Master! Part Two

"Who did you choose to destroy?"

Writer: Lizzie Hopley

Format: Audio

Released: August 2025

Series: Dark Gallifrey 4.02

Featuring: The Master 

Synopsis

Stranded on a barren planet, the students confront the devastating reality of their situation, including the Master's dangerous plans and the mysterious entities in the psychic forest. 

In the present, Gamara and the Mind Shield try to understand the entity which had been hunting them all – the mythical Mother Quiver.

Verdict

Master! continued in tremendous style with this terrific second instalment of the fourth Dark Gallifrey adventure. I'm loving this series and whilst in 2025 the theme of Dark Gallifrey itself as a planet or physical thing seems to have been put to the side, I've come to terms with that and I'm enjoying exploring the darker side of some of the already dark Time Lords. This version of the Master from The Movie is thankfully enjoying a brand new lease of life with Big Finish and whilst I'm only one series into his own spinoff range, it's safe to say that Eric Roberts is a tremendous Master. He doesn't feature massively here but it's just his presence as the Vector that is more than enough to do the job. He's a sublime villain. I thought the format was good in having Gamara being interrogated about the experiment that she and her fellow students were undergoing, and when it was presented to her how ridiculous things sounded it was difficult to argue with! The concept of trying to cure regenerative dissonance is something I love and I wonder what the motive of this Master is in trying to achieve that. Is he even capable of it at this point in his life with how he acquired this body? Or even the body obtained during The Keeper of Traken? It would be so fun to have an incarnation of the Master where he was suffering from it, and I wonder if that is anything to come? Is he working with the Eleven who was name dropped here nicely as he's the forefront example of the Time Lord disease. I liked touching upon D-Space and the wars that happened there and the scale of the loss of life was incredible. No wonder it was debated as myth! I thought the Master pushing the students into actually making the choice of which one was to die in order to save the future of the Time Lords was excellent and Olzel being established as the one that was best suited was pretty horrifying. I mean, whoever was chosen wasn't going to be widely received and I like how the main issue was actually the fact a decision was made. The way the Master drew that out was sublime but it was actually a clever way to try and combat regenerative dissonance. The psychic forest was the reason why the other students were getting nightmares about the stories that Olzel was telling, but her prime candidacy for the dissonance was fascinating. The idea being to trigger her regeneration and try and stop it at its source during the first regeneration was really intriguing stuff. I liked it a lot and I actually hope we get to hear some of it play out in the concluding part. I thought the folklore behind the Mother Quiver story was eery and I was impressed by the horror on show during this episode. It didn't have that vibe but it was a kind of slow burning inducement of fear. The Master is not one to shy away from a long game and that's the case here again I think. I'm not sure the entire plan has been laid out just yet, but that's the beauty of the character. We never quite know what he's up to! Gamara and Tabreen having a past relationship was handled well and I like how they still have a sense of camaraderie. The cliffhanger finish that will introduce the Doctor to the story was good with him supposedly being the one that did the murder! Perhaps this is the endgame of the Master all along? To frame the Doctor? Of course, we know it won't be like that but it's fun to see how the Master will pull the strings. Tabreen being killed was not what I expected, but I'm now very excited to hear how things wrap up! Overall, a superb second instalment. 

Rating: 9/10

The Well

"The Doctor heard every bone in the man's body shatter like crystal."

Writer: Gareth L. Powell

Format: Novel

Released: July 2025

Series: Target 188

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda

Synopsis

A terror from the past is rising from the darkness five miles deep.

Joining a military rescue mission to an isolated mining colony, the Doctor and Belinda find a single survivor of a violent catastrophe. What killed the colonists? Why is ever mirror in the base smashed? The chilling truth spells horror and death...

Verdict

The Well was a great novelisation of the televised episode of the same name! I do wonder if there will ever be a modern era novelisation that will take a different name from the episode on screen in good old fashioned Doctor Who and the Cave Monsters style? I think this book had a very tough task in putting into prose an episode that was filled with tension and incredible atmosphere. On screen, I think this is a perfect rating without doubt but this novelisation never quite felt like it was going to reach those standards. Obviously, that's not saying it wasn't any good because clearly my rating reflects that it was, but it is just so difficult to replicate that feeling on screen. It doesn't have the same edge when we find out that Aliss is deaf and the visual subtitles don't really feel necessary in a book. It's still very mysterious and I think the setting of Planet 6-7-6-7 is fantastic. The threat of galvanic radiation was strong and knowing what we do in hindsight that this is a sequel to Midnight, all the signs are there a little more clearly. I think it's good to read with that knowledge because the moment on screen was just sensational when the Doctor asks what the original name of the planet was. It is altered here in the way things flashback between Belinda and the Doctor gradually building to the name reveal, but it's still really well done. I thought from that moment on the book really took on a new lease of life as the first half or so was a lot about setting and character building to establish the story's key elements. That's no bad thing, but from the reveal on and when the Doctor knew what he was dealing with, the action was apace and full throttle. It was exciting. I thought the little flashback to the Tenth Doctor and Donna discussing whether the companion would be travelling to the sapphire waterfall was a nice touch and in such a short passage so effortlessly captured the essence of the former companion. That was a nice touch. The plot itself is excellent and I think the unnamed entity that has lain waiting for 400,000 years and learned so much in that time is a superb enemy. I'm not sure I entirely agree with this being when the Doctor was most scared, but the way it was sold with the inner thoughts of the Doctor and his helplessness was a very solid argument! One thing I was hoping would be explained in the novelisation was how the Doctor and Belinda just happened to exit the TARDIS in the exact same spacesuits as the crew they would meet. It is so baffling! Shaya was able to explain that there were months of life support, but surely the Doctor would at least know this if they came from the TARDIS wardrobe? That was disappointing not to get any kind of rationale. I thought the depiction of the colonists fighting each other was great and I think there might even have been room for some flashbacks but we didn't get them unfortunately. Aliss was on hand to recap what had happened though and her fear was elegantly portrayed. I thought the little profiles of members of the crew that ended a lot of chapters was a nice idea, although nearly all of the battles meant nothing with it being so far in the future. It was good though to flesh out the characters. A fine use of the format and I appreciated trying something new. Cassio invoking the Red Code was intriguing and seemed to be over in a flash with how Shaya manipulated the position of Aliss so the entity was directly in front of him and sent him flying to his death! The Doctor utilising the mirrors and understanding why they were broken was fantastic and I liked the tension building as the mercury reflection was being created. Shaya shooting Belinda right above the heart as the best shot was excellent stuff and I liked how that took the creature from her and she could sacrifice herself to keep it on the planet that would then be nuked. I suspect we might not have heard the last of it though and that's exciting, especially with the ambiguous ending of a shadow still being seen from behind. Overall, a great read of a superb story.

Rating: 8/10

Taurus: Growing Higher

"This is a show trial."

Writer: Mark Michalowski

Format: Short Story

Released: March 2002

Printed in: Short Trips: Zodiac 02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Fitz

Synopsis

Take a TARDIS trip through the constellations, as the Doctor travels to twelve thrilling tales inspired by the mystical zodiac. 

Telepathic fish, miniature lions and twin planets are the least of his problems, as the Doctor – all eight of him – faces the Capricorn Killer, endures a mind swap with the Machiavellian Master, and dances with Death herself. 

And that's not the half of it – as the two K9s can attest.

