Parasite: The Dead Hand

"They were using children as compost bags."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: August 2020

Series: Torchwood Soho 1.05

Featuring: Folgate

Synopsis

Enter the world of 1950s Torchwood! 

Gangsters are vanishing from the streets of Soho, there's a deadly Nazi secret on the loose, and something's moving in the smog. Norton Folgate should be sorting this out, but the Torchwood agent is in disgrace. Who's going to save London this time?

Verdict

The Dead Hand was an excellent episode to continue my way through the Parasite first series of Torchwoof Soho! This was a slightly longer story and it certainly reaped the benefits as it was definitely the best of the bunch so far. It was almost having the feeling of Children of Earth when it came to explaining the use of children by Project Hermot in developing the parasite that is currently working its way through 1950s' Torchwood. I thought the cliffhanger finish to The Spread was very intriguing as Norton came to visit Lizbeth and it was confirmed here that she was the last remaining survivor as the parasite was doing its work. Learning about its origins was eery and just brilliant. I loved the political nature of the story and Lizbeth being drafted in to investigate when Rigsby didn't have the stomach for it was fantastic. She's a really strong character and I would love to explore more of her time as part of Torchwood before her untimely death at the end of the episode. Getting a full episode where she was basically the lead was magnificent and I thought she did a stellar job to be honest! A very likeable character and it's lovely to see how much pride she takes in her work and her abilities. The fact she is a woman in the 1950s makes her even more impressive and it was fun for Rigsby to proclaim the future would see Torchwood ruled by a woman. After all, if one woman could rule the British Empire and find Torchwood in the first place then that didn't seem wholly out of the realms of possibility. Lizbeth's meeting with Gerta in Berlin was so interesting and the way their conversation subtly shifted as it went on was terrific. Initially Gerta almost seemed like something of a victim in proclaiming how the Russians had taken most of their paperwork whilst the Americans had taken much of their stuff. Germany was a hostile and incredibly difficult place in the aftermath of the Second World War, but Lizebth didn't see the human side of things when she investigated further. Initially thinking that dogs had been used for the experimentation which was bad enough, she was disgusted when she found that it was actually children! The description of them as being compost bags was horrifying and I just couldn't be using anything else for my quote to take from the episode. It was a shocking description that really did have a profound impact on me. The format of the story in jumping around time and perspectives was good as it basically brought all of the loose threads together ahead of what I'm sure will be an explosive finale. I was surprised to hear an aftermath of the infection with Norton escaping thanks to Andy in Meet Mr Lyne, but the conversation between Rigsby and Lizbeth was enthralling. Rigsby was just delusional in thinking that he would survive and be saved. Hell, he even suggested he could be immune which was quite funny! Lizbeth didn't seem to be enjoying the conversation and was giving him the bare minimum as they waited for death. Who could really blame her? Norton's final conversation with her was quite sad as he really isn't the most sympathetic of characters and just hearing how Lizbeth now had the fungi growing out of her eyes meant she was unable to have clear vision. This was some death! Norton was all that was left of Torchwood now and that is quite a daunting prospect for him with all of London engulfed in fog and this Nazi killer parasite on the loose. It's set the finale up very well! Overall, a fantastic episode! 

Rating: 9/10

Parasite: The Spread

"Killer Nazi mushrooms!"

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: August 2020

Series: Torchwood Soho 1.04

Featuring: Folgate, Andy

Synopsis

Enter the world of 1950s Torchwood! 

Gangsters are vanishing from the streets of Soho, there's a deadly Nazi secret on the loose, and something's moving in the smog. Norton Folgate should be sorting this out, but the Torchwood agent is in disgrace. Who's going to save London this time?

Verdict

The Spread was yet another great episode to continue my way through the Parasite first series of Torchwood Soho! This series has been incredibly consistent so far and with two instalments still to go this is shaping up to be a really solid debut series. Torchwood Soho continues to go from strength to strength here and the trio of Andy, Norton and Gideon are really establishing themselves as an impressive duo. The latter is still very much feeling like a newbie and that's not just when it comes to being a part of the life that is Torchwood. I thought it was quite powerful for him to make a point of him asking Norton back to his flat being the first time he had asked a man to do something like that. It was the first time he'd taken an interest which was intriguing given the aim with him as a journalist but this did very much feel like a literal coming out moment. And I'm not sure how much I enjoyed how unserious that was met by Norton, but that felt very much in character. He's a little bit annoying and whilst I do find that unlikeable, I am starting to appreciate that this is kind of the point. I'm not sure how sellable that is as a lead character for a spinoff's spinoff series, but there are multiple releases in this range and here I am having purchased one so they must be doing something correctly! I thought the episode title was slightly misleading as I'm not sure how much of the story was actually focused on that with the parasite spread, but it is very much there in the background and I feel like things are building towards an exciting crescendo. The involvement of Belle was good and I liked that Norton saw that Gideon and Andy were kept safe within the Stagnant Pond. The concept behind that public estsblihamnet was fascinating stuff and I loved the idea of them being frozen in time. Just the pub. The regulars were very much that! It was good and I would certainly like to learn more about its origin. Also, the conversation that Gideon and Belle had over a game of darts was terrific to me as an avid darts fan and player. Hearing Belle comment on how quickly Gideon was improving with his arrows as he got from the likes of a single nine to treble twelve was intriguing. They're not exactly far away from each other on the board! He had the knowledge though and quickly found himself hitting the treble twenty as the biggest points target on the board. The bullseye really isn't all that much to shout about despite being the appealing option at the centre! I thought Belle making sure that she wasn't just getting monetary value for housing Norton's friends was intriguing and bound to be something we come back to as we head into the final two episodes of the series. I like the continuation of the Nazi fungi threat as that seems magnificent and so perfect for the 1950s. Would Nazism ever really be defeated? The threat lingers and people continuing to go missing during the fog is now becoming something a little more as people realise. It can't just be the weather and I like that. I thought the cliffhanger was a little less impactful this time around but no less interesting as Norton was on his own little mission and seems to be shockingly reunited with Lizbeth. I didn't have that down as something that would happen but I'm intrigued to hear what comes next. Overall, a fine audio to continue the series! 

 

Rating: 8/10

Parasite: The Mould

"There's something hunting in the mist."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: August 2020

Series: Torchwood Soho 1.03

Featuring: Folgate, Andy

Synopsis

Enter the world of 1950s Torchwood! 

Gangsters are vanishing from the streets of Soho, there's a deadly Nazi secret on the loose, and something's moving in the smog. Norton Folgate should be sorting this out, but the Torchwood agent is in disgrace. Who's going to save London this time?

