Caged

"They took me and never even said hello."

Writer: Una McCormack

Format: Novel

Released: June 2024

Series: NSA 67

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Ruby

Synopsis

Are aliens ever abducted by aliens? And if they were, would anyone believe their story?

When the Doctor and Ruby arrive on Cavia, they meet a gentle local who is certain that she has been taken for study by creatures from the stars. The Doctor is concerned to find mysterious meteors appearing in the sky, while strange robotic creatures crowd the forests, watching everything and waiting for... what?

Who is interested in Cavia, and why? What is the sinister truth of the abductions? The Doctor and Ruby must discover the secrets of this mysterious world – and those who would seek to destroy it...

Verdict

Caged was another really strong book to continue the prose adventures of the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby! I must admit it does feel a little strange to have released this book a week after the Empire of Death finale, especially with it being established as being quite early on for Ruby with no references coming post-Boom, but I'll take it whenever rather than never! I think it is clear that the author only had a brief idea of what this Doctor and companion pairing would be like as I felt the characterisation of both was somewhat safe and generic. But that works! It wasn't bad at all, but I do think Ruby Red felt a little more in line with what we saw on screen over the last two months. The concept itself is an intriguing one with the tagline of aliens being abducted by aliens something that is certainly enticing. We had the expected moment of Ruby comparing the eyes looking at her to as if she was looking at a guinea pig or a rabbit. It's hard to put yourself in that position but it really isn't any different. I thought Chirracharr as the central character and the subject of that alien abduction was superb and a really likeable alien. She was just lovely and was so interested in everything. Travel, family, others. She just wanted to learn and that meant she got on rather well with the Doctor. Tixlel as the Head of Research for the Experiment was a strong character too and I appreciated his love and devotion to his life's work. Except the Experiment was much more than that. It was something that had spanned generations across a millennia. It had thought shut down but here it continued in secrecy. Until now. The idea of a protest against the Experiment because the Building Collective needed more room to house the population was really good and parallels could definitely be drawn with some of modern society. Despite an entire species and world within, that loving the Doctor named as Friends, they weren't Ixites so they didn't matter. They were manufactured and manipulated on Ix, but now the land was required. Of course, the Doctor and Ruby weren't having that. I loved how fascinated Chirracharr was when she first encountered the Doctor and Ruby, and it was also nice that she took matters into her own hands to prove that her supposed dream of the white walls and the sad eyes of Tixlel was not false. She would head to the mountains as that's where nobody went. The Doctor encouraging that adventurous spirit of her was terrific. Ruby taking things into her own hands and tackling the protestors by showing that she was an alien was impressive and pretty admirable! I liked that she wasn't interested in the idea of a fear for the others or a belief that there were no aliens beyond the Seven Systems. She wanted to defend Chirracharr and her people because she believed they had the right to exist. I thought that was really good and showed her strong companion traits. The rollers were a fun element of the story too and the Doctor quickly deducing that they were observing and machinery was good. I thought the resolution at the end was pretty simple and I liked the threat of the meteors as moon-sized to wipe out the Experiment, but then the Heritage Collection arrived to safeguard it once its depth and scaled was learned. It was an important part of Ixite heritage and would be preserved. The theme of the word hello throughout was quite beautiful. Chirracharr couldn't understand why someone wouldn't just introduce themselves. They'd be willing to share land so having the Doctor try to explain to her how some people were evil was a bit sad. She genuinely had a kind heart. It was fantastic to have Tixlel go within the Experiment at the end and see Chirracharr and her people up close and personal. Not to analyse but just to converse. That was really good. Overall, a great little read!  

Rating: 8/10

The Eternity Contract

"You died and came here."

Writer: Gary Russell

Format: Short Story

Released: March 1999

Printed in: More Short Trips 07

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa

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

The Eternity Contract was a brilliant little adventure to continue my way through the More Short Trips book! This was a thrilling story and at twenty-eight pages, there was more than sufficient room to explore in detail and depth a rather fascinating concept. The idea of the Doctor and Nyssa arriving at a house that was a halfway point between life and death is tremendous and I thought it was presented so well. The Ferrises of Richard and Jean as the manor's hosts were really strong and whilst they appeared normal on the outside, it was clear there was something more to them. There was a strong eery feel which was fantastic and created a death-like atmosphere. But at the same time things almost felt a little upbeat despite the predicament of the guests at Carnon Manor being people who had died. That was thrilling and I liked how Patricia was our main focus as someone who ended up there. She didn't quite know why or how, but she was certain she had died. She was far too busy to have done so though which was quite fun. Her position in life as an advertising executive that was always on the go couldn't be something I would enjoy as when the end of my shift comes, I love to just switch off. I couldn't imagine her doing that but she was an enjoyable character. She had been in the Manor for three days by the time the Doctor and Nyssa arrived and she was being held hostage. There was no escape. I liked how she had a little inkling of trust in the Doctor in that he could potentially get them out, and it was nice that she had a change of heart at the end in saving the Doctor despite the offer on the table. The Doctor being subjected to mental communication with Lord Carnon was intriguing and the death of a Time Lord was something he very much wanted. So much so that the six souls he had in his Manor as an agreement with a higher power presumed to be Death could be saved if the Doctor gave himself. Of course, this is usually the kind of sacrifice the Doctor is willing to make but the means of it happening were pretty brutal! It was a powerful image to see the Doctor being strangled to death by Richard and Jean and with Nyssa already eliminated from the Manor and Patricia seemingly accepting the circumstances despite her disagreement, all seemed lost for the Doctor. It would have made an excellent cliffhanger if this story was presented in another format that's for sure! I liked Patricia showing her morals in smacking a frying pan on the Ferrises to save the Doctor, and the Time Lord battling with Carnon and breaking up his imagined Manor and dismantling the agreement he had was fitting. It was a little simple and somewhat told rather than explained which is probably why I can't award full marks to the adventure, but I'm fine with that in this kind of format. It was pacy and exciting which I can't ask for much more! I thought the pairing of the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa was really strong and I loved how the companion was questioning the former on what he feared. She had great confidence in him usually but when the Doctor shows some form of trepidation or doubt in himself, she gets scared. I liked that and could certainly understand! Nyssa seeing the Melkur and her planet of Traken when thinking of fear and what happened to her father was certainly understandable. I thought her just appearing at the end was a little strange, but I liked how everything was collapsing. Patricia being returned to life and fighting death was a nice way to bookend things. She was right back to work! Overall, a terrific read. 

Rating: 9/10

64 Carlysle Street

"We want to live here."