Verdict

Growing Higher was a somewhat average continuation of my reading of the Zodiac edition of Short Trips! I won’t pretend to know anything about the star sign of Taurus but I did enjoy the little introduction from the book of Kasterborus and linking that sign of the bull to those of the Nimon. Unfortunately this story was far removed from The Horns of Nimon and anything recognisable as a bull or mythology in my opinion, but that is no big issue. I didn’t think this story was bad by any means and whilst I am usually pretty generous with my ratings, this is still no bad score. I just thought it was a bit boring really which is a shame. I liked the idea of the Moon being an Earth colony and even threatening independence, and I do wonder if that is something that I am yet to explore further within the Eighth Doctor Adventures? I’ve barely scratched the surface of that range and whilst this is not my first Fitz story, I’m still very unfamiliar with his character as companion. To be fair, the Doctor and Fitz barely appeared in the story and it could have been any Doctor and companion combination, but it’s always good to explore my horizons. The depth and scale of the Eighth Doctor is somewhat frightening as it feels like I’m close to catching up on his tales at Big Finish, but there’s a whole new world of novels I’m yet to properly delve into. This was a fun little glimpse and it’s fascinating to have the Doctor alongside a male companion. The main character of Sewa was an interesting character and I thought the devastation he felt at his role in the technical failure that saw over fifty thousand people die was completely understandable. He was obviously upset with what had happened but his remorse seemed to be more focused on the fate he would suffer rather than for those his failure had seen die. Bernadette was a very intriguing character with her having mechanical implants and whilst we did get a few unnecessary descriptions of events like walking to a urinal and urinating, along with a description of a touch as sexless, I liked what she brought to things. She clearly cared for Sewa although he wasn’t exactly thrilled with her actions in preparing refreshments for the impending arrival of UN officers to arrest him! I thought the Doctor and Fitz arriving to greet Sewa was good and I honestly was wondering throughout when the recognisable characters were going to arrive! It was a bit more than a cameo, but not much. They actually just served as a distraction for Bernadette whilst Sewa took his own life. I’m surprised the Doctor would adhere to helping that but he respects choice and admits he wouldn’t stand in anyone’s way. I like how he has full knowledge of the conflict between Earth and the Moon which is just so fascinating and I like how grave the simplicity of gravity could be. It would be deadly against Sewa even with a support suit. The line from Fitz at the end suggesting that Sewa might have had more air than appeared was a good way to finish and suggest he might survive, but I think this particularly story was just lacking in depth. It was a good setting and backdrop, I just wish I knew a bit more to fully appreciate the scale of death and the history of the conflict. Still, not a bad read at all. 

Rating: 6/10

The Crown

"We are your Queen."

Writer: Jonathan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: December 2020

Series: Torchwood Monthly 45

Featuring: Queen Victoria

Synopsis

The Ferryman stands in shadow and waits.

The Ferryman giggles, hungers and hates,

The Ferryman comes to carry away

All who behold the crown and disobey.

Christmas Eve. Dr Gideon Parr is summoned to an asylum to check on a patient. A patient who claims to be haunted by a terrible curse. A patient who claims to be Queen Victoria.

Verdict

The Crown was an excellent episode to continue my way through the Torchwood Monthly series! It's unfortunate and incredibly prejudice of me but whenever I see that the next release features Queen Victoria as the lead character, I struggle to get excited to listen. Well, I've been wrong before and that trend continued here because this was a stellar audio adventure! The events of Tooth and Claw are so important to the world of Torchwood and the monarch obviously played a huge role there in creating the Torchwood Institute, so to revisit it with her seemingly playing an active part in its mission is actually rather fun. It's also pretty refreshing to do Torchwood in the Victorian era because that's so different to what we're used to. There's not much fancy technology about to tackle alien incursions there! Big Finish does the Victorian era so well with the likes of Jago & Litefoot and the Paternoster Gang ranges, so it's no surprise that the atmosphere felt incredibly authentic. This somehow just felt foggy throughout and that was exactly the kind of way it should have been. Right from the off things are eery and it's intriguing to think that someone is claiming to be the Queen. Especially when that someone is the Queen herself! Now, I am very firmly an anti-monarchist so I enjoyed the comments from Henrietta towards her Queen regarding it just being luck that she was born into power and riches whilst she was a commoner. The land was once common land and Victoria was taken aback by how she was being talked to! And I was a big fan of it. It's not often the monarch gets challenged on such a personal level so I really enjoyed that. I'm not sure how believable it is that Victoria would be actively involved in events such as what occurred here, but there she was impersonating an alien presence for nearly the entire hour! That was a good twist and one I wasn't expecting! Once it happened though it didn't shock me and made a lot of sense. I thought that she was under a hold by the Ferryman that would be relinquished, but it turns out it was all a ruse! The reaction of Gideon Parr there was magnificent as he realised he'd been duped, just when he seemed to think he had the upper hand. That was a really strong shift in events as he went from mocking her and about to reveal to the truth, to being a few steps behind at a rather crucial time! Maddox was another good character to go alongside Parr and his being with Henrietta was good and a strong reveal at the end when Victoria revealed the truth. I thought the mystery that came from the Ferryman story was magnificent and I honestly don't think they quite tapped into it enough! We could definitely have had a few more renditions of the rhyme in my opinion. Not that we didn't get enough but there was room for more in terms of really selling that creepy feeling. I thought the Christmas setting was also utilised well and it was good fun for Victoria to wish a Happy Christmas at the end. It felt wintry throughout the episode but I wouldn't exactly call it festive! It makes sense though with the December release. Overall, a really strong atmosphere and setting that saw Victoria proudly boast about Torchwood which was nice. It's early days indeed and that's fascinating to explore. A good twist and a creepy mystery of the Ferryman. A superb listen! 

Rating: 9/10

Snare

"The little explorer arrives in anger."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: August 2025

Series: Ninth Doctor Adventures 4.01

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis 

Kevin left the Powell Estate a long time ago. He wasn't going to be trapped there. But all these years later, he's back and clearing out his dad's old flat. At least his neighbours, the Tylers, are still here.

But Rose has a strange new man in her life. And this Doctor's going to be show Kevin a world he never knew existed. Unfortunately, something ancient is stirring on the Estate. Perhaps Kevin will be trapped here after all...

Verdict

Snare was a great story to kick off the fourth series of Ninth Doctor Adventures! This really does though feel like the start of a whole new range in having Rose alongside the Ninth Doctor and a story placement between the events of Father's Day and The Empty Child. In saying that, the entire series is going to be set between those two on screen episodes and I think that gives it some extra credence when it comes to the series. Don't get me wrong, I have loved getting three whole series of Ninth Doctor Adventures with Christopher Eccleston, but I have always struggled with the idea that so much time passed between the events of The Day of the Doctor and Rose for this incarnation. It's been a ride but now this feels like what we really came for and it was a very strong start. Naturally given its placement it's an emotional time for Rose after everything that just went down with her father and thinking she's save him only to just fully experience losing him. That must have been tough so it makes sense that she would want the comforts of home. I thought it was a nice touch that the Doctor was going to stick around given the trauma and that provided some tremendous interaction with Jackie Tyler. He wasn't all that accommodating of the Tyler household hospitality! I thought the way the Powell Estate was captured in this audio was impressive and I think reuniting Rose with an old friend in the form of Kevin helped with that. It's good that Rose is fresh off seeing a lot of familiar people out of time so to now catch up with him was nice. They had a good spark and whilst it was firmly stated she was still with Mickey, Rose was close with Kevin and that was good to explore. He was dealing with his own trauma in losing his dad and here he was to clean up the flat of his things. That must be incredibly tough to do. There was more to it in that flat though and that sparked the Doctor into action to escape his boredom and the fine dining of Jackie! The mystery of the Soul-Snare was fascinating and I liked the analogy from Jackie about it being an evil Narnia. It certainly wasn't a fairytale but the portal in Kevin's dad's flat was not new. His dad even had a map of the place! Once that was clear and Rose suggesting that there might not have been a body found, it was clear that he was going to be on the inside. He was consumed by the Snare and the concept of it being able to disguise itself was really good. I enjoyed the perception filter and Rose not realising there were extra rooms in the flat was good stuff. She almost found it fun! I wasn't a huge fan of the sound effects for the Snare's voice with it actually being Kevin's dad, and their trouled relationship was powerful stuff. The way it referred to him as the little explorer was actually quite sad as Kevin clearly desired more from his paternal relationship. The way he was protective over his dad's things indicated that Kevin knew more. I did like his brief knowledge on Rose going missing and the posters that followed during Aliens of London/World War Three, and I thought it was hilarious that Marlene didn't think aliens were real and the whole there was a hoax! She was a pretty good character who felt like she went away too soon. Jackie's trust in the Doctor was nice to hear and it's good that she's confident in him considering her young daughter is travelling the cosmos in his company! The Doctor pulling on the heartstrings at the end with Kevin and his father is a strong way to end the episode in what is a mighty fine introduction to a whole new series! Twenty years on and it feels like the Ninth Doctor and Rose are somehow still only just getting started. I can't wait for the next one already! Overall, a terrific listen to kickstart the range.

