O, Darkness

"Not really the place we've been led to expect, is it?"

Writer: John Binns

Format: Short Story

Released: December 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Steel Skies 14

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II, Adric

Synopsis

There are many places that most of us can never see: places that are sheltered, locked away, cordoned off from the outside world. But to the Doctor, and those who travel with him in his TARDIS, there is no such thing as a locked door. Anywhere in space and time is open to them to visit – even if sometimes it might be better to leave such places well alone.

Steel Skies is a collection of stories based in enclosed and artificial environments: places constructed to keep the dangers of the universe outside, perhaps, or to keep their inhabitants locked in. It is divided into four sections, each exploring a different kind of confinement:

Section One, Flight, comprises four tales of travellers who left their homes for far-away destinations – to explore, to start a new life, or to fight for the survival of their species.

Section Two, Frontiers, explores the corridors, living quarters and ventilation shafts of four futuristic environments – designed to shelter men, women and children from harsh natural forces, or from the threat of nuclear war.

Section Three, Incarceration, tells four stories of punishment and imprisonment, from San Francisco's infamous Alcatraz, to the cage of a flightless angel in the dilapidated ruins of Heaven. 

Section Four, Isolation, deals with the loneliness and despair of being cut off from the world outside, by physical or mental incapacity, by the ravages of war, or caught between destinations aboard the TARDIS itself. 

A recurring theme in all four sections is the effect of the Doctor's arrival in these enclosed environments – sometimes positive, sometimes less so.

Verdict

O, Darkness a pretty average story to get me back on track in continuing my way through the Steel Skies edition of Short Trips. This was an intriguing setup as in my head when the story opened with Adric I immediately assumed this would be a Fifth Doctor outing, but it was actually set during the events of the E-Space trilogy! I think that’s a good idea as there’s definitely grounds for exploration of that universe and there’s certainly plenty of manoeuvring with the timeline. This was set between State of Decay and Warriors’ Gate which I enjoyed because we see two very different companions at two very different points in their life as companion. For Romana, she’s already able to challenge the Doctor because she’s a fellow Time Lord but on top of that she’s also been travelling with him a long time now and for more than one regeneration! It’s no surprise that Adric felt essentially relegated to the background and the shadows within the Structure as it was basically left to the Time Lords to try and fix the situation within the Structure. That was a decent setting but I don’t think there was anywhere near enough clarity or description concerning it. I know that we’re in E-Space and so things aren’t quite as we know them and ambiguity can be good in some instances, but I don’t think this was it. I’m not even convinced it was ambiguous I just think it was lacking in explanation. J was a bit of a weird character and I found the dynamic of a perspective shift halfway through the story from Adric to the Doctor and Romana a little off putting. I would have liked to keep things from Adric’s point of view as whilst I’m not a big fan of his character as a companion in the slightest, I do think he’s troubled and getting some internal insight at this early point in his time on the TARDIS would have been good. We got a little bit so it was odd to have that just change drastically. That’s not to say I’m not a fan of the Fourth Doctor and Romana, but it was just strange. I can’t believe I’m saying I wanted more Adric! His annoyance at being stuck within the Structure was good and should have stayed with the duration. The Doctor going over the same thing time and time again was annoying him as well which was amusing and I could perfectly see the Fourth Doctor doing that. Forty times up and down the same character. The anger he showed towards J for not confirming the existence of the cassettes felt a tad out of place and I was glad that Romana confronted him a little on that. I thought the way they physically got out of the Structure and opened the darkness allowing the light in was a bit bland. I’m not sure it was wholly exciting either. There needed a bit of an adrenaline boost into the story which is a shame to say as I try to see the best in every adventure. Romana was nice in comforting J and preparing him to exit the comfort of the Structure taking it step by step. He’d been confined for a year so it was always going to be a tough task to restore some semblance of normality. Overall, an interesting setting and a very strong placement in the timeline, but this needed more. 

Rating: 5/10

Kaldor Nights

"Kill the Chenkas."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: May 2022

Series: The Robots 5.03

Featuring: Liv, Tula

Synopsis

Kaldor Nights is the most popular reality tv series on the planet... and it now has two new people on set. As danger approaches outside, Liv and Tula are there to ensure the show must go on. Because it's just tv isn't it? There can't be anything sinister going on... can there?

Verdict

Kaldor Nights was another great episode to conclude the fifth volume of The Robots! As we setup the final boxset to come I thought this shifted the dynamic of the series and the entire planet of Kaldor in a pretty spectacular way. The idea of the Company not having a monopoly on the AI of the planet is fascinating. It felt eerie right from the off as far as the Studio was concerned but when Liv and Tula tried to showcase their authority, the reaction when they weren't recognised was fantastic. It happened early too which really put a different slant on proceedings. Liv and Tula were on a film studio set, but I wasn't expecting there to be such wide ranging ramifications! I liked that I was caught a little off guard. We heard the title of 'Kaldor Nights' mentioned briefly in The Enhancement so I like that we get a little bit of continuity there. Tula is an avid fan so for her this was essentially like a fangirl service as she was on the set of her favourite television show! Liv was less of a fan and didn't really know about it which was a shock to just about everyone. I wouldn't expect anything less of Liv though where reality television was concerned. It definitely doesn't feel like it would be her forte! The way artificial intelligence was dealt with here was intriguing and whilst I won't pretend to understand all of the technical jargon, I did like the way binary was used when the word zero was stated allowed. Tapping into the enhancement chip was terrific and ties things up very well for the series as a whole. It's nice to go full circle in that regard. I thought just having the episode on a film set to begin with was fun and it definitely felt like a shift for the entire spinoff range which I think was refreshing. Kaldor continues to offer so much as a vibrant setting and this was just another addition. It's a wonderful planet to explore. I thought the way Liv utilised language against the Studio Robots was terrific and showcased her experience in the TARDIS really well. She was more than equipped to deal with a situation like this one and hearing that firsthand was delightful. Everything needed to be a scene which I thought was excellent and so Liv basically pushing herself into the role of director but purely for storyline purposes was really nicely done. I was a big fan of that ingenuity. Even though this is a boxset finale, it does feel like more of a set up for things to come as I don't think anything was really resolved here! The Studio being outed as another artificial intelligence network is great and Tula harking back to her experiences and the feeling being similar to that of The Janus Deception was really good. It made sense too and it's intriguing to hear her still sounding in quite a vulnerable state. She doesn't share the same confidence or bravado as her sister, but who can blame her? There feels like there's going to be a robotic civil war coming with the Company against the Studio and that's exciting for a final boxset. I like how things were set up here and I can't wait to listen to the next series! Overall, a fine finale for the fifth volume. 

Rating: 8/10

Machines Like Us

"They want a chip inside everyone."

Writer: Phil Mulryne

Format: Audio

Released: May 2022

Series: The Robots 5.02

Featuring: Liv, Tula

Synopsis

Kador Arris of the founding families used to work for the Company – but now he's on the outside and demanding greater accountability. His populist plans are gaining momentum – but also gaining him enemies. A terrifying conspiracy is underway – and only Liv and Tula are in a position to stop it.