Writer: Gary Russell

Format: Short Story

Released: March 1999

Printed in: More Short Trips 06

Featuring: First Doctor, Steven, Dodo

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

64 Carlysle Street was a really strong story to continue my reading of the More Short Trips collection! This was very good and I liked the unique style of format. With these kind of stories I think it's good to shake things up a little and this is a perfect example. Having this adventure of sixteen pages go in the form of police reports or statements was terrific. I don't think it would work for a full length novel, but for a shorter trip like this one it was perfect. It was engaging and reading the events in chronological order for the most part worked well as each little development was from somebody else's perspective in the household of 64 Carlysle Street. I thought the actual story itself when looking from above and coherently was rather basic and that was absolutely fine. The continuity of including Quinnis as the planet mentioned in The Edge of Destruction visited by the First Doctor and Susan was wonderful. It worked well and very much in Sutekh style from Empire of Death, we found out that Roztoq had been riding the TARDIS coattails ever since. It found its way from the Fourth Universe into this one and that meant things were very unstable. On the basis, that was all very exciting and I'd love to know more about this Fourth Universe. Sure, we've had the actual audio adventure of Quinnis which is great, but there's a whole universe to explore there! I liked the varied perspectives we did get and I thought Gary Russell did a good job as author in changing up the voice of the statement depending on who was giving it. We hard Lord Greystone himself sounding quite posh and upper class, but then we shifted to a more rough Cockney sounding Emily as the kitchen maid. It was really good and kept me engaged throughout as I wanted to read who was next! I enjoyed the description of the First Doctor as being old but with young eyes and having Steven supposedly as his assistant but entering through the main door was great. That wasn't becoming of his position! He didn't have a huge amount to do in the story but I find it fascinating he was only referred to as Taylor throughout the adventure. A nice little look at the kind of class and society of the early twentieth century. I think it's more than fair to suggest that this was a time period not so well suited to Dodo. She didn't exactly embrace her position to get into the house as a servant and she had the cheek to ask for tea. That didn't go down well with the other servants who were perplexed by her comments. They couldn't believe how she saw herself! That was quite fun and actually what I would expect of our Dorothea. She didn't take kindly to the idea of being called Dottie either which was good fun. I liked Steven referencing The Gunfighters and The Massacre when it came to namedropping Tombstone and Paris as places he had visited whilst in the Doctor's accompany, and he was looked upon very kindly by some of the females in the household. The way Roztoq was defeated was pretty simple in having Annebel expel it from her mind at the encouragement of the Doctor, and I liked the description of her being a silver angel. The little passage at the end that took on a more traditional style and not in the police report/statement format was fun as it revealed that 64 Carlysle Street was actually a home for the mentally unstable. I must admit I didn't see that coming and didn't get that impression from what I had read, but it was a fun little note to finish on and certainly gave me a thought or two at the end. Overall, a really good read! 

Rating: 8/10

Seven Keys to Doomsday

"We came here to watch a show, not join in with one."

Writer: Terrance Dicks

Format: Audio

Released: October 2008

Series: The Stageplays 02

Featuring: The Doctor, Jenny, Jimmy

Synopsis

A newly-regenerated Doctor takes his young companions, Jenny and Jimmy, to the desolate world of Karl. There they must face terrifying monsters and brave fiendish traps to locate seven crystal keys. 

If they fail in their task, the Doctor's arch enemies, the Daleks, will unleash their evil upon the entire universe!

Verdict

Seven Keys to Doomsday was a terrific stage play adaptation! I didn't really know what to expect from this audio but I was pleasantly surprised. It was an absolute joy to listen to right from the off. It feels a little weird to have an unfamiliar actor in the role of the Doctor for an extended story, but that didn't take long to get over. The writing was really strong in capturing the essence of the Doctor as we know him and I must say I was impressed with Trevor Martin's take on the role with this stage incarnation. I thought he felt very much like the Third Doctor which is a lot of fun and I find it fascinating that on stage back in 1974 for the original Doctor Who and the Daleks in Seven Keys to Doomsday play performance the actor was dressed to look like the then-current incarnation with a wig. A regeneration feels like a big moment usually but it was almost like a comic gag to start this adventure. Imagine a stage regeneration with a wig removal being the means of a change of appearance! It soon loses its significance in this story which is more than fine as this is just a representation of what would have been seen on stage. I think it's a marvellous idea to adapt it. I like that things have been updated a little to include Kara as the setting for the story considering that The Brain of Morbius hadn't been produced when this story was on the stage. Jenny and Jimmy make for some fun companions and I like how contemporary and real they felt. This was very much an unwanted journey and Jimmy having severe doubts about the Doctor and his outlandish claims was good fun. He wasn't even fussed about the TARDIS being bigger on the inside as he just deduced it was done with mirrors. He was close-minded but Jenny's more exuberant personality meant we had a strong companion pairing. I'd absolutely love to hear further adventures for this Doctor and these companions much in the same vain as Beyond the Ultimate Adventure, but alas it's been sixteen years since this was released now so I doubt I will get my wish. The story felt very much like a compact Key to Time which was good although the segments of the Crystal of All Power weren't as widespread in their hiding places. It didn't take the Doctor long at all to get six of the crystals, but the Daleks being close behind meant he couldn't exactly get it to the Time Lords for safekeeping as was intended. The involvement of the Dalek Emperor in the story was brilliant and I loved how he was referred to as your majesty. That felt very regal of the Daleks and I'm surprised they have a concept of royalty! Nicholas Briggs is stellar with that booming voice though. Jenny going into a Dalek very much in the vain of Ian in The Daleks was good fun and I loved the shock of her apparently being exterminated. I must admit that the lack of response confirmed to me that she wasn't inside, but Jimmy wasn't to know that. Even the Doctor had to state how she knew the risks. The plan of the Daleks to eradicate all organic life and bring a slow death to the universe with just the Daleks being immune was incredible, and almost before it's time! Was this something Russell T Davies took inspiration from for his reality bomb revelation in The Stolen Earth/Journey's End? The Doctor having time to manipulate the molecular structure of the seventh crystal in the TARDIS laboratory brought a fine resolution as it changed the entire makeup of the Crystal of All Power so no amplification of their plan would be happening. The sacrifice of Jedak at the end with the bomb was admirable, although it's a shame that Tara never got to retrieve her brother after surprisingly being the traitor within. I thought it was a lovely touch for the Doctor to come back to Jimmy and Jenny at the end to apparently set up future adventures. I'm all for hearing those at some point. But for now, this was just joyous. A tremendous listen. 

Rating: 9/10

The Rising Night

"A creature from the stars here to feed on you and your cattle."

Writer: Scott Hancock

Format: Audio

Released: July 2009

Series: NSA Audio 04

Featuring: Tenth Doctor

Synopsis

The TARDIS arrives in an 18th Century village in the Yorkshire Moors, where livestock has been vanishing from the farmland and strange lights have been seen in the skies. Something is very wrong here, and he soon becomes involved in a nightmarish adventure, in which he is helped by a young local woman named Charity. Who is feeding on the blood of the locals, and where will the carnage stop...?

Verdict

The Rising Night was a good little New Series Adventures audio! Well, I say little but this one clocked in at close to two hours and twenty minutes which was surely a little long by the time things were completed. It was a good change to have someone like Michelle Ryan as the narrator and I found the release date's proximity to Planet of the Dead very intriguing. I think I'd have appreciated this a lot if I was listening to these kind of stories back during broadcast and the little foreshadowing of events to come for the Doctor and how things were going to come quicker than he expected was good to lead into The End of Time. I'm a big fan of cross continuity across different formats and that was also evidenced with a great little reference to The Eyeless with the Doctor on his way back from Arcopolis. The little things like that are things I really appreciate as it just makes everything feel more connected and genuine. I thought Ryan as narrator was mostly strong but for some reason, and I'm really not sure why, I couldn't find myself getting to grips fully with her style. I didn't think she was bad or anything and she was certainly engaging, but there was just something missing. Maybe it would have helped if Christina de Souza featured? I was almost half expecting that with how often we got little teases of the Doctor recognising a woman. However, that companion role was saved for Charity who was terrific. She could definitely be someone I would see joining the Doctor on his travels, but he was clearly still reeling from the events of Journey's End as mentioned with erasing Donna's memories. There would be no new companion for now. I thought the setting of Thornton Rising was pretty strong and the eery atmosphere that was created provided a sense of an enigmatic feel. I do think more use could have been made of the eighteenth century setting, but for the whole it was a good place and time to explore for the Doctor. The humour of his arrival and being caught almost immediately was good and for some reason that seems to bring a comedic value when he's travelling solo. The emergence of the Baobhan Sith was strong and I must say I find the image on the cover artwork particularly striking! It really does grab the attention. The feeding on the livestock and cattle within the village was good and whilst basic, I quite like how real that feels. For an eighteenth century village that would be a very big problem! Ryan's take on the Tenth Doctor was admirable and whilst she didn't try much in terms of an impression, I think the writing helped her in injecting that speed and energetic feel that David Tennant brought to the role. Charity being taken over was good and I liked the Doctor appealing to her. I thought the Doctor's efforts to return to the TARDIS were fun, but I did feel that once the threat was defeated in relatively simple terms with the iron overload and a particularly random feeling use of horseshoes, things dragged on with the monologue. We didn't need so much speech from Charity and the likes reflecting on the adventure. We'd just experienced it! It was all very fresh so that felt like filling time which doesn't equate considering how long the story was. Still, for the whole this was an entertaining story and I think my favourite thing about it was the chilled feeling. It was eery and that felt exactly right. Overall, a strong listen if not a little long and a somewhat questionable resolution. 

