The Doomsday Chronometer

"I came here to create a work of art."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: September 2016

Series: Doom Coalition 3.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen, River

Synopsis

While River Song takes Helen on an archaeological expedition like no other, the Doctor finds himself enlisted by an alien Queen to save her people.

Trapped and alone, Liv stares death in the face as she meets the enemy who's been dogging the TARDIS travellers' footsteps throughout Earth's history.

The Doomsday Chronometer has been protected for five centuries: secret cults and societies jealously guarding its mystery. But what is their real purpose? The Doctor is about to discover the truth...

Verdict

The Doomsday Chronometer was another excellent episode to continue my way through the third series of Doom Coalition within the Eighth Doctor Adventures! Wow, this was intense and enthralling. The hour absolutely flew by and the only reason I don't award this one the perfect rating is because of the reveal of there actually being a ninth piece to the titular Doomsday Chronometer. After everything that happened in the previous episode and even its name, that felt like a little bit of a kick in the teeth. Everything else though was just stellar. This really did feel like the second half of the story already started in The Eighth Piece which was terrific and it also had a feeling of a finale to it! That's a big positive. There was so much going on and this saw us have a big focus on River as well which was welcomed. Her disguise as a nun was good fun and whilst she embraced being referred to as sister, she was in the guise to ensure the Doctor saw her differently. That's a good way around protecting the continuity that starts (and ends) in Silence in the Library and the Doctor is intrigued by the woman he knows as either Malone or the Professor. She's not quite a Time Lord but can definitely help in that aspect, and it's fun for her to learn about the secret Time Lord cult trying to harness the power behind the Doomsday Chronometer. The umbrella title for the series starts to take shape which is great. Helen catching up with herself and encountering the Clocksmith in Rome 2016 was good and I liked how River was able to aid her. Liv had a relatively quiet story, but the way things ended meant she and Helen will play a huge role in the finale! I thought the inclusion of Octavian throughout the episode was fascinating and I found that I was absolutely kicking myself when he started regenerating in the TARDIS at the end. It was right there in the name! The previous incarnation of the being now known as the Eleven that was trying to be a good man was the Eight. And here he was in a disguise trying to play a part in helping the Doctor. I thought that was brilliant, but inadvertently he seems to have created quite the issue with Liv and Helen thinking that the newly regenerated Nine is actually the Doctor! That's incredibly exciting and a fantastic cliffhanger. Liv obviously knows about the concept of regeneration thanks to her meeting the Seventh Doctor in Robophobia, but here she actually sees it happen. Well, they catch the end. It's great stuff. I thought the Clocksmith throughout once again showcased his qualities as a villain and the power behind the Chronometer was huge! The idea of control by the power of thought is obviously a big weapon. The potential there is endless. Rosalia feeling the full effect of that was good stuff. I thought Cromwell showing his dark side was terrific in the story too and the follow on with the Doctor was brilliant. He wasn't messing around. The Solvers were important to the episode which was good and I like how simple they are whilst being incredibly effective. River's foreshadowing of the events of The Girl in the Fireplace when mention Versailles was fun and I also loved the link back to The Time of Angels with her knowing another Octavian. I still can't believe that wasn't enough to make me know the true identity! I liked the chases around time and history, and the paradoxical nature of finding pieces to a clock that was already completed in the now was terrific. I'm a big fan of timey wimey stuff like that and this episode had it in abundance. The discussion about mutual love between the Doctor and his companions instigated by River was a nice touch to end on, and it's nice to know how that is reciprocated both ways. If anyone knows it would be River! Overall, a really strong episode! A tremendous listen.

Rating: 9/10