Infidel Places

"Real work can only be done in a man's domain."

Writer: Una McCormack

Format: Audio

Released: April 2022

Series: Torchwood Monthly 60

Featuring: Queen Victoria

Synopsis

With demons on the loose and dons bursting into flames, Queen Victoria visits Cambridge on the eve of a historic vote that could change the university forever.

She finds the city a den of suspicion and devil worship. A force from beyond reality is hunting down the university's leading academics. Her Majesty enlists the help of a gifted young mathematician to save not just the university, but the universe itself.

Verdict

Infidel Places was a very strong audio adventure to continue my way through the Torchwood monthly range! Sixty releases is no small feat and yet there's still 40% of the range to go which is very exciting. It's completely prejudice of me but I can't get too excited prior to listening about a Queen Victoria-led adventure and yet every time I find myself really enjoying the story! I'm staunchly anti-royalist so that might have something to do with it but then at the same time I have a Master's in History so I'm fascinated by the role of the monarch in the past. And none made more of an impression than this one! I find it incredible that a Queen like Victoria who is so revered and oversaw an incredible British Empire is brought right back down to Earth when visiting Cambridge University at a time where they are due to host a vote on wether women can receive degrees from the institution. It's staggering really to think that even with research and sitting exams, they weren't given the recognition they deserved. I liked the idea of Queen Victoria arriving on the scene to try and sway the vote, and yet over a thousand members still voted against the idea! Victoria was not happy with the cheers that came from the men because they were celebrating keeping women down and I completely agreed with her. I'm a huge feminist and it honestly appalls me to see and research how women were treated in so many areas of society. How can they not be considered equal at any time? Victoria mentioning how women reminded men of their mothers and they didn't like feeling inferior was logical and I definitely got a strong sense of male insecurity throughout the episode which was fun with the historical setting. I thought the Cambridge University setting itself was good and the threat of people bursting into flames was very real. I was almost stunned at times at the lack of reaction that came from Victoria and Honora when they saw it happen right before their very eyes. Victoria overplayed that she has seen more than Honora could ever imagine going back to Tooth and Claw was good but definitely said too many times, whereas the secret the daughter of the Vice Chancellor was hiding was spectacular. She was the one that was in control of starting combustion and that really was brutal. Such a powerful way to go! The talk of demons was good stuff and it felt very Victorian which is complimentary to the era. I would have liked some sort of mention of Torchwood other than Victoria showcasing her capabilities to deal with the extraterrestrial in a familiar manner, but I must say I absolutely love the remix of the Torchwood opening theme and the incidental transitional music throughout. The way it feels Victorian is incredible and it really does add a lot to the listening experience in my opinion. I'm a huge fan of that. I liked how disappointed Victoria was with Sir James for basically his stance on women and the moment she relieved him of his duties was terrific. He suddenly stopped seeing her as his superior and as a mere woman. Perish the thought. Good riddance. I thought Honora going off into the stars was a little lacking as an ending and didn't feel like things were finished, but I do like the emphasis pushed on her getting her own choice. That was a strong narrative theme throughout the episode which I really enjoyed. Overall, a terrific setting and event and a really good adventure. A great listen.

Rating: 8/10