The Final Darkness

"Our armada shall scent our blood."

Writer: Stephen Cole

Format: Short Story

Released: June 2006

Series: Doctor Who Files 04

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

A journal is translated by UNIT Alien-English software documenting the final days of the Sycorax who came to Earth for Christmas, and discovered that it was defended.

Verdict

The Final Darkness was a pretty average story to continue my way through the short stories from the Doctor Who Files! Incredibly, it's nearly twenty years since these books were first released and for some reason at the time of reading them when I was 11-12 years old, I have no recollection of bothering with the prose story at the end. I was all for the facts that make this book one of a file, but now I'm much older it was nice to jump back in for some nostalgia and get an extra story with the Sycorax! I remain quite surprised that they have never returned on screen as they seem like an enemy ripe for a rematch with the Doctor, especially given the way their demise was met at the hands of Torchwood. There could be something there for another branch to come for revenge on Earth, but alas we go on. At least on screen. They have returned in prose, comics and audio but there's nothing quite like the show on the screen! This story followed a unique format in that it was a series of journal entries from a Sycorax scribe experiencing the events just prior to and then during The Christmas Invasion as the Sycorax headed for Earth. I thought that was intriguing although the style and language of the Sycorax was very child like. I know the target audience for the books is the younger fans, but at times this just made the Sycorax feel a bit stupid and immature. That's a shame as that's not really the impression I got on television. I thought it was great to depict the Sycorax encountering the package displaying the likes of culture and even blood from Earth and the scribe knew the significance of having blood. The scribe knew this was a mistake from Earth to send this and the tricks would soon be out in force. I liked the significance of the Sycorax leader being presented, but then from there we just got an alternative perspective of the Christmas Special we saw on screen. There wasn't much in the form of new story and rather just reaction to one we have all seen before. It was fine but it wasn't all that endearing for quality. The emergence of the Doctor from the TARDIS and the way he threw the whip from the Leader was good. The description of Rose as the yellow girl was quite amusing and I'm not sure it's something she would have appreciated, which made me enjoy it even more I think. I thought it was a bit of a shame to get so much of a repeat of the events that happened with the Doctor and the Sycorax Leader, although I did like the immediate shift in mood in our scribe when the Doctor's 'witchcraft' saw his severed hand grow back. Nearly all sense of confidence was lost at that moment! I would've also liked more translation on the Sycoraxic language we saw repeated, but it was a little fun for Rose to apparently quickly learn the language once the TARDIS translation circuit was completed with the Doctor's emergence thanks to spilt tea. It was nice to go into the Sycorax rock of a ship once they had agreed to leave bound by the rite of combat, but then detected the threat of the Torchwood beam that would wipe them out. Their blood would be left in this part of a space, but the Sycorax wouldn't return home. Overall, a decent idea but something just felt missing. 

Rating: 6/10

Broken Memories: The Silent City

"You may escape, but you will forget."

Writer: David K Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: March 2024

Series: Classic Doctors, New Monsters 4.04

Featuring: Seventh Doctor

Synopsis

Sunset City is thriving, the tourists are spending. But something about the place doesn't make sense – and the casino seems to be in the business of redistributing the wealth. 

In the midst of it all, the Seventh Doctor faces the consequences of actions he has yet to take...

Verdict

The Silent City was an excellent conclusion to the Broken Memories fourth series of Classic Doctors, New Monsters! I think this series has been nothing short of sublime and the consistency in terms of quality has been a sheer delight. This might rank as the best boxset in the series so far which is no mean feat and I do hope we get more. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been fantasy booking potential matchups between Classic Doctors and some modern era monsters. The Third Doctor coming up against the Cybus Cybermen? The First Doctor and the Gelth? The Fifth Doctor and the Boneless? Give me it all. In this instance it was the Seventh Doctor’s turn to take on the Silence which was terrific and I loved the continuity with The Silent Priest by having this adventure take place two years after it. Except for the Doctor, this was a whole regeneration earlier which made for an interesting dynamic. He couldn’t know about the events that led to the current situation here at Sunset City, but the returning likes of Nalah and Shacket in particular were tremendous. I liked how big of a moment their entries into the story were given and the continuity from the previous episode was very good indeed. They’d taken advantage of the mysterious circumstances that allowed crime to essentially be eradicated on Sunset City, and profited in a big way. The casino setting was brilliant and I loved the image of the elder Seventh Doctor somewhere in close proximity to The Movie keeping an eye on things. It was always going to be a little suspicious though for him to be booked into a room but never playing a game. Shacket also had the room bugged which helps to reveal his position with Kay, but it was still a fun little situation. The idea of the Silent who was formerly a priest now managing a casino was tremendous, and taking money from those who wouldn’t even remember how they lost it was a sound business plan. It was almost foolproof when it came to evidence, but full of interest when it came to raising suspicions. I thought Jessica was a really fun character and the way she’d lost an entire month’s worth of money in one night without knowing really angered her rich father. Maynard wanted to cut her off but she slowly but surely proved her skill in getting back everything she’d lost and more. I was impressed with her and she was important in revealing the truth about Sunset City. I liked the way that the priest was targeted by other Silence as for them he’d broken their laws and gone against the Church of Papal Mainframe. I thought that was terrific and really provided a good threat to the story. It was nice not to just have one Silent again. The Doctor appealing to the rest of the Silence regarding the priest was really good and I was impressed with how things finished and the note from the Eighth Doctor to his previous self. The issue of retaining memory with the Silence was utilised really well here and I certainly wouldn’t be against a return to Sunset City. It’s a setting with a lot goinh on! Overall, a fantastic listen and a fine finale to what has been a superb series. Give me more!

Rating: 9/10

Broken Memories: The Silent Priest

"I need to confess."

Writer: David K Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: March 2024

Series: Classic Doctors, New Monsters 4.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor

Synopsis

In search of solace from the Time War, the Eighth Doctor is caught between rival criminals and the law in the city of Sunset. 

Who is the mysterious Priest with the key to ending the violence? And if the Doctor really has visited Sunset before, why can't he remember?

Verdict

The Silent Priest was another excellent episode to continue my way through the Broken Memories fourth series of Classic Doctors, New Monsters! I really like the idea of this being the first of two stories with the Silence to conclude what has been another brilliant series thus far and these are a monster that is an obvious choice for the range. They've already returned for Big Finish in the UNIT spinoff range but it's good to get an encounter with a different Doctor to what we saw on screen. There are some similarities between the Eighth and Eleventh Doctors but the fact there was only one member of the Silence here was terrific. It was all that was required and given their very nature of not imprinting themselves on the memory of any onlooker, there was nothing to explain regarding why the Eleventh Doctor didn't recognise them in Day of the Moon. It's clever. I thought the setting of Sunset was strong and I loved the political dynamic of an ongoing criminal war between Nalah Massi and Albion Graves. They were both really strong characters and this almost felt like an intergalactic version of the Wild West. Graves in particular with the accent had that kind of vibe. His cronies of Carl and Shacket were amusing characters and they fulfilled their role. Both criminals wanting to find the answers regarding the apparent mystery of the church and why anyone who went in had no memory but felt relieved and relaxed. Of course, the truth was that its priest was a Silent so confessing was a big weight off one's shoulders, but they couldn't remember doing so. The investigations ongoing there were fun and it really would be an endless hunt for the source! The prospect of profitability in a Silent is intriguing and rather audacious, and the way things were set up at the end was fascinating! The push from the Silent priest to get Carl to confess was good and whilst it was clear what he was hiding, the moment he revealed that it was actually him and not Massi that had killed Graves's brother was excellent. Graves was disgusted and in his brutish nature didn't waste much time in disposing of Carl. The Doctor was obviously annoyed by this and blamed himself for yet another person he hadn't saved, as for him this was during the Time War. I liked that placement and I loved how the Silent knew about it and asked after how it was going. That peaked the Doctor's interest right from the off! I thought it was rather amusing for the Doctor to get Massi and Graves to meet in public together by promising the information regarding the secret of the church, but only if they heard it at the same time. And then he had nothing. His attempts to stall them were comical and the delay in Kay getting there was great. For Massi, the meeting couldn't have gone much better really as Graves still believed that it was her that instructed Carl to kill his brother when that was far from the truth. So the Silent could see that nothing was resolved and for the war on Sunset to end, Graves was killed in brutal electrified fashion. That really did leave Massi with a lot of power as despite the claims of the police force, it was actually her and her cronies now in control. The Doctor returning to his TARDIS without even knowledge that Graves was dead or the identity of the priest was fascinating, as surely for him there was unresolved business? But that's the beauty of the Silence in eliminating the memory. The Doctor could blame his old age and the need to get back to the Time War. I like that and it seems his previous self may suffer the consequences in the finale! Overall, a brilliant listen. 

