastron was good and with all seemingly lost, I loved how the Doctor did manage to save the planet despite the Great Collapse being imminent. He simply paid the Dominar off to terraform! That’s not a usual method for the Doctor to save the day but I liked how unique that was and highlighted the differences for the Time Lord in the Unbound Universe. Overall, an excellent episode!

Rating: 9/10