The Eaters of Light

"We'll all die in the dark."

Writer: Rona Munro
Format: TV
Broadcast: 17th June 2017
Series: 10.10

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill, Nardole

Synopsis

Whatever happened to the Ninth Legion? Bill thinks she knows. The Doctor thinks he knows better. And Nardole thought they were having a quiet night in with a boxset and popcorn. But why watch TV when you've a time machine and an enquiring mind?

Verdict

The Eaters of Light was a fantastic episode of Doctor Who which has really continued the series along in strong style. I was delighted to see that Rona Munro was returning to write a story after penning Survival and it's intriguing to see a writer who has scripted for both the Classic and the modern era of the television show we all love. They're obviously one and the same but they still remain very different and almost separate so to have her return was a real treat. After reading the DWM preview of this episode, I became very fascinated by the idea of the Ninth Legion. Roman History is sadly something I haven't really covered in my historical studies so I did a little research and I really was interested in what is documented about this missing army of Romans in Scotland. I liked how that sentiment was followed through with the arrival of the TARDIS to the second century and the Doctor and Bill debating over who knew more about the mysterious disappearance. Bill was absolutely adamant that she knew more about it than the Doctor which I loved and I really do enjoy how she doesn't lack in confidence. She really has been a stellar companion and I would love for her to be staying on for the Chris Chibnall era but I get the feeling that won't be the case. The Iron Age setting was wonderful for me and whilst Doctor Who stories set in the past aren't exactly a rarity, I do feel that there should be some more set this far back in the past. It's interesting to see humanity at a more vulnerable level as well as a lack of resources for the Doctor to use to provide the resolution. The portal that was being guarded by Kar was fascinating and the idea of time going by quicker inside the gate than outside was rather reminiscent of my reading of The Shining Man earlier in the week. Nardole was wonderful once again in this episode and I really have enjoyed him in the recent stories. He's turning into quite a nuisance but one that you can't help but love. He doesn't seem to do an awful lot in most episodes but he just gets that comedic line in at the right moment which makes him such a likeable character. I really enjoyed the Romans immediate acceptance of Bill's sexuality but I agree with a Twitter comment that I read following the episode's airing in that it seems to be overstated how Bill is a lesbian. It isn't a big deal and it really doesn't need to be continuously mentioned. It's not a problem in the slightest, I just feel like it's something that attention doesn't need to be drawn to. The Light Eaters were an interesting enemy and I liked how threatening they really were. The hinderance of them only being able to come through the portal one at a time was good but any monster that has the ability to literally eat the sun and stars is obviously one to be feared! Kar's relationship, or rather her family's relationship, with them throughout the decades was intriguing and I loved how she took great pride in wanting to fend them off and protect her country. The episode was extremely Scottish which was terrific but I think one of the highlights for me was the comments about the crows. The Doctor seemed to imply that crows have always been able to talk and that humanity simply stopped conversing with them. The one that said 'Doctor' and 'Master' was fantastic but I also loved the touch of the noise a crow makes being a memory of Kar, who went into the portal to defend the Earth. The mystery of the Ninth Legion seems to be solved in the Whoniverse, and I really did like it, but now with Missy once again looming, I'm interested to know whether the Doctor truly trusts her. I suspect not but I look forward to finding out. Overall though, another stellar episode!

Rating: 9/10

Invasion of the Mindmorphs Part 1

"I'm here to show you what adventures in time and space are really like."

Writer: Robbie Morrison
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 25th May 2017
Printed in: DWC: Tales from the TARDIS 18

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor

Synopsis

Thanks to the rather exciting Julie d'Aubigny, the Doctor defeated an infestation of cosmic darkness in Paris, France, in 1695.

Though Julie was interested in joining the Doctor on his travels - as long as she got to drive! - the Doctor has left her to get on with her own adventures for the time being. Perhaps she'll be back for seconds in the future...? In the meantime, there are always new adventures to be had, and new people to meet!

Verdict

Invasion of the Mindmorphs started in sublime fashion with this outstanding opening part! I can't believe I have to wait until the end of August for the second part to be released in the next issue of Doctor Who Comic because I absolutely loved this first part of the story. A Doctor Who comic strip adventure about a comic strip based upon the Doctor is such a wonderful idea and seeing the subtle differences between the reality of the Doctor and his travels through space and time and that of the Time Surgeon was just brilliant. It was intriguing to open the comic and see Clara on the opening page but we soon learned that was actually the Time Surgeon's assistant called Nurse Kara. The idea of the story behind Day of the Deathroids was fantastic and seeing the Daleks and the Master being dubbed as Deathroids and the Minister was just fantastic. It was a nice little throwback to Frontier in Space and after Doorway to Hell, it was terrific to see a glimpse of the Twelfth Doctor and the Master as portrayed by Roger Delgado together once again. I really do think that this story may house the best opening to a comic strip in recent memory. I thought it was that good. I may be overplaying its quality but it just reached out to me and I could not help but love it. The story was then made even better by the arrival of the actual Doctor and he had been reading up on the Time Surgeon 'rip off' of his life. Instead of being angered, he wanted to provide its writers and artists with a bit of inspiration so he basically kidnapped them and took them to the Jurassic period to be chased by a t-rex. If he was going to be ripped off in a comic strip, the Doctor wanted to make sure that it was done properly and that the representation of his life was somewhat accurate. I imagine that on a different day though he may be less pleased about being ripped off in a comic adventure. Sonny and Val were great characters and I loved seeing their relationship develop in the short time of the comic strip. The animosity between them was heightened by the fact that they were roommates but as the Doctor pointed out, there was also an attraction there. Living with someone you're attracted can be difficult, I know from experience, and that definitely seemed to hold true here. The moment that Sonny stepped out of the animosity to protect Val from the dinosaur was evidence that it was all an act and the pair actually did enjoy each other's company. The Doctor giving them a tour of a lot of the good he has done in his life was terrific, even if he can't help but think he was bragging a little bit, and with each new venture Sonny and Val came closer together and seemed to return to what was obviously their old ways before the Time Surgeon comics. The conclusion of the story seems to have set up the concluding part in a different direction with the evil brains wanting to eradicate free thought from the three new arrivals to Zarma. It was not what the Doctor expected on his arrival with the city being devastated which was a far cry from its normal peace and harmony. It seemed that in wanting to provide inspiration to the comic writing team, he had actually now placed them in real life danger. I get the sense that Sonny and Val are going to get their own personal adventure and they won't be in control of its destiny. Let's hope the real life Time Surgeon can save the day! Overall, a wonderful opening part to the story and I can't wait to read its conclusion in a couple of months' time.

The Shining Man

"Shining Men don't exist. They're just some silly urban legend that's got out of hand."

Writer: Cavan Scott
Format: Novel
Released: 20th April 2017
Series: NSA 58

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill

Synopsis

"Being scared is the least of your worries."

The Shining Men are everywhere. You spot them out of the corner of your eye. Abnormally tall, with long lank hair, blank faces and blazing eyes. If they catch you, they'll drag you away to who knows where. No one is safe. They're on every street corner. Waiting. Watching. Shining bright.

Of course it's a hoax. It has to be, right? It started as a joke, a prank for Halloween. Then it went viral. Idiots dressing up as monsters. Giving folks a scare. Silly masks and fright wigs. No one gets hurt. Because bogeymen aren't real.

Until people start going missing and lights burn in the darkness. Burning like eyes.

But help is on its way, in the form of a strange man called the Doctor and his friend, Bill. The Doctor will keep us safe. The Doctor will stop the monsters. Unless the monsters stop the Doctor first...