Rating: 9/10

Broken Memories: The Queen of Clocks

"Dead flesh don't bleed."

Writer: Jacqueline Rayner 

Format: Audio

Released: March 2024

Series: Classic Doctors, New Monsters 4.02

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Mel

Synopsis

The Sixth Doctor and Mel come to the rescue when they find a castle under siege from Clockwork Droids. But in a kingdom run with painstaking precision, time is running out for the Queen of Guyenne...

Verdict

The Queen of Clocks was an excellent story to continue my way through the Broken Memories fourth series of Classic Doctors, New Monsters! This is a fine story from start to finish and unlike Harmony Shoal in the previous outing of Invasion of the Body Stealers, the Clockwork Droids are definitely a monster I am not surprised to see return! It had a similar vibe to their only on screen appearance in The Girl in Fireplace with the art decor description and imagery, with Guyenne having a very Victorian vibe despite being centuries in the future! I liked that and whilst it wasn't massively touched upon, Mel mention the appearance of the Droids was terrific. They're an iconic design and the way the clockwork make up is hidden is very good and that continued here. It was nice for the Doctor to not have any knowledge on this monster with also no allusion to his future encounter as it just felt fresh. The pairing of the Sixth Doctor and Mel was fantastic and the comments at the end regarding the exercise were very amusing. The Doctor having two hearts meant he needed twice the workout! I'm not sure he would agree. I must admit with Jacqueline Rayner as the writer and her position in the ongoing Sixth Doctor Adventures, I was expecting a little bit of continuity there but it wasn't missed or a problem that it didn't come. I'm a sucker for a story about time and I usually do enjoy when things get all timey-wimey, but this particular adventure was a little more niche for a time story. Not unsurprisingly, it was a story about clocks and I thought that was marvellous. The Doctor and Mel were thrust right into action after exiting the TARDIS and they didn't really stop from there. Learning about Guyenne and the passage of time there was intriguing with different Clock Maidens passing and responsible for each hour. It was almost exhausting how they knew the time to the very second and had to mark this on numerous clocks to ensure they all complied with the Master Clock. I thought that was good and I really enjoyed how the traditions were passed down through generations. This had been ongoing for over two hundred years which was quite the scale. The race to reach midnight and the reset of the Droids was intriguing and it was their only chance to get out. A rescue ship was on its way at 1.37am which wasn't long to hold out, but the devastating truth was soon revealed. The Doctor along with Harbolt would reach the Master Clock and cut off the signal which would provide the people of Guyenne with their freedom and eliminate the Clockwork Droids. Except Mel was too late to reach the Doctor when she worked out the truth once she convinced the Queen to smash the clocks in order to discover if the Droids were close. Except they were closer than anybody know. The entire population was Droid Spawn, robots made of human parts, which is a disturbing concept. The reaction of the Doctor when he realised after Mel reached him was honestly devastating! He'd wiped out the entire Droid population who were reliving their day over and over again. That was quite incredible despite it being a little predictable, but the way it was sold on an emotional level was marvellous. It was a pulling of the heartstrings moment for sure. The Doctor and Mel reaching the source of the repeated message from Annette's son was a sombre way to conclude the adventure as he revealed it had been over 67 years since they detected no life signs and never made landing. Overall, a superb audio adventure with a big emotional appeal! 

Rating: 9/10

Planet of the Ood

"A great big empire built on slavery!"

Writer: Keith Temple

Format: Novel

Released: July 2023

Series: Target 175

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Donna

Synopsis

"The Ood come from a distant world, they voyaged across the stars, all for one purpose... to serve."

The TARDIS lands on the Ood-Sphere in the year 4126. Here, human profiteers have subjugated the Ood: the gentle creatures are forced into servitude and sold across the galaxy as the perfect slaves. But now, some are fighting back. Their eyes turn red as they throw off their chains and kill their oppressors...

The Doctor and Donna soon learn that the planet of the Ood holds cruel and awesome secrets. As they battle for justice and survival, the fate of the entire Ood race hangs in the balance. Will the outcome be salvation – or extinction?

Verdict

Planet of the Ood was a great novelisation of the televised episode of the same name! I must admit that this wouldn't be my first choice of story from the modern era to novelise, but it was a really strong addition to the Target collection. It always feels right when the original writer of the story gets to turn it into a book and Keith Temple did a fine job in that regard for the most part. There were a few instances where the prose was a little unconventional and repeated words in sentences or used incorrect tense, but as a whole I was impressed. I thought this book in particular was heavy on expanding the version we saw on screen which is delightful and exactly what I would hope for from a Target release. For me, it's the major selling point and I thought we had it in abundance here. There was a lot of extended dialogue for example which was welcomed and I really appreciated the prologue. I think having one of those in a Target release is a no brainer really and it should include something we didn't see on screen. It just sets the tone nicely and immediately shows that this won't be a simple retelling of what we saw on screen. I thought what we got here with Ood Delta Fifty was really well done and set the tone nicely. I thought the imagery presented was also fantastic and even though there wasn't a problem with this in the televised episode, the scale presented here of the Ood-Sphere and the base was tremendous. It felt big. I really liked Donna's reaction to being in 4126 and one thing that was made clear was that this was Donna's first visit to an alien world. Her thoughts on potentially dying at the hands of the Ood were emotional, especially when she stopped to consider that her mum and grandad had been dead for two millennia. The way she transitioned in thoughts on the Ood from her initial reaction to the one in the snow to them thinking them beautiful after hearing their song and braking the circle was excellent. I thought the moment the Doctor and Donna find the Ood shot in the snow and then use that to confront Halpen as the CEO of Ood Operations was very strong. This was the Doctor at his best. The theme of Halpen's hair tonic throughout the book was amusing knowing in hindsight what was happening and it was fun to often get a little thought or look from Ood Sigma. There was clearly something bigger at play. One of my favourite chaatrcters in the book is Solana. She tries her best on the public relations front when it came to the buyers and her pitch for the Ood, and her fate when things start to go awry with the Red Eye outbreak is rather sad. She does let the Doctor and Donna know where to head to get answers, but then alerts the guards to their presence. It's a shame that just before she is killed by an Ood that she ponders on the Doctor's comment that she could help. I liked expanding on her death and getting that internal dialogue really does make a big difference. It's a powerful moment. I think getting some more information on the buyers is great too although some of their death scenes were gruesome! The moment of the refuge seeking in water and then each Ood forming a circle and electrifying them is horrific. The natural Ood don't seem to be in the book version for long but it was good to explore different types. I like how simple things become at the end in breaking the circle that's holding the Ood brain back, and Ryder's moment of revealing he was part of Friends of the Ood was terrific before he died. Halpen becoming Ood kind still seems rather strange, but it's nice that they will look after him now. The goodbye moment is presented well with the foreshadowing of The End of Time and the Tenth Doctor's end, but it was lovely that he retorted by saying he'd always have a different song. Overall, a terrific read! 

