Counterstrike

"We need to find places to live."

Writer: Una McCormack

Format: Audio

Released: October 2025

Series: NSA 35

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda

Synopsis

Landing on an unnamed planet, the travellers find themselves besieged by a swarm of drones. They shelter in a cluster of hi-tech buildings, inside which lie living quarters and a control base.

The only thing missing is any sign of life. While the Doctor puzzles over a base without people, Belinda finds herself whisked off by teleport. 

Meanwhile, three thousand light years away, project manger Hazzet is puzzled by unusual systems activity on the uninhabited Colony 5.

An automated probe was sent there months ago – so why are there now apparently two bases on the planet, each poised to attack the other?

With the Doctor in one base and Belinda in the other, a race against time begins to avoid mutually assured destruction...

Verdict

Counterstrike was another great audio to conclude the newly released duo of Fifteenth Doctor and Belinda audio adventures from BBC! One day I would love to reunite Ncuti Gatwa and Varada Sethu at Big Finish for full cast tales and to expand a partnership that was all too short on screen, but at least this is something of an extension here. I'll absolutely take anything I can get. I thought the style and pace of this story was certainly different from Firefall and that's very much a positive with them being released at the same time. Why that is the case I'm not sure, but it's fun to do consecutive Fifteenth Doctor tales! I thought taking Belinda into space was good because it didn't feel like we saw that an awful lot on television. Even in The Robot Revolution things started on Earth and it was an introduction to her character and The Interstellar Song Contest was rooted in Earth with it essentially being Eurovision. So this was a nice contrast and felt authentically Doctor Who in going to a colony. The age old problem of expansion and needing new places to live was realised well here and I enjoyed that the Doctor and Belinda arriving on Colony 5 meant big problems for Hazzet as the project manager on a completely different base. It just should not have been possible but all the signs showed that something was happening on the colony that meant there was life there. That was good fun because even for Belinda, she could hardly explain what had happened! Hazzet communicating with her via hologram was good and whilst I did enjoy the 41st century setting, I was surprised at how alien the concepts of time travel and instant matter transfer were. It feels like in all of the time travel across the Whoniverse that twenty centuries in the future this would be accessible! Alas it was not and that grounded things slightly. That's no bad thing by the way. I enjoyed the dynamic between the Doctor and Belinda and having them split up across different bases was fun. I liked how their relationship was captured in the Doctor constantly nicknaming her as Bel despite her insistent pleas to use her full name. VITA was a good aspect of the story and in this rapidly advancing technological world, the prospect of what artificial intelligence may be like in 2,000 years is almost frightening. The advancements in just the last five years or so are extraordinary and it really is something that interests me but at the same time provides a lot of trepidation. My girlfriend has already lost two jobs to it! The way the Doctor got Belinda to utilise it though was great. I must say, it's a good job this story was a strong one because I wasn't all that fussed on the narration by Clare Corbett. I'm not really sure why she was chosen other than perhaps because she was a female with audio experience, but she didn't bring much to the roles of the Doctor and Belinda. Her impressions were almost non-existent which was a shame as something more genuine and exciting might have bumped up the rating. The name of the story feels a little strange in hindsight as it almost gives away what's happening with the bases after a strong buildup, but at the same time that does feel a tad harsh on my part. It was an enthralling listen and the Doctor did seem genuinely worried about losing Belinda. His appeals were strong and I liked that he was able to prevent the counterstrike that would certainly see Belinda killed. Overall, a solid concept and an enjoyable listen. This felt like it could fit right in during the latest season, even if the Vindicator reading wasn't useful! 

Rating: 8/10

Firefall

"A blessing from the stars."

Writer: Beth Axford 

Format: Audio

Released: October 2025

Series: NSA 34

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda

Synopsis

Floating high above 19th Century Earth, the Doctor and Belinda enjoy the legendary Leonids meteor shower of 1833, when the skies teemed with shooting stars. 

One meteor is bigger and brighter than the others and shows no sign of breaking up in the planetary atmosphere. The travellers follow it to the village of Drummondville and begin the hunt for a fallen star.

There's a strained atmosphere in the sleepy town, where two buildings mysterious caught fire overnight. Belinda meets young Mary Moss, who's harbouring something extraordinary – something that must be kept safe from the other villagers.

What strange entity has landed, and how might if affect all life on Earth? The Doctor and Belinda try to broker peace between Leo and its human hosts, before things get out of control...

Verdict

Firefall was a very strong story to kick off this year's New Series Adventures original audios! I think it's delightful that we can get releases with the (sort of) current TARDIS team, although I do question the scheduling in not having them released whilst the series was airing. That would just seem to make the most sense! But I won't complain about timing as late is certainly better than never. I found the historical elements of this story really interesting and I'd be lying if I said I had hear about the legendary meteor shower at the heart of the adventure. It sounds fascinating though and how this kind of thing would have been viewed by pre-Victorian era eyes really excites me. Would they see it religiously or scientifically? I definitely got the sense it was the latter in how the story panned out and that was good. One of the absolute highlights of the story was the performance by Michelle Asante as narrator. I think it's great that we got an actor from the most recent series and she certainly made an impression in The Story & the Engine, but I would honestly argue she made more of one here. She was engaging and her impressions of both the Fifteenth Doctor and Belinda were spot on. I think she had a lot of help there with the writing which is equally impressive because this is Beth Axford's first audio story and one of her very first stories in any format. I follow her through the wonderful Who Watch Podcast so it's really nice to see her shine. This was a really impressive audio debut. Having the setting of 1833 was good and I liked that even though a vindicator reading was required as we head towards Wish World/The Reality War, the Doctor and even Belinda were keen on exploring things further. I thought the character of Mary Moss was really strong and it's always good to have somebody like her to compliment the main duo. I thought her relationship with Belinda in particular was strong and that was really lovely to hear. The Leonids were really fascinating and they became quite sad in the end in learning that one that came in the meteor storm here was cut off from their family, species, and entire home world! The analogy to it being like a bird who throws her offspring out of the nest to see which ones can fly was pretty daunting considering that was taken into space! And if the returned without their other siblings and kind, they would be shunned. So no time travel or space hops to sort things out here. I thought the vulnerability of the villagers in Drummondville felt very real and whilst I obviously don't agree with their actions, I can certainly see why it happened. They were threatened by something from the stars so they attacked, much to the Doctor's horror. The description of it being like putting out a candle felt very poetic and the tease of Mary getting to go in the TARDIS was a nice touch. She understood the Leonids and Belinda working out that she was a Leo felt apt. The use of the zodiac here was decent, even if I personally still don't have much of an understanding of it! I did think things dragged on a little at the end in what felt like a very much extended epilogue, but that didn't hamper my enjoyment of the story. A strong concept, perfect characterisation and a wonderful narrator. Oh and that marvellous little Mrs Flood cameo at the end. Glorious. A terrific listen! 

Rating: 8/10

The Last Days of the Powell Estate

"A vibe on the passing of time."

Writer: Timothy X Atack

Format: Audio

Released: October 2025

Series: Ninth Doctor Adventures 4.02

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

South London, 2036. The Doctor and Rose team up with an urban explorer to investigate the case of Mr Fingers, an invisible killer haunting an abandoned corner of the city. If you feel a hand on your shoulder: don't look around...