Verdict 

The Shining Man was a very good novel and it was great to be doing another format of story for the Twelfth Doctor and Bill. I have taken a little longer than I would have liked to start reading these novels but I think it is definitely beneficial to read them alongside the TV series and I do hope I can fit in the next two before the finale airs in a few weeks' time. This story was obviously set a little earlier than the current point of the tenth series but that didn't really have any bearing on the story other than a hidden reference to what might lay inside the vault. Cavan Scott penned a very good novel and I must say I did enjoy some of the references that he included, with some homage being paid to Hattie from DWC and also a lovely mention of The Soul Garden which is the ongoing DWM comic strip story. Little things like that which tie in the stories across all formats and ranges really does appeal to me and I was really glad to read it. I thought the setting of a few months into the future was good and that helped with keeping things present day whilst getting the story to be set at Halloween. The characterisation of Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor was superb throughout the book which was great and with very little to go on, I was also impressed with how well Pearl Mackie's likeness as Bill was captured. There were some nice mentions of The Pilot, Smile and The Library of Alexandria and I thought that the relationship between the Doctor and Bill was very reminiscent with what we have seen on screen in the run thus far. The concept of the Shining Man craze was good and I liked the ambiguity over whether it could be real or if it was just people dressing up in costumes. It had gone viral and the way the story dealt with modern day technology and social media was excellent. I thought Charlotte was a terrific character and I was actually quite disappointed that she seemed to just disappear after the halfway point. PC Schofield was probably the best of the guest characters in this story and I really liked how quickly she came to believe the impossible because of the Doctor. She didn't want to believe any of what the Doctor was telling her throughout the story but she just couldn't help but find herself agreeing with him. That's a great quality that the Doctor has. Noah and Masie were great characters too and the sibling argument they had after Sammy, their mother, disappeared was quite emotional. Hilary was quite comical in moments stepping in as she would being their grandmother. The story dealt with goblins and boggarts in a very intriguing way and I really liked how we saw the Doctor and Schofield go to the Invisible. It was a place where the rules were different and it was very different to what we are used to. Even the Doctor was affected by the strange surroundings despite his assurances. The protection the sonic sunglasses provided was good but I must admit I was questioning things when trees were fighting each other. The battle between the Woodling and the Three was a little strange and I'm still not too sure what it accomplished. The way the Doctor worked out the resolution and how to free Sammy and return the Lost to the Fae was good and I liked how he told a fairy story whilst enacting his plan. It all seemed to make good sense but I can't help but feel it could have been a tad more exciting. Their was danger but I was just looking for a little more in the resolution. As a whole though, it was a very good novel and I was delighted to be reading a Doctor Who book once again!

Rating: 8/10

Old Girl: The Return of Sutekh

"Sutekh. Beware Sutekh!"

Writer: Nick Abadzis
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 25th May 2017
Printed in: DWC: Tales from the TARDIS 18

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Gabby, Cindy

Synopsis

Has Anubis fallen to the darkness in his family tree? Can Gabby and Cindy staunch the corruption in an entity powerful enough to snuff them out with a thought? If you think you know where this year's finale is going... Think again!

Verdict

Old Girl continued in decent style with The Return of Sutekh. I'm not entirely sure this third part lived up to its title and it was definitely a downgrade in terms of quality from the first two parts but that is not at all saying that it was bad! I still thoroughly enjoyed it and I am rather vexed that I have to wait until August for the fourth part to be released in the UK. I am really quite baffled by this second mini hiatus from Doctor Who Comic but I guess there isn't really anything I can do about. Rereading will get me through the memory gap I guess. I liked how this story mainly focused on Gabby and Dorothy with Primeval mostly involving the Doctor and Cindy so that seemed to be a natural development in the story. The battle for consciousness between Anubis and Sutekh was intriguing and I liked how this part of the returning villain was merely a splinter of his mind. That was a good way to get around his apparent demise but the 'side step' comment referencing the conclusion of Pyramids of Mars was interesting too. When a villain who was thought dead returns, I always appreciate an explanation as to how that may be the case and I am glad that we got one here. Sutekh was clearly bitter at the Doctor for his imprisonment and that was absolutely something he was impatient about. I mean, that doesn't at all surprise me and I hope that we do see the wrath of Sutekh in the concluding two parts as after a build up as long as this one, I really hope that the infamous villain gets a good run out. He belongs in a year end finale due to his iconic status so I hope the story lives up to my expectations. The Doctor and Cindy getting extended time together without Gabby has been good and it really has made Cindy more legitimised as a companion in my opinion. Gabby being the one left behind with Dorothy made sense as she has the experience of being a companion and I liked how she dubbed Anubis with the mind of Sutekh as being Anubekh. That was quite snazzy I must say. The confidence she displays is always something I love about her as a companion and that was in abundance here once again. Even when Sutekh sought her out of hiding, she didn't back down. The Doctor's arrival from Amenthes was interestingly timed and I was quite surprised that he figured Anubis had been impatient with his moving of the Horizon. That of course was not the case and it was actually Sutekh trying to basically re-calibrate himself and become whole again. The inclusion of the King Nocturne was not an expected occurrence in the story but I can't say I didn't welcome it. The one problem I had with this part of the story though was that it seemed to be stalling and waiting around a bit with the scenes involving Sutekh. The pace was quite slow and whilst the information that was provided will probably be useful to the story as a whole, it just needed a bit more action. The cliffhanger was not overly great in my opinion which is a shame considering I have to wait so long for the next part! It seemed a little sudden but it hasn't hurt the story as a whole which is the key thing. I look forward to seeing where things go from here and I do hope we get to see the Doctor and Sutekh meet once again. But for now, an interesting part!

Old Girl: Primeval

"What's the point of companions 'f you don't let 'em see the sights...?"

Writer: Nick Abadzis
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 27th April 2017
Printed in: DWC: Tales from the TARDIS 17

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Gabby, Cindy

Synopsis

The Doctor, Gabby and Cindy face a difficult choice, as Anubis's ticking clock strikes the alarm, and the ancient Osiran's patience finally runs out! But they've dealt with the Son of Sutekh before... Now, armed with a year's worth of adventures and experience, can the TARDIS triumvirate rewrite the rules of a cosmic game of life and death?!

Verdict

Old Girl continued in excellent style with Primeval! It served as a stunning second part of the story and I really was intrigued throughout its duration. To me, that is a very positive sign and as per usual with a new addition to a comic adventure, it just seemed to fly by! That is never the case when rereading earlier segments of the story and that was the case with my familiarising of Aftermath. This part of the story though went in a very different direction to what I was expecting and instead of seeing the Doctor and Cindy on Amenthes we saw something far better. At least, I believe it is far better! Not only had the temporal map changed for the TARDIS, but we saw the Tenth Doctor step foot on Gallifrey. That in itself is quite amazing but I just loved how it was in its ancient days. This was Gallifrey before it was even Gallifrey. Before Rassilon and the Time Lords and time travel. That concept is magnificent and to see the Untempered Schism was also a wonderful sight. That is even when what purpose it was serving was rather horrific. Cindy realised what was going on without a lot of explanation and I liked how she couldn't quite understand why the Doctor didn't want to put a stop to the events. Any change in history at this point on Gallifrey could have been crucial to the future and even the very life of the Doctor. The Time Sentinels were really intriguing and I thought their blank appearance was actually very good. They didn't look too dissimilar to the Handbots from The Girl Who Waited. Their mention of protecting the time lock was intriguing and I also liked how once Cindy referred to the Doctor as just that, they knew all about him. Even now on the primordial days of Gallifrey, the Doctor was known to these emotionless bots as both a renegade and a war hero. The brief images of the Doctor's past incarnations was good and something I always enjoy seeing but I really did love how he scoffed at the idea of him being thought of as a war hero. I really am surprised by how much reference has been made to the Time War in DWC since its existence and despite any information about it being great, I don't think this will come close to the Big Finish audios. The way Cindy piloted the TARDIS through the familiar emergency hologram was terrific and I loved how delighted she was to hear her name mentioned after it initially seemed like the Doctor had only programmed the TARDIS to recognise Gabby as his companion. She soon came to the Doctor's rescue as he was having a bit of trouble with the Sentinels and that provided an action packed finish to the conclusion of that aspect of the story. Where that fits in the long run I'm not sure but I look forward to finding out. Back in the garden and Dorothy and Gabby were intrigued by the actions, or rather calm inactions, of Anubis. He was disturbed and the answer was soon revealed to us. It appears that, rather unsurprisingly, Sutekh has returned. That in itself is rather momentous but it has been obvious for over a year now. There was just no way we'd have a year build of a story involving Sutekh's son and not have the infamous villain return! It was a good reveal though and I am interested to see where the story goes from here. It's shaping up to be a very good year end finale!

Empress of Mars

"Mars is part of the Empire now."

Writer: Mark Gatiss
Format: TV
Broadcast: 10th June 2017
Series: 10.09

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill, Nardole

Synopsis

The Doctor, Bill and Nardole pilot the TARDIS to Mars in the year 1851, after present-day NASA captures a very peculiar image from the red planet. Here, they run into an expedition of Victorians with a lone Ice Warrior as their servant. The Doctor suspects this scaly dish-washer may not be so domesticated after all, but is he just being too cynical this time?

