Dark Tides

"Light can hurt."

Writer: Tim Foley 

Format: Audio

Released: August 2026

Series: Ninth Doctor Adventures 4.07

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

A long-lost ship, the Vesterbold, has returned to normal space. And the Knights of Atlas seek her treasure. But two strangers have joined their expedition – the Doctor and Rose, who warn of danger. 

For the Vesterbold has drifted free of the Dark Tides at the edge of the universe. And she may have brought something back with her. 

Not even the bravest knights are ready for the evil which lies inside...

Verdict

Dark Tides was another strong episode to continue my way through the bi-monthly Ninth Doctor Adventures! I was glad to get back to the travels of the Ninth Doctor and Rose because with the ongoing weekly Twelfth Doctor Adventures picking up pace, it feels like it's been a long time since the last release in this series! We're firmly into the second half of the series now and I thought this was just a really solid outing. Doing ghosts in outer space is a tantalising prospect and it didn't let down. I also thought it did a good job in reminding us that things are still new to Rose and something as simple as putting on a spacesuit was catching her off guard. She was a little trepidatious about the idea and who could blame her? It's easy to forget just how much of Series 1 is set on Earth so going beyond the planet here is almost brand new. Hell, most of the first half of this series was focused on the Powell Estate so I was glad to get the Ninth Doctor taking Rose out of her comfort zone. The Vesterbold was an intriguing setting and I liked the mystery that surrounded it. The Knights of Atlas sounded impressive and them having a mix of armour and space clothing was pretty amusing. I thought Holbrook was a good character as the captain of the ship but other characters getting a little too pally with him and calling him Hally was amusing! I also thought the whole idea of a futuristic Dark Age was exciting too because it didn't feel like anything was off the table. A lifespan of fifty years was considered strong which is obviously pretty different to Rose's time! I thought Vivian was a good villain and even though it was actually the ghostly apparition that was taking her features instead. That was pretty eery even if it was very predictable that Vivian was not what she seemed. Right from the off she was enigmatic in not having an explanation for looking too young to be an original survivor and then when she told Rose she couldn't go outside and did so with serious concern, it was clear something was up. The revelation was still strong as Holbrook found out when he tried to get her to sign over the ship. The historic and almost religious significance of the vessel to the Knights was good to explore and I thought Sir Cal in particular was terrific. He reminded me a bit of the Lord of the Tides from House of the Dragon which was amusing considering the name of this episode! I thought the concept behind tides in space was good stuff and I like the idea of taking ships and the sea into space. It's uncharted territory for so much of it so who knows what sailing space would be like? Having light as such a central focus amidst a backdrop of complete darkness was really strong too. I'm not sure I was a huge fan of the red herring finish in having the TARDIS use the radio waves and then the light of the lamp on the outside be the resolution there, but it was a good injection of a threat even if it wasn't really required. I think the laugh from Vivian at the end would have been enough on its own to really sell that she might not be wholly defeated and I like the ambiguity there. It just works when it comes to light as a source of a threat. Overall, a really strong listen and another stellar performance from Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper! It really is a delight to have these two back and there's still so much to come! A great listen.

Rating: 8/10

The Prison Paradox

"The Doctor has come to where kindness goes to die."

Writer: Dan Watters

Format: Comic Strip

Released: November 2025 - February 2026

Printed in: DWC: Fifteenth Doctor #2.1-4

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda

Synopsis

A space prison at the end of the most destructive force in the universe... A squad of criminals desperate to escape... And a Time Lord who will unite them in the fight against the sinister Warden...

Incarcerated by the sinister Warden, the Doctor must team up with a squad of aliens, including the cyborg H-8, Methelough the aquatic Tentacular, the pirate Slitheen Felik, and Annie, a tougher than nails Adipose. 

Can they defeat the prison's cruel Warden and help his prize prisoner, Miss Belinda Chandra, escape?

Verdict

The Prison Paradox was a great comic strip adventure from Titan Comics! I have been waiting for the collected version of this story for quite a while now and sees me get up to date on the Fifteenth Doctor's comic strip outings. I'm not far off completing his entire run now and it's a shame the way things ended for his incarnation and seemingly the entire RTD2 era, and if this was still ongoing I definitely would have purchased each issue as it came out to keep up to date with the current era. Now who knows what era we're in as we seemingly enter another Wilderness Years but to me that's exciting too. There's so much to fill the gaps and this was another terrific adventure. I liked how the contents described this as being placed prior to The Interstellar Song Contest and I think that's where a lot of any expanded media with Belinda as companion will have to be placed because from then on, things are pretty monumental with the return of the Rani. But here we still have Belinda wanting to get home even though she has grown to trust the Doctor and knows she is going to save him from the hands of the sinister Warden. I thought the whole Panoptopolis setting was really strong and the idea of a Shadow Proclamation prison for then most dangerous of criminals was exciting. So seeing the Doctor sitting amongst other prisoners was a delight. Later finding out that he had gone voluntarily was pretty excellent and showed how much Belinda meant to him. She'd been taken so hopping aboard a prison orbiting a black hole? Needs must. The little crew he assembled was a lot of fun! Annie the Adipose is just an adorable name and I think the way she was actually utilised as a parasite and taking out the other gaseous creature that inhabited the Doctor and Felix was superb. I was a big fan of that. Felix herself as a pirate of the Slitheen family was really strong too and she found beauty in the almost impossible. She now believed there was always a chance and that was thanks to then Doctor. H-8 was a pretty fun character as almost being formed entirely of guns and other weapons. The commentary at the end of the graphic novel showing an early illustration of him initially being part Dum Robot looked marvellous! It's a shame that idea wasn't continued. I thought Methelough was a decent character too and its species being preyed on by Zygons was fascinating! Their brief appearance within the water was tremendous and the design work was sublime. I must say the artwork for this story was nothing short of brilliant and looked just wonderfully vibrant. It adds so much in this kind of format. I thought the Warden was a strong villain and his appearance was perfect in the creep factor levels in holding Belinda prisoner as his 'favourite'. That was pretty disturbing. Finding out that he was actually hiding out in the cell designated for the most dangerous being alive and that being the Doctor was good stuff, although why a prisoner's cell would open for them as a DNA scan is beyond me! That doesn't seem like the best security. I thought the Doctor breaking the prison free of the black hole by utilising the TARDIS and some historic Time Lord knowledge with them being the ones to create black holes was good stuff and the Warden couldn't believe it. Felik shooting the Warden was impactful and a bit of a surprise as that's not what the Doctor wanted, but it was better than being shot himself! And he would survive. Felik wanting to see and help with any possibility with the rest of the crew surviving was a nice moment and she realised that there was always a chance. Anything was possible with the Doctor. I thought that was a really nice lesson to bring to the forefront. Overall, a great comic strip adventure! 

Rating: 8/10

Intuition

"Are my thoughts leaking out of my head?"

Writer: Rob Nisbet

Format: Audio

Released: September 2017

Series: Short Trips: Rarities 2.03

Featuring: Sixth Doctor

Synopsis

The Sixth Doctor and Mel are in the Swiss mountains for some rest and relaxation after recent exertions. But soon the Doctor finds himself involved in a mystery, as those working in the resort's hospitality prove preternaturally willing to help.