Verdict

Machines Like Us was another great episode to continue my way through the fifth series of The Robots! It feels quite scary to think that I only have four episodes left in the entire spinoff range now because it has been a sensational adventure. There's still a lot of room to play with and that's exciting but it does feel like things are starting to get to Liv. I think that's primarily because of what's happening with her sister. Tula has had a tough time of it lately and her chip being turned off felt right after recent events. The threat of it being put back on though is good and that is something that is always going to be looming. Even though Liv is the familiar character and literal companion that is the face of the series, I'm impressed with how Tula stands on an equal footing. She's really enjoyable and it's nice to get more emotion from her here as she suffers. That feels really odd but I think it's providing her with some strong character growth as we head into the final stretch. I thought Kador Arris as a member of the founding families was really intriguing and honestly I'm surprised we haven't had more involvement! His position on the board of the Company coming up was fun and puts him in a fascinating position. Of course, it turned out to not be him at all which is good. Is it getting repetitive or a little uninteresting that basically anybody could be a Robot? I'm not sure but it does feel like something troublesome that could impact things moving forward when you wouldn't be able to trust literally anybody. The situation here was good though with Volf as the assistant to Arris actually being the one responsible and her creating multiple versions of him with the Robot outline was really intriguing. It got technical but in a series that's literally titled Robots I suppose that comes with the territory. I like the mystery and enigma that continues to be any character played by Jon Culshaw with him credited here as the Source but links continue to go back to Vash Sorkov and even Uvanov keeping a nice connection to The Robots of Death. I thought Kirran was a little on the downside here which was fine as keeping her presence connected was all good after a strong outing last time out in The Enhancement. It does feel like we have a good direction going now as things head into another finale which I expect to be pretty eventful to setup the sixth and final series. The reactions of Liv and Tula to finding out what happened here with Volf were really strong and I like how the entire episode just screamed intrigue. Everything was meticulous and I rather enjoyed that. As far as a commute home on the train goes, this was an absolute breeze to listen to! I enjoyed Liv and Arris interacting and perhaps even more so in hindsight. I also really appreciated how well Tula was able to spot a Robot despite audio cues suggesting otherwise. That's a unique quality and one I suspect will come into play again. Overall, another very strong listen to continue my way through a fascinating and strong series! A great episode.

Rating: 8/10

The Enhancement

"We all mourn in different ways."

Writer: Aaron Douglas

Format: Audio

Released: May 2022

Series: The Robots 5.01

Featuring: Liv, Tula

Synopsis

The Enhancement chips are the next stage of personal security for the citizens of Kaldor – and following her experiences with identity theft, no-one is keener to get involved with them than Tula. Liv, however, has other concerns. The Sons of Kaldor have been suspiciously quiet. But is this something to be worried about? Or is the true threat much closer to home?

Verdict

The Enhancement was a great start to the fifth series of The Robots! There was a lot going on in the previous boxset and I enjoyed the follow on from The Janus Deception where Tula was concerned as having her identity stolen by the data wraith was a big ordeal. It had clearly impacted her in a big way so she was actually very much on board for extra security when it came to the enhancement chip. I do understand her sentiment there, but considering who her sister is I am surprised Liv allowed her to go through with it without some strong security vetting. It was obvious that the enhancement chip was going to come with consequences or at least some sort of technical glitch that would look like technologically deficient, when it was actually intentional. The memory loss was really intriguing given that it was instant and I must admit that I could believe Kirran where her defence was coming from. Those impacted were told to rest for at least three days after having the enhancement chip fitted, but here they were just mere hours later complaining. Could it be the technical version of side effects? It was believable in my opinion, but Liv of course wasn't having it. I loved that about her because she wasn't taking it. I wouldn't have expected anything less either. Her relationship with Kirran is understandably testing and that was put to full force here as she met up with her on no less than three occasions! Volar Crick returning in emphatic fashion was really strong stuff and he had clearly gone through a lot since the events of Love Me Not. That's not exactly a surprise given what happened there with his wife so it made sense for him to be the one publicly confessing to Skellen's murder. Liv doesn't find that believable in the slightest and I'm loving how she is out to cause trouble for the Company and beyond at just about every turn. She's getting a lot done in this year break from the TARDIS! Causing chaos is her speciality on Kaldor. I thought it was amusing that she wasn't interested in the Kaldor Nights television show though. Volar as the creator of the enhancement chip was good as he comes across as a bit of a devious character and that's certainly a role that suits him. His own suffering of memory loss meaning that he didn't remember meeting Liv was an immediate red flag, but given what occurred with his wife could it be a means of grief or mourning? The mind can blank out things so it was feasible I guess. Liv again though wasn't having it. I like how this feels like a set up episode of things to come as the enhancement chip has not gone away and with it being compulsory that's going to bring about some serious issues which I can't wait to come into the foreground. I also must note my appreciation for the line about Toos and Poul being out there continuing their own work when it came to the Robots. That was a nice touch and it's a shame that they don't feature in the last two series. Overall, a really strong start to the series! 

Rating: 8/10

Blood on the Carpet

"You dare challenge me? You scrawny pawn!"

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Comic Strip

Released: October 2026

Printed in: DWM 635

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

With Rose having been taken on a flying carpet, the Doctor is in a desperate rescue attempt across the cosmos.

Verdict

Blood on the Carpet was an average comic strip adventure in the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine. I think the nostalgic appreciation of Bizarre Bazaar! wasn't quite replicated on the second go around which is a shame and I'm still uncertain as to whether this is supposed to be its own story or a part two to the previous issue. We got the cliffhanger finish last time around but that felt more like a lead into another adventure, especially with the next issue caption and question surrounding Rose's fate, but then this one had a definitive 'The End' so I think it is open to interpretation to be honest. I suspect the next issue's comic strip will visit a new era and Doctor altogether in another fun flashback – I'm hoping for the Eighth Doctor and Destrii – but for now this has been to hark back to Doctor Who Adventures. As I mentioned in yesterday's blog entry, I wasn't a collector of Doctor Who Adventures apart from a couple of issues during the Peter Capaldi era, but I fully appreciate the artistic style and how it pays homage to an important part of so many children's fandom. The flying carpet element of the cliffhanger was actually something that really excited me reading the end of the last issue, but it was hardly worth talking about here with Rose flying it and it being blasted with laser holes. That sounds problematic but I never quite bought that Rose was in much danger. The way she was saved was clever in having the Doctor tracking her phone as the coordinates, but it was also very much like what happened with River Song in The Angels Take Manhattan. It was almost a carbon copy to be honest, expect Rose safely arrived in the console room whereas the Doctor's wife went straight into the swimming pool! I thought the desperation of the Doctor when Rose was through the hole in space was excellent and something we needed to see more of in my opinion. I know there's only six pages to play with in each issue but more than a glimpse was needed because the way he countered as if those at the Garazone Bazaar didn't think a part of him was taken was brilliant. When the Tenth Doctor gets dark it can get quite exciting, but then it just turned out there was more than a singular Djinni on the shelf. That felt incredibly too easy and convenient for the Doctor to just get given three wishes again in order to save Rose. Why wasn't the first wish simply to bring Rose to him? Jeanie being with him in the TARDIS was fun but again it didn't really serve much of a purpose only for her to then reveal at the end that the wishes her kind granted were not permanent. They only last thirteen minutes? How random! I thought that was a bit naff to be honest and I wasn't a big fan of the Doctor just leaving the white proprietor to the mercy of the antiques once again. It was a little bit of a full circle as far as the Red and White factions were and it's honestly a shame the Doctor wasn't the former's King! Overall, another nice rush of nostalgia but the story didn't quite work for me in a big way.  

Rating: 6/10

Bizarre Bazaar!

"The antiques are doing the robbing!"

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Comic Strip

Released: September 2026

Printed in: DWM 634

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

When Rose's vintage phone is in need of a battery upgrade, the Doctor takes her to one of the only places in the universe that might have the part. But something sinister is at play at the Garazone Bazaar...

