The Warren Legacy

"They turn up periodically and try to kill my family."

Writer: Julian Richards

Format: Audio

Released: September 2018

Series: Short Trips: Rarities 3.04

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana I

Synopsis

On a dark and stormy night, the Governor of a colony has some mysterious visitors. The Quell can make a particular problem go away, and all they ask in return is something that didn't exist in the first place. 

On a dark and stormy night, Lord Samuel Warren has some mysterious visitors. The Doctor and Romana can make a particular problem go away. 

That's if the Quell doesn't kill them all first...

Verdict

The Warren Legacy was a great audio adventure! These hidden gems that are the Rarities within the Short Trips range continue to be of high quality and this was another terrific listen. The thirty-five minutes were an absolute breeze to get through and I think a large part of that is down to the narration/performance of Stephen Critchlow. He was absolutely tremendous with his impression of the Fourth Doctor being particularly good. He nailed the mannerisms and intonations that make this incarnation instantly recognisable and it's just great to have something that feels authentic without the indomitable presence of Tom Baker. This works really well and whilst the concept doesn't feel unique, it's nice to do it in a slightly different way with different characters. Getting to blog a story with the first incarnation of Romana feels something of a rarity in itself to me personally as I really couldn't tell you when the last time I covered a story in which she was present. She's not my favourite incarnation of Romana by any means but it was nice to revisit her here. It's been a long time as I say! The description of her famed white coat was really good in capturing the scene. The span of this episode was really good as well as we covered the Warren family all the way from Medieval period up to some of their members being on a colony world! That is a considerable number of generations for the story and history surrounding the Quell and how the family were saved by the Doctor and Romana was passed down to be told through! So I guess it's testament to the trust that was put in each family member who passed it down their family tree. I think that's really nice and I kind of wish I had something like that in my family. The closest we probably have is a photo album now in my own possession that was started when I was born by my wonderful Nan who kept it prominently in her home before moving out recently as maintenance got a bit too much. The Quell felt a little bit like the Trickster in Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane? in how they came and offered something to ensure that history was changed. This was similar in that Lord Warren wanted the thorn in his side for all of his life to have never existed. The only thing the Quell wanted in return was his first born. That seemed like a good deal considering that didn't yet exist and it seemed Warren made plans right there to end the family legacy. If the first born would be taken then it was just easy to be selfish and disregard the family past and future for your own benefit. I thought the way the older Warren knew all along that the Doctor and Romana were the very article from their family story was great and made them both seem a little silly as they listened to what they ought to have already known and experienced. Except time doesn't quite work like that! That worked out really well and concluded things neatly as the Quell were, pardon the pun, quelled. Samuel Warren might see out the family line after all. Overall, a great episode! 

Rating: 8/10