Verdict

The Last Days of the Powell Estate was another great episode to continue my way through the fourth series of Ninth Doctor Adventures! Whilst this is the fourth series, it also does feel like the first in many ways with it being a bimonthly schedule and having the wonderful addition of Billie Piper as Rose Tyler in the companion role. It really does make a difference to have her around and I'm so impressed with how Piper has captured the essence of Rose during Series 1. That's not as easy as it sounds and she plays the part with that youthful immaturity which I think is fantastic and really makes things feel authentic. Having Rose around also allows the Ninth Doctor stories to explore present day Earth and returning to the Powell Estate feels like a no brainer. There's a lot of focus on Rose's home estate where she grew up and it makes me think that perhaps a bimonthly schedule was not always the plan, but alas here we are and I've got no complaints. It's a very strong setting and it's always fun to have Jackie Tyler around! Especially with the Ninth Doctor in particular. I really enjoyed going to 2036 and jumping thirty years into the future was pretty bleak for Rose given the state of the Powell Estate now. It was abandoned and a ghost town, and that obviously shouldn't be the case. The way they interrupted Ellis as he was hosting his abandoned spaces show was terrific and he was a really strong character. He clearly fancied Rose and she wasn't exactly against him which led to some funny comments from the Doctor. The events of Dalek and The Long Game with Adam weren't exactly much distance in the past! Has she forgot about Mickey? I think the answer is yes. I liked the mystery surrounding the Powell Estate and linking Rose in 2036 to her mother three decades earlier was a nice touch when Ellis revealed it was around that time where things started to go wrong. The Hyphen were a fascinating prospect and you could sense trepidation in even the Doctor's voice. Even to him after everything he had seen they were like a myth. His describing of the universe as actually not having a physical edge was intriguing and the scale of it is again something which is almost incomprehensible, but even on those boundaries this is where the Hyphen came from. To him, time was not linear and just something to pass through like going from one place to another. So that meant he could easily attack across the span of thirty years like it was nothing! That was exciting. I thought the mystery behind Mr Fingers was excellent and whilst the Doctor wasn't sure about that name to describe the Hyphen, I really enjoyed it and it felt dark and eery. It was perfect horror! I thought Betty was a marvellous character as Jackie's friend and the fact her cast listing actually details her as Brainy Betty is hilarious. She added a lot of humour and I did like her intelligence! Her explanation of the effect of how the Hyphen was dealt with was actually really helpful. The Hyphen feeding on fear was not an original concept, but doing so at this point in the Doctor's life meant we got a really strong moment from the Ninth Doctor as he had to relive his actions at the end of the Time War. The scale of it was still something that haunted him and it was happening always, across time. This was a stellar moment from Christopher Eccleston. I thought they managed to trap the Hyphen in the circle maybe a tad too easily considering the lore and mythological significance to the being, but it worked with that fear exuding from the Doctor. I was less keen on the idea of him being scared by Jackie. Annoyed? Sure. Scared? Come off it! Overall though, another strong episode to continue the series! 

Rating: 8/10

Monsters: Reformation

"What did I ever do to you?"

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: September 2025

Series: Call Me Master 2.03

Featuring: The Master

Synopsis

The Master is incarcerated in a reformation chamber where only his own moral conscience can free him. He's in big trouble.

Verdict

Reformation was a great episode to conclude the Monsters second series of Call Me Master! I sincerely hope this is not the last we have heard from this range because Sacha Dhawan's incarnation of the Master truly is one of the very best. His performance for this boxset has been exemplary and it's been a sheer joy to listen to the whacky nature he brings to the Master. He really is mad and deranged in absolutely the best way. His maniacal laugh is infectious and he's also an incarnation that likes a challenge. He certainly got one here! I thought this episode was intriguing in having the Master effectively battle his inner conscience and at times it became a bit of an internal battle. First it was a question as to whether he even had one, but then it became how much of one he had. It allowed for a fascinating insight into the life of this incarnation of the Master as he was experiencing memories in some rather harrowing flashbacks. He wasn't exactly thrilled by this tour through certain aspects of his life but as a listener it was exciting to get these glimpses. Going back to the days of the Academy was particularly magnificent and I like how he still feels bad – very deep down – about not helping the Doctor when they were growing up. Something so simple and even after everything they have been through, he still cares. The concept behind the reformation chamber was very strong and the jury being yourself seems flawed in that you could very easily just find yourself not guilty, but it was more of a journey than that. Sure, the Master would utilise that flaw to get out in quite extreme circumstances, but that's part of the beauty of this incarnation. He was intrigued by the challenge of his own conscience judging him and it was fun to think of the little peripheral vision showcasing it. Just an infinitesimal fraction in the future occupying the same space. That was great. I like it when things challenge my comprehension and that certainly did that! I thought the Master experiencing memories was fun, especially ones he didn't want to relive, but the way he took the initiative and showcased what he wanted to happen was brilliant. Memories that were to come. It was a very eery foreshadowing of the aftermath of events witnessed in Ascension of the Cybermen/The Timeless Children with the Master having wiped Gallifrey to the ground. This makes that even more impressive and just downright scary that he'd planned it all and then gone through with it! It's fair to say he hardly valued the concept of home. I really enjoyed when the Master worked out he was talking with his conscience in contactable form and that was genuinely interesting to him. I would think he had the resolution almost immediately and his actions in breaking free from the reformation chamber was something that made him awfully excited. How does one get a thrill out of literally killing your own conscience? This Master is different and perhaps the most unhinged of them all and it really does feel like his audio journey is only just getting started. I can't begin to explain how much praise I have for Sacha Dhawan's performance here. To be far, who thought it was a good idea to have the Master as judge and jury of anything, let alone his own conscience? Overall, a stunning performance and a really solid idea. A great listen to conclude a really strong series.

Rating: 8/10

Monsters: The Ideal Quarry

"Countless apologies for the deception."

Writer: Jody Houser

Format: Audio

Released: September 2025

Series: Call Me Master 2.02

Featuring: The Master

Synopsis

To make his journey more interesting, the Master has decided to take on a travelling companion – disgraced Sontaran Vegg, who is keen to get home for his execution. But soon the Master and his escort are marooned on a world where they are not the only hunters. In fact, they are the quarry...

Verdict

The Ideal Quarry was an excellent episode to continue my way through the Monsters second edition of Call Me Master! This was a terrific hour of audio drama and I didn’t know I needed it, but the duo of this Master along with Vegg the Survivor was just glorious. I was a huge fan of their dynamic and it was glorious to hear a Sontaran being so willing to travel to his execution. How else could his honour be restored? I’m a massive fan of the Sontarans and what Dan Starkey has brought to them at Big Finish can’t be overstated. It’s really impressive and I just love everything he brings to the performance. The dynamic between Vegg and this incarnation of the Master was terrific, so to have them captured was really intriguing. Right from the off you got the impression that the Master was far from impressed in being captured, but even from within the game of being hunted he seemed to have the upper hand. That’s an impressive attribute to have! And slowly but surely throughout the episode the anger was festering and that was not going to end well for Fang. I thought she was a strong character and her animalistic nature was fascinating to hear. I like how she was goading the Master and Vegg but again, that just wasn’t going to end well. I thought the emotional journey for Fang was strong and you couldn’t help but feel sorry for her at times. She had been stuck since she was a cub and the Master wanting the truth regarding the signal that he followed and why she didn’t leave immediately was fantastic. He was so in control and had worked everything out right away. I thought Fang’s reaction to hearing that the Master had two hearts was good because suddenly she realised she had bitten off more than she could chew. Quite literally! That also sparked Vegg’s intrigue too as he realised the Master was a Time Lord. I thought his take on the Time War was brilliant and for Vegg it was reminiscent of the Sontaran attitude seen in The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky where they were abhorred they didn’t get to take part. But for the Master, his reflections his participation in the war were quite somber. I’m not sure it was in line with the War Master we have heard at Big Finish, but that’s not a problem as reflection is certainly different to being in the moment and we heard in Only the Good that he was drawn to run away and turn himself human to escape. It was a rare sign of vulnerability for this incarnation, and one that was still relatively fresh as he was still adjusting to this new body. He soon became the maniac we know and love though because the way he was laughing when he took all the threat from Fang was incredible. He was giddy! He knew that the planet was not a hunting ground for Fang and they weren’t quite playing the same game. It turned out that she was actually the one who was the hunted and their kind had been left behind because of finance and practicalities. No wonder she was irked! Vegg playing his part and wanting to stay behind to help was not something the Master saw well. After everything they’d been through, he was just considered muscle. The tissue compression eliminator was utilised and that was the end of Vegg in maximum sized form! He’d put Fang out of her misery as well after what she’d been through and that was almost welcomed. It’s a shame Vegg didn’t get to go to his execution because this Master on Sontar would be quite spectacular! But alas, this encounter and duo was still tremendous in what was a really strong audio. Overall, an excellent episode! Another monstrous performance for Dhawan. 