Rating: 8/10

Aries: The True and Indisputable Facts in the Matter of the Ram's Skull

"We shall bridge the gap between this plane of existence and the next."

Writer: Mark Michalowski

Format: Short Story

Released: March 2002

Printed in: Short Trips: Zodiac 01

Featuring: First Doctor, Ian, Barbara 

Synopsis

Take a TARDIS trip through the constellations, as the Doctor travels to twelve thrilling tales inspired by the mystical zodiac. 

Telepathic fish, miniature lions and twin planets are the least of his problems, as the Doctor – all eight of him – faces the Capricorn Killer, endures a mind swap with the Machiavellian Master, and dances with Death herself. 

And that's not the half of it – as the two K9s can attest.

Verdict

The True and Indisputable Facts in the Matter of the Ram's Skull was a good start to the Zodiac edition of Short Trips! This is the first release of the Big Finish versions of the Short Trips books and it’s a very fascinating start! I must say that I’m not very familiar with the signs of the Zodiac and the whole concept of astronomy, but I find it very intriguing. Whilst I’m firmly not a believer that the positioning of the stars and planets on your day of birth would determine the personality and future of one’s life, I’m not dismissive of it in the way I largely am regarding religion. I actually quite enjoyed the little introduction giving us some background on astronomy and it was fascinating to be from the perspective of science in the fourth millennium. That’s quite a bit into the future from now! I thought it was fun to have the idea of how Gallifrey’s constellation came to be named as Kasterborus and having a little introduction about each star sign from this character is terrific. I liked the story here in its relative simplicity and the mystery that came from the Doctor and company being ominously invited by Miss G to the mansion of Mr R was strong. I can’t quite understand why these names were omitted and it’s almost bugging me now that there seems no indication of who they were supposed to be! It almost feels a bit of a cheat that purely by omitting the names it feels like they’re supposed to be important, but there’s no indication that they are unless I’m missing something! I think it’s intriguing for Edgar Allen Poe to be the author of the piece that comprises this adventure and it’s good that he’s so formal as you would expect of a scholar from the Victorian era. Miss Wright and Mr Chesterton are how Barbara and Ian are referred to throughout. I think the placement of the story is also a quirky choice going between The Dalek Invasion of Earth and The Rescue as that gives us an adventure with just the First Doctor, Barbara and Ian. That’s not something we ever got on screen other than at the start of the latter serial, so I’m delighted to get more of them. I think there’s something missing given the story placement to not have a reference to Susan, but I guess that can be attributed to Poe writing the account. I thought the nature of the ram’s skull was really interesting and I liked how eery things felt. I almost felt I should have been reading in the dark at night rather than on a bright train at 7.30am on the weekly commute to work! The image of everyone sat around the table and an incantation taking place was really strong and it was pretty amusing for the Doctor to keep interrupting! That was typical of the first incarnation and did put a smile on my face. The skull being the basis of a gateway to another realm or dimension was good stuff and the gradual way in which the entity behind the ram’s skull was taking form through Abigail was good tension. I almost felt a tad disappointed by the resolution in having Poe pull the cognac over after Barbara managed a desperate plea, but that just made me think that the Doctor and his companions didn’t really need to be there at all. Sure, Poe began to realise what the Doctor was planning and took the initiative, but I felt like it should have been him or even Ian that conjured up the strength to do what was needed. Ian and Barbara weren’t exactly thrilled with what had happened and why they were invited to the get together. Abigail died in quite horrific circumstances as she was basically burned alive but the Doctor didn’t seem to have much sympathy as they’d stopped the entity reaching this plane and using Abigail and the ram to form its existence in this dimension. I would have liked at least a hint or some semblance of information about what the entity or creature on the other side was, but it was still a decent fear factor. I liked the little note at the end confirming Poe died mysteriously in Baltimore and a bottle of cognac was left at his grave. The concept of the words to defeat the being from the other side is certainly interesting! Overall, perhaps a tad weak finish but a strong start to the collection!

Rating: 7/10

Dead to the World

"Nobody saw it coming."

Writer: Matthew Elliott

Format: Audio

Released: December 2015

Series: Monthly Adventures 207d

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

Tourist spaceship the Daedalus hangs suspended in space, all but three of its passengers having fallen victim to a bizarre infection. But if the Doctor saves those last survivors, he risks destroying the entire human race.

Verdict

Dead to the World was a decent story to conclude the You Are the Doctor collection comprising the two-hundred-and-seventh Monthly Adventure! I must admit, I am not the biggest fan of these releases within this range as they'r essentially just four Short Trips with more cast members, and I just feel like there's often a missed opportunity because of the duration. I do feel like that if this adventure was told over the course of two hours or so, it would have been vastly improved! The idea is solid but there just wasn't enough time to get a full backstory that did things justice. It was all rushed a little which is a shame because as my rating reflects this was good stuff! I was a tad disappointed in how things started because the Doctor was already on the Daedalus ship and it felt like we had been building towards something with Ace piloting the TARDIS and it just seemed skipped over which I assume is down to the minimal time available. For the first few minutes I didn't think Ace was going to appear at all with how much the Seventh Doctor was dominating things. I liked the predicament on the ship with just three survivors left from a terrible spree of deaths. Just hearing the word liquefied in relation to human death was horrifying as that must be a pretty terrible way to go. And the word was elongated and highlighted in a pretty disturbing way which really sold the situation and how dire it was. I thought the Doctor realising he was in the midst of a disaster by the name of the ship was fun and it put him within events he knew as established history. That's always fun but it feels a little different with this incarnation as he does like to meddle and play games. Ace being on the ship despite the Doctor saying he was alone was good and she would actually play an important role. I thought the Doctor pondering on the gender of his sonic screwdriver was incredibly random and whilst I would generally agree that it would be male, why would something like that need to be assigned? I'm not really sure what the purpose was there but it was certainly interesting! The Doctor utilising his title to try and help with the virus that was wiping out the population of the ship was good and it was fun that a couple of the survivors had very differing opinions on his presence there. Was he actually there to help or was he a stowaway? Adriana was a fascinating character who had some rather questionable motives in wanting to destroy Earth. The whole idea of the Galparians having Earth listed as real estate is a fun concept that I think could be much more beneficial to have more time to play with. I think there's real potential with that idea and I would love to know who the contractors are they could recommend to fill up some of the oceans if there was a slight aversion to water! That's a big percentage of the planet fit for redevelopment. The Doctor posing as a buyer to the Galparians was fun because it was always going to end one way in him firmly establishing that the listing be removed. Ariana saving the world by accident was good too and I thought Cynthia was a good character too as one of the tourists. Space tourism goes wrong is always a strong basis for the story. I thought referencing the events of Signs and Wonders with everything that happened with Hex was a strong emotional pull and it's good to know that the feelings are still profound. It was also weird to try and link the stories in this collection by the identity of a Ms Zingiber who had been around the previous three adventures. It never felt like they were connected and insinuating that the TARDIS was tracking her and not letting Ace pilot her correctly felt off. Overall though, a good listen to conclude the set! 

Rating: 7/10

The Grand Betelgeuse Hotel

"You don't seem like much of a criminal."

Writer: Christopher Cooper

Format: Audio

Released: December 2015

Series: Monthly Adventures 207c

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

The TARDIS brings the Doctor and Ace to the most opulent casino hotel in the cosmos – a haunt of the rich, the famous and the unutterably corrupt. There's a robbery in progress – but is the Doctor really in on the plan?