Rating: 8/10

Totem

"Calluses won't hide the blood on your hands."

Writer: Tara Samms

Format: Short Story

Released: March 1999

Printed in: More Short Trips 01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor

Synopsis

Here on Earth or out in the depths of the cosmos, the Doctor and his companions are never far from adventure. 

Discover things on Earth you were never meant to know. Get around the universe. Get short tripping. 

Verdict

Totem was a decent little story to kick off my reading of the More Short Trips collection! After taking what felt like an eternity and really was around a decade to actually get blogging the first volume of Short Trips, it's nice to quickly jump into this book. I'm a big fan of the idea and I do own a number of the Big Finish produced books in the Short Trips range, but I'm going to go in as much of a release order as possible now with what I own. Starting with the Eighth Doctor here is not much of a surprise given that he was the current Doctor at the time of release, although what he was doing was very unique. He was going by the familiar name of John, presumably as a shorthand alias for John Smith, and spent a lot of time in the farmstead of Señora Panstedas. She was a widow who was also reeling from the death of her son so she was certainly somebody who was vulnerable. Having the Doctor come into your life may not be the best thing for her when she was in that mental state of mourning, but he was actually there to help. There was no apparent trouble for her to be concerned with although by how things ended there was a sense of guilt from the Doctor. He seemed to know how her husband died and why with the cracked skull, so he'd try and make things easier for her. That was admirable at least and he only wanted some eggs as payment! That is very typical of the Doctor. For all of the jobs he was doing and the length of time he was sticking around, that seemed like a pretty fair deal to me! I did think it was quite amusing when he was smashed in the head by an egg and said he would prefer to be given them cooked and for breakfast. He could even make them himself if it was going to be a problem which was great humour. The cheek of him sometimes it's honestly a wonder he doesn't get smacked more. It's the fact he doesn't know what he's saying that does it. He genuinely believes it's the right thing to say and doesn't see an issue. I thought the moments the Doctor named himself and did so quite fiercely was intriguing and the ambiguous and mysterious nature of his conversation with the unknown inidivual was nicely done. I suspect Time Lord involvement, and I do wonder if this was at the point in the Eighth Doctor Adventures books where the Doctor lost his memory. I've only experienced that in Players, but it might explain things. There certainly felt like there was something of a gap in his demeanour, but he could easily have just been hiding his true self and purpose. I thought the funeral of Señora Panstedas's husband was a sombre way to end things and the final paragraph of the Doctor reflecting on her was a nice touch with her being in his thoughts. It was good of him to keep her at the forefront of his mind, at least at this point in the incarnation. The description of the Doctor's eighth incarnation with the velvet coat and the longer hair was really good in providing imagery and characterisation. It certainly helped. At just eight pages, there wasn't a whole lot this story could do but it was a fascinating little read! 

Rating: 7/10

In the Shadows

"We all fall down."

Writer: Joseph Lidster

Format: Audio

Released: May 2009

Series: Torchwood BBC Audio 03

Featuring: Captain Jack, Gwen, Owen, Tosh, Ianto

Synopsis

The Torchwood team are caught up in the deadly activities of a mysterious cab driver. 

When 24-year-old Steven Ballard is found dead, the police quickly realise that this is no ordinary case – for his body is that of a man in his seventies. They call in Torchwood to investigate, and after another corpse is found, it becomes clear that something terrible is happening. 

Someone is sending victims to a dark dimension, to be punished by the thing they fear most. Who is the shadowy taxi driver preying on his passengers? What significance do boxes of matches play in this mystery? And can Jack ever escape from his own personal Hell...?

Verdict

In the Shadows was a really strong Torchwood audio as a BBC original! I do think these are perhaps a little too long at over two hours with just one actor or actress in the narrator role, but I must admit I was very happy to hear that it was Eve Myles. She's my favourite person within Torchwood so she certainly made it a breeze of 2+ hours. I thought it was interesting that for Gwen she was retelling the events of the story after the events of the likes of Lost Souls and The Stolen Earth/Journey's End, but it was set somewhere during Series 1 and 2 prior to Something Borrowed. It was interesting to have a rough idea of the placing but nothing I would describe as definitive. It obviously wasn't that important to the story as a whole, but I do enjoy knowing where things take place chronologically. I thought the way the adventure was broken up amongst the main characters was good with Captain Jack in particular feeling very separated from the rest of his team. Exploring the concept of Hell as an actual place was brilliant and I loved that Tosh was even questioning if it existed because they could track him and Ianto whilst they were there and the coordinates didn't match up. They didn't make sense. Could it really be a place? I liked how they referenced the events of They Keep Killing Suzie when it came to her description of what death was and the black nothingness, but for Jack in particular to go to Hell was problematic because when he died he just kept coming back. He lived out some pretty horrifying experiences that were described in typically gory Torchwood fashion. The moment where he saw Gwen die by getting shot and the contents of her heart emptying out was quite something! It was also good to explore his relationship and feelings with Ianto, and I got the impression in this adventure that it was Ianto who felt the stronger at this point in time. I felt a little sorry for Tosh here as she didn't have a huge amount to do and she was a bit jealous of Gwen. She'd cheated on Rhys with Owen and yet still got the happy ending, whilst her feelings for the Torchwood doctor went unnoticed. At least to everyone except Ianto. I thought the inclusion of Andy was fun and the moment where he and Jack joked that Gwen was only in the police force and then Torchwood because of her looks was tremendous. She didn't take too kindly to that as you might imagine. The religious theme of the story was strong and I really thought Jefferson made for a good front of the fanatics. The constant mention of sin was fantastic and whilst I do think religion as a whole is just so problematic and silly, it serves as a wonderful basis for a story. If anything will drum up conflict and dissension then it's religion! Jack's nightmare getting an extended cameo from Trinity Wells was not something I expected but I thought it was very fun indeed. She only came out when the big news was happening, so Jack thought Cardiff would be the place for her. I mean, it was difficult to argue! The combination of Hell with the Huon particles was really strong and I liked how The Runaway Bride was tied in with Ianto knowing of Torchwood One's experiments with them from his time there. That was impressive and their ancient status allowed for ambiguity regarding Hell's location. The matchbox forming the basis of a suspected Torchwood One experiment was really well done and the way things were left open at the end with the matchbox of the cab driver and Jefferson remaining alive albeit in captivity was terrific. A little long, but a really fascinating exploration into the afterlife. Was Gwen trying to send a message to Tosh and Owen after the events of Exit Wounds? It seems so, and that's rather nice. Overall, a great listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Born to Die

"There is nothing wrong with the Sontaran race."

Writer: Tiegan Byrne

Format: Audio

Released: March 2024

Series: Sontarans vs Rutans 1.03

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Charley

Synopsis

The war between the Sontarans and the Rutans has been going on for millennia. And is likely to continue for millennia more. A terrible conflict with no care for consequences or collateral damage. Billions have died with no end in sight. 

Its reach can encompass ancient Ireland and a forest world in the far future. Encounters with UNIT and a Doctor no more. 

From the outside these battles may seem disconnected. But sometime there is a common thread. And unpicking that could destroy everything. 

When a trip to the planet Taxodon goes wrong the Doctor finds himself with mere hours to prove himself innocent of murdering a Sontaran. As more die, the Doctor and Charley need to uncover the cause and why the Sontarans are even on this planet... if they have time.

