Return of the Nightmare

"I face death with honour."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Audio

Released: April 2015

Series: Jago & Litefoot 9.04

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis

There is a murderer loose aboard the ship. If Jago and Litefoot can solve the mystery of the strange fog and return to London, will that make matters better, or far worse? The answers lie deep in the past, and they soon learn that not everyone is who – or what – they might seem.

Verdict

Return of the Nightmare was a great story to conclude the ninth series of Jago & Litefoot! This has been a really consistent quartet of adventures and it has been nice to take our main characters away from the traditional Victorian London setting for the most part. Sure we returned to the infamous Red Tavern pub here but that was only briefly and the events were more concerned with what had happened at sea. The threat of an unseen creature was very good and I liked the suspicions of Litefoot from the off. They hadn't seen the deaths and there had also been no sighting of the creature. Might there be more than monstrous foul play at hand? It turned out to be the case which was very well presented. The way things started following on from the cliffhanger at the end of Island of Death with Riverstock being killed and mutilated in gruesome fashion was intriguing, and there was only one place to go to try and get some gossip of mysterious happenings. Getting to hear Ellie again as she tries to hold down the fort at the Red Tavern was a delight and I liked that she was eager to help. She didn't take too kindly to Aubrey and Fowler entering her place of employ and blowing a hole in the roof, even if it was as a means of warning the punters that their lives were in danger. I wasn't expecting to get an origin explanation for the mist we saw in The Flying Frenchmen series opener, but it was most welcomed. The tale of exploration between Aubrey and Fowler was fascinating and I liked how they had stolen a trinket. Now the creature wanted it back, but just regaining possession wasn't enough. It wanted to take out anyone who had even handled it which was a fun threat because of course both Jago and Litefoot fell into that category. Jago was more concerned with getting a pint to begin with though which was quite amusing and so befitting of his character, but after all they had been through on the cruise who could blame him? It had hardly been a relaxing experience! It was good to get Inspector Quick back involved and he's always a welcomed addition to Jago and Litefoot along with Ellie. It's a strong quartet of characters and I expect the landmark tenth series will focus more on them again after a little break from the norm this time around. Aubrey's story is a pretty emotional one and the slow burn of him actually being the one with the creature instead of the suspected Fowler was nicely played. I can't say I was massively surprised, but I appreciated the means it took to get there. It was inevitable then that he would be the one to save the day and that's exactly what happened with his sacrifice, one that thankfully didn't prove to be fatal. The mystery across London was strong throughout and I did like the scale of the threat. Jago and Litefoot taking things upon themselves to solve the situation was excellent and by now they are rather well versed in tackling nefarious threats. So much so that an intriguing direction looks set to take place in the next series with the adventures of Jago and Litefoot dating all the way back to Tulp and The Mahogany Murderers being requested to be novelised! A book of this kind is certainly something I would be interested in reading, and Jago and Litefoot were rather keen on the idea. I suspect there will be more than mere book sales as the impetus for hoping to right such a book, and how had the proposed author gone hidden for so long but knowing all about their adventures? I look forward to finding out! Overall though, a really strong finale to what has been a thoroughly entertaining series once again. The spinoff continues to shine. 

Rating: 8/10

Island of Death

"They fear progress."

Writers: Simon Barnard & Paul Morris

Format: Audio

Released: April 2015

Series: Jago & Litefoot 9.03

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis 

Arriving at a beautiful island, Jago and Litefoot discover evidence of a missing expedition. Can they discover what happened to the ship's crew – before it happens to them? And will they be able to avoid the amorous advances of the formidable Lady Danvers?

Verdict

Island of Death was another great episode to continue my way through the ninth series of Jago & Litefoot! I am really enjoying the story arc for this series as the Fata Morgana ship takes our main characters to some random and unique places. A remote island here is exciting and with the episode being titled as it is, it's obviously going to be pretty ominous! It was good to revisit some of the ship's crew and passengers with Aubrey and Lady Danvers in particular getting some time to shine. The captain was good and I liked that there were some real life issues of the storm impacting the stability of the ship and it needing repairs, although the timeframe for them to be stuck on the island did feel a little long. I did love though how Litefoot was keen to explore given the opportunity as that's exactly what I would be like too. I wouldn't be wasting time standing around! I love to see the world so this is a scenario I would have grabbed with both hands. Jago was somewhat less keen and was getting a little more involved with Lady Danvers than he might have bargained for. He knew he wasn't exactly up to her standards from a class perspective, but she was prepared to throw that all out of the window. She was going to shake societal norms to their core and bind them together. That was good fun as Jago wasn't exactly on board, although he wasn't exactly off either. I think there could still be more to come from those two in the future. Danvers being taken over by the Kibu was intriguing and her gibberish kind of speech was amusing. That must have been difficult to script and record! The historic potential for the Kibu was good and I really liked how well informed Litefoot was about the longevity that was possible for this kind of creature. Seeing the larvae and pondering on what kind of monster the fully grown article could be was also good and a great threat to incorporate into the episode. I thought it worked well that Danvers was the presence and focal point of the Kibu threat throughout. It was also lovely for Jago and company to appeal to the true article still stuck within. A battle of the minds is always fun. I must admit, I was not a huge fan of Nerville right from the off and I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about the twist regarding him being the sole member of the Brotherhood of Kibu. That felt a bit random, especially considering how pompous and arrogant he was. He was also oblivious to almost everything around him and I couldn't really take him seriously as a threat. But it was fun for him to stand up to the challenge presented and I did actually like the scale of Kibu's life. Knowledge and mythology almost passed down for generations. The fact the Brotherhood was invite only and he was the only member was perfect for the kind of personality we had gotten to know. I do think the resolution was a little ambiguous though. I do enjoy the idea of Jago delving deep into his own acting and dramatical abilities rather than just managing a theatre and actors, but it feels like the Kibu is just dormant. All that happened was that it was sent to sleep and whilst I do appreciate the absence of Danvers will make the connection weaker, surely it could just find another potential host? I liked it a lot and it was lovely for Litefoot to be so impressed with his chum Jago, but it did feel a tad unfinished. Overall though, a really strong episode again and I'm liking the vulnerability of being at sea or an island like this. Judging from the cliffhanger though of a corpse having a ticket for the very cruise they were on, it appears things will get a bit closer to home for the finale and I'm all here for it. A great listen once again!

