Restoration of the Daleks

"It's like they were never gone."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: September 2020

Series: The Eighth Doctor: Time War 4.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Bliss

Synopsis

The Dalek Time Strategist restores the Dalek armies to the universe but wants to dispense with Davros.

Verdict

Restoration of the Daleks was a great episode to conclude the fourth Time War volume of Eighth Doctor Adventures! I'm not really sure why but I did expect this to have more of a finality in its feel, but I think that really was kind of impossible. We know the Time War goes on for quite some time yet and we don't even have the Doctor in his War incarnation yet, and here we are having the Daleks restored to the universe after the Valeyard had already ended the Time War and wiped out the Daleks from memory. The scale of this conflict really is stretched and I'm loving what Big Finish are doing in filling in that gap between The Movie and Rose. There's so much life in the Eighth Doctor and whilst this would take us somewhere close to the end of his incarnation, it's nice to know that at this point he remains committed to not entering the frontline of the Time War. He doesn't want any part despite doing what he can to help the Time Lords. Of course, Bliss was against him not helping as that's literally what he told him he does where he can so when the people of Cosca needed him, he didn't take too much convincing from his companion. I thought the dynamic between Bliss and Rasmus in particular was intriguing and whilst I'm not sure how Bliss will end her story, it's good to know that she has a place on Gallifrey. I did like that she felt her place was alongside the Doctor for now though. Davros being the link that the Dalek Time Strategist was drawing upon to restore the Daleks to the universe was good and I loved that we got some more Dalek civil war. In tapping into the multiverse, the advantage the Daleks had on the battleground was paramount as the number of casualties they were suffering simply didn't matter. More and more versions continued to come. Whilst I'm usually a huge fan of the interaction between the Doctor and Davros, it was actually the former's conversation with the Dalek Time Strategist that I found most intriguing in this episode. The prospect of the Strategist being scared of killing the Doctor because of his position in their future history was excellent and we got some incredible namedropping of the likes of the Cult of Skaro, Dalek Caan and even the New Dalek Paradigm! That's some future. The Strategist foreseeing the fall of Gallifrey was not something the Doctor was happy with as you might expect, but he couldn't deny that he was entwined with the Daleks. They were a necessary evil. I thought the restoration of the Dalek Emperor was fantastic and I wonder if that was intended as a way to explain his presence in The Parting of the Ways following on from the Time War. I found the dynamic between Davros and the Emperor fascinating and the creator of the Daleks being labelled as false seemed odd because he literally did conjure them into existence, and his position in this episode of extracting the Dalek in every species was something I'd have liked more time spent on. That was a brilliant concept. Bickering between different sets of Daleks basically causing their downfall here was interesting and did work, but it just felt slightly quick after a lengthy buildup and story arc. I feel like this boxset could have done with an additional episode to really flesh things out, but what we got was still really great. The Dcotor being enticed with his own family connection in the form of his great-grandson Alex was excellent and completely unexpected, but a fine addition. The impact of To the Death on this incarnation of the Doctor will never be forgotten so to have it come into play here was really well done. I thought Davros at the end after being thwarted was maniacal as ever and his laugh of almost relief and joy at being kept alive and needed by his children was eery and just fantastic. Overall, a really strong finale to what has been an incredible run of Time War adventures! And we're far from over.

Rating: 8/10

Dreadshade

"Imagine forgetting the Daleks."

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: September 2020

Series: The Eighth Doctor: Time War 4.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Bliss

Synopsis

The Time Lords, including the General and the Twelve, adjust to life after the Time War, until the Doctor and Bliss return with a warning.

Verdict

Dreadshade was an excellent episode to continue my way through the fourth Time War volume of Eighth Doctor Adventures! This was a triumphant follow on to Palindrome as a double length opener and really did follow up the climactic events of The War Valeyard in the previous boxset finale. It was incredible to think that at this point in time, long before the War Doctor was even a factor, the Time War was thought won. The only issue was that the Time Lords had forgotten who their opponents had been! That was a really fun situation to be in and with the trip from the portal playing havoc with the memory of the Doctor and Bliss, it was only the Twelve being in stasis that provided them with the answer. She revelled in that answer though and this was a tremendous outing for the female incarnation of this whacky and wonderful Time Lord. This is what I was hoping for coming off her previous appearances in the story where she wasn’t appearing to be wholly evil. She was the villain of the piece here which was delightful. I thought the Doctor and Bliss forgetting each other provided a fun dynamic with the latter’s reaction to being labelled a companion very amusing. Her questioning what the Doctor did with these companions and how many he had at a time was a delight. It was such good and innocent fun. The General playing a major role in the story was fantastic and he’s such a booming presence. His description of events to the Doctor was great as he revealed that the Time War was over. Except they had no idea who they had been fighting. The description of the scale of conflict was amazing and I love the prospect of them being in a state of decommission ahead of the Daleks returning for restoration. That’s going to be a big surprise for sure! Despite being completely forgotten, it now feels like it’s advantage Daleks. That’s really fun. I thought the titular character of the Dreadshade was a really intriguing concept and the desire of the Time Lords to fill it with complete fear of the Daleks was horrifying. The weaponisation of a being like that showed the lengths the Time Lords were going to and throwing her into a bunch of them and petrifying her into destroying them was quite something. I certainly appreciated the unique nature. The Doctor understandably wasn’t impressed, but once he returned she had forgotten what she was scared of. The Twelve pouncing on that and injecting her with fear of the Time Lords was tremendous. She wanted to force her way onto the High Council which was an interesting career aim and I appreciated the effort. The General retorting how you had to earn your place on the Council was fantastic. The Twelve joking around about being the only one to remember the Daleks was good fun and her exterminate mock impression was a delight. I think this was definitely the best episode yet for the Twelve in this incarnation, although I must admit I much preferred the interaction with the previous incarnations within her mind in the previous incarnation. It doesn’t quite feel the same but I guess that’s down to the inhibitor. The way she sparked the Doctor and Bliss’s memory was good stuff along with the Dreadshade was a fine way to end things and wrap things up, as we head into what is sure to be an explosive finale! A fantastic listen. 

Rating: 9/10

Palindrome Part Two

"I must turn my people into Daleks."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: September 2020

Series: The Eighth Doctor: Time War 4.01b

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Bliss

Synopsis

In an alternative universe, Davros lives in peace, until the Doctor and Bliss arrive, and the Daleks emerge in a new reality.