Verdict

The Grand Betelgeuse Hotel was another great story to continue my way through the You Are the Doctor collection comprising the two-hundred-and-seventh Monthly Adventure from Big Finish! This one was another great half an hour so with a fun little setting. I love the idea of a casino hotel and I'd love to one day stay in one. Las Vegas would obviously be the preferred setting and my partner and I have long discussed about the potential of eloping there so maybe one day I'll get that stay, but I hope the circumstances would be very different to what the Doctor and Ace experienced here! I thought the way things started with Ace on trial was a nice change and something different which I think is important in a release like this. I'm blogging each story and listening on a different day, but I'm sure that a number of fans would have listened to them all in one sitting so the need for different kinds of settings and styles is paramount and this ticks the list. Chafal was not exactly on Ace's side when it came to hearing her case and he just seemed frustrated by having to go through all kinds of legal formalities. It did all seem a bit mad when the whole case was determining if she was guilty or not but things couldn't proceed until she admitted her plea. That didn't add up and frustrated Ace! It was amusing as the listener but hearing how distraught she was by the apparent death of the Doctor was quite emotional. She genuinely believed he had died and when events caught up, it was clear to understand why. Hearing Chafal played by Jon Culshaw was almost a little off-putting which is a shame as I just so clearly associate him with the role of the Brigadier now. I almost can't hear anyone else in his voice like this so it felt like the Brig had Ace on trial! Now that would be something fun to hear. The story behind the Grand Betelgeuse Hotel was intriguing and whilst I enjoyed the setting, I cannot get on board with its pronunciation being like Beetlejuice! That just cannot be correct, surely? It's fun to hear though and it had those horror kind of vibes without feeling too dark. The emotional story behind Ruben was a powerful story and I can't imagine how one would feel after losing your children to the very people you were now having to work for. Of course, he would have a plan in place that was rather deadly but by that point he was clearly off the rails. It was no surprise after losing one's children, but it was nice for Ace to be the one to help bring him round just as things got desperate. The Doctor and Ruben being lost to the portal was a bit of a shock, but it is a bit of a problem in trying to do death justice for the main character! We know that The Movie is where the Seventh Doctor regenerates so selling his apparent death is so difficult. It works in Missy as part of Dark Gallifrey recently, but that was a very unique setting with a somewhat cheat of a resolution. It was nice though to hear how genuinely shocked and happy Ace was to find that he had made it safely through and now brought her through as well after a long time tinkering. She'd certainly had quite the ordeal with the trial! The Doctor's comment about overtaking your future was a fun line and I liked the explanation of the thermic detonator within the network to prevent utter destruction. Overall, a great little adventure and I wonder if in the final story of this release Ace will pilot the TARDIS successfully? I look forward to fining out.

Rating: 8/10

Come Die With Me

"It's just a game, and soon it will be your turn to play."

Writer: Jamie Anderson

Format: Audio

Released: December 2015

Series: Monthly Adventures 207b

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

A spooky old house. A body in the library. A killer on the loose. The Doctor accepts the challenge laid down by the sinister Mr Norris: to solve a murder mystery that's defeated 1,868 of the greatest intellects in the universe... and counting.

Verdict

Come Die With Me was a great little story to continue my way through the You Are the Doctor collection comprising the two-hundred-and-seventh Monthly Adventure! After a bit of a shaky start with the opener in the release taking then umbrella title, we are back in business here with a terrific little story! I really enjoyed this one and it was good continuity from You Are the Doctor to have Ace continuing to be learning about flying the TARDIS. I wouldn't be surprised if giving her these abilities are just all part of another game of the Seventh Doctor's, but I think it's nice that a companion like Ace could gain the ability to pilot the TARDIS. We're never quite sure just how long she stays as a companion but we know it's a long old time so why wouldn't she want to learn? I think it's amusing for her to keep getting things wrong but she can hardly be blamed again here as a time scoop ensured the Doctor was quickly part of a very intriguing game. The atmosphere of the spooky house was impressive and I liked how this made Ace uncomfortable going back to Ghost Light and everything that happened there with Gabriel Chase. That was a good reference and with everything that got revealed there, who could blame her for feeling uneasy in a similar environment? This kind of story was perfect for the Seventh Doctor and he just couldn't resist taking part in the game of Mr Norris. This did feel like something of a more straightforward game where this incarnation is concerned as a murder mystery is very common! It's good stuff and it did feel like the Doctor and Ace were thrust into a novel. Especially with the continued warnings to Ace about not going in the library! I think the fact only Mr Norris and the housekeeper were present was fun because it was clear that the culprit was not going to be a 50/50 chance. Especially with the scale of those that had come before the Doctor to try and solve the mystery. I thought Norris made for a superb villain and the casting of Jamie Newall was perfect. His inflexions in the delivery of his lines were magnificent and really helped capture that host feel with the spooky house setting. He just worked. I liked the threat that came Ace's way when she was indeed trapped in the library and the countdown of little more than three minutes injected some urgency into the story that really helped speed things along. The pace as frantic and whilst that was exciting, I do think the basis for this story would have worked even better as a feature length story. It was almost a bit quick for a murder mystery, but the Doctor and Ace genuinely combining together to solve it was marvellous. I'm becoming more of a fan of this pairing the more I listen to them even if they are probably my least favourite TARDIS duo! Harsh words I know. The Doctor being such a part of the game for Norris was amusing when he time scooped himself into Ace's predicament with two minutes to solve the murder instead of just getting her out! Ace was hardly shocked that he was playing Norris at the game, but with two minutes left the mission was on. Finding out that the murderees where the murderers was a good twist, but with the memorialiser present and a limited cast, what else could it have possibly been? The reaction of Norris when the Doctor and Ace emerged safely was just splendid. He couldn't believe the mystery was solved! Ace knowing that Morecambe needed to be scrubbed off the list before inputting was very good too. A proper team effort! Overall, a really entertaining story that I think would have been even better with more characters and a longer format to really draw out the mystery. A very good listen!

Rating: 8/10

You Are the Doctor

"Make the right choices or you will die."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: December 2015

Series: Monthly Adventures 207a

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

YOU are the Doctor, a mysterious traveller in time and space. Will YOU succeed in foiling the ghastly plans of the horrible Porcians, the most inept invaders in all the cosmos? Or will you get yourself killed, over and over again?

Verdict

You Are the Doctor was not the greatest of stories to kick off the collection of short adventures comprising the two-hundred-and-seventh Monthly Adventures release. I was intrigued by the title and the format prior to listening, but this quickly established itself as not being up my alley. I have something of a love-hate relationship with the Decide Your Destiny novels and this is essentially one of those in audio format. Thankfully, the title is misleading in that we as the listener aren't actually a part of the story and certainly not accompanying the Doctor on his travels, but I would suggest the title actually more so refers to Ace in the companion role. Here she is seen learning how to fly the TARDIS which is actually a story arc I can get on board with. She's clearly established as companion here and has been for a long time, so for her to learn the workings of the TARDIS is a fun idea. Sure, she's bound to get her first try wrong but that's not a big issue. The Doctor wanted to see where exactly she had gone wrong. Was it the location or the when? That was intriguing to explore. What I didn't like much at all was the format of the story. I think that John Dorney is a very talented writer and I do appreciate his effort to innovate and be unique with his style of stories, but this didn't work for me. The format actually seemed to overshadow the actual adventure and that's not a good thing. I didn't like how Chimbly was interrupting the end of each track and it really interfered with the listener experience. By the time he had laid out the choices available to the listener and which time track to choose, I'd almost forgotten what had happened at the end of the last one! It wasn't a fun style and it absolutely destroyed any chance this story had of flowing well. The time tracks were only 1-3 minutes long so the constant interruptions were just a pain in the arse. I felt like things were a real slog by the end. I thought giving the listener power was good on paper but when we were told on more than one occasion that our decision was the wrong one it actually felt like a little bit of a slap in the face! And I absolutely was not going to restart the story from track one when I went the routes that resulted in either the Doctor or Ace dying! I think the concept behind the Resurrectionist was actually pretty decent and I do like the effort in providing an explanation for the choose your adventure format. It just didn't work for me and almost felt like cheating. So without that creature being present the Doctor and Ace could very feasibly have just died? That felt like a bit of a stretch to me. I like the Chimbly is a recurring character from The Fourth Wall and with that being his previous appearance this makes for a good kind of story to follow up with format wise, but I just found him so annoying buy the end with his interference in my listener experience. The penultimate two tracks just being basically nothing to lead into the extended final track was a bit naff and whilst I understand by that point we'd learned that time could be reversed to explain the alternate timelines and the deaths, but it just didn't resonate with me. The creature being freed simply by the Doctor ducking out of the way of a gunshot was a little lazy and didn't exactly feel a rewarding resolution! I think technically you could just listen to this story all in one go without actually choosing different tracks, but it's just messy. I'd much prefer an unabridged version but I doubt I'll get one. Overall, not the best for me despite the brave effort with the format.