Rating: 7/10

Ghost Train

"You want to keep me here so the world ends."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: March 2011

Series: Torchwood BBC Audio 06

Featuring: Captain Jack, Gwen, Ianto, Rhys

Synopsis

It's not easy being Rhys Williams. You're married to the sexiest woman in Torchwood. She saves the world for a living, you move lorries round in a timely fashion.

Suddenly, you've got a mystery of your own. Oh, it starts off being about missing fridges. But it leads to a midnight train pulling into an abandoned platform at Cardiff Station. What is the mysterious cargo that Rhys is unloading from the train? Where's it going? And what can be behind it?

Rhys Williams is going to get to the bottom of it. All by himself, thank you ver much. Soon Captain Jack is missing, his wife's dead, and it's up to Rhys to try and put everything right. And find those fridges...

Verdict

Ghost Train was an excellent audio adventure to continue my way through the Torchwood Tales release! I usually do think these can be a little on the long side with this one reaching some 139 minutes, but it was an absolute breeze to listen to. I think a lot of credit for that must go down to Kai Owen with his narration. He is such a gem as the character of Rhys and whilst initially just something of a minor character as Gwen's boyfriend, he grows to become a crucial part of the Torchwood cog. It's honestly a travesty that Rhys isn't a part of the cover artwork for this story as he's the star attraction. I mean, the entire thing is told in first person from his perspective! It really was like an extended Torchwood version of a Companion Chronicles for Rhys which was an absolute delight. I'm a really big if it wasn't obvious already! I also think it helps that a writer like James Goss is so familiar with the city of Cardiff. Getting mentions of the likes of Cardiff Queen Street and Grangetown train stations is so fun as a local to the city because they're just not usually places that are mentioned in the mainstream. Sure, the audience for a Torchwood audio adventure are going to be niche but I love the way the locale is described. Even the likes of Radyr get mentioned when Ianto had cured a plague in the area! It definitely helps being from the area and living within the region. I thought the continuity with the wider Whoniverse was brilliant in utilising Rhys's position at a haulage company and remembering the events of The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky as the ATMOS went wild. The descriptors on the satnavs here were a little on the nose too! Never did I think I'd hear an automated voice describe someone as a slut. Only in Torchwood. Getting a little mention of Derek the weatherman was a fun anecdote too to make reference to Derek Brockway, a popular Welsh weatherman. He'd be well chuffed! I liked the ridiculousness of Rhys being concerned about some missing fridges and whilst he knew there was something going on that did require Torchwood's involvement, he appreciated how mad it sounded. It was clear in this audio how much Rhys appreciated his girlfriend Gwen, along with her arse, which was really nice to hear. Sure there was banter and sexual innuendo, but he really cared for her. He missed her. When he ended up back in time and having to live without seeing her for a couple of weeks, he didn't cope too well! He couldn't wait to see her again. I thought the ghost train concept was fun and really eery. Not many trains go to Cardiff Queen Street past midnight! The numerous clones of Powell made for an intriguing image across Cardiff and I liked how zombified they sounded. It was also chilling to hear how Rhys was not required. Rhys posing as an aid to the gradual invasion was incredible and almost borderline stupendous, but it just about stayed on the right side of logic. He revelled in it though and pushed things to the line but never quite over it. The field of despair was a strong name and I really liked it as an explanation for what was happening in Cardiff. Rhys having to see the station blow up and take his wife and Jack with them was a big shock but lucky for him it sent him back in time where he could fix things under Jack's instruction. His pairing with Ianto was fantastic and I really thought they worked well together. Rhys improvising and using his own unique position in the timeline to put everything back on track was good, even if a little fortunate. That's how it should be for someone like Rhys though with all due respect. Jack turning up as the train driver was a fun way to finish things as well. From cardboard boxes to clones to an eery train station or two, this was a really enjoyable listen! 

the field of despair 

Rating: 9/10

One Bad Apple

"This place could not be Paradise."

Writer: Simon Forward

Format: Short Story

Released: March 1999

Printed in: More Short Trips 05

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

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

One Bad Apple was a great story to continue my reading through the More Short Trips collection! This length at twenty-two pages was the perfect count for me in this kind of adventure as it was long enough not to feel rushed and to really flesh out some details whilst also being a pretty quick read at around forty minutes or so. It really was a short trip and that was appealing. I thought the writing for both the Fourth Doctor and Leela was excellent, although I would have liked the latter to use her savage sense and tribal upbringing a little more in the forest. That's a perfect setting for Leela but I don't think she was wholly utilised to her potential there. I thought the biblical connotations were quite fun and whilst I'm not fan of religion in the slightest, I could appreciate the parallels drawn. It was possibly a little on the nose to have characters named as Cain and Abel, but I get what they were trying to do. Colonel Joshua made for a good villain with his desire for Paradise. That's an exciting concept and one that is sometimes difficult to fully comprehend. Can anything possibly be considered as a paradise? Would there not be some sort of defect? I struggle to believe that it exists, but Joshua being on the hunt for it here was good stuff. It worked well and was a fun basis for the story to go in. What I wasn't expecting was so much focus on the Cybermen without them actually appearing. Sure, we had a helmet here and a gun there, but they had been wiped out here a long time ago which showed the threat that we were dealing with was a formidable one. Joshua believing that Paradise lay physically somewhere between humanity and Cyberman was fascinating and I liked how he linked back to The Tenth Planet and how Mondas wasn't meant to come back. Humanity and Cybermen should have been kept separate with Paradise split somewhere in the middle of them. That was so exciting and my only qualm was that this wasn't focused upon more because it's an incredible concept! I really enjoyed the Mithran Fusiliers as a mercenary organisation and them being a church for the lost souls of the Cyberwars was exciting. This is a strong place to set a story and it works without the need for the Cybermen to feature. I like that we see some of their lasting impact here. I thought Leela's involvement with the P'tarr was good and I loved her scrumpling with the fruit brought her an increased knowledge. It was unclear whether what information had been passed to her was the fruit, but the Doctor's reaction when she talked of refraction was a delight. He didn't seem all that thrilled with having Leela be an all knowledgable companion! That was funny stuff and this is a tremendous pairing to do that with. The comedic value is so strong. I thought the story ended in a somewhat sombre way as we learned the truth about Josh and how the fruit had broken the link between flesh and cybernetics. Where did the human start and the Cybermen end? Leela talking of how he'd come for an honourable death was fitting as a way to conclude, and despite the issues he'd presented he would no longer live. His time was up now. His paradise was actually Hell which is a bold statement to present for someone in death! But I liked the symbolism and that everything we search for isn't always how we might have pictured it. Overall, a really good read with a concept I'd love to explore in further detail in an expanded story. 

Rating: 8/10

Morbius Part 3

"Never let it be said that Morbius isn't kind."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: June 2024

Series: Dark Gallifrey 1.03

Featuring: Fourth Doctor

Synopsis 

Morbius has been brought back to life on the Isle of the Dead. But a desperate Captain Argento has called for help and received an unlikely ally. Here is a stranger who knows the tyrant of old and is the only one who can put his plans on ice. But perhaps even the Doctor cannot stop the threat of Dark Gallifrey...