Verdict

Palindrome concluded in excellent style with this second part! This has been a fascinating listen over the course of two hours and really did spread the Time War far and wide which I'm a huge fan of happening. The fallout from The War Valeyard continues and it actually only seems to have made things worse. Eradicating N-Space of Daleks on paper sounds like a good idea and certainly a surefire way to end the Time War, but when the Dalek Time Strategist looms large and escaped, he would concoct some whacky way to restore the race. They are never truly dead and we've seen that countless times before and after the events of this story, but at least we did get some means of their return. The Time Strategist was building something here and linking with the portal to merge both time and alternate reality was spectacular! I thought the opening was good in starting at day one in using the portal and with the first part going backwards, time was somewhat on track here as the Doctor had said would happen. Davros believing himself to have awoken from a dream was fascinating, but his conversation with the Strategist was even more so. That purple Dalek was able to show Davros the extent of his existence and convinced him that in order to save his wife Charn, he had to die. He saw that and accepted it, welcomed it even, but the toll that he went through was extraordinary! Of course, the cover artwork gives things away a little with the altered appearance from any version we've seen on screen before, but I loved the concept behind an amalgamation of alternate versions of Davros. The version in love with his Thal wife was still the base line, but he became something like the version we know. I like that with the Time War setting the appearance of Davros resembles the casing seen in The Stolen Earth/Journey's End onwards, and also hearing a glimpse of his fate at the hands of the Nightmare Child as referenced in that story was excellent. I almost half felt like the finale of this boxset would showcase that, but some things are better left to the imagination. Especially in the unknowably bad Time War. The relationship between Davros and Charn was explored in a strong way and when the merging was happening it was something that helped keep him strong. The Davros that we know being sickened by the very idea of the pair sharing blood due to their Kaled and Thal species makeup was magnificent. It was quite fitting that the Daleks exterminated them both at the end at the behest of Davros without him ever actually realising who they were and what they meant. That was fun stuff. I thought the Doctor and Bliss being absent for a large chunk of the story was actually a good decision and the companion wanting to eradicate Davros was impressive! She actually shot him twice, but the Doctor being on hand to explain his life support systems as a means of survival ever since Genesis of the Daleks was fun stuff. But the Doctor and Bliss were actually immune too as numerous realities were merging where all kinds of possibilities existed and overwrote. That was good and something that Bliss realised could be used to their advantage. Davros was rather pompous in his ability to survive, but the Doctor knowing that he could die if taken away from the portal was great. The Time War beckoned. Overall, the two parts comprise one really clever story. It's incredible how much emotion there is here given Davros as the main character, and I liked that the Time Strategist sought out the Dalek creator to provide an amalgamation of the best of the Dalek race in preparation for their restoration. And here they were. This sets things up very nicely moving forward! Overall, an excellent episode! 

Rating: 9/10

Palindrome Part One

"Your first death unwrote your second."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: September 2020

Series: The Eighth Doctor: Time War 4.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Bliss

Synopsis

In an alternative universe, Davros lives in peace, until the Doctor and Bliss arrive, and the Daleks emerge in a new reality.

Verdict

Palindrome started in excellent style! Kicking off the fourth Time War volume of Eighth Doctor Adventures in this style was not something I expected, but I absolutely loved it! It was an incredible take on Davros and a different reality to say the least. The creator of the Daleks joining the fight within the Time War is incredibly exciting, but this is fat from what I was expecting! This was a very different Skaro from the one in the Doctor's universe and the audacity of the author in having Davros living a happy life married to a Thal was extraordinary. When the version we are more familiar with came into play, I was surprised he could even acknowledge this alternate version of himself! The alternate version referring to the creator of the Daleks as a half man was excellent stuff too. There was so much going on here and it was just richly filled with emotion and intrigue. I just loved how different everything was. Davros living an ordinary-ish life with his wife and showing compassion and love. They're not exactly traits he would pass onto the Daleks. Charn was a really nice character and Davros having to toy with the idea of losing her was something he couldn't face. This was so different to the Davros we knew and whilst we have seen a much younger version in The Magician's Apprentice, this was altogether different. This felt wrong and yet somehow absolutely the same man. I can't quite place my finger on how that was the case, but I must give kudos to the writer for capturing that essence. It's not an easy character to change! The use of the portal on Skaro was really good and would prove an important access point. The Time War spilling over into different universes is tremendous and as we build to something of a crescendo for these Eighth Doctor Adventures, it feels right that it's happening. It's such a big event that it cannot be contained in just one universe. Hearing the Doctor and Bliss be on friendly terms with Davros and Charn was intriguing, although the relationship with the former in particular just felt off. In the best way possible. The Doctor and Davros shouldn't just be having casual conversation! But I absolutely love it. I liked how knowledgeable and mature Bliss felt in the story and it's easy to forget just how long she has been a companion now. And it might be even longer given the temporal nature of the Time War. Is time linear within it? I think that's inconclusive. I thought the Doctor's reaction to seeing the version of Davros he knew and had fought for the first time in a long while was magnificent and really sold just how much distain he had for the Dalek creator. If anyone didn't know, the history between them was rife. I thought the alternate Davros having to battle with the survival of his wife or the universe was a situation where he couldn't win, and just hearing the two versions of Davros converse was brilliant. The trust there must come from them technically being the same person and it provided us with a strong cliffhanger going into the second part as the Doctor and Bliss would be emerging from the portal, but the creator entrusted his alternate self. It was excellent stuff and now I really can't wait for the second part to conclude the story. That's where the final rating will come as I'll judge the two parts as one despite the separate blog entries, but for now this was an excellent opening half! I can't wait for more. I love me some Davros so having him arrive in the Time War is incredibly exciting! Overall, a terrific listen. 

A Boy's Tale

"I wanted a pet."

Writer: Gary Russell

Format: Short Story

Released: April 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Companions 05

Featuring: Adric

Synopsis

Adventures in time and space are no fun if there's no one to share them. the Doctor has taken along many people on his travels – humans, aliens and robots. Did he really care for any of them? What in their previous life fitted them for the role of companion – and how did they cope after they left the TARDIS?

These seventeen stories look at the Doctor's trusty companions, before, during and after their travels with the eccentric Time Lord. Discover the truth about Romana's regeneration, find out what happened when Zoe encountered the Doctor again, and learn which of his companions the Doctor cared for the most...

Verdict

A Boy's Tale was a great adventure to continue my way through the Companions volume of Short Trips! This was a fantastic use of Adric as a character and it was a really fun dynamic to have much of the story in the form of a letter. That is something I usually enjoy and it certainly worked well. I’d have been absolutely fine if the entire story was presented in the letter italics, but alas it was good to get those interludes throughout the actual story. I thought having an Adric story prior to the events of Full Circle was very exciting! It was also excellent to establish the point in which he was writing the letter as being between The Keeper of Traken and Logopolis. I liked that a lot and it was nice for Adric to touch upon how much he enjoyed Nyssa. It’s nice to know for him that she will shortly return and join Adric and the Doctor on their travels. The form of the letter was good and I liked that Adric was using the TARDIS databank to write the message. His feelings towards the Fourth Doctor in particular were intriguing to read as he seemed to think he was quite grumpy and not affectionate. That’s not wholly incorrect of the Season 18 version of this incarnation of the Doctor and it provided a good sense of vulnerability towards Adric. I’m not a bit fan of his as a companion in the slightest, but I found myself feeling rather sorry for him. That was good in terms of an emotional pull and I was engrossed in the content. I just loved learning more about Alzarius and it is always fun to encounter a companion before they met the Doctor. We get to know more about their history and their true personality as obviously things will change considerably once they join up on the TARDIS! I thought his fascination with learning was clear although he didn’t strike me as the kind of person to be fascinated by dogs! I wouldn’t have Adric down as any kind of animal person but he was determined to learn about them here. Specifically about the concept of a pet and why people had them and cared for them. They even named them! That was fun stuff and I liked how Adric enlisted Zayn to help him on the way. He wanted physical books and not just electronic means of education which I could appreciate, but the dangers were clear to see. I loved that his entire world was opened up once he met up with Marie and she could show him that there was far more to the world on Alzarius. Even the First Decider in Draith was part of the secrecy which was great. I liked how he came to a mutual understanding with Adric about neither party seeing each other involved on the south side. Adric was rather shocked that someone as high ranking was involved in fabrication. His planet wasn’t all he thought it was. I liked how things ended with Draith actually helping Adric escape and sort things out for him whilst he was being looked for by family and friends, and that little nod of understanding with Zayn was a nice touch. There was a good degree of caution there. I thought the revelation at the end of the letter with Adric having actually written to K9 was hilarious because I just completely assumed he was writing to Romana! But it went right over my head with his focus to learn about dogs. Of course he was addressing K9! That really did make me laugh because it was so obvious and I couldn’t believe I’d missed it. Overall, a really strong story to continue my way through the collection!