Verdict

Intuition was a great little story amidst the Rarities range of Short Trips! It was nice to get a solo adventure for the Sixth Doctor as we didn't get that on screen other than in increments within the courtroom during The Trial of a Time Lord, but given the contained setting there and those sequences filling moments in what are essentially four distinct adventures combined as one, I'm not entirely sure it counts. Mel does feature here in a cameo role but I think it's pretty fun that she was off enjoying the active element of the Alps when it came to skiing and making the most of the resort, but the Doctor was content with the scenic view and settling down at a cafe. I thought utilising the sixth incarnation for this story was good fun because he is one that likes to be in control. He's also one that is very firm in knowing what he wants, so with others knowing for him that wasn't exactly something he was favourable of! I thought the whole premise behind the story was really good and it's almost a shame this was only thirty-six minutes long! I love everything about intuition and it playing out here in what was initially the most basic situation in customer service was terrific. The Doctor was known to want mineral water and then at then at the end Mel was delighted to see herself being greeted by carrot juice! That was great stuff. It definitely felt like things were close in proximity to the end of The Ultimate Foe and the Doctor and Mel firmly becoming the TARDIS duo as they're still getting to know each other. That's fun in terms of timeline placing. I liked the way intuition and the foreknowledge was dubbed as the pre-cog effect and that playing out in real time was good, especially when the Doctor got into full investigative mode. He was on the move and knew that the closer he got to the centre, the bigger the intuition became. Ur was an unexpected element of the story I must say and I liked how it injected a bit of an emotional pull into things. Everything essentially stemmed from a bit of an accident and nothing was meant to be this way. I do think the story then becoming the basis for the formation of the Alps themselves was pretty spectacular and audacious to say the least! The Doctor recalling things to Mel once she was done enjoying herself was good and she couldn't believe that was the case. The scale of the crashed ship being millions of years ago was difficult for her to comprehend and I must say I couldn't blame her. It all stemmed from a declination of psychic ability in the natural sense and that really is a niche! It's safe to say this was unique in that regard and I'm always in favour of doing something new. This one worked for me. I thought Stephen Critchlow did a good job again as the narrator here but I would have liked some sort of attempt to impersonate Colin Baker's incarnation. It's not a necessity but it does help with that authentic feeling a little bit. Still, if he knew he couldn't do it then it was better not to try in the first place. Overall, a really unique story with a fantastic concept at its heart. Some unexpected twists and turns. A very solid listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Run Fast, Be Kind: Duty of Care

"I have murdered so many people."

Writer: Christian Markham

Format: Audio

Released: August 2026

Series: Twelfth Doctor Adventures 1.05

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Ash

Synopsis

The Doctor doesn't kill. Not intentionally. Even his worst enemies are offered mercy. Go up against the Doctor, and while your plan will be ruined, there's a chance you'll live.

Someone doesn't agree with that. Someone's travelling across all of time and space putting that right. Someone's killing all the villains who survived the Doctor.

Verdict

Duty of Care was another very strong story to continue the Run Fast, Be Kind ongoing Twelfth Doctor Adventures! I continue to really enjoy the weekly release schedule and I think it's been terrific to have an ongoing story arc released in this way, rather than just bundling all the stories into one or two boxsets released at the same time. It definitely makes things feel episodic and I think that's Doctor Who at its best. I hope this is far from the last of a weekly release schedule as it just works brilliantly! This one starts amidst a lot of tension following the ending of Wings of Steel and Ash killing in cold blood. The Doctor was not happy and Ash quickly acknowledged that anger and that this surely meant the end of his travels in the TARDIS. That wasn't quite to be which was somewhat surprising despite knowing that he wasn't actually departing but maybe because Ash was almost going to do it again later in the episode! I'm not sure the episode fully lives up to its synopsis in having someone out there killing the villains the Doctor let survive, but that's a pretty amazing concept. I would love for that to be explored further in the future on a much grander scale because the potential there really is astonishing. We've had numerous efforts of attempts to change history, but specifically targeting those villains that the Doctor doesn't kill? That is exciting. It was on a more nuanced and series specific level of grandeur here but it still worked. I thought the Doctor's history with Nne was intriguing and I liked her discussions with Ash. The mystery of her actually being in her cell was good stuff and was certainly something different for Ash when he realised! Ash also being mistaken as the Doctor upon exiting the TARDIS was good fun and the Doctor claiming he had no further need for regeneration now because he had reached perfection in this incarnation was just glorious. That was perfectly the Twelfth Doctor and Jon Culshaw was sublime once again. This might be the best episode yet in terms of nailing the impression. Amaya was a really good character and I liked that we encountered her at two different points in time. I'll be honest though, the plot kind of became a backdrop for me and the focus of my attention was all on the Doctor and Ash. Their discussion was deep and the Doctor acknowledging that he had murdered so many was a powerful moment. It took Ash by surprise and made him quickly realise that he had no idea who the Doctor really was. That was a stark moment as he was shocked by what he had gotten himself into. The Doctor begging Ash to shoot him because he was the one that – albeit in a roundabout way – killed Sky was really strong stuff but his companion wouldn't kill because of an accident. Ash still wasn't sorry and even as a Krillitane that would kill again, the Doctor was not accepting of the situation. But he was still wanting to travel with Ash and claiming that the offer was still on the table because he was interested was very intriguing indeed. I'm really enjoying the dynamic between these two and it's far from a traditional Doctor-companion relationship which I like! This is far from the status quo and now we head into the finale. I'm very excited indeed! A great listen.

Rating: 8/10

The Haunted Windmill: The Hungry Glass

"There are worse things here than the Daleks."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: August 2026

Series: Second Doctor Adventures 5.03

Featuring: Second Doctor, Raven, Jamie, Victoria 

Synopsis

A mysterious mirror, a glimpsed figure and powerful static electric discharges form a web of intrigue that draws in friends and foes from history.

Verdict

The Hungry Glass was another very good and intriguing episode to conclude my listening of The Haunted Windmill fifth series of Second Doctor Adventures! The consistency of this series has been really impressive and I think that is definitely aided by the fact every episode was written by the same writer. This so easily could have been sold as a six-parter but I'm really glad it wasn't as these certainly feel like three distinct stories within an overlapping theme. That's always my preference when it comes to new releases so I was delighted with the format. I think Michael Troughton was brilliant again as the Second Doctor and with this being a sidestep in the timelines and continuity, exacerbated here by the different simulation version of Earth, he really has made the role his own. Raven continues to just be wonderful and enthralling and hearing her here ridicule the use of the word 'over' on the walkie talkie communication was a delight. It's the simple things. I thought this story did a very good job in basically setting the scene for a different version of The Evil of the Daleks and it just makes sense with the use of mirrors! I was glad that the appearance of the Daleks here was kept a surprise because it did come as a great moment at the cliffhanger. This was like the opposite of so many cliffhangers in which they are revealed that are basically pointless because the title is usually something 'of the Daleks'! But here it was fantastic and I did kind of expect it with the focus on static electricity and this version of Earth being one prior to the Doctor arriving and therefore much before The Daleks and his first encounter with his greatest enemy. That was presented really well. This definitely had a feeling of Alice Through the Looking Glass which was surely intentional and things certainly got whacky. The use of fiction as a means of power linked to the Daleks and static with the mirrors was quite spectacular in its audacity! There was quite a lot going on and whilst it was part of the charm, I thought it was a tad difficult to follow in parts. Jamie featuring here was good although I'm not sure about him asking after Bertie's mother in a kind of romantic or hitting on her kind of way! That would still be his descendent! I don't think it's any secret that Jamie is a little thirsty for action during his time on the TARDIS, but that felt perhaps a tad too far even if this isn't the version we know and love. I thought the use of Victoria in the story was certainly unexpected as she was younger than the version that became companion and that makes sense with then 1963 setting. The link through the glass to the Victorian era was good and obviously going to be different from what we saw on screen during her debut adventure, but now it seems she is going to stick around! At least for the next boxset on this simulated Earth at least. That will certainly present a different dynamic and I'm excited to hear where things go from here. The use of Lethbridge-Stewart again was terrific and I'm glad he made a return. He just offers so much and it's fun to have him as part of the police here. Jon Culshaw is also just magnificent in capturing the essence of Nicholas Courtney. Overall, another fascinating and enigmatic story to conclude a very strong and consistent boxset! But things are far from over and I'm looking forward to exploring this version of Earth more moving forward. A very strong conclusion! 

Rating: 8/10

The Haunted Windmill: The Crystal Ship

"You're going to turn people into diamonds!"