Verdict

Morbius concluded in strong style to round out this epic first story in the Dark Gallifrey range! This is such an exciting series and whilst we didn't get a huge amount of knowledge regarding just what Dark Gallifrey itself entails, there was enough drips and drabs of information to keep me wanting more. I mean, we've still got five more stories comprised of three releases to come so this was always going to start off small regarding the overarching reach of the series. For me, this was all about Morbius anyway and diving deep into Gallifreyan past. This wasn't quite the Dark Times but the Doctor mentioning that they were basically within its shadows was a fun anecdote of when this episode took place. The Doctor being the one dragged to answer the call of Captain Argento when she used the Horn of Rassilon was fun and I liked how he was momentarily disoriented. Of course he wasn't Rassilon! It makes sense to have the Fourth Doctor encounter Morbius once again but this is far from a rematch from The Brain of Morbius as for the tyrannical Time Lord, he had yet to encounter the Doctor. That by default meaning that the Doctor was here to exact his revenge for his defeat was a lot of fun and showed just how much Morbius thought of himself. It was good to get a bit more activity from Argento this time around and she showed just why she was worthy of being captain. Her relationship with the Doctor was lovely and it was really nice that he recognised her name straight away. She was something of a legend! Every Time Lord ought to know her name. That showed just how revered the Proteus was, although to the Doctor the tech was rather primitive which was amusing. It was good that Gilda knew of the Doctor being a future President of the Time Lords but she was almost as surprised as he was by the fact! I wonder if The Invasion of Time had happened for him yet? That was unclear but a fun thought. She was a brilliant character here though and the development she went through was quite extraordinary. The fact she got to live out the dream of Morbius was a fun play on events and having her exist in her own planet's past and see herself born was brilliant. That really is quite something and the twist with everything coming full circle as she was revealed to be the narrator all along was terrific. That was strong and a nice way to conclude her story. She stood up to Morbius well here. I thought the interaction the Doctor shared with Morbius could have been a little more tense and impactful, but it was a delight to hear them converse. The way the Doctor trapped Morbius with a distraction of simply talking was tremendous and he really did make the best use of only being a projection. That was handy when Morbius was intent on destruction! I thought it was quite clever really as a means of defeating Morbius and even having the deformed and amalgamated version projected to show him what fate awaited him was very well done. I really didn't expect that! It was a strong way though to send Morbius back packing and have him ready for the Doctor to take him on back on Karn where he belonged, and it was just a sheer joy for him to be resurrected at this point in time! I really hope we can explore more of this period in Gallifreyan history moving forward, but I get the sense that's not going to happen. However, I very much look forward to hearing what the War Master gets up to in the next instalment in this series. Overall, a fascinating and really enjoyable listen! The Doctor couldn't quite believe it. 

Rating: 8/10

Empire of Death

"Why is the God of Death not killing me?"

Writer: Russell T Davies

Format: TV

Broadcast: 22 June 2024

Series: 14.08

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Ruby, Mel

Synopsis

The Doctor has lost, his ageless enemy reigns supreme, and a shadow falls over creation. Nothing can stop  the devastation, except one woman.

Verdict

Empire of Death was a strong second half of the series finale that began with the incredible The Legend of Ruby Sunday last week! Whilst I did enjoy the episode a lot as my rating reflects, I can't help but feel slightly underwhelmed by some of the series revelations, particularly the identity of Ruby's mother. That took up a considerable amount of the final fifteen minutes or so of the finale whereas I was much more interested in Sutekh and his blessing of death. I do think it was a little strange to not get any kind of humanoid form for Sutekh, but I guess his evolution into the god he had become was answer enough for that. The dog-like form that was clinging to the TARDIS was ghastly and uncomfortable which worked well, although I get a little disoriented when communicating with a being that shows no signs of physically talking. I thought the way the episode started was actually incredible with Kate being on the phone to the Doctor and hoping that there would still be birds if he could defeat Sutekh, but her time was done. That was a shocking moment! I knew that it wouldn't stay true once Carla also felt the dust, but momentarily it was quite brilliant. It showed right away that Sutekh was a force to be reckoned with. He definitely had a feeling of Thanos about him which is certainly a compliment, and he's certainly come a long way since we last saw him on screen in Pyramids of Mars. The little flashback on the time window to that adventure was tremendous and really appreciated. Of course, we did just have the Tales of the TARDIS episode to revisit the adventure in full, but this was a wonderful glimpse to the past. Hearing how Sutekh had been clinging to the TARDIS ever since then felt a little bit of a stretch, especially with so many different versions of Susan Triad having grown with each TARDIS landing, but I loved how this also created a pattern of death across time and space. The Doctor had touched so many places. Vortis, Telos, Skaro, Spiridon. The list goes on and on. All with many powerful versions of Susan Triad. I thought the link to 73 Yards with the TARDIS and Roger Ap Gwilliam was excellent and really strong continuity with the Doctor confused as to how Ruby knew what 66.7 meters represented. The way the identity of Ruby's mother was found by going to 2046 where the Welsh Prime Minister had made DNA records compulsory was intriguing, and at least gives an explanation as to why the DNA results were no good in The Church on Ruby Road with Davina McCall. I must say though, Ruby's mother being an ordinary woman named Louise is bitterly disappointing. It's a nice story for Ruby to be united with her after all this time, but given how much prominence was put on her in the time window in the last episode and that look in the scary cloak. And that point! I'm not sure it all adds up for her to just be pointing at the road sign of Ruby Road as a means to name her daughter. Why wouldn't she just leave a note? It was a little disappointing and shouldn't have been so much of the focus for the conclusion in my eyes. Thankfully, we did get some strong stuff with Sutekh and the devastation caused as he brought the release of death. I do wonder what he would do once the Doctor and Ruby were killed after he got the knowledge of her mother. But considering he had use of the TARDIS, couldn't he just find the identity himself? I mean, he was there on Ruby Road after all! We've seen before how the most ordinary person becomes the most important, but because we thought she was important therefore she was. I do appreciate the story being told but after a lengthy build up the identity is underwhelming. I thought the vespa scenes with Mel were a good laugh and getting her in the Remembered TARDIS and seeing some of the Sixth and Seventh Doctor attire was lovely. It's fascinating to get this version of the TARDIS on screen after numerous appearances already in Tales of the TARDIS, but I am absolutely all for it. Overall, a strong finale in its own right but some slightly lacking revelations. But that ending with Mrs Flood! Who is she? I thought we'd know by now, but here she survives. That attire also looked very familiar at the end. I'm excited moving forward, especially as she seemed rather Christmassy! The apparent departure of Ruby was emotional but it does feel very quick with the reduced episode count. Who can blame her though in finding her parents? I feel like we have mentioned Susan way too many times now for her to not be showing up, as we even glimpsed her in a flashback and Ruby wondering if the Doctor would come back if he could leave her. A good episode. Lots to think about moving forward. 

Rating: 8/10

Ruby Red

"The parasites are coming from under the ice!"

Writer: Georgia Cook

Format: Novel

Released: June 2024

Series: NSA 66

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Ruby

Synopsis

April, 1242: the Doctor and Ruby answer a distress call sent from medieval Russia. The signal's sender? Ranavere, an alien girl forced to take part in a barbaric conflict between the armies of Estonia and Novgorod on the frozen surface of Lake Peipus. 

Ranavere wants to escape, but her distress call has summoned her warmongering sisters, intent on preserving family tradition whatever the cost. And as human battle begins, the Doctor and Ruby must face a more devastating threat – a monstrous entity with plans of conquest, growing stronger beneath the icy lake...