Verdict

Born to Die was an excellent continuation of the Sontarans vs Rutans miniseries! I am absolutely loving this bonus series and it's such a fun idea, with this episode in particular certainly being the best of the three so far. It was just brilliant rom start to finish and it was a fun twist to revisit the pairing of the Sixth Doctor and Charley. They're an often forgotten pairing given the companion's association with the Eighth Doctor, and it was really fun to incorporate her previous appearance in the series opener. The expected reference to The Battle of Giant's Causeway was terrific and it was just fun for the Doctor to question his companion on how she knew about the Sontarans and then later about the genetic make up of the Rutans. I liked how their arrival on Taxodon was immediately greeted with accusations for mruder of a Sontaran, but the Doctor dug deep into his memory banks to utilise the sunset law in order to prove their innocence. He had time to evidence that he hadn't murdered the Sontaran they were found standing over, and there was no indication of when sunset may be. I'm jumping ahead a little but I thought it was a nice way to round out the episode by having sunset as the Doctor and Charley were to return to the TARDIS. That was a really nice moment. I thought the moments Charley tried to feign her Sontaran knowledge whilst in the presence of the Doctor were amusing but when he wasn't around she could thrash out the information on their weakness of the probic vent at the back of their neck. That was nicely done. I was a little surprised that the Sontarans didn't ask after the Doctor's name and his history with their race didn't come into play. The concept of something going wrong with the Sontaran cloning and causing the deaths was very good, although once the enzyme was identified as potentially being faulty there was only one way the episode was going. Whilst it was predictable what was going to happen when the controlling element of the enzyme was described as green, which Charley humorously jumped the gun a little on, I still thought it was fantastic. The very idea of the Rutans and Sontarans becoming as one in a singular species is almost unthinkable but that showed the extent this war had gotten to. The very idea is horrific but the Sontaran identity was rubbing off on the Rutans. They're usually referred to and seen as a conglomerate race but the Rutan that had made itself Sontaran to infiltrate was seeing it as itself. It was all about I instead of we and that's something the Doctor pounced on. I was a big fan. The Doctor believing there might be hope to end the war with the amalgamated race was admirable, but let's be honest neither side really wants the conflict to end. They are going to fight forever! The Sontarans refusing to believe that the Doctor was right and that the Sontaran-Rutan would just be another species to despise and battle was amusing. The Sontarans at their best! I thought the likes of Skein and Trax were strong characters within the Sontaran hierarchy, and whilst Dan Starkey is magnificent it was nice to get other actors in prominent Sontaran roles. It helps with the differentiation. The Doctor contemplating with the internal battle of whether he should try and save the Sontarans was very cleverly done, but he just couldn't help and investigate the deaths and put them right despite them being one of his best enemies. The Sontarans putting the Nox under their protection after the Doctor offered to save them with a species for a species was an honourable end and I liked how much the Doctor valued their honour and trusted that it would be the case. Overall, a tremendous listen! 

Rating: 9/10

Broken Memories: Invasion of the Body Stealers

"They're disembodied brains... with eyes!"

Writer: Jonathan Morris

Format: Audio

Released: March 2024

Series: Classic Doctors, New Monsters 4.01

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane

Synopsis

Visiting the crystal forests of Systalzyn, the Fourth Doctor and Sarah encounter a crashing spaceship and race to find survivors...

But not everyone they meet on this colony world is in their right mind – the body-hopping Harmony Shoal have set their sights on invasion!

Verdict

Invasion of the Body Stealers was an excellent start to the Broken Memories fourth series of Classic Doctors, New Monsters! This is a range I absolutely adore and I am delighted to see it return once again. I like that there's a theme of memory in this one and we do have a nice little range of both Doctors and monsters. I must admit, I wasn't wholly excited by the prospect of Harmony Shoal returning after their unique appearances in The Husbands of River Song and The Return of Doctor Mysterio, but what we got here was actually brilliant! I thought it was good for the pairing to be the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane and I do like just getting a one-off episode. It's really a chilled atmosphere with no story arcs or anything. The hour absolutely flew by which is always a good sign and the humour that came almost immediately in the TARDIS console room with Sarah eating an apple was very good. It immediately established that famed relationship of the Doctor and Sarah with it being a lovely way to demonstrate the chemistry between Tom Baker and Sadie Miller. I was really impressed with that because that's an iconic pairing but I think Sadie did her mother proud with this performance. The return of Harmony Shoal was presented in a very intriguing way and it was nice that this was clearly the Doctor's first encounter with them chronologically. The same couldn't be said for Shoal though which was fun as for them they had already had the encounters, or at least one, with the Twelfth Doctor. The Doctor not being too bothered about knowing that was fun and it was nice that Sarah acknowledged that. Hearing Harmony Shoal refer to the Time Lords as an ancient race was good and really did make the Time Lords feel old as a race. The description and analysis of that infamous scar design of the Harmony Shoal was excellent and I loved how the Doctor realised that the first supposed corpse hadn't suffered it in the accident of the crashed spaceship. Jasp was a strong character as the doctor conducting the autopsy whilst she lasted, but her brain soon ended up within the alien body of the Harmony Shoal! That was really good and gave credence to the episode title in a big way. The invasion by literally taking over the bodies through the brain transfer was terrific, and whilst I never did believe that the Doctor's body had been taken over by the Harmony Shoal executive, having the reaction of Sarah when she was told the fate of the Doctor's brain was that it had been incinerated was fantastic! The role of Eban in helping the Doctor and Sarah was great and I liked how he was faking being part of Harmony Shoal in a fun double turn! He was a really strong character. I thought the way the Doctor and Sarah escaped the impending bomb with the crystal like formation was interesting and certainly unique, with the crystalline structure theme playing a huge part in the story's conclusion as the resolution simply was to seal this branch of Harmony Shoal within what was essentially a crystal prison! They weren't dead, but were simply sleeping. The Doctor wasn't worries about the prospect of encountering them again which was interesting, and he knew that his future self had already dealt with them. I wonder if he would be looking forward to it? Eban's reaction when Sarah was talking as if they were leaving when all was solved was a little sad after everything he had done, but the Shoal warning was a nice way to leave their return and future appearances as far as the Doctor was concerned open ended. Overall, a great listen and a fine way to kick off what looks to be an exciting series. 

Rating: 9/10

1963: The Assassination Games

"Why would anyone want to fake Communist sympathies?"

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: November 1963

Series: Monthly Adventures 180

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

London. The end of November, 1963. A time of change. The old guard being swept away by the white heat of technology. Political scandals are the talk of the town. Britain tries to maintain its international role; fanatics assassination charismatic politicians and Group Captain Ian Gilmore is trying to get his fledgling Counter-Measures unit off the ground. 

When his life is saved by a familiar umbrella-bearing figure, he knows something terrible is going on. Whilst Rachel investigates an enigmatic millionaire and Allison goes undercover in an extremist organisation, Gilmore discovers a sinister plot with roots a century old. 

The Doctor and Ace are back in town. A new dawn is coming. It's time for everyone... to see the Light. 

