Crossed Lines

"Tricky business, time travel."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: March 2022

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures: Stranded 4.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen, Tania

Synopsis

The Doctor interrupts a pivotal journey for young Robin, while Tania and Helen are caught up in events past and present.

As the timeline dissolves and the Void encroaches, the Doctor's friends ask the Curator for help. But he is not the man he was...

Verdict

Crossed Lines was an excellent episode to kick off the fourth and final Stranded series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! This was so close to getting a perfect rating from myself and for whatever reason it doesn't quite get there, but it was an excellent listen and a divine way to set things up for the series ahead. There was a lot going on in this hour and I'm not really sure where to start! I thought the revelation of Mr Bird's identity was unexpected but dating things back to Must-See TV and his disappearance was tremendous. I must admit I didn't tie together the link of the names but it made so much sense for him to be Robin! That was a fun revelation and the emotional journey for his character actually put some sympathy on the character which I didn't anticipate coming. I liked the paradoxical nature of the timelines and Mr Bird actually orchestrating things to ensure that young Robin would become the millennia old version that he was now was very intriguing. I like playing around with time and the use of the Curator to set the stage and how things were possible was a nice touch. I think it was great fun to incorporate a new aspect of the Curator and having the older Sixth Doctor version here added a new tone and dimension to an already mysterious character. I was fascinated by his comments about there firmly only being one Curator and his line about only having one heart just makes me more and more interested by the character! Just what is he to tie in with the Doctor? I don't really want the answer as I love the ambiguity and mystery. The way the childhood story for the Doctor was retold by both he and the Eighth Doctor in different moments to different companions was a stunning moment as they recalled the Hermit saving the Shimmerlings and returning them through the Untempered Schism. Liv having no hesitation in believing that the story was true was wonderful and I really liked her trust in the Doctor. After everything they've been through, she still knew he was a good man. She was more concerned with Tania though and that was understandable after everything that happened as she saw a future her die in her arms. She couldn't let that happen again. I do think the way What Just Happened? chose for its format style really hindered the way things started here because it was almost forgettable what happened to him and the entire human race because of that happening backwards and therefore at the start of that episode. Tania not quite knowing everything that happened to her fellow Torchwood operative was very good and keeps the anticipation building of rescuing him. I loved the explanation from the Curator about the Web of Time and what happened with the TARDIS following Day of the Master seeing it splinter the web rather than weave around it. That was really good and it gives a way out of this paradoxical timeline because this 2020 is a dying timeline. Ever since they've arrived it's gone wrong and hasn't been true which is fascinating! The Doctor has been wasting time standing idle and I like how much that has angered him. The multiple versions of Helen were fun and I liked the use of Tania in having her memories altered as past events changed. The use of the sleeper train to Edinburgh was very fun and not something I expected to be so strong! Alternating versions  of different characters all on the same journey and that becoming too much for the time zone was a fascinating concept! Having the Void in physical form was not something I anticipated but I like the idea even if it was a little strange! This has really set things up nicely for the series to conclude and I like that we're on our way there now. There's an endgame in sight and this set things up very nicely. Strong emotional pull and fascinating ideas. A terrific opener!

Rating: 9/10