Rating: 8/10

The Devil's Dicemen

"There is some nefarious business afoot."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Audio

Released: April 2015

Series: Jago & Litefoot 9.02

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis

Arriving at Monte Carlo, Jago is keen to try his luck at the famous casino. But if he's not careful he could lose a lot more than just money. While Litefoot makes a new friend, Jago and ship's purser Aubrey find themselves playing for high stakes at the Clandestine Dark Casino. 

Verdict

The Devil's Dicemen was an excellent story to continue my way through the ninth series of Jago & Litefoot! After a strong opener in the form of The Flying Frenchmen, this was an even better follow up after that episode left us in Monte Carlo. That's an exciting setting for any story in the Doctor Who universe and having Jago and Litefoot visit was tremendous. I thought it was utilised very well and whenever reaching this part of France, a casino just has to get involved! Jago in particular was a big fan of his surroundings and the way he wheeled off the directions to the casino establishment when Litefoot suggested a visit for entertainment and to pass the time was tremendous. He was clearly very acquainted with the place already. A gambling man is not something I would picture Jago as so obviously, but I can certainly see it and I'm not surprised to learn that he dabbled in a bet or two. He also placed big stakes and was winning big, whereas myself personally would be much more like Aubrey. If you don't bet big you can't lose big. That's more my philosophy so I appreciated his trepidation when it came to playing the invite-only game. Reaching the Devil's roulette was intriguing and it was clear that Madame Diabolique was interested in him. She wouldn't be allowing Aubrey to continue as he'd not won the game of dice, whereas Jago had used her 'lucky' pair to roll a double six right away. It was almost like he was being thrust into the final game where quite the forfeit awaited should one win the game. The concept of the soul is an interesting to explore for sure, and I loved the earlier discussion between Litefoot and Betterman regarding its weight. Was it an actual physical thing? The idea of weighing someone before and after the death and measuring the difference as the weight of soul was pretty daunting! I thought Betterman himself was an excellent character and it always helps when played by an actor with the talents of David Warner. He was a welcomed addition to the range and I liked how much his character got on with Litefoot. He would be perfect for a return in the future and I thought the moment they both deduced the cause of death of a corpse at the bottom of a beach cliff was wonderful. It seemed obvious that it was either a fall or drowning given the proximity to the cliffs and the sea, but alas he had died of fright! That was unexpected. Finding out that the dead had previously changed their wills to benefit a London holding company at their family's expense set forth an evil game within the Clandestine Dark Casino. A fitting name. The stakes got real, especially with the forfeit for Jago when he'd won to be his soul. He didn't think that was serious when he signed away the contract, but unknowingly there had also been a will underneath that his signature seeped through onto. He'd almost signed away the theatre! However, the previous method Diabolique had used in extracting the soul didn't work on Jago which was just magnificent. Incorporating his theatre background where he could see through the act was marvellous. His emergence at the end was just glorious and exactly what you would hope for from this kind of man! He revelled in defeating Diabolique and the Dark Casino simply by being himself. That's quite glorious. The eery way things concluded as the Fata Morgana set sail again but seemed to approach some similar fog that sent them to Monte Carlo was brilliant. Where could they possibly end up now? That's an exciting prospect to lead into the next episode. Overall, a fantastic listen! 

Rating: 9/10

The Flying Frenchmen

"It is the same ship!"

Writer: Jonathan Morris

Format: Audio

Released: April 2015

Series: Jago & Litefoot 9.01

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis

Jago and Litefoot embark on a cruise. It's supposed to be a relaxing break, but what terrors lurk in the mysterious fog? And what about the other ships that seem trapped along with the Fata Morgana – are they friend or foe? Or something much more frightening?