Verdict

The Mould was another strong episode to continue my listening through the Parasite first series of Torchwood Soho! This was probably the strongest episode of the series so far despite them all sharing the same rating as I think after some fine introductions and setting things up for what is to come, this really got the umbrella story going. We were introduced (I assume anyway!) to the titular parasite and I think it's quite amusing that one was under Norton's bed the entire time he had been staying in his current residence. The trio of Norton, Andy and Gideon was quite something and whilst on paper that might not appear to be the making of a fine trio, in my ear it was honestly excellent. They all bounced off each other really well and the dynamic between them is second to none. They are all such different people and Gideon getting to grips with the fact that Norton wasn't quite a librarian was fun stuff. The prospect of Andy utilising a vortex manipulator in its own right is pretty shocking and I like the continuity of having Jack be the one to send him with his instructions. That links back very nicely to the modern era of Torchwood. It's also just nice for Andy to be a little more involved with Torchwood after so long spent on the fringes and it does seem like Torchwood Soho will be the place for him to shine amongst some of the action. Having him introduced to Gideon in his own room and being naked was quite the beginning to their relationship, but there was actually innocence in his explanation. I can certainly see why Gideon had questions though in finding Norton with another man naked in his room, especially after they'd set a time and place for a date! Andy honing on the psychic abilities of the vortex manipulator was quite fun so where else should we have expected Norton to aim for? I liked that a lot. The spore explanation after the cliffhanger to Meet Mr Lyne was also really good and logical, but without context it was obviously going to be a lot to take in. I thought the threat of the parasite was great and I think it's a fun twist to have Norton as the sole member of Torchwood taking it seriously. What better place to hide and hunt than in a foggy London? It's literally ripe for a parasite and I look forward to learning more about them as the second half of the series goes on. The significance of Belle is increasing more and more in subtle ways and I like the explanation of her being centuries old and getting involved. I suspect she will have a big role to play moving forward and I'm all here for it. Norton was certainly a little surprised to find that Gideon had interacted with her. The trio getting drunk was a bit surprising given the circumstances and I'll be amazed if no hanky panky business between them all doesn't happen tat some point given how they all got acquainted here. Norton being in a position as a sole survivor of his Torchwood team is intriguing and heading to the Soho bunker was good. Given everything happening he hoped it might be a safe haven and something no other Torchwood team members had thought about, but alas they stumbled upon it full of the creatures that they had awoken under the bed! That was quite a fun and unexpected cliffhanger. The infiltration of Torchwood is happening on quite the scale here and I wonder if that has anything to do with the timelines going wrong around Norton. I look forward to hearing more! Overall, a great episode! 

Rating: 8/10

Parasite: Meet Mr Lyne

"You can't just save my life and then run away."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: August 2020

Series: Torchwood Soho 1.02

Featuring: Folgate

Synopsis

Enter the world of 1950s Torchwood! 

Gangsters are vanishing from the streets of Soho, there's a deadly Nazi secret on the loose, and something's moving in the smog. Norton Folgate should be sorting this out, but the Torchwood agent is in disgrace. Who's going to save London this time?

Verdict

Meet Mr Lyne was another great episode to continue my way through the Parasite first series of Torchwood Soho! This followed on nicely from where The Man From Room 13 started and I think the format is gaining pace. I almost feel like the episodes could be a little longer but that keeps the pace frantic and certainly appeases my appetite for wanting more. I thought the title of the episode was intriguing as Gideon was the referred to Mr Lyne and after his impactful introduction without much known about him in the opening episode, it was good to get some background about him. His position as a black man seems like it's going to be excellent to play around with given the 1950s setting and I think it's nice that Norton genuinely isn't bothered by his race. That could not be said for those offering him a job or a hotel room before he turned up on their doorsteps and quickly rescinded their offers! Purely based on the colour of his skin. It's shocking to think that this was the norm for this day and age so having Torchwood operate within this environment is really intriguing as a listener in 2025. I think the loose continuation and mentions of the fog are good and I suspect this will be where the umbrella titular parasite will lie. Threatening London with something that can be passed off as a natural phenomenon is good stuff and I'm excited to hear how things play out from here. The innuendo and childish humour that came from Norton being obsessed with Konstantin's package was fun stuff and Lizbeth was just a little too keen to open it when it arrived at Room 13. Norton of course realised that this was the sure fire way to get a deadly package into Torchwood. Doing so by ordinary mail wouldn't exactly be easy to get into Torchwood! So there we are. A fine trap for sure and I liked that Norton worked it out. The ridiculousness of the George Ezra fund really did make me audibly laugh as that's just so random and bonkers for the 1950s. Why him of all famous people to name the fund after some fifty or sixty years before he made an impact? Given that Andy popped up as the cliffhanger finish though at least provides a link to the times of Ezra. I wonder if he's Andy's kind of vibe? Just having him around for the series is going to be fun because his dynamic with Norton is already established and quite a touchy one. I'm very invested in finding out why and how Andy has travelled back in time to save Norton which is exciting moving forward. Catching up with Gideon as he got close with his investigation into Torchwood as a journalist was good and I liked how we were brought right up to speed with where he interacted with Norton in the series' opener. I am also very excited by the prospect of Torchwood Soho coming up against the Nazi version of Torchwood. That just sounds sublime! The potential there really is endless and I'm super excited to hear what comes next. Lizbeth looks like she'll be out of action now thank to the contents of the package, but Norton and Andy could be anywhere and anywhen! Overall, a really strong episode to continue the series. I look forward to hearing what's coming next! 

Rating: 8/10

Parasite: The Man From Room 13

"There's something living in the fog."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: August 2020

Series: Torchwood Soho 1.01

Featuring: Folgate

Synopsis

Enter the world of 1950s Torchwood! 

Gangsters are vanishing from the streets of Soho, there's a deadly Nazi secret on the loose, and something's moving in the smog. Norton Folgate should be sorting this out, but the Torchwood agent is in disgrace. Who's going to save London this time?

Verdict

The Man From Room 13 was a fine way to start the Parasite first series of Torchwood Soho! I think this is a tremendous idea to have an entire spinoff of a Torchwood team from another era because the potential really is rife. Torchwood is well established by this point of the 1950s given how long that is after Tooth and Claw in which Queen Victoria established the organisation, so it makes sense for Big Finish to explore something new. Why restrain yourself to what is established on screen when you can explore the world of the 1950s in Soho? That’s an awfully exciting idea and I look forward to playing with the lack of technology compared to the modern organisation. As the means for an opener, this did all of the right things for an introductory twenty-five minutes. I am of course familiar with the character of Norton Folgate from the likes of Goodbye Piccadilly and his fleeting appearances in God Among Us, but now he gets to be the star of the show. Or at least it feels that way. I am not sure he would be the character I would choose to lead a Torchwood spinoff because I must say I find him very marmite and I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about him, but he was a good amount of quirky and energetic here. The mystery of Room 13 was presented well and I enjoyed the relationship Norton had with Lizbeth within. There seems to be a strong dynamic brewing there already and I'm looking forward to all of the threads established in this opener to tie together over the next five episodes. I'm intrigued by the format of the series in being six shorter episodes but it's one that I'm actually really looking forward to. I think blogging them as six separate stories is the correct move despite what TARDISWiki has the story listed as. I'm excited for the journey. I thought Folgate's meeting with Gideon turned on its head quite quickly as they arranged a hasty date and his disguising his Torchwood employment as being a librarian was excellent. I'm not sure Gideon bought it all and that being obvious made it even better. I'm very interested to hear where things go from here with them, especially with him overhearing about Konstantin. It was amusing to hear that he covered it as an overdue book fine when Belle arrived looking for him. He was just interested in dead Nazis which was a fun gag running through his conversations with Lizbeth. It's going to be interesting to hear Norton's ideology on things like this given the series' proximity to the end of the Second World War. Reginald Rigsby sending a memo bemoaning the behaviour of Norton was hilarious. He didn't take him too seriously though and I can't wait for the inevitable meeting later in the series. I enjoyed the focus on the packages and the interest of the Stagnant Pond should tie things together nicely as the series goes on. I'm really interested in where things go and this was just a good introduction! I do feel like this also did a stellar job in reintroducing Norton as a main character now. Just what significance will be placed on the package, alien and Konstantin? I look forward to find out. It was a shame there was no kind of cliffhanger given the episodic nature of the series, but I was still delighted with what I listened to! A strong start for sure. 