Verdict

Empress of Mars was an excellent episode of Doctor Who! I think this may now be my second favourite story of the series so far and I was delighted to get an Ice Warrior adventure that absolutely delivered. I must admit that I was a little sceptical before watching this story after Cold War, which I thought could have been so much better, and as I wasn't the biggest fan of the Peladon tales my scepticism just increased. I absolutely loved the Ice Warriors in their battles with the Second Doctor and I feel like this story was getting to something like that sort of feel. It is no secret that the Ice Warriors are Martian natives but to finally get to see them on their home planet was wonderful. I still feel like they should have appeared in The Waters of Mars but eight years later, we finally get to see them on home soil. But incredibly, they weren't alone and were actually in the company of Victorian Redcoats! Now that really was something to behold. The pre-titles sequence in NASA was excellent and as a Welshman I could have done without the 'God save the Queen' dross, but that historical sentiment appearing on an alien planet was superb. I thought Bill was once again incredible and I can't say how much I am enjoying Pearl Mackie as the companion. She's astonishingly good and has exceeded all of my expectations in a big way. Nardole didn't appear too much in this episode which was fine but his absence and abstaining in the TARDIS provided us with a humorous dynamic. The Doctor wasn't too pleased by his takeoff. Finding an Ice Warrior on Mars as a human servant was unexpected (well, it was mentioned in the DWM preview) but I thought Friday was an excellent Ice Warrior. He had deceived the human race for his Empress and the concept of a brand new Ice Warrior was wonderful. The Ice Queen looked and sounded perfect and certainly stood up as the female equivalent of an Ice Lord. I was really impressed with her and kudos must go to Mark Gatiss for reinventing an aspect of this wonderful monster. The idea of war on Mars between the human race and the Ice Warriors didn't come as too much of a surprise and I liked how the Martians got the time to showcase their ruthless ability. Their method of killing was rather gruesome but I do question whatever happened to the curved hands of our magnificent Martians. It didn't matter too much though to be honest and I loved the moment where Bill showed togetherness between the species by holding Friday's hand. I also really liked how Iraxxa wanted to hear the opinion of Bill when in the presence of numerous men. That was quite an empowering moment. The audacity of Catchlove to proclaim Mars as part of the British Empire was one of my favourite lines this series and I thought he played the pompous character very well. Godsacre coming clean about his desertion and failed hanging was an unexpected plot element but it fitted very well into the resolution. When he killed Catchlove, preventing a war, the Empress of Mars spared him his life and informed him that he would die in the honour of battle. It all sounded very Sontaran but that was terrific. I really loved how this served as an Ice Warrior equivalent of The Tomb of the Cybermen and I also enjoyed the running gag of films that the Doctor had or hadn't seen. The ending with Missy in the TARDIS was also really intriguing and when she had her hands on the time machine, she still went and saved the Doctor. Just what is she up to? I flat out refuse to believe that she is turning good and her motive now intrigues me even more. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this series concludes with the final three episodes but for now this was brilliant! The inclusion of Alpha Centauri at the conclusion was a perfect ending and a great nod to the Ice Warriors and the show's past.

Rating: 9/10

Day of the Daleks

"All enemies of the Daleks must be destroyed!"

Writer: Louis Marks
Format: TV
Broadcast: 1st-22nd January 1972
Season: 9.01

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

On Earth in the 22nd century, Daleks have enslaved the planet and humans live in fear of their masters. Meanwhile, back in the 20th century, a peace conference is urgently needed to prevent World War Three. When reports reach UNIT of a ghost at Auderly House - the site for the conference - the Doctor and Jo decide to investigate. Danger is waiting for them there, including a trip two hundred years into the future without the TARDIS...

Verdict

Day of the Daleks was a very good Doctor Who story and it really did see me have a trip down memory lane! I believe this is only the second Classic era story that I have watched this year which is quite unusual for me but 2017 has been rather relaxed in terms of blogging and that's because my life has not been relaxed elsewhere! But with a free day and nothing planned, I couldn't resist chucking on an old story and I just fancied myself some Jon Pertwee. The Third Doctor is terrific and that is demonstrated on a number of occasions in this story. I really love his relationship with Jo and I also enjoyed seeing the mutual respect between him and the Brigadier. I thought the focus of the story being on Auderly House and Sir Reginald was very intriguing and I really liked how the story was alternating between being set in the twentieth and twenty-second centuries. This story was obviously a big deal back in 1972 with it not only kicking off a season but also heralding in the return of the Daleks after five years of absence. It was their colour television debut too and the Daleks really did look different here compared to their appearances in the black and white era. I have always been a big fan of the Daleks but I must admit I'm not sure that they were actually needed in this story. It came as no surprise to me when I learned that they did not appear in the original script as it really did not seem like they were needed. They didn't really seem to impact the adventure much and with only three of them appearing, the effect they had seemed limited. The story itself though was very good and I thought the Controller served as a superb character. His loyalty to the Daleks was tested on more than one occasion but I did enjoy how easily he gained Jo's trust once she found herself two hundred years into the future. The Doctor soon joined her which was always inevitable and I liked the relationship that he gained with the rebels of the Earth's future. This story seemed to initially draw comparisons with The Dalek Invasion of Earth with us entering the adventure with the monsters having already won. I like that concept a lot and for the futuristic part of this story it worked well. The idea of 7/8 of the Earth's population being wiped out was almost incomprehensible. The threat of World War Three in the present setting of the story was also excellent and I imagine that was something that hit hard to a number of viewers back in 1972. Following yesterday's election, which was wonderful with the unexpected Labour surge, the numerous jokes regarding politicians were most welcomed. The Ogrons made their debut in this adventure and I liked how the Daleks enjoyed having them as servants because they were loyal and obedient, even if they were a tad useless. They really were portrayed as being big dummies. The use of a temporal paradox was very intriguing when it came to historical events and the rebels' efforts to change history. The Doctor being so accepting of that seemed a little surprising I must admit but it would mean that he could save humanity from the devastation of the Daleks. It meant one life was sacrificed in the most heroic circumstances but Auderly House was a small price to pay for ensuring the safety of the human race in the future. Overall, a very good adventure!

Rating: 8/10

Pier Pressure

"I'm not as dead as you think!"

Writer: Robert Ross
Format: Audio
Released: January 2006
Series: Main Range 78

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Evelyn

Synopsis

Brighton, Sussex; 1936.

"Ere, listen listen, I've got one for you. There once was this bloke, you see. Good-looking sort of chap. Lovely, brightly coloured coat. No rubbish. Quality gear. Never bought a drink neither... or so they say. But his name wasn't Miller. Oh no, there'll never be another Cheeky Chappie, lady, there'll never be another. They broke the mould when they made me you know.

No, this bloke called himself the Doctor. Doctor who you ask? And may well you. Don't know me self. No one ever knew. Funny that. He was a real strange one. Odd things happened when he arrived.

Mind you, them were dark days. No one was laughing. And these were my people. My public. It was like playing first house at the Glasgow Empire. Just like the entire town was cursed it was. Cursed by something not of this world..."

Verdict

Pier Pressure was a decent audio adventure that got me back into the Main Range of Big Finish audios. My progress through this range has halted this year which is a shame but now that university has finished for the summer, I do hope I can try and kick on and help my inevitably long task of catching up with current releases. I still have a significant amount of time and money to go if I am to do that but I remain confident that I can get there. How hard could it possibly be? I did enjoy this story and it did have a really good plot and premise but the reason I rated it as low as I have, which actually isn't really that low at all, is because of a lack of excitement. The story did gauge my interest which is obviously important and I thought the performances of the main cast were good but it was just lacking that bit of an oomph factor to really get me excited about the story. The pairing of the Sixth Doctor and Evelyn were great once again and I found myself intrigued by the idea of the Doctor feeling bored travelling the universe. The very idea seems simply preposterous! The story had a number of references to past adventures and I particularly liked the football comment surrounding the mentions of Colony in Space and The Green Death and Planet of the Spiders. That really was terrific. There were also a couple of references to Medicinal Purposes which is quite expected given that it was the last audio story to feature this TARDIS pairing. When the Doctor was attempting to jog Evelyn's memory, the mention of Bloodtide was something I really liked too. I thought the setting of Brighton in 1936 was a pretty good one but I must admit I was a little sceptical about the primary focus being on a pier. The Indo served as a good enemy and I did like the idea of them feeding on suffering and negative emotion. The links made with that and the Great War were really fascinating but I can't help but feel they weren't fully utilised. The relationship between Albert and Emily was a real highlight of the audio and I thought they really were brilliant. The emotional trauma that they each must have gone through was rather sad and it was also unfortunate that both did not survive the adventure's events. Evelyn was really quite taken aback by learning that Albert didn't survive the resolution. The Doctor was less so surprised and even seemed to have expected it which was a little bit of a shock. I thought Max Miller was a very good character too and I enjoyed his relationship with Evelyn. That showed me a real benefit of having her as the companion because we get to know more older characters which is something quite rare to come by in a lot of stories. Professor Talbot served as a very interesting and enigmatic character which was terrific and I really did just like how mysterious he was. The idea of him being dead for the past fifteen years was great and I liked the Doctor's prospect of him simply falling through time. The cliffhangers were pretty decent in this story but again I thought they could have injected the story with a bit more pace and excitement. That was all that was missing really and considering the audio was over two hours long, I'm not sure why we didn't get a lot of it. Not to worry though, it was still an enjoyable listen and overall I still thought it was a good story!