Rating: 9/10

Monsters: The Craft of Corruption

"I'm a person not a weapon."

Writer: Alison Winter

Format: Audio

Released: September 2025

Series: Call Me Master 2.01

Featuring: The Master

Synopsis

The Master is posing as ship's counsellor on an interstellar cruise liner: the fastest transport in a galaxy where lightspeed travel is outlawed by the overbearing Interstellar Protection Corps. All he needs to do is keep out of trouble until the ship crosses into a sector outside IPC jurisdiction. But troubles abhors a vacuum.

Verdict

The Craft of Corruption was a great start to the Monsters second series of Call Me Master! It's a delight to be getting another series with Sacha Dhawan's whacky incarnation of the Master and this episode really felt like it understood this very troubled version of the Doctor's arch villain. I thought the idea of him posing as the ship's counsellor was great stuff and of all the people in all of the incarnations to be giving out psychic evaluations? I thought this was really fun and Dhawan nails it. The way he mockingly recalls the events of Ascension of the Cybermen/The Timeless Children and claims he knows what it's like to lose his own people and planet when he was the one that caused it is just full of audacity! I loved it. I thought the Interstellar Protection Corps were a fun element of the story and it really does feel like we've met them alongside the Master before. They have something of a Colony in Space vibe going about them, but alas this is their first appearance and I like the idea of space politics and jurisdictions. I think it's good to have the Master trapped on the ship and the desperation he shows when Kel mentions having a possible route off the ship highlights just what kind of situation he is in. The Light Bandits were a fun little concept and whilst I did prefer them when they were initially likened to a black hole and stealing the light from everyone, it somehow didn't seem to be on as big of a scale when they were reduced to being intergalactic identity thieves. I'm not saying identity theft isn't serious but it's just not what it first appeared! Still, I liked them and the Master posing all innocent to them was terrific. I thought Kel needing to meet up with her apparent boyfriend she'd not actually met yet was intriguing and finding out that Kay was posing as someone else fitted in well with the identity theme of the episode. He was far from what he seemed! It was all a job for him and whilst Kel was the initial target, the Master was the bigger coup. I thought it was good that she came along with the Master and found out the truth about who she thought was Deforest. Jemima was a really good character and I liked how her name translated to dove as she was the person helping get people away. She did not like slavery and was doing something about it. I thought the use of the umbrella title for this series was really strong here as for the IPC there was a legend of the Monster. Except he was their counsellor. The Master had encountered the IPC before and over the years the name had evolved. From Master to Maestro to Monster. The name altered, but the monster within was still very much there. Another fun use of identity! I thought Kel had the potential to be a companion to the Master but that was never going to work out, and she ends up going through quite a lot in the episode here. I think this is a stellar performance from Dhawan and the way he goads the Bandits with his counsellor reports to show that there is a corruption mentioned on their file was hilarious. They could hardly sell those identities! I thought it was a nice touch for Kel and Jemima to be encouraged to start afresh and steal two of the already stolen identities, but I'm unsure if the former's business with the Master is finished. And that excites me! Overall, a strong start to the series. A great listen. 

Rating: 8/10

Alixion

"I've done bad things."

Writer: Robin Mukherjee

Format: Audio

Released: September 2025

Series: Lost Stories 9.02

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

Synopsis

Checking into a luxury health spa for a little rest and recreation, the Doctor and Ace find themselves at the mercy of a malign entity that craves the conquest of time and space. 

Exploiting their memories and regrets, the queen of the hive, which hides behind the polished walls of the spa, forces them to confront their deepest fears as she steals the Doctor's life force to spread her powers across the universe.

Verdict

Alixion was a great story to conclude the ninth series of Lost Stories! I'm a massive fan of this range and I'm not sure how many more possibilities there are for it to continue, but long may it. The nature of the range means this is naturally a slightly different listening experience because I can't help but try to picture how this would have worked on screen. There is so much mythology and lore and just potential about what may have happened during Season 27 if Doctor Who was able to take its Classic era into the 1990s, and this was a fascinating glimpse. I must say that one of the biggest attributes this story has going for it is how authentically it captures the era of the Seventh Doctor. The type of story, the pace, and even the incidental music was incredibly impressive. This could easily have slotted into either of the last two Sylvester McCoy series in my opinion. I was intrigued in my research to find that this was going to be the regeneration story for the Seventh Doctor and that really is interesting because it didn't really feel like that here. It would have been quite a sad way for this incarnation to depart given the emotional torment he goes through in this story. I was also really intrigued that the original script commissioned was only three parts so it seems the author has had fun expanded the story here to four parts. I thought the pacing was good and it filled the four parts very effectively. The actual plot itself is pretty bonkers and that's no bad thing. It certainly keeps the listener on their toes! I thought Mathilda was a fascinating character and her starting off in introducing the Doctor and Ace to their rest and recuperation stay for the night to how she ended the adventure really was quite the journey! Her relationship with Larkin was extraordinary in the way he came to be worshipping her as the Queen of the Hive. Her pull and control over him was almost uncomfortable, especially considering that he was there to find his daughter. The Doctor appealing to him about that and describing how she was broken in two was very gruesome. And yet he was still partly devoted to Mathilda! Her lust for causing the Doctor anguish was pretty psychotic and the way she wanted to use Ace to get to him was horrifying. She wanted her to suffer, just to see the suffering and pain that would cause the Doctor. It was downright evil. I thought the flashback sequences were good and this would have been something very unique for a televised Classic era serial. It's a shame this never got the chance to present itself. Ace was going through a lot in this story too as she was reliving memories she couldn't even remember. Colin being there to show her that was interesting but the very concept of forgotten memories messes with my head a little! It was fun to hear Ace deal with that though and it was nice that she was reminded of some good she did in her younger days. I thought the way things concluded were actually good even if they were expected with the Doctor overpowering Mathilda with himself. That sounds weird but that's basically what happened. Too much Doctor did the trick. Ha! That was fun and I liked that the Doctor still had an ulterior motive. I also loved Ace's passion when it came to saving Isabelle. That was a shining moment for her as companion. Overall, a bit whacky and full of emotion. A great listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Darker Purposes

"The journey is unending."

Writer: David Llewellyn 

Format: Audio

Released: January 2020

Series: The Sins of Captain John 1.04

Featuring: Captain John

Synopsis

Captain John arrives at the funeral of one of the galaxy's richest men. He died without making a will, and his heirs have some very creative ideas about how this can be put to rights involving murder, necromancy and seduction. Sadly, Captain John is only too happy to oblige. 