Rating: 8/10

The Monster Makers

"The arch meddler in private business affairs."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Comic Strip

Released: September 2024 - January 2025

Printed in: DWM 608-612

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Ruby

Synopsis

The Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby don't arrive as intended and are welcomed as invaders. They quickly leave, but the fast return switch soon sets in motion a mysterious journey of monster creation. 

Verdict

The Monster Makers was a good story to continue the ongoing comic strip adventures of the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby! I do wonder when the comic strips will kind of catch up with what is happening on screen as reading this comic strip as a whole after the broadcast of Joy to the World makes it feel slightly out of date which is a bit of a shame. Of course, I am all for more adventures with the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby as it still doesn't feel like we quite got enough of them on screen, but I also think of the Doctor Who Magazine comic strip as being concurrent with the series which does not quite feel to be the case at the moment. With that all being said, this was still a fine little story! I say little but at five parts it was about the right length to have a feeling of a full adventure. I think the reduction in page count down to six has been detrimental to the quality of the comic strip since the time of the Thirteenth Doctor and I honestly think it would be much better to not have to build so quickly towards a cliffhanger. The title of the story sounds like an online Doctor Who game which is quite amusing, but it actually became quite serious with CoHurtCo basically selling monsters. The idea of a staged invasion was quite intriguing although I was a little put off by the way the story started. The Doctor and Ruby exiting the TARDIS and being welcomed as invaders was so good and interesting because of how unique it was. And then they just leave? That felt random but thankfully a fast return switch later saw them back and five minutes later they were witnessing the invasion of some very daft looking iBalls. The design was actually pretty interesting although I must say it did feel very Doctor Who Adventures. I hate to say it because I know how much work is put in but at times the artwork in this comic strip did feel somewhat questionable. A number of images for both the Doctor and Ruby felt a little awkward which was a shame. I did like the format though of having the pair split up at the start and how they both learned the same information about where they were and what was happening. The Doctor harking back to his ninth incarnation about not feeling the world spinning confirming it wasn't Earth was also a highlight for me. I loved that. I thought the tease of the Doctor having wronged the grandfather was intriguing and whilst it seems like there is a bigger play ongoing here with references to the similarities of events to Liberation of the Daleks and The Hans of Fear, the way it was presented made it seem like this was going to be a big part of this particular story. So to not get the identity was a bit of a let down I must say. I feel like I have been slightly negative so far in my review but as my rating reflects, this was still something I very much enjoyed. Selling invasion is terrific and I loved the confidence the company has in their monster creations. Ruby's reaction to being asked if she was satisfied with her invasion was also pretty humorous! She was very much dissatisfied. The use of a survey for invasion seems mad but it actually made perfect sense here. I also thought the recycling of matter was good stuff and the right level of grotesque for Ruby to witness as she realised she hadn't really made friends at all. The ending was good but I think let down by the format of only having six pages. For a final part, you don't want it all to be about the resolution as that shouldn't be hinted at really until close to the end, but there just isn't much room for that here. The Doctor was essentially able to just do some magic sonic work and reprogram things to set them back on their right course. Will the Doctor and Ruby ever reach Reykjavik now? I certainly hope! But overall, a decent comic strip adventure for sure.

Rating: 7/10

War Stories

"I want Daleks everywhere."

Writer: Patrick Ross

Format: Audio

Released: December 2024

Series: Short Trips 13.X

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill

Synopsis

The Intergalactic Fringe Festival spans a whole planet. Its programme offers millions of shows, so the Doctor and Bill can choose anything from anti-gravity acrobats to the quantum cabaret. 

But the Doctor is alarmed when he attends a play about the Time War. It's not just that it tells his personal history – its performance could unravel the universe. 

Verdict

War Stories was a very decent audio adventure! This serves as the 2024 winner of the Paul Spragg Memorial Opportunity which is an initiative I just love. Not just because the story is released as a freebie every year which is always welcomed but I think it's great that there's a chance for an everyday fan like myself to get an official part of Doctor Who canon! It seems the easiest opportunity in and whilst I have loved exploring the details of entry every year since it has arisen, I am no scriptwriter! I loved the concept this time around though of having a theme for the story entires and this time around that was to focus on the Time War. I thought that was very exciting and the adventure at hand really works well. It's fun to think of a Twelfth Doctor story centred around the Time War because of how far removed he is from events, especially those of The Day of the Doctor where Gallifrey was actually revealed as being saved! The Time War in reality had a very different ending and this is the perfect incarnation of the Doctor to explore that with. I thought Alan Cox as the narrator was a fine choice and whilst initially I thought his cadence was more suited to that of John Hurt's War Doctor than Peter Capaldi's Twelfth, that soon actually had its benefits! The prospect of a one man show focused on the Time War was so exciting and the Doctor knowing who that one man at the centre of the performance would be was terrific. Who else would it be? The Doctor's reaction to the impossibility of the details in the play was excellent and I think that's part of why my rating for the story dropped considerably towards the last five to ten minutes. For something so monumental and events so hidden and shrouded in secrecy, the truth was actually a little bit of a let down. I don't really know what I was expecting in a Short Trip of this kind in terms of wider continuity and mythology, but it felt like we had built up considerably. The ending itself was fine as a whole but just felt a bit weak after the Time War focus and the details in the play. The descriptions were so vivid! Bill recalling the events of The Pilot as a means for her knowledge on the Daleks was fun and the playwright in question here Symbolise was a fascinating character. She didn't even seem that surprised to find that the Doctor had shown up to his own one man play. The humour that came from different incarnations helping the Doctor despite a one man show was delightful and it's a shame we didn't hear more reenactment. I really liked the concept of a paradox play and the power of the words and performance themselves actually starting to rewrite time was fun to play around with, but there perhaps just wasn't enough time to fully delve into it. But that's the nature of the format! The open air transformer was good though and I liked the idea of the brain power literally making fiction come to life. Bill feeling strong about her mother was also good characterisation and it was lovely to get her in a Big Finish story as that feels incredibly rare! The mask as the cause of the brain power was an apt explanation but one I couldn't fully invest in after such a strong build up. The ending does just come across as a little lacklustre which is a shame because I really liked the story for the most part. The planet Fringe is definitely a setting rife with potential though and I would absolutely love a return. There is just so much on offer there and it would be foolish not to return. Overall, a really fascinating adventure that perhaps just tails off slightly at the end.

Rating: 7/10

Needle Point

"The room was full of old ladies."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2007

Series: Doctor Who Files 09

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Martha

Synopsis

When the Tenth Doctor leaves his companion Martha Jones to her own devices as he investigates an etheric beam, but it's Martha who will have the pleasure of dealing with it...

