Cass: Previously, Next Time Part 2

"Who is Elvis?"

Writer: James Moran

Format: Audio

Released: January 2023

Series: The Eighth Doctor: The Time War 5.03b

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Alex, Cass

Synopsis

The factory has vanished along with the TARDIS, and the formerly uninhabited planet is now fully populated by people who have been here for thousands of years, people who have never heard of the Time War OR Daleks. Something very strange is going on with time itself – and it's running out, fast.

Verdict 

Previously, Next Time concluded in very strong fashion to complete what was a really strong finale to the Cass series of Eighth Doctor Adventures amidst the Time War! This leaves things back as they were in regards to The Night of the Doctor and the Eighth Doctor's swan song alongside Cass whom he met for the first time (at least so he thought) with the way time was erased and rewritten here. That's such a good running theme throughout the Time War adventures for this incarnation and I'm delighted that this series is not the last in the range. There's still so much potential and I think half of that comes from Alex as a travelling companion also. I wouldn't say he was particularly bad or anything, but I don't feel like he's done an awful lot since Restoration of the Daleks brought this version back to us. Maybe with Cass the focus was rightly on her and he's not exactly a new character as the Doctor's great-grandson, but I hope we get more time to draw attention to him in the next series. I think the move away from time in general here was good and we got to focus more on the people of the previously uninhabited planet. Despite being a part two, this did almost feel like an entirely different story which made for an intriguing listen. I did also leave it a day between listens and I think that did aid in my feeling of the story being broken up. I was happy with my decision. I think the likes of Oshia and Kade really shone and the way the former was almost beginning to accept the truth from the Doctor and his companions was a bit of a shock! I don't care what anyone says, I would never be able to even contemplate that the kind of thing they were saying was true. And yet there was something there for them that made them question that their entire society and species might not actually be supposed to exist! Alex pointing out that they were conversing in English despite the TARDIS being a year away was terrific and I'm glad that was addressed. I also liked learning about the Vellans and Kaledia as bluntly unsubtle Dalek links. That was cleverly done and started to answer some of the questions about the planet and what it resembled. It was certainly very Earthly. I thought the emergence of the Daleks was strong and certainly impactful, but I must admit their presence didn't seem to last as long as it should have. The way that Oshia came to accept the fate of her people was pretty emotional as she knew the Daleks had to be thwarted, but if the Doctor was correct then that would mean herself and her entire people would cease to exist. To have ever existed. And that's exactly what happened with the Doctor utilising the Battle TARDIS and her heartbreakingly disappearing mid-speech. It didn't just stop there though as that reverted things massively bringing the Doctor and Alex back to the TARDIS which was in full working order. Alex asking the Doctor who he was talking to when he was in the middle of his own speech about remembering was great stuff and I like that there's a direction moving forward as despite her being rewritten, they both remembered Cass. I thought that was a nice touch and a fine way to send us into the next instalment of the Eighth Doctor's Time War adventures. Overall, not as strong as the first part but when combined it's still very much a stellar finale! 

Rating: 9/10