Verdict

The Flying Frenchmen was a strong start to the ninth series of Jago & Litefoot! I can't quite believe I've reached the ninth series and equally I'm surprised it's been eight months since I concluded the previous boxset. This opener felt a little calmer and almost like a light reset as there was no obvious storyline direction started other than a fun concept of parallel universe. If that continues moving forward I will be absolutely delighted, but if not then this was a really good glimpse into its potential. I liked the idea of taking Jago and Litefoot out to see, but who were they kidding in believing that they could have a relaxing kind of break? It was never going to be that easy! The eery feel of the Fata Morgana ship was really strong and it absolutely matched the vibe of the artwork for this story. It always felt like it was at night and once the ship was marooned in time and still on the ocean, that sense of impending doom and quietness was terrific. It set the mood very well. That didn't mean there couldn't be humour with Jago and Litefoot both getting a little embarrassed by the affections shown to them from Lady Isobelle Danvers. She was a fascinating character and the way Jago and Litefoot actually had to scheme to push away her attentions was a fun moment. The idea of competition between Jago and Litefoot over a woman is really enjoyable banter and just another reminder of the timely chemistry and joyous relationship between our two Victorian gentlemen. The mystery of the fog and mist was good and despite the captain's assurance to Litefoot that all was well, it was good that the professor was actually a bit worried by being told there was nothing to worry about. He was proven right of course as the navigation was completely unknown and that horror feeling of stillness is never utilised better than at sea. The emergence of another ship was intriguing enough, but when it was revealed to be another version of the Fata Morgana, things really kicked into gear! It wasn't even just another boat with the same name, it was the same boat! That was exciting stuff. The prospect of the Jago and Litefoot characters meeting alternate versions of themselves is terrific and it was good fun to meet some French versions in particular. Litefoot seemed well versed in the situation and realising what had happened with this sideways interaction. Pondering on whether they were actually the full and correct versions of themselves as the English variation was fascinating, and good fun for the reaction of ridicule it sparked from Jago. Of course he was the true version! He wouldn't hear otherwise. The introduction of Aubrey was amusing given that he seemed familiar as they have actually met him before, and when a third version of the ship came things began to get slightly confusing I must say. It was entertaining but in audio when there are three different versions of the same characters, even with different accents, it can become a little difficult to follow. It didn't last long enough to become a lingering problem which was positive, but it did impact my listening ever so slightly. I thought the way things ended was emotional with the other versions of Jago and Litefoot taking a big sacrifice to allow the versions we know to live on in some version at least. It was also a fun way to lead into the next episode with the Fata Morgana not exactly ending up back at its intended destination and was instead at Monte Carlo! That's a fun prospect for the next episode and a unique little setting for sure. I'm looking forward to hearing where things go from here. Overall, a strong series opener! 

Rating: 8/10

The Legend of Ruby Sunday

"It was the wrong anagram."

Writer: Russell T Davies

Format: TV

Broadcast: 15 June 2024

Series: 14.07

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Ruby, Mel

Synopsis

The Doctor and UNIT investigate Ruby's past. But as the Time Window reveals horrifying secrets from Christmas Eve, the mysterious Triad Technology unleash the greatest evil of all.

Verdict

The Legend of Ruby Sunday was an outstanding start to the series finale! Wow! I am writing almost immediately after completing the episode and whilst I was unable to stay up until the midnight launch, having avoided spoilers meant this was truly mesmerising. After a series of hints and twists going back to The Church on Ruby Road, we start to tackle the questions we so desperately want answers to. The episode had me on edge for the entire duration and it was incredibly tense! It was a joy to watch though and had a feeling of a finale right from the off. I loved that UNIT was prepared for the TARDIS arrival and the Doctor didn't waste any time once the introductions were done. It was nice for Ruby to quickly get to know Kate, Ibrahim and even Rose, whilst he met the new young scientific advisor in the form of Marshall. His addressing of the woman we see here as Susan Triad was brilliant and it was a good little trip down memory lane of her appearances throughout the series, as well as a few we hadn't seen. I thought it was hilarious that the Doctor noticed the S TRIAD Technology as being an anagram of TARDIS but UNIT looked at him with almost offence at the thought they wouldn't have realised. It was a prime reason of why they were investigating her! Ruby picking up on her conversation with the Doctor from The Devil's Chord where he revealed he had a granddaughter Susan was lovely and innocent, but it sparked a big injection of emotion. Could it really be Susan? I was surprised that the Doctor thought it could well be and it was sad that he was disappointed when meeting Triad and knowing that she wasn't his granddaughter. Kate's reaction to finding out that the Doctor had a grandchild was quite lovely and the Brigadier had never mentioned him having family! Carla finding her way into UNIT was amusing and I loved that Mrs Flood was on hand to look after Cherry, but the way she chillingly broke the fourth wall as she knew the one who waits was coming was incredible. I loved that and I can't wait to (hopefully!) find out who she is in the finale. The emotional torment Ruby went through in the time window was sublime as the day of her birth was relived and recreated. UNIT having it filed under Goblins was amusing and I loved that there was a glitch on the woman who left Ruby at the church. Was it her mother? And who is she? The trap was obvious but the Doctor couldn't help himself and the way the black mist creature consumed Chidozie was brutal. The sandy corpse was devastating. I thought the way the truth of Susan Triad was revealed with her speech going live was just outstanding and the way the tension was built was sensational. Mel was hidden in on the inside but even she could see the Doctor was scared, albeit after giving him a little speech to kick his arse into gear and fix things. The little twisting of the anagram to reveal the Sue Tech and thus the return of the God of Death himself Sutekh was just magnificent. It had long been rumoured and with the whole god theme since Wild Blue Yonder, I suspected that going back to a god like Sutekh would be a big possibility, and it didn't take anything away. It was a huge surprise and one that worked so well. The reaction of the Doctor sold just how big of a threat Sutekh was and I can't wait to find out what's in store. The herald that was Susan Triad being turned into her horror face guise was disturbing but just so good. The fact we had another Harbinger twist with Harriet was tremendous and I loved how the brief interaction we got from Sutekh to the Doctor was a taunt of the Time Lord thinking he was family. He was far from it. Just incredible. There's so much more I could mention, but for now this was just a stellar opener to the finale. I can't wait for next week! 