Verdict

Darker Purposes was a strong finale to The Sins of Captain John! Listening over five years later, it does appear that this is the only series there's going to be which is a bit of a shame, but if this is all we get then I am at least grateful for that! I suspect part of there being no further series is that where Captain John is, we need Captain Jack lurking somewhere in the background at the very least. And with John Barrowman basically now being shunned by Big Finish now, I guess that is detrimental to the likelihood of Captain John getting a second series. I thought the whole breaking of the fourth wall thing was a little weird here as he was literally had Captain John in character talking to director Scott Handcock about the theme tune not starting. That felt weird in hindsight and now makes me look back upon the whole series in the same way when it comes to those elements because there was no payoff. What was the point of breaking the fourth wall like that? It felt very much in the same vain as Mrs Flood where there was just no reason or explanation. I still think it's quirky and it's certainly fun, but some sort of explanation was desired. I liked how in the finale this was very much a Captain John story and the overlapping arc of the resurrection gloves was paid off nicely here. John was in to get his money and boy was it a big payoff! He was almost giddy when it was counted out. I thought the setting of the Vargosh family home was great and the family dynamic amongst them was quite sensational. The children of Ilsa and Darius were hardly mourning their father in the way you would expect after losing a loved one. They were more concerned by the fact he hadn't written a will and they wanted his shares in the company! That was an intriguing element and I liked how petty and selfish children is why Captain John was sent on the retrieval mission for the resurrection gauntlets in the first place! All they wanted was for him to video that his shares were left to their children and they were content. That was terrific. The folly of youth, eh? I thought Ilsa was a really good character and she wasn't content with just her portion of the shares. The way she concocted to help murder her husband Chester so she could inherit the Vamooth fortune once his father died was spectacular. John feigning as the chef and cooking duck in peanut oil to send him spiralling with allergies was incredible. Whoops! Darius knowing that his sister had motive and wanting in on the sexual action with John was a fun scene too. Cats or dogs? John liked the best of both worlds. Crikey has he got some action over the course of this series! I thought the continuity with The Restored and John recalling the retirement of the dark was excellent and I loved the concept of the gauntlets opening up a portal to a world of the dead. That's a fantastic prospect and honestly it's a shame we didn't get more. It felt a little unfinished and whilst my rating clearly reflects this was an enjoyable episode, it didn't feel much like a finale. The fate of Ilsa in being dragged to the world of death felt harsh, although it was a tad underwhelming to have Jack on hand in what was hardly a rescue mission for John. It does round out the boxset well though and potentially sets things up for a future series with him now paying what he owes in a very bad way. Overall though, a fun conclusion and story for a really great series! 

Rating: 8/10

Peach Blossom Heights

"I can't believe we've never tried it before."

Writer: David Llewellyn

Format: Audio

Released: January 2020

Series: The Sins of Captain John 1.03

Featuring: Captain Jack, Captain John

Synopsis

Captains John and Jack find themselves stranded on a world that may be actual paradise – the weather is pleasant, the people are friendly, and the giant stuffed animals only come out at night. There's only one thing the world is missing. No-one has ever explained to any of the population about the birds and the bees. Which is unfortunate.

Verdict

Peach Blossom Heights was a rambunctious episode to continue my way through The Sins of Captain John! Sins indeed. This was a very whacky and very fun story that was just about on the right side of barmy. The idea of encountering a world where the inhabitants have no knowledge of sex, reproduction or even money is quite something, but what kind of society can function like that? To Captains John and Jack, this was a big opportunity. Their reaction when they found out that the very nice (and hot) couple that had chosen to let them stay with them had never heard of sex, well they couldn't let a chance like this slip. Talk about not being judged on your performance! It was almost ridiculous but at the same time why wouldn't Jack and John introduce the locals to intercourse? As he said, it's amazing they hadn't tried it already out of boredom and just physics with where one bit goes into the other, but here we are. The very idea of sexual thoughts not crossing one's mind is almost unfathomable as whether we like to admit it or not, it's just human nature. The reaction of those living on Peach Blossom Heights to the concept of a baby and pregnancy was amusing. The very idea of having to learn to walk, taking nine months for a baby to grow, and them not even talking but just gurgling! Preposterous. It was silly in places and that was evident with the sexual parts of the human anatomy being referred to as toilet parts. That felt off and almost uncomfortable even if it is technically true! I thought the overlay narration from Captain John was great fun again and almost a smack in the face to the listener in parts! The fact he said continuity was boring is not something I can agree with as I absolutely love it, but I was intrigued that these events here are claimed to be prior to Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang for John and Captain Jack Harkness for Jack. They had yet to pick their aliases which is really interesting and not something I had picked up on yet, and I'm not entirely sure the cover art for the series agrees! But it's always good to visit Jack at a point prior to The Empty Child. There really is still so much mystery attached to him! Even after all this time. I thought John's sarcastic comments about Jack being in the series now were good fun too and the way he addressed the controversy of The Death of Captain Jack for its sexual depictions and audio was incredible! I didn't listen to that episode near release time so I wasn't aware of this, but it was such a fun in-joke. I do wonder if the breaking of the fourth wall will be explained. I kind of feel like it should be but at the same time I'm just enjoying the audacity. Caitlin and Trevor were very hospitable and took to sex with a very open mind, immediately spreading it to their neighbours in humorous fashion. Caitlin's comment about sex being even better with another woman was very comical and probably highlighted every man's fear that they weren't good enough. Jack and John reacted as if that was the case and was when they realised they'd probably gone too far! Mother Janet in running Peach Blossom Heights was fascinating and the concept of her recycling the dead whilst they were at their peak of enjoying life was not actually all that evil. There was logic there even if it was disturbing and seemed a bit pointless to just continue the cycle. Jack and John nearly losing the gauntlets was fun too and John abandoning Jack so he could get paid was outrageous after everything they've been through! But it was big dollar. Overall, a great little episode! 

Rating: 8/10

Escape from Nebazz

"Even the most terrible people can be improved by work."

Writer: David Llewellyn

Format: Audio

Released: January 2020

Series: The Sins of Captain John 1.02

Featuring: Captain Jack, Captain John

Synopsis

Captain John is in a wooden space prison that's under attack by a strange and terrible life form. Also the catering is truly dreadful and Dr Magpie's latest discovery may have got a little out of hand.