Rating: 8/10

Apocrypha Bipedium

"I come from the future and know all sorts of things."

Writer: Ian Potter

Format: Short Story

Released: April 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Companions 04

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Charley, Vicki

Synopsis

Adventures in time and space are no fun if there's no one to share them. the Doctor has taken along many people on his travels – humans, aliens and robots. Did he really care for any of them? What in their previous life fitted them for the role of companion – and how did they cope after they left the TARDIS?

These seventeen stories look at the Doctor's trusty companions, before, during and after their travels with the eccentric Time Lord. Discover the truth about Romana's regeneration, find out what happened when Zoe encountered the Doctor again, and learn which of his companions the Doctor cared for the most...

Verdict

Apocrypha Bipedium was an average little story to continue my way through the Companions volume of Short Trips! This was certainly an intriguing little tale and whilst on paper the ingredients all seemed very positive and very good, the format is probably the main thing that I had an issue with. Using source material as a means of storytelling is not new in these kind of releases, but for whatever reason it just didn’t quite click for me. It felt overlapping and confusing. I thought the jumping back and forth with numerous sources being just from one of the main character’s perspective was a little off putting. I’d have much preferred if each source was more varied. It was only really the point of view of young Shakespeare that was what I liked because of how different it was. I thought it was quite fun to have him as his younger self on his travels with the Eighth Doctor and Charley, playing nicely into the events of The Time of the Daleks. It seems a very long time now since I listened to that adventure early on in the Eighth Doctor and Charley run, but its impact is certainly long lasting. The use of the format as if it was a play was the best one by a country mile and I really appreciated that things rhymed. If the entire story was like that then I’d be well into it! Alas, it was not to be. I thought the other sources from the perspective of the Doctor, Charley and Vicki were less impactful. That was particularly the case for the former as I don’t think his voice was well captured in the prose. It didn’t feel like a diary extract or anything close for the Doctor. I wasn’t all that more impressed with Charley’s diary either, and the insistence on calling it a dairy got tiresome very quickly. Now, the inclusion of Vicki was terrific and I thought the central premise for her character here was a delight. I loved that she was older now but saw the Eighth Doctor’s arrival as a younger version of the Doctor she knew. Of course, the First Doctor is considerably younger than the version in this story and having the Eighth refer to his elderly incarnation as being young was very fun. The Doctor’s efforts to prevent a bootstrap paradox was fun and it was clear that he was never going to succeed. He basically gave up by the end which was amusing. The Time Lord inclusion of the source material from Flavia disapproved which was good, although some of the language throughout was lacking. The Doctor referring to the time and space visualiser as the telly didn’t seem correct, although I did like the continuity from The Chase in having the Doctor worry about the fact Vicki had seen Shakespeare on the screen. Going beyond The Myth Makers for Vicki was lovely and it was fun for the legends to have her in love with Diomede as that’s who Steven claimed to be during that story! The Doctor questioning her about their relationship was unexpected and it seems like it was something that had happened on numerous occasions with her reaction! She insisted there was no romance there. I was also shocked that the Doctor kissed Charley to basically shut her up. That felt awfully out of character despite what happened in The Movie with Grace. I liked that this was a pure historical and essentially served as a reunion and little catch up for the Doctor with an old companion, but for me the format needed to be better. It was trying too hard to be funny and just came across a little clunky for my liking despite a strong idea at heart. A worthy read nonetheless. 

Rating: 6/20

Summer Falls

"She was alone in a world that was a dream."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Short Story

Released: April 2013

Printed in: Summer Falls and Other Stories 01

Featuring: Amy

Synopsis

"When summer falls, the Lord of Winter will arise..."

In the seaside village of Watchcombe, young Kate is determined to make the most of her last week of summer holiday. But when she discovers a mysterious painting entitled The Lord of Winter in a charity shop, it leads her on an adventure she never could have planned. Kate soon realises the old seascape, painted long ago by an eccentric local artist, is actually a puzzle. And with the help of some bizarre new acquaintances – including a museum curator's magical cat, a miserable neighbour, and a lonely boy – she plans on solving it. 

And then, one morning Kate wakes up to a world changed forever. For the Lord of Winter is coming – and Kate has a very important decision to make.

Verdict

Summer Falls was not the most enjoyable of stories unfortunately. There was enough about it to appreciate what was tried but at the end of the day I thought this was just pretty jumbled and clunky. I'm not entirely sure the story was actually long enough for what was trying to be presented, and it seems the author started rushing towards the last third of the adventure. Of course, in universe this book is glimpsed in The Bells of Saint John as a favourite of Clara's to read. However I am a little sad to say I don't know why it would be! Especially with her being a teacher of English literature. I don't think it was the most well written story and it was just all over the place. I thought it was a good setting and the wintery feel was nicely presented which I would have expected given the name of the story and the synopsis promising the coming of the Lord of Winter. It all sounded very Game of Thrones style which was good, but the quality was so far removed from that incredible series and universe. One thing that really put me off was how the comment from Clara in the aforementioned television episode about chapter eleven being sad never really felt like it had credence. Was it really that sad? I'm not so sure. It wasn't all that long either. I think the story needed to have more chapters because the second one in particular was excessively long. Clara's comment in the episode didn't feel like the eleventh chapter was the penultimate one and her comment would seem to be more indicative of a mid-story twist. I didn't get that feeling come across here which is a shame. Kate Webster wasn't the most enticing of characters but she was just fine in doing the job. I think a bit more personality would have been welcomed but I did like the relationship she built with Armand as she was the new girl in a new town. And the prospect of a new school season was in order and she wasn't all that excited. She wanted to enjoy the last week of holidays. The quest format within the world of the Lord of Winter was strange and I just don't think we had enough clarity on where we were or what was happening. The puzzle within the painting sounded good on paper but it just wasn't clear enough. It seemed rather rushed at the end then when the Lord of Winter actually arrived with not enough time for him to make a big impact after all of the buildup. That was a bit of a shame as the concept behind him was actually pretty good. The way he would return was a little clunky and odd with the puzzle in the artwork, but the shift in seasons was very exciting. That was such a big change in dynamic and showed some immense power! I thought the character of the Curator was undoubtedly the highlight of the story and it's intriguing to think that this was released prior to the broadcast of The Day of the Doctor where this mysterious version of the Doctor was revealed. It's clear from the description of the 'shed' vanishing representing what was said in The Doctor's Wife and just the general clumsy nature of the man called Barnabus that Amy as author would have based him on the Doctor. It is good to think that the Doctor will feature in some regard despite him not always finding it easy to gain access to help Kate in her mysterious wintry domain. The twist regarding Milo felt a little off with him actually being Mr Stevens and shifting from a child, and the moments with the cat just didn't do anything for me. I'm not sure if they were meant to be funny but they just seemed to get in the way which was a shame. Overall, not the best read for me and I think it's because it was halfway between actually being a Doctor Who adventure and not. I love the idea of presenting this from the in universe perspective, but it falls a little short for me. 

Rating: 5/10

Masters of Earth

"We work together and we die together."

Writers: Mark Wright & Cavan Scott

Format: Audio

Released: November 2014

Series: Monthly Adventures 193

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

The year is 2163. Ten years since the Daleks invaded the Earth. One year until the Doctor, in his first incarnation, will help bring the occupation to an end. But for now, their reign of terror goes on.

