The Ark

"I know a corpse when I see one."

Writer: John Lucarotti (Adapted by Jonathan Morris)

Format: Audio

Released: June 2023

Series: Lost Stories 7.01

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane, Harry

Synopsis

A space station orbiting Earth has lain dormant for 8,476 years. Its systems are clogged with dust, so the human crew kept frozen in cryogenic storage have never woken up. 

When the Doctor, Sarah and Harry arrive to resuscitate the sleepers, they discover something else on board. A small, golf-ball like object gives Harry an electric shock, and has a more sinister impact on the awakening crew. Soon, the Doctor and his friends are battling to save the space station – and Earth – from a ravenous puffball!

Verdict

The Ark was a really strong Lost Stories adventure! I was a little sceptical prior to listening to this story mostly based on my experience of listening to Return of the Cybermen which wasn't a bad adventure, it just didn't feel like it was vastly different to Revenge of the Cybermen in which it was adapted from an early draft of. So with this one I knew it was based on early drafts of The Ark in Space but thankfully this really did feel vastly different to the version we saw on screen. I was a big fan of how different this was and knowing what it was based upon and it being a strong story, it was a really fascinating listen. I don't think it was any better or worse than the original version but it was really different despite having a lot of familiar elements in the plot. It still followed on nicely from Robot which was interesting with it being Harry's first trip in the TARDIS which was fun, but his UNIT experience really did shine through as he wasn't all that flustered by everything that was happening. The very idea of what we know as Space Station Nerva being referred to here as Noah's Ark and just in space is audacious to say the least, but it's incredibly on the nose and almost laughing at the listener to have a Captain Noah! I thought that was hilarious. I also found it intriguing by the concept of the Doctor having visited the Ark on a few previous occasions to ensure that the future of humanity was intact and would be safe. Except he hadn't been for a few centuries or longer here and that was pretty problematic. Who knew dust would be such a problem when the extractor failed! The Doctor was in fine form here and it's a fun distinction to have Tom Baker playing the role here when he is so seasoned and has appeared in hundreds of stories now on and off screen, compared to it being the Fourth Doctor's second serial on screen where he would have been pretty raw in the role. There's definitely that familiar charm. I thought Narib in place of the Wirrn was a very interesting take on the villain and it was good to still have that familiar insect-like appearance and description. It definitely felt more in control and with a more obvious plan when it came to the use of humanity. The role of the Amoeba was fantastic in that it was so simple in being a singular cell. The most simplified form of existence on an incredible scale. The Doctor being obsessed in growing the puffballs was amusing because that just sounds ludicrous as a plot resolution, but it makes perfect sense when the science is revealed and that it was basically absorbing the Amoeba and that caused Narib to dehydrate. The Doctor then using an elastic band to pelt it into space was pretty conclusive in its fate as it hurtled through space! I thought that combined with Harry taking a space walk and being lost from the ship was strangely reminiscent of Four to Doomsday which I liked. I thought the other guest cast really helped compliment the story with Mek and Den being obvious standouts. I really enjoyed the pace of the story too and I must say the cliffhangers were incredibly strong for a story that was somewhat familiar. I liked how the basic premise wasn't too far removed from the later drafts that would become the original serial, but it was sufficiently different to warrant a release and feel worthy of my time. It was terrific. Overall, a great adventure! A unique take on a classic. 

Rating: 8/10