Nightfall: Darkness

"Why isn't daddy saying anything?"

Writer: Chris Chapman

Format: Audio

Released: April 2025

Series: Planet Krynoid 1.03

Featuring: Krynoids

Synopsis 

For a hundred years, Sunlight has been a beacon of hope shining across a troubled galaxy, an artificial paradise on a frozen world offering safe haven for the super-rich, and employment for even the poorest of labourers. At least, that's what the adverts say.

Unfortunately for Governor Robert Hodan, one of his engineers has just discovered a pair of strange-looking pods lodged in a satellite. So Sunlight, that glittering verdant oasis, will never be the same again.

Because, as the Doctor knows only too well, on planets where the Krynoid gets established, the vegetation eats the animals...

Verdict

Darkness was a great episode to conclude the Nightfall first series of Planet Krynoid! After a sensational cliffhanger at the end of Sunset, this started in incredible fashion with a sensational feel. The atmosphere was just outstanding as we got the colonists’ perspective of the blinding light that was supposed to have wiped out the Krynoid threat once and for all. Of course, that was far from the case and it actually just backfired in a massive way. Not only were the majority of the people on the ground blinded by the devastating light, but there were now over a hundred Krynoid pods answering the planet’s call! That was such a strong set up for the finale, but I must say this almost felt like something of an epilogue. After the Eighth Doctor departing and now being presumed dead here from the previous story, and even Governor Hodan also absent, this felt like some main characters were missing. That wasn’t a huge problem as it certainly allowed some other characters from the range to step up. I thought it was quite fun to have Letty as one of the few to not be blinded because she’s so immature and just completely helpless to be honest. That makes her a good character though as she wouldn’t be someone you would choose to keep their eyesight if nearly everyone else was going to lose theirs! Carl Magnus has been a really strong character throughout the series who I perhaps haven’t talked about enough as the Chemovox representative, and he became a little desperate here which was good. He’s been keen to assert his authority and the company interests, but now he was in danger and didn’t like it! He was looking to everyone else for answers which just showed the kind of person he was. I thought Doctor Costello succumbing to the Krynoid infection was a shame but a fantastic fate for her character in terms of storytelling. It really did bring her full circle. I thought the use of the Krynoids in the episode was strong and their desire for hunger in particular was marvellous. It was dangerous and hearing the story of Colin in particular was rather horrifying as he described eating his wife. He was just too hungry! The slow descent of people becoming Krynoid kind was fantastic and whilst the atmosphere was stellar and dark, I do think things became a little less jeopardising regarding the blindness. I don’t want to say it was forgotten about but I think it should have firmly remained the full focus. I thought Maggie really stepped into her own here after the Doctor basically left things to her in the previous episode, and she wasn't afraid to stand up for herself and the colony. The personal heartbreak of her relationship with Piotr came into full fruition here which was a strong use of real emotion, and the way she basically decided the pairing of Lettie and Tiro to be the ones to use the upgraded but not upsized escape ship was fantastic. I thought the ending was decent if not a tad anticlimactic as we didn't really get a resolution. For the boxset as a whole I would have expected one, but I knew we wouldn't get one very early on when the epilogue kind of feel was established. I think it's absolutely fine and certainly leaves things open for a second boxset as the colonists set to stick to the colder parts of the planet and draw up plans to fight back against the Krynoid. Man vs plant life. It's certainly a series I would be keen to listen to! It's not a criticism but after an entire series dedicated to the Krynoids, I still don't think we've explored their full potential and that's rather exciting. There's certainly room for more. Overall, a great listen and conclusion to a fascinating spinoff series.

Rating: 8/10