The TARDIS brings the Doctor and Peri to Scotland - enslaved, like everywhere else on the planet. But there are rumours of Dalek-free islands off its coast. Places where resistors and refuseniks are coming together, gathering arms and armour, preparing to strike back against the enemy.

When the Doctor falls in with an unlikely group of freedom fighters making that dangerous journey to Orkney, he finds himself trapped - but not only by the Daleks, their robotised henchmen and their human collaborators.

By history.

Because history shows that for another year, resistance is useless...

The rebellion must fail - and as a Time Lord, the Doctor can do nothing to help 

Verdict

Masters of Earth was an excellent story to continue my way through the Monthly Adventures! This seems to be a fascinating point in time for the chronology of the Sixth Doctor as we fill that gap between The Trial of a Time Lord and Time and the Rani, with this incarnation's adventures fleshed out before he would go onto meet Melanie Bush. I think it's a lot of fun to have Peri back in the TARDIS after her on screen departure, and there's now knowing what will happen to her as a companion. There's definitely some jeopardy there for the companion which isn't always the case with Big Finish, and what better place to start than on a Dalek occupied Earth? I think it's a sublime idea to do a story set a year prior to The Dalek Invasion of Earth and have the Doctor pretty much helpless. He would go onto stop the Dalek invasion in 2164, but here he was rather helpless. Having him battle the predicament of having to leave the Daleks in control of Earth because of what he did in his first incarnation was just brilliant. I liked the continuity with Revelation of the Daleks as far as Peri was concerned and it was great for her to acknowledge how the Daleks here seemed a little more primitive than the ones she met. It was amusing for her at the start of the story to be impressed by the Dalek saucer and it's a little funny that the Doctor was aiming for the twentieth century. Crikey did he get that wrong! I thought it was really intriguing for these Daleks to have no knowledge of the Doctor and that was actually something that worried the Doctor. If he was captured and subjected to a mind probe, the foreknowledge the Daleks would gain would be very troublesome. Despite all this, Peri was having trouble getting to grips with the actions of the Doctor. She was not interested in the established events which was a surprise given her experience as a companion. I thought she would understand, but she doesn't seem to be getting along all that well with the Doctor at this moment in time. It's a strange and interesting dynamic. I look forward to hearing it develop further. It was a delight to hear the Robomen in the story and they were presented fantastically. They sounded like the genuine article and I think it's terrific that they were utilised to prevent an added threat in the story to what we already had with the Daleks. The development of the Robomen Elite seemed to contradict what we would see on screen with the First Doctor's encounter, so it was clear they would always be defeated, but I appreciated the effort and experiment! I thought the Doctor knowing about Moira was very good and her position as someone used to fight up was fantastic. Of course, the truth didn't quite turn out to be as accurate as the tale that would be told, but never let the truth get in the way of a good story. It would aid resistance against the Daleks and I like that. It seemed an important point to finish on given that the Doctor couldn't actually thwart the Daleks here. It was a little weird with that being the predicament as we know how the story ultimately ends in a year's time, but the Robomen Elite provided a good enemy to actually thwart. Moira went way too far in her efforts to make humanity part of the Elite even if they did defeat the Daleks themselves. Overthrowing them just wasn't enough. Peri being scratched by a Varga plant was a good threat and it was fun to learn of their presence on Earth during the invasion. The way the Doctor was appealing to her to stay herself was really good and I loved the desperation and emotion in his voice. He so deeply cares about doing right by Peri now he has a second chance. Overall, a brilliant setting and a rather fun dynamic with the Doctor being ahead of the Daleks chronologically. An emotional tale. A terrific listen.

Rating: 9/10

Kiss of Life

"We just have to wait for a crash?"

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2007

Printed in: Doctor Who Storybook 2008

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Martha

Synopsis

When the Doctor and Martha receive a distress call, they go to the site of the crash to offer the help they can. But there's more to the first response than meets the eye.

Verdict

Kiss of Life was a great story to continue my way through the 2008 Doctor Who Storybook! I really liked this one and it grasped my attention right from the off which doesn't always happen with these kind of adventures. I thought the illustrations in particular were fantastic! The style was so good and I was really impressed with the quality. It really helped bring what was already a pretty visual and vibrant story to life. It certainly aided with my reading of the story which is exactly what you want when we get these kinds of drawings alongside the text. It just injects life and this certainly had that in abundance with a rich dose of colour and just a strong variation of illustrations. There didn't seem like any shortcuts taken and we got a good range from the castle to the lizard creature and then even Martha in her gown. It was fantastic. The story itself is a little cheesy by the end but it works very well. I thought the starting point with the premise of the Doctor and Martha receiving a distress call in the TARDIS was good, and even more so by the fact the former couldn't do anything to prevent. He had a somewhat semi solution though in regards to getting to the crash site before it actually happened so they could be the first response. That was a nice touch and worked well. When disaster couldn't be averted, it was nice to know that the Doctor and Martha would be on hand to help. Except they weren't the first to meet the ship. That honour went to Sastra as one of the servants, supposedly, on board the ship of Prince Rodrique. He was an interesting little character and the description of him being half in and half out of the crashed ship made it a little surprising that he made such a recovery. But that was the beauty of an alien world like Geravalon. It was home to the best medical machines and a quick overnight usage meant he was ripe as rain. Of course, the same kind of medical treatment would not be on offer to Sastra as a mere servant. And this is where Martha absolutely shone. I thought she was presented in stellar fashion as a companion and it was brilliant for her to utilise her medical expertise. She was keen to help and as a woman of colour, she could relate to the suppression of the servants. She tried on numerous occasions to make the likes of Rodrique and Padros see that servants deserved equal treatment and ensured that Sastra would get a chance to go to the ball. It was a bit too Cinderella in parts and especially once midnight hit, but it was fun for the Doctor to acknowledge the ridiculousness of the situation. The whole slipper fit was just a bit silly considering that Sastra could not have gone too far! I liked the illustrations in particular here with the period dress captured well and it was nice for Martha to also be drawn in regal get up. I thought it was quite funny for the Doctor to just be holding his mask in front of his face because everyone knew he was already as the mystery man, but it was actually Sastra getting all of the attention. She was witty and intelligent which was lovely and that eventually piqued the interest of Rodrique. It came just a little late though as once midnight struck the Doctor's digital painkillers wore off immediately and the truth about her came out. She was actually one of the chameleon lizard creatures the Doctor and Martha had met earlier and whilst we'd seen it take on the tones of a striped suit and then the darker tones of the companion, the one here had got too much of the blood from Rodrique and became the full thing. At least it was trying to maintain that but it would need a continuation of the genetic template. And that would come in the form of a kiss. Every twenty-four hours. So no time apart for those two! The little Smith and Jones reference to give credence to the genetic transfer was nicely done too. Overall, a great little read!

Rating: 8/10

The Iron Circle

"It's not every day you see a pylon going for a walk."

Writer: Nicholas Briggs

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2007

Printed in: Doctor Who Storybook 2008

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Martha

Synopsis

With the TARDIS drawn to 1973 Isle of Wight, the Doctor and Martha encounter a rather unique metallic monster.