Rating: 10/10

Moon Graffiti

"The amount of times I've had to deal with dead men falling on the dead man's handle."

Writer: Dave Stone

Format: Short Story

Released: March 1999

Printed in: More Short Trips 04

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

Here on Earth or out in the depths of the cosmos, the Doctor and his companions are never far from adventure. 

Discover things on Earth you were never meant to know. Get around the universe. Get short tripping. 

Verdict

Moon Graffiti was a decent little story to continue my way through the More Short Trips anthology within the Short Trips prose range! I had no idea prior to reading this particular instalment that this was not the first version of the adventure as it had actually been released as an audio a year prior which is fascinating. I must admit that despite a strong rating I won't be rushing to experience the story again in a slightly different form, partly because I imagine it would be incredibly similar given the nature of the audio release. I can't confirm but I suspect it would pretty much be an actor reading the prose I had read with a few additional sound effects and the like. It is cool though for there to be two different forms of release for a niche little story like this. I thought the story did a tremendous job in capturing the characterisation of both the Sixth Doctor and Peri. This really did feel like it took place during Season 22 on screen with Peri questioning a lot of what the Doctor was actually doing whilst he was typically irritable. I enjoyed the references to The Caves of Androzani and Vengeance on Varos as a means of establishing the timeline for this story to fit into as since the regeneration the TARDIS had been playing up a little and even after obtaining some zeiton-7 the old girl was far from 100% and full capabilities. I do find it a little amusing as to how many times the TARDIS has required recalibration over the years. It's happened so many times in numerous media forms now! It's a fun little gag. I would assume that this hampered some of its other systems though, in particular the translation circuits as Peri was unable to communicate with the Wibliwee as she remarked how they spoke good human. That was a little stupid as Peri herself acknowledged as there are obviously an abundance of human languages with this one clearly communicating in English! I thought they were an intriguing little race and having Doctor Who tackle the world of bacteria and unfathomably small races is good, but it does get a little beyond the brain sometimes as even happened to Peri here. Just how can we begin to comprehend billions upon billions as a scale? The Doctor describing to Peri what the graffiti on the moon said was fun because he really took it as just another trip, but for Peri this was on the lines of defilement. Her moon had been tarnished! The Doctor making her own time and the Earth she knew sounding insignificant was typical of this incarnation at this time which was good character work, and he couldn't help those that would die. It would spark a whole new Earth which Peri could begrudgingly accept, but I understood why it was difficult for her. I thought the Parachnids were a decent monster and I really liked the name! The swarm element was decent and I appreciated the Doctor not understanding their biological evolution. What was the point of them ridding things to uselessness? Kimo Ani was a strong central character to have alongside the Doctor and Peri although it was a little strange for them not to help him much after the awakening of millions. Peri challenging the Doctor on that was nicely done. The coming of the Monitors to rid the world of the Parachnids was good and I loved that the Wibliwee were on hand to do simple work in recalibrating the TARDIS for the Doctor. The Line was left to run and the TARDIS was now all better. A nice way to end the story! Overall, a strong read and continuation of the book. 

Rating: 7/10

The World Beyond the Trees

"I'm living in the past."

Writer: Jonathan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: January 2017

Series: Short Trips 7.01

Featuring: Liv

Synopsis

MedTech Liv Chenka is alone. No Doctor. No TARDIS. No Molly O'Sullivan. But the strange environment she's stranded in is about to get even stranger, with Liv the only one who can help out. There's a message here, for her, and for someone very far away...

Verdict

The World Beyond the Trees was was a really strong Short Trip adventure! Taking place within the Dark Eyes series of Eighth Doctor Adventures, this was a unique take on the format and one I instantly loved. It just worked from the very start and it certainly helps to have a character like Liv Chenka in that narrator role. Except here she wasn’t quite a narrator as the style of story was very different in that she was basically reading a letter of events to her lost father. I thought that was pretty poignant and there was a good level of emotion in her retelling of what she had gone through. Whilst this was very much a solo outing for Liv, it was nice to acknowledge the Doctor and Molly. Liv touching on the lack of similarities she shares with Molly was intriguing and she didn’t seem wholly fussed on the Doctor here either with how much he has changed since their first meeting together in Robophobia. That feels like a long time ago now and it is easy to forget just how far Liv has come. She feels really mature and well versed in tackling alien obscenities here. I like how she takes things face on and the Doctor giving her a warning about the Damascus Project was intriguing. I did know beforehand that this adventure takes place simultaneously with Damascus which is a fun little quirk and something I could get on board with happening more in the range. It’s been a couple of years nearly since listening to that previous Short Trip story but the links were good and the memories came flooding back with the likes of the Milur and the Prime Minister. Neither were as prevalent here but it was good that Lilla was scared of the former and teaching a lesson to the latter. She was very much alien and the way she reacted to Liv realising it was her that had triggered the listlessness field was so calm. She admitted it but she didn’t mean the effects so that should be okay right? Not quite. Lilla wanted to protect her father’s interests and the Prime Minister was trying to take things that didn’t belong to him. Lilla stating that the powerful needed to be faced with truth was excellent and really struck a chord with me. The relationship that was built between Liv and Lilla wasn’t exactly something I would describe as close, but they came to a mutual understanding. The finding of the fourth tree was intriguing and painted quite a nice picture actually with the lift within. It was good that Lilla wouldn’t allow Liv into the tree that her father had only meant for her though. She stuck to her principals there and wasn’t having it! I liked that a lot. She was a really likeable character. Liv helping ensure Lilla saw reason with regards to the listlessness field and lifting it was terrific, especially when she was on hand to confront the Milur at the end. But Lilla was long gone. It was a nice way to tie things together at the end of what was a really strong little audio! Overall, a great listen. 