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: August 2026

Series: Second Doctor Adventures 5.02

Featuring: Second Doctor, Raven, Liz

Synopsis

A failed rocket-plane mission crashes to Earth. But where are the crew?

The Doctor and Raven encounter Professor Quigley and his trusty, undervalued assistant, Liz Shaw. Will scientific hubris lea to the end of the human race?

A certain Miss Heriot has other plans in mind.

Verdict

The Crystal Ship was another great and intriguing episode to continue my way through The Haunted Windmill fifth series of Second Doctor Adventures! I'm really enjoying the enigmatic feeling of this series and that continued here. I do think there may be problems when it comes to juggling this as an Earth before the Doctor ever touched down, so even his reference to historical events here didn't matter because he hadn't been present to influence them. He never landed on Earth in 1963 and took Ian and Barbara on board the TARDIS, so is that to suggest that he never became the man he was at this point in chronology and every wrong he righted on Earth was undone? That's my impression but that's so dangerous in terms of making a slip up! Considering that Alan Barnes writes The Fact of Fiction in Doctor Who Magazine every month though, I think he would be the safest person to try this audacious move! I really like how this timeline and version of Earth feels unlike anything we've had before and that's impressive because being unique in the Whoniverse now is not an easy thing to achieve. I like how the TARDIS is also out of action otherwise the Time Lords will track them right away, so having Raven on the search for scientific equipment in 1963 to try and make some repairs is great. Her role here was great fun as she was alongside Professor Quigley and it's safe to say he wasn't impressed with her driving! That was pretty good comic value. I thought the use of Liz as his assistant was intriguing and I like that she meets the Second Doctor here. Neither will know the significance of that though which is a bit of a shame but I do like getting to know a version of her in 1963 prior to her becoming the Doctor's assistant in Spearhead From Space. I'm a huge fan of anything Liz so whatever more we can get of her I'm all game for. I can't wait for the Character Options figure of hers arriving next month! It's a shame that the cast list spoils that the Krotons will appear in this boxset and whilst it's not stated anywhere which episode exactly, given the title contains the word crystal it was pretty clear it would be this one! I'm a big fan of them as a concept because they're so different and the appearance is certainly a standout. I wasn't in huge favour of their voices here as it felt a little too much like an amalgamation of a Dalek and Cyberman, but hearing them use phrases like high brain was excellent. I'm not sure why the Doctor struggled to remember about the Krotons though as it was pretty clear it was them and it can't have been all that long ago since he encountered them alongside Zoe and Jamie. Miss Heriot was a fun character here as Lucius's mother and she was very firm that she was not Zoe which was difficult for the Doctor to accept. I thought the sonic screwdriver playing a part here was intriguing and even though this incarnation is who it debuted with, it still feels too early for the Second Doctor to be using one. It made sense though with the sonic resonance and the crystalline structure of the Krotons. Their plan of dominating the planet and using carbon to basically create a diamond population was pretty diabolical! It was rather ludicrous but I enjoyed it. Liz making the sacrifice to see them off was a strong moment and I wonder if that will come to play a part moving forward as the series rolls on. Overall, another fascinating adventure and I'm liking that the windmill is the Doctor's makeshift laboratory as a good series arc. A great listen! 

Rating: 8/10

The Haunted Windmill

"You're the ancestor of someone who hasn't been born yet."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: August 2026

Series: Second Doctor Adventures 5.01

Featuring: Second Doctor, Jamie, Zoe, Raven

Synopsis

An Emergency Beacon Alert from Gallifrey means trouble for the Doctor, Raven, Jamie and Zoe. Their only possible escape is a desperate plan that seems to change everything. 

The TARDIS arrives in a strange land. Strange, but uncannily familiar too.

Verdict

The Haunted Windmill was an intriguing start to the fifth series of Second Doctor Adventures baring the same name! I must say, it's an excellent title and it's no surprise to me that it takes the role of title for the entire series and this looks to be an interesting one indeed. The follow on from the end of War of the Morai was good in having the TARDIS called by the Time Lords. It felt very reminiscent of The War Games in how helpless the Doctor felt because even if they refused, the Time Lords would take matters into their own hands and manually bring them in. That begs the question of why they don't just do that to start with, but hey ho. Raven was a bit of a difference maker here though and I will basically deem her a companion now that she has basically defected from the Time Lords and has joined forces with the Doctor. I adore her character and the voice of Emma Noakes is just enthralling. She really draws me in and I think that's a lot to do with where this is placed chronologically in Time Lord history. This really captures the on screen essence of their first appearance and I'm really enjoying the continuity there. It just works and does feel like a Season 6b. Raven not wanting to be taken back to Gallifrey is exciting and I enjoy the daredevil nature of her helping them escape. The destination was not at all what I was expecting! I had read the Doctor Who Magazine preview for this series prior to listening so I was aware this would see the Doctor arrive in a version of 1963 where he never arrived in An Unearthly Child, but this was a manufactured reality which worked well for me. This wasn't another sideways track, this was intentional. The Time Lords testing the statement of the Doctor from his trial and how he fought evil by creating an entire Earth where he didn't arrive and letting events play out was brilliant! I didn't see that coming so I was a big fan. It had vibes of the Death Zone but on a much bigger scale. The Doctor was horrified by the prospect. The handling of Jamie and Zoe was a little surprising in how they were basically snatched away, but their presence remained in a peculiar way as it was revealed that Bertie and Lucius were actually descendants of Jamie and Zoe! That was again something I didn't anticipate. Just how that's possible I'm not sure, but I look forward to finding out over the course of the boxset. Lucius was a strange character to say the least and I did find his connection with the TARDIS a little off-putting. The Doctor's initial reaction of potentially contacting with his time and space machine was fun, but this was no The Doctor's Wife. It felt a tad off and didn't connect with me for whatever reason. What did connect though was encountering Lethbridge-Stewart! Him knocking on the TARDIS to arrest the Doctor for receiving stolen goods was wonderful and I love the idea of him on this world being a detective inspector. The warning of him keeping an eye on the Doctor after the stolen goods were then returned was fun stuff and I do hope we hear more of him as the series continues. Also, kudos to Michael Troughton for his performance here as I think it was the best so far since he took on the role of his father. He captured the essence of the Second Doctor perfectly in both the seriousness and the comical ridiculousness. Overall, a fascinating start to what looks to be a very different and intriguing chapter for the Second Doctor and Raven. A great listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Sullivan & Cross – AWOL: Scream of the Daleks

"A killer that melts the flesh."

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: November 2022

Series: Seventh Doctor Adventures 2.02

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Harry, Naomi

Synopsis

Halloween 1969. The Doctor, Harry and Naomi respond to a scream for rescue. They find that people have been dying on the same spot on this day across millennia. 

But in their bid to stop the nightmare, the travellers have unleashed the Doctor's old enemy. This may be one cry for help better left unanswered...

