Last Stand: The Final Poblom

"Say hello to oblivion."

Writers: Lauren Mooney & Stuart Pringle

Format: Audio

Released: March 2025

Series: Paternoster Gang 2.12

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Vastra, Jenny, Strax

Synopsis

The villainous trespasser has finally succeeded in banishing the Paternosters from their home, using the most powerful weapon in his arsenal: the bailiffs. 

Stuck in a seedy boarding house, the Gang soon realise something else is afoot. Things are going missing. Something is munching its way through London, and it may be the answer to all their problems...

Verdict

The Final Poblom was a fun episode to conclude the Last Stand final boxset of the Trespassers second series of adventures for the Paternoster Gang! This was actually far from the story I was expecting but that’s no bad thing. I just thought the focus was going to be more so on the threat of Brottac and the Zygons rather than a strange little monster from Sontaran past, but it helped eliminate the Zygons in the end so it all rounded out very nicely. I am made aware from a little research afterwords on social media that the story has some deep Sherlock Holmes references but unfortunately I am completely unfamiliar with anything regarding this famous fictional character other than that he’s a decent detective. I’ve never watched or read any Sherlock Holmes but that didn’t hamper my enjoyment of the episode! I thought it was quite fun for Brottac to arrive at the door of 13 Paternoster Row with the bailiffs to kick the Gang out of their home. The deed was genuine and I am just a little taken aback by the business acumen of the Zygon! After a time jump of a few months and Strax and Jenny celebrating the fact they’ve seemingly seen the end of him after some unheard attacks that were foiled, here was a Zygon going down the legal route! Whilst I have really enjoyed this final boxset as my consistent ratings reflect, it has felt slightly underwhelming in terms of a Zygon conflict. I was hoping for more action. I thought the use of Paul McGann in the story was a tad strange as he was once again playing Brottac which just felt a tad odd. I like the idea of the Eighth Doctor being the one to save Vastra at the end with the TARDIS, and whilst I’m here I’m going to jump ahead and talk about. I thought the paradoxical way of the true Doctor showing up at the wedding was good as he had clearly been invited too late in his time stream, but it allowed Jenny to know that her beloved would be safe. I am just a bit irked that with the way things ended on a cliffhanger that seemingly set up an entirely new series with them going to save her into the reality cataract, the post-credits scene saw Jenny and Vastra reunited already. Might this be the end of the line for the Paternoster Gang at Big Finish? I sincerely hope not! But I was taken aback when flicking onto the app as the end credits hit and there was still more than three minutes to go. The cast list wasn’t that long! I thought the concept behind the Poblom was intriguing and I liked that they were something that could actually feed on concepts themselves. They didn’t just consume physical matter but they’d apparently eaten up the concept of Thursday! That was quite baffling to get my head around as to how they would do it, but it was fascinating to listen to. Strax relishing in being given permission to use his limited arms against the Poblom was terrific. Grenades at the ready! Strax actually having knowledge of the Poblom was helpful and put him on a pedestal above the others which was a refreshing change. The ‘problem’ gag was probably overdone a little but not enough to not get a smile. Vastra realising that the Poblom could be set onto something new was fun but that maybe came a tad early as it was clear how things would conclude. It was a good way to do it but it just became a tad predictable. Overall though, a strong finale! 

Rating: 8/10