Verdict

The Assassination Games was an excellent story to conclude the 1963 trilogy of Monthly Adventures to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Doctor Who! I've really enjoyed the focus on the year that gave us Doctor Who as there is a lot going on in a historical context. This particular story really dived into politics which was excellent and it was all very British which I actually liked. The Cuban Missile Crisis and the JFK assassination were in the past now but there was still a lot going on. I thought the lack of naming the Prime Minister was fun and very Doctor Who-like, but real world inferences were there. This almost had a Classic feel to Aliens of London with the high ranking politicians actually being aliens but I wasn't expecting their plan for conquest. The Light made for a strong villain and whilst it does seem a little contradictory that they were the secret rulers of the universe but then were trying to concoct a plan to reinsert the British Empire. It all seemed a little small scale, but the explanation was good and the means to pit America and Russia against each other leaving Britain unscathed on paper at least seemed foolproof. Let the superpowers destroy each other whilst Britain goes stronger and becomes great again. This was very much political indeed. I thought the story starting with the Counter Measures team was a nice little shakeup and whilst I am yet to delve into their spinoff series, I imagine the first part felt a little like one of those episodes. It was refreshing and felt very 1960s which gives me high hopes for when I do dive into the range. That's certainly something I plan to do and initially I had thought I would need to rewatch Remembrance of the Daleks again beforehand, but now I'm not so sure. I thought it was nice to slowly reintroduce the characters and they were a great little team! Gilmore as the Group Captain was terrific and I enjoyed his discussions with Toby Kinsella who seemed like a strong addition as a political backer trying to secure the organisation some funding. They certainly needed it! And then of course we had Rachel and Allison who were both marvellous. The latter's relationship with Ace in particular was great, whose disguise as Dorothy the maid was brilliant. Of all the roles that Ace could feel most out of place! No wonder she was told off for the way she poured tea. I liked the references to their previous Shoreditch meeting with the Doctor and his revealing that they travelled in time was a nice touch. They really did know a lot about he and Ace now! The closed loop method of them being in 1963 was nicely done as Ace found Gilmore's memoirs and a mention of a second meeting, and it was nice for the Doctor to acknowledge his other incarnations being in the same proximity to him in 1963. He had a lot to consider! I loved the fact the turned out to be James Rutherford MP and he was playing the long game to build up the campaign required to get elected as an independent! The cliffhanger there was strong and just terrific imagery of the Doctor sitting there all smug. The Seventh Doctor elected! The only slight qualm I had with the adventure was that Ace could have done a little more, but as a whole I really enjoyed the combination of the Doctor, Ace and Counter Measures. I'd hope there would be more. Francis and Devere in particular were my favourite villains of the Light, but the species as a whole were a fascinating bunch. The Doctor preventing the the destruction of an entire country was strong, as was the story as a whole. A terrific listen! 

Rating: 9/10

1963: The Space Race

"You want to go to the Moon?"

Writer: Jonathan Morris

Format: Audio

Released: October 2013

Series: Monthly Adventures 179

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

November 1963, and the Soviet space programme reigns supreme. Having sent the first animals, then the first men beyond Earth's atmosphere, now they're sending a manned capsule into orbit around the Moon. 

Just as Vostok Seven passes over into the dark side, however, its life support system fails. Only the intervention of the Sixth Doctor and Peri, adopting the identities of scientists from Moscow University, means that contact with the capsule is regained. 

But something has happened to the cosmonaut on board. She appears to have lost her memory, and developed extreme claustrophobia. Maybe she's not quite as human as she used to be...

Verdict

The Space Race was a decent story to continue my way through the 1963 trilogy of Monthly Adventures to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Doctor Who! This was a unique story to say the least and one that I think really was bordering the line of silliness, but it was fun at the same time. I was very excited by the idea of the Doctor getting involved in the famed space race predominantly between the USA and Soviet Union although the 1963 setting was going to make it a little more interesting. The late 1960s are more associated with the space race in my opinion but I was really excited by the concept. I liked the political battles on show between the Soviet space programme although a bit more on the accent front probably would have helped. I'm not sure how believable the Doctor and Peri would be posing as Kalashnikov and Pushkin with the way they spoked and them so obviously being from the West, but for story purposes it worked well. Although it was obvious that it was no accident for the real people they stole the identity of so when Larisa revealed her position as the American spy it wasn't too much of a surprise. Peri working out that she was responsible as well was great as she realised there was a relationship there between her and Talanov. Now, the fate of Talanov is extraordinary in that her voice soon became used for the body of Laika the famed dog sent into space. That was a wild cliffhanger when the canine was actually in the spacesuit, but I think things did got a bit bonkers when the plan of the now altered dog was revealed. I don't think it's too ridiculous to suggest that a dog would want to put an end to animal experimentation, but combining it with black holes and the space race just didn't work all that well for me. Thankfully, the setting of Kazakhstan was fantastically unique and I think the cliffhanger to part three was honestly right up there with one of the best ever! The concept of the Doctor and Petrov being targeted by American missiles and the only means of preventing the strike was by having the Kremlin directly contact the President of the USA was terrific, especially when the date and time correlated with the assassination of JFK! There would be no President to answer the call and prevent the strike. That was outstanding. I really did love that. It's been a while since having a Sixth Doctor and Peri story in this range so that was a welcomed reunion and there were certainly hints of that early version of the incarnation with his callousness towards the dead agents in wanting their clothing. It was survival of the fittest there, although I'm not convinced that just going back to the TARDIS wasn't the most feasible option. A little notion of the Doctor's curiosity getting the better of him there would have been nice. I thought when it came to the conclusion the comment from the Doctor when in the TARDIS after he'd rounded up the animal army of him being Noah was sublime. It was so calm and casual and that just made it even better. I could just imagine the smug smile of the Sixth Doctor there. The animals ending up going through the black hole and Petrov going with them to avoid her KGB assassination was a little strange but certainly a way to cover the tracks and tie things up quite neatly! Overall, a whacky adventure where a dog was the enemy. I didn't think I'd be getting that in an anniversary tale! 

Rating: 7/10

1963: Fanfare for the Common Men

"Who are the Beatles?"

Writer: Eddie Robson

Format: Audio

Released: September 2013

Series: Monthly Adventures 178

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa

Synopsis

If you remember the Sixties, they say, then you can't have been there.

The Doctor remembers the Sixties. That's why he's taking Nyssa on a trip back to November 1963. Back to where it all began. Back to the birth of the biggest band in the history of British music. Back to see those cheeky lads from Liverpool...

Mark, James and Korky. The Common Men. The boys who made the Sixties swing with songs like Oh, Won't You Please Love Me?, Just Count to Three and Who Is That Man?

The Doctor remembers the Sixties. And there's something very wrong with the Sixties if the Beatles no longer exist...

Verdict

Fanfare for the Common Men was an excellent way to kick off the 1963 trilogy to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Doctor Who! It's quite mad that I have only now reached the fiftieth anniversary stories in my run through this incredible range of Monthly Adventures, but it's better late than never. This was a stellar way to kick off the celebrations and the very idea of going deep into The Common Men after their brief mention with Susan in An Unearthly Child is just magnificent. It's exactly what I would like from an audio anniversary story where just about anything could happen. The pairing of the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa were brilliant and it was nice for the former to want to show the latter all about the Beatles and the musical craze that ensured in the Sixties. Of course, it wouldn't quite be that straightforward as Nyssa was swooped to Hamburg in the past and the Doctor took his time in finding out when and where she was. I love the concept of the Beatles being replaced as a means of changing history and The Common Men fitting into that role was excellent. The format of the story was fantastic and it almost felt partially like a documentary which was really cool. The whole thing was well done with the little interviews and anecdotes from each of the band members. Mark, James and Korky were all great characters and the relationship they had with each other was terrific. It felt like there was genuine friendship there which is what you want in a band I would imagine! They took their incredible fame in their stride so Korky's relationship with Nyssa in particular was really nice to see. He didn't take advantage of his fame and was willing to help Nyssa out with a drink and a place to see as she didn't have any money. They were all just likeable guys. Rita quickly became another fond character as she joined forces with the Doctor to try and find Nyssa and reach 1957 where the course of history had changed. It was the focal point so naturally it was time locked to keep people like the Doctor out in an aim to keep the new version of history on track. I thought Lenny made a strong villain and his desire for The Common Men to ascend together after a decade of planning kind of came crashing down in a flash when one band member didn't make it. A single one alone was no good and so the fact Mark killed James was going to be problematic. I thought the idea of feeding on fame and gaining energy from the photos of their huge events was very good and definitely something I was on board with. They could do the Beatles in everything except the songs. Sadia siding with Lenny as her fandom went to the extreme was predictable but still a very strong moment. I thought it was fun for Nyssa to not have use of the TARDIS translation circuit after being separated in time, she was rather happy about hearing English everywhere when the Doctor arrived to rescue her. I thought having two versions of Lenny was good stuff and the Doctor's casual and calm threat was amusing as he knew he'd already won by calling in the authorities to deal with Lenny, but he offered him a chance anyway knowing full well it wouldn't be accepted. Especially with the lack of details he provided on their last chance! He did get to offer Lenny a chance at life though and whilst he would suffer the fate he caused to so many in having his memory wiped, he would still. That was something he couldn't pass up. It was a strong end to what was a marvellous adventure. The Doctor even remembering Susan playing the record of the less popular Common Men in the true version of history was a nice touch. Speaking of which, I thought the decision to have the physical CDs looking like old records was tremendous. That really was spectacular. Overall, a brilliant story! 

