The Rani Elite

"New bodies for old minds."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Audio

Released: December 2014

Series: Monthly Adventures 194

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

The TARDIS arrives in the CAGE – not a trap, but the College of Advanced Galactic Education, one of the most prestigious academic institutions in colonised space.

Not a trap. Or is it?

The Doctor's here to receive an honorary degree in Moral Philosophy. But there's something rotten at the heart of the Medical Facility. Someone is operating on the students. Someone without a conscience. Someone with access to a Sidelian Brain Scanner – a technology that hasn't been invented yet. 

That someone is the ruthless Time Lord scientist known as the Rani – in her new incarnation. But will the Doctor and Peri recognise the Rani's hand before her trap is sprung?

Verdict

The Rani Elite was an excellent story to continue my way through the Monthly Adventures! This is an adventure I have been anticipating for a decade now and it's been such a long wait to consume it. But it was certainly worth it! I have always been a huge fan of the Rani and I think it's right that given the Master is the Doctor's biggest villain, we get a female alternate in the Classic era. Kate O'Mara made a huge mark with the villainess in The Mark of the Rani and Time and the Rani so it's no surprise that she had agreed to return to the role for Big Finish, but her untimely death meant we never got that reprise. It's a huge shame, but the legacy of her character goes on and I thought Siobhan Redmond was absolutely brilliant in the role. Her image on the cover is exquisite and instantly she just feels like the same Time Lord. I think it's a little bit of a shame that her reveal wasn't kept secret because it worked so well as a cliffhanger, but I appreciate how big of a selling point this would be. She's an iconic character and it's always good to get to know new incarnations! I loved the scientific theme of the story and it wouldn't be the Rani without a dodgy experiment. I thought it was fun for her to have invited the Doctor to CAGE for his honorary degree, but the time had gotten a little muddled up and the version who arrived was one incarnation early. It was good to establish that this incarnation was the next one along from on screen and I think her expecting the short one with the umbrella and hat was good continuity. That's what would have happened on screen so I like that. I thought it was also fun for her to foreshadow the end of this sixth incarnation and her role in that. Great stuff, and now she would revel in the memory after he thwarted her efforts here. I also liked how Peri pondered on regeneration and her relationship with the Doctor after her memories of The Caves of Androzani and how the Doctor literally had died for her. He thought she was worth saving and perhaps one day she would return the favour. That certainly feels like foreshadowing for how Peri's story might end! Things have been a little frosty since her return to the TARDIS in The Widow's Assassin, but it felt like a step had been taken here to put things right once and for all. Although it was certainly testy as she nearly suffered a similar fate as The Trial of a Time Lord with her becoming subjected to the Rani's experiment of mind transference. Playing with that with this version of Peri was brilliant stuff. I thought it was fun for the Doctor to have recognised the Rani immediately, whereas for Peri the penny took a little longer to drop but when she did the moment was terrific. I think the concept of old minds in young bodies is good and certainly something that works, but I think the fact it's not exactly unique is probably why this story doesn't quite get full marks for me. It was still an absolute joy though! The character of Lizzo was good and I liked her relationship with Peri as the companion looked out for her, until her sudden change of character after her mind was replaced. Miklev was also good and I liked Reev alongside the Rani, and the Vice Chancellor being the only one who didn't have their mind returned felt like a bit of a shame! His reaction to the Doctor arriving early was immediately suspicious which set a great tone for the story. I thought the CAGE setting was fantastic and really had a strong vibe. It felt perfect in all honesty. The Doctor getting the better of the Rani once again was amusing as she was so confident plans couldn't be thwarted, but he actually ended up trapping her and her TARDIS in a giant pool of water! No wonder he seemed to be letting her go as the punishment was lifetime imprisonment, but with regeneration that was an eternity for a Time Lord. Overall, a superb story! 

Rating: 9/10