Verdict

Escape from Nebazz was another great episode to continue my way through The Sins of Captain John! This is shaping up to be a really strong series and I like the consistency it has in having just one writer. That really allows the author to play along and flesh out the characters and at the same time it's very impressive how this feels like a different kind of story whilst staying true to the overlapping story arc. I like the idea of Jack being on the trail of John and whilst he's not going to enjoy being hunted and his intentions interfered with, part of me also feels like he's relishing it. I thought the setting of Nebazz was very good and it was so far off from Restoration England last time out in The Restored. That immediately gave it a very different feel which was really good. I think it's quite humorous that the trope of posing as a senior figure or officer can get you in anywhere, even at a place like the space prison that was the setting for this episode. The detail that was given on how impossible it was to escape was impressive but surely John would have been found out with his lack of specific knowledge on the facility? Especially if he had just gone through the training then everything would be fresh in his mind? Miss Slaughter was a wonderfully apt name for the woman in charge of the facility and she was not too accommodating of the majority of her inmates. That did not fully extend to Dr Magpie though who was the subject of Captain John's visit. I thought she was an excellent character and finding out that she was actually the creator of the resurrection gauntlets was fascinating. That feels like a big deal in the lore of Torchwood and it really is some achievement to bring the dead back to life! It's a shame she was jettisoned. I liked the eeriness though of those returning to life not fully being the ones that left. Sure, the technology was impressive but it was far from perfect and that's part of why she had ended up in the facility in the first place. The way she delved a little deeper into being a whacky scientist as the episode went on was rather fun to listen to and she was a really engaging character which is obviously a positive. I liked how even on a secure facility like she was and with limited resources, she was still interested in conducting her experiments. She's ambitious I'll give her that. I thought the threat of the mould in space was good and I have had some bad experiences with the usual kind we get in our homes so putting something so mundane and everyday into space and as a prison facility deterrent for escape was actually a lot more scary than it sounded! I'm not convinced the mould in some student accommodation or past homes I've lived in wasn't smart as was the case here. The description of the barriers in getting off the facility were pretty gruesome in some of the past experiences of those who tried to leave. They weren't exactly successful! I was surprised we got so much of Captain Jack so early in the series at this point but that's no bad thing. The dynamic between him and John is fantastic so I look forward to exploring that further. John revealing all to Magpie was fun and the fact he had his ship in orbit was a good means of escape. I do think the story felt a tad rushed in telling 96 hours plus worth of in story in less than an hour, but I do like that we get adventures that don't take place over the course of a couple of hours. It feels more realistic this way. Overall, a really fun exploration and I'm loving the continuation of John addressing the listener in breaking the fourth wall. I wonder if there will be a pay off for that? A great listen regardless.

Rating: 8/10

The Restored

"The dead are rising from their tombs."

Writer: David Llewellyn

Format: Audio

Released: January 2020

Series: The Sins of Captain John 1.01

Featuring: Captain John

Synopsis

Captain John is in Restoration England looking for some gauntlets. There's intrigue in the Tower of London, the dead are walking the streets, an the severed head of Oliver Cromwell has a terrible warning.

Verdict

The Restored was an excellent start to The Sins of Captain John! This is a terrific little idea for a miniseries and it's honestly something I think Torchwood should do more of. The monthly range is absolutely great but it is lacking in continuity, the Among Us set of stories seem to have been concluded and Soho is a little different with the shorter episodes. There needs to be more! I think Captain John is a tremendous character and he's a fine villain to lead a series. It's absolutely right up my alley and he's almost like a version of the Monk with his meddling in time. Except here he was carrying out a mission as the Time Agent he was with the strict instruction of not interfering with history. Well, the gauntlets that he was after were doing a mighty fine job of that with the headless bodies of the likes of Oliver Cromwell and Anne Boleyn roaming around. That is quite some image! I think the concept of finding the resurrection gauntlet gloves is exciting and they're something we've seen utilised in Torchwood's first two series quite brilliantly. It's an incredible concept so the idea of them malfunctioning on a large scale here and bringing every body within a certain proximity back to life was horrifying! The idea of corpses brought to life knocking from inside their tombs was incredible, and having that in the seventeenth century during the Restoration period somehow makes it feel more eery. The learned mind at this time wasn't exactly accommodating of zombies and would of course think it witchcraft, and the recently severed head of Cromwell spouting a message of warning for the dark really was something. There was an eery feel throughout so the lighthearted characters of Mohisha and Frances were a nice break from the atmosphere of death. The former as the Indian assistant of the latter was really good and I loved how John took a liking to her. Not in the same way he took a liking to the sex hungry Frances, but she perished rather surprisingly so he was more interested in the intelligence of Mohisha. I liked how with her being an Indian woman at this time the concept of her learning to read was abhorrent, and yet she was clearly a very clever woman. The breaking of the fourth wall was good fun with John describing how she could become a companion and that lead to a further series of adventures, but from the way things ended here that doesn't look like it's going to happen. It's a shame as that's definitely something I'd be interested in! I think the ending was great in having John eventually retrieve the gauntlets and whilst it does seem strange that they would be mentioned in a seventeenth century text, I think it's fun that it was Mohisha and Frances who first retrieved them in the first place! John would take them off their hands though and I liked how he eventually built trust. Once Frances was dead Mohisha trusted him and with him whisking off with the gloves, the dead returned to their graves. That must have been one hell of a cleanup job to rebury them! The little cliffhanger finish with Jack being on the hunt for John and coming by Mohisha a year later and questioning her on the means of how she obtained her property was a nice touch and gives us a strong direction of the series to come. I'm looking forward to it very much! Overall, an excellent start! 

Rating: 9/10

Virgo: Virgin Lands

"She had to believe in monsters to absolve her race of all its sins."

Writer: Sarah Groenewegen

Format: Short Story

Released: March 2002

Printed in: Short Trips: Zodiac 06

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace

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

Virgin Lands was another average story to continue my way through the Zodiac edition of Short Trips! It’s fair to say that this collection is not something I’m massively enjoying so far with a consistently average run so far. I don’t think the stories are particularly bad, but there just doesn’t seem to be a lot happening and that’s a consistent theme I’m finding so far. I’m not sure if it’s because it’s the first edition of this range from Big Finish and the writers and editors were finding their feet, but it just feels like there’s a lot left on the table. The Zodiac theme has been pretty boring as well up to this point but I will certainly compliment this adventure on being easily the best so far in linking to its star sign. I did like the little Kasterbrous extract explaining the star sign of Virgo, although I do think some of the use of the word virgin in the story were forced in providing the link to the umbrella title for the book. On paper, the idea of the trio of the Seventh Doctor, Ace and Benny was really exciting and I loved the unique setting of Sydney. I think it’s important in these kind of stories that we can visit more niche and unique settings like this because there are no budgets so it makes sense to leave British shores. Unfortunately, I don’t think it was properly utilised which was a shame. I think if this story was better paced and structured it could definitely have been improved, but the way things ended felt like the adventure was just incomplete. It left a lot of questions in my opinion and didn’t feel like a resolution at all. The idea of incorporating Death into the story was brilliant but the utilisation left things wanting for me. It wasn’t bad, it just needed to be more. I thought touching on the Doctor feeling loss because of LaMort as death essentially getting bored needed more explanation as I got the impression that he was yearning for death? I know he wouldn’t want death to be eradicated because that’s the natural cycle and there’s no life without it, but he seemed to be too much at the forefront now. It was also a little strange for him to be so central to the plot but barely appearing in the story. Having the focus on Ace and Benny is no bad thing and it was fun to explore their relationship as my reading of the New Adventures is still in its infancy so I haven’t reached the point where they’re both companions. It was a nice little snapshot into the future of that range for me. The way Benny was utilised by the Doctor was intriguing as he hoped to show LaMort that humanity would soon travel among the stars and that meant new worlds for it to explore, and I preferred it even more that Ace was none the wiser to what seemingly was a plan by the Doctor and Benny. She’s not always kept in the loop and that’s fun even if I do feel sorry for her! That felt like a typically Seventh Doctor element in the story, and it was also nice to get the Ghost Light reference when it came to Ace and a scary house, but it just felt lacking in a resolution and real depth. Overall, an average adventure. 

Rating: 6/10

Time War: The Shoreditch Intervention

"No one hates the Daleks more than I do."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: April 2020

Series: Susan's War 1.04

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Susan

Synopsis

When Susan's TARDIS is intercepted, she is given a highly classified mission.

Earth, 1963 is a nexus point in the Time War, but the timelines must be negotiated carefully. Mods and rockers are not the only dangers on the streets of Shoreditch. 

In Susan's past, the Daleks are waiting. But so is the Doctor!