Verdict

Bizarre Bazaar! was a fun little comic strip adventure! I am very intrigued by the current direction of the comic strip in Doctor Who Magazine because with no clear indication of when the show will return on screen, and there technically being no confirmed current Doctor, it feels right to dip into the past and go for a bit of a nostalgia appeal. We had that massively with The Daleks' Master Plan interlude last time out with a black and white comic strip, and now we have something different altogether here! The style of the comic was instantly recognisable and it felt like a return to the Tenth Doctor era of Series 2 in a massive way. That really helped it feel authentic and honestly the style was perfect. You could slot this onto the end of The Betrothal of Sontar graphic novel with absolute ease. It would be a seamless follow on. I was also impressed with how the story captured the essence of Doctor Who Adventures comic strips as well. I wasn't actually a fan during this era as I didn't discover the wonderful world of the Whoniverse until the broadcast of The Lazarus Experiment, but I can appreciate what was trying to be achieved here. I am in favour of paying homage to that and I do plan on purchasing the recently released Save the Humans! graphic novel collecting the first batch of DWA comic strip stories. I am sure I'd have appreciated the artwork on this one even more if I had covered that already. The story itself is pretty basic and that's no bad thing when you only have six pages to play with. I do question the Doctor arriving at the Garazone Bazaar to replace Rose's dodgy phone battery because even if it was rare in 2007, surely you could just utilise the fact the TARDIS was able to travel in time and go to a year when it wasn't? That felt a bit of an oversight but the Garazone Bazaar was almost certainly a more interesting place. Rock cakes that were actual rocks for a start was a bit of a shock, not just to me as the reader but also Rose when she knocked somebody out with one! The irony of the antiques coming to life and being the thieves was amusing and the resolution with Jeanie being found by the Doctor in an old oil lamp was fine for this kind of adventure. It's not one I'm going to take too seriously because that would be doing it a disservice. It's just a bit of fun and I think that's also reflected in the cliffhanger finish in having Rose on a flying carpet and being whisked away to who knows when and where. The idea of it being created by the very fabric of space and time is a wonderful play and words and it seems this little DWA nostalgia tour will continue for at least another issue in the comic strip! That's good and exciting, and I've waited until now to read this one because I thought it was a part one. It very much isn't which is great because the more content we get the better! Overall, this was just lighthearted fun and a good little read. The artwork and what it represents was the highlight for me. I hope this kind of bouncing around of nostalgia continues for a long time to come yet.

Rating: 7/10

Overworked

"No doctors, only patients."

Writer: Hannah Kennedy

Format: Audio

Released: October 2026

Series: Halloween 2.04

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Nyssa

Synopsis

When the TARDIS locks on to a signal calling out for a 'doctor', Nyssa and the Doctor are brought to a hospital on Earth in 1974.

However, with the help of cleaners Harold and Sophie, they discover that something is very wrong with the patients here, something otherworldly. 

Verdict

Overworked was a great episode to conclude the second series of Halloween! This has been a really good series of darker stories but I almost wish the opposite of the first series in that I think it came out a little too early in the month! I'm aware of how ridiculous that is but to finish the boxset over a week before the big day just feels a little wrong. I know I was the one deciding on when to listen but whenever I get anything new I like to finish it as soon as possible to avoid spoilers. I wouldn't have thought that the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa were the best suited pairing for a Halloween kind of adventure, but they performed well here in the hospital setting. I think an allusion to the story being close to Halloween in terms of a date would have been so easy to help this episode along, but the setting is more than enough to produce those darker vibes. Wondering an almost empty hospital at night must be pretty darn scary indeed! The continued references to that bleach-like smell in hospitals really did transport you into its surroundings which I was a big fan of as it established the location very nicely. Nyssa not being too impressed with them arriving at a hospital of all places for a plea of 'Doctor' was pretty amusing but I did like the Time Lord's retort of how this was different because otherwise they would never land anywhere else! This plea was on another level. I wasn't expecting things to be quite the way they were with the patients literally appealing from within. The concept of a hodge podge reconstruction and the medic taking shortcuts was pretty brutal. Screaming from the mind rather than physically was really disturbing stuff and honestly it's amazing that any of those calling out for a doctor survived. Sophie was a really strong character so it was surprising to find her basically eaten and then spat out by the gastropods! I'm not a fan of slugs but I think anything along those lines works better as a monster in audio than on screen. I'm not sure the Mantraps were wholly effective in their design in Dot and Bubble but the cover art here meant their counterparts here were looking gruesome and just a little better left to the imagination. Utilising the Doctor and Nyssa as not being human was good in the excuse of why they couldn't sacrifice themselves in the resolution, so Harold stepped up in an admirable way. He wasn't having any other answer than him being the one to be absorbed in order to save all of those other patients that had been used at the hands of the medic. It was a little convoluted I must admit where the science came in, but the basic premise of what he was doing was understandable. The story of his Maggie dying and how he was saving for a cruise was a nice story because she always wanted to get out and see the world but there was always an excuse. He wouldn't see that through now because he knew she wouldn't forgive him if he let so many die to do that. Overall, a really strong listen to conclude a great little set! 

Rating: 8/10

The Box on the Street

"It reminds me of home."

Writer: Beth Axford

Format: Short Story

Released: October 2026

Printed in: DWM 635

Featuring: Rose, Barbara 

Synopsis

In the middle of her summer holiday shopping, Barbara Wright spots a very familiar and impossible blue box on the street. But the woman inside is not who she was expecting...

Verdict

The Box on the Street was a wonderful short story! I really missed the Brief Encounters feature in the last issue of Doctor Who Magazine, but considering we got a bumper interview with Anneke Wills it's no surprise and that was a tasty conversation to say the least! I must admit I had forgotten about this feature so when I flick through the DWM after it arrives in the post for a look at what's ahead this month, I was delighted to see this return! It's such a simple idea and it just absolutely works. I'm all for ever expanding content and the brief encounter theme is really special. How else would we get a story with Rose and Barbara meeting? The latter holds a special place in my heart alongside Ian as the first true companions because I think Susan is something of an exception given she's the Doctor's granddaughter. It always feels lovely whenever Barbara is around, especially if it is after the events of The Chase! Just reading how she put her hands on the TARDIS brought a huge smile to my face and I also like the little note about nobody else on the London street noticing the blue police box, but given she used to call it home there's no surprise that she wasn't in the same boat. I like how she just knew that it was the TARDIS as that feels right. It's lovely to know that she has grandchildren now and the line at the end where she would tell her husband Ian about her encounter was terrific. It's a shame we never got his reaction! It's also a shame that the Doctor was literally inside the TARDIS and never popped his head out to say hello. I like to think that Barbara mentioning she would see him again someday was a reference to Hunters of the Burning Stone where she would encounter the Eleventh Doctor, but sadly the Tenth was just out of reach. From Rose's perspective, the setting chronologically being just before they enter the scene in Love and Monsters was fun and Barbara being the one to provide the blue buckets is a nice touch. Considering who the author is, I get the feeling Beth Axford had the idea for this one when she was defending the indefensible in an article recently in DWM explaining why the aforementioned episode isn't all that bad. It really is though! I'm not a fan. But given that's arguably the first Doctor-lite episode, it's nice to fill the gaps here and know that from the Doctor's perspective it's business as usual. Worlds to save, people to help. He was still the same Doctor and Rose explaining that to Barbara was wonderful. For her, it was basically enough to know that he was still out there doing all he could. This time around it was the Hoix and knowing that Barbara had a very small part to play in that is delightful. I don't really plan on watching Love and Monsters again, but I'm sure I will end up doing so and maybe I'll have a slightly different perspective or appreciation for it. Overall though, exactly what this little series of short stories should be. The Doctor just being out of reach for Barbara on the other side of the door is all that brings this down slightly for me. A lovely read! 