Verdict

Needle Point was a very decent little adventure to continue my way through the Doctor Who Files! I feel like I've reached something of a new era now when it comes to this series as we venture into characters from Series 3, and from memory this particular book didn't take long in being released after its broadcast! It's staggering to think that this was eighteen years ago which makes me feel incredibly old as this was the first series where I watched Doctor Who. And it's taken me this long to read this small little story in one book in a wider collection of Doctor Who Files. I actually had to buy this one secondhand as it seems this was never one me or my younger brother ever owned whilst we were growing up and none of the local libraries had a copy! That was a great shame but I can't complain with the price and it was easy enough to get a hold of so no qualms here. I thought the story itself was pretty decent in how it captured Martha in particular as the focus despite having the Doctor around. I'm glad the Tenth Doctor featured and initially I was a little bit worried about the direction the story was heading as it seemed he was just going to make Martha stay behind as he investigated the etheric beam. Thankfully, we stuck with Martha's point of view and perspective which was as it should have been for an adventure in this kind of release. The file is named after her after all! I thought that was quite fun as it is unusual for the story to stick with the companion in the way it happened here. Essentially, the Doctor was rendered useless and that's quite a fun twist! Martha is allowed to shine as she should. Her noticing the multitudes of old ladies was pretty fun and the right kind of ridiculousness for this kind of adventure. It's obviously one written for the youngest of fans and I bet old ladies can actually be quite daunting for youngsters! I know my Nan was a little scary when I was young and I can see that in my own three-year-old when he meets up with grandparents and great-grandparents. So for a multiple of the same old lady to be spinning around in shops across time was certainly something for Martha to pick up on. The imagery of them all knitting was so stereotypical but quite amusing. What else would an old lady be doing? Except Martha's keen eye saw that the needles weren't actually knitting anything at all which was a fun little twist. I thought the use of the needles in generating the etheric energy was fun and linked back to the story's beginning, although it was amusing for the unnamed species to admit right from the off that they were weakened. It didn't leave much to the imagination moving forward with where the story would ultimately head and I found the explanation of why they adopted an old woman's disguise rather hilarious. They all looked the same to everyone else! I'm not sure how much I entirely agree with that, but from a youngster's perspective I could certainly see the argument. The way that came back at the end when the Doctor reemerged perplexed at an apparent blip after the old ladies were in a right old kerfuffle to see them off. That was quite amusing in how with a little interaction from Martha they basically beat themselves, but the finishing line from the Doctor about all babies looking the same was excellent. Overall, a funky and fun little read! 

Rating: 7/10

The Threshold

"You will save me."

Writer: Felicia Barker

Format: Audio

Released: February 2022

Series: Short Trips 11.03

Featuring: The Master

Synopsis

After a collision in the vortex, the Master is trapped in his TARDIS. Luckily, the Doctor has come to save him. Unluckily, the Doctor's TARDIS has vanished. With the ship collapsing around them, can these arch-enemies put their rivalry aside long enough to survive?

Verdict

The Threshold was an excellent episode to continue my way through the eleventh series of Short Trips! Having a story firmly focused on the first televised incarnation of the Master is a terrific idea and whilst I am sure that Roger Delgado would have revelled in recreating his iconic portrayal, it is a delight to hear Jon Culshaw take on the role. He is a really impressive impressionist actor and he does the lot here which is marvellous. I think it just helps so much when we have a story that takes the form of a performed drama rather than narration. It just flows better and there's no interruption. Honestly, Culshaw's take on the illusion of the Third Doctor was so good that I wasn't entirely sure if Tim Treloar featured until I confirmed on the credits! It was effortlessly strong and just magnificent to hear. I was super impressed and right away that helps with my listening of the story. It feels authentic and just works. The story itself was almost something of an exploration of the Master which was excellent and this just feels like the right incarnation to do that with. He's something of the definitive article and particularly focusing on his inability to accept death was terrific. Having him see a glimpse of his possible future was really good and I loved how he reacted in horror at the decayed form we would see debut in The Deadly Assassin and terrorise the Fourth Doctor. Even then though it's an example of the Master refusing to let go and die. He will prevail, for he is the Master. It's understandable though why such an image would provoke a response like it did in the Master because who would be comfortable seeing that as their potential future? The Threshold itself was very intriguing and the Master actually being the one to give it the face of the Third Doctor was an intriguing move. Is that who he truly fears? Toying with the potential of whether it was real or not was good, but it was actually all an amalgamation of the Master himself. The Master essentially doing internal conflict with himself was magnificent stuff. Culshaw really played that well and I was so impressed with the writing. This is undoubtedly a writer who just gets the Master and everything he stands for. Pushing him into a position where he has to choose between death and dissolution is quite something and he admits that it's the perfect prison for him. It's an impossible choice. Questioning whether the Master could die for everything he stands for was also quite the dilemma and I just love how even in the face of everything, the Master stands up to be counted and doesn't hide. He simply chooses to be the Master. He lets know time ram or crash in the vortex get in his way, for he is the Master and he just is. He prevails. Learning of the mission from the Celestial Intervention Agency and Straxus was an unexpected way to end things and I thought the mention of no body to recover given the nature of a time ram was going to be enough to sell that he would survive, but then he emerges in a position of power to wipe out the Time Lord responsible for confirming the hit! That was superb stuff and just showed the prowess of the Master. He is inevitable! Overall, a really strong episode to continue the series and a fine character piece for the Time Lord villain. 

Rating: 9/10

Messages from the Dead

"What use was sentimentality? 

Writer: Rochana Patel

Format: Audio

Released: February 2022

Series: Short Trips 11.02

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II, Adric

Synopsis

Adric wants to help the Doctor. The Doctor doesn't want Adric's help. Banished to updating the TARDIS logbook, Adric has to record the tale of the Hermes, a doomed freighter they found in E-Space. With Romana gone, and only the past as a guide, Adric needs to work out how to make this new dynamic work before it's too late for both him and the Doctor.

Verdict

Messages from the Dead was a great story to continue my way through the eleventh series of Short Trips! This was quite a touching adventure and I like the dynamic of having the narration by Adric during the point between Warriors' Gate and The Keeper of Traken in the aftermath of Romana and K9 deciding to stay in E-Space. That perhaps wasn't explored enough as having a detrimental impact on the Doctor because why wouldn't he be upset about a fellow Time Lord deciding to leave him? And not just leave him, but opting to stay in another universe so she could continue her travels away from the confines of Gallifrey. I think it's a powerful moment and unfortunately for Adric he was on the brunt end of the Fourth Doctor's bad temper. It is fascinating to think back on just how much this incarnation of the Doctor changes over time because this is not at all the personality we saw during the early Season 12 or 13. He's short and even though Adric is particularly annoying, I don't think it was really warranted here. I am far from being Adric's biggest fan, but I actually loved how he challenged the Doctor on wanting to learn and not just being a passenger. That was wonderful and I really did enjoy his enthusiasm to learn. I thought Adric being banished to TARDIS admin was quite funny but something the Alzarian would be up for. That served as a strong format for the narration to appear as Adric recalled the story as an event recently experienced in E-Space. I'm all for more adventures in another universe and we never really know how long they spend there. Filling any kind of gap is good with me! I thought the Hermes as the ship was an interesting plot point and it provided a really strong emotional attachment. The Doctor was a little frosty throughout the story but Adric was keen to learn. His lack of empathy when it came to finding a corpse was bang in line with his character at this point as he deals purely in logic. What's done is done and he takes the emotion out of things without even thinking. It's just his nature. There doesn't feel like any kind of warmth between the Doctor and Adric which is a strange as a dynamic, especially now as a sole companion at this point. I thought the importance of the messages on board the Hermes was really good and sold well. Just when it seemed like the Doctor was potentially shrugging them off and them only being significant when they reached the recipient, he's conjuring up worm holes to blend universes and ensure that they do get through! That was really nice. I think Adric having a feeling of attachment to those lost souls who had written messages was very well done and made sense given his predicament. The highlight of the adventure for sure was touching upon the message from Romana. I thought that was really neat and brought the entire episode full circle with how things started and the Doctor longing after his companion now lost. The only thing I perhaps didn't enjoy was the impression of Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor by Matthew Waterhouse. It wasn't particularly bad but it just sounded so much like David Warner's Unbound Doctor! Once I got that in my head I found it difficult to visualise the Fourth Doctor because it just didn't sound like him. Overall though, still a really good story to continue the series! 

Rating: 8/10

The Brink of Death

"I'm a Time Lord out of time."

Writer: Nicholas Briggs

Format: Audio

Released: August 2015

Series: Sixth Doctor Adventures: The Last Adventure 04

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Mel

Synopsis

The Doctor and Mel face the final confrontation with the Valeyard – and the Doctor must make the ultimate sacrifice.