Verdict

The Iron Circle was a decent little story to continue my reading through the 2008 Doctor Who Storybook. It's quite crazy to me that I still haven't completed my way through all of the content from this era but given the boom and success of the first Russell T Davies era, there was just so much released! There's so much to cover and whilst I will certainly get there eventually, it's always fun to dip back into the era and time. This was where I became a Doctor Who fan during Series 3 being broadcast and I've actually had this book in my collection probably since it was released. I've held onto it for an awful long time to ensure the story content is blogged and covered, and it's better late than never! One thing I noticed right away about the story that I perhaps wasn't wholly on board with was the style of illustration. I'm not sure on the technical term when it comes to the artwork but this looked a little blocky and clunky. I'm not sure the actual colouring was best presented as it was either and whilst I know technology in that regard has advanced exponentially since 2007, this felt like some bad printing. It might have just been a publishing issue rather than the artist, but this felt like a bad bit of computer art in places which is a shame. I thought the choice of illustrations for the most part was good in giving us a visual representation of a rather whacky adventure, but I don't know why these kind of stories persist in presenting an image of the Doctor and companion inside the TARDIS console room. We see that almost every episode on screen so we don't need it in prose either. I thought the concept at the heart of the story was a decent one in having a creature drawing a circle and then consuming and absorbing all of the metal within. Of course, with what is certainly a younger target audience for these kind of releases, it was given a little bit of a childish interpretation with the focus on schoolchild Ben. He was fine and I liked his exasperation at being sent home from school for damage caused by his wristwatch that had decided upon itself to unstrap and smash out of the window. I mean that is what happened but obviously nobody is going to believe that! Especially not teachers and parents. Are there any less trusting people on the planet? One thing I don't quite understand though is why just the watch from Ben's wrist was subjected to being sent on its way to the metal creature. That can't have been the only item within the schoolroom? Also, I think one element of the story that knocked a mark off the rating was the lack of explanation for the watch ending up in the TARDIS console room. The TARDIS itself being drawn to 1973 was good and I liked how even it was subjected to the pull of the metallic creature, but the link needed to be a bit more at the forefront for my liking. I thought the concept of a walking pylon was quite entertaining for the younger audience, although the illustration looked a bit too comedic. I mean on paper that could be rather scary, but when the metal conglomeration of a creature was all put together it just looked a tad ridiculous. It had the giant ghost vibes from Ghostbusters. It didn't quite work. I thought the ending was a little bit of a let down as it just seems a bit rubbish when the Doctor gets the opposition to just set up and go. It feels anticlimactic and that the Doctor didn't really do much. Overall, a fun idea and some decent ideas. A worthy read nonetheless. Kudos to the Isle of Wight setting as well! 

Rating: 6/10

The War Valeyard

"I'm the saviour of time."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: August 2019

Series: The Eighth Doctor: Time War 3.04

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Bliss

Synopsis

The Valeyard has returned to the universe amid the Time War – and the Time Lords see his potential to end the conflict for good.

When the Doctor discovers that his twisted future self has been conscripted, he sets out with Bliss to find him, braving a planet ravaged by Daleks. 

But in a world where he can finally be a hero, will the Valeyard want to leave?

Verdict

The War Valeyard was an excellent episode to conclude what has been an enthralling third Time War volume of Eighth Doctor Adventures! The episode title alone is more than enough to peak my appetite and I loved that we got to hear the Valeyard within the realms of the Time War. That's such a fun concept and it just absolutely works. A version of the Doctor that is everything on his dark side amalgamated into one. Why wouldn't the Time Lords see him as a war asset? I liked that we got two different versions of the Valeyard with them referred to as 'Doctor Valeyard' and 'Trial Valeyard' to differentiate. That's obviously also illustrated on the cover art for the story at that central image of an older version of the Valeyard adorning the attire of the Eighth Doctor is spectacular! I liked the description of how the Doctor Valeyard came to be following on from the events of Fugitive in Time with the Doctor having stepped foot through the genetic modifier and his darker alter-ego emerged. The premonition he had seeing that future version of himself was brilliant and his reveal to Bliss of just who and what he had seen was very amusing. It was completely contradictory and didn't make much sense at all, and yet it was terrific. Given where we are now in Doctor chronology and seeing seventeen different versions on screen, the existence of the Valeyard is quite clearly something that can be refuted. We know that between regenerations twelve and thirteen that the Valyeard didn't emerge, so the reveal from Tamasan regarding his fate post-The Trial of a Time Lord and how not all of the High Council wanted to see him destroyed was intriguing. It wasn't a big surprise given the sneaky nature of the Time Lords, but Bliss's reaction said a lot really for an outsider's perspective. Someone who tried to wipe out the High Council wasn't put to death? Only on Gallifrey. I thought the Doctor Valeyard was a fantastic concept and it was really interesting to hear the Valyeard embrace that inner Doctor. It was a touching performance from Michael Jayston at times and I was sad to learn after listening that this was his final appearance in the iconic role. He will forever live on in folklore and it's been a privilege to hear him bring back this character for the Time War. Truly nothing is off limits. I thought the mission he had embraced was similar to that of the Twelfth Doctor's in Hell Bent with everything continuously resetting, but thanks to his actions he was believed to have ended the Time War! Now, that's a bold claim and it's ironic that a version of the Doctor would bring this into action. The machine being used on Grahv was really interesting in that it was a wide scale version of the Eleventh Doctor at the end of Series 6 in erasing his own memory. The Valeyard was going to erase all memory of the Daleks and by default the Time War would be over. I'm not sure that was a cement method of stopping the conflict with only the Time Lords set to remember them, but I liked it. The Dalek Time Strategist would escape to ensure war would go on, but I sense that the Daleks may actually utilise a lack of memory to their advantage. The Valeyard toying with his Trial inner self was a fun moment and whilst I was glad to get an appearance for him, I was much more interested in this newer version. One that was able to sacrifice itself and be the Doctor was so different to what we saw on screen! The Time War really does strange things. The Doctor's outrage at the Valeyard fighting within the Time War because it was a version of himself was good stuff and I loved that he took Tamasan's TARDIS to break the time lock to reach Grahv. Overall, an unexpectedly emotional finale! And one in which the Daleks have received a massive setback. I look forward to picking this up in the next boxset! A terrific listen.

Rating: 9/10

Fugitive in Time

"We need to find out how she survived."

Writer: Roland Moore

Format: Audio

Released: August 2019

Series: The Eighth Doctor: Time War 3.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Bliss

Synopsis

Returning a favour for Major Tamasan, the Doctor and Bliss accompany her to extract a dangerous fugitive from an isolated medieval world. 

Shonnath is the last of her kind and has her reasons to be wary of Time Lords. What's more, the Daleks are also on her trail – and when the Doctor and friends arrive, the enemy is already closer than they think.