Rating: 9/10

The Primeval Design

"Humanity didn't always rule the Earth."

Writer: Helen Goldwyn

Format: Audio

Released: February 2021

Series: Fourth Doctor Adventures 10.04

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

Dorset, 1830. The Doctor has taken Leela to meet Mary Anning, the noted palaeontologist, but the duo immediately stumble into trouble. 

A body has been found in unusual circumstances. Attacked by an animal... but one of a size unknown in the area. It turns out some things might be better off staying buried.

Verdict

The Primeval Design was a decent story to conclude the tenth series of Fourth Doctor Adventures! Considering that Tom Baker didn't initially join the Classic Doctor party at Big Finish until much later than a number of his predecessors, it's incredible that we now have ten series and beyond of his own Doctor's series. I must admit that I hope moving forward we get something more like a modern television series with something of a story arc, and I would certainly welcome a return to one hour stories split into two parts rather than the double that we have at the moment. But that's more the series direction as a whole and not this adventure. It didn't feel like much of a finale which is testament to the series as basically being four standalone adventures other than a small reference to The World Traders with Leela having previously encountered dinosaurs. I thought the first half of this adventure was actually a whole lot better than the second as the real world history and exploration was much better than when the designed creatures emerged. I thought the voice for them was slightly off-putting and not exactly something I could take seriously as a means to destroy everything on Earth whilst maintaining its environment. That's a shame because the concept is actually something I adore as it is destruction but with a purpose, The idea of them wanting to come and claim the planet was bold and I enjoyed the Doctor correcting them on their statement of reclaiming it. It had to have been theirs in the first place for them to reclaim it. Alas, that wasn't the case. The TARDIS being in the past not by chance was nice and I liked the aim of the Doctor to introduce Leela to Mary Anning. I must admit that she was a figure in history that I had not heard about prior to listening to this story, but I felt they did a good job in explaining her significance in the palaeontology field. That kind of history is a little out of my remit and knowledge, but it worked well and her rivalry with Numan was fascinating. He was a bit of a git and typical of the nineteenth century with his sexist views. The moment he told Leela to know her place when she didn't want him snooping about Mary's shop was tremendous. I do enjoy placing Leela in the past where women are not viewed as equal as that's something she doesn't take kindly too. I liked how that was contrasted with showing how powerful of a woman Lizzie was in being able to give birth on the beach. I've been there alongside my partner giving birth and it's not something to take lightly by any means, so to go basically unaided on the medical side is extraordinary. Jim's relationship with her and his desire to keep his job and support Lizzie and their son was lovely and he was just a really nice guy. A fine character. The Squire was an intriguing element to the story and his demise certainly served a purpose. I liked the Queen of the designed species and the Doctor focusing on that word of design was excellent as he realised that there could be a weakness in their makeup. He of course found it with the fake calcium that made up the bones and a wall of fire was soon orchestrated to send them packing. They would not be claiming Earth today. The rivalry between Mary and Numan should have been more of the focus for me and honestly if the whole adventure was centred on their battle for the atlas bone I'd have been happy. Overall though, still a strong listen with a really intriguing concept at its heart! 

Rating: 7/10

Eyes of the Master

"Who dares imprison the Eminence?"

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: February 2014

Series: Dark Eyes 2.04

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Molly, Liv

Synopsis

The Doctor, Liv and Molly arrive back on Earth in the 1970s to investigate the Ides Institute. The timelines have shifted since the Doctor and Molly first travelled here and all is not as it was. Dr Sally Armstrong is still working for the Ides, but her associate has a devastating plan in mind. 

Soon, Molly's 'dark eyes' prove to be at the centre of a plot to seize control of all life in the universe.

Verdict

Eyes of the Master was a great episode to conclude the second series of Dark Eyes! It didn't really feel much like a finale which is fine as this has clearly set things up for the next boxset to come, whilst also rounding out the story that started back with The Traitor and brought the Doctor full circle. It was good that once the threat of the Master and the Eminence were dealt with on Earth, the Doctor had to decline Liv coming with him because she was already where he was going. His sights were on the Eminence and the future at Nixyce VII after the Master's latest crazed scheme. I thought his guise as De'ath was amusing and I liked that he had Sally Armstrong as his accomplice. She was well and truly under his spell with complete and utter devotion to him. Just how he likes to be obeyed. I thought it was great to have the Alex Macqueen version of the Master back to do battle with the Eighth Doctor this time around, and it's nice for Big Finish to get their own incarnation to play with. Especially with their most chronologically recent Doctor. There aren't many restrictions for either so I was actually a little surprised to find that the Time Lords were responsible for the Master's plan. At least according to the Master himself. The details did make sense though and tied up with what we know of the prediction of the timeline that has the Eminence as the final vestige of consciousness at the end of the universe. So naturally the Master was trying to tap into that and prevent it. His referencing of Genesis of the Daleks and the Doctor's failure to wipe out the Daleks at their creation was brilliant because Liv overheard it. Just when it seemed like she might have been leaning towards gaining a different opinion on the Doctor, she finds out he essentially helped the Daleks on another occasion. That's a fun dynamic, although I am disappointed that the Doctor didn't push more when it came to Liv coming clean to him about her condition and the fact she was dying. It could be at any moment and I liked that Molly was pushing for her to tell the Doctor as if anybody could help, it would be him. David Walker still being in the Doctor's home on Baker Street was fun and his reaction when he found out Molly gave him the keys before she left was good fun. He had gone blind though and that meant she could feign being her own daughter given the time difference. She was really lovely to him though and when his blindness was cured in quick and unconventional means by the Master, he knew it was really her. The same woman. I thought the description of the Master's plan with the retro-genitor particles within Molly being the source, and linking it all back to the Eminence and a means to gain immunity to them and thus change the future fate of the universe, was a little convoluted but the Doctor's reaction at the madness was terrific. He was confident he could stop the Master again and he wasn't afraid to get a little jibe in about the baldness of this incarnation. That felt a little odd, but I did like the Master alluding to their previous selves being out there somewhere in the 1970s doing battle as we saw during the Doctor's exile at UNIT. That was a nice touch and added some more fuel to the UNIT dating controversy which is fun. The prospect of the Master having the Infinite Warriors at his disposal is fun and sets us up nicely for the next boxset to come with the threat of the Eminence casket potentially reaching the future and having the control of the Master's TARDIS. The Doctor using the part of the Eminence within him was neatly done as a means to stave off the Master which he didn't expect, but he was brash and confident. He's going to do well with Sally at his side and his knowledge of Liv and actually orchestrating her events in the futures with the Ides Institute was nicely done. Overall, more of a setup than a finale but a really enjoyable episode! 

Rating: 8/10

Time's Horizon

"The police box at the edge of the universe vanished."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: February 2014

Series: Dark Eyes 2.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Molly, Liv

Synopsis

The Doctor and Molly find themselves at the very edge of creation. But something dangerous seems to be heading back into the known universe from the very end of time.

The crew of the cryo-ship Orpheus, including its medical officer Liv Chenka, have their mission parameters to adhere to; but the arrival of the Doctor and Molly changes everything. An ancient and terrible force is on a collision course with them all and the outcome seems to be a matter of divine destiny. 