Verdict

The Brink of Death was a great story to conclude my listening of The Last Adventure for the Sixth Doctor! I think it's fantastic to bridge the gap between The Trial of a Time Lord and Time and the Rani with this episode and I really appreciate how this directly leads into the events of the latter in having the Sixth Doctor regenerating. It's always sat wrong with me in that serial that the TARDIS merely crash landing would see the Doctor suffer a regeneration whilst Mel was basically absolutely fine. Thankfully, we get an explanation here and it works well. It keeps true to what we saw on screen which I think is absolutely the right call as I am sure there must have been temptation to do an alternative lead up for the Sixth Doctor's demise. I think the Valeyard is a fitting villain for the Sixth Doctor to bow out against and the way it happens is actually audacious to say the least. The moment where the Doctor goes under the console of the TARDIS and then emerges as the Valeyard was disturbing, especially when Mel only realised something small had changed. For her, the Valeyard was the Doctor. No doubt about it. That was a strange dynamic and that left the Doctor literally fighting for his life. I thought his relationship with Genesta was excellent and whilst I thoroughly enjoyed her character and absolutely saw the companion potential in her, I was disappointed by how overshadowed Melanie Bush was. She is a criminally underrated character and I don't think she was done justice here. For a regeneration story, the Doctor should have a heartfelt moment with the companion and I think that was missing here which was a shame. The story as a whole though was really strong and I actually loved Genesta having some Doctorish tendencies. Finding out that her accent was formed from a few years in Yorkshire was a tad pushing the boat out, but I loved that she had stayed on Earth much longer than she was permitted. She would have great fun with the Doctor if that opportunity had arisen! The Valeyard altering the data of the Matrix and even reality as to who the Sixth Doctor was made for an intriguing plot device, but he didn't stop there! His becoming of other characters including Genesta herself was a big surprise and quite a saddening fate for her. Excellent as a villain for the Valeyard though. I thought the story behind the Nathemus was intriguing and I really liked how they provided the means for the Doctor's regeneration and the Valeyard's downfall. The story's proximity to the Matrix was good stuff and I like how there are obvious ties with the Sixth Doctor's last on screen adventure. Heading for Lakertya was much appreciated but the Valeyard's replacement of his past self changed things drastically! I thought the insinuation that the Valeyard was actually created by the Time Lords was really good stuff and surely something that requires further investigation? The Doctor had no idea but I still like how he's fearful of one day becoming his enemy. His sacrifice though was bold and whilst I'm not sure how much I agree with the science behind regeneration breaking the link with the Nathemus because he's still the Doctor regardless, his complete lack of hesitation in sparking it was admirable. We got a fine departing speech as the Sixth Doctor for Colin Baker although I must admit his assurance from the cameo of the Seventh Doctor felt a tad forced. It was fun though for him to cast morals aside and give something of an explanation for the devious and plotting personality of the seventh incarnation. Overall, a great episode to conclude quite the last adventure! 

Rating: 8/10

Stage Fright

"This is a production I've starred in befored."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: August 2015

Series: Sixth Doctor Adventures: The Last Adventure 03

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Flip, Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis

The Doctor and Flip visit Victorian London, where investigators Jago and Litefoot explore theatrical performances that have echoes of the Doctor's past lives...

Verdict

Stage Fright was an excellent story to continue my way through the Last Adventure for Sixie! This was definitely the best of the set so far and really saw the Valeyard emerge into the true villain of the piece. He's been something of staying in the shadows so far with the first two episodes, but here he was physically present and causing issues. I think it's a really fun dynamic to have the Sixth Doctor visit Jago and Litefoot alongside Flip as she's very modern and her reaction to being in Victorian London was almost a little offensive. She meant well but she did find Jago and Litefoot rather fascinating and almost like comics! They were just being their true selves in the time in which they were from. The Valeyard having hired out Jago's theatre was interesting and the rehearsals that were taking place were nothing short of extraordinary. Reenacting the final moments of The Tenth Planet and the regeneration of the First Doctor was just magnificent with the snowy landscape and even referring to one of the characters as Pollyanna! It was so authentic which I really enjoyed. The whole performance intending to be fluid was actually really fun a a concept more generally when it comes to the theatre, but here the Valeyard was very much focused on regeneration. I thought the rehearsal of the final moments of Planet of the Spiders was delightful and hearing it referred to as being a little farfetched was difficult to argue with when it was presented as it was here! I don't think a Victorian audience would find the events believable in the slightest. The Valeyard taking on the persona of Timothy Vardyale was pretty fun although I do appreciate the forename continuity with The End of the Line and the Doctor recognising a connection. Of course, the surname is no hiding place and the Doctor knows exactly who he's up against. The Doctor having to explain regeneration to Flip was good and her reaction was great. Although a highlight for me was her and Litefoot's complete understanding of what the Valeyard was as the dark distillation of the Doctor. He was a little flabbergasted at not requiring more explanation! I thought the Valeyard continuing the theme of rejuvenation was interesting and I do wonder if this will provide his downfall in the finale which has already been alluded to. But here he was harvesting emotion drawn from the performances and no wonder actors were going missing. I thought Ellie's suggestion of overpowering him with emotion was good stuff. Jago not taking notice of Flip at the start was tremendous, especially when he realised she was a woman! Never change. His getting lured into the performance with Flip was a good threat as well. The Valeyard using the machine of Paignton's from The Red House and rejoicing at the end at getting some of the Doctor's energy was good and leaves things open for the future, whilst the Doctor is worried at the very real possibility that the being he faces now he might one day become. It is certainly daunting but I love it. We're really well set up for the finale now and I can't wait to hear how things feed into Time and the Rani if they do at all. Overall, an excellent listen! 

Rating: 9/10

The Red House

"I'm a big bad wolf."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: August 2015

Series: Sixth Doctor Adventures: The Last Adventure 02

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Charley

Synopsis

The Doctor and Charlotte Pollard arrive on a world that is populated by werewolves.

Verdict

The Red House was a decent story to continue my way through the Last Adventure of the Sixth Doctor! This took us to a more familiar companion in the form of Charley after starting out with the as-yet-to-debut Constance in The End of the Line, but I thought this was actually a weaker story. It was still very good but I can't help but feel being left slightly wanting more. I thought the setting was pretty good and Doctor Who tackling werewolves is a concept that on paper should work, but for me that isn't always the case. I'm not the greatest fan of Tooth and Claw and this had similar vibes here. Although I did appreciated the unique nature of having Dr Paignton meddling with the genetics and science behind them. It was brilliant to have her firmly believe that Charley had werewolf tendencies and the twist of the Valeyard actually saving her from being subjected to double the frequency to get that inner werewolf to the surface was tremendous. After a fleeting and disguised role in the opener, I thought it was good for him to feature in a bigger way here. He was still in disguise as the porter, but not the one Paignton and company had known. I am very intrigued that he couldn't have Charley's position in the Web of Time impacted by her early death here and I love how he confronted her about who she really is as a companion of the Eighth Doctor. Of course, the Valeyard is positioned between the twelfth and thirteenth incarnations of the Doctor (which would actually between the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors - perhaps the Valeyard is a bigeneration and that's why there was such an explosive regeneration in The End of Time?) so his knowledge of Charley here was fascinating. Was he able to now tie his knowledge of two selves together to realise that Mila was in fact his old Edwardian Adventuress? Charley giving that as her job title was hilarious by the way. She's reckless in this position as the Sixth Doctor's companion which I like and provides a different dynamic to the character we know with the future incarnation. I thought the fear that came from the titular Red House was good and it wasn't much of a surprise to find out what was going on in there when it came to the werewolves. Paignton being given the moniker of Dr Pain was a nice touch and not at all inaccurate given what we heard happening to Dennis. I also liked the reaction of the local inhabitants when the Doctor introduced himself solely by his title. Paignton was not very well revered! I thought the narrative background of what had happened on the planet and how the humans had increasingly grown to have more werewolf tendencies. Paignton was priding herself on being the only pure human around so she couldn't believe the lack of hair coming out of Charley's arms when she was experimented upon! Ugo was a really strong character and I quite liked having the Doctor and Charley having differing opinions on him. The way things ended felt a little sudden with the Doctor and Charley not even getting a chance to depart and finishing on a recommendation, but it is good to leave a thread hanging in not having the Doctor know which Time Lord was around to freeze the missile and play around with the time freezing technology. I can't wait for him to realise which one it is later in the boxset! Overall, a decent episode to continue the milestone release.