Verdict

Fugitive in Time was a great episode to continue my way through the third Time War series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! I liked the follow on from The Famished Lands with the Doctor and Bliss returning a favour to Tamasan, but I must admit I am getting a little surprised by the number of incarnations we’re now meeting for her. It’s fine and actually quite fun in showing that the Time War is having a deadly effect, but it is a little difficult to follow on audio or become attached to a character. It’s no major issue though but certainly something to comment on. I thought it was good for the Doctor to once again reiterate that he had no part in the Time War but given everything that’s going on and his unique status on Gallifrey, he’s always going to play a role in some part. The Thellian setting worked well and I loved the story behind Shonnath. It was a fine example of what toll the Time War was having and the exploration of how she had survived an entire species deletion from time was very intriguing! She was obviously a desired asset on both sides of the Time War and I was fascinated by the Time Lords wanting her for protection. Not hers but their own. They feared the Daleks might try something to do with their genetics and actually hearing them appeal to Shonnath and relate their own genetic manipulation in history was brilliant. It was really intriguing to hear things play out and I love the differentiation in having the Doctor firmly believe that the Time Lords are still a force for good. He trusts them and knows they’re not anything close to being as bad as the Daleks. Of course, that will change by the end of his next incarnation but for now it’s really good to hear with the listener’s foreknowledge. The hunt for the genetic modifier worked well and whilst it was clear that Dransino wasn’t actually going to be the Dalek agent, the moment Vashko revealed himself in that role was still pretty good! Bliss wasn’t wholly surprised as the hint was there in the tapestry and his sudden shift in attitude three months previously. The real Vashko had been replaced with this Dalek duplicate. I liked the Daleks actually being involved in the story here as they sought the modifier and the cover artwork adoring the Time Strategist is just stunning. It must rank as one of my very favourite Dalek designs. It definitely helps with the visuals in my mind! Hearing the way that Shonnoth survived being erased from time was full of emotion as she revealed that she had to change her own genetic makeup. She’d lost her husband and child, but for the sake of her entire species she had to become something slightly different. She held the memory of an entire race which is almost unfathomable to think about! The Hexilara were almost gone so when she passed away it felt like a big and pretty sad moment. I liked that she did give the modifier to the Doctor though despite the Dalek plea. Vashko being exterminated was exactly what I expected to happen and I was delighted that it did. Nothing less should happen from the Daleks! The cliffhanger finish leading into the finale with the emergence of a confused Valeyard was really good and I can’t wait to hear where and when he fits into things! Overall, a really strong episode to continue an exciting series!

Rating: 

The Famished Lands

"It fills them... but doesn't feed them."

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: August 2019

Series: The Eighth Doctor: Time War 3.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Bliss

Synopsis

Trying to make a difference far from the front lines, the Doctor and Bliss arrive in the Vale of Iptheus, where the Time War is starving populations out of existence.

The inhabitants have taken matters into their own hands – but are now on course for something worse. Bliss discovers exactly how the robot Enablers are helping the people, while the Doctor uncovers a terrifying secret...

Verdict

The Famished Lands was another excellent episode to continue my way through the third instalment of Time War within the Eighth Doctor Adventures! I thought this was a really strong look at the impacts the Time War is having on everyday planets and species who had no position in the fight. Following on from the events of State of Bliss, it was a really nice approach to have the Doctor and Bliss wanting to make a difference. They would do so in a big way here whilst also realising that it wasn't just the Time War bringing out the horrors of the universe. I thought the Vale of Iptheus setting was very good and I was fascinated by their trade routes being impacted by the conflict between Time Lords and Daleks. Aeronwen was a strong character as the defacto person in charge on Iptheus, and the truth that she had helped implement at the Vale was soon learned and it wasn't exactly positive. I find it very intriguing when we have stories like this as it's quite fun to think of planets the same way we would think of countries in ordinary life. Is the whole of the Vale of Iptheus united as one and not separated by hundreds of borders as is the case on Earth? Taking that kind of scale to an intergalactic level is tremendous and just fun to think about. An entire world ravaged into starvation because of a trade route being decimated. The knowledge Aeronwen had on the Time War was good but she clearly didn't have all of the details. When the Doctor begrudgingly admitted his place of origin as Gallifrey, she thought him a Dalek at first! She also thought the Daleks and Time Lords were as one in an army, but the Doctor was able to shed some light that they were actually the two factions in a war against each other. Neither side were interested in the Vale of Iptheus and they were just another of many casualties. The Enablers were really strong in how blunt and forceful they were. They enabled one to die, and that was happening a lot here. There simply wasn't enough food to go around and the population were starving, but they were doing it with hope and happiness. The concept behind the ichor as the sludge food was awful. A food that didn't feed you but gave you the illusion of being well fed. It would soon have an effect on Bliss as she thought she was eating some fancy eggs, but the Doctor was immune. It didn't end there though as whilst it didn't give nutrition, it did strengthen the eater's bones as their flesh was ravaged. The skeleton army was a scary concept, especially with the description of the brain still working and being completely enraged. I think I would have some sort of rage built up within me too if my body was reduced to a skeleton to fight in an army of apparent protection. Of course, they would be no match for a Time Lord and the Doctor stopped them all quite simply with the sonic screwdriver, but Aeronwen was so delusional. She actually believed it was better to give the population hope instead of a simple death. The entitlement of choosing 10% of the population to survive for four years on the food supply that remained was scary but not surprising, and the rest were left to essentially rot and starve or be at the mercy of the Enablers. It was quite the societal make up! The Doctor trying to get the Time Lords to leave the sea trade route alone seemed to go on deaf ears as the Daleks are attacking on a multiverse level now which is exciting moving forward, but this felt very much like a real issue. The Doctor showing Aeronwen the future and eventually that there was hope and to prevent the ichor endemic was excellent. She finally saw sense in the end. Overall, this was a fantastic episode! 

Rating: 9/10

State of Bliss

"You have so many lives."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: August 2019

Series: The Eighth Doctor: Time War 3.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Bliss

Synopsis

Bliss has lost her home, her family, and her friends – an orphan of the Time War. The Doctor attempts to find out where things went wrong. Across a multiverse of possibilities, Bliss discovers the many paths her life could have taken – but do they always lead to the Time War?

And if Bliss can save her past, will she destroy her future – and the Doctor's?

Verdict

State of Bliss was an excellent episode to kick off the third volume of Time War stories within the Eighth Doctor Adventures! This didn't feel like a series opener which was a little strange, but I thought it was a fine idea to delve deeper into the character of Bliss. She's a companion known as an orphan of the Time War and given the setting that description feels right for someone the Doctor will travel with. Ever since The Lords of Terror at the start of the previous boxset, I have been itching for Bliss to want to delve deeper into her past. There has always been some kind of hesitation when it comes to Bliss remembering the events of The Starship of Theseus and how she came to travel with the Doctor, and now we start to get some answers. I thought the exploration of the multiverse theory was done well here and whilst not all that expressed, it was nice and subtle whilst complimenting the listener. I thought it was great to get glimpses into multiple versions of what her life could be, although I must admit it was slightly strange to hear the Doctor in the role of her grandfather. That's obviously a fun little link going back to the earliest days of the television show, but I think the youthful nature of the Eighth Doctor makes that a little more difficult to buy into. I appreciated the effort though. I liked learning more just about Bliss and her daily life, with the relationships she shared with Calla and Ryal really fascinating. It was almost a three-way relationship with the mutual feelings being shared around which was fun stuff, and it was just nice to see Bless in something of a less pressured situation. She wasn't in the middle of some Time War shenanigans and I think that was important as given the complex nature of her arrival and the twists in time occurring as a result of the temporal conflict, we never really got a debut story for her. It's good to fill in some blanks now and I like that she was somewhat fascinated by the prospect of there being a Time War. The theory behind it and the scale rumoured was good to explore. I thought it was really nice to see where her interests lay knowing where she would eventually end up. The Doctor naturally didn't end up featuring a great deal with the focus on Bliss which was absolutely fine, but when he did I really liked how he was able to somewhat console his companion. She had clearly gone through a lot in what she was seeing here and the temporal links to the TARDIS is a fine way to explore that. I thought it was so simple yet brilliant in having the Doctor calmly retort about starting with her hand when Bliss pondered on trying to open her mind up to link with the TARDIS. Deepa played a fascinating role in the events here and I liked how thanks to her Bliss was able to see the Theseus and have herself essentially split as a possibility. There was a whole host of timey wimey going on and I'm a big fan of that! The Doctor even remembering his former, and somewhat confusing, companions of Emma and Sheena was a nice touch and really takes me back to the start of this Time War anthology. The Doctor proudly declaring to Tamasan at the end that the trap that was Bliss was now dealt with and safe was good, but the Time Lords seemed unconvinced that her trap hadn't been fully sprung. Her biodata was still corrupted, and her comment about being able to remember them being better than not knowing them at all was quite poignant. This is her family we're talking about and it's just been taken away. Completely. Erased. Calla turning out to be in the space helmet was good and I thought Bliss getting a glimpse at her potential future was fantastic. She was rather horrified by the prospect! I couldn't blame her. Overall, a really strong and impactful way to start the series! A brilliant listen. 