Rating: 4/10

AWOL

"What if the Doctor refuses to cooperate?"

Writer: Angus Dunican

Format: Audio

Released: February 2023

Series: Short Trips 12.02

Featuring: Third Doctor, Brigadier

Synopsis

In the short time the Doctor's worked for UNIT, he's become an invaluable part of the team. Yet, he's gone missing. For the Brigadier, the tricky part isn't going to be tracking him down. The tricky part is going to be convincing the Doctor to come back.

Verdict

AWOL was an outstanding story to continue my way through the twelfth series of Short Trips! This really was an emotional rollercoaster in showcasing how difficult it was for the Doctor following his exile to Earth at the end of The War Games. This story takes place a few weeks after the tragic events of Doctor Who and the Silurians and the confrontation between the Doctor and the Brigadier here is incredibly powerful stuff. The Doctor is still outraged at the serial's conclusion which saw the entire Silurian base bombed to smithereens, so it was hardly a surprise that the Doctor went AWOL as the story's title suggest. I thought it was quite amusing for the idea of the Doctor to leave a trail and whilst he was hoping for a little bit longer before the Brigadier was hot on his tail, it was nice that it appeared he did always plan on being found. He just wanted UNIT to work for it. I thought having him venture to Peru was quite something and that's not a country that many Doctor Who stories have been set in before! I appreciated that unique aspect of things. The story owes a great amount to the quality of Jon Culshaw in his performance. He effortlessly captures the essence and voices of both the Third Doctor and the Brigadier to the point that you would honestly think it was Jon Pertwee and Nicholas Courtney themselves bouncing off one another. But alas, it was a sublime performance in encompassing both roles in incredible style. I honestly can't attest to the skill enough. He was glorious. I think the writing mixed with that kind of performance makes this very special. It's also good to be set so early on in the Doctor's exile to the point that the Brigadier actually challenges him on the safety of his companions. They both know that Liz is more than competent for the job of Scientific Advisor at UNIT without him, but the Brigadier's claim that she would be safer without the Doctor seemed a tad harsh when it came to namedropping the likes of Jamie, Victoria and Zoe. In the case of the former and the latter, he made the ultimate sacrifice when it came to their protection and he was suffering part of the consequences right away. The Brigadier even challenged him on losing his face as well but that was hardly his choice! The use of incidental music was also incredibly powerful in adding heightened emotion to some dialogue that really did strike home. I thought it was nice that the Brigadier had actually taken leave to come and find the Doctor, but the Time Lord was not having any kind of informalities and addressing him as Alistair. I thought the apology the Brigadier gave to the Doctor for giving the orders to blow up the Silurian base was admirable and you could really tell it was something that weighed heavily on him. He still believed it was the right thing to do which I could appreciate, but as is the case with numerous historically significant actions, it was also a terrible thing to have done. It was both a reward and a burden that he would have to live with for the rest of his days. The Doctor could understand his perspective and likened the rules of UNIT and bureaucracy to that of the Time Lords on Gallifrey which was a fun comparison! The Brigadier actually coming to the Doctor for his help ahead of the events of The Ambassadors of Death and UNIT losing contact was really good and I loved how this episode perfectly fills a gap between two Season 7 serials. It's just perfect really. A superb thirty-seven minutes that had me feeling a lot of emotions! Overall, a superb listen.

Rating: 10/10

A Long Night

"How could two well-respected teachers run off and desert their students?"

Writer: Simon A. Forward

Format: Short Story

Released: April 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Companions 16

Featuring: First Doctor, Barbara

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

 A Long Night was an excellent short story to conclude my reading of the Companions edition of Short Trips! At seventeen stories this has felt like a very long process and one that I have thoroughly enjoyed. It' been a wild ride for sure and I'm loving these collections. I'll move right onto the next one I have when I return to commuting to work weekly but I actually finished this one at home on some annual leave. Now, it was one of the shorter ones at only four pages in but it was one of the most meaningful in my opinion. Other than Arc of Infinity, I don't think the Classic era ventures too much into the personal lives of companions and what them being left behind means, but here we dealt immediately with the after effects of Barbara's departure in An Unearthly Child and it was magnificent. It was so powerful and whilst of the adventure actually focuses on Joan as Barbara's mother, this is fundamentally all about a companion. This shows the potential of what being a companion of the Doctor actually means! Now, not all companions had a life to leave behind and most of them would join him by choice, but Barbara doesn't exactly fall into that bracket! Now, her intentions were always to get back to 1963 which I can appreciate but of course we know from The Chase that this isn't when they get back. 1965 doesn't seem all that far removed, but imagine losing a daughter and reaching that anniversary date with absolutely zero contact? It would be incredibly difficult. This story can only work when we get the full story of Barbara's return which is wonderful, but Ian's line about a few years amongst friends suddenly doesn't seem to carry much meaning. It's a very long time as I'm sure Joan will attest to! I was intrigued to learn more of what the disappearances of Ian and Barbara were received like in the local community, and it was provided added tension with Susan also going missing. It's quite the threesome! Joan dismissed the idea of her daughter running off and eloping with Ian as whilst he was very nice, she hadn't much talked about him. That was something I did find a little surprising! They're so obviously the TARDIS's first love interest pairing. But I guess the idea of Susan going with them slams that idea shut. The mystery must have been a tough one for the police investigations and having Ian's car just left at the false address of Susan's at Totter's Yard is not something I've actually stopped to consider! It really would be an insolvable case but I love the idea of different theories popping up. The importance of The French Revolution book that Susan had in her possession during Doctor Who's very first episode was intriguing here especially considering Barbara was sent it back to her from a friend in the States! That's a long way for a historical book to travel. I thought the way the story shifted into the TARDIS and the First Doctor comforting Barbara as she awoke from a dream was a lovely moment, and his confidence in the fact he believes her mother also shared that dream was delightful. It was a heartwarming moment that we perhaps didn't get enough of from the First Doctor in particular. I loved it and it was really comforting to Barbara to get some semblance of communication with her mother, as I'm sure it was for Joan with her daughter! As a whole, this was an emotional tale that dealt with the loss that accompanies companions for their families and friends, but also provided a nice moment in establishing that there was still hope. Barbara will return, yes one day she will get back. And I have a new appreciation for that now after learning here all about Joan and how she was hurting from her daughter's appearance. I'm sure Barbara will tell her everything of the good she did, and that's lovely. Overall, a fantastic story to conclude a terrific little collection!

Rating: 9/10

The Robot Revolution

"She knew that these dreams were now no more than ash."

Writer: Una McCormack

Format: Novel

Released: July 2025

Series: Target 186

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda

Synopsis

What if the story of your life is written in the stars?

Belinda Chandra grew up longing to travel – but never imagined rocket ships would be part of the deal. Abducted by killer robots and taken to a strange planet, Belinda must join forces with the Doctor to put right a revolution that might just be her fault...