Rating: 7/10

The End of the Line

"Trains don't just vanish."

Writers: Simon Barnard & Paul Morris

Format: Audio

Released: August 2015

Series: Sixth Doctor Adventures: The Last Adventure 01

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Constance

Synopsis

The Doctor and his latest companion Constance investigate a commuter train that has lost its way...

Verdict

The End of the Line was a great story to kick off The Last Adventure that deservedly and rightly gives the Sixth Doctor a fitting swan song. It's such a shame the way Colin Baker was dismissed from the role of the Doctor after The Trial of a Time Lord and the rushed regeneration at the start of Time and the Rani has never sat right with me. I remember the first time I watched the aforementioned serial that comprises all of Season 23 and being so excited by the prospect of a fourteen-episode regeneration adventure. My reaction at the end when I didn't get one was one of sheer disappointment! Alas, I think this could be something terrific and the fact the Valeyard is back with this incarnation of the Doctor just feels right. Now, I went ahead and listened to this boxset at this point in time because after a little research on where I'm at currently with the Monthly Adventures, I saw that there were no further Sixth Doctor tales released before this one. It was only after listening that I realised the release date was just pushed forward and that's why Constance appears as if she has always been the companion. That feels a little odd and it's a shame I won't get what I anticipated would be something of a timey-wimey explanation for her presence. It's all just scheduling! I don't think she had a lot to write home about here which was a shame for a debut story, but I think it's a little difficult to relate to a companion when we haven't heard how she is introduced. There's not a lot of backstory at the moment so I'm more than happy to give things a chance. I thought the episode started a little slowly for such a milestone release, but it built well and I think the commuter train theme was really well done. The time being stopped at 06:10 was good stuff as well and the way the multiverse was handled was exciting. It's a very interesting concept and the theory is quite extravagant. The Doctor mentioning how there could just be the difference of not having a shave was a stark reminder of how the theory must be that way to stay true. It doesn't have to all be grand differences like no Second World War. I thought the use of avatars was excellent and a fine way to bring in the Master! Of course, I think Jon Culshaw these days could have admirably took on the role of the Tremas incarnation that features here, but it works well with the lack of visuals and the explanation of the Master not wanting to risk himself physically is absolutely sound given the confines of the dimensional break down. The Normans as normal animates was quite fun and I loved the idea behind the Parallel Sect. That was right up my alley. The concept of the multiverse is just something that appeals to me, so the idea of the Master wanting to rule every universe works in my eyes! It's audacious, but when has this version the Master ever been content with small scale? I loved how his reveal echoed The King's Demons cliffhanger in the Master's speech and the reaction of the Doctor was marvellous. I was surprised with how significant a role Norman had as the train ticket collector, but the focus was rightly on Hilary as the reveller of death and then on Tim Hope as the true villain of the piece. The reveal at the end that he was the Valeyard and he'd been invigorated at the nexus was excellent, if not surprising. It's very exciting to have him back for an extended amount of time and the series jumping around the eras of the Sixth Doctor should be tremendous! Overall, an underwhelming debut for Constance but a very exciting start this milestone adventure. One last hurrah for old Sixie! 

Rating: 8/10

The Little Drummer Boy

"Today she was saving our lives."

Writer: Eddie Robson

Format: Short Story

Released: April 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Companions 13

Featuring: First Doctor, Steven, Sara

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

The Little Drummer Boy was a great story to continue my way through the Companions edition of Short Trips! This was an intriguing little adventure and I was excited right away to find that Sara Kingdom featured. In a book with the umbrella title such as this one has, I think she has to feature! I was though amazed after reading the story to find that this is the sole Short Trip in which she features. I think that’s staggering given the life her character has been given beyond her sole television appearance. The nature and scale of The Daleks’ Master Plan means there is a lot of room to play with her character and longevity which I’m all far. I love that this story takes place during that serial and the adventure actually starting with the conclusion to The Feast of Steven episode was a really nice touch. That worked well and it was fun to get a nice reminder of the ludicrous nature of that part of an all time epic. The Christmas theme was a delight and despite the date of this blog entry, I was actually reading this the week prior to the big day on the commute into work for the final time before six months of paternity leave. Exciting! It was really good to jump around different Christmases and whilst I would have enjoyed even more time in the different time periods for the Doctor and companions to explore, getting a little Victorian vibe was magnificent. There’s something special about the image of the First Doctor walking around the Victorian era at Christmas. That just fits and I love it. It was a totally different vibe to that of the Christmas during the First World War in 1914 where we actually got to see Steven enjoy in the game! As an avid football fan, I really liked that and having the Doctor egg Steven on after a slide tackle was wonderful. The perspective of Sara was how the story was told and that was fantastic stuff. She was rather monotone here which was good and the humour that came from Steven suggesting she could change her clothes from her SSS uniform was very strong. She wasn’t all that interested and who could blame her when it was able to acclimatise to the different temperatures? Her lack of understanding of the concept of football and just referring to it as a sphere was fascinating. She also couldn’t grasp why the Doctor was unable to control the TARDIS. It was hardly the safest of places for the taranium core! The brief moments of awkwardness between Steven and Sara were good and a fun little hint at the relationship building to come for them. The character of Robert was really interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed the idea of a child disappearing across time. Sara’s reaction to seeing him thirty years later from when they first interacted was really good stuff. The reveal of Robert himself being the time ship, or rather almost wearing the doorway as a suit was really interesting! It was a little difficult to visualise but I loved the contorted imagery. The description of it being a suit in particular was a fun idea and unique concept! The emotional pull at the end of the story was very real as Robert was reeling from the death of his twin brother to leukaemia. As an eight year old that must be so difficult to cope with so wonder he was reeling and focused on Christmas when it happened. The Doctor’s idea of breaking all of the laws of time and having Robert’s future self from a timeline that would now no longer exist replace his own twin was staggering! I think it’s quirky and whilst it doesn’t really go ahead with the morales of the Doctor, it’s Christmas. Things are already corrupted and the taranium core playing a part was a neat touch when it came to some explanation. The somber way things ended for Christopher but getting to see one grand finale of Earth from Mars was incredible. For an eight year old’s final moments, that’s rather special. Overall, a terrific read!

Rating: 8/10

Echoes of Eternity: Damned If You Don't

"We knew you were destined to save the Time Shades."

Writer: Gary Russell

Format: Audio

Released: November 2024

Series: Short Trips: Gallifrey 1.04

Featuring: Narvin

Synopsis

As the Time War rages, Narvin is at the heart of the action – but he has lost so much, he may not have the will to carry on. Until his past returns to haunt him...