Rating: 7/10

The Lie of the Land

"The Monks have only been here for six months."

Writer: Toby Whithouse
Format: TV
Broadcast: 3rd June 2017
Series: 10.08

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill, Nardole

Synopsis

The Monks have been with us from the beginning. They shepherded humanity through its formative years, gently guiding and encouraging, like a parent clapping their hands at a baby's first steps. They have been instrumental in all the advances of technology and culture. They watched proudly as man invented the lightbulb, the telephone, the internet. They were even there to welcome the first men on the Moon. They have defended us, too. Who can forget the time the Monks defeated the Daleks, the Cybermen, the Sontarans? And they have left their imprint in the arts as well. The Monks have found their way into Dickens and the Jason Bourne films... Two species, sharing a history as happily as they share a planet.

Verdict 

The Lie of the Land was an excellent episode and a great conclusion to what has been a very good and interesting Monk trilogy. When reading the DWM preview prior to watching the episode, there seems to be some debate over whether this was the third part of the same story or rather the conclusion of a story arc. I'm going to go with the latter and maintain my stance of giving three separate ratings dating back to Extremis. This episode followed on nicely from The Pyramid at the End of the World and we joined things six months after Bill basically sold the world so the Doctor could have his sight returned following the events of Oxygen. It was an interesting place to join and I liked the idea of having a story so focused on the Monks without them actually appearing too much. It was the idea of them that was the threat and that really helped sold the myth that they had orchestrated on the human race. The Doctor serving as their spokesperson at the start of the episode was really intriguing and whilst we always knew that he hadn't really joined the Monks, Toby Whithouse did a darn good job of trying to convince us that just maybe he had! Bill certainly seemed to be convinced and I think the scene where she was reunited with the Doctor, only for him to sell her out, was Pearl Mackie's best scene to date. She could not believe that the Doctor was on their side and this made her distraught. She even went so far as to shooting him as she believed that if the Doctor was not eradicated then the human race stood no chance of eradicating the Monk incursion on their life and history. The fact that the Monks had changed the past and imposed their imprint on history was really good and I liked Nardole's comment about people not thinking anything was wrong if they believed it had always been the case. The reunion of Bill and Nardole was very comical and I really am loving them as companions now. They really have grown on me as a pairing and alongside the Twelfth Doctor, this trio really is absolutely terrific. Bill shooting the Doctor was a surprise and even though I knew there was no change of Doctor coming, I must admit that I sat up and took notice of the screen when the regeneration sequence seemed to be initiated. I love the prospect of anything involving regeneration and I did like how it was used as a gag for Bill. She wasn't too thrilled to be the subject of a group plot but she soon understood why. The Doctor explained that he needed to ensure that Bill was not the subject of the Monk influence and despite a nice reference to Thin Ice in code, she passed the test with flying colours. There were also a number of good references to The Pilot which I enjoyed. Missy's involvement in the episode was superb and despite appearing in a limited capacity, Michelle Gomez was once again sublime. I really do love her and the prospect of the Master wanting to be good really fills me with scepticism. I don't believe it for a second but the fact that Missy shed a tear as she remembered the names of those she has previously killed was really intriguing. I thought the ending of this episode was very powerful with Bill using the memory of her mother that she created to rid the world of the Monks and as she was the one that brought them here, it was she who could take them away. The way that the human race didn't even acknowledge the statues or the past six months as being significant was good and I absolutely loved the Doctor's comment about Bill and why he puts up with the seven billion other humans. What a way to make her feel special. Overall, an excellent episode!

Rating: 9/10

The Soul Garden Part 2

"I simply told you what you most wanted to hear."

Writer: Scott Gray
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 1st June 2017
Printed in: DWM 513

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill

Synopsis

Bill has entered the Dreamspace and meets famous poet Samuel Taylor Colleridge while the Doctor is left to deal with the Haluu and their attempts at acquiring a meat feast. Rudy Zoom isn't helping matters as it is revealed just what Oksanna is feeding...

Verdict

The Soul Garden continued in good fashion with this entertaining and pacy second part of the story! It's great to get more adventures with the Twelfth Doctor and Bill that don't appear on our television screens but I'll get to the comic strip shortly. As is the norm for the DWM stories, I like to talk about the magazine itself and this seems to be one packed issue! I was delighted to be reading Galaxy Forum and discover that my letter was printed. It keeps up my 100% record of getting letters printed and it's always a pleasure to see your name in the pages of a magazine you so dearly love! As always, I'm really looking forward to the previews of the upcoming episodes with Empress of Mars and World Enough and Time particularly grabbing my attention. I always find it difficult to pick when there is a choice of cover for an issue but this month I just could not resist going for the one donning the Mondasian Cyberman. It is my favourite design and The Tenth Planet is one of my very favourite stories so I simply could not resist. Steven Moffat's column this month was as entertaining as ever and I liked how he even answered a question from Frank Skinner. Seeing the news once again that David Tennant and Billie Piper will be reunited on audio has got me really excited for November's release of the second volume of Tenth Doctor Adventures and I'm also looking forward to reading the DWM Review of the latest episodes as they were very well done in the last issue. I'm greatly anticipating reading what Rona Munro has to say after writing her first Doctor Who script in nearly three decades and Toby Whitehouse's preview of this week's episode The Lie of the Land will be something I enjoy reading. The feature on the Ice Warrior Restoration looks very intriguing and the Martian monsters have always been favoured enemies of mine so I'm looking forward to reading that too. I am yet to read the latest Twelfth Doctor novels but I'm hoping to crack on with those very soon so their reviews will be an interesting read too. It will be good to see how Bill and Nardole fair in another format of story. Anyhow, back to the comic strip story now and I thought it was a really good continuation of Bill's first comic adventure. Following on from her getting knocked out in part one, she was now in the Dreamspace which is a concept that I adore. It didn't quite worked as I hoped in Last Christmas but I really liked what we got here. Especially once Rudy Zoom joined in on the dream festivities. He was as boastful and full of himself as I would expect which definitely did not disappoint me. The characterisation of Bill was good and rereading part one was a different experience for me given how familiar I am with her as companion now we've had four more episodes air. Pearl Mackie's essence was captured very nicely while the Doctor seemed to take a little bit of a backseat as he was trapped for most of this part's events. The Haluu getting named was useful and I really liked how we heard more from Oksanna. The concept of the dreams and what she wants to feed was good and that provided us with a good cliffhanger. The inclusion of Samuel Taylor Colleridge was great and I loved how colourful this story is. I almost forgot that it was set on Titan before the scene where the dome descended into the cove. I'm interested to see where things go from here and the fact that I have an interest in the story can only be a positive thing. I look forward to seeing where things go from here in the next issue!

Physician, Heal Thyself

"The Dalek gods are born! Your failure is complete!"

Writer: Si Spurrier

Format: Comic Strip

Released: 25th May 2017

Printed in: DWC: Tales from the TARDIS 18

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Alice, Abslom Daak, River Song

Synopsis

With a trail of temporal devastation in his wake, and casualties mounting among his companions, can the Doctor find the truth at last about his Time War crime? And will that truth, once won, prove to have been worth the cost?

