Conspiracy of Raven: Kippers

"That noise you heard, what did it sound like?"

Writer: Nicholas Briggs

Format: Audio

Released: July 2024

Series: Second Doctor Adventures 3.01

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Zoe

Synopsis

The Doctor and Jamie have attempted to break free from performing covert missions for the Time Lord agent Raven. But things haven't gone according to plan. Jamie has vanished, Raven finds herself in a familiar yet strangely disturbing location. And all the while, half-glimpses, unnervingly perceived... something... fluttering, buzzing, tugging at their very souls...

Verdict

Kippers was a strong start to the Conspiracy of Raven third series of Second Doctor Adventures! I was hugely excited by this release as I have thoroughly enjoyed the adventures of the Second Doctor beyond his on screen finale of The War Games, and after a strong James Robert McCrimmon second series to reunite him with his old faithful companion, it seems we're getting the full reunion from Season 6 moving forward! It was a lot of fun here. I thought the episode was incredibly eery and kudos must go to the sound effects. They really set the atmosphere for the story and it was rather chilling. It did feel very 1960s as well which I appreciated as whilst there was definitely a modern feeling, it also did seem like this could fit in as a Season 6b on screen. It felt of its era and that's impressive considering the Time Lord involvement. It's lovely to hear the Second Doctor confront Raven about the Time Lords just idly watching the universe and time go by, but she was also quite abrupt in how she didn't believe that the Doctor's travels had any purpose. She was failing to see the good he did which was a bit of a shame, but I'm still such a big fan of her character. Raven is just so engaging and every time she speaks I'm completely drawn in. I love exploring early versions of Gallifrey and the Time Lords and she's so fascinating in this era. Mythology still feels like it can be altered a bit and it's not quite the Time Lord society we have come to know as established so that's exciting where she's concerned. I thought it was a fun revelation to have her not in the know either about why she has been sending the Doctor on the countless missions that have made up this range. That is very exciting and sets things up for more Time Lord involvement going forward which is awfully exciting! I guess it does explain a little the umbrella title for this series. I thought the continuity with The Shroud was good and I liked how Paul featured once again as the avatar for the Time Lord weapon. It was nice for Raven to have someone to bounce off because this episode was really dialogue heavy. The mystery of Jamie's whereabouts were good and I liked the idea of him going missing down a time spiral very much! The Doctor was concerned but clearly some other forces were at play, especially towards the end when he just happened to be reunited with the TARDIS. Even he knew that was too much of a coincidence. I thought the titular Kippers were a little odd and they came awfully late into the episode, but Raven being the one to defeat them was an unexpected treat and showed that she can more than hold her own! That was impressive stuff. Raven confronting the Doctor on his home loyalties was powerful stuff and whilst he was willing to sacrifice everything for the likes of Jamie as his companion, he wasn't willing to do the same for the entirety of the Time Lords and his fellow species. That was something she couldn't understand and was a timely reminder of just how different Raven and the Doctor view the universe. The way they were seemingly separated at the conclusion but Raven vowing to find him again was fun, and then we had a rather exciting manifestation in the TARDIS! It wasn't exactly Jamie, nor Raven, but impossibly Zoe! I love that we are building towards getting the gang back together again and I'll be very intrigued to find out how she's around and presumably has her memory back despite the Time Lords wiping it after the War Games saga. Overall, probably more of a setting things up type of story to reintroduce us to the range after a year or so, but a very good one nonetheless. A strong listen! 

Rating: 8/10