Rating: 8/10

Taking Mickey

"You said you could tell me about the Doctor?"

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Short Story

Released: June 2006

Series: Doctor Who Files 05

Featuring: Mickey

Synopsis

After signing up to various websites about UFOs and aliens, on a Wednesday morning Mickey Smith receives an email from a woman calling herself Jill, but she is far too interested in the Doctor's whereabouts...

Verdict

Taking Mickey was a decent little short story to continue my long overdue reading through the Doctor Who Files! It still baffles me that these are eighteen years old as it really doesn't feel that long at all since collecting the majority of them predominantly when Series 3 was airing in my childhood, but for whatever reason this was a release I didn't actually know. Thankfully the local library was able to obtain a copy for me and this was a fun little read. I was intrigued as to whether this would be a solo outing for Mickey or a story set somewhere between The Girl in the Fireplace and Rise of the Cybermen. It did turn out to be a solo outing and considering the actual Doctor Who File relates to Mickey himself, that feels like the right move. He doesn't need a TARDIS trip. But he was heavily involved with the Doctor here despite no sign of he or Rose. I thought the representation of Mickey was very much in line with what we saw on screen in Aliens of London/World War Three which was terrific! He's presented as pretty intelligent and neat with a computer there, with the gags mostly coming from the Ninth Doctor mocking his appearance. It was unclear where in the timeline this story was for Mickey but the beauty of it was that it didn't really matter. Feasibly it could have been any of the incarnations that wiped out Bloodgrudge. Great name by the way. I thought Mickey's introduction to Jill was fun and I really enjoy the idea of him collecting emails and letters from UFO and alien websites. He's on the lookout for Rose and the Doctor always which is really nice to see as he clearly cares for the former in a great way. The latter just comes with the flow. As soon as Mickey confirmed he knew the Doctor, Jill didn't do the best job of hiding her disguise and true interests. It was really rather painfully bad to be honest and her grudge against the man for the supposed killing of her husband was a little misleading. Even Mickey could appreciate from the story that it was actually Bloodgrudge that was trying to kill the Doctor after hunting him down only to fall into his own trap. That was ironic and the annoyance that must exist when the Doctor simply stepped over his potential deathbed was brilliant. I can just imagine the anger of Jill's husband. Her reveal as Jillonga was decent and I thought the annoyance in her children was quite comical. They had travelled sixty years to reach Earth and were set for the same duration on the opposite journey home, so they just wanted to catch Mickey so they could get home. There was only so much school time left and they valued their education apparently. The way Mickey was actually able to best them was a little silly but I must admit that it did make me laugh a little. The children were clearly bored and were after some games, so Mickey was on hand to make one up in the form of airlock runner. That was a good name and I loved that he pushed himself to go first in order to show the other children how it was done. Of course, with the ship due for takeoff and on a course that was irreversible and couldn't be stopped, there was no way he would be knocking to be let back in! That was amusing if not stupid, but the reaction of Jillonga towards her children said it all. She was stunned and disappointed. Overall, a fun little read! 

Rating: 7/10

Star-Crossed: Archipelago

"We're sailing towards islands that no longer exist."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio 

Released: May 2024

Series: Ninth Doctor Adventures 3.12

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, River

Synopsis

River Song has one last request. If the Doctor undertakes a dangerous journey with her on the planet Fortuna, she'll never bother him again. But this is no ordinary voyage. 

As the storms batter their tiny vessel, the travellers are confronted with some brutal home truths. There is a captain in search of a husband. There is a ship in need of a light. And there are lovers lost in the maelstrom who will always be islands apart. 