Verdict

Physician, Heal Thyself was a very good comic strip adventure that has brought to an end the second year of adventures for the Eleventh Doctor. It has been an eventful ride and I must say that it has required a lot of thought and attention given the timey-wimey nature of events. I must admit that despite how highly I have often rated the stories from this run that I do favour the approach of the Tenth and Twelfth Doctor segments of these comics in not having no continuously overriding story arc. This method was used for the Eleventh Doctor and Alice in the first year of stories and I was hoping for a change this time around but that was not to be the case. I was also saddened that we did not get pure adventures with just the Doctor and Alice but despite another packed TARDIS crew, I thought Alice massively improved this year. I am intrigued to see what the third year of adventures has in store for us but it seems that I have to wait until August to find out as there is another hiatus from DWC which is a real shame. I have jumped ahead an issue to read this story because it just seemed to make sense having read Gently Pulls the Strings yesterday and it is something that I have done before. I thought the pace of this one was very good and improved upon its predecessor in providing the reader with some answers as to what had happened. The Doctor mentioning that he knew about the Squire for some time now was unexpected but hardly surprising and I liked how moments from past stories concerning the Squire were flashbacked to. They revealed where the clues lay and I am sure that if I reread the entire second year, things would make a lot more sense but I currently have no intention of doing so. The Doctor seems to have taken a backseat in recent stories which is ironic given how the whole story arc is about clearing his name of genocide and that was sort of achieved here. I was a little sceptical at how loose all the knots were tied but that didn't take away from this individual story but was rather a criticism of the plot as a whole. The characterisation of Matt Smith's incarnation here though was excellent which is always great. I was quite surprised by his initial plan that involved killing the Squire. That was quite shocking but it did highlight just how desperate the Doctor may be when it comes to the Time War. Abslom Daak actually had a bit of an emotional moment which was a first and I loved the comment from Taiyin when she said how Daak could never imagine actually talking to her. That was very poignant. His obsession with killing Daleks is a bit obsessive and can sometimes go over the top but I thought it was a nice touch to place him in the Time War alongside the War Doctor to finish the story. That pretty much ends his association with the Eleventh Doctor which is absolutely fine by me. The reemergence of River Song was most welcomed and I loved how the relationship between her and the Doctor was effortlessly captured on the page in such short space. She's a wonderful character and I have enjoyed her inclusion in these stories. The connection between Alice and the Then and the Now was quite a surprise but it did actually seem to make sense amongst all the chaos that was ensuing in the resolutions. Overall, a very good story that saw some great characterisation and despite having a lot going on, it managed to neatly wrap things up for the second year of Eleventh Doctor adventures.

Rating: 8/10

Gently Pulls the Strings

"Why were the Daleks so terrifying?"

Writer: Si Spurrier
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 27th April 2017
Series: DWC: Tales from the TARDIS 17

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Alice, Squire, Abslom Daak

Synopsis

Armed with revelations from the Time War, but challenged by resistance within his own ranks, the Doctor faces his most difficult hour yet as he battles to clear his name! Having plunged into the depths of darkness in his quest for the truth, can he re-emerge triumphant?

Verdict

Gently Pulls the Strings was a decent comic stirip adventure but I must admit that after the epic that was Fast Asleep, I was hoping for a bit of a better follow up. Now it has been quite some time since I read the previous story but due to a busy finish to second year at university and some serendipity in my personal life, blogging has not gone to plan in the last few weeks or so. Again, that is not a problem to me but I have been hoping to do a little more than just the weekly episodes that have been broadcasting recently. I have since picked up the latest issue of DWC but I am in need of some catching up so that begins here! Now this story had a lot of potential and despite having a fast paced which is something I am usually a big fan of in a comic adventure, this just seemed to be a bit of an information overload in places. I think it tried to accomplish a little too much in a short space of time and when even the Doctor is confused, you know there's a little trouble with the overarching plot. Sometimes, things should just be kept simple and despite including a Time War storyline, I do think it could have been achieved in a more gradual and rewarding way in this second year of Eleventh Doctor adventures. Obviously based on the ratings I have been giving this stories, that is no reflection on the overall quality but stories like this one will suffer which is a shame. I was quite surprised that Abslom Daak had survived the events of the previous comic strip but I was glad to see that he had. He still remains a character I need to do some catching up on with the DWM comic strips of the Classic era but I have really enjoyed his return alongside the Eleventh Doctor. Alice was probably the highlight of this story for me and that is not something I have often stated! I have grown to like her this year after a wobbly start but here she really did shine as she managed to work things out. She was the one that had been to the Time War and seen the extent of the damage that everything involving the Daleks, the Cyclors and the Overcaste entailed. The Doctor's reaction to hearing of Alice seeing the Master was intriguing and I was also quite surprised when he mentioned the Psilent Songbox. The impact of that was something I did not expect to see in this story but the Squire, in her Dalek possessed state, was quite whacky and loony but did seem to be acting in accordance with a plan of some sort. It was all about serving the Dalek interests in the Time War and I bet the Eleventh Doctor was not expecting that in his current incarnation. The Squire really was quite ruthless but I liked how the Doctor felt sorry for her and was determined to think that she was not wholly Dalek. She still had feelings, something that is alien to the Daleks. The Doctor's speech about what makes the Daleks so vile and detestable at the start of the story was superb but from there on things seemed to jump a little too fast. That was a little annoying as things have been building up for so long and I was kind of expecting to be a little more impressed by the big revelation. I did think that the cliffhanger was good and it sets up the year finale nicely with the threat of Dalek Gods. Overall though, a good comic strip but it could have been a whole lot more!

Rating: 7/10

The Pyramid at the End of the World

"The end of your life has already begun."

Writers: Peter Harness & Steven Moffat
Format: TV
Broadcast: 27th May 2017
Series: 10.07

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill, Nardole

Synopsis

When a 5000-year-old pyramid appears, literally, overnight, Earth's military leaders are baffled. But there are far more serious implications for the planet, which soon become apparent...

Verdict

The Pyramid at the End of the World was an excellent episode of Doctor Who! It picked up where Extremis left off in great style and it was good to see the Monks in full action after their introduction in the previous episode. Despite this story following on from the previous episode, I am in firm favour of arguing that this is a separate story and is not any sort of two or three-parter. The different writers would be an indication of that and I would instead argue it as being a trilogy, similar to what we saw in the 1980s with The Keeper of Traken, Logopolis and Castrovalva. Placing a trilogy midway through a series is an excellent idea and I really like the contemporary feel that has come with it. Obviously events here were triggered in Oxygen with the Doctor getting blind, something that was referenced as you'd expect, and then we saw the simulation of the Monks invading Earth last time out. That was described to us very nicely in the opening scene through Bill telling Penny what the Doctor had told her. Then we kicked into action and the Doctor's status as President of Earth was put into action once again, following on from Dark Water/Death in Heaven and The Zygon Invasion/The Zygon Inversion. I really liked the continuation of the Turmezistan setting and the position that was in was really intriguing with the involvement of the world's three most powerful superpowers. I liked how this episode really carried modern day feelings with the inclusion of Russia, America and China and the possibility of international conflict. World War Three getting mentioned really brought home how powerful these countries are and with modern technology, who knows what is possible. The arrival of the pyramid was brilliant and I just loved the whole premise that surrounded it. It was impossible and impossible is something that I like in Doctor Who. Peter Capaldi has been doing a stellar job as the Twelfth Doctor in this series thus far and tackling his problem of blindness has been superb. Bill was once again wonderful and I really am loving her as the companion. She's such a breath of fresh air and now she's really acquainted with the Doctor and her actions and at the end of the episode demonstrate that. Nardole is also terrific and despite my initial scepticism when I discovered he'd be returning permanently, I have been very impressed. I do look forward to finding out what caused him to be knocked out inside the TARDIS though when the Doctor needed him. The way the Doctor and co worked out what it was that was about to destroy the world was fantastic and I really liked the use of the camera hacking to work out the location. Erica and the Doctor got on splendidly and once the Doctor had basically saved the world, his blindness came back to haunt him as he couldn't calibrate a simple keycode. He simply couldn't see and if he didn't get out he would be blown to smithereens. That was where Bill came in. After an episode of the Monks wanting genuine consent out of love, she was able to provide it in return for the Monks giving the Doctor his sight back. With his sight he could survive, but Bill signed away the world as the price. She must have serious confidence in the Doctor's abilities to put things right, especially when it wasn't even known what consent entailed, but it looks like we have quite an episode on our hands next week to tie up all the loose ends! Overall though, an excellent episode!

Rating: 9/10

Extremis

"They read the Veritas and choose Hell."

Writer: Steven Moffat
Format: TV
Broadcast: 20th May 2017
Series: 10.06

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill, Nardole

Synopsis

There is a text buried deep in the Vatican. A text older than the church itself. The language is lost - but thanks to the works of an early Christian sect, the title has survived: Veritas. All copies of the sect's translation disappeared, shortly after their mass suicide. But then, a few months ago, the Veritas was translated again. And what does it say? No-one knows. Because everyone who worked on the translation is now dead, by their own hand. All bodies recovered. All except one...