Verdict

Ruby Red was a decent novel to kick off the prose adventures of the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby! I think it's very exciting to be getting a brand new trio of books for the current TARDIS team as I think that's something that was lacking during the Thirteenth Doctor era after her first series, so it's nice to get some alignment across the different forms of media. It's also lovely that this book is actually released whilst the series is still being broadcast as that gives it more of a sense of a genuine feel in my eyes. The pace of the televised series has been quite rapid but I could definitely see this adventure slotting in on screen towards the earlier half. I thought the setting was very unique and that really excited me. It's safe to say I knew absolutely nothing about thirteenth century Estonia but the way we learned about the Battle on the Ice was very good. I found it intriguing and that concept in of itself is exciting! There was a strong educational value and it was good that Ranavere was thrown into the Estonian and Novgorod conflict. The ritual of her people was a pretty dire one to be honest in that on their sixteenth birthday they were thrust into a random battle to see if they could survive. Sure, Ran was put on the winning side but that wasn't exactly much solace amidst a conflict where many thousands lost their lives! I thought the personality of Ran was really strong and I liked that it was her who sent the distress signal. It wasn't only the TARDIS that picked it up though which was fun. I really loved the continuity of having the TARDIS with some indigestion problems making a few groans given the Sutekh reveal in The Legend of Ruby Sunday, and that tied in nicely with the humorous line on the coffee filters not working. Roast potato flavour beverages didn't sound good at all! I thought the emergence of the Genetrix was pretty good with it being housed beneath the ice and animating the likes of wolves with its ruby red eye look. That did seem to get slightly forgotten about as the story went on, but the threat Ruby faced of possessed wolves was a pretty frightening one! I wouldn't fancy that, especially on ice. Learning of the history between the Rentaran race with the Genetrix was good and I liked the threat of infection. It was a big scale and the latter race was nearly obliterated. It was good for them to challenge the Doctor on seemingly helping the Rentarans when they were deemed to have enacted genocide, but the Doctor wouldn't let that happen. He also wouldn't be letting the Genetrix take over the Earth with infection. The parasites seemed a bit useless though despite the threat as one was caught somewhat easily and then they weren't doing much when in the waters. I did think the underwater sequences were stretched a little beyond the realms of believability, especially with Ruby coming back up and hitting the ice. She firmly believed she was going to die which was powerful stuff, but I can't help but feel she should have. The length of passage just didn't seem like she would be able to hold her breath for that long. And then the TARDIS dropping beneath and creating an air bubble passage felt a little too convenient also. I thought the book was mostly good and there really was some good character development. Ran was not interested in becoming a warrior like her Mother-Commander demanded. She was creative and could create all sorts with a workshop to aid the race instead. She wasn't like her sisters and it was lovely that by the end of the book they could see that also. She wasn't going to fit into the norms of Rentaran society. She couldn't fight. I thought the way the Doctor stopped the Genetrix was a little easy in linking minds and reversing the control, and then just saying he'd pop it off to another planet before it woke up and the Rentaran could question it again. Parley was not going to work here. Overall though, a fun visit to a very unique setting and a more than enjoyable read as a whole! 

Rating: 7/10

Pyramids of Mars

"All this time, I thought he was dead."

Writer: Russell T Davies

Format: TV

Broadcast: 20 June 2024

Series: Tales of the TARDIS 1.07

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Ruby, Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane

Synopsis

In 1911, an ancient threat rises in the tombs of Egypt and brings terror to an English country house. Sutekh has risen, and the world must beware.

Verdict

Pyramids of Mars was a nice little bonus edition of Tales of the TARDIS! This series was an absolute gem of an addition to the Whoniverse as part of the sixtieth anniversary celebrations last year, so to get an extra one with the current TARDIS pairing was brilliant! It was also helpful to get a refresher on Sutekh after his incredible return at the end of The Legend of Ruby Sunday last week, and as I'm watching this with my girlfriend Gemma it was the first time she had encountered the character. I must say she does struggle to get to grips with the pace of the Classic era and as I get older I can certainly understand that, but for me there is a sense of nostalgia as well. In saying that, whilst good and enjoyable as my previous ratings and blog entires show, I do think this classic tale is massively overrated. It's obviously good but I don't think it belongs anywhere near the conversation when it comes to the greatest serials. Gemma didn't enjoy it all and her rating was half of mine which is a little harsh, but I can appreciate where she's coming from. Even at an edited down duration of seventy-five minutes, this can feel a little slow in parts and I really didn't remember just how little Sutekh actually does. He's contained to the chair for the most part and whilst his appearance is striking in that black gear get up, Gemma didn't think it was very god-like. I'm a fan of the attire myself and I do like the way he has his acolytes and heralds. I don't think Susan Triad will be anything like Marcus Scarman here but it is fascinating to see the differences. Speaking of which, I am a huge fan of seeing this story upscaled into high definition with some rather excellent new special effects. The time tunnel was a particular highlight there as it looked so much more lifelike and real, but at the same time I'm a sucker for retro and those rainbow colours were always striking to me. The likes of the fire and the ripples on the hidden ship outside were really good though. It's incredible to think that this story was originally broadcast in 1975 and now ahead of Empire of Death broadcasting this weekend it's going to be Gabriel Woolf voicing Sutekh once again! I do think his voice is a key attribute of the character and with rumours circulating of Sutekh also being the Beast from The Satan Pit, it's interesting to me that Sarah Jane used Satan as one of the names he goes by. Seeing how much the Fifteenth Doctor loved reminiscing on travelling with Sarah Jane was lovely and I liked that he made a point of holding her in a similar regard to how he felt about Ruby now. In my previous Tales of the TARDIS blog entires I've tried to focus mainly on the scenes within the Memory TARDIS itself, but I must say I felt a little shortchanged here. There was barely a minute either side of the omnibus with the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby which was a shame. I did like that the Doctor mentioned that the Sutekh he was due to encounter now had evolved and he really did seem defeated. How could he defeat the God of Death? Seeing the Doctor have doubts is strange but it just shows how much of a threat Sutekh is now. The Fourth Doctor sells that very well in the Classic serial too and he has too with how limited the god is stuck on Mars. Will we see any more mummy service robots in the finale? I would love that! I'll be intrigued to see how the series final episode starts to see where this Tale could feasibly fit into chronology, but it really doesn't matter. It's just lovely to get a bonus like this and I say keep them coming! Overall, a fun retelling of an old favourite of fandom and a great refresh on who Sutekh is and what he stands for. A well worthy watch.

Rating: 8/10

Return of the Nightmare

"I face death with honour."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Audio

Released: April 2015

Series: Jago & Litefoot 9.04

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis

There is a murderer loose aboard the ship. If Jago and Litefoot can solve the mystery of the strange fog and return to London, will that make matters better, or far worse? The answers lie deep in the past, and they soon learn that not everyone is who – or what – they might seem.