Verdict

Archipelago was an outstanding episode to conclude the Star-Crossed twelfth volume of Ninth Doctor Adventures! After two meetings of the Ninth Doctor and River Song, something that ought not to have been possible, this was a fantastic and highly emotional finale to their time together. It’s nice that despite everything we know about this incarnation as a battle hardened Doctor especially pre-Rose, River got to see the Doctor she knew and loved. The story itself before we got to the emotional stuff was really intriguing and there was no messing around in pairing up the Doctor and Rived, as should be the case for this third encounter. The novelty had worn off. The mission that River had enlisted the Doctor for regarding Thaddeus Grey and his signal was interesting, but he wasn’t having any of it. He could see the time storm that his husband was trapped within and didn’t fancy the voyage. This Doctor took things as they were and could see the dangers of the storm. He knew that Harvey wouldn’t be alive so his reaction when he found out just how long it had been since Grey took on a voyage was amusing. River was a little guilty but she saw the good and hope of the situation despite the signal having been broadcasting for twelve years. There really wasn’t much hope at all! I enjoyed the concept of temporary time very much and with how many different incarnations of the Doctor that River has now met, it’s become a little cliche for the memory wipe to happen to keep that first meeting in Silence in the Library intact. Once Grey was eliminated from the story due to the storm, the effects and threat of the coral oncoming were intriguing. It was a slow killer and River being knocked out for a while allowed the Doctor a chance to see into his future. The idea of him reading River’s diary of spoilers is also blasphemous and her reaction was one of genuine shock and horror. It was so fun to hear the Doctor comment on him not understanding the whole wedding of The Wedding of River Song extract along with lovely mentions of the Silence and the Weeping Angels. The Doctor and River really do go through a lot together and now the Doctor knew it all. He’d had a sneaky peek when he really shouldn’t have. Whilst I did think this episode was sensational because of the emotional pull, I do think there’s a blaring continuity error. The Doctor seeing the Daleks mentioned and not making a big deal of it considering this was before Dalek felt a bit off. River touching upon the Time War and almost using it against the Doctor in not wanting him to use it as an excuse for his personality and traits was powerful stuff, as was this Doctor’s brutal honesty. He couldn’t love. He wouldn’t. Not in this incarnation. But once the resolution was found and it would have to involve them completely forgetting everything about each other and their meetings over this series, some semblance of love was found. They shared details they never had or would and that brought them closer. Closer than ever before. It was a lovely line from the Doctor that despite this being the most romantic he’d ever been according to River, he would do this and have a whole future to challenge that. He could see that he would marry her and love her, and that’s rather nice. Overall, a tremendous finale!

Rating: 10/10

Star-Crossed: Face of the Apocalypse

"I am driven by love."

Writer: Lizzie Hopley

Format: Audio

Released: May 2024

Series: Ninth Doctor Adventures 3.112

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, River

Synopsis

After locking onto an unusual algorithm, the TARDIS lands in a hi-security Intergalactic Bank where the computerised system only recognises one face – River Song. The Doctor discovers River dismantling the main computer and immediately suspects her of something dodgy...

But a case of stolen identity becomes far more serious as River's face starts to appear throughout history and the Bank vaults start filling up with Temporal Prisoners. Is River the victim of a sting or a bored computer nerd? One thing's for certain, the 'glitch' is no longer a glitch and is on its way to destroying all of spacetime, starting with Prisoner Number One.

Verdict

Face of the Apocalypse was another entertaining episode to continue my way through the Star-Crossed twelfth volume of Ninth Doctor Adventures! I think it's good that for this story the Doctor is fully aware of River and we don't have to worry about any kind of memory loss thing at the conclusion (presumably that will come in the next episode) so this is just a solid adventure with an incarnation of the Doctor and his wife that couldn't be any more different. The Doctor's reaction when he sees the only recognisable face as River was wonderful. I really liked that there was continuity with Swipe Right in having the computer glitch come from the Matchmaker system and I do wonder if there will be any kind of overlapping arc resolved in the finale other than erasing the Doctor's memory. I thought the Intergalactic Bank setting here worked very well and River's shock at being the face and claiming it was doing false advertising was very amusing. Her face was everywhere and that computer glitch meant there was drastic effects across time. Nearly every face either was River or highly based on it. She was the fashion with her curly hair all the range. River's reaction to arriving at the Louvre and seeing that she was now the Mona Lisa was wonderful. Of course it was a much better painting! The Doctor knew something was clearly wrong. His joy at seeing the Spore and the significance it had across all of civilisation was intriguing. It's good, especially in this incarnation, to hear the Doctor in a joyous mood and encounter someone he admired. The story of the Cronny, if that's how it is spelt, being the Chronicle that sparked an entire religion and pacifist nation was fantastic. The reaction of Keetree to the Doctor and River bringing the Spore home was amusing as she wasn't exactly thrilled! She was having a good ol' time without him and was actually getting on better without him. What good was he anyway? He didn't pay attention and didn't do much in showing his love for her. However, the way that changed as he revealed his drawings to her and how she was in every one was quite lovely. She felt a little guilty and his love for her shone. That was a lovely moment. The Doctor needing to provide some inspiration to get the happy couple back to inspire the future he knew was good as that felt a little out of his comfort zone. I wasn't entirely sure about the Doctor using Abel against itself by showing that the TARDIS wasn't exactly a computer, although I entirely disagreed with the concept of the time machine not working when someone it didn't like or approve of tried to use it. What about the Master in Utopia? I feel like there are a number of examples where that wouldn't be the case. It was still fun though for the smugness of the Doctor to shine through. He knew he'd won in the end. The shock of River seeing the TARDIS dematerialise and therefore the Doctor leave was good, but she knew he'd come back. It was an eventful end though with not everything falling perfectly into place! As a whole, this was another strong episode and a fun outing for the Ninth Doctor and River. It's a shame there's only one more to go! A great listen. Talk about couple power! 