Verdict

Time's Horizon was an excellent episode to continue my way through the second series of Dark Eyes as the Eighth Doctor Adventures continue. This is a remarkable run for the Eighth Doctor in all honesty and I am so grateful to Big Finish for giving Paul McGann a whole new lease of life on the role. He's a brilliant Doctor and I love how everything feels new and fresh. There aren't really any limitations to his incarnation which is terrific to play with and this episode was a fine example. It was nice to get some continuity following the sensational cliffhanger to The Traitor where the Doctor seemingly helped the Daleks and went against Liv. She returned here after not featuring at all in the previous episode of The White Room, and it was a fun twist that for the Doctor the events with Liv were in his future whilst they were firmly in her past. I wasn't expecting it to get all River Song but I'm all for it. The odds are that time travellers wouldn't always meet in the right order and here we are again. I'm a big fan and I'm very excited for the finale with Liv joining the Doctor and Molly in the TARDIS at the end. The little hints at what is perhaps top come with suggestions of both Liv and Kruger momentarily having dark eyes. What implications could that have? I'm intrigued to find out. I thought the Orpheus ship made for a really strong setting and I love playing with the idea of being at the edge of the universe. The TARDIS even bounced off it which should be impossible, but Molly was quick to pounce on that as if it just happened it couldn't possibly be impossible! She's a magnificent companion already. Her relationship with Liv here was very strong and I like the dynamic with her being a nurse and Liv being a medic. There's some similarity there and I suspect they'll do very well as a companion pairing. Liv wasn't exactly thrilled when she saw the Doctor but it was nice for the episode to have him win her around. She was still a little unsure about joining in the TARDIS because even if it was in her future, it was still him that sided with the Daleks. Molly couldn't believe that would be true though! It was nice that she had trust in him. I thought the return of the Eminence at the end of the universe was excellent and an unexpected treat! I think they're a strong monster and they fitted in well with the gaseous make up of Time's Horizon. A really beautiful name that. Liv having to fight for her own body was powerful stuff and I liked how the Eminence didn't even seem too thrilled by humanity and how weak they were. The discussion on the crew knowing they were on a one-way trip was emotional as they had been in cryo sleep for nearly a millennium so everything and everyone they knew would be gone now. Bron Kell as the com tech was a good character and his faith in the Goddess was intriguing, but it did get a little too much by the end as he wasn't thinking straight. Molly being from the twentieth century and her understanding the faith he had in his god was lovely though. She's just so nice and fun! I thought the ending was very good and I certainly enjoyed the action, but despite the Eminence having an aura of dominance and almost not being able to be defeated, the Doctor never felt out of control and simply used their nature against them to send them back through Time's Horizon. Overall, a brilliant listen to set us up for the finale after a delicious little pair of cameos at the end. 

Rating: 9/10

The White Room

"You've stolen my voice."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: February 2014

Series: Dark Eyes 2.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Molly

Synopsis

Molly O'Sullivan is still trying to help people, but now she is back in London, staying in Baker Street. 

But there are dangerous forces abroad. Where are the young deserters disappearing to? Who are the Huntsmen? And what is really going on at the Blackwell Convalescent Home?

Perhaps the mysterious 'Surgeon General' has the answers. To find out, the Doctor must tackle an old and baffling enemy.

Verdict

The White Room was a great story to continue my way through the second series of Dark Eyes within the ongoing Eighth Doctor Adventures! This was an intriguing listen and whilst I was very happy to be reunited with Molly O'Sullivan once again, it felt a little strange not to be diving into the cliffhanger at the end of The Traitor and pay that off. I guess that will come as the series moves on and will unite both Molly and Liv in the companion role, but it does feel a little strange! The Doctor coming back to his house on Baker Street was good and the humour that came from his reaction to having Molly and Sean as squatters was terrific. He wanted them out! I liked that Molly was playing a part in nursing duties at the end of World War One and the proximity to Armistice Day was excellent. That's obviously a big milestone in British history so the threat of the Black Plague reemerging amongst huge crowds was palpable! Of course, wherever a deadly virus is about to break out the Viyrans are not far behind and that was a fun and unexpected return. They're an interesting bunch and it makes sense in hindsight that they would be behind the White Room. Their mission solely focusing on eradicating the virus in its entirety from the point go patient zero is brilliant because they don't think about the consequences. As long as the virus is gone, it doesn't matter how that is achieved. So when the Doctor basically sold them on how far spread the virus could be now if it was merely dormant was hilarious. They wouldn't blow up the whole planet to eradicate it would they? Of course they would. The historical implications of digging up the Blackwell was very good and it turned out to be a former death pit of centuries past where victims of the Black Plague were buried. So reactivating that disease of all of them was really good to explore. The Doctor's arrival seeing Molly have her dark eyes return was fascinating and she wasn't exactly pleased! Those retro-genitor particles don't seem to have dissipated after all. I'm very intrigued to discover how and why that has happened. I thought Molly's compassion being on display in the episode was really nice and just made me like her even more as a companion. She had been caring for Sean because of her shared heritage, although the Doctor wasn't exactly pleased that she had let somebody into his house who wasn't a blood relative. I think he was merely playing though. I wonder if he'll realise that she's left David Walker looking after his house whilst she returns to the TARDIS too! She did need a little convincing to rejoin the Doctor in his blue Tardy-box which was fun! I am very excited to have them back together, but it was also nice for a more contemporary story which felt like a little bit of a reset and almost a break from the wider Dark Eyes storytelling concerning the Daleks in particular. Now we've had a pause, it'll be time to jump back in. The Viyrans made up for the familiar returning enemy and I think their description as baffling in the synopsis is accurate. The Doctor convincing both Viyrans that had come to 1918 that the other was patient zero was fantastic and a fitting way to round out the threat, but it wasn't wholly wrong given the causal loop that had occurred with the Viyrans finding the virus and thus activating it with its temporal nature. It was ironic that in trying to prevent it they had created it, and thus they would both be wiped out as the joint cause. Overall, a strong continuation of the series! 

Rating: 8/10

The Traitor

"We live in the ruins of our world."

Writer: Nicholas Briggs

Format: Audio

Released: February 2014

Series: Dark Eyes 2.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv

Synopsis

Nixyce VII is under Dalek occupation. For many, their only hope of survival is decent medical care, as slave working conditions under the Dalek regime are appalling. But when you help people to survive under the rule of the Daleks, are you actually helping the Daleks? Med-tech Liv Chenka doesn't have the luxury of pondering these dilemmas. She must just do what she feels is right. 

But then there are the soldiers of last resort... The freedom fighters left behind to cause maximum damage to the Dalek war effort, at whatever cost. To them, anyone who seems to be helping the Daleks is a traitor. 

And when the Doctor arrives, his secret agenda throws him into conflict with everyone. 