Verdict

Return of the Nightmare was a great story to conclude the ninth series of Jago & Litefoot! This has been a really consistent quartet of adventures and it has been nice to take our main characters away from the traditional Victorian London setting for the most part. Sure we returned to the infamous Red Tavern pub here but that was only briefly and the events were more concerned with what had happened at sea. The threat of an unseen creature was very good and I liked the suspicions of Litefoot from the off. They hadn't seen the deaths and there had also been no sighting of the creature. Might there be more than monstrous foul play at hand? It turned out to be the case which was very well presented. The way things started following on from the cliffhanger at the end of Island of Death with Riverstock being killed and mutilated in gruesome fashion was intriguing, and there was only one place to go to try and get some gossip of mysterious happenings. Getting to hear Ellie again as she tries to hold down the fort at the Red Tavern was a delight and I liked that she was eager to help. She didn't take too kindly to Aubrey and Fowler entering her place of employ and blowing a hole in the roof, even if it was as a means of warning the punters that their lives were in danger. I wasn't expecting to get an origin explanation for the mist we saw in The Flying Frenchmen series opener, but it was most welcomed. The tale of exploration between Aubrey and Fowler was fascinating and I liked how they had stolen a trinket. Now the creature wanted it back, but just regaining possession wasn't enough. It wanted to take out anyone who had even handled it which was a fun threat because of course both Jago and Litefoot fell into that category. Jago was more concerned with getting a pint to begin with though which was quite amusing and so befitting of his character, but after all they had been through on the cruise who could blame him? It had hardly been a relaxing experience! It was good to get Inspector Quick back involved and he's always a welcomed addition to Jago and Litefoot along with Ellie. It's a strong quartet of characters and I expect the landmark tenth series will focus more on them again after a little break from the norm this time around. Aubrey's story is a pretty emotional one and the slow burn of him actually being the one with the creature instead of the suspected Fowler was nicely played. I can't say I was massively surprised, but I appreciated the means it took to get there. It was inevitable then that he would be the one to save the day and that's exactly what happened with his sacrifice, one that thankfully didn't prove to be fatal. The mystery across London was strong throughout and I did like the scale of the threat. Jago and Litefoot taking things upon themselves to solve the situation was excellent and by now they are rather well versed in tackling nefarious threats. So much so that an intriguing direction looks set to take place in the next series with the adventures of Jago and Litefoot dating all the way back to Tulp and The Mahogany Murderers being requested to be novelised! A book of this kind is certainly something I would be interested in reading, and Jago and Litefoot were rather keen on the idea. I suspect there will be more than mere book sales as the impetus for hoping to right such a book, and how had the proposed author gone hidden for so long but knowing all about their adventures? I look forward to finding out! Overall though, a really strong finale to what has been a thoroughly entertaining series once again. The spinoff continues to shine. 

Rating: 8/10

Island of Death

"They fear progress."

Writers: Simon Barnard & Paul Morris

Format: Audio

Released: April 2015

Series: Jago & Litefoot 9.03

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis 

Arriving at a beautiful island, Jago and Litefoot discover evidence of a missing expedition. Can they discover what happened to the ship's crew – before it happens to them? And will they be able to avoid the amorous advances of the formidable Lady Danvers?

Verdict

Island of Death was another great episode to continue my way through the ninth series of Jago & Litefoot! I am really enjoying the story arc for this series as the Fata Morgana ship takes our main characters to some random and unique places. A remote island here is exciting and with the episode being titled as it is, it's obviously going to be pretty ominous! It was good to revisit some of the ship's crew and passengers with Aubrey and Lady Danvers in particular getting some time to shine. The captain was good and I liked that there were some real life issues of the storm impacting the stability of the ship and it needing repairs, although the timeframe for them to be stuck on the island did feel a little long. I did love though how Litefoot was keen to explore given the opportunity as that's exactly what I would be like too. I wouldn't be wasting time standing around! I love to see the world so this is a scenario I would have grabbed with both hands. Jago was somewhat less keen and was getting a little more involved with Lady Danvers than he might have bargained for. He knew he wasn't exactly up to her standards from a class perspective, but she was prepared to throw that all out of the window. She was going to shake societal norms to their core and bind them together. That was good fun as Jago wasn't exactly on board, although he wasn't exactly off either. I think there could still be more to come from those two in the future. Danvers being taken over by the Kibu was intriguing and her gibberish kind of speech was amusing. That must have been difficult to script and record! The historic potential for the Kibu was good and I really liked how well informed Litefoot was about the longevity that was possible for this kind of creature. Seeing the larvae and pondering on what kind of monster the fully grown article could be was also good and a great threat to incorporate into the episode. I thought it worked well that Danvers was the presence and focal point of the Kibu threat throughout. It was also lovely for Jago and company to appeal to the true article still stuck within. A battle of the minds is always fun. I must admit, I was not a huge fan of Nerville right from the off and I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about the twist regarding him being the sole member of the Brotherhood of Kibu. That felt a bit random, especially considering how pompous and arrogant he was. He was also oblivious to almost everything around him and I couldn't really take him seriously as a threat. But it was fun for him to stand up to the challenge presented and I did actually like the scale of Kibu's life. Knowledge and mythology almost passed down for generations. The fact the Brotherhood was invite only and he was the only member was perfect for the kind of personality we had gotten to know. I do think the resolution was a little ambiguous though. I do enjoy the idea of Jago delving deep into his own acting and dramatical abilities rather than just managing a theatre and actors, but it feels like the Kibu is just dormant. All that happened was that it was sent to sleep and whilst I do appreciate the absence of Danvers will make the connection weaker, surely it could just find another potential host? I liked it a lot and it was lovely for Litefoot to be so impressed with his chum Jago, but it did feel a tad unfinished. Overall though, a really strong episode again and I'm liking the vulnerability of being at sea or an island like this. Judging from the cliffhanger though of a corpse having a ticket for the very cruise they were on, it appears things will get a bit closer to home for the finale and I'm all here for it. A great listen once again!

Rating: 8/10

The Devil's Dicemen

"There is some nefarious business afoot."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Audio

Released: April 2015

Series: Jago & Litefoot 9.02

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis

Arriving at Monte Carlo, Jago is keen to try his luck at the famous casino. But if he's not careful he could lose a lot more than just money. While Litefoot makes a new friend, Jago and ship's purser Aubrey find themselves playing for high stakes at the Clandestine Dark Casino. 

Verdict

The Devil's Dicemen was an excellent story to continue my way through the ninth series of Jago & Litefoot! After a strong opener in the form of The Flying Frenchmen, this was an even better follow up after that episode left us in Monte Carlo. That's an exciting setting for any story in the Doctor Who universe and having Jago and Litefoot visit was tremendous. I thought it was utilised very well and whenever reaching this part of France, a casino just has to get involved! Jago in particular was a big fan of his surroundings and the way he wheeled off the directions to the casino establishment when Litefoot suggested a visit for entertainment and to pass the time was tremendous. He was clearly very acquainted with the place already. A gambling man is not something I would picture Jago as so obviously, but I can certainly see it and I'm not surprised to learn that he dabbled in a bet or two. He also placed big stakes and was winning big, whereas myself personally would be much more like Aubrey. If you don't bet big you can't lose big. That's more my philosophy so I appreciated his trepidation when it came to playing the invite-only game. Reaching the Devil's roulette was intriguing and it was clear that Madame Diabolique was interested in him. She wouldn't be allowing Aubrey to continue as he'd not won the game of dice, whereas Jago had used her 'lucky' pair to roll a double six right away. It was almost like he was being thrust into the final game where quite the forfeit awaited should one win the game. The concept of the soul is an interesting to explore for sure, and I loved the earlier discussion between Litefoot and Betterman regarding its weight. Was it an actual physical thing? The idea of weighing someone before and after the death and measuring the difference as the weight of soul was pretty daunting! I thought Betterman himself was an excellent character and it always helps when played by an actor with the talents of David Warner. He was a welcomed addition to the range and I liked how much his character got on with Litefoot. He would be perfect for a return in the future and I thought the moment they both deduced the cause of death of a corpse at the bottom of a beach cliff was wonderful. It seemed obvious that it was either a fall or drowning given the proximity to the cliffs and the sea, but alas he had died of fright! That was unexpected. Finding out that the dead had previously changed their wills to benefit a London holding company at their family's expense set forth an evil game within the Clandestine Dark Casino. A fitting name. The stakes got real, especially with the forfeit for Jago when he'd won to be his soul. He didn't think that was serious when he signed away the contract, but unknowingly there had also been a will underneath that his signature seeped through onto. He'd almost signed away the theatre! However, the previous method Diabolique had used in extracting the soul didn't work on Jago which was just magnificent. Incorporating his theatre background where he could see through the act was marvellous. His emergence at the end was just glorious and exactly what you would hope for from this kind of man! He revelled in defeating Diabolique and the Dark Casino simply by being himself. That's quite glorious. The eery way things concluded as the Fata Morgana set sail again but seemed to approach some similar fog that sent them to Monte Carlo was brilliant. Where could they possibly end up now? That's an exciting prospect to lead into the next episode. Overall, a fantastic listen! 