Verdict

The Shoreditch Intervention was an excellent episode to conclude the first series of Susan's War! This was definitely my favourite of the series so far and it's right that the best was saved to last. The bookending of this series is nothing short of fantastic in first reuniting Susan with Ian in Sphere of Influence and now here she is once again reunited with her grandfather. It's such an intriguing dynamic between them at this point and after everything that has happened following Lucie Miller/To the Death and the death of Alex. That point was hit home more given that there was another Alex present and it must have been even more of a kick in the teeth for her to go by that name when it was her middle name! There does feel like something akin to dissension between the Doctor and Susan and that's actually a bit of a shame given their history. The Doctor recalling that he was there during the events of All Hands on Deck was strong stuff with Susan sharing a rather different perspective on her role in the Time War. The Doctor still refuses to fight and I'm enjoying that stance a lot. It puts him in such a difficult position and that was evident in this episode. I thought the Shoreditch setting of 1963 was magnificent and I loved the idea of the story taking place concurrently with An Unearthly Child and Remembrance of the Daleks. The significance of the events of the latter serial in the Time War are pretty self explanatory with the Doctor using the Hand of Omega to send Skaro's sun supernova, but I was fascinated by the fact that was deemed to only be one version. Are there more than one? That's a fun theory and one I could get behind! I thought the Doctor being weary of the Imperial faction of Daleks was terrific and I love the idea of the Doctor and Susan having to keep history on the right track. It's really intriguing stuff to put Susan back into the world of 1963 and I loved how authentic it felt to have a little cameo of David Bradley as the First Doctor at Totter's Yard. That was just glorious. The mystery of where the Doctor had hidden the Hand of Omega was really good exploration and I liked how he had used the chameleon circuit. Talk about an explanation for the TARDIS keeping its police box appearance! I loved that. It would have been glorious had the Doctor ran into himself, but that's probably being greedy. There was not much to complain about as far as the story went! JP and Franko were fun characters and they definitely provided an authentic 1960s feel in a story that was flooded with continuity so I thought that was important. Susan not being aware of space telegraphing the Doctor was good and I liked how she almost refused to believe that circumstances would present themself that meant she would. But the Doctor being there was surely enough evidence? Creating a paradox here could be very costly. I'm not sure how I feel about the legitimacy of Earth being time locked amidst the Time War, but I did like the use of time trails to get around the lock. The humour surrounding the Doctor and Susan's respective hiding places for their diaries was lovely stuff and I think it's terrific that Susan knew the Doctor hid his in the astral map. Both discussing their crushes was also not something I anticipated! Lehena being a Dalek duplicate worked well and the Doctor recognising that right away because of his past crush was tremendous! The Daleks seemingly exterminating the Doctor after he got Susan safely into the TARDIS by claiming he didn't have the sonic was glorious stuff as he escaped incredibly efficiently! The Daleks must be kidding if they thought he was dead with no remains left at all. Susan and the Doctor still having differing opinions on the Time War was a poignant way to end as she was set for the War Room whilst he was set to continue to not take part. The idea of Rassilon being interested in Susan is very exciting! Overall, a superb finale to a really great series! 

Rating: 9/10

Time War: Assets of War

"I'm just a nobody from the Dry Lands."

Writer: Lou Morgan

Format: Audio

Released: April 2020

Series: Susan's War 1.03

Featuring: Susan

Synopsis

Cardinal Rasmus believes that Susan's special abilities will help him assess a new weapons project.

On a secret military base, creatures from the vortex are being bred for war. Gallifrey's scientists think they can be used as assets against the Daleks.

But the Orrovix are not easily tamed...

Verdict

Assets of War was another great episode to continue my way through the first series of Susan's War! This was much more like I expected and felt like a story that was suited to the Time War setting. Susan's telepathic abilities are being exploited really well here and I liked how they came into play during this episode. It felt like the right use of them although I do hope that things don't lean too heavily on them as I'm not sure we really saw that of Susan on screen other than on a very select few instances. It feels like this defines her character in this series at the episode which isn't an issue at all, but I don't think it should dominate her character. I like the idea of the Time Lords trying to get a new weapon and the way they were hoping to obtain the Orrovix was pretty abhorrent considering they were a sentient race. Sure, they were bred in the Time Vortex and history was on the side of the Time Lords with them having hunted them for sport, but that didn't make what they were doing now right. Sure, on paper they were a very strong weapon with them being latched onto someone through time and not letting go for basically any reason! It was welcome continuity with Nevernor within that Time War bracket. For Susan and her mind link with them she was never going to grant authority to have them used for war. I thought this episode did a really strong in highlighting the difference between the Time Lords and Gallifreyans as a whole. It's often easy to forget that they are two different things with the former being very much the elite on the planet. Rennis was obviously the prime example of that with him being from the Dry Lands and the slow build of his true intentions and his thoughts on Time Lord elite was terrific. Susan was understandably shocked but even she was guilty of thinking there wasn't much to the Dry Lands. What use could there possibly be out there for the war effort? That was a fascinating insight that I really enjoyed exploring. Her questioning to Veklin and Rasmus about if they were fighting for the Time Lords or Gallifrey was something that packed a lot of wait when you got into the thick of things. Susan getting secondhand resentment because of the Doctor's desire to not partake in the Time War was fantastic and something I think will surely come back into fruition in the finale when he's set to show up. It's an interesting dynamic with the family element and I hope we get more of it. Susan referring to Rennis's time pendant as a toy was another strong example of the inadvertent thinking less of those Gallifreyans who weren't Time Lords. This was a powerful tool to him but for her it was almost laughable. The dynamic between Susan and Veklin is something I'm enjoying a lot now too after three episodes and it's nice to hear how strong their relationship is at this point. Veklin is certainly being influenced by Susan which I like and that really came to the forefront at the end with them ensuring that Rennis did not return to Gallifrey for execution. She didn't think that was right or setting a good example, so he was basically now exiled away from his home planet and the war altogether. His motives were fascinating in representing his people against the elite and presenting that during wartime is strong. I liked how the assets of the Orrovix were thought of as just that as it highlights how starkly different the Time Lords are during this conflict whilst exploring them further. Overall, a really good episode and I'm now very excited for the finale! 

Rating: 8/10

Time War: The Uncertain Shore

"Killing me will only aid the Daleks."

Writer: Simon Guerrier

Format: Audio

Released: April 2020

Series: Susan's War 1.02

Featuring: Susan

Synopsis

Susan and Commaner Veklin are on the trail of a spy. Under cover on a ravaged world, they find a weary population, trapped, and waiting for the inevitable. But one among them is a traitor. 

The Time War is coming to Florana, and Susan will face a struggle to simply survive...