Verdict

The Traitor was an excellent start to the second series of Dark Eyes! I was very excited to be getting back into this range and I must admit I was a little caught off guard that we didn't have Molly returning immediately here as companion. It was a pleasant surprise though to have Liv Chenka return in a more prominent role after her strong Robophobia appearance. The references to that were strong and I liked the gradual build to Liv believing that the Doctor had actually changed his face. It was fun for the Daleks to be tapping into the same Dalek frequencies that they always use and I liked the surprise the Doctor had regarding the Dalek Time Controller surviving the events of X and the Daleks in the previous series finale. As if survival wasn't enough, the Time Controller even held the memories of those events even though now they had never happened. I'm fascinated by the idea of the Dalek Time Controller existing outside of time as there is a lot of potential there which I'm excited to discover as the series goes on. I think this episode was more of a reintroduction to the series and bringing Liv to the forefront for what is to come rather than tapping into the titular eyes of Molly, but I'm really intrigued and excited for what is to come moving forward. The impact The Dalek Invasion of Earth had on me the first time I watched it as my first ever First Doctor story is still felt as the Robomen have a profound place in my heart. I'm a huge fan of them so when I laid eyes on the cover artwork for this adventure I was incredibly excited. It's my favourite design for quite a while as it just catches your eye straight away! The Eighth Doctor going through the robotisation process was fun, especially knowing that he had jigged the system to ensure he wasn't actually a Dalek slave at the end. But his impersonation was stellar! The moment he confronted Kavel and Aldin who were also in the same disguise but were a bit too chatty for it to pass was brilliant. He was also delighted to see Liv which was lovely. Her relationship with the Doctor wasn't unlike that of Suz's in the Dalek Empire series which was a nice parallel, and she really was able to do her thing. The Daleks needed her to ensure their slave workforce were able to actually work. She needed supplies and she would get them. Tackling the dilemma on if her helping Dalek slaves was actually helping the Daleks was very fun and I liked how that had given her the traitor title of the story. I wasn't expecting that to be attributed to her but I was a big fan. Of course, given how the episode it could also be given to the Doctor as far as Liv was concerned as she seemed to help the Daleks in giving them the frequency that would blow up the mines despite her pleas for the millions of slaves. I was surprised by that and it served as a sensational cliffhanger. That's some way to kick off their relationship in his new incarnation! Carna turning out to be the Hawk was a fun twist as the man Liv was trying to get to the hospital facilities on board the Dalek ships, but the two resistance members weren't having that. Liv standing up to them about their pointless show of resistance that caused destruction and death was good, but the relationship with the Doctor moving forward now is what I'm excited for. It's going to be quite the dynamic and then throwing Molly and the Master in? This looks set to be another excellent series! A fantastic opener. 

Rating: 9/10

A Christmas Carol

"How can I have new memories?"

Writer: Steven Moffat

Format: TV

Broadcast: 25 December 2010

Series: 2010 Christmas Special

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Amy, Rory

Synopsis

Amy Pond and Rory Williams are trapped on a crashing space liner, and the only way the Doctor can rescue them is to save the soul of a lonely old miser. But is Kazran Sarcick, the richest man in Sardicktown, beyond redemption? And what is lurking in the fogs of Christmas Eve?

Verdict

A Christmas Carol was an excellent Christmas Special episode! It's been a long old time since I rewatched this story and it must be one of the adventures I have rewatched the least of the modern era. That's not because it's bad by any means as my rating here and previously confirm, but it does take a certain mood to watch a Christmas Special outside of the festive period. I'm keen to plough on with our modern era rewatch as after Series 6, I think I've only watched each episode once since broadcast so they will feel much more unfamiliar and that's something I'm very excited for. However this one was a really strong Christmas debut for Steven Moffat and he really captures the tone. Whilst being on an alien planet with floating fish, this feels very Victorian and Christmassy which is an impressive feat. I think the Sardicktown setting is excellent and the lighting really gives it a mystical and magical atmosphere despite the emotional tone of what occurs. This is a bit of a companion lite episode with Amy and Rory enjoying their honeymoon on a spaceship that just happens to now be crashing in the skies of Sardick's planet. Amy looked incredible in her kissogram outfit reprised from The Eleventh Hour and Rory is one lucky chap in his Roman garb. Quite the honeymoon then! I'm allowed to compliment Amy's appearance here as despite watching with my own partner Gemma, she too fancies Karen Gillan so there's a mutual understanding there. The introduction to Kazran Sardick is excellent and I love how grumpy he is. It sets an immediate tone and his being the only one with the power to save the crashing ship in his skies is extraordinary. With the controls being isomorphic, the Doctor is quite literally helpless and that's a rare sight. His anger towards Kazran for not helping or even caring that over four thousand people will die in the crash is magnificent. His mission takes over the plot with him delving deep into the past of Kazran and opening his mind. He changes his entire past and gives him numerous Christmas memories with Abigail, a woman with limited time after serving as collateral for a loan Kazran gave out to her family. She was ill and had limited time, with only eight days left to enjoy. Her interaction with Karan throughout was brilliant and it was lovely to see how their relationship developed as he got older. I thought the directing was impressive and the constant movement and pace of Kazran watching back his past literally change before his eyes as the Doctor interacted with his younger self was outstanding. I was a huge fan of that. I thought the young adult Kazran not telling the Doctor about the issue with Abigail was a little strange and he was quite harsh towards the man that had given him several memorable Christmases. But now there was some compassion there, and it all linked back to the moment where he wouldn't hit the boy. The Doctor latching onto that was superb and I liked how he incorporated that into showing the younger Kazran his Ghost of Christmas Future. The allusions to Dickens' A Christmas Carol were very well done and Amy being the Ghost of Christmas Present and using a hologram to show him the situation on the crashing ship was very good. Abigail was ultimately going to provide the resolution with her singing to control the fish, but it was good to have the threat of Kazran changing so much that his own isomorphic controls failed. Abigail was on hand to see the ship safely and she reacted very nicely to the elderly Kazran. He got to fly off with her on her final day which was lovely, whilst the Doctor was out to answer to Marilyn Monroe! Overall, a fantastic story! 

Rating: 9/10

The Big Bang

"Memories are more powerful than you think."

Writer: Steven Moffat

Format: TV

Broadcast: 26 June 2010

Series: 5.13

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Amy, Rory

Synopsis

The Alliance has trapped the Doctor in the Pandorica. The TARDIS has exploded with River inside. Rory has shot Amy and the cracks have swallowed everything but the Earth and the Moon. 

The fate of all existence lies in the hands of a little girl who still believes in stars.

Verdict

The Big Bang was an excellent episode to conclude the fifth series of the modern era and the finale as a whole that started wit The Pandorica Opens. It’s a really strong story and I was quite surprised that my partner Gemma thought it was better than the previous episode! I wholeheartedly disagreed, but this was a little better than I actually remembered. After such a strong cliffhanger with the assembly of so many past villains and monsters, I do feel a little let down that the only thing we get in that regards is the remnants of a stone Dalek in the close to present day museum. I do think the Underhenge imagery of some of the monsters provided us with some legendary action figures, but I think something akin to seeing the combination of Daleks, Cybermen, Silurians and Sontarans alike trying to fix the cracks in time would be tremendous. What we get instead is fine and definitely some strong humour with the paradoxical nature of the Doctor being freed from the Pandorica, and it really does have Matt Smith at his very best. He goes from the comedy and humour of the fez and mop whilst giving Rory the instructions to free him to the serious and emotional man we see when giving instructions to his former self about initiating Big Bang 2. It’s a bold plan that’s for sure and I like how he manages to save River from within the time loop of the exploding TARDIS that set the universe into destruction. That shows the power of the Doctor’s time ship which is tremendous! I think River’s on top form here (when isn’t she?) and I love the moment she and Amy have an understanding regarding the fez. She coolly shoots it into oblivion. Rory’s story in this episode is obviously an incredibly emotional one as he makes the decision to stand guard for two millennia whilst Amy is kept alive and healed within the Pandorica. It’s an incredible sacrifice and the humour from the Doctor when they embrace is excellent. No breathing allowed during that kiss! It’s nice to get a little return for Amelia and it’s lovely that she believes in stars despite there not being any in the sky. The way she is guided to the Pandorica is very well done even if it is something of a bootstrap paradox. The Dalek threat from a museum piece is brilliant and I like that it actually succeeds in exterminating the Doctor. His using that as a diversion was very clever to set himself off into the Pandorica and have the light revitalise the universe and bring the original back. Talk about a rejuvenation! I think it’s lovely that Amy gets the parents she never had and actually getting to her wedding day with Rory is most welcomed. I love that she remembers the Doctor and the way we link back to Flesh and Stone in particular with the Doctor making use of Amy’s blindness to ask her to remember what he told her when she was seven was tremendous. The little memory tour through the Doctor’s past was good and it’s quite sad that he needed to be on the other side of the cracks for the universe to fully heal. I love the way things end as whilst the mystery of the Pandorica is over and the Doctor is returned, the threat of the Silence is still out there to set us up for the next series very nicely! Overall, a fantastic finale!

Rating: 9/10