Fixers: Oil and Water

"I wouldn't enslave a species for profit."

Writer: James McDermott

Format: Audio

Released: July 2026

Series: Seventh Doctor Adventures 9.02

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ray

Synopsis

Visiting the Norfolk coast, the Doctor and Ray discover something very wrong with Blakeney's seals: they're bloated, mutated, and killing people! With grieving boater Anne, they investigate the cause... Is there something in the water? What does it want with the sea life? And what are its plans for humanity?

Verdict

Oil and Water was another great episode to continue my way through the Fixers series of Seventh Doctor Adventures! I'm really liking Ray and we got what seems like it's going to be the customary reference to Delta and the Bannermen which is terrific because it's a reminder of just how long now she has known the Doctor. And this Doctor in particular. She clearly made a big impression over the course of that serial's events, so much so that now at a late stage in this incarnation's life he's reunited with her. I'd still love to know how that came to be but that's a story for another day. It felt slightly odd that this incarnation would even have access to a sonic screwdriver as didn't see that on screen other than The Movie, but it's good continuity in keeping with the lateness of this incarnation's timeline. Ray wanting an adventure holiday was nice but often in the TARDIS the companion doesn't exactly get what they asked for! The Doctor claimed that his days of manipulation were over which actually feels like a pretty significant step, but he was still on hand to help where he was needed. Even Ra could smell trouble upon their arrival in Norfolk. That setting was good as it wasn't the typical London that is overused, and it was a nice shift to go into the late-2020s. We're basically living in that time period now which sounds horrible to say because that should be very much in the future! It was quite a few decades into Ray's future though which was a fun dynamic and hearing her try and navigate a conversation about the internet was good fun. I thought the environmental theme here was strong in having seals melded with litter and rubbish. That painted quite the picture but I was glad that there was also an alien involvement. The Fuel is a fantastic name for a villain in this kind of adventure and they were basically possessing the seal population. One of them had dragged Anne's wife below the surface and that obviously sent her into a severe state of grief. She was far from acting with a sound mind and the moment that she just ran one over in revenge was quite extraordinary. I can't say I blame her but the Doctor was outraged. A life for life is never the answer and I certainly understood that perspective. I thoroughly enjoyed Sylvester McCoy's performance here as he played it with genuine emotion on numerous occasions. That was really good and I don't think I've made it a secret that he would have to rank as my least favourite incarnation, but crikey Ray is bursting a whole new lease of life into him. I'm really enjoying this pairing and I'm glad that it will continue for at least one more episode yet! The threat that came from the Fuel's plan to use the literal fuel provided and it being within so much now as a means of oil and igniting that all at once was instantly a planetary wide threat of the most epic proportion. I didn't see that coming and perhaps touching upon that a little earlier would have been beneficial. It was still really good and solidified Ivy Boil as a bitchy villain. Again, if she was around longer I think that would have helped things even more. Ray being on hand to time things right with her own ignition and the help of Anne to bring things full circle was really good in the conclusion, even if there were still a lot of dead bodies and people to explain. It certainly wouldn't be good for business! Overall, a really good episode to continue the series! 

Rating: 8/10