Verdict

Scream of the Daleks was a great episode to conclude the Sullivan and Cross – AWOL second series of the Seventh Doctor Adventures! The title I must say is pretty excellent and got me excited prior to listening. I think it's safe to say that Harry and Naomi will be AWOL from UNIT for a good amount of time to come yet and that's very good. I think those two as companions bring out something of a more light-hearted version of the Seventh Doctor. Having them aboard the TARDIS and the interior being that which we saw during The Movie was fun stuff and I liked how it was described as being less like a spaceship. That is absolutely true and I don't think it's anything I have previously considered. Harry having all of space and time at the end of his fingers once again and choosing to want fish and chips was hilarious and that actually irked Naomi a little. She was very much more invested in following the scream. I thought the Shockstock festival was a really good setting and 1969 was a great year. I enjoyed the references to the Beatles and Harry actually claiming they were taking the stage to persuade attendees to get out of the woods was quite spectacular. The cheek! I liked the mystery of the same spot being the scene of a murder over a period of time spanning millennia. Talk about burying things deep! That was pretty disturbing I must say but with the killings separated by centuries and beyond, they were never going to be connected. One thing I'm not a fan of in stories with titles like these is the Daleks emerging as the cliffhanger. It almost becomes disappointing because we're not surprised in the slightest. That being said, I really appreciated how unique of a Dalek story this was because at this point that's not easy to achieve. The concept behind them being stuck between dimensions as they actually tried to conquer them. This was Naomi's first encounter with the Daleks which I enjoyed and having the Seventh Doctor describe them with hatred and how they had distain for the unlike was certainly a highlight. He knows by now that no matter what the Daleks were never going to go away and I think it's good that he's actually accepting that. The plan of the Daleks to lure the Doctor out over a period of millennia was pretty brutal but they had limited resources. The tear in reality was more of a slight gap than a full opening and that just meant a quick extermination in the same place at different times as the sun aligned. They were a little boastful in their confidence that the Doctor would free them. It was a little strange for the Doctor – even in this incarnation – to not go back and get Harry when he was left behind in 1969, but I did like how we got to know Naomi better when she was the sole companion for a little bit. I liked how she was standing up to the Daleks and whilst that may be her ignorance towards them, it showed boldness. The Daleks using their pathweb as a means to broadcast and tap into people's fears was brilliant and utilised the Halloween setting very nicely. It also provided a strong resolution with the Doctor using the TARDIS and her own telepathic circuits to lure them back into nothingness between dimensions. The Doctor is in the TARDIS and must be caught indeed. The trappers became trapped once again. The Doctor then turning out to be the one in the Yeti costume was quite fun and took the whole thing of the TARDIS jumping around different times and therefore providing the temporal boost to the Daleks for them to escape to a different level indeed! Overall, a very strong episode to conclude the series!

Rating: 8/10

Sullivan and Cross – AWOL: London Orbital

"I feel we have unfinished business."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: November 2022

Series: Seventh Doctor Adventures 2.01

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Harry, Naomi

Synopsis

Long ago, a massacre in a suburban house led to the young Harry Sullivan joining UNIT. But the murders were never solved. Years later, Harry and Naomi Cross investigate an oddity in the London Underground and uncover a whole different side to the capital. 

Creatures of myth are running amok across the city in a conflict going back decades. And somewhere in the shadows lurks a new incarnation of their old friend... the Doctor. And he's here to stop a war.

Verdict

London Orbital was a very good start to the Sullivan and Cross – AWOL second series of Seventh Doctor Adventures! After completing the Nemesis range of UNIT, I thought it would be a good time to fully delve into the adventures of Naomi Cross as companion. I'd been putting them off as I caught up with UNIT but after completing that range now, it felt like I was overdue getting to know this unique companion. I think the release schedule for her run as companion is pretty whacky and clearly Big Finish have taken liberties with how far in advance they record the Fourth Doctor Adventures. I try to avoid as many spoilers as possible but when you're playing catchup it's sometimes difficult! I'm not too far behind on the FDAs but I just find it baffling that Naomi's adventures aren't released in chronological order. I'm not sure what it adds and it just feels like I'm missing out slightly here as a listener. I still don't feel like I've been properly introduced to her and that's a bit of a shame and disservice to the character. Saying that, I thought the story was strong and the delayed arrival of the Seventh Doctor into the adventure was really well done. I thought Harry and Naomi could have been utilised much better in the Nemesis saga so I liked that they were centre stage here. Their dynamic was good and them having to explain to the Doctor that they weren't left in the right time after encountering the Dominators was great stuff. I also liked how the pair have read up on the UNIT files and knew a good deal about this incarnation in particular. Especially when it comes to his manipulative and testing nature. This is a very different Doctor to the one they previously travelled with and I'm looking forward to exploring that dynamic further. They didn't take too much convincing to rejoin him in the TARDIS with just a few stops along the way to getting them back to their own time. Just how reliable will the Doctor be in getting them there? I guess that's part of the journey now. I would be lying if I said I wasn't confused by some elements of this story but I think that was also part of its charm. The concept behind the different Earth that was the realm of Alfar was a little strange but I did love the idea behind science as words. To humanity, that looked like enchantment but it went much deeper than that. I like the incomprehensible and in some instances this was rather whacky. The different family factions of the Alfar were good but I do think a more distinct differentiation in their name would have been welcomed. Keryth actually being the traitor who was playing both sides against each other came to the forefront well and the Doctor guiding his companions into working that out was a really strong moment. It was like a teacher with his students. He knew that they could work it out. That felt very much of the Seventh Doctor. The significance of the Underground was excellent and the obvious reference to The Web of Fear came but unfortunately there were no Yeti this time around. Clerkenwell was good as the setting in that regard but I do think a lack of visuals hurt a little with the jumping between realms. Agrandir was a superb character though and that voice just oozed power and presence! Naomi realising that they needed to show that Keryth was perpetrating conflict was a pretty simple resolution in the end but in a story as complicated as this one, that was actually rather welcomed. The mythology and world building was impressive. It definitely had vibes of Battlefield which is certainly a compliment! I'm now intrigued to hear where things go for this trio moving forward. Overall, a great start to the series! 

Rating: 8/10

The Penumbra Affair

"The Doctor must never come here."

Writer: Paul Magrs

Format: Audio

Released: May 2022

Series: Beyond the Doctor 05

Featuring: Mrs Wibbsey

Synopsis

A letter arrives at Nest Cottage, warning of danger for all former companions of the Doctor. Intrigued, Mrs Wibbsey begins a correspondence with one Polly Wright – and soon finds herself with an unexpected guest for Christmas.

But shadows are gathering in the Hexford snow, and old scores are waiting to be settled. With Mike Yates and other friends around her, Mrs Wibbsey must navigate her way between facts and half-truths if she's to keep the Doctor's secrets safe, and live to tell the tale...

Verdict

The Penumbra Affair was a very good episode to conclude the Beyond the Doctor series from BBC Audio! This has been a thoroughly enjoyable quartet of adventures as whilst baring the same series name, I don't think The Kairos Ring really qualifies as part of the same set. It's a different writer and doesn't feature anything to do with Penumbra at all which is absolutely fine! I didn't actually know prior to pressing play who the lead character would be for this story and I was kind of expecting some of the companions we have heard from in this series so far to join forces, but instead we had Mrs Wibbsey! I didn't see that coming I must admit but it was good to have another adventure with her. She's a likeable character and it fits well into the continuity of the BBC Audio range. We had reference to Nest Cottage and that actually being a secret she was keeping of the Doctor's was a very nice touch. I thought the cameo from Mike Yates was great too and I liked the contemporary references to UNIT. It followed events nicely from Survivors of the Flux with him mentioning that they'd gone underground and I think that's a better description for them rather than closing down completely, especially considering the heights they would reach in the Fourteenth Doctor era and beyond! Yates reflecting back on Invasion of the Dinosaurs was also pretty poignant because even after all this time he still wasn't trusted by his old employers. That's a little sad but it's also understandable given everything that went down during those events. I don't want to sound harsh or critical when I say that this was a little bit of a tame finale to the whole Penumbra affair because I really enjoyed it, I was just expecting perhaps something more impactful after the build up. I liked the continuity with Bessie Come Home and her message reaching Wibbsey, and it also tied in perfectly with London, 1965 and Sleeper Agents in having Polly write a letter to Nest Cottage warning off any of the Doctor's other companions and linking to Ian and Polly. Leamann posing as Polly was fascinating and I liked the audacity of it because after all these years she could certainly pass as the woman who used to travel with the Doctor. When she was questioned on details though, her disguise soon let up. It could almost be forgiven for her to mistake Jamie for 'Jimmy' as another companion that accompanied Polly and Ben in the TARDIS, but her take on the Doctor's changing appearance was quite something! The seriousness in which she referred to the different faces as disguises and believed he changed via plastic surgery was incredible. I thought that was tremendously hilarious. Mrs Wibbsey was right in her doubts. I thought the way she confronted her on that was strong and Leamann had now realised the wrongs of Penumbra's ways. I think a little more detail on the failed state of the 1960s would have been good but Mr Harmer emerging from the shadows was good as a final standoff for him as a villain. He shot Leamann dead which was pretty stunning but I liked how Wibbsey was fast in her reflexes despite her age and his attempt on her actually thwarted all plans in destroying the space-time device. The whole thing being just a way to try and get the Doctor's attention as they needed help was good but not quite what I was expecting. It would never fly with the Doctor though as Wibbsey acknowledged, if they needed him all they had to do was ask. Overall, a great listen to conclude a really fun and enjoyable mini-series! I would love to get more of this kind of thing.