Rating: 9/10

False Friends

"This is the planet of the Autons."

Writer: Timothy X Atack

Format: Audio

Released: October 2026

Series: Ninth Doctor Adventures 4.08

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

Minnie and Gary are trapped on a planet of robots, a fake Earth, and they're the only humans. Hoping no-one spots their humanity, they summon the one person they know will answer their call for help.

But can the Doctor and Rose save Gary and Minnie from this false Earth – and who has built this very bad copy of human civilisation in the first place?

Verdict

False Friends was a great episode to continue my way through the fourth series of Ninth Doctor Adventures! I am loving the bimonthly release schedule with this series alternating with its Thirteenth Doctor counterpart and it's just so good to really max out the time the Ninth Doctor and Rose spent travelling. It's incredible to think that by the time this series concludes we'll be at nearly fifty episodes of Ninth Doctor Adventures which is just staggering but I am so thankful for it. I am sure this won't be the last for Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper together, but even if it is I am so happy we got a returning monster for them to face. I remember reading in the Doctor Who Magazine preview interview when the Ninth Doctor Adventures were announced by Big Finish that the Autons were returning, but I'm sure then it was stated that it was in the seventh episode. Of course, that didn't come to be last time out in Dark Tides so I kind of forgot about it. I thought the nature of the episode was building towards something familiar and it was clear from the hints that the reveal of the masters of the strange mirror planet of Earth was going to be something or someone we knew as the listener, but with talk of robots I was suspecting the Kraal! I thought things were oddly reminiscent of The Android Invasion which was fun and I wonder if that was done on purpose? Either way, the moment Rose and the Doctor realised they were on the planet of the Autons was superb. The Nestene Consciousness was out to conquer humanity once again, but this time around it was channeling its inner Monks and having a practice run. I like that as a concept even if the scale is so unbelievably huge because it is unique. I thought Billie Piper was excellent in once again capturing the younger Series 1 era of Rose as a character and considering she's playing that role over twenty years later, it really is continuously impressive. It really adds a lot and her reaction in learning that they were tackling the Nestene Consciousness again was fantastic. It really sold the threat as being a big one and her first encounter was always going to leave a mark! I thought Minnie and Gary as the supposed only humans on the planet were really strong characters and it was clear they were made for each other! Would they really be just friends after everything they had been through even if Gary had a fiancé back home? It would appear not if the hug at the end of the episode is anything to go by. Playing around with two versions of Rose as one was an Auton was done pretty well, but I do think the doppelgänger plot device is not best placed on audio. Minnie did her best in labelling the respective versions but we can't see the slight tear in the shirt and Piper has her voice so it's very hard to differentiate. The human Rose admitting that she couldn't prove she was human was proof enough and I rather liked that in its simplicity. Being honest in a situation like that wouldn't be easy but she did so and that saved her. I think the ending was a little out of nowhere in that exposing the facade was essentially enough, but Gary and Minnie were even Autons and they didn't know it. They accepted the fact which was intriguing and the Doctor being prepared to leave them behind was brutal but Rose was on hand to save them by convincing the Doctor to think otherwise. I like how he knows the Nestene Consciousness isn't defeated, but he's certainly provided a setback here! Overall, a very good listen to continue the seres along! 

Rating: 8/10

Office Space

"My brethren are not kind."

Writers: Georgia Cook & Fio Tretheway

Format: Audio

Released: October 2026

Series: Halloween 2.03

Featuring: UNIT

Synopsis

It's Max's first night shift at the UNIT liaison call centre in Chester, screening emergency calls from the public for signs of extraterrestrial threat.

But tonight the calls hold something far deadlier, and soon Max and his colleagues find themselves fighting for their lives to survive against the night itself.

Verdict

Office Space was another great episode to continue my way through the second series of Halloween! If there was a monster made for a Halloween themed series then the Vashta Nerada were certainly it. I was delighted when the twist came revealing them as the mysterious Flesh in the shadows, and whilst I did work it out beforehand that didn't take anything away from the moment. Sometimes knowing a reveal like that is coming makes it better and this was certainly the case on this occasion. Before listening I was aware that this was just a UNIT adventure with no familiar characters from the organisation which meant it immediately went rather low down on my radar with anticipation low, but it was actually terrific. I found myself enjoying the dynamic of the UNIT call centre in Chester of all places with some really strong characters in the form of Max, Shelly, Carl and Clementine. It was Max's first day on the job so getting to learn about the emergency call centre of UNIT's through her was nicely done. I do question the point of the call centre being a middle man essentially between an emergency 999 call and sending someone out to deal with it. I do think that Max's first call was a prime example of the flaw in the system because if someone is in a situation bad enough or to the level of worrisome that they are dialling 999 then I would want to have the police sent out if that's what I asked for! I thought the delay in communicating with the Flesh as the kind of conscience of the Vashta Nerada was good and it allowed a decent chunk of time to build to the reveal. This was really good in capturing that darker theme, although I must have missed if this was explicitly set close to Halloween. I guess that's not hugely important but it would make sense if it was. The appeal of the Vashta Nerada is obvious though and the mystery calls coming from the babysitters was eerie to say the least. Carl getting more and more annoyed by that and not following protocol was nicely done because he shut off the phone supplies, and they still kept getting through! I thought that was good in highlighting the threat posed. Picking off the UNIT personnel one by one was fantastic and I liked that Clementine was eradicated almost from the off. The description of being eaten in particular was superb. I thought the desperation of Max getting deeper and deeper as the episode went on was great and whilst it was cliche for this to be her first day on the job, it just worked. I thought she was good and trying to destroy the box that would cause the Vashta Nerada to dissipate was intriguing, but Flesh had basically brought them all on a wild goose chase that would actually just anger her kind. Some moral conscience! I like the horror in the concept of an ambitious ending because the Vashta Nerada being at large is obviously tasty. Is there going to be a UNIT follow up? I doubt it, but I'd be well in favour of that. Overall though, a great listen to continue my way through the series! 

Rating: 8/10

Sirgwain and the Green Knight

"He knew that the armour he wore would offer no protection."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2026

Printed in: Time Lord Fairy Tales 15

Featuring: Ice Warrior

Synopsis

We are all stories in the end...

Sixteen tales of ancient wonder and mystery, passed down through generations of Time Lords. 

Dark, beautiful and twisted, these stories are filled with nightmarish terrors and heroic triumphs from across all of time and space.

Verdict

Sirgwain and the Green Knight was a good little story to conclude my reading of the Time Lord Fairy Tales collection! Now, it's no secret that I bought this book purely for The Doctor and the Three Witches as part of the Circuit Breaker multimedia story event, but I've really enjoyed the fifteen short stories that came before it in this collection. They're unique, random and certainly quirky so it was good that things concluded in much the same way. I knew from the title alone that this was going to feel more folky and certainly have a fairytale vibe as anytime we delve into Arthurian tales that is always going to happen. Sirgwain was certainly a character I could respect here and the titular green knight felt the same way. It took me much longer than it should have to realise that the Warrior who crashed and needed aid was an Ice Warrior! I was delighted when I realised though as I thought he was presented very well here. He was a fine representative of the Ice Warriors and whilst he was brutish, he was also respectful. I thought incorporating them into this kind of setting with the people around was great because it was a clash of two different systems of honour. It's important to both and touching upon that was nicely done here. It was also crucial to Sirgwain's survival. I thought King Harthur (ha! Could it be any more on the nose?) was a decent character but I'm not sure he quite respected honour in the same way as his knight. As far as he was concerned, they had supplied the Ice Warrior with the men and materials needed to repair his ship (or temple as they saw it) and that meant honour remained intact. It was the King who made the agreement, but still Sirgwain had to see it through as he felt honour bound. I thought that was admirable and showed he was certainly a strong knight. I liked that a lot and with a month to dwell on it while the Warrior was going through with his repairs, it must have been agony. As far as Sirgwain was concerned, going to the Ice Warrior was his day of death. There was no doubt in his mind and that can't be a fun thing to have weighing on your mind. I liked how the Ice Warrior respected Sirgwain for seeing through his part of the agreement and he was actually nothing but complimentary. He appreciated the materials and the hardworking nature of the men that helped repair his temple, and now they could be freely returned to the King. Sirgwain was ready for the final part of the bargain when it came to the blow to be reciprocated, but the Warrior knew he was an honourable man. He anticipated and accepted death, so he didn't actually need to die. I thought that was a nice way to finish things and he had one last trick with the take off of his ship now it was in full working order. A Warrior of the stars indeed. Overall, a nice way to finish the collection and just a really solid story. I'm all about stories concerning honour! 