Verdict

The Robot Revolution was a great novelisation of the debut of Belinda Chandra! I was worried before reading that I was going to be reading Missbelindachandra far too often throughout the pages of this book, but thankfully there were no issues there. It didn't even seem like overkill or anything, but I did appreciate the name of the city being shortened to BC-ville a couple of times! It took me a minute to work out what it stood for as well as I thought we were referring to years pre-0 at first! Maybe reading on the summer holidays with two young children around isn't the best time to be reading, but there isn't really an ideal time at all so need's must! I really think the author did a good job in bringing this book to prose and really adheres to the objective of a Target retelling in providing some expanded detail on events. That was particularly evident when it came to fleshing out some of the backstory for Belinda's character which is really important considering she will become the next companion. Reading this novel in isolation though and you wouldn't think it! It almost comes across more so in prose than on screen that Belinda isn't wanting to travel with the Doctor. Sasha 55 definitely feels like the character who is going to join the Doctor in the TARDIS and that actually was the plan. Get Belinda home once the robot revolution was quelled and then Sasha 55 could join the TARDIS, so that makes her death just as shocking again. Maybe even more so here as we learned a bit more about her backstory too and filled in a little bit of that six month gap with the Doctor on MissBelindaChandra One as he works his way up to becoming historian. I think the time fracture element of the story actually works better without visual aid here as it can just be explained in relatively simple terms, although I'm not convinced by schwup being a technical term! I enjoyed the characterisation of the Fifteenth Doctor with the likeness of Ncuti Gatwa really well presented. I was a little surprised how much of a background figure he felt like for a good third of the book or so – maybe even more! – but once Belinda is presented in front of the Robots and the Doctor tells her about the ninth word problem they have, he really shines. He comes into his own in a big way. Speaking of coming into his own, there's Alan. Gosh he's a really unlikeable guy who even just from prose is so far below Belinda's league. It screams off the page that she is far too good for him. Lines like designated kissing time because he bought her a star certificate highlight just how awful he is as a person. His possessive and controlling way over Belinda is just sad and I like how everyone's feelings were shown when Belinda tells her parents they'd split up. They were very happy! I think the use of the diploma is fun and the prospect of it being in the same place twice over is a fine way to bring about Al's demise. The moment where the A.I. Generator reveals itself as actually displaying 'AL' isn't as good as it was on screen and neither is him getting polished up once reverted to a sperm and egg, but I really like how well Belinda comes across. She isn't happy about being paraded as a queen and people had died trying to save her, so she took the initiative into her own hands. I really like that and she has so many companion qualities right from the off, even if she isn't interested in being one. It still does feel like a little bit of a hasty retreat at the end, but that does allow us some strong pages in the TARDIS to finish and set up the series to come. Belinda's reaction to the TARDIS being bigger on the inside is great, but the way she almost belittles the Doctor at the fact he took her DNA reading without permission remains incredible. He is sincerely apologetic, but Belinda stays strong. It's a lot to take in with the Boom reference for Mundy Flynn as her ancestor, but that soon gets forgotten as 24 May 2025 becomes a time to be repelled from. I also did like the little extended moments with Mrs Flood. They tie in nicely with the series arc. Overall, a really great read of what is a fine episode! A strong start to this year's novelisations. 

Rating: 8/10

Shield of the Jotunn

"Welcome to the new Ice Age!"

Writer: Ian Edginton

Format: Audio

Released: November 2015

Series: Monthly Adventures 206

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Constance

Synopsis

2029 AD. In the desert of Arizona, billionaire philanthropist Dr Hugo Macht is trying to save the world from climate change. But his great project to "scrub the sky clean" with nanoatomic machines grins to an unexpected halt when his diggers break into something unexpected: a Viking burial barrow containing eight corpses, a mysterious shield, an even more mysterious inscription... and a yet more mysterious traveller in time and space, known only as the Doctor.

And that's not even the strangest part of Dr Macht's day. Soon, it'll begin to snow. Soon, the Doctor and his Girl Friday, Mrs Constance Clarke, will come face-to-face with an ancient horror in the blizzard. A Frost Giant, in need of a new body. In need of flesh...

Verdict

Shield of the Jotunn was a somewhat average story to continue my way through the Monthly Adventures and conclude the latest Sixth Doctor trilogy with new companion Constance Clarke. I remain surprised that we have another new companion for this incarnation as it really doesn't feel long at all since Flip joined the fray, but I think I'm preferring Constance here with her being from wartime. Going to the near future of 2029 was a good setting from her perspective because to the locals the likes of the Second World War and all other twentieth century conflict were firmly in the past and just casually talked about, and that was something that took her back a little. She didn't want to know if there were more wars after the one she was taken from and I respected that. I also liked how proud she was to be serving and made it very clear she was not a deserter. Lisa Zetterling was a fun character to almost team up with Constance for a lot of the adventure and her realisation that she was actually a time traveller and genuinely was from the 1940s was marvellous. It was no fancy dress uniform! I thought the history dating back to the Viking era was fascinating given the Arizona setting as I'm not sure the history books ever had them definitively coming this far. Dr Macht was a weird sort of character and I think he just became more and more annoying as the story went on. He was pretty useless and couldn't understand why a mound or hill couldn't just be flattened. The Doctor and Constance being found inside it alongside an ancient burial site was intriguing, but the legend seemed to dissipate the more and more I learned about it. I think it would be incredibly harsh of me to say that what came was bad, but it was just not exciting to me. It didn't get me wanting to listen to more which is a shame. I didn't like the use of Herger from the past taking over from Constance in her reading of the ancient scribe as that just took away. I don't think we needed to actually hear from the Viking at all to be honest. It would have worked better had he made his first appearance at the end when they were restored. I did like the Doctor claiming to be from Midgard though as a way to have instant credentials with the Viking clan. Major De Casta was a decent character and I was surprised that he was killed off so soon. It felt very early and then they didn't even end up using his bones when it was revealed that calcium was the means to thwart the Talessh. They sounded fearful but I didn't really get much in terms of actions or credentials in what they could do. There was a lot of description without action which was a shame. It also didn't do much for me to think that some Vikings had already tackled one of the species with seashells so they were hardly the scariest or fearful of enemies! I did like the idea of them wanting the sun quite literally although Macht's response of that being a summer holiday was incredibly irksome. The use of energy in the story was something I did enjoy and I liked the seriousness of the threat of losing flesh. That was pretty gruesome and not a nice way to go! I thought it was quite amusing also for Constance to learn of the mandatory perk of TARDIS travel with the translation circuit coming into effect. She feels like a fully fledged companion now, but I still get the feeling she has an ulterior motive in regards to her husband. I'm very invested in her journey. The way things petered out here was predictable and just as the Vikings returned they were off again. It was all tied up well but it just didn't enthral me. It wasn't bad I must stress, but I was only half invested and that's why my rating is a pretty low one as far as I'm concerned. Overall, some good moments and I like Constance, but not my most favourite of adventures!

Rating: 6/10

Reunited: Blood Type

"They had trusted me with their stories."

Writer: Simon Guerrier 

Format: Audio

Released: July 2025

Series: Smith & Sullivan 1.03

Featuring: Sarah Jane, Harry, K9

Synopsis

Busier than ever, Sarah has little time to write up her cases for publications. But taking shortcuts risks making mistakes, as a journalist and as an investigator. 

When an old adversary reappears, the pressure reaches boiling point. Can Sarah rely on her closest friends in this crisis?