Verdict

Extremis was a very good episode of Doctor Who and despite its obvious qualities, I cannot help but be left wanting more! I mean, I guess that's a good thing actually as it shows that I care about the story and the direction of this tenth series so kudos to Steven Moffat for that but damnit I need answers! After the build up of the first five episodes regarding the Doctor's oath and his guarding of the Vault, the revelation that it is actually Missy who is inside was a little bit of a let down I must say. I can't wholly judge on that yet as the purpose of her being inside is far from being revealed but I was hoping for a bit more of surprise. Speaking of Missy though, it was wonderful to see Michelle Gomez back again as the female incarnation of the Master and the fact that the Doctor was serving as her executioner was rather intriguing. I'm not sure how long after the events of The Magician's Apprentice/The Witch's Familiar this is for our wacky women but I don't think that really matters. What matters is that she is back and Michelle Gomez was as wonderful as ever. I really do love her because she is just an incredible actress. The theme of friendship between the Doctor and Missy is really intriguing and they seem to be working together here which is interesting. I look forward to discovering just why that is in the future but for now the world is quite under threat. Oh, and the Doctor is still quite blind. The continuation of the cliffhanger finish of Oxygen was very well done and I like how stubborn the Doctor is in not wanting Bill to know about his condition. The use of the sonic sunglasses to aid the Doctor was good though. When I read the DWM preview of this episode earlier today, I was rather surprised to read that the Pope would be appearing in the episode. With that expectation, I did not then expect him to interrupt Bill's date in her own home. It was just barmy and ludicrous and where else other than Doctor Who can something like that happen? This script was undoubtedly a little confusing in parts but with the overall story still incomplete, it would be unfair to wholly judge. The Monks seem like a very intriguing species and the fact that they've gone through the time and effort of conquering Earth via a simulation shows that they will most definitely be prepared for the real thing. Their appearance was quite disturbing and the connection they had with the Veritas was rather intriguing. The idea of those who had worked on the book and translated it then going on to commit suicide was quite horrifying but the truth would soon be revealed. Nardole showed a lot of character in this episode and it was probably his best showing so far. He worked out that everything was just a simulation and that he and Bill were a part of it. That is where things got confusing for me and it seemed a bit similar to Last Christmas in what we saw didn't actually happen. I'm not a great fan of that but the idea of a Doctor Who episode being based off of a video game really did work for me. I loved the reference to Knock Knock and I also liked how we got some answers as to just what Nardole knows and why he was reunited with the Doctor when we saw him in The Return of Doctor Mysterio. The Doctor working out things in the simulation and warning his true self was great and I like how he told Bill to call Penny that night. Things have been nicely set up for next week and I just can't help but want more, despite some slight confusion in parts. Overall though, a very good episode!

Rating: 8/10

Oxygen

"You realise life can be so brief."

Writer: Jamie Mathieson
Format: TV
Broadcast: 13th May 2017
Series: 10.05

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill, Nardole

Synopsis

Space Station Chasm Forge is cold and airless, but not empty. The Doctor, Bill and Nardole answer a distress call and find four survivors - plus another three dozen walking dead, a relentless space-suited army seeking to claim more lives. Can the Doctor and his party stay one step ahead of the horde? In a future where oxygen is currency, save your breath - it could make all the difference.

Verdict

Oxygen was another excellent episode that has continued this tenth series of Doctor Who in some style. The standard for the series really has been quite high thus far and when I was reading the preview in DWM and saw that Jamie Mathieson had written the script, I just knew that what I was going to watch would be brilliant. He's a favoured writer of mine ever since his superb Mummy on the Orient Express and his two episodes since then didn't fail. This is another great one to add to the list and it definitely lived up to its preview. I thought setting a story in space was excellent and using the Doctor's position as a lecturer at the university to explain its dangers was a really good inclusion. The Doctor as a lecturer definitely works and I liked the scene in the TARDIS where he goes against Nardole's instructions, that were actually given to him by the Doctor himself, and goes offworld and answers a distress call. It was good to actually get Nardole in a companion role for the first time of the series and I really did like the change in dynamic with his addition to the TARDIS trio. He was actually quite funny, as you'd expect with Matt Lucas, but I also liked how angry he was with the Doctor once they were back on Earth. The idea of a future where oxygen could only be obtained by payment was really quite extraordinary but it's something I won't be surprised to see happen in the distant future. Capitalism in space is such a great concept and Mathieson pulled it off brilliantly. Bill's reaction to the realisation that the TARDIS had flooded the ship with unauthorised oxygen was terrific and I really must say that Pearl Mackie has been outstanding in her first five episodes. The crew's reaction to seeing the Doctor and co was good and I liked how the Doctor utilised the psychic paper to justify that they had answered the distress call. Bill getting a faulty spacesuit was a good plot twist, especially once her helmet was off. The Doctor sacrificed his own and somehow survived but he did so at an extraordinary and unexpected cost. The Doctor was blind! That was something I really did not expect and I must say I thought it was superb. His confidence in how it wouldn't stop him from resolving things was wonderful and his comment about how unbearable he'd be when he solved it is my favourite line of the series so far. Pure brilliance that suited Peter Capaldi's Doctor perfectly. The way he worked out that human life was seen as worthless on the ship was brilliant and the suits had been programmed all along to get rid of the organic components. The Doctor though had linked that to the ship and if they died then the whole ship went with it. The incoming replacements would have no destination and the expense would be heavy. This story was all about greed and money and I thought that was a fantastic theme for an episode set in space. The resolution really was great. The ending of the episode though really shocked me which was great! The Doctor's blindness was not cured as first thought and where that leaves things for the future, I'm not too sure. I'd like to think it's cured before the Twelfth Doctor regenerates but this has set things up in a very intriguing way for the future! Overall, another superb episode from Jamie Mathieson and I really do hope that we see more of this writer once Chris Chibnall takes over the helm.

Rating: 9/10

Terror of the Cabinet Noir Part 3

"Do not seek to judge the darkness. You know nothing of our existence."

Writer: Robbie Morrison
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 27th April 2017
Printed in: DWC: Tales from the TARDIS 17

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor

Synopsis

A French swordswoman, dark matter monsters, alternate universes, swashbuckling adventure and symbiotic intrigue - all just another Wednesday for the Doctor! But when you throw in secret police, an alien takeover of the aristocracy, a villainous Count, the inquisition, and alchemical discoveries... well, then it gets interesting!

Verdict

Terror of the Cabinet Noir concluded in great style with this terrific third part of the comic strip! I actually thought this was the weakest of the three parts that made up the story but that's not saying it was bad by any stretch of the imagination. I think that just goes to show how much quality this story has but despite that there was still something missing from it that prevented it from getting full marks. I can't quite put my finger on what but it missed out unfortunately. Doorway to Hell is still going to take some beating when it comes to crowning the best Twelfth Doctor comic adventure but DWC is definitely more than capable of taking that crown from DWM! It was quite intriguing to be reading a story featuring the Twelfth Doctor that didn't feature Bill and I like how that was different because it shows how familiar she is coming. I am enjoying that a lot of my blog lately has been taken up by the Twelfth Doctor as it means I'm keeping up with everything that is going on with the current incarnation. I have purchased the three new novels but I think they are going to have to wait until after exams season. I enjoyed the setting of France in 1695 once again and I liked how this part really was about tying up all the loose ends and leading to the resolution. I thought some parts were ever so slightly rushed but I do appreciate that there are only so many pages to play with. The Doctor and Julie getting split up seemed to just happen out of nowhere and there was significant story advancement between turning the page which seemed a little odd but it did make for quite the exciting conclusion which is a positive. Just when it seemed that Julie's fate was sealed and she would be going to the guillotine, the Doctor pops up out of nowhere to reveal himself to be the would be executioner. Quite the perfect disguise and the Doctor was quite impressed by his timing as well! The whole plan of Richelieu and the Cabinet Noir's darkness inside him revolved around the impending eclipse in which darkness would takeover France. This is where he planned to strike and eradicate the population. The Doctor's anger at his failure to educate instead was excellent and I really enjoyed the mentions of the way beings of dark matter saw our universe. Where we look at them with darkness, they looked into us and saw light. I really liked the imagery that accompanied that. I must say that I thought the artwork was once again spectacular and the Twelfth Doctor segment of DWC is certainly leading the way when it comes to the art quality in Doctor Who comic strip adventures. It really is a joy to read. The characterisation of Peter Capaldi's incarnation was very good and that also makes for better reading. I really am loving his Doctor across all of the formats at the moment. The ending was quite dramatic and extraordinary with the Doctor conjuring up light and time tunnels to eradicate the darkness but he got the job done and France was saved. What Richelieu's existence fifty years after his death means I'm not so sure, is history restored? The ambiguity regarding Julie joining the Doctor on his travels was interesting and I would like to see her get at least one trip in the TARDIS. I don't think it'll happen though. Overall, a brilliant comic strip story!