Verdict

Damned If You Don't was a great little audio to conclude the Echoes Through Eternity collection of Gallifreyan Short Trips! As I expected, this had strong continuity with the boxset opener of Damned If You Do and that was always going to be the case with how the names of the story were twinned. That's quite a fun idea and Gallifrey is certainly the kind of series to do that in given the timey-wimey nature of things. As also expected, this story took us into the depths of the Time War and it was fun to focus on Narvin's role in actually bringing about this interstellar conflict. He was clearly still reeling from that and didn't exactly want to draw attention to it which was understandable, but then the challenges came in intriguing forms. The continuity with the series' opening episode was really good and I enjoyed the mentions of Kransa. That was good and for Narvin some time will have passed since the time period near the start of where the Gallifrey series starts up to the point of the Time War. The constant moments of deja vu were fun and that just has an added dimension when it comes to Time Lords experiencing it because of their unique relationship with time. Narvin's relationship with Leela was also something touched upon rather wonderfully and having him refer to her as his beloved is just so sweet. I do wonder if there will be any kind of fitting end for their story. Will we get to a point in the Gallifrey series that depicts the final moments as seen in The Day of the Doctor with the Moment being utilised? Will Narvin and Leela be clutched together? It does feel right that they will be together. We basically got a heart wrenching preview of that with Narvin getting a glimpse of the future and the bearded War Doctor as he wonders where Leela was as the Time War ends. Would she be off world and survive? I enjoyed the reflections on the events of War Room with Romana being mentioned and Narvin feeling saddened by the fact she was gone. His thoughts on Rassilon as the Resurrected were excellent and I love the stature the founding Time Lord has. His presence even without being physically there is so impactful. He carries such weight. Narvin's story focusing back onto the Time Shades was really nicely done and I liked how they had basically manipulated him. A little more background on them would have been welcomed, but this is a Short Trip after all so there can't be too much hanging around and dawdling over details! I appreciated it. I thought it was good for them to enlist Narvin to ave them and given their nature with the dimension of time, they foresaw that they would be killed off by the Daleks. Given the wartime setting now, that was no surprise with how ruthless the natives of Skaro are. Instead of trying to defend themselves from the future they saw ahead of them, they had enlisted Narvin and manipulated events to ensure that it was his destiny to save them. You have to admit that's pretty impressive! I thought it was fun and it really did bring the entire series full circle. It rounded out nicely and as a whole this has been a really enjoyable boxset of Short Trips. I love the idea of a different series getting the treatment. So what next? Class, Vienna and Jago & Litefoot would be stellar additions. But for now, getting more Gallifryan adventures was a delight and a second series focused on other characters would be marvellous. Overall, a great conclusion to a really strong boxset! 

Rating: 8/10

Secret Diary of a Rhodian Prince

"I don't know how to grieve my own people."

Writer: Blair Mowat

Format: Audio

Released: January 2023

Series: Class Vol 5.01

Featuring: Charlie, Mateusz

Synopsis

What's it like being an alien stranded on a strange planet in the aftermath of a genocide? What would you think of Earth's culture? What's it like falling in love with a human when you only met one just the other week? Who is the Doctor?

And what happens if your secret diary falls into the wrong hands...?

Verdict

Secret Diary of a Rhodian Prince was an excellent story to comprise the fifth volume of Class on audio! It's a shame we didn't get a full boxset of releases, but this was stellar from start to finish. It was so simple in its method of basically being a diary of Charlie's experiences throughout the entire run of Class on screen and even on audio, but it was incredibly effective! Charlie is a troubled character and hearing how he developed and got to grips with the world of Earth after everything that happened to his people was excellent. I have never actually rewatched Class so my memories of a spinoff show I watched at university over eight years ago now is actually surprisingly strong! I really enjoyed getting to hear Charlie's sole perspective on settling in and anticipating his first day at Coal Hill Academy. I thought it was quite amusing to get his insight on the Doctor and he really didn't stick around for long at all did he! It's often easily forgettable the role the Twelfth Doctor had in setting things up for the story that would be told across Class, and with the way the series ended on a cliffhanger and the reveal of the Weeping Angels, I do wonder if he was ever slated to return. The relationship between Charlie and Mateusz was presented really well and I like how Charlie is surprised to learn that liking the same gender is not considered normal on Earth. I also thought it was very fun for Rhodians to refer to love as something more transactional whereas when Mateusz proclaimed it for Charlie, as far as the Prince was concerned he wished for him. I thought that was a nice touch and it's good to consider those small little differences. Charlie enjoying the freedom not being royalty afforded him was great to hear and whilst he was clearly mourning his entire people, he was actually enjoying being able to roam the streets freely. I liked the chronological way we journeyed through the television series and jumping from the likes of April having a link with the Shadow Kin to Mateusz actually moving in with him and Quill was terrific. It was a magnificent way to serve as a reminder of what actually happened and whilst I doubt any listeners wouldn't be aware of what happened in that on screen series, this was a perfect way to catch them up on the series! I really appreciated it. Touching on the relationship Charlie had with Miss Quill was good stuff and I liked Mateusz's reaction to finding out the pair lived together. Charlie being labelled fart boy is a little childish for an Academy and just a felt bit kiddish for a more young adult-oriented series, but thankfully it didn't last long. Charlie almost feeling a little jealous of Ram for being popular despite not being the most intelligent student was fun and I also liked how he felt a bit sorry for Tanya in how she was vilified for being knowledgable purely because she had been moved up an age group. Touching upon the finale that was The Lost was sensational and I loved getting a glimpse of beyond the television series! That was outstanding and a real surprise. Hearing the voice of the Chair as he read Charlie's diary was incredible stuff and hearing the Governers in conversation with the Angels was so exciting. Surely, one day, there has to be a continuation of the series? It's quite clearly never coming back on television so I don't understand why this cannot happen on audio! I'd like to think that the little hint here is confirmation and that we just have to bide our time. I certainly hope that's the case. Overall, a really excellent adventure! 

Rating: 9/10

Notre Dame du Temps

"Today she was saving our lives."

Writer: Simon Guerrier

Format: Short Story

Released: April 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Companions 12

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Anji

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

Notre Dame du Temps was an excellent little story to continue my way through the Companions edition of Short Trips! I really enjoyed this adventure and I must admit I was a little cautious when I saw which companion the story featured. I know next to nothing about Anji other than she features in the New Adventures novels and is usually joined by another companion known as Fitz alongside the Seventh Doctor. I liked how this story detailed the more scheming nature of this incarnation and to my surprise the story was actually more focused on the Doctor. Anji was there for something of a background character and a point of reference in finding the piece of paper with this story’s title on it. The significance was actually fascinating as we had a huge amount of self reflection from the Doctor. This occurred for both his companions and even his previous incarnations! That was good to play with and his inner thoughts on his multicoloured immediate predecessor were rather amusing. Pondering on experiencing different tastes and smells through each of his bodies was good and it was quite amusing to use peppermint tea as an example of what changed throughout his different bodies. Later in life he rather enjoyed it! I thought it was good to touch upon the Seventh Doctor being late in his incarnation and having a feeling that renewal was imminent. Not quite yet, but that’s good when it comes to placement for the New Adventures novels when Anji will become the companion. I have no idea how many books into the NAs that is, but rest assured one day I will reach it. I thought the Doctor claiming time as his only companion was a powerful statement and it must be difficult by this point to go through the constant emotional turmoil of your friends moving on, or unfortunately for some passing away. I was expecting at first when he referred to just one who might actually get the real him to be the TARDIS, but somewhat surprisingly this had a feeling of the Doctor yearning after Romana! I wasn’t expecting that but given she was also a Time Lord it wasn’t a huge surprise I guess! The thought of her in the attire resembling a schoolgirl was perhaps a little shocking to read but each to their own. The suggestion of the Doctor not being truly who this Time Lord is was something I found very intriguing and I think the Seventh Doctor is certainly the right incarnation to explore that. Was he only truly himself when with Romana as another Time Lord? Is it only with his own species that the Doctor feels he can truly be himself? Or was that just an impact of this incarnation going longer than his six others. That makes sense given the proximity and run of the New Adventures and even The Movie with the regeneration. It’s a long time between those and Time and the Rani for example! The cameo at the end with the Eighth Doctor finding the bit of paper that the Doctor dropped in Paris in his fourth incarnation was a nice touch to end and so boldly proclaiming him to have one heart was quite something! I sense I’m missing some continuity from the Eighth Doctor Adventures books which I will also cover one day, but I could still appreciate what was happening! Especially after the imagery of the Seventh Doctor creeping after his fourth self, Romana and even Duggan! So much was happening in just ten pages which made this a delight to read despite not being familiar with the companion. Overall, a fantastic read!