Verdict

Blood Type was another great episode to conclude the Reunited first series of Smith & Sullivan! I have really enjoyed this trio of stories and I sincerely hope this isn't the last for this spinoff range as there is still so much more potential in filling the gaps between A Girl's Best Friend and the Sarah Jane Smith series at Big Finish. Can we just keep rolling into the 1990s and beyond? I think there's something unique about Sadie Miller's portrayal of the character her mother made famous and is so beloved which is testament to how well she has stepped into those shoes. Ones which are very difficult to fill! She's just really engaging and I always feel like she has a sense of desperation about her. Not in a negative way, but she's just got so much on her plate and she wants it all to go well. She's urgently wanting success when it comes to everything she puts her focus on. That was evidenced here in her having six stories on the go for her current publication, but none were finished and now she wasn't being granted any further commissions and her payments were even being withheld. You could understand why as she was continuously getting sidetracked, but I like that some realism of real world problems were thrown into the mix. Sarah would need to keep paying the bills and she couldn't live off of Harry's generosity forever when it came to the cafe trips and meet-ups. He was happy to do it though of course! Bless him, he's so nice. I thought the format of the story in having it told in a half-Companion Chronicle style format with Sarah Jane basically writing her pieces and transcribing them to K9 (and therefore the listener) was terrific. It was something different from what's come before and that was refreshing to listen to. Sarah definitely felt like the main character here which was absolutely fine and I like that some focus was also shifted onto K9. I was wondering throughout the episode why he sounded like he was somewhat malfunctioning and then I was kicking myself when the reveal came that he was the culprit for altering Sarah's published works! Roy Kitt as an alien owning a hairdressers was intriguing and Sarah tracking him and wanting to actually help protect him was nice. She even wrote a feel good piece about him to help drive up some business, so when it was discovered that he was the one that had placed the device on K9 under his chin it wasn't surprising but it felt a bit harsh on the journalist! She had genuinely been trying to help, but he just wanted to stay hidden with his stereo that was feigned from a perception filter. He wasn't at all what he appeared! Some more backstory on him and the Distinct would have been beneficial, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything. It was just good for this to be an early look into technology and how advancement can be the end of numerous professions. It's almost AI before AI! Sarah being jealous of new typewriters and their capabilities was fascinating and I liked how she managed to get one from Veronica Hyde in her haste. Her death came as a bit of a surprise after playing a big role in Union of the Snake, but it certainly helped sell the impact of events! Sarah being on hand then to finally finish her pieces with some help from K9 once he was restored to normality was good and she would soon be back in Brenda's good books at the magazine. Kitt having to confess to Veronica's murder and face jail time in order to protect his identity was pretty brutal from Sarah, but it was what was required if he wanted to be like them. The ending was intriguing in describing that the statue of Winston Churchill had come to life, and that sounds like quite the basis for a future series! Or might Sarah be joining another UNIT mashup? Either way, I'm all here for it. Overall, a terrific finale to a really enjoyable series.

Rating: 8/10

Reunited: Union of the Snake

"Focus on the business and not the personal."

Writer: Roland Moore

Format: Audio

Released: July 2025

Series: Smith & Sullivan 1.02

Featuring: Sarah Jane, Harry, K9

Synopsis

Self-made millionaire Eric Chen inexplicably went from working in a sawmill to designing a revolutionary computer chip that has made billions. He had no training or education in electronics. How did he do it?

His new PA – Sarah Jane Smith – is determined to find the answer.

Verdict

Union of the Snake was another great episode to continue my way through the Reunited debut series of Smith & Sullivan! After all the pleasantries of being reintroduced to each other and setting things up in The Caller opener, this one didn't mess around when it came to getting into the thick of the action. It appears a little bit of time has passed since the events of the opening episode which is good as Sarah Jane was already posing as a personal assistant to Eric Chen. He was a fascinating character and his backstory was shrouded in mystery. I liked the premise of an overnight millionaire patenting something that was not at all from his background. Sarah Jane knew there was more than met the eye when it came to his supposed feel good story. She just couldn't accept that someone from a saw mill could suddenly developing something like the microchip that was revolutionising technology. I thought that was good fun and the awkwardness that came from Eric answering questions on just how he'd done it made it obvious there was something hidden when it came to the truth. Harry teaming up with K9 was such a delight and it almost feels wrong that these two companions never met. They're both of the Fourth Doctor era so it feels like K9 would have been there with Harry, but obviously The Invisible Enemy comes even after Sarah says her farewells! Harry getting a little annoyed by the literal way K9 took everything was tremendous and it was hilarious that Harry kept using 'Can you?' as his phrase of asking for K9 to do something. Just because he could didn't mean he would immediately as far as his programming went! Harry getting K9 to adopt some of the local lingo was also quite spectacular and I enjoyed hearing the robot dog spill some Cockney slang. The old mucka indeed. I thought the Narana made for a strong villain and whilst their sleeper agent in the form of the snake was the titular enemy, it was really them in the background that provided the strongest threat. Exploiting the vulnerability of Eric as he was still grieving from his son going missing was very harsh and the way the episode made you feel more gradual sympathy for him was impressive. He was playing in the playground with his little boy who suddenly disappeared from the swings in a short moment where Eric looked away. I frequently visit our local play parks with my four year old boy and I know that sudden heart wrenching feeling when you momentarily can't spot them. For that to be permanent is honestly terrifying to me and it really does almost feel worse in not knowing compared to death. I would not be sleeping. I couldn't face it and I really couldn't empathise with him in returning to the park and then even using his millions to purchase the exact park from the council and place it in a hangar. It appears that Eric's son had shifted dimensional planes and that laughter was genuine, although the urgency of the Narana suggested otherwise. Burrows was a strong character as the henchman essentially for Eric and he even took matters into his own hands despite where his paycheque came from. He wasn't bothered about the Narana getting their hands dirty whereas Eric did not want any bloodshed. He was already grieving for his son who went missing shortly after his wife died, so more deaths was not on his list of desires. The Narana needing to get to this dimension was intriguing and some more background on them could have really sent the episode to different heights. They had been giving Eric a list of alien devices required to bring them into this plane, and Veronica Hyde as the person holding the dimensional stabiliser was a great character! She was headstrong and not afraid to say no. Sarah Jane distracting her whilst Harry nabbed the artefact from behind was amusing, as was K9 naming some of her tech as a Cyber gun and something close to the time ring going back nicely to Genesis of the Daleks. The portal only having a few seconds of being open was a good level of excitement at the end and it was admirable that Sarah was willing to go through to find Eric's son. I thought Eric himself jumping through to try and be reunited with his son was a great moment and K9 confirming that the laughter wasn't a recording was a nice way to finish things as it was believed that Eric was reunited with his son after all. Overall, a terrific listen!

Rating: 8/10

Reunited: The Caller

"It's a fully catered kidnapping!"

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: July 2025

Series: Smith & Sullivan 1.01

Featuring: Sarah Jane, Harry, K9

Synopsis

As the government prepares to sell off the telecommunications network to the highest bidder, including Starling Industries, Sarah investigates a spate of unexplained deaths in phone boxes across the capital. Elsewhere, Harry is vetting the bidding companies on behalf of UNIT, delighted when the assignment converges with his old friend – and her robot dog!

Sarah and Harry realise they are investigating the same thing – why is government minister Sir Gordon Carmichael covering up the 'phone box murders', and what alien power is Violet Starling preparing to unleash?

