The Force of Death

"We will destroy them with the very technology we have taken from them."

Writer: Andrew Lane

Format: Audio

Released: October 2024

Series: BBC Audio 26

Featuring: Eighth Doctor

Synopsis

The Doctor is working undercover in 1890s Galway whilst investigating the mysteries sinking of the RMS Majestic. Witnesses recall something huge crashing into the sea, causing a massive wave which overturned the ship. Could it have been the mythical sea creature known as the Dobhar-chu?

Also on the scene is James MacFarlane, intrepid journalist and friend of the Doctor. Reunited, the pair discover death stalking the area in the form of animated corpses. The Doctor soon realises that aliens are present, and unless stopped their plans could kill everyone in County Connemara! 

Verdict

The Force of Death was a great story to add to the BBC Audio originals! This is another adventure for the Eighth Doctor alongside James MacFarlane who just keeps bumping into this incarnation. Considering the unlikely nature of this happening now for the fourth time, it's even more amazing that it's always the Eighth Doctor he runs into. And the settings across the UK and beyond vary quite considerably! We've gone from Cardiff to the Antarctic to Galway. That's quite the variety and I'm a big fan of it. Considering that this format is just one narrator telling the story, I feel quite an affinity with James. I was very intrigued to hear how the dynamic between him and the Doctor would be given how things were left at the end of The Teeth of Ice, but the Doctor was rather in an ebullient mood which surprise me slightly! He didn't seem shocked that James arrived and I thought the way he deduced the Doctor's presence there was tremendous. It was almost like a disguise of the Master for the Doctor to be claiming to be the Irish name of John Smith! I absolutely adored it though and the realisation for James was tremendous. Here he was again! I think James being a journalist is good and of course the Doctor is no stranger to those when it comes to his companions, but I wouldn't consider him as such. Not until he has a full stay in the TARDIS. I loved that the events he was experiencing with the Doctor here wouldn't become public knowledge as despite MacFarlane's profession, the ludicrous nature of what was happening just couldn't be published. Nobody would take it seriously! And another such case was on hand here. The Doctor was merely posing as a vet because of some strange goings on with cattle and the like, which became actually rather dark towards the end of the story. Dealing with mutilation that goes as far as removing brains and organs is pretty disturbing but it fits in well with a story of this title and the dark atmosphere. Things were definitely presented as bleak which was nicely done and definitely the right kind of tone for this adventure. Commander Moret (sp?) turned out to be a decent villain as the man taking advantage of the crashed ship of the Fomorians. He had used them and even had a hostage to create semi-automata weaponry. And it was a century early! The devastation potential there was obvious for all to hear, He had no remorse but I loved how James was actually on the verge of challenging the Doctor because he was getting involved and doing the very thing he had berated him for on the Antarctic. That was a strong moment but things luckily didn't blow over. I liked how the Doctor remarked that he was a changed man and whilst it had been barely a year for James since their last meeting, for him it was so much longer. This was the Eighth Doctor when he was on the verge of having to pick a side in the Time War. Something terrible was coming and that meant he saw things from a different perspective. I appreciated that as an explanation. I liked the simplicity and quite quick nature of the conclusion in having the Doctor resonate the sea to stop Moret and company, and without the Fomorians wouldn't be under control. It was a neat way to tidy things up! Overall, an intriguing tale and one that I really enjoyed. A fine way to pass an hour! 

Rating: 8/10