Rating: 9/10

No Place Like Home: The Houseguest

"One by one your neighbours have all moved out."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: December 2024

Series: The Paternoster Gang 7.03

Featuring: Second Doctor, Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

Vastra, Jenny and Strax return to London to find Paternoster Row changed. Houses lie empty, a crimewave grips the neighbourhood. A new criminal mastermind rules the underworld. What's more, Number 13 has an unexpected houseguest. And he claims to be the Doctor...

Verdict

The Houseguest was a terrific story to conclude the No Place Like Home seventh boxset of adventures for The Paternoster Gang! This was the main event of this instalment of the ongoing Trespassers arc by far and it certainly didn't disappoint. After the events of Jellyfish! took the trio of Vastra, Jenny and Strax away from London, having them return to 13 Paternoster Row and be unable to get inside was quite fun stuff. Strax immediately harked back to Doppelgängers in believing that's what Jenny was because of her key not working which was wonderful, but alas Vastra was also unsuccessful. Of course, the artwork and the build up of the series gives away who was inside, but it didn't make the Second Doctor's arrival in the story any less fun. It's such a barmy mix to have this incarnation of the Doctor alongside the Paternoster Gang because they really couldn't be from more different eras. It was quite the combination though and I think the money was certainly in the Second Doctor and Vastra. She was hugely suspicious of if he was who he said he was which was a fun dynamic and I also really appreciated how the Doctor didn't recognise Vastra as a Silurian. As far as I am aware, Doctor Who and the Silurians is his first chronological encounter with the ancient reptiles so this is fantastic. He does though recognise Strax as a Sontaran as you would expect from The Sontarans and beyond and his questioning on how long it took to tame him was brilliant. Strax also getting angered at the Doctor taking over his butler responsibilities was marvellous. I thought the Doctor having investigated the happenings at Paternoster Row was intriguing and the fact everybody was moving out suggested something very nefarious was at work. So of course the moving in of Dr Brownlow suggested he was responsible. Could he really just be buying at a good time with prices on the low? The Doctor was bullish in his questioning of him which didn't go down well with Vastra, although I really appreciated harking back to The Snowmen and having Jenny ask him the one word test to prove his identity. Well, he went on quite the diatribe and Strax's retort of thinking that was more than one word was magnificent. I thought getting some more information on the mysterious trespassing figure we have heard in the series so far was excellent and I loved the revelation that this was Brottac, a lone surviving Zygon! I can't believe that given the umbrella title for the series and the voice that I never suspected the orange shape shifters! It's quite the way to set us up for the final boxset this time around and the Zygon proclaiming that he was taking 13 Paternoster Row was superb! I enjoyed the red herring of the urchins in pointing towards something more being at play, and Strax enjoying their description of rats was glorious. Vermin! He was delighted. Brownlow being the mastermind behind uniting all of London's criminal gangs into one was good and I liked the twist of him having used Reginald Adams. He wasn't a fan of that at all! I thought the continuity with the ongoing Second Doctor Adventures was fantastic and the Doctor being on the run from the Time Lords again was good fun. Raven had caught up with him though and he wouldn't be able to stick around until the end which he wasn't too happy about in leaving a case unsolved! I thought that was good though and keeps things exciting with the Zygon reveal and the next boxset to come. Overall, a fantastic finale! 

Rating: 9/10

No Place Like Home: Jellyfish!

"Do not engage with the sea."

Writers: Neve McIntosh & Dan Starkey

Format: Audio

Released: December 2024

Series: The Paternoster Gang 7.02

Featuring: Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

The Gang head to the coast for Madame Vastra to convalesce. But their holiday proves far from restful. This Cornish village is home to suspicious locals, strange storms and wreckers. Most dangerous of all, something lurks in the seas – something with a mysterious hold over Vastra...

Verdict

Jellyfish! was a great episode to continue my way through the No Place Like Home seventh boxset of Paternoster Gang adventures! I think it's wonderful to see that both Neve McIntosh and Dan Starkey penned the story as who better would know the characters than the very actors who portray them! They brought both spectacularly to life on screen and now their adventures are being brilliantly extended and expanded on audio. This was a solid follow up to the incredible opener of Dopplegangers and whilst there wasn't quite as much humour, that was never going to happen in a story like this one. Vastra was in a very bad way following her poisoning but she was being drawn to somewhere very intriguing. I really liked the offhand scientific facility that helped Vastra, although my only qualm was that a little more elaboration on just why she was restored to normality would have been beneficial. I loved that it was sixty-five million years old and Maggie's reaction to hearing that number when Vastra said it was as old as she was made for a really fun moment. I just didn't understand why a supposedly mythical and incurable poison was eradicated from an air bubble in an ancient Silurian site. I guess the experimentation was something to play a part in? It was fine, but more details would have helped make this even better. I thought the setting of Cornwall was pretty perfect and whilst I've only visited the region once on a dray trip for football, there's definitely a different vibe there. I knew someone at university from there and she was almost as patriotic of being Cornish as I am of being Welsh. It is a very intriguing place and that was presented nicely in the story. Maggie being shipwrecked from the Mermaid provided an emotional tale with how much she felt she owed to Mr and Mrs Bligh for 'saving' her. With the truth that came about them, I felt extremely sorry for her. David quite clearly loved her and wanted her to stop repaying her non-monetary debts now but she still had a few months to go in her mind. She would actually prove pivotal in defeating the Blighs which was impactful but quite a shock that she went to such means! The Bligh pairing using a psionic crystal to lure ships in and then have them wrecked but appear to save some people whilst taking the loot for themselves was horrifying. The audacity! It was excellent for a Whoniverse story though and shows just what could happen when something powerful falls into the wrong hands. Mrs Bligh in particular was a right old ruffian and that was perfect for this kind of villain. Once she was challenged by the likes of Strax and Vastra, she had no chance though. I thought the humour that came from Strax and the lobster craving from Vastra was magnificent and his pride in knowing what the word lob meant was marvellous. Of course, his assumption that the jellyfish were Rutan Host was also fantastic and it's just delightful hearing his Sontaran tendencies shine through despite doing good. Jenny didn't feel like she had a huge amount to do here other than help look after Vastra and be a helping hand, and sometimes that's absolutely fine. I'm very interested to hear how things conclude from here knowing who is on the artwork cover as the Gang head back to London now with Maggie having pushed Bligh to her death and now seemingly installed to carry on the running of the gulley. Overall, a terrific story! 

Rating: 8/10