Transformation: 1922 - The Black Cadre

"You overestimate your fame."

Writer: Jonathan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: April 2026

Series: Zygon Century 2.01

Featuring:

Synopsis

From Munich to Dublin to an asylum in Dartmoor, the Zygons have agents everywhere, and their plans are growing in scope and ambition. 

Can Herbert Scott, that long incarcerated investigator of the occult, do anything to stop them? Is his rescuer – the German heiress, Ilse Lange – all that she seems? And why are the Black Cadre so interested in a mysterious carnival, travelling the wider reaches of the Cornish coast?

Verdict

The Black Cadre was a really strong start to the Transformation second series of Zygon Century! I knew when the Infiltration first series of this intriguing spinoff range concluded that this would be no one off as there's still so much room to cover and much of the story to tell. This took us to 1922 which is a fun year to visit as the country is in the aftermath of the First World War and it's certainly an entirely different world to the that of 1901 and The Unknowing Mirror for Herbert Scott as a returning character. I think it's a really strong idea to basically do a sequel to that episode and catch up with Herbert two decades on from the first Zygon encounter at the start of the century. He's obviously a lot older now and certainly wiser from his experience alongside Felix Cromwell. That coming into play here by having Ilse Lange purchase Cromwell's memoir and be fascinated by the word Zygon was terrific. It does feel like a lot of groundwork has been laid out here with the planting of orbs in farmland and the excuse of them helping fertilise the ground is obviously not quite the case! I would expect them to come back into play as we tackle more episodes throughout the century. I'm very excited for what's to come, especially with the potential for inner conflict amongst the Zygons with the different cadres warring against each other. You would think that with them escaping their dying home world they would want to band together on a planet like Earth, but alas that isn't the case and I would be surprised if that doesn't bring about their downfall. The focus on the island around the Cornish coast is great and I'm so glad that's continued to play a part because it just oozes a feeling of eeriness. There's something about the coast at night and that description of mist that just works. It also feels well suited to the Zygons because of their nature of literally hiding who and what they are. I thought it worked well to bring them out into the open for just enough to get a taste, but I do think part of the appeal of them and why they work so well is the anticipation and the potential knowledge that not everyone is how they seem. The test disabled for Ilse here with the effort of shock was good but she was far too conniving to just be a simple Zygon. Finding out that she suspected her husband had been taken to the island was intriguing considering she was boasting about taking a lover! She didn't seem all that committed to her marriage and in 1922 that made her something to fear I would say amongst the male population. But also a tantalising prospect. I really liked that she was trying to bargain with the Zygons and showed just what kind of a character and person she is. Overall, a really strong start to the series! 

Rating: 8/10