Rating: 9/10

The Flying Frenchmen

"It is the same ship!"

Writer: Jonathan Morris

Format: Audio

Released: April 2015

Series: Jago & Litefoot 9.01

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis

Jago and Litefoot embark on a cruise. It's supposed to be a relaxing break, but what terrors lurk in the mysterious fog? And what about the other ships that seem trapped along with the Fata Morgana – are they friend or foe? Or something much more frightening?

Verdict

The Flying Frenchmen was a strong start to the ninth series of Jago & Litefoot! I can't quite believe I've reached the ninth series and equally I'm surprised it's been eight months since I concluded the previous boxset. This opener felt a little calmer and almost like a light reset as there was no obvious storyline direction started other than a fun concept of parallel universe. If that continues moving forward I will be absolutely delighted, but if not then this was a really good glimpse into its potential. I liked the idea of taking Jago and Litefoot out to see, but who were they kidding in believing that they could have a relaxing kind of break? It was never going to be that easy! The eery feel of the Fata Morgana ship was really strong and it absolutely matched the vibe of the artwork for this story. It always felt like it was at night and once the ship was marooned in time and still on the ocean, that sense of impending doom and quietness was terrific. It set the mood very well. That didn't mean there couldn't be humour with Jago and Litefoot both getting a little embarrassed by the affections shown to them from Lady Isobelle Danvers. She was a fascinating character and the way Jago and Litefoot actually had to scheme to push away her attentions was a fun moment. The idea of competition between Jago and Litefoot over a woman is really enjoyable banter and just another reminder of the timely chemistry and joyous relationship between our two Victorian gentlemen. The mystery of the fog and mist was good and despite the captain's assurance to Litefoot that all was well, it was good that the professor was actually a bit worried by being told there was nothing to worry about. He was proven right of course as the navigation was completely unknown and that horror feeling of stillness is never utilised better than at sea. The emergence of another ship was intriguing enough, but when it was revealed to be another version of the Fata Morgana, things really kicked into gear! It wasn't even just another boat with the same name, it was the same boat! That was exciting stuff. The prospect of the Jago and Litefoot characters meeting alternate versions of themselves is terrific and it was good fun to meet some French versions in particular. Litefoot seemed well versed in the situation and realising what had happened with this sideways interaction. Pondering on whether they were actually the full and correct versions of themselves as the English variation was fascinating, and good fun for the reaction of ridicule it sparked from Jago. Of course he was the true version! He wouldn't hear otherwise. The introduction of Aubrey was amusing given that he seemed familiar as they have actually met him before, and when a third version of the ship came things began to get slightly confusing I must say. It was entertaining but in audio when there are three different versions of the same characters, even with different accents, it can become a little difficult to follow. It didn't last long enough to become a lingering problem which was positive, but it did impact my listening ever so slightly. I thought the way things ended was emotional with the other versions of Jago and Litefoot taking a big sacrifice to allow the versions we know to live on in some version at least. It was also a fun way to lead into the next episode with the Fata Morgana not exactly ending up back at its intended destination and was instead at Monte Carlo! That's a fun prospect for the next episode and a unique little setting for sure. I'm looking forward to hearing where things go from here. Overall, a strong series opener! 

Rating: 8/10

The Legend of Ruby Sunday

"It was the wrong anagram."

Writer: Russell T Davies

Format: TV

Broadcast: 15 June 2024

Series: 14.07

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Ruby, Mel

Synopsis

The Doctor and UNIT investigate Ruby's past. But as the Time Window reveals horrifying secrets from Christmas Eve, the mysterious Triad Technology unleash the greatest evil of all.

Verdict

The Legend of Ruby Sunday was an outstanding start to the series finale! Wow! I am writing almost immediately after completing the episode and whilst I was unable to stay up until the midnight launch, having avoided spoilers meant this was truly mesmerising. After a series of hints and twists going back to The Church on Ruby Road, we start to tackle the questions we so desperately want answers to. The episode had me on edge for the entire duration and it was incredibly tense! It was a joy to watch though and had a feeling of a finale right from the off. I loved that UNIT was prepared for the TARDIS arrival and the Doctor didn't waste any time once the introductions were done. It was nice for Ruby to quickly get to know Kate, Ibrahim and even Rose, whilst he met the new young scientific advisor in the form of Marshall. His addressing of the woman we see here as Susan Triad was brilliant and it was a good little trip down memory lane of her appearances throughout the series, as well as a few we hadn't seen. I thought it was hilarious that the Doctor noticed the S TRIAD Technology as being an anagram of TARDIS but UNIT looked at him with almost offence at the thought they wouldn't have realised. It was a prime reason of why they were investigating her! Ruby picking up on her conversation with the Doctor from The Devil's Chord where he revealed he had a granddaughter Susan was lovely and innocent, but it sparked a big injection of emotion. Could it really be Susan? I was surprised that the Doctor thought it could well be and it was sad that he was disappointed when meeting Triad and knowing that she wasn't his granddaughter. Kate's reaction to finding out that the Doctor had a grandchild was quite lovely and the Brigadier had never mentioned him having family! Carla finding her way into UNIT was amusing and I loved that Mrs Flood was on hand to look after Cherry, but the way she chillingly broke the fourth wall as she knew the one who waits was coming was incredible. I loved that and I can't wait to (hopefully!) find out who she is in the finale. The emotional torment Ruby went through in the time window was sublime as the day of her birth was relived and recreated. UNIT having it filed under Goblins was amusing and I loved that there was a glitch on the woman who left Ruby at the church. Was it her mother? And who is she? The trap was obvious but the Doctor couldn't help himself and the way the black mist creature consumed Chidozie was brutal. The sandy corpse was devastating. I thought the way the truth of Susan Triad was revealed with her speech going live was just outstanding and the way the tension was built was sensational. Mel was hidden in on the inside but even she could see the Doctor was scared, albeit after giving him a little speech to kick his arse into gear and fix things. The little twisting of the anagram to reveal the Sue Tech and thus the return of the God of Death himself Sutekh was just magnificent. It had long been rumoured and with the whole god theme since Wild Blue Yonder, I suspected that going back to a god like Sutekh would be a big possibility, and it didn't take anything away. It was a huge surprise and one that worked so well. The reaction of the Doctor sold just how big of a threat Sutekh was and I can't wait to find out what's in store. The herald that was Susan Triad being turned into her horror face guise was disturbing but just so good. The fact we had another Harbinger twist with Harriet was tremendous and I loved how the brief interaction we got from Sutekh to the Doctor was a taunt of the Time Lord thinking he was family. He was far from it. Just incredible. There's so much more I could mention, but for now this was just a stellar opener to the finale. I can't wait for next week! 

Rating: 10/10

Moon Graffiti

"The amount of times I've had to deal with dead men falling on the dead man's handle."