Rating: 8/10

Dawn of the Daleks

"It's getting pretty boring seeing you die."

Writers: Dan Watters & Dulce Montoya

Format: Comic Strip

Released: August 2026

Printed in: Circuit Breaker #2

Featuring: Fugitive Doctor

Synopsis

The Doctor travels to the war-ravaged world of Skaro as she battles the Daleks with the fate of their Kaled forebears at stake!

Verdict

Dawn of the Daleks was a great comic strip adventure to continue the ongoing Circuit Breaker saga! We return to the world of Titan Comics for their second and final contribution to the multimedia story and it's a really strong one. I'm surprised that both of their comic strips have gone for the Daleks given the potential for a huge variety of objects and locations to visit as a result, but what we got here was fascinating. I love the idea of doing a loose sequel to Genesis of the Daleks, but of course the Fugitive Doctor here has no idea that she would be present at their genesis. Hearing that the Doctor was just a story was a wonderful line and I like how the Fugitive incarnation here is discovering so much of what she will become. People she interacts with and particularly Osgood and Andrew aren't exactly hiding the fact of who she will become and just how important she will be. That feels strange and I must admit I thought certain elements of the Doctor's personality here were traditional writing for the character rather than this version as part of Division. I do like the idea that with this supposedly being the earliest incarnation of the Doctor that is known that she is slowly developing into the person we know of legend, but for now I think a little more of putting up a fight would have been beneficial. The story obviously has strong connections to Genesis as aforementioned so the item being out of time and place this time around made sense to be a time ring. I'm not sure the overall story surrounding these items actually makes a huge amount of sense but it gives us more Fugitive Doctor and it's just a bit of a fun. I'm not taking this too seriously and I think that's the best approach. This almost feels a bit like the ongoing Twelfth Doctor Adventures at Big Finish with the frequency in which we are getting stories and it's quite incredible that this is already the fifth instalment! Visiting Skaro is always great and I love that the Fugitive Doctor has stepped foot there prior to The Daleks, not that she'll know it by then. When the TARDIS showed the planet location I wasn't expecting such a vibrant and colourful landscape to greet the Doctor! The Kaleds were down to their last 103 survivors which is a pretty bleak situation but I love that some did survive in hiding. The war between Daleks and Kaleds could really be eternal and I love that it's not actually the Thals this time around. There are those of his own species that were revolted by and wholly against Davros. The little flashback sequence of the Fourth Doctor confronting him was wonderful. I must say, the artwork in this comic was superb. It was so vibrant and that worked really well with the large number of Daleks present. Flis was a strong character and her realisation that there were so many variants with different kinds of weapons because they were going to conquer the universe. I felt like she was leaping a tad there but she wasn't wrong! There were some seriously strong Nazi connotations with how much they were displaying a dislike for the unlike. I will say though I think the continuity was slightly off in having an Emperor Dalek in the factory representing the design seen in The Parting of the Ways. Surely it should have been closer to The Evil of the Daleks? That's a small nibble and the illustration regardless was terrific. The Doctor acknowledging the usefulness of a sonic device was a nice touch of what's to come which was good in foreshadowing the future, as well as her inadvertent offering of the Kaleds to come with her in the TARDIS. I think this Doctor understanding the Daleks after the events of Adversary of the Daleks was great and presented really well, and the simplicity of the time ring being offered to the Kaleds was good, if not a little forced. Overall though, a great read! 

Rating: 8/10

Run Fast, Be Kind: Wings of Steel

"All progress is built on the dead."

Writer: Alfie Shaw

Format: Audio

Released: August 2026

Series: Twelfth Doctor Adventures 1.04

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Ash

Synopsis

High above the ruined world of Doorahla, the Ultima have convened. The enemy's devastation of their forces is finally over. The key to their victory is finally at hand. And on top of all that, they've captured a Time Lord. 

All hail the Ultima.

Verdict

Wings of Steel was an outstanding episode to continue the ongoing Run Fast, Be Kind series of Twelfth Doctor Adventures! The weekly release schedule is working an absolute treat and this was just the best of the run so far. This had everything going for it and it's been wonderful to see the praise on social media for Alfie Shaw and just this series in general. It does feel like a bit of a shame that it's download only so I do wonder how many people are getting to experience it over those who won't buy without a physical release. I completely understand that sentiment but how can I say no to more Twelfth Doctor? Jon Culshaw is firmly settled into the role now and his take on Peter Capaldi's incarnation is fantastic. It feels authentic and whilst there may be some small instances of what sounds like the Brigadier creeping into the performance, for the most part it's just wonderful. The relationship the Doctor has with Ash at this point is really strong and I liked how they're beginning to understand each other. Their sarcastic agreement about Ash not getting to have an angry outburst if the Doctor wasn't going to be condescending was a nice touch. This followed on very nicely from where The Beautiful and the Damned left off with Sky basically dissolving into nothingness thanks to the refiner within her. That element played another crucial role here and all roads led to Doorahla and Brother Mundar. He was the one after the refiner and Ash was clear that he must pay. The Doctor was obviously less accommodating to such a request, but the trail needed to be followed and what resulted was fantastic. I thought the Ultima was really interesting and the whole religious element of the story was just sublime. The Doctor labelled them fascists with their desire for perfection and the ideal look, but the reveal that they were Krillitanes took things to a whole new level! I am so glad that reveal wasn't spoiled ahead of time and the evolution of the species at this point in the future was magnificent. They felt inherently more evil and that was pretty delicious. The Doctor trying to harken back to School Reunion and use their own byproduct against them was fantastic when it failed. This was the far future and the Krillitanes had eradicated that weakness a very long time ago. I thought that was great and a fun twist because that was just logical. Evolution had taken its course and with a species changing itself as often as the Krillitanes it also made sense. I thought finding out that Ash was an amalgamation of species also was fascinating, especially the 9% Trakenite! A link to Nyssa? Now that would be tremendous. The use of refiner within the Krillitanes and them hoping to surpass even Time Lord regeneration was quite something and Ulnar and 409 in particular in their respective roles were terrific. The Doctor and Ash working together alongside Mundar was superb at the end as just when it seemed all was lost, they brought about the upper hand emphatically and with smugness. Mundar going further though and failing the Doctor's test in activating the refiner anyway despite the Krillitane surrender was a shock, but not as much as when Ash shot him! I really didn't see that coming and showed that he was pretty irrational and emotional. That's not unexpected as he was still reeling from Sky's fate, but that's so uncharacteristic of a companion. The Doctor was clearly outraged and I can't wait to hear where things move forward from here. The dynamic in the TARDIS will certainly have changed a great deal now! I can't wait to hear the next episode now. Overall, just superb! 

Rating: 10/10

Cold War

"I dreamed the war was over, and I could finally allow you to be born."

Writer: Rebecca Levene

Format: Short Story

Released: December 2003

Printed in: Short Trips: Steel Skies 13

Featuring: Seventh Doctor, Ace, Benny

Synopsis

There are many places that most of us can never see: places that are sheltered, locked away, cordoned off from the outside world. But to the Doctor, and those who travel with him in his TARDIS, there is no such thing as a locked door. Anywhere in space and time is open to them to visit – even if sometimes it might be better to leave such places well alone.

