Impossibly Glorious

"I used to be somebody else."

Writer: Steve Lyons

Format: Audio

Released: February 2016

Series: Vienna 3.03

Featuring: Vienna

Synopsis

Vienne Salvatori used to be somebody else. She used to dream that she had an impossibly glamorous life, and then one day she met someone who made her dreams true.

Now she has a new mission. She wants to help make your dreams a reality, help you become the person you always wanted to be. Even if it kills you.

Verdict

Impossibly Glorious was a decent episode to conclude what has been a solid third series of Vienna! I think it's safe to say that this was my least favourite of the three series so far, but that's not to say that it was bad by any stretch of the imagination as my ratings reflect! I have really enjoyed it but honestly, I think things might actually work better with Vienna as a solo character. I think a little of her silent assassin persona has been lost and that's a big shame because that's how she works best in my book. I loved when her name couldn't be spoken and it seems like her status and almost reputation have been downgraded since the likes of The Memory Box. She's still terrific and it's clear that Chase Masterson is part of the reason behind it because her voice is so enticing. I just want to listen to her so she certainly helps the character. I thought the little time jump at the start of the episode was unexpected and it almost felt like I was coming into the second part of a double episode without having listened to the first. That's perhaps slight exaggeration but it definitely felt like I'd missed something given how Big Society ended with all journeys focused on heading towards London. And here we were on the planet! I thought its replication of the English capital city was quite fun, especially in having an Oyster card system! That was something I wasn't anticipating but little details like that work well and that was the case here. Vienna was completely changed and not the character we have known to love over this spinoff series, but that gave Jexie a chance to take centre stage. I'm not entirely sure she grasped it with both hands, but it was nice to make her a focal point. I wouldn't say she has felt secondary to Vienna this series but she's certainly not the focus. It's almost something like the dynamic Romana had as companion in the TARDIS. She's essentially the equal but it's the Doctor who is most important. I thought the concept behind the titular look of impossibly glamorous was good and Vienna is a fine advert for that tagline. The continuity going back to Self Improvement was very good and I liked that the Good Day formula was actually being retro engineered and turned into the opposite of what it was developed for. The humour within the episode of it being labelled as Bad Day was much welcomed because it felt like self mockery. I do think it's quite lazy to have called it that but at least it was acknowledged within the story and actually a plot point. I liked the mythical status of Kensington Fox in the story and the whole commercial feel of the episode was good stuff. It certainly felt a little unique and I liked how the CD cover art for the story also added to that vibe. The gold is so striking. It's a fine way to capture what went on in the episode. Drew Mulligan was a good character too although I feel like he could have done more considering his status and position. The slow reemergence of Vienna into who she was worked well and I enjoyed the use of memory crystals again. The prospect of not being able to trust your own memories because they might be implanted is not a world I would enjoy living in! Overall, a decent finale to what has been a solid series. I'm looking forward to the next one already! A good listen. 

Rating: 7/10