Writer: Dave Stone

Format: Short Story

Released: March 1999

Printed in: More Short Trips 04

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

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

Moon Graffiti was a decent little story to continue my way through the More Short Trips anthology within the Short Trips prose range! I had no idea prior to reading this particular instalment that this was not the first version of the adventure as it had actually been released as an audio a year prior which is fascinating. I must admit that despite a strong rating I won't be rushing to experience the story again in a slightly different form, partly because I imagine it would be incredibly similar given the nature of the audio release. I can't confirm but I suspect it would pretty much be an actor reading the prose I had read with a few additional sound effects and the like. It is cool though for there to be two different forms of release for a niche little story like this. I thought the story did a tremendous job in capturing the characterisation of both the Sixth Doctor and Peri. This really did feel like it took place during Season 22 on screen with Peri questioning a lot of what the Doctor was actually doing whilst he was typically irritable. I enjoyed the references to The Caves of Androzani and Vengeance on Varos as a means of establishing the timeline for this story to fit into as since the regeneration the TARDIS had been playing up a little and even after obtaining some zeiton-7 the old girl was far from 100% and full capabilities. I do find it a little amusing as to how many times the TARDIS has required recalibration over the years. It's happened so many times in numerous media forms now! It's a fun little gag. I would assume that this hampered some of its other systems though, in particular the translation circuits as Peri was unable to communicate with the Wibliwee as she remarked how they spoke good human. That was a little stupid as Peri herself acknowledged as there are obviously an abundance of human languages with this one clearly communicating in English! I thought they were an intriguing little race and having Doctor Who tackle the world of bacteria and unfathomably small races is good, but it does get a little beyond the brain sometimes as even happened to Peri here. Just how can we begin to comprehend billions upon billions as a scale? The Doctor describing to Peri what the graffiti on the moon said was fun because he really took it as just another trip, but for Peri this was on the lines of defilement. Her moon had been tarnished! The Doctor making her own time and the Earth she knew sounding insignificant was typical of this incarnation at this time which was good character work, and he couldn't help those that would die. It would spark a whole new Earth which Peri could begrudgingly accept, but I understood why it was difficult for her. I thought the Parachnids were a decent monster and I really liked the name! The swarm element was decent and I appreciated the Doctor not understanding their biological evolution. What was the point of them ridding things to uselessness? Kimo Ani was a strong central character to have alongside the Doctor and Peri although it was a little strange for them not to help him much after the awakening of millions. Peri challenging the Doctor on that was nicely done. The coming of the Monitors to rid the world of the Parachnids was good and I loved that the Wibliwee were on hand to do simple work in recalibrating the TARDIS for the Doctor. The Line was left to run and the TARDIS was now all better. A nice way to end the story! Overall, a strong read and continuation of the book. 

Rating: 7/10

The World Beyond the Trees

"I'm living in the past."

Writer: Jonathan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: January 2017

Series: Short Trips 7.01

Featuring: Liv

Synopsis

MedTech Liv Chenka is alone. No Doctor. No TARDIS. No Molly O'Sullivan. But the strange environment she's stranded in is about to get even stranger, with Liv the only one who can help out. There's a message here, for her, and for someone very far away...

Verdict

The World Beyond the Trees was was a really strong Short Trip adventure! Taking place within the Dark Eyes series of Eighth Doctor Adventures, this was a unique take on the format and one I instantly loved. It just worked from the very start and it certainly helps to have a character like Liv Chenka in that narrator role. Except here she wasn’t quite a narrator as the style of story was very different in that she was basically reading a letter of events to her lost father. I thought that was pretty poignant and there was a good level of emotion in her retelling of what she had gone through. Whilst this was very much a solo outing for Liv, it was nice to acknowledge the Doctor and Molly. Liv touching on the lack of similarities she shares with Molly was intriguing and she didn’t seem wholly fussed on the Doctor here either with how much he has changed since their first meeting together in Robophobia. That feels like a long time ago now and it is easy to forget just how far Liv has come. She feels really mature and well versed in tackling alien obscenities here. I like how she takes things face on and the Doctor giving her a warning about the Damascus Project was intriguing. I did know beforehand that this adventure takes place simultaneously with Damascus which is a fun little quirk and something I could get on board with happening more in the range. It’s been a couple of years nearly since listening to that previous Short Trip story but the links were good and the memories came flooding back with the likes of the Milur and the Prime Minister. Neither were as prevalent here but it was good that Lilla was scared of the former and teaching a lesson to the latter. She was very much alien and the way she reacted to Liv realising it was her that had triggered the listlessness field was so calm. She admitted it but she didn’t mean the effects so that should be okay right? Not quite. Lilla wanted to protect her father’s interests and the Prime Minister was trying to take things that didn’t belong to him. Lilla stating that the powerful needed to be faced with truth was excellent and really struck a chord with me. The relationship that was built between Liv and Lilla wasn’t exactly something I would describe as close, but they came to a mutual understanding. The finding of the fourth tree was intriguing and painted quite a nice picture actually with the lift within. It was good that Lilla wouldn’t allow Liv into the tree that her father had only meant for her though. She stuck to her principals there and wasn’t having it! I liked that a lot. She was a really likeable character. Liv helping ensure Lilla saw reason with regards to the listlessness field and lifting it was terrific, especially when she was on hand to confront the Milur at the end. But Lilla was long gone. It was a nice way to tie things together at the end of what was a really strong little audio! Overall, a great listen. 

Rating: 8/10

Taking Mickey

"You said you could tell me about the Doctor?"

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Short Story

Released: June 2006

Series: Doctor Who Files 05

Featuring: Mickey

Synopsis

After signing up to various websites about UFOs and aliens, on a Wednesday morning Mickey Smith receives an email from a woman calling herself Jill, but she is far too interested in the Doctor's whereabouts...

Verdict

Taking Mickey was a decent little short story to continue my long overdue reading through the Doctor Who Files! It still baffles me that these are eighteen years old as it really doesn't feel that long at all since collecting the majority of them predominantly when Series 3 was airing in my childhood, but for whatever reason this was a release I didn't actually know. Thankfully the local library was able to obtain a copy for me and this was a fun little read. I was intrigued as to whether this would be a solo outing for Mickey or a story set somewhere between The Girl in the Fireplace and Rise of the Cybermen. It did turn out to be a solo outing and considering the actual Doctor Who File relates to Mickey himself, that feels like the right move. He doesn't need a TARDIS trip. But he was heavily involved with the Doctor here despite no sign of he or Rose. I thought the representation of Mickey was very much in line with what we saw on screen in Aliens of London/World War Three which was terrific! He's presented as pretty intelligent and neat with a computer there, with the gags mostly coming from the Ninth Doctor mocking his appearance. It was unclear where in the timeline this story was for Mickey but the beauty of it was that it didn't really matter. Feasibly it could have been any of the incarnations that wiped out Bloodgrudge. Great name by the way. I thought Mickey's introduction to Jill was fun and I really enjoy the idea of him collecting emails and letters from UFO and alien websites. He's on the lookout for Rose and the Doctor always which is really nice to see as he clearly cares for the former in a great way. The latter just comes with the flow. As soon as Mickey confirmed he knew the Doctor, Jill didn't do the best job of hiding her disguise and true interests. It was really rather painfully bad to be honest and her grudge against the man for the supposed killing of her husband was a little misleading. Even Mickey could appreciate from the story that it was actually Bloodgrudge that was trying to kill the Doctor after hunting him down only to fall into his own trap. That was ironic and the annoyance that must exist when the Doctor simply stepped over his potential deathbed was brilliant. I can just imagine the anger of Jill's husband. Her reveal as Jillonga was decent and I thought the annoyance in her children was quite comical. They had travelled sixty years to reach Earth and were set for the same duration on the opposite journey home, so they just wanted to catch Mickey so they could get home. There was only so much school time left and they valued their education apparently. The way Mickey was actually able to best them was a little silly but I must admit that it did make me laugh a little. The children were clearly bored and were after some games, so Mickey was on hand to make one up in the form of airlock runner. That was a good name and I loved that he pushed himself to go first in order to show the other children how it was done. Of course, with the ship due for takeoff and on a course that was irreversible and couldn't be stopped, there was no way he would be knocking to be let back in! That was amusing if not stupid, but the reaction of Jillonga towards her children said it all. She was stunned and disappointed. Overall, a fun little read! 

Rating: 7/10