Verdict

The Uncertain Shore was another great audio in my listening of the first series of Susan's War! Considering the Time War setting and it being part of the umbrella title that Big Finish has going on across numerous ranges, this felt relatively calm which was perhaps a tad unexpected! That's no bad thing though as there are only so many ways a battle with Daleks can be told as a story. This was clearly part of a long term agenda which I liked and it was good that Gallifrey had intel on a possible Dalek agent. Susan and Veklin heading to Florana was a fun dynamic, but I'm not sure who they were trying to convince when it came to them posing as artists! I did though love how this allowed a rather beautiful anecdote by Susan about her mother and how she taught her to paint. She appreciated the beauty in the abstract and the colours which was nice. I was more on Veklin's side from a personal point of view on art, but I can appreciate the desire others have for it. It was just wonderful though for Susan to reminisce on her time growing up and get just a small taste of family life for her prior to running off with the Doctor as depicted in The Name of the Doctor. I thought the world of Florana was really good and provided a strong setting for this kind of story. I'd describe the plot here as methodical and I almost felt bad with myself by the end in not realising that the Dalek agent would be a shapeshifter. It's not typically something you would expect but it made so much sense in hindsight, especially when there were two versions of Faith! I thought she was initially an intriguing character and I liked the prospect of her being a part of the Anti-Dalek Force. That's a nice throwback to expanded Dalek media that I can appreciate. Something I loved in the episode was having Ogrons doing the dirty work of the Daleks again, but only this time they were also robotised. Susan obviously has experience of seeing the Robomen from The Dalek Invasion of Earth, but the caveat presented here with the Robogrons as they were magnificently dubbed was that the process actually made them intelligent! That was a terrific twist and it was quite something to hear the Ogrons talking in more than just grunts. I think they're a terrific species as it is and work great as rubbish henchmen, but this was a new dynamic and I appreciated that in the Time War. Veklin proving her credentials and she was who she said she was to Susan by name dropping her late son and his genetic make up felt a bit on the nose! But I guess there was immediately no doubting her. I thought she was also clever in faking her death with the respiratory bypass system and I am intrigued that Susan has such a relationship with her already that she could feel that she had apparently died. That seems a tad soon! The link back to Sphere of Influence was nice continuity with the timeframe and the journey had, and finding out that the Dalek agent was actually posing as Monty was very good. I thought it was fun for him to be filming events so his death came as a sudden surprise. It certainly carried impact! The Time Lords turning his footage into propaganda against the Daleks was another stark reminder of their wartime motives but this was actually something I completely understood. Returning to Gallifrey with Faith was good and the culprit being a Brancheerian was fun, especially when I did research after listening and found that they featured in the Eleventh Doctor comics in Doctor Who Adventures! Talk about niche. Rasmus having some big plans for Susan moving forward is exciting and sets us up very nicely for the next episode in the series! Overall, a very good audio adventure. 

Rating: 8/10

Time War: Sphere of Influence

"Welcome to the Time War."

Writer: Eddie Robson

Format: Audio

Released: April 2020

Series: Susan's War 1.01

Featuring: Susan, Ian

Synopsis

Susan's first mission is one of diplomacy. The Sense-Sphere could prove a valuable ally to Gallifrey. 

But she is not the only one who knows the Sensorites of old. Susan will have the support of an old friend. 

Ian Chesterton is about to rejoin the adventure he left a lifetime ago!

Verdict

Sphere of Influence was an excellent start to Susan's War! This has been a range that has long excited me and after getting up to date on Gallifrey, consuming a large chunk of the Eighth Doctor's Time War series, and dipping into The War Doctor Begins, this felt like a good time to finally get into things. It's a very exciting prospect and I like the timeline here of Susan deciding to take part in the Time War and fight for her planet at a time where the Doctor was very much not partaking. That worked really well and whilst her grandfather didn't appear in this episode, I feel like there's going to be some very strong emotions between them in the boxset. The impact of Lucie Miller/To the Death is still being felt as you might expect with Susan reeling from then loss of Alex and being alone. The continuity with All Hands on Deck was tremendous with that story seeing Susan board a Battle TARDIS and answer the call for conscription, and now here she was arriving. She was thrust into the action which I loved and the way this episode was almost like a Time War sequel to The Sensorites was quite something! They wouldn't be my first thought when it came to a Classic return, but I thought it worked well and why wouldn't the Time Lords want to weaponise their incredible telepathic skills? The reminder of that Season One serial was strong and profound with audio a really good format to highlight their incredibly sensitivity to sound. A very good job was done but I thought they could perhaps have done even more to extenuate that! The hierarchical system of the Sensorites being explored was great and I think it's wonderful that the Time Lords valued Susan and company's past venture to the Sense Sphere. So they brought Ian along for the trip! The idea of a reunion between Susan and Ian is just wonderful and I loved that they got to caught up decades after their respective departures in The Dalek Invasion of Earth and The Chase. I thought the way Barbara was made to feel a part of the story was just lovely and a really nice way to pay homage to her character with her being on the other end of the phone as Ian heard the TARDIS materialising in their home. Susan's joyous reaction to finding out her former schoolteachers were now a couple was great and their whole catching up was just wholesome. I liked that we had some familiar Gallifreyan faces in the form of Veklin and Rasmus, with the former shocking Ian with the true intentions of the Time Lords. They feigned safety and protection for the Sensorites but really their motives were entirely selfish. This was wartime after all. I thought Veklin falling under a Sensorite control was good and given the telepathic nature of the race, I liked the mystery of who could have done that unknown ensuing. The way fears were used as basically physical constructs was great and I loved that they could be called upon to defend yourself. I also loved the line about falling as far as the next thought. That seemed beautiful in their way of living even if it meant no privacy! But that was the price of being symbiotically linked to your planet. The First Elder being on a trade mission to the Ood Sphere was pretty amusing and felt like a nice little nod to Planet of the Ood. I liked how the Sensorites had history of defeating the Daleks with their telepathy, but now there was a giant creature that was part-Dalek and part-Sensorite causing havoc to the telephonic hive mind. It had been drip feeding evil intentions and this explained Veklin's predicament. Ian getting scientific and modern in using his phone to help emit a god awful alarm tone to disconnect the Sensorites from the trap was really well done. He was completely necessary to the mission! I thought that was good and it felt right that he was the one to get the job done. It's a shame he won't be sticking around, but what a lovely reunion. The idea of Ian rooting for the Time Lords was tremendous, especially after touching upon the fact that the Doctor didn't often mention his own people. Overall, an excellent start to the series! 

Rating: 9/10

Lease of Life

"This is not just any old mould."

Writer: Aaron Lamont

Format: Audio

Released: March 2021

Series: Torchwood Monthly 48

Featuring: Owen

Synopsis

3 bed, 1 bath, shared house in a vibrant area with easy access to Cardiff city centre. Has a real lived-in feel. 

Note to interested parties: There is a small spreading mould issue, and an investigation is being undertaken on site. Those worried are advised to contact the Council's Mould Expert, Dr Owen Harper.

Verdict

Lease of Life was a great little story to continue my way through the Torchwood monthly range at Big Finish! There's been a real theme lately of everyday life with the likes of Coffee and Drive exploring things like coffee shops and taxi drivers, and this time was the turn of real estate. Given that Torchwood is set in Cardiff which is a much calmer and more normal life experience than the capital of London, I like that we can get stories like this one. It just feels real and authentic which is a big positive. I think the idea of a shared accommodation is actually petrifying in the real world. I did it for a couple of years as a university student and that just felt normal at the time. It's what you do for these three blurry years, but in actual real life? Nah, not for me. Seren was a really good character and I liked how she was a realtor and clearly just doing it for the money. She wasn't passionate about it but it was intriguing and actually quite fun to hear some of the lingo to make a bad element of a house sound like a positive. Owen caught onto that and the way he basically goaded Seren into showing her around their own house in the real estate agent way was impressive. The issues at hand sounded reminiscent of a lot of experiences I heard about during my university days with bad drains and growing mould. I thankfully didn't have to go through that, although the bins would often get a little extreme. I'm not a fan of bad drains and blaming the council seems like a typical thing to do, although I'd definitely be buying some drain unblocker and something that smelled nice to send down there! I certainly couldn't live in the conditions that Seren described. I wasn't a huge fan of Nye purely because he seemed like a bit of a dickhead. But I completely understood why and I'd probably be the same way if somebody like Owen was asking a lot of questions around my property. Ellie was a more likeable character and the problem of her going on a 6km run and spreading the alien fungus was a lot more serious than it sounds! The fact Owen was posing as a council expert on mould was baffling though and it was amusing for him to name drop Tosh as somebody more suited to the task. It was clear in his undertones that there were feelings for Tosh from Owen which was nice to hear. I thought this could have worked better if Owen was somewhere after the events of Dead Man Walking and really dive into how he was dead with the mould preferring easy to consume organic matter. That meant dead but I'm not sure how that would work for Owen! Ellie's casual nature when she returned from her run and was completely oblivious of everything was good and just enhanced the threat. I thought the whole real estate theme was taken too far for Seren's liking when it came to the communication with the alien fungus, and it would be something she would be stuck with. Literally. After accepting the contract without quite reading the small print, Seren would be stick in her shared accommodation for a very long time indeed. Sure, she was a homeowner now but is this what she really wanted? I felt heartbroken for her with her desire to go travelling in South America destroyed because she had a four day limit before she needed to be back at the house to keep things in check. A contract was a contract though and it was considered binding. The irony for her as a real estate agent. I liked how in showing a house in what was essentially the epilogue she gave up trying to sugarcoat houses and admitted the property she was showing was a shithole. If I was house hunting again that's certainly something I would appreciate! Overall, a very strong episode. 

