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