Steel Skies is a collection of stories based in enclosed and artificial environments: places constructed to keep the dangers of the universe outside, perhaps, or to keep their inhabitants locked in. It is divided into four sections, each exploring a different kind of confinement:

Section One, Flight, comprises four tales of travellers who left their homes for far-away destinations – to explore, to start a new life, or to fight for the survival of their species.

Section Two, Frontiers, explores the corridors, living quarters and ventilation shafts of four futuristic environments – designed to shelter men, women and children from harsh natural forces, or from the threat of nuclear war.

Section Three, Incarceration, tells four stories of punishment and imprisonment, from San Francisco's infamous Alcatraz, to the cage of a flightless angel in the dilapidated ruins of Heaven. 

Section Four, Isolation, deals with the loneliness and despair of being cut off from the world outside, by physical or mental incapacity, by the ravages of war, or caught between destinations aboard the TARDIS itself. 

A recurring theme in all four sections is the effect of the Doctor's arrival in these enclosed environments – sometimes positive, sometimes less so.

Verdict

Cold War was an outstanding story to continue my way through the Steel Skies edition of Short Trips. This kicked off the Solitude section of this book in incredible style by easily being the best adventure in the collection so far. I’m always intrigued by a title and this one obviously shares the same one as an Eleventh Doctor televised episode, but this came much earlier so I think it’s quite fun to ponder on what might have been. Imagine Steven Moffat saying no to the episode title because of a Short Trip! The stories were very different and this didn’t relate to the historical period on Earth between USA and Russia at all. This was taking things into space and a very different war indeed which was fascinating. I thought Jen was such a strong character and considering the story was only fourteen pages long, there were a lot of twists! I think it would even benefit from a reread as I realised later why Carl reacted so shocked when seeing Jen after his vision was cured. I think the story was perfect for the Seventh Doctor and his manipulative nature. He’s not one to shy from interference and that was the case here as he jumped right into action. It was also lovely to have both Ace and Benny alongside him as companions as that’s still a story in prose I’m yet to fully delve into with my limited and stop-start experience of the New Adventures books. Both are really good together and I liked Benny’s reaction to what she described as an embryo in the third trimester being stated as Jen’s daughter. The quote I have taken for this story is something that resonates massively. The idea of a mother not wanting to bring her daughter into a world of war is pretty admirable, but just delaying that birth seems incomprehensible. Her patience and willpower must be extraordinary but clearly she had a lot going on! Five years of solitude will do that to you. I can’t imagine going that long without any kind of human contact! A blind android was all she had for company and I’m just not sure how well that would suffice. The situation surrounding the war between the human colony and the Reptiles was presented really well and I actually enjoyed the ambiguity. Initially I thought they might be the Draconians but then with the description of the third eye opening, might these be some kind of Silurians? Or more likely they’re just something different altogether which is equally fine. The Doctor using Jen’s baby to threaten her and push her back into realising who and what she was made for an incredible moment. I just don’t think any other incarnation of the Doctor could have pulled off that threat. I would firmly believe that the Seventh Doctor would drop the case containing the unborn child. That’s a scary thought but Jen then realising that she was a Reptile was powerful stuff. I did not see that coming so it was a sublime twist! It made sense too and fitted in very nicely with the war. The threat of the weapon was very strong as well and it made sense in hindsight why Ace was disconnecting it. That was a big threat to Jen and she quickly assumed they were traitors. I liked that a lot as it really sent her into quite the spiral! Getting the little flashback of the true Jen and how Qurro as she was truly known took her identity was excellent. It was emotional stuff and there was just so much going on! The Doctor taking her child as an orphan to grow up and give the message was another pull on the emotional strings and I firmly believe that anything with children now in the Whoniverse is heightened after having my own.  Overall, just brilliance. Even if the Doctor’s name wasn’t capitalised! 

Rating: 10/10

Bret Vyon Lives!: The Sky is for Sale

"Death will feel like a relief."

Writer: James Kettle

Format: Audio

Released: July 2026

Series: Space Security Service 2.03

Featuring: Anya, Mark

Synopsis

A huge satellite mines the atmosphere of Saturn. Following a number of threats, agent Sola Akinyemi of the Space Security Service is on board, tasked with keeping the workers and their families safe.

Meanwhile, Anya Kingdom is at Triple-S headquarters, working to expose and eradicate corruption in the service. But just as she's making progress, HQ is attacked. And then the mining satellite is invaded – by a different hostile force! 

In the desperate battle that follows, Anya and Sola will have to make impossible choices. Who can they really trust? And what horrors are they willing to sanction if it means defeating the Daleks?

Verdict

The Sky is for Sale was a great episode to conclude the Bret Vyon Lives! second series of the Space Security Service! This was more like it and was definitely the best story of the boxset in my opinion. I thought this was a prime example of what things should be for this range in just having the SSS in a war against the Daleks. That just feels like what they should be doing and Anya and Mark heading that at the helm was really nicely done. I thought both were presented really and it was just great to involve the SSS into a sneaky little mission. Except this wasn't entirely the Daleks as the enemy but more so their nature and their past actions causing strong issues. I'm an absolute sucker for The Dalek Invasion of Earth so anytime we get the Robomen back I'm all for it. They had such an impact on me when I first saw this serial as my first black and white story and also my first impression of the First Doctor. The imagery presented for them here was really good but I wasn't wholly sold on their voices which was my main qualm with the episode. Given this is an audio format that is a bit of a shame, but it was still wonderful for them to be present. They had evolved a lot and the concept of the Robomen evolving beyond their Dalek conditioning was excellent! There was a lot of potential there but a tad more explanation would have been good as I think it's pretty well established that their lifespan post-conversion wasn't very long at all. We had a number of different Robomen present here and hearing one apologise for their actions and blaming them on the Daleks for making them this way was pretty startling in the best way. As if they weren't creepy enough! Now they had something close to a conscience. I thought the rebels from the future element of the adventure was really good and Anya wasn't exactly surprised by people coming from a different time. As she mentioned, she certainly has experience! I think Anya is a really underrated character and whilst I haven't seen much hype around this series, I would very much like it to continue. It's really unique and the futuristic space setting really gives it a unique feel. The mystery surrounding Kozimek was great and it turning out that he was the one being targeted from the future was fascinating. Anya was quick to think that he was the replacement that was a good guy, but he was actually the culprit! The rebels from the future not fully knowing their history was intriguing and I loved the description of them still trying to piece it all back together. That shows just how much trouble they were in and the roles of Kozimek and the Robomen there were fantastic. There was a lot riding on this story and the Daleks being in the background was good stuff. I think a little more impact on the way the rebels were dealt with would have been beneficial, but Anya acknowledging that they were at war with the Daleks as things concluded was a nice touch. It left things rather ambiguous on if there will be another series and I think that's fine as it also serves as a good conclusion if there isn't because that feels right for the SSS. Mark Seven being flirtatious wasn't exactly something I expected here and it was nice to hear another side of him. Given his nature he can be quite one dimensional but his character was far from that here! Overall, a really good finale to what has been a solid little series. A unique little spinoff and I understand why this one is download only, but hopefully it's not the last. But if it is, it's been a fun little ride! 

Rating: 8/10

Bret Vyon Lives!: The Wages of Death

"Your use to us has expired."

Writer: David Llewellyn

Format: Audio

Released: July 2026

Series: Space Security Service 2.02

Featuring: Anya, Mark

Synopsis

Furiosa 237 is a remote world in the hinterlands of the galaxy. Anya and Mark teleport in and quickly take jobs on a cargo ship. They're undercover – on an urgent, secret mission. 

Their task is to locate a device called a Progenitor, then drop it into the nearest black hole – and quickly, before it can hatch.