Rating: 9/10 

Knock Knock

"Are you looking for somewhere to live?"

Writer: Mike Bartlett
Format: TV
Broadcast: 6th May 2017
Series: 10.04

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill

Synopsis

Bill is moving in with some friends, and they've found the perfect house! So what if it's strangely cheap to rent, and the Landlord is a little creepy? The wind blows, the floorboards creak, and the Doctor thinks something is very wrong. What lurks in the strange tower at the heart of the building - and why can't they find any way to enter it...?

Verdict

Knock Knock was an excellent episode of Doctor Who and Series 10 really is coming along rather nicely now! It definitely does feel like we're in the middle of the series now which is a good sign and Bill is absolutely familiar as the new companion. She continued to be absolutely wonderful and I don't even mind that we're seeing her life outside of the TARDIS, something I was quite against when Clara was the companion. I think the reason for that is because the Doctor is also spending a lot of his time on Earth in the same time period with the guarding of the Vault. More on that later. I thought the story was brilliant and I think I actually had quite a lot of personal connections with the episode given my current education status. The setting was in a student shared house which was great and as I currently am living in a student shared home in Bath, I could relate quite a bit. The idea of there being an explanation for why the floorboards in our homes creak was scary and I think Doctor Who works best when there's a fear factor involved, especially one in which the viewers recognise as an everyday occurrence. Creaking floorboards is something that just happens and we accept that but Mike Bartlett lives up to the DWM preview in giving us an episode full of spooks. I really liked Bill's arrival into her new home and the way Paul was into her, only for him to find out she was gay, was terrific. I thought Peter Capaldi was on top form again as the Twelfth Doctor and the more I see of his incarnation the more I love it. The Doctor's reaction to Bill claiming he was her grandfather was fantastic and I loved the comments in DWM about the Doctor being called grandfather once again. I thought all of the students as Bill's housemates were good and it is a shame that the comment about Harry being the grandson of Harry Sullivan didn't make the cut. That would have been a lovely nod to the past but that didn't really matter. I liked how Bill was trying to convince herself that there was nothing weird about her new home and with that came good references to The Pilot, Smile and Thin Ice. Of course, she turned out to be wrong and just as she wished him gone, Bill was calling for the Doctor's help. He hadn't left, he hadn't even planned on doing so, and once the house apparently became alive he was set. Doors were closing flaps were drawing. The house was becoming an entrapment and Felicity managed to get out, but the creaking tree didn't provide her with a better alternative. Bill and Shireen finding Pavel halfway into becoming part of the wood was a disturbing image and the revelation regarding the music was well-timed. The Landlord was an excellent character who was superbly played by David Suchet and the reveal regarding the truth about Eliza was most unexpected! That's usually a good thing and that was the case here. She looked rather creepy and not exactly healthy in her wooden state and the flashback to what was presumably the 50s and how this whole situation came to be was very good. The explanation regarding the alien insects made sense and I liked how it was resolved. It was a surprisingly emotional ending and I don't envy Bill and her housemates being back looking for a house. It's a killer of a process. Nardole had another cameo regarding the Vault and I must admit I'll be surprised if the prisoner doesn't turn out to be the Master. The piano playing was a little surprising but I'm now looking forward to the reveal! Overall though, a terrific episode!

Rating: 9/10

The Soul Garden Part 1

"You must be weeded!"

Writer: Scott Gray
Format: Comic Strip
Released: 4th May 2017
Printed in: DWM 511

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill

Synopsis

The Twelfth Doctor and Bill continue their travels as they head to Titan, a moon of Saturn. The Doctor promises to get back to battling evil on their next trip and doesn't expect to be troubled on this adventure. That is until a ship nearly takes their heads off! Once boarded, the Doctor meets a familiar face en route to the Soul Garden...

Verdict

The Soul Garden started off in brilliant style and served as a great welcome for Bill to the comic strip format! The adventures continue off screen even when there's a new series on and I love how the television series isn't all that we get to see of the Twelfth Doctor and Bill. Now, I'll get to the comic strip story itself shortly but as per usual for my blogging of the Doctor Who Magazine comic stories, I'll talk about the magazine itself and it definitely looks like it's a good one! DWM usually is excellent but that is even more so the case during the broadcasting of a new series. We get to look back at the episodes that have already aired whilst still getting excited about adventures to come. This issue has previews of the next four episodes which is really exciting and I'm also looking forward to seeing the magazine's readers views on The Pilot, with the two following episodes to come next month. Galaxy Forum usually does play catch up but after a quick glance I'm also looking forward to seeing the response to Doorway to Hell, which was in my opinion undoubtedly the best Twelfth Doctor comic adventure yet. Yes, that includes DWC as well. I like how this issue has interviews with both Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Sarah Dollard after their recent episodes aired and I'm also looking forward to David Suchet's interview ahead of tomorrow's airing of Knock Knock. That does look to be a brilliant episode. The Lawrence Gough interview should also be a good read and will be a nice little change from last issue's take on the producer by moving to the directing side of the show. The reviews of the first three episodes of the series should be great and I'm also intrigued to look ahead to the Ninth Doctor Chronicles audios. They are something that interests me despite the lack of Christopher Eccleston himself. Anyway, back to the comic strip now and I was delighted to see that Scott Gray was back penning the stories! He is a favoured writer of mine and quite renowned in the comic world and I think a fresh writer was needed with Bill arriving on the scene. I enjoyed the references to Smile and Thin Ice very much and whilst it's probably clear that this story doesn't fit in immediately after last week's episode, it must be quite soon following. Obviously, by the time the next part airs we'll have had four new episodes and we'll be accustomed to Bill so I'm intrigued to see how that pans out. I do wonder if Nardole will join the comic strips at some point as well. The setting of Titan was great and I loved Bill's reaction to seeing Saturn from the view that she had. It was almost like the Doctor was showing was off which is something I always tend to enjoy. The return of Rudy Zoom was quite unexpected and I liked the obvious reference to The Eye of Torment that came with that. He was funding this exhibition to fulfil Lady Takashi's dreams but she was an intriguing character in her own right with her psychic abilities. Bill was certainly impressed and I must say that I thought Gray did a fantastic job with her characterisation. The artwork was also very impressive throughout the whole story and I loved the idea of the Soul Garden being in a greenhouse on one of Saturn's moons. Where else but in Doctor Who are you going to find that? The Keeper was quite humorous for the page that it survived and I thought the cliffhanger was strong with the reveal that some elements of the garden were very much alive and were quite hostile to fleshlings. Overall, a great start to Bill's comic strip adventures and I look forward to reading the next part! (Finally a DWM blog on time!).

Death and the Queen

"Death is coming. I have to see the Queen!"

Writer: James Goss
Format: Audio
Released: May 2016
Series: TDA 1.03

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Donna

Synopsis

Donna Noble has never been lucky in love. So when, one day, her Prince does come, she is thrilled to have the wedding of all weddings to look forward to. Though the Doctor isn't holding his breath for an invitation. And her future mother-in-law is certainly not amused.

But on the big day itself, Donna finds her castle under siege from the darkest of forces, marching at the head of a skeleton army.

When it looks like even the Doctor can't save the day, what will Queen Donna do to save her people from Death itself?