Rating: 8/10

Master! Part Three

"We had a legend to create."

Writer: Lizzie Hopley

Format: Audio

Released: September 2025

Series: Dark Gallifrey 4.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Master

Synopsis

In the past, the last survivors of the Master's experiment struggle to navigate a fractured landscape and the threat of the Doctor. 

In the present, Gamara must confront the consequences of her buried truths, as the monstrous Mother Quiver returns to claim her final victim.

Verdict

Master! concluded in strong style with this third part of the story to conclude the fourth series of Dark Gallifrey! I'm really enjoying the feel of this range and can't believe another series has come and gone. Time really is flying and now we've only got two more series and we have to wait until next year. As much as I love pretty much every incarnation of the Master, I do hope those series are given over to different Time Lords. There's so much to explore and surely the Monk at least could get involved in something as intriguing and impossible as Dark Gallifrey! I really liked how this part saw that lore and the series title come into fruition with it being revealed that the dark version of Gallifrey was where the Doctor and company were present and that it was in another dimension. The Doctor was confused as to how the Master even tracked it down but that was exciting. I thought the prospect of the Eighth Doctor doing battle with this incarnation of the Master again was fantastic, but I do feel we lacked much of the Doctor here. He had a quick few lines at the start and then for much of the episode he was literally talking in reverse and we couldn't understand anything he was saying! I don't want to say that I felt the Doctor was wasted here but he was certainly underutilised. It was nice of him to interact with Gamara and she has been a fantastic character throughout this adventure. I hope we haven't heard the last of her because she has a lot of potential with her position and just beliefs on Gallifrey and the High Council of the Time Lords. She's almost like a new version of the Celestial Intervention Agency with the Five and I like that a lot. She's also just a really likeable character and you could really hear how strong her beliefs were regarding her actions. The emotional journey for Olzel in the episode was terrific and I enjoyed the twist regarding her regenerating into the legendary Mother Quiver and that figure actually being the one who was interviewing (if that's the right word?) Gamara all along! The shift into phase eleven really felt different there which was great. It was an instant atmosphere shift which really made the pace pick up and inject a sense of urgency. Gamara having faith in the Doctor was very good and I liked how she knew her stuff as well when it came to the importance of her realising that everything was an experiment by the Master. His conversing with Gamara was strong stuff and I liked how he actually considered those that perished before her as the winners. They were the clever ones for getting out of dodge. His use of the Dissonants was disturbing and Olzel not actually suffering from it and just being subjected to the hypnotic presence and push of the Master was excellent. Talk about horrifying! That was the Master at his evil best though and this really was a scheme of length and downright fear. The use of the mensulum material was fascinating and the idea of a material that doesn't kill even if struck through each Time Lord heart was something, but what was the point then? Just to wound? I think a tad more clarity there would have been beneficial. I liked how the Doctor ended up getting the upper hand and the prospect of another sword fight with the Master was exciting, but it seemed to be over in a flash! That was a bit of a shame, but it was good that this Master got to escape once again and the prospect of another meeting with the Eighth Doctor excites me greatly. Overall, a long game and really well paced adventure that was complex and really interesting. A fine listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Drive

"Thanks, drive."

Writer: David Llewellyn

Format: Audio

Released: February 2021

Series: Torchwood Monthly 47

Featuring: Tosh

Synopsis

They know everything about Cardiff – they hear the city's secrets, they move between its hidden places, they understand its nightmares. And they're the people you turn to if you're in trouble. They are taxi drivers.

Toshiko Sato, wounded and desperate, wakes up in the back of a cab. She's got one night to save the city, and the meter's running..

Verdict

Drive was another excellent episode to continue my way through the Torchwood monthly range! The run of stories I've been doing over the last few weeks and months has been pretty stellar and I'm a big fan of the focus on individual characters. The nature of Torchwood is naturally that there's a team but with three or even five main characters, it's difficult for a main focus. In just having Tosh here whilst the rest of the team had swanned off to Brecon was good fun. She's probably the most underrated of the five main Torchwood team in my opinion so I really appreciate the focus on her here. She absolutely deserves to be highlighted and this did so brilliantly. I was initially a bit sceptical of the episode beforehand as the name didn't exactly excite me but this was basically another instance like Coffee where I need to just go in with a free and open mind and enjoy things. This was a wonderful hour of audio. I thought Fawzia was a magnificent character and whilst it has been a very long time since I have frequented a taxi – in Wales at least – I certainly have experience. I thought Tosh highlighting how scary of a job it is was actually completely understandable as I'm not sure I'd enjoy driving with a stranger in the backseat directing me. I have only learned to drive eighteen months ago and it's fair to say I much prefer being a solo driver! So to have Fawzia driving Tosh around the capital when she was almost on death's door was tremendous. She embraced the challenge and she was just a really likeable character. I thought the way we caught her side of the phone calls at the start of the episode was good and we got to know her really well. She felt relatable. I work in Cardiff when the office requires me so it's always nice to hear some of the familiar Welsh names and suburbs. Torchwood feels very personal as a Welshman and I just love it. We got to explore a lot of Cardiff here jumping across town and I liked how as a taxi driver and the things you hear, Fawzia realised she was getting involved in Torchwood. Tosh presenting the cause for concern in explaining how each time Chris used the stolen alien teleport, he was losing a bit of himself. A couple of times were not a big problem, but the rapid rate in which he was utilising it to perform robberies across town was putting the entire city in danger. An atom bomb explosion literally waiting to happen. Not the split atom you'd like! I thought that was a strong threat and the urgency that came from Tosh being driven round town and tracking the device was terrific. It was exciting and the way the atmosphere captured that this episode was firmly set at night was tremendous. I was listening on my lunch break but this took me to the evening for sure! Chris was actually not that bad of a person and that's saying something for someone robbing! He didn't care that he was going to die because he considered himself a failure to his family. He was trying to provide them with something monetary before he perished, but Fawzia was wonderful in explaining how he could make amends. He was still here now and that was a success. There's always time for reparations and forgiveness. Tosh and Fawzia had people on their tail after the device though and the way they perished with the controlled explosion was pretty final! It rounded everything up nicely and it was nice to know that Chris would be back on his way to putting things right in his life. Fawzia was also incredibly kind in giving Tosh the drives on the house, but the Torchwood member paid her fare and then some with a very generous tip. That was a lovely way to finish what was a fantastic episode! A mad dash around Cardiff was right up my alley. And the amount of times I've said my quote when getting off a bus. Typically Welsh! 

Rating: 9/10