But at least one person on board is determined to save the Progenitor and unleash its deadly contents: a whole army of Daleks.

Verdict

The Wages of Death was a good episode to continue my way through the Bret Vyon Lives! second series of Space Security Service. This was a pretty solid story and was very much par for the course in terms of standard quality, but I worry that this particular boxset has started with the main event. The appeal of Bret Vyon returning is obvious given his importance in The Daleks' Master Plan and the familial connection he would have hear to Anya, but now that seems to all be over in The Man Inside and unless anything happens in the finale, Bret's story seems to be over. I suspect that will be the case given the finality of the previous episode. I think we need more of the Daleks and whilst they did feature well here, it was more their potential infiltration. I think we need an all out battle between the SSS and the Daleks, especially in the finale! I suspect there won't be a third series of this particular spinoff so I do hope it goes out with a bang. I really like the pairing of Anya and Mark Seven and they worked well together again here. It was good that Anya was suspicious of the Mark duplicate almost right from the off and with him being an android I imagine that wasn't so easy to detect. I thought the pair trying to blend in on the mission was amusing because they were very far from being believable in their descriptions of their past jobs and just their lives up to this point. I always enjoy stories that play around with black holes because the science behind them is so incomprehensibly fascinating. I love it. It's difficult to wrap your head around the potential and the giant pull that they have. What would be on the other side, if anything? It's fun to ponder on. The Dalek Progenitor as the cargo that was to be deposited within the black hole was really good and I like how the story was utilising elements we are familiar with from on screen episodes. It ties in continuity very nicely and also blends eras. I liked that a lot and it certainly makes sense why they would want to throw it into a black hole when it contained everything possible to create new Daleks! The mystery of who the Daleks' man on the inside was worked well, especially with such a small cast because that left only a couple of options. Ballad initially being thought of in that position because he was the medical officer and the codes to thwart the technology could only be used by someone in his position seemed to explain everything. So the dark twist of Mark Seven was handled very well and for a moment it seemed he was in the thrall of the Daleks once again. That's always a fun story to tell. Of course, the teleport was actually intercepted for the true article. Melville was a strong character as the other one that could potentially be the wrongdoer and I was impressed with the assembled crew of the ship. I just think the story was missing a little something to push it to the next level. The characters were great and I enjoyed the plot and setting for the most part, but I think it needed a bit of action and impact. Dmitry being killed by the Dalek self destructing may have happened a little too early in the episode as I'm not sure we ever got back to those heights which was a shame. Still, Anya being on hand to send the fake Mark packing was great and I liked that the SSS were able to complete their mission. Overall, a good listen! 

Rating: 7/10

Bret Vyon Lives!: The Man Inside

"I take it I'm destined to die."

Writer: Simon Guerrier

Format: Audio

Released: July 2026

Series: Space Security Service 2.01

Featuring: Anya, Mark Seven

Synopsis

Anya Kingdom is a prisoner of the Daleks on a very peculiar space station orbiting a very peculiar star. The Daleks don't want to kill Anya; they want to break her down psychologically. 

One way to do that is to lock her in a cell with someone Anya knows is a fake. Whoever, whatever, this man really is, he cannot be her beloved uncle. Bret Vyon is dead, end of story.

But if Anya is to survive, she will need his help...

Verdict

The Man Inside was a great start to the Bret Vyon Lives! second series of Space Security Service! It doesn't really feel like it's been a year since The Voord in London opening series but I was very happy to get back into the swing of things here after the series was delayed four months. That was quite frustrating after pre-ordering the download but it's better late than never! I do think there may have been some early rumours that reached Big Finish regarding the finding of The Nightmare Begins and Devil's Planet as part of The Daleks' Master Plan missing episodes because this obviously ties into that with Bret Vyon featuring! The concept of his return seems almost impossible but where Big Finish are concerned I think just about anything is on the table. If there's even a chance of it being plausible then they might just find a way to do it! The way Bret was reunited with his niece Anya here was pretty simple in the end with the pair being taken out of time. I liked that and it feels right within the world and futuristic setting of the Space Security Service. The form of narration was intriguing here as we heard differing perspectives of both Anya and Mark Seven which did become quite emotional. Hearing Anya as a child on the phone to her uncle Bret was rather sombre knowing his fate and at whose hands that was done. Anya was practically begging to tell Bret even when she wasn't convinced that he was the true article. It was just easier to accept that he was a Dalek duplicate and I mean I could see that given their track record. Especially at this point in Dalek chronology going alongside the First Doctor era. Anya mistaking her memories of her uncle from when she was a child was really done well as she claimed he was the wrong height and just wasn't quite the man she remembered. But now she was an adult, how could he be? I enjoyed that and the emotional tug really was quite strong. I liked how Anya was only providing her name and rank when she was being subjected to the psychological trauma. She dealt with it well and understood that Bret was part of that, or so she thought. Mark Seven played an interesting role in this story and he was primarily concerned with protecting Anya and history itself. It was obvious from the way Anya looked at Bret that as far as she was concerned, he was dead. That must be something difficult to accept and recognise. Mark being challenged by Sola regarding what he told Bret and how history might be changed was good stuff but I liked how he stood firm. The history books weren't altered but it was emotional to think that Bret knew he was destined for something bad and went back to his own time willingly despite it. All to defeat the Daleks. Anya bemoaning the chance to save him was understandable but imagine history changed and the Daleks utilising the Time Destructor how they intended? The concept behind the Kraken or Omni-Dalek was really intriguing and painted quite the picture! An amalgamation of Daleks out of their shells with the tendrils literally being a route to a different point in time. That was certainly something unique and I rather liked it! It was also fun for Anya to utilise how it must answer when questioned. I thought Mark covering the truth and explaining to Anya how the Bret they encountered was actually a Dalek duplicate despite him being the real article was poignant and I can understand him looking out for her, but I don't think we're done on that story element. I think she's going to find out and I can't imagine she'll be all that happy! Overall though, a really strong start to the series! A great listen.

Rating: 8/10

Sound the Siren and I'll Come To You Comrade

"It seems the Revolution passed them by."

Writer: John Pritchard

Format: Audio

Released: September 2016

Series: Short Trips: Rarities 1.05

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

The Doctor and Leela arrive on a barren plain in the Soviet Union of the 1950s. Twisted wreckage and remains speak of the tests of a destructive new power. The scientists responsible live in terror of their political masters.

But now they all have something else to be scared of...

Verdict

Sound the Siren and I'll Come To You Comrade was a great little Rarity amongst the Short Trips range! I don't really know what to expect from this series because it was hidden to even me until recently but it's such a delight to be delving into these adventures. I must say Stephen Critchlow absolutely nails it once again with his narration as his take on the Fourth Doctor is a fantastic impersonation! He honestly should have been doing any and all Short Trips with this incarnation of the Doctor. He captures all of the tones and mannerisms of Tom Baker which is no easy feat! It really does bring an authentic feeling to the episode and in this range in particular I think that's very important indeed. I thought the setting here was tremendous and that is because Russian history in particular is one of my favourites to study and delve into. I really love learning about the twentieth century in particular and the period from just prior to the 1917 Revolutions up to just after the Second World War is so fascinating. Rasputin is an incredible historical figure and I don't think I'll ever forget the Master impersonating him in The Power of the Doctor, and then The Death of Stalin is one of my all time favourite movies. So visiting the Soviet Union in the 1950s was good fun. It wasn't exactly the Tsar that the Doctor intended on taking Leela to meet with, but it was history nonetheless. Just why and how Leela came to be expecting to be meeting the Tsar of all Russias is beyond me but that's definitely a conversation I would love to hear. I thought splitting the Doctor and Leela up here was good as the narrator's strengths were obviously focused on portraying the Doctor, but he didn't even try with a Leela impression and that's the right move in my opinion. I liked the use of a mock town because that's something that feels perfect for the secrecy of the Soviet Union so of course they would be testing their weaponry and beyond on something that felt authentic but wouldn't actually cause real damage to people. I think having an energy parasite inserted into this kind of story was a good move even if it's far from being unique. The circumstances and setting were very different and that makes this feel pretty new so that works for me. Especially in this range. This perhaps isn't the place for continuity-busting and hugely imagined ideas because with one actor and a short time frame, there's just not a huge amount of room to play around with. I thought the characters of Genyeva and Semyonov were really strong and they were certainly different too! The Doctor getting to showcase the mobile nature of the TARDIS was fun stuff and the fact he was speaking Russian thanks to the TARDIS translation circuits working as they should was lovely. Simple stuff but it's good to highlight why people of different countries are receptive to the Doctor. It made sense to finish with the bomb on the mock town and the mushroom cloud descriptions was excellent. I can't imagine being that close in proximity to something of that nature but I imagine the effect is profound. Overall, a really strong setting that served as a fine place for a good story. A very enjoyable listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Sleeper Agents

"You're being left with dreams of the infinite."