Rating: 9/10

The Time of the Doctor

"Speak your name and this world will burn."

Writer: Steven Moffat

Format: TV

Broadcast: 25 December 2013

Series: 2013 Christmas Special 

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Clara

Synopsis

Orbiting a quiet backwater planet, the massed forces of the universe's deadliest species gather, drawn to a mysterious message that echoes out to the stars. The Doctor must learn what this signal means for how own fate, and that of the universe.

Verdict

The Time of the Doctor was a superb episode to see out the Eleventh Doctor era! The extended Series 7 era concludes here with an incredible follow up to one of the all time best stories ever in The Day of the Doctor for the fiftieth anniversary. I bet it must have been tempting to do the Eleventh Doctor regeneration in that story somehow, but I think it's right that we get a proper way for him to shine alone one final time. Matt Smith is simply sensational and I think still remains my favourite incarnation of the Doctor, so to have him bow out here is tremendous. He absolutely shines. We start with the comedy of the holographic clothes and the bald head, before we get seriously flirty with Tasha Lem and then the seriousness of growing old. All bases really do get covered here. I would absolutely love for Tasha Lem to meet River Song as that would just be something spectacular, but what we got here was still fantastic considering the viewer had never encountered her before. The chemistry she shares with the Doctor is brilliant, so to see her become a Dalek puppet and fight it was quite the shock! I think Clara does tremendously well in the episode considering all of the focus is rightly on the Doctor, and the Christmas theme is just about done right. It doesn't overshadow the episode but is there as it should be considering the broadcast date of the episode. I think following up on what happened in The Name of the Doctor is the right move in having the Doctor on Trenzalore and seemingly aging to death. The continuity with The Deadly Assassin is strong in setting out that there is a limit on the number of regenerations, and whilst the surprise of the War Doctor obviously moves him along one, I'm still not convinced that the Meta-Crisis Doctor from Journey's End should count. I appreciate the story being told though and with the Fugitive Doctor now also established, who knows where things are number wise! I love the idea of the Doctor defending the town of Christmas and the potential return of Gallifrey isn't as exciting as you would expect for the Doctor. After everything each of his incarnations did to save it in the previous episode, the prospect of a Time Lord return wasn't something numerous other species wanted. There would be a whole new war waiting for them. The threats on Trenzalore came aplenty as they sought to ensure the crack was closed, with the wooden Cyberman an absolute highlight. It looked glorious and the use of the sonic not working on wood to actually defeat it was sensational. You also can't go wrong with Weeping Angels in the snow. I think the explanation of the Kovarian chapter breaking away for the events we saw between The Impossible Astronaut and The Wedding of River Song was magnificent and the way the Eleventh Doctor's entire era was tied together here with the origin of the Silence and their purpose along with the crack and even seeing that this was contained in the Doctor's room in The God Complex was just perfect. It's incredible that this was all planned and came together. The Daleks being the ones that were due to revel in the Doctor's death once and for all was fitting, but Clara's appeal to the Time Lords to the Doctor was done very nicely. A whole new regeneration cycle sent them packing. I thought the tease that we wouldn't actually see the Doctor regenerate was good and I would have been fine with that trail of clothes leading to Peter Capaldi, but alas it was back to the Matt Smith we knew. I don't like that reset as it undersells the rest of the episode for me, but I understand why it was done to give the Eleventh Doctor that final moment to shine as we know him. Handles was gone and having reminded him about the phone, I think it's great that Clara puts the phone back knowing what happens in the next episode. The regeneration happens too quickly and suddenly but I guess that can be sold by the new regeneration cycle bedding in. It's great though that we get to see Amy wish her raggedy man goodnight and that sparked my girlfriend into tears alongside me even though we have watched this episode together before prior to my reading of Tales of Trenzalore whilst we were in university. It's a shame we don't get to see the true actress of young Amelia, but the moment is great and I think the whole TARDIS sequence for the regeneration is wonderful. Overall, a fitting finale for the favourite Doctor. 

Rating: 10/10

The Day of the Doctor

"Today this war will end."

Writer: Steven Moffat

Format: TV

Broadcast: 23 November 2013

Series: 50th Anniversary Special

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Clara, Tenth Doctor, War Doctor

Synopsis

In 2013, something terrible is awakening in London's National Gallery; in 1562, a murderous plot is afoot in Elizabethan England; and somewhere in space an ancient battle reaches its devastating conclusion.

Verdict

The Day of the Doctor is just an unbelievable piece of television. What an incredible way to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of this truly spectacular show we call Doctor Who. Honestly, right from the off Steven Moffat just gets everything right. From the original theme tune as the opener and starting in similar vain to An Unearthly Child, the tone for brilliance is set right from the very start. I have watched this episode no more than three times and I’m not sure why because after watching I thought that this was even better than I remembered. It’s right up there when it comes to my all time favourite stories. It has to be in the discussion. I think the directing is sensational and it truly does feel like a movie with the constant jumping back and forth between what we saw at the end of The Name of the Doctor with the reveal of the War Doctor. That is also evident with the opening titles and the Doctor hanging from the TARDIS as it’s brought in by UNIT. That’s hilarious and baffling at the same time because how often would they have found the TARDIS just lying dormant as the Doctor was out tackling an alien menace! Nevertheless, it was fun stuff. I think the format of the episode is perfect and the way we jump into seeing the War Doctor on the final day of the Time War is sensational. He’s had enough and it really is time to end it all. He’s a lot older than what we see in The Night of the Doctor which I think is really important in establishing just how long the Time War has lasted. It’s taken its toll. I think seeing the Daleks within the Time War is great and I’m a big fan of their silvery toned appearance. They’re battle weary and that’s fantastic. Placing the importance on the number of children on Gallifrey as the Doctor decides to destroy it for the sake of the universe is so powerful and it says a lot that by this point the Eleventh Doctor has forgotten. The Tenth Doctor had not and it shocked him to see where he had go to at that point in his future life. I think the humour that comes from the Tenth Doctor being with Elizabeth I is terrific and it ties up the loose end left during The Shakespeare Code conclusion very nicely. The Zygons are a fine choice to have return for the anniversary and having them in conflict with UNIT was fantastic. Osgood debuts here in a lovely way and I love her scarf. I think the Black Archive at UNIT is marvellous and seeing the images of precious companions is some montage and way to pay homage. Yates and Sara Kingdom?! I love it. I think the moment all three Doctors come together is sensational and I like how the War immediately cottons on to how he is viewed by his future selves with dread. The Moment’s conscience showing the form of Rose is good stuff and the Tenth Doctor getting that brief reaction from the Bad Wolf comment is excellent. The chemistry between Tennant and Smith as the Doctors is off the charts with how good it is. A multi-Doctor classic for sure. Seeing the War Room on Gallifrey is a real treat as at this point in the modern era we had only seen glimpses of life on the Doctor's home planet. I think the way the story builds towards the Doctors coming together to use the Moment and then Clara's being there to prompt them into altering their past and save Gallifrey is just tremendous. That sequence of including each incarnation of the Doctor is possibly my all time favourite in Doctor Who. It is delightful. It's just a huge celebratory moment and the shock of the Twelfth Doctor getting included before he'd even debuted on screen is sublime. My partner watching alongside me audibly gasped at that moment as she had no memory it was coming and it was a lovely reminder of how I reacted back on broadcast. Beautiful stuff. With Gallifrey saved and the War and Tenth Doctors back into their own time stream, with the former sparking a regeneration and that quick glimpse of the Ninth Doctor to tie everything up, one final treat arrives in the form of the Curator. Such a stunning moment again and another shock with Tom Baker back for the celebration. It's just so good and it's lovely to know that Gallifrey does survive out there. It worked. One final thing before I leave, the War Doctor's TARDIS interior is absolutely stunning. Maybe my favourite! Overall, the perfect celebration. 