Verdict

The Caller was a great start to the brand new Smith and Sullivan spinoff series! I was really excited when this series was announced and whilst I would have preferred it to also be a physical release like most other fans, I am grateful to just be getting the series at all. Sarah Jane is a character that is no stranger to her own spinoff and I like how this seems to basically be a follow on between K9 & Company and the start of Sarah Jane Smith at Big Finish. There's plenty of room between those two series and I like that we're now going to get some of that filled in. Of course, we unfortunately don't have Elisabeth Sladen or Ian Marter with us anymore but I think Sadie Miller and Christopher Naylor work really well together in bringing two iconic companions back to life. I think it's fun to also have K9 present and he already started the basis of a fun relationship with Harry. I thought the reunion between the pair could have been a little more impactful but it was still a feel good moment for sure. I think that reunion is going to feel like a constant thing throughout this series and it even appears that Aunt Lavinia approves of him! The misunderstanding she had in why Harry was staying the night and just who he was made for some amusement, but I do wonder if we will get hints at a relationship between the pair? I kind of hope we don't go down that route, but I won't be offended if we do. They're grown adults with some incredible shared experiences! It would almost be surprising if there weren't romantic feelings. I thought the investigation here was good and with Sarah being a journalist and Harry vetting for UNIT, their paths were always going to cross when the Government were looking to sell off the communications network. I think listening now in 2025 to a 1980s set adventure is fun when it comes to this kind of technology because we had Violet Starling marvelling at the potential of instant messaging and even booking conference rooms via a device. It's taken for granted today what we can do at the touch of a button on our phone, but this is revolutionary to this time of Sarah. Sir Gordon Carmichael was a good character as the Minister for Communication and I think a shady political figure is a fine way to start off this kind of spinoff series. I think the threat of the Caller was strong and whilst it didn't exactly feel original with the likes of the Wire and the Vardan coming before it as a threat on the same kind of wavelength, I still think it worked a treat. That sinister and almost child-like voice really added something in terms of a creepy feel. I feel like the way the Caller was defeated was predictable but it was also really logical and a quick bit of ingenuity from Sarah to use a prerecording. It was clever in tackling the pest at hand which I really liked. I thought Lavinia recognising that there was something special in Harry was nice too and really sets things up for this pairing moving forward. She was pushing Sarah into ensuring that they didn't lose contact again and instead of her even waiting a day to make the call, she wanted her to call him right away and bring him. She'd made more cocoa than was necessary as it was! Her being sad at losing her old chum to one of the phone box murders injected some raw emotion and rounded out the episode nicely. It's a scary prospect to perish in a phone box, but K9 was on hand to help some of the regular characters here. It's nice to have him with us. Overall, a fine episode to start what looks to be a terrific little series! 

Rating: 8/10

Salvage

"This train is literally running on time."

Writer: Max Curtis

Format: Audio

Released: February 2023

Series: Short Trips 12.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Bliss 

Synopsis

There's a place where all lost things go. Salvage, a sanctuary where the abandoned and misplaced can be found. In the Time War, more has been lost than ever before. Planets, people, and even whole timelines have been consumed by the fighting. Everyone needs Salvage, but even this haven isn't immune from the effects of the Time War.

Verdict

Salvage was an excellent start to the twelfth series of Short Trips! What a place to start in the Time War with the Eighth Doctor and Bliss as this is a really fascinating time for the Doctor and his companion. I love the idea of the Eighth Doctor refusing to take part in the Time War because we know of that occurs in The Night of the Doctor to become a warrior and finally take his place. But here we see part of what drives him to that decision and it showcases the true horrors of the universal conflict. This is a war unlike any others and I thought that was really captured well here. It's a shame that we didn't get either actor of the Doctor or Bliss to perform the story, but Adele Anderson did a tremendous job! She didn't need to do a top class impression of either main character because the writing did more than enough to capture their characterisation. Bliss is still a very intriguing companion because she comes from a world that now doesn't exist meaning she shouldn't either, and that formed an important part of the plot. The concept of the Salvage was really strong and I liked that it went back to the childhood of Bliss. She was told stories about it and the idea of her clinging onto the hope of there being a place for all of those lost things was terrific. She really did think there was somewhere out there where her lost teddy or her grandma's ring could be located, and coming to terms with the fact that might not actually exist was tough for her. This brought out a lot of emotion in Bliss which I was grateful to listen to. The nature of her being a companion in the Time War means her history and background is complicated so this was a good insight into her childhood. I thought it was really nice for her that she got to revisit her old bedroom and remember what that looked and smelt like, and just being back on Derilobia must have been so rewarding and hard at the same time knowing that she would eventually have to leave again. I thought the concept behind the Salvage train was fantastic and the fact that carriages were constantly being added said a lot about the scale of people being lost. It was something that came to those that were about to be lost to time and history because of the scale of the temporal conflict, and it could whisk them away to the safety of another dimension. I thought that was nice and it was actually quite fun for the train to be targeting Bliss. She was someone who should have been lost to the Time War so as far as the train was concerned, she needed salvation. That was really good to explore and I really liked that the Doctor clocked onto the fact Bliss knew about it. It was fun to venture down the train and the further down you got the more clear people became. Each carriage being locked onto its passengers presented a bit of a problem, but finding out that it was actually using the materials of the lost things and was in fact the Salvation it claimed was its destination was brilliant. The use of the gossip stone by Bliss was a nice touch too and I liked how she used it at the end when her planet was about to be erased from time and existence. That is a pretty daunting prospect, but the idea of the Doctor utilising everything around and creating a home for the passengers where they could move freely until the Time War was over was great. Overall, an excellent start to the series and a fine use of the Time War! A fantastic listen.

Rating: 9/10

Rhys and Ianto's Excellent Barbecue

"A glory hole of death."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: November 2020

Series: Torchwood Monthly 44

Featuring: Ianto, Rhys

Synopsis

Rhys is planning a lads' night in. Barbie in the back yard, few tins, mates and bants. But the only person who turns up is Ianto – who hasn't been invited. Hell is other people, especially when they've brought board games.

Something goes wrong. The two of them could be trapped together for eternity at a barbecue where the sausages never cook, and worse, the brewskis remain forever out of reach.

Verdict

Rhys and Ianto's Excellent Barbecue was another excellent episode to continue my way through the monthly Torchwood range from Big Finish! This really is a fantastic series and I like how it allows us more of a focus on specific characters. Sure, I'm all for getting full cast audios with the full team in whatever iteration that might be, but getting over an hour of just exploring the relationship between Rhys and Ianto is what makes this range stand out. We would typically only be afford a few minutes on screen at most to delve into this pairing so this a welcomed release. This is an episode I have known about for a long time now purely because of the name and on paper it doesn't exactly sound the most enticing of adventures, but it absolutely works! The idea of Rhys getting the boys together for a lads' barbecue is good and I know that's something I would also do. During the listening of the episode it actually sparked me into dropping a message into the group chat to try and organise the lads for a Spoons meet-up as we did last week because we don't see each other now as much as we'd all like to what with families and moving away, but it's important to stay in touch. Thankfully, we haven't lost anyone in our group as was the case for Rhys here with Daf having committed suicide so I could really sympathise with him when he just wanted to the barbecue to go well. He was obviously disappointed when Badger had to cancel late in the day and I also understood why he didn't really want Ianto there. I thought the suggestion of homophobic undertones was a little off the beaten track as despite his bravado I don't think Rhys is like that, but it was amusing to think that Rhys would be hosting mini crochet and chardonnay! Imagine! Gwen would be pissing herself laughing. I like that she was looking out for husband in sending Ianto round and the suggestion that because he was in his suit he was never off duty made sense. But he truly didn't know what was happening at the house with the emergence of squishy force field. Rhys was clearly consumed with his grief that he hadn't properly dealt with yet because he wasn't having anything to do with the Rift get in his way of a lads' night. He knew they all needed to be together again after a funeral that wasn't all that great in allowing them to pay their respects for their friend, so he was trying to literally cut his way out. Ianto understanding it was a time bubble was fun and I liked that by the end only five minutes or so had passed on the outside! Rhys trying to cut his way out was good and the idea of the bubble popping when there was a tear sounded pretty darn dangerous! He wasn't having it though and he was getting out no matter what. The emotion of the phone call with Deirdre from Maerdy as she was looking to talk to her grandson Stephen was powerful stuff as she was seemingly on the verge of death. She sounded like Badger but Rhys had to pretend to be her grandson because that's who she was hearing. That took a lot out of both them and provided the impetus for Rhys to talk about his feelings and the recent events. I like that he apologised to Gwen when they did get out of the time bubble and admitted he was truly sorry for being distant, but grief does that. Ianto and Rhys then visiting Badger as he was on guinea pig duties was pretty amusing with the little thing taking Ianto's tie and eating the carrot sticks he'd provided as barbecue snacks, but as a whole this was a powerful exploration into male emotion and speaking out. It is important. I'll always value my mates. Overall, a really strong episode!  

Rating: 9/10