Writer: Paul Magrs

Format: Audio

Released: March 2022

Series: Beyond the Doctor 04

Featuring: Polly, Ben

Synopsis

It's July 1966, and Ben & Polly have just said goodbye to the Doctor at Gatwick Airport. Now they must return to their old lives – but things at home aren't quite right. Polly's cat is behaving oddly, and both she and Ben soon realise they are under close scrutiny. To complicate matters further, the pair must acknowledge their true feelings for each other. 

When they find themselves transported against their will to a far-flung destination, what matters most is their loyalty to each other – and to the Doctor. 

Who are the mysterious Mr Harmer and Ms Leamann, and what can they possibly want with Polly & Ben?

Verdict

Sleeper Agents was another great episode to continue the fascinating mini-series that is Beyond the Doctor. I really do think we should have more of this kind of stuff from BBC Audio as whilst it is wonderful to have the singular releases that basically define this range, there's nothing quite like a story arc that gets me going. I'm really enjoying this series and I like the premise of companions being targeted once their adventures with the Doctor are over. It really highlights how that once you have travelled in the TARDIS, you're never really the same again. Even after departing. I find it quite fun to think about just how much is going on in London around the date of this story in 1966 because not only does this almost immediately follow on from The Faceless Ones where Polly and Ben said their goodbyes to the Doctor, but that also turned out to be the same day they initially joined the First Doctor in The War Machines! But it doesn't end there as for the Second Doctor and Jamie they're thrust straight into the events of The Evil of the Daleks, and now Polly and Ben are dealing with things here! No wonder artron readings are off the scale. I really thought Anneke Wills did a marvellous job with the narration here and she really did bring Polly back to life. I was thrust back into the past and it felt nostalgic because she is one of my all time favourite companions. I have a fascinating attachment to the First Doctor also so this felt like a great moment of reflection. Polly and Ben are clearly made for each other and I think it's sad that they might not end up together. I've always been left disturbed by Mondas Passing and the premise of the pair not being a couple because they really are synonymous together! They just have to end up and Ben felt the same, but he wasn't giving Polly much of a chance to come out of her shell and just settle after leaving the TARDIS behind. She wanted it too and that was nice to acknowledge, even if Ben didn't quite know it. With them returning on the same day they departed, the idea of Polly and Ben just settling back into their jobs was bonkers but that's the mundane nature of normal life. From travelling the stars to back in the office and at shore. Talk about a come down! I thought Harmer and Leamann were really strong characters and I must admit I didn't see the android twist coming at the end. That was nicely done and they weren't hiding the fact that these weren't the first former companions of the Doctor they had targeted. They wanted their knowledge of future and otherworldly technology and the method of taking the memories was pretty brutal. This tied in nicely with London, 1965 when it came to the timeline and Polly working for the Penumbra magazine was a nice touch as that's a word that's been threaded throughout this miniseries and is in the title of the finale. I can't wait to hear how things conclude there! It's been a really exciting series and the ambiguity at the end for Polly in not knowing if she could trust Ben after it seemed he had been subjected to the sleeper agents was poignant and a little sad. I was hoping for a happy ending but I don't think we quite got it. Sometimes it's good to go that route though. Talk about making cats scary too! Overall, a really strong episode to continue the series! 

Rating: 8/10

The Deadliest Weapon

"Snatches of a future already lived."

Writer: Steve Lyons

Format: Audio

Released: July 2026

Series: Circuit Breaker #4

Featuring: Fugitive Doctor

Synopsis

Masquerading as a resident in a luxurious space hotel, the Doctor is in fact on a dangerous mission to eliminate Kashan Akravar, a rogue weapons dealer who's attempting to auction blueprints for the deadliest weapon ever invented. 

The Division – that shadowy Time Lord organisation – have briefed the Doctor to prevent the blueprints' sale at all costs. But they're not the only ones who realise the weapon's potential. When the hotel is attacked by Cybermen, intent on seizing the blueprints, the Doctor must use every ounce of her courage and ingenuity to hold them off. 

Working with husband and wife Kel and Jinni, the Doctor finds puzzles and obstacles in her way. Whose disembodied voice is calling out to her? What is its connection with UNIT's Black Archive? And can anything prevent a cruel stroke of fate that will have unimaginable consequences for them all...?

Verdict

The Deadliest Weapon was a great audio adventure to continue the ongoing Circuit Breaker multimedia story! This was a fine contribution from BBC Audio and it was a nice change of pace to get into the performed elements of the story. We've had a short online story and two comic strips so far which have all been terrific, but it was nice to get Jo Martin for a full adventure instead of those promo videos appearing across Doctor Who social media. Promo videos in which I must say it's incredibly obvious that she's just reading her lines from a teleprompter! That's not her fault though and I thought she did a really strong job in her role as narrator and Fugitive Doctor here. I thought this was an intriguing take on the format and whilst it is clear that the memory worm is the artefact that needed returning this time around, the episode actually focused on memories of the Fugitive Doctor instead of the actual return of the worm. That was really good and it allowed us a glimpse into life within Division for the Doctor. I thought pairing the Fugitive Doctor against the Cybermen was a really good idea and I loved that we had David Banks back in his iconic role as the 1980s era Cyber Leader. Excellent! He was fantastic and I liked the dynamic that was sprung between the two characters. I just wish we had more of the Leader in the story! Especially with Banks on board. I thought the setting of a luxury space hotel was good and the Doctor being a regular there was interesting given her life during this incarnation. I didn't really imagine her having free time to frequent bars so that was fascinating indeed. The weapons dealer of Kashan Akravar never felt like too much of a threat but his creation certainly was. It's something tricky to state that a weapon would be the deadliest one ever created but at this point in Time Lord history for the Doctor, you really could believe that something with a dematerialisation potential would be. You didn't just kill who you shot with it, they were completely erased from time. The idea of the Time Lords obtaining this weapon for themselves is pretty dark but shows just how shady and different Division are as an organisation on Gallifrey. It makes sense that the Cybermen would want it as I mean, who wouldn't? The potential there is endless. I thought Kel and Jinni were good characters and developed a decent little relationship with the Doctor. That made the way the story ended all the more emotional with the Doctor utilising the demat gun but some of the crossfire causing Kel and Jinni to perish. Their son surviving but not remembering his parents was powerful stuff and incredibly sad. I thought the whispers from Osgood were okay in linking the story back to the ongoing arc, but they did feel like a little bit of an intrusion. The Doctor being angered that Osgood saw into her mind when she was suffering the effects of the memory worm was strong stuff and I could certainly understand her feelings, but it also showed Osgood that this Doctor wasn't all that far removed from the hero she knows from this incarnation's future. I thought that was a nice touch as despite everything, this Doctor still cared when she didn't have to and that's a defining feature of the character we all know and love. A really good listen and now I'm excited for the next release! Back to the comics we go.

Rating: 8/10