Verdict

Death and the Queen was an excellent audio to conclude the first series of Tenth Doctor Adventures from Big Finish! This trio of stories really has been a delight and I really do hope that there are more to come in the future because it was terrific to get brand new performed stories from the modern era of Doctor Who that actually featured the lead cast. David Tennant and Catherine Tate were wonderful once again here and I'm sure this isn't the last we will hear from them. At least, I'd like to think not. James Goss penned an excellent story to finish the first batch of Tenth Doctor audios and I think this does go close in rivalling Technophobia as the best of the range so far. I do like a historical setting and the 1780s seems as good a place as any to set an adventure, particularly one revolved around royalty. The setting of Goritania was shrouded in scepticism from the moment the Doctor mentioned he had never heard of it and I liked the mystery surrounding it for the duration of the audio. The customs of the kingdom seemed quite normal and customary but the way the audio started meant that wouldn't be the case. We had the Doctor arriving in some distress at the feet of Goritania's Queen who of course would be Donna. That was a brilliant way to start the adventure and I liked the backtracking on how events led up to that scenario. The fact that there was an angry talking cloud disturbing the kingdom was terrific and Donna blaming that on the Doctor was absolutely brilliant. It was great writing and it really did capture their relationship and the feel of Series 4 perfectly. The Doctor then threw things back at her when it came to Rudolph and how he was shooting arrows at a cloud. She conceded his point but at least she had her a fiance who was a prince. The fact that the coronation and wedding would take place in the same ceremony was rather unusual and it wouldn't be long before we saw why. I was quite surprised that the Doctor didn't attend the whole wedding ceremony but he managed to actually recruit Hortense as a temporary companion that he actually very much liked! She was fantastic. When the Doctor figured he would be losing Donna as a companion, his statement about his companions leaving never getting easier was really heartfelt and there was also a wonderful mention of The Invasion of Time and Warriors' Gate in the Doctor acknowledging K9's departures. He also referenced Army of Ghosts/Doomsday which was good and I also liked the expected reference to The Runaway Bride, as after all, Donna was getting married. There was also a subtly beautiful foreshadowing of The End of Time in the Doctor expecting that he'd be at Donna's next wedding. That was a really nice touch. Doctor Who having a character of Death was intriguing and whilst it was the conventional portrayal, the appearance would have you believe differently. Of course, it turned out to be a massive con at the hands of the Mefistoles. The Doctor thought it was all about him which wasn't actually the case and I liked Donna's reaction to that. The resolution being that she had the ancient flag of Goritania sewn into her pants was rather unexpected and the irony of Death not being able to get into her pants was some serious innuendo for a resolution. I did like it though, even if it was perhaps a little silly. The Doctor had worked out what the untranslatable motto of the flag meant but Donna worked out how to free Goritania from its evil binding. Overall, a terrific audio adventure!

Rating: 9/10

Time Reaver

"It leaves every civilisation it touches in a blasted heath."

Writer: Jenny T. Colgan
Format: Audio
Released: May 2016
Series: TDA 1.02

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Donna

Synopsis

Calibris. The spaceport planet where anything goes. Where anyone who doesn't want to be found can be lost, and where everything has its price. Where betentacled gangster Gully holds sway at the smugglers' tavern, Vagabond's Reach.

The alien Vacintians are trying to impose some order on the chaos. Soon the Doctor and Donna discover why. An illegal weapon is loose on the streets. A weapon that destroys lives... Slowly and agonisingly.

Verdict

Time Reaver was a very good audio adventure that has continued along my listening of the Tenth Doctor stories from Big Finish rather nicely! It wasn't quite as good as the opening story of Technophobia and the nostalgia of hearing David Tennant and Catherine Tate had slightly worn off but I am glad that the quality of the story was still very high which meant I had a very enjoyable listen. I'm usually a big fan of stories that focus on time and as the title would suggest, an aspect of it appeared in this one. The time reaver was quite a horrific weapon and the Doctor's initial reaction to hearing the news of their presence on Calibris was more than enough to sell that fact. He was very concerned indeed and a routine maintenance stop would turn into something much more inconvenient. It nearly cost Donna her life and the Doctor a regeneration, but eventually normality was restored to the planet of mechanical chaos. The Doctor being reunited with his old friend of Soren was good and I like how he had clearly visited this place before. Donna was quite surprised by how comfortable he was in the rowdy tavern but I loved how she caught the Doctor out in how much he prided the TARDIS of being the greatest ship on the planet. He really does love his time machine. Cora was a very good character and I liked how it turned out that she was the one who had actually broken in and stolen the time reavers, causing much of this story's plotline. Rone was another good character and the revelation that Cora was his daughter was quite unexpected, something I always like to happen! The Vacintians as a whole were a very intriguing species and the way they adhered to law and order really reminded me of the way the Judoon acted on Earth in Prisoner of the Judoon. However, the Vacintians were very different and tirelessly followed the rules. They had come to this planet of chaos and their presence really wasn't making things better. There are some places where rules just should not be present and this was certainly one of them. The Doctor acknowledged that and I must say that once again David Tennant reprised his role as the Tenth Doctor superbly. I also thought that Catherine Tate was wonderful and this was actually a better performance for her than in the first audio of the range. The way Donna dealt with having the bomb attached to her back was terrific but that would also end up with an emotional moment for Rone and Cora as the bomb had to explode for someone. Gully was a decent villain but I must say I couldn't help think he sounded a little too similar to Sil, who we of course first met in Vengeance on Varos. Donna's complaints of the TARDIS wardrobe were wonderful and the wench comments were quite humorous, especially as the Doctor couldn't help but agree with the clothing. I really loved the mention of Donna having something on her back which would come into fruition in Turn Left. The resolution was an unexpected one with the Doctor actually shooting himself with the time reaver guns to absorb every last molecule but it seemed that his Time Lord privilege meant it didn't have quit so a disastrous effect on him. The way the story finished and led into Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead was excellent and I just love that there was some continuity between this audio and Series 4. I hope there's more of that in the final story but for now, a terrific audio adventure!

Rating: 8/10

Technophobia

"Don't be scared. You can really have fun with technology." 

Writer: Matt Fitton
Format: Audio
Released: May 2016
Series: TDA 1.01

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Donna

Synopsis

When the Doctor and Donna visit London's Technology Museum for a glimpse into the future, things don't go to plan.

The most brilliant IT brain in the country can't use her computer. More worrying, the exhibits are attacking the visitors, while outside, people seem to be losing control of the technology that runs their lives.

Is it all down to simple human stupidity, or is something more sinister going on? Beneath the streets, the Koggnossenti are waiting. For all of London to fall prey to technophobia...

Verdict

Technophobia was an excellent audio adventure that has kicked off my listening of the Tenth Doctor Adventures in quite some style! It has nearly been a year since these audios were released and I have been looking forward to listening to them for quite some time! I finally took my chance today to start the range and I must say I was absolutely delighted with what I heard. To get a set of brand new performed adventures featuring the Tenth Doctor and Donna is simply wonderful and I must say that both actors were on stellar form and it was as if neither had stopped playing the role! I really did love it in the opening sequence when the Doctor arrived on the scene as it was just superb to be hearing brand new dialogue from the Tenth Doctor. As David Tennant was the Doctor when I first got into Doctor Who back in 2007, I have seen the majority of his episodes countless times but this story is fantastic because it's fresh and well, brand new! I really do hope that this is just the start of performed adventures with modern Doctors and given how much Tennant loved playing the Doctor, I'm sure he'll be back at some point. As if having David Tennant and Catherine Tate back wasn't a treat enough, Matt Fitton provided us with a stellar script that I was very close to giving full marks to! I really was impressed and I just loved the technological theme. I liked how for the companion of the story, the adventure was set in the near future but for the listener and the time of release, that was some five or six years ago in the past. That allowed for some clever writing with mention of a royal wedding but technology hasn't grown massively since then in my opinion, in terms of usage anyway. The fact that technology was actually making people stupider, or so it seemed, rather than helping with their everyday lives was a good plot to play on and I really liked that London's Technology Museum was the main setting. Now, I've never actually been to London city centre so I can't appreciate it too much but setting a story in a museum is good in my books. Bex was a lovely character and I liked how she and Donna managed to instantly get on. Their shared humour about the Doctor's appearance was good and I liked how the fact both had been out of the country for quite some time would lead to the Doctor discovering how to defeat the Koggnossenti. They were an intriguing villain and I did like how their voice suited the theme of the audio. Their plan of making the human race stupider by interfering with brain patterns through infrasound was terrific and that is certainly a unique mode of invasion in the Doctor Who universe! I really liked it. Kevin was also a good character and I liked the humour that he shared with Donna. He really helped things as he was one of the 1% that the infrasound didn't have an effect on and would also drive a train into their signalling device on the Underground. That would prove vital as when the signal was jammed and everybody was coming to their senses, the Doctor would show his genius whilst suffering the effects of devolution. He had reversed the signal which meant that it was actually the Koggnossenti who would become stupider, to put it crudely, and the Doctor's reaction to making that happen was brilliant. He was very proud and had saved Julie Meadows and co from being scared of their own inventions. Overall, a fantastic audio adventure!

Rating: 9/10