Lost Property

"A box full of stories."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: June 2020

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures: Stranded 1.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen, Tania, Curator

Synopsis

Trying to find a way to resume his travels, the Doctor calls in some old favours.

As the residents get to know the new arrivals, something else finds its way into Baker Street, seeding suspicion. 

Helen meets a man with a very familiar face – and a terrible warning.

Verdict

Lost Property was an excellent story to kick off the Stranded series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! This has long been a series I have been wanting to listen to because I know how well received and acclaimed it is, but my knowledge of its details are actually pretty scarce other than the umbrella title quite obviously stating that the TARDIS trio of the Eighth Doctor, Liv and Helen get stranded in the London of 2020. It’s a shame this series came before and during the pandemic so the 2020 here is actually quite different to the one that was actually experienced, but that’s easy to forgive and forget. Nobody saw that coming! I really enjoyed the continuity from Day of the Master and the escape from the Crucible of Souls essentially killing the TARDIS! That’s a sublime way to start a series and it was all very Father’s Day with the TARDIS now just being a wooden police box with no bigger on the inside interior. The Doctor understandably feels distant in the episode as he’s trying to find a way to fix the thing he calls home. He’s not quite the same person without the TARDIS and I’m very excited to explore that further as the series goes on. He’s always on the go and leaves the running of the Baker Street residence to Liv and Helen. That was really intriguing and I liked hearing Helen adjust to the London of her relatively near future. The world was less familiar to Liv and the comments that came about money and civilisation being based upon figures on a screen was terrific. Was that really a reason for homelessness to be rife? London is certainly a hotbed and I liked that the Doctor was being accused of letting in numerous homeless people for the basement, much to the annoyance of the tenants. I think this was a decent introduction to Tania Bell and from my foreknowledge I know she’s going to be considered a companion, but I must admit I didn’t get that feeling from her appearance here! I think it’s great representation for a transgender companion and I’m looking forward to exploring her character further. My only experience of her is in Flatpack so I’m excited to hear her relationship with Liv blossom. There was a good sense of subtle flirting here and I suspect that will continue moving forward. The highlight of the episode for me was the Curator. I am so glad that Big Finish are exploring this character because he’s so fascinating! Just where in the timeline of the Doctor does he exist, and how can he? It’s so interesting and the enigma continued here. He seems to allude to the fact he could change faces which wouldn’t be a surprise and his need to stay out of things is really intriguing. He can’t be influencing events in a big way but his warning to Helen at the end about looking after her Doctor was a nice touch and a fine way to foreshadow that something dark was coming. I’m looking forward to hearing what that is. Jim was a good little character and he seems to have an extensive history - and future! - with the Doctor. The future involvement of the Twelfth Doctor was fun to touch upon and whilst this was very much establishing the series, I liked the threat of the Pandora bolt. The concept there was good in unlocking people’s suspicions and that’s almost more dangerous than unlocking thoughts or secrets. There’s a stark difference there which was terrific. Helen playing accountant is fun and I suspect a confrontation with the Doctor will come regarding the running of Baker Street. Her and Liv staying in the basement was quite amusing and I’m already loving the dynamic of this series. It feels so different and that’s a nice contrast and shift of atmosphere. The Curator looking at the artistic value of the TARDIS was brilliant and he was understandably worried by what had happened. He could feel the ripples in time and something approaching which is just glorious. Helen getting into the Under Gallery feels exciting and I loved his accidental naming of planets as something that gets lost when gazing upon art. That was a superb little The Day of the Doctor reference! The expansion of the character is so fun and I hope this isn’t the end of him in the boxset. The Doctor stealing a games console as an interactive interface was fun too! I look forward to more of this use of contemporary technology. Overall, a fantastic start to the series!

Rating: 9/10