Rating: 10/10

The Night of the Doctor

"I'm a doctor, but probably not the one you were expecting."

Writer: Steven Moffat

Format: TV

Broadcast: 16 November 2013

Series: 50th Anniversary Minisode

Featuring: Eighth Doctor

Synopsis

On the eve of his most terrible battle, the Time Lord is faced with a choice that will change the course of his life. The darkest of days are about to begin.

Verdict

The Night of the Doctor was a tremendous minisode! Even eleven years on from initial broadcast this episode doesn’t feel like any less of a thrill. It’s an absolute joy to fill in the gap in those wilderness years and get a well deserved regeneration story for the Eighth Doctor! I was taken back to my initial reaction and feelings on broadcast when watching this episode again because it truly is just stunning. I’m not entirely sure how but I managed to avoid absolutely all spoilers regarding this and when I was watching I wasn’t entirely sure it was official! I couldn’t believe what I was watching. It was just a sheer joy. Even now in 2024, it still feels scandalous that we only have two on screen stories for the Eighth Doctor but this ensures that we get double the number! It’s a real treat. I think for just six or seven minutes, Paul McGann absolutely shines in reprising the role of the Eighth Doctor. I really think there ought to have been an entire televised series with him in the role, but Big Finish is doing a fine job in continuing his performed adventures. I think it’s such a lovely moment prior to the regeneration that the Doctor gets to name drop a number of his audio companions, but in hindsight now it seems like a big omission to have no mention of Liv Chenka! That was always going to happen though. Big Finish can’t be contained by a minisode and I like that his final line of being a bit more generic leaves things open ended there to cover future companions within the ongoing Eighth Doctor Adventures on audio. I think the episode does an incredible job in just six minutes of showcasing how terrible the Time War is and that’s all down to Cass really. Her reaction to being rescued by the Doctor is stunning and it’s so different to how we normally see people react. They’re usually thankful, but Cass would rather stay on a crashing ship than be rescued by a Time Lord. The Doctor was horrified and the statement from Cass about not knowing the difference between Daleks and Time Lords anymore is just perfect. From what we saw glimpsed in The End of Time and now expanded upon greatly in Big Finish’s numerous Time War adventures, that certainly does make sense. It’s good to know that the Eighth Doctor doesn’t want any part in the conflict, but the death of Cass now and his own demise brings him to the point of no return. Landing on Karn means he now had control over his regeneration thanks to the mysterious Sisterhood. After much discussion, he would become a warrior that will set the basis for a whole new unknown and suppressed incarnation of the Doctor. It’s terribly exciting! On a personal note, this was a fun little way to introduce my partner to the Eighth Doctor for the fort time and I think I’ll be able to convince her to watch The Movie in due course based on this. Watch this space! Getting a glimpse of the younger War Doctor post regeneration is fantastic and I like how this leads us in nicely to the fiftieth anniversary special. Overall, just brilliant!

Rating: 10/10

The Name of the Doctor

"Here I am, late to my own funeral."

Writer: Steven Moffat

Format: TV

Broadcast: 18 May 2013

Series: 7.13

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Clara, River, Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

The Doctor has a secret he will take to his grave – and it is discovered.

Verdict

The Name of the Doctor was an outstanding episode and honestly potentially even better than I remembered! This is a sensational finale and in hindsight I think it might actually help that it's just a singular episode rather than the more traditional two-parter. This is just sensational stuff right from the off. I think the pre-titles sequence is nothing short of extraordinary and definitely the best the show has ever produced. In 2013 on broadcast, I remember being completely stunned at seeing an incredibly early depiction of Gallifrey and even getting a proper glimpse of the First Doctor on screen. Obviously, technology has advanced considerably in the eleven years since this aired and it could potentially be done to better quality, but that didn't take anything away from my enjoyment of seeing all eleven incarnations of the Doctor up to this point. The very concept of Clara being on Gallifrey as the Doctor stole the TARDIS and started his travels is incomprehensible, and yet there it was! Seeing the TARDIS out of its chameleon circuit disguise and in its default exterior going through the Vortex was just fantastic. I like how things come back to what we learned in The Bells of Saint John with Clara coming into the world on a leaf, and the truth of the impossible girl is revealed in extraordinary fashion. I just love everything about it and it makes Clara such an important companion. I appreciate the controversy that comes with this one, but it works for me. I thought the openings with the warning to Vastra regarding the Doctor's secret he will take to the grave and it being discovered were tremendous. The relationship between Vastra and Jenny has blossomed beautifully by this point and it probably helps that Strax is on a weekend off engaged in combat in Glasgow. He would definitely fit in well in Scotland! The humour that came from him asking to be rendered unconscious to take part in the conference call was magnificent. One shot and he was out! The conference call itself was fantastic and Strax's description of River before she arrived was wonderful. The big head (hair) indeed! I think this serving as the final goodbye to River with her coming from beyond the Library and after the events of Forest of the Dead is just so poignant. The scene where the Doctor reveals he can see her after all is just stunning. True love he feels for her indeed. It's beautiful and full of emotion. I thought the Great Intelligence really shone as the villain here and having an army of Whisper Men is the right sense of Victorian evil. They're a fantastic looking monster! I'm delighted to own an Eaglemoss figurine of them. Taking the form of Simeon is brilliant and the threat provided in initially murdering Jenny and then stopping the hearts of those close to the Doctor unless he revealed his name to open his tomb was sublime. The concept of the Doctor's tomb alone is superb and having him visit is quite something! The TARDIS tomb looks incredible and this is a stunning showcase for Matt Smith. He absolutely shines. The contrast in a couple of minutes in having him label Artie and Angie as Daleks after they trick him to getting to the cinema and then the emotion of him hearing Trenzalore is just phenomenal. He's going out with a bang! The Doctor's time stream being an open wound is crazy and I love seeing the Great Intelligence within reversing every victory as it destroys the Doctor whilst killing itself. That is until Clara steps in to reverse the reversals. She's always there. She always has been. She saves the Doctor over and over. Her remembering the events of Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS to realise what she needs to do and hearing the Dalek Asylum as the final confirmation was brilliant. The ending with the Doctor going in to save Clara and then the reveal of John Hurt as the Doctor was still a terrific cliffhanger. I remember being stunned and confused in the best way at seeing that. Thankfully this time I don't have to wait six months for the resolution! Overall, one of the all time classics. 

Rating: 10/10