Rating: 8/10

Star-Crossed: Swipe Right

"We only cater for couples."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio 

Released: May 2024

Series: Ninth Doctor Adventures 3.10

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, River

Synopsis

There are strange rumours about the planet Crell. People have been vanishing. The mysterious Matchmaker is keen to get the populace paired up via his special dating app... but rejecting too many suitors can have fatal consequences. 

It's precisely the sort of thing the Doctor would want to investigate. But unfortunately it's also precisely the sort of thing River Song would want to investigate too. The Doctor and River are on a collision course  – but this time it might not be a match made in heaven.

Verdict

Swipe Right was an excellent start to the Star-Crossed twelfth volume of Ninth Doctor Adventures! Judging from recent comments released from Big Finish from Christopher Eccleston himself, it appears that this is the final boxset in the range at least for the moment. That's a shame as it's been a sheer delight to get so many brand new episodes with the Ninth Doctor, but if we're going to be finishing then at least we're doing it with a bang! The prospect of uniting the Ninth Doctor with River Song is something that excited me so much when this release was announced and it certainly didn't let me down for this opener. The dynamic between them is fascinating because they couldn't be more different. This is not the Doctor that River Song knows well. He's far from it. He's probably the most alien to her of them all and that's saying something! I must admit I didn't think a story of this name and description would be well suited to the Ninth Doctor but it was actually fantastic. It felt modern to do a take on online dating at an intergalactic scale and the Doctor getting his way in by claiming to be meeting up with Beth was nicely done. She was expecting Julian but who she got instead was someone far more interesting. Her position as an asexual was used really well and that was a unique take on a sexual preference in Doctor Who. I can't recall seeing it before and I liked how it sparked the basis for the resolution. The Matchmaker is a fun little villain name and whilst I did think it was entirely predictable for it to be a computer, it was still a fun moment when the knowledge was learned by the others. It's always amusing to hear the Doctor being one step ahead of the game! The banter between the couple running the joint where the bulk of this story took place was wonderful and the constant use of the word darling almost got unsettling! It was a good laugh though and the comedic value at the end of the Doctor having defeated the Matchmaker and telling them they could now break up was tremendous considering they'd been together for six years and pre-dated the computer! The entire concept of the computer wanting people to couple up for their happiness and productivity worked really well, although having a limit on rejections made things a little difficult. You couldn't be too picky like Beth as that meant you would often get stuck with the final option. That was happening to her. Julian also got on the wrong end of things but River Song stepped in wonderfully to save his life. I thought the initial reaction of the Doctor to learning of River Song's presence and their supposed marital status was great and I like that with two more episodes to come, there's room to play with. We had no memory wipe here and that's exciting. It broke River's heart though that when the Matchmaker needed a completely loveless and unromantic person to take it down, the answer was the Doctor. That wasn't the man she knew and adored. It really did have a big impact on her to see the Doctor embrace that status and use himself to restore normality with the Matchmaker gone. It's exciting to think what might be coming next with this pair as there's strong potential there with a dynamic unique to any incarnation and River. She felt right at home in a dating episode whereas the Ninth Doctor didn't on paper. He even admitted this kind of thing just wasn't for him, especially in this incarnation. It was a fascinating listen and I look forward to more. Overall, a strong listen! 

Rating: 9/10

Rogue

"This is so Bridgerton."

Writers: Kate Herron & Briony Redman

Format: TV

Broadcast: 8 June 2024

Series: 14.06

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Ruby

Synopsis

The Doctor and Ruby land in 1813, where guests at a duchess's party are being murdered, and a mysterious bounty hunter called Rogue is about to change the Doctor's life forever.

Verdict

Rogue was a great episode to continue the ongoing series for the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby! There was no messing around in getting our TARDIS duo into the thick of the action in this one as we see them all dressed up at a nineteenth century party. The regalia on show here was top notch and I loved the addition of establishing the setting as specifically Bath, even though the location really wasn't important. It's a city that is fond to me as the place I went to university for my undergraduate and I absolutely fell in love with the place. It's also where I met my love so it's an important place in my life so having Doctor Who go there and dabble in its history was magnificent. This one is a rather simple story at heart which is refreshing but there's still enough time to get the Susan Twist character arc in with her being featured as a portrait. I felt sure she would just be a party goer but this was a nice way to keep it going and for Ruby to recognise the face once again. Just who is she? Well, it's not long before we find out which is so awfully exciting. Of course, the threats in this episode are the Chulder shapeshifting family and they bring a nice little twist to that kind of creature. The little neck crank and just their eyes gave them a strong sense of evil. It was nicely done. Their whole orchestration of the party and their roles was very interesting and it's quite barmy but also really great that they were cosplayers. Incorporating a cosplay group of villains into an episode that is so obviously based upon Bridgerton is a lot of fun. The Netflix series itself is referenced on numerous occasions in the story and I think it definitely will just go down as 'the Bridgerton episode' which is absolutely fine. I'm not a fan of that kind of period drama but I can appreciate it and it works well for a Doctor Who setting. The Doctor himself is right at home and this story really does become all about his relationship with the titular character. Rogue is a modern day Captain Jack if there ever was one, except whereas it was the Ninth Doctor meeting him in The Empty Child, we have a much more flamboyant incarnation here. Right from the off the chemistry between the Doctor and Rogue is off the charts. They try to one up the other and they're so similar. The different reactions to their respective ships was really well done and I liked how Rogue initially took the Doctor as the Chuldur shapeshifter he was hired to kill. The Doctor being somewhat rationale about his profession was unexpected but it just worked to have them with different morals and philosophies. They were contrasting figures for the most part and that helped make them work. The scene where the Doctor tries to prove he isn't who Rogue is looking for and shows his past faces was incredible and it was lovely to acknowledge all of that history, even in a show that is trying to pass off as a Season 1 when it absolutely isn't. One certain element that was acknowledged was the existence of Richard E. Grant's alternative ninth incarnation from Scream of the Shalka! That's a lot of fun and canonising that as the Doctor's past is tremendous. Big Finish will be licking their lips! It's harmless and cheeky and just works to set fandom alight. I'm all for it. Ruby tricking the Chuldur into thinking she had become one of them was a great twist, especially when the Doctor trapped her with the rest of the family on a dimensional trap door to who knows where. Rogue and the Doctor sharing a kiss was a powerful moment after the earlier tease and he knew how much Ruby meant to the Doctor so he took her place in a selfless sacrifice. It was a little sudden and certainly unexpected, but the line at the end of 'find me' certainly makes me think he'll be back at some point. It would be a shame if he wasn't! I thought the design of the Chuldur out of their disguise was a little silly and a struggle to take seriously, but the method of how they took the form of those they cosplayed was brutally horrifying. The state of those corpses! Overall, a strong episode with a main plot that got overshadowed to be honest! 