Rating: 7/10

The Three Brothers Gruff

"Every race has its weaknesses"

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2026

Printed in: Time Lord Fairy Tales 14

Featuring: Sontarans

Synopsis

We are all stories in the end...

Sixteen tales of ancient wonder and mystery, passed down through generations of Time Lords. 

Dark, beautiful and twisted, these stories are filled with nightmarish terrors and heroic triumphs from across all of time and space.

Verdict

The Three Brothers Gruff was a fun little story to continue my way through the Time Lord Fairy Tales collection! I'm a sucker for a Sontaran adventure so to get a second one in this book is a big positive for me. I knew right from the off with the arrival of a spherical ship that it was going to be them and once black armour was described, there was only one race it was going to be. I like the simplicity of having Commander Starn return from The Three Little Sontarans as it just keeps things moving from a continuity perspective and it makes sense that if there are fairytales about a Sontaran, then it would be the same one. I thought the story clearly took inspiration from The Sontaran Experiment which I'm absolutely okay with as that is one of the first Classic era serials I ever watched. I loved the impact the Sontarans made in The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky so I remember being very excited receiving the DVD of that story for Christmas 2008 and catching up on their past encounters with the Doctor. Having Starn here reporting on a planet and testing the local population felt familiar and I enjoyed that aspect of the story very much. The threat posed to Starn from his higher in command was good in that if the report of the feasibility of the planet wasn't provided within a day, then the Sontaran invasion would not be risked and therefore not commence. As far as the three brothers were concerned, that was music to their ears and they knew what needed to be done. The humour and almost comical way in which Starn revealed his own weakness and that of the entire Sontaran race was just gloriously perfect of this race. He thought he was boasting and showing strength in explaining that even in having a weakness, theirs was on their neck in the form of the probic vent which meant that they had to face their enemies. Starn was almost beaming with pride on the page in explaining this but it brought his downfall. I thought Naze was the best of the Gruff brothers and it was good that he realised not to showcase all of his intelligence when it came to the testing in place by Starn. Even when a wrong answer provided a significant electric shock, he knew not to appear too clever as the Sontaran might not want him. The way he saved and then enlisted his other brothers for what was needed to take out Starn and prevent their planet from being invaded. I don't think they should have been able to carry the Sontaran over to his ship but at the same time the gravity of the planet was never established. I'll let it slide. I thought their plan to smash up anything they could see in the ship to prevent the report getting back to Sontaran Command was excellent and felt right to just cause chaos. Overall, a really fun little tale to continue my way through the book! Just one to go now. A great read.

Rating: 8/10

The Grief Collector

"She had no more tears left to cry."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2026

Printed in: Time Lord Fairy Tales 13

Featuring: Tenth Doctor 

Synopsis

We are all stories in the end...

Sixteen tales of ancient wonder and mystery, passed down through generations of Time Lords. 

Dark, beautiful and twisted, these stories are filled with nightmarish terrors and heroic triumphs from across all of time and space.

Verdict

The Grief Collector was a really strong adventure to continue my way through the Time Lord Fairy Tales collection of short stories! I'm nearing the end of the book now with just a couple more stories to finish things off so it's inevitable that the Tenth Doctor would show up in some form! He was actually the incarnation that was explicitly named here which felt like a big deal for the stories in the collection so far and if it was going to be anyone, it just had to be him. He didn't feature much other than a few cameo appearances but his presence was felt and that was all that was needed. I was surprised he did get named as he was easily identifiable by the description of his pinstriped suit and I actually think it would have been better to keep going with just giving clues and hints as to his identity. As the reader, we can easily work out who it is and which incarnation, but given this is supposed to be a Time Lord fairy tale I'm not sure how it works chronologically with the Tenth Doctor featuring. There can't really be a fairytale created after the Time War considering all of the Time Lords were dead. The Doctor was just on hand as more of a guiding hand though when it came to helping Melina. She was a really strong character as the lead for this story and her meeting with the Grief Collector was pretty brutal. He was offering unfathomable amounts of money seemingly in return for nothing at all. She was just required to give up the tears of her wedding day which didn't sound like a lot on paper. Of course, she was thinking that it would be the happiest day of her life so why would she cry? Except the Grief Collector was one step ahead of the game. He had prepared to make the most special day of her life actually the most miserable. I did suspect the Trickster would be at play when it came to the wedding day and Varan had seemingly vanished off the face of the Earth, but his memory still lingered so that ruled him out. I think he'd get on with the Grief Collector rather well though if I'm being honest! He just seemed to have a storage problem. I thought the concept behind the Grief Collector was excellent and I think the only thing holding this story back from a higher or even a perfect rating was a bit more background on his purpose. Does he feed on the tears? Where does he get the money? And just what is he, exactly? I understand this is a short story so there isn't a huge amount of room to play with, but just a line or two would have helped in my opinion. Melina taking it upon herself to find others impacted by the Grief Collector was great but I must also say the scale being so contained to her locality felt a tad off. I liked that she got into his residence though and found Varan and the tears she had cried for him along with thousands of others. It was a daunting image and I don't think the illustration quite did it justice. Her screams actually resonating with the glass to the point that it fractured them to free the prisoners and the tears that were cried for them was a nice touch and seems like the right kind of resolution for this format. It's quick and easy. Victoria would be proud! Melina should be proud and I'd say she had strong companion capabilities, but she had her place. Love conquered all. Overall, a great read to continue the collection! 

Rating: 8/10

Andiba and the Four Slitheen

"We Slitheen have never shied away from doing what we must to secure a profit."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2026

Printed in: Time Lord Fairy Tales 12

Featuring: Slitheen

Synopsis

We are all stories in the end...

Sixteen tales of ancient wonder and mystery, passed down through generations of Time Lords. 

Dark, beautiful and twisted, these stories are filled with nightmarish terrors and heroic triumphs from across all of time and space.

Verdict

Andiba and the Four Slitheen was another great story to continue my way through the Time Lord Fairy Tales collection! This was a short story that was pretty much exactly what it said on the tin. It is a simple title but it works effectively. I'm not sure it fit the fairytale all that much but the Slitheen are a strong familiar element to go along with the collection. Andiba was a nice character and I admired her right from the off to be honest. She was obviously clever and used her surroundings to her advantage. She was quick to gather information and use it when it came to opening the door. She heard the plan of the Slitheen which was brutal in their efforts to mine yet more material for their own profit, but more importantly she quickly deduced what the Slitheen weakness was. I thought that was really good and whilst it does make it predictable how things are going to end, is that not always the case where the Slitheen are concerned? We know vinegar is their weakness as established in World War Three and beyond into the Sarah Jane Adventures but the way it was obtained here was really good. I liked how vinegar was logically incorporated into the surroundings of the setting with the distillery. The Slitheen knew the town was the right place to obtain the madranite they were after, but they were also wary that the distillery near where they had landed needed to be destroyed first. I thought that was really good as whilst wine was the primary offering, vinegar is a less luxurious item produced at these kind of places so tapping into that with the Slitheen present was terrific. Andiba knew that it was the vinegar that was the weakness over the wine which might be a tad presumptive, but I could understand it. Sometimes you just get that gut feeling and she had it here. I liked her backstory with Vash and how she longed for him to come into her place of work, but with everything that was happening in the town after she heard the Slitheen plan, hers had to change and that meant not seeing him at the usual time and place. So when she bumped into him she was pretty delighted and it was nice that after telling him her story he had no reason to think she would be lying. He believed her and wanted to help. They were destined for each other and honestly considering how they acted in each other's company I'm surprised they weren't already a couple! It was nice to incorporate Vash's father though as the distillery owner and by the end of the day Andiba had a new fancy job there! Now she would see Vash everyday which was obviously something that pleased her. I thought the Slitheen hiding in the barrels feigning as literal wine was pretty amusing and showed how desperate they were for eradicating the vinegar threat. I also liked the vulnerability of them only having one skin suit to use. For a group of four that meant they wouldn't be able to blend in well at all, especially when Andiba knew the disguise anyway! She was a big thorn in their plans and was basically the sole reason they didn't get their madranite. The illustration was also really good to accompany this story and showed a Slitheen but also Vash and Andiba together in full focus amongst the barrels. It did the job required. Overall, a great little read to continue the collection!

Rating: 8/10

The Song of the Reed Man

"I feel the tremors on the great web of life."

Writer: Katharine Wheeler

Format: Audio

Released: October 2026

Series: Halloween 2.02

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

When the Doctor and Jo land in the marshes of Essex, in 1562, they find themselves at the dawn of England's witch hunting mania. 

But lurking beneath the waterways, there lies an ancient evil, ready to hunt and feast. Can the Doctor help an isolated coven see reason, before it's too late?

Verdict

The Song of the Reed Man was another great episode to continue my way through the second series of Halloween! I think the title was more than enough to feel like a kind of horror adventure so it was an added bonus when this was revealed as the Krynoid story of the set! I think The Seeds of Doom has made a profound impact with the Krynoid being an instant classic of a monster, but their spinoff range at Big Finish with Planet Krynoid means they were made for this boxset. The vibe of the two series we've had pf that so far has been incredibly dark and whilst we never reached those heights here, there were definite similarities which I appreciated. I thought it was good to not name the Krynoid until a good half an hour or so in and I realised that with talk of tendrils and the like that they were going to arrive. I think in terms of Third Doctor Adventures continuity this episode was set quite a bit ahead of where I'm currently at with the Third Doctor travelling alongside an older version of Jo here, but I don't think I was jeopardised by not being up to date! It was nice to hear Katy Manning perform a little closer to her natural and current self whilst maintaining that youthful charm Jo is famous for. She's such an iconic companion and I'll be very intrigued to catch up on her return to the TARDIS alongside her Doctor in her older age, especially thinking how that will tie into Death of the Doctor at all. I thought the sixteenth century setting here was really good and I liked going down the witch route. That feels perfect for a Halloween release on paper but I'm not actually sure going into the past was the best way to represent that. The Doctor was insistent that there was no magic at play which was true to his reaction in other witch stories like The Shakespeare Code and The Witchfinders so I appreciated the consistency there. The Third Doctor feels like a strong incarnation to take on the Krynoid too and I like that it's clear he knows them well despite their first television appearance being some way off chronologically. His line about them being a glorified bramble was magnificent too and perfectly in line with what I would expect of this incarnation. Tim Treloar was sublime to be honest here in capturing the essence and likeness of the Third Doctor. The religious element of the episode was fascinating stuff and I thought Mother Ada was a really strange and intriguing character. Her fate at the end of the story as she was taken over by the Krynoid but fought from within was admirable stuff and you could sense the kind of appreciation the Doctor had for what she did. Godith was a really strong character too even if I constantly kept thinking of her as goddess with the way people were saying her name in their respective accents. I don't think they'd be any good with Welsh names. The Marshall was an amusing character in how quickly he was fooled by the Doctor into thinking he was part of Her Majesty's Privy Council because that's exactly what he suggested and the Time Lord just ran with it. The Krynoid going more than just plant life consumption was really good and I think this might have actually benefited from some more time. Still, it was a really good hour or so that was just dark enough whilst feeling like a traditional episode. A great listen to continue the series! 

Rating: 8/10

Doctor, Doctor, Doctor

"Tell me what you fear."

Writers: Lauren Mooney & Stewart Pringle 

Format: Audio

Released: October 2026

Series: Halloween 2.01

Featuring: Seventh Doctor

Synopsis

In the 1980s, four physics students find themselves drawn to a strange mirror, seemingly haunted by a ghastly figure carrying a distinctive umbrella...

As they experiment with the mirror, they begin to lose themselves in its mystery, as the entity within seeks to break into their world.

Verdict

Doctor, Doctor, Doctor was a great start to the second series of Halloween! I was delighted when this was announced and I do hope that it now becomes an annual tradition on the Big Finish release calendar. I think it was a little too expensive but I've bought it so I guess the corporate win this time around. It does look to be a strong variety of stories and eras with the cover looking particularly reminiscent of the scary theme of October's final day. This had an eery feel and it was always going to be a success with the writing duo of Lauren Mooney and Stewart Pringle. They're really impressive and they captured an enigmatic and mysterious feel almost immediately. I would have liked more of the Seventh Doctor featuring here as I feel that when travelling solo he excels in these kind of episodes. I recently completed The Doctor and Carnacki series where that was perfect for this incarnation but this did kind of become a Doctor-lite episode. It was essentially a Seventh Doctor version of Blink and I will not accept any answer other than that Tenth Doctor episode being a direct inspiration. Why not take advantage of such a successful formula for an adventure? The moment the Doctor on the recording from 1914 seemed to react to those in the 1980s about moving the dial to change the recording or turn it off was especially reminiscent. It worked a treat. I thought the quartet of Pat, Mark, Hamish and Hazel were really strong and it was clear they had a kind of clique feeling amongst themselves. They went back a long time together and that was important in establishing all of their respective relationships to the listener. I think Hazel was the standout and the Doctor reacting to her name and likening it to the eyes was a nice comment. This was definitely a softer side of the Seventh Doctor which is ironic given his tendencies and the theme of this release. It was obvious that at least one of the quartet was going to go south and that turned out to be Mark who was possessed by the entity in then mirror. He became a little obsessed with the artefact before that and even transferred it to his house which felt a bit mad! I thought Pat was a really nice character and the fate that befell her was pretty grim but I strangely liked that given the Halloween theme. I thought it was quite tongue and cheek given this release came out at the start of October for the first episode to mention how it wasn't even Halloween yet but the story wasn't far off in terms of days! It was single figures away from the big day. The Doctor emerging from the mirror after being pulled out was unexpected but the scale of his time trapped in the pocket dimension was rather extraordinary. Over half a century! No wonder he had lower back pain. I thought the Doctor tapping into his knowledge of the entity and how it left survivors on a particular planet was good, but a tad vague. The focus on fears was magnificent though and really should have been at the forefront for the episode's entirety. I was a big fan of that and hearing in particular the quietness of night and thinking someone would come out of the wardrobe was a pretty dark fear! I don't remember being scared of that but it's definitely not something I would say to get in my children's head. Bedrooms are supposed to be a safe space but that wasn't presented as such here! The Doctor using a Time Lord's fear against the entity was nicely done and I think the ambiguity there was needed. Still, it's tantalising to think exactly what that might be. Overall, a great listen and a very strong start to the series! 

Rating: 8/10

The Janus Deception

"You're a survivor."

Writer: Robert Whitelock

Format: Audio

Released: June 2021

Series: The Robots 4.03

Featuring: Liv, Tula

Synopsis

Tula is under investigation by the Company – for fraud, industrial espionage and conspiracy. She knows she's innocent... so who is impersonating her? And why?

Liv, meanwhile, is nearing the finishing line of her trail, a meeting with the survivors of Storm Mine 4, in person. But will that really be the end... or a new beginning?

Verdict

The Janus Deception was a great episode to conclude the fourth volume of The Robots! I have really enjoyed this boxset and we're really getting into the nitty gritty of things now. We finally got the meeting at the end between Liv and Toos that we had been building towards, so I must say I was a little surprised to find that this was the end of Toos and Poul in this spinoff range. It doesn't feel like this should be the end of the story especially considering Liv had been wanting a meeting for so long and jumped through hopes to get it with Toos here. I really wish I hadn't read that this was the end for them because it did put a different shift on how things concluded for me which is a shame, but at least now I won't be expecting them to show up in the final two volumes of the spinoff. I thought the story here was good and Tula being used as a scapegoat and set up was really intriguing. The tensions between the Chenka sisters and the Company are extremely high and I like that despite Tula's position and dilemma of her familial predicament, she was the target. She was an easy one to be honest but the hacker was really setting her up for failure. Her name was used as the username and the link that Deep Blue gave Liv with the binary pattern just being an anagram of her own name was spectacular. Liv defending Tula was good and I really thought she would make a strong lawyer with the quick defences she was providing, but the evidence was mounting and things really didn't look good for her sister. The charge was carried and that meant her security clearance and access was revoked at the Company which wasn't ideal! Skellen was on hand again here as a troublesome figure and the twist of him being the hacker all along wasn't exactly surprising but it was fitting. When a villain is good, it's okay to be predictable and I thought that was the case here. What I wasn't expecting was for his usefulness to be deemed eradicated by the end and him shot dead! The AI computer was brutal in logic and fulfilling its goal and whilst there would be an inquiry into his death, it was confident that nothing would be traced back. It had severe control and that was fun to explore. I expect this will have ramifications moving forward and Liv being in prime position as a potential culprit is going to do her no good! I'm enjoying her pairing with Vash Sorkov and that's working really well having him assist her. The potential brutality of the Company was admirable here in placing them as a corporate monster and even if they knew Tula was innocent, perception was reality and she would be dealt with in then upmost severity. Sorkov calling up Liv telling her to look at the news as it revealed Skellen was found dead was a strong moment and her reaction to him naming the hacker was marvellous. It wasn't quite a wild goose chase though. Her banter with him about hooking up was wonderful but she would never get that chance now, even if she was mostly teasing. I liked that she got her meeting at long last and I'm excited to hear what she gains from that to take forward. Overall, a great episode to conclude things and I like how things feel like they're reaching an endgame. A strong finale to another very good boxset! 

Rating: 8/10

Off Grid

"The Company does not tolerate terrorists."

Writer: Sarah Grochala

Format: Audio

Released: June 2021

Series: The Robots 4.02

Featuring: Liv, Tula

Synopsis

When a Supervoc is found on the streets, claiming responsibility for a recent explosion, it's clear to Liv and Tula that the Sons of Kaldor are attempting to frame robots for their murderous attacks. But where are they? And how to stop them?

As they try to smuggle the Supervoc out of the city, it's clear that finding the enemy will be the least of their worries as tonight... the lights are going out.

Verdict

Off Grid was a great episode to continue my way through the fourth series of The Robots! This was a really strong story and whilst they've been an ever-present across this spinoff range so far, I really liked how there was a firm focus on the Company here. Touching upon the history of Kaldor and how the Company asserted control from the Founding Families and them now wanting to get that control back was really intriguing and I'm very excited to hear how things tie together as we head into the finale. Liv got a glimpse of hearing the name Toos mentioned and it seemed to all make sense for her as things click into place. I think she's a great character and now questions are beginning to be asked of her presence on Kaldor. How could she get back when there is no record of her returning? I think that's fun to play around with and it put Tula in a pretty difficult situation as she could hardly reveal that she was back via TARDIS! I wonder if more will come of that moving forward. Tula being accused of being a member of the Sons of Kaldor was good and I thought Skellen filled the role of villain pretty well even though this didn't have a traditional bad guy plot. This was more of an exploration and story advancement episode which was absolutely fine. It was a thoroughly enjoyable fifty minutes on Kaldor and I'm loving the continuation of the world building here. It's ripe for growth and getting to learn more about during Liv's time there is excellent. I thought a Robot claiming responsibility for an explosion was good and was obviously designed to rile up anger and resentment against them, but Liv and Tula knew better and could tell that the message was preprogrammed. I wasn't expecting to hear Vash Sorkov once again and Liv's reaction said it all there but I loved that he returned here after an apparent demise. Jon Culshaw delivers his line with such poise and he really does draw you in as the listener. His consciousness survived in another body now and that was a theme that was very much present throughout. Robots literally replacing the organics is a big threat and I like that it's being brought to the forefront, albeit a little slowly. Pace is good in bringing the anticipation. I thought the smuggle mission was good stuff and Liv surviving on more than one occasion by explaining how the Robot was locked to her own voiceprint was nicely done. She was calm under pressure. Jadia accompanying her was a strong character too and I liked her role in exploring the position of the Company. Skellen having second thoughts was intriguing and I really like the political situation on Kaldor at the moment. The atmosphere is tense and there really is a lot going on with the Sons of Kaldor looming in the background. I thought the prospect of Tula getting her hands on the emergency power source was played out very nicely too. Was she playing for it? I liked that it could have gone either way as the situation was desperate. SV49 was terrific here and I just like the simplicity of the Robots. They are logical and that's that. The semi-cliffhanger finish in having Liv and Tula separated was good stuff and things are definitely heating up. A great listen as we head into the finale! 

Rating: 8/10

Closed Loop

"It's the very last place I need to be."

Writer: Guy Adams

Format: Audio

Released: June 2021

Series: The Robots 4.01

Featuring: Toos, Poul

Synopsis

Toos needs Poul's help on a mission so sensitive she won't even tell him where they're going. Needing to escape from his demons, Poul agrees. But he finds more ghosts waiting for him at their destination. 

Landing in the desert, Poul can't help but be reminded of his time on Storm Mine 4... and soon he's hearing familiar voices.

As he and Toos start to dig, they're about to discover that some secrets can't stay buried...

Verdict

Closed Loop was an outstanding start to the fourth series of The Robots! I'm still pretty far behind on this series but all I remember as I was catching up on the Eighth Doctor's adventures leading to Liv Chenka becoming companion and taking a year out on Kaldor here was just how good this spinoff range was. And it certainly isn't disappointing five years later! The world building is just terrific and I like the shakeup in terms of format for this boxset with us getting a Toos and Poul episode right away. We've usually been keeping up with the Chenkas in the first episode of the series so that was a nice little shift. I think the relationship between Toos and Poul was explored really well here and they're two veterans of life on Kaldor. Poul is still living everyday with his robophobia and honestly I do think he deserves a bit more sympathy. Imagine a whole society slowly integrating and becoming reliant upon the very thing that you feared? It's a pretty scary prospect so getting some insight into his feelings was presented very well here. He's troubled character that's for sure but despite his frosty outer shell, Toos brings out a more reasoned and softer element of his personality which is nice. I think the big twist here was so obvious in hindsight and I was honestly kicking myself when the truth came out! So many hints and the flashback sequence as Poul realised that he was in fact a robot was magnificent! He was almost appalled and again it just added to the need for more sympathy on him. He was now the very thing he feared! It was a pretty awful thing for the Company to do as a whole in making duplicates of those not sympathetic to the cause, but Poul in particular is a strong target who wouldn't fare well. It was so clear though as he had even question Toos based on her responses and actions that she was a robot, but then he didn't have his spacesuit helmet and D84 literally told him he was programmed. Of course, I like Poul thought he was speaking metaphorically but is that even possible for a robot? I'm not so sure as they speak with pure logic so why wouldn't he be telling the truth? I thought the continuity with The Robots of Death was excellent once again and whilst that's always going to happen in this spinoff range and especially with these two characters from that serial, the impact remains profound and I'm not tired of it yet. Placing Poul back on Storm Mine 4 was bold and pretty evil to be honest and him describing it as the scariest place around really did make me feel for him. He just can't escape the Robots. Toos having an ulterior motive and wanting to find information there was intriguing and I suspect this will be something we come back to as the series and spinoff range in total continues which I'm certainly looking forward to! The emotional impact of the episode was profound and that's what really took this into the perfect rating territory for me. This was such a strong character piece for Poul and it wasn't even the flesh version! The fact there's a robot of him at all is audacious and I look forward to Toos enacting her plan as she gets more confident and almost arrogant with how dangerous she can be too. Company, watch out. Overall, a sublime listen to start the series! 

Rating: 10/10

Helana and the Beast

"There is no one in this house apart from you and me."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2026

Printed in: Time Lord Fairy Tales 11

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor

Synopsis

We are all stories in the end...

Sixteen tales of ancient wonder and mystery, passed down through generations of Time Lords. 

Dark, beautiful and twisted, these stories are filled with nightmarish terrors and heroic triumphs from across all of time and space.

Verdict

Helana and the Beast was a good little story to continue my way through the Time Lord Fairy Tales collection! I think doing an adventure based on Beauty and the Beast is a good idea for this book and it took me back to having a Disney version of that fairytale on VHS! Crikey how the years have flown by as that must be over twenty years ago which is a terrifying thought as I'm still in my twenties. I shouldn't have memories that are this long! But it was nice to have a little bit of nostalgia even if the story was pretty simple. I thought it was absolutely fine and a more than enjoyable read, but I don't think I can give any higher of a rating due to the lack of threat or danger. Considering the word 'beast' is in the title that is rather ironic but the threat that came from the beast and his appearance was almost eradicated within an instant. That was a strange route to go down but I guess with only eighteen pages to play around with there wasn't much time to build him up just to come back down again. I enjoyed Helana as the lead character and I liked her inquisitive nature in following the footsteps of her father when he wasn't returning home or in contact for a few weeks. It was known prior that he would be away working and the finances were still going up, but that wasn't enough to convince her that her father was okay. I liked how she tracked down his place of work and found that he was basically entrapped. The fact he was hired to try and find the solution to the beast's very own beastly predicament and nature was intriguing but the technology and knowledge just wasn't there in anybody. The beast was surprisingly acceptant of that but he wouldn't allow his days to be drawn out alone. Initially he'd wanted Helana's father to join him for the rest of his days but she couldn't accept that. He was an old man now and needed to finish his life outside of captivity so she volunteered to take his place. Her father was distraught but the deal was brokered and that seemingly was that. Until an enigmatic librarian appeared on the scene. Once again, the Doctor was not named but the description of the eyebrows, his dialogue, and the illustration made it clear that this was the Twelfth Doctor. I thought that was fun and there's a lot of room for this incarnation be travelling solo and living life up as a librarian in the shadows so that was really nicely done. He played the role well and it actually ties in nicely with his role in Series 10 at St Luke's University as a professor. I like the idea of him shifting around the shadows working on the solution that the beast desired all along. I do question why he had to stay hidden if he was literally doing exactly as the beast wanted and what Helana's father was recruited for, but the Doctor works in mysterious ways. He'd eventually found the solution to the beast's condition in being caught in an apparition in time and reality to bend him forwards and backwards which really did sound pretty terrible! Helana sneaking the concoction into his drink was decent but again why not just present the antidote? It started off with an adverse effect before replacing the beastly features with those of a 'normal' person once again. The TARDIS blending into the library and then disappearing was written nicely to round out what was a solid little story. Overall, a good read to continue the collection! 

Rating: 7/10

The Doctor and Carnacki: The Institute of Forgotten Souls

"Do you believe, Doctor, that madness can ever become airborne?"

Writer: Jonathan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: November 2024

Series: Seventh Doctor Adventures 6.03

Featuring: Seventh Doctor

Synopsis

In the heart of England in 1936 there lies a home for wounded men. It is a strange, shadowed place, full of secrets.

Terrible beasts prowl the grounds, as if guarding something dreadful. Inmates are disappearing, picked off one by one, while a singular resident – a certain, now retired ghost finder – bravely staves off the darkness.

Yet tonight is the night when it's all going to end. For tonight is the night when the Doctor comes to call...

Verdict

The Institute of Forgotten Souls was a great episode to conclude The Doctor and Carnacki series of Seventh Doctor Adventures! This has been a thoroughly enjoyable series with the boxset being really consistent in terms of both quality and feel. I must admit that I barely knew anything about Carnacki before listening to this series but I now feel like I know him rather well after three different adventures spanning a large portion of his life. It's been a fascinating tale and this kind of thing was perfect for the Seventh Doctor. I was glad that the finale kept with the dark atmosphere and tone and I don't really think it had much of a choice given what was happening. The titular institute was very eery as a setting and given that we've had two episodes already with Carnacki, it makes his predicament and appearance here all the more painful. He's clearly not himself but neither is time and I thought that was great to play around with. The interwar period is a favourite of mine because the impact the Great War had on society was huge even here eighteen years after concluding, and little do the people know what's to come in just a few years with an even worse atrocity and conflict. Carnacki not being himself was intriguing but I loved his reaction to hearing that the Doctor had arrived. With the appearance confirmed, Carnacki was back in full detective mode and I thought that was good to explore. I was impressed with how this felt a little like Hide with the contained setting but with more of a darker theme. So it's quite ironic that the big surprise was the Actually as an agent of the White Guardian! Light amongst the darkness indeed. I thought that was nicely done and was definitely not something I envisaged happening. I thought the kind of continuity was good and with the taunting from the Actually it was clear that something familiar was going to be revealed, but I don't think I'd have ever guessed! The Doctor challenging it and communicating with his bravado familiar of this incarnation was wonderful stuff and I must say I don't think I've enjoyed this incarnation more than in this boxset. It really has been a sublime performance from Sylvester McCoy throughout and that very much continued in the finale. I thought the concept of the Actually being reprimanded by the White Guardian was a neat touch and showed that even on a scale as wide but as simple as good and bad, light and dark, that there are still elements that go rogue. And rogue he went! Taking Carnacki out of time and preventing his death in the First World War is a pretty big deal and definitely an example of going off perimeter for sure. I think the reprimand was very much deserved. I thought the last five minutes or so of the story felt like an epilogue and whilst I'm not always a huge fan of that, I understand why that happened given the timeframe of the series as a whole and the journey Carnacki has been on. And I mean, surviving your supposed death is a pretty big deal! He would need the Doctor to talk him through and guide him to where he will end up. Overall, an eery tale and a fine way to conclude what has been a thoroughly enjoyable trio of adventures! A great listen.  

Rating: 8/10