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