Rating: 8/10

The Church on Ruby Road

"This story isn't a fairy tale."

Writer: Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson

Format: Novel

Released: January 2024

Series: Target 181

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Ruby

Synopsis

Chance. Misfortune. Coincidence. These are the weapons of choice for the Doctor's latest enemies. And those enemies are very, very hungry...

For Ruby Sunday, this Christmas Eve is a birthday she'll never forget. It's the day she joins the Doctor aboard a Goblin ship. The day she learns of dangers from beyond the universe. The day her life really begins... or, perhaps, the day it ends.

Verdict

The Church on Ruby Road was an excellent novelisation of last year's Christmas Special! After seeing that my local library had stocked this book, I couldn't help but get it on hold and delve into the first bit of prose for the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby. It's both of their first full story and it works perhaps even better in a novelisation format which is a delight to say. I honestly think that's because it feels a little less Christmassy and silly in a novel whereas on screen it had that lighthearted and loose feel. That of course was absolutely great but I think the book does take things a little more seriously. The Goblin King is presented as a strong threat and hearing the inner thoughts of Ruby regarding her birth parents and the disappointment she feels when there is no trace adds to the emotional pull. This is such a strong debut for a companion and we learn so much about her. She's a foundling and likes the word a lot when Davina uses it on the television show designed to reunite her with her genetic family. I fully understand now why there was an extra scene involving the Doctor saving the woman and pushchair shopping on Christmas Eve from the falling giant snowman decoration because without it we really wouldn't have had much of the Doctor at all until nearly halfway. That's a long time. I thought the introduction to Carla and Cherry were terrific here and I love just how much the love Ruby has for her mother is shown. It's obviously reciprocated and Cherry is there for some strong humour. The gag of her not getting a cuppa remains delightful. I liked the subtle way the importance of Mrs Flood was presented even though she only features intermittently, but I must say the moment where she breaks the fourth wall and shows her knowledge of a TARDIS doesn't have the same impact. Maybe because I knew it was coming? Or the fact you can't really address the reader in the same way breaking the fourth wall is done on screen. I think the coincidences and bad luck on show in the book are tremendous and I really like how the Doctor explicitly linked things back to The Giggle and the Toymaker. This was the leftover impact of his legions and the Doctor was actually excited by the chaos. This was something he didn't understand and he was keen to take on this new world of rules. The Goblins are a lot of fun and the little hints at their presence throughout the book were brilliantly done. They always felt present which was perhaps not achieved on screen. Before reading, the thing I was fascinated to read the most was how the Goblin Song would come across when novelised. It could have gone wrong but it was actually magnificent. It was just as catchy on the indents and I really enjoyed the surprise Ruby had at coming up with her own lyrics. The humour of the Lulubelle name at the new foster child was good, but the scene that had me smiling was when Carla kept naming all of the coincidences after the Doctor revealed he was an orphan. Ruby caught on right away. Another tremendous sequence was the Doctor aiding Ruby as she tried to retrieve Lulebelle from the Goblins. The cover obviously takes the image from them on that unsteady ladder and it's a fine representation for the book. The Doctor having to go back in time and save Ruby once the Goblins take her for their King and change the course of history is fantastic and I can't wait to come back to it (presumably) in the series finale that's due in the next couple of weeks. There's so much potential there. Just who is Ruby's birth mother? Did she see that the Doctor had to kill the Goblin King to prevent disaster? And just who is Mrs Flood? It's all so exciting and this is a lovely time to revisit the start of the mystery and arc encompassing the series currently airing. And it's just a darn good and fun story whilst having a huge emotional pull. It's a wonderful introduction to Ruby and a fine first full outing for the Fifteenth Doctor. What's not to like? Overall, a terrific read. 

Rating: 9/10

Department X

"There's a basement full of corpses in the freezer."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: March 2011

Series: Torchwood BBC Audio 05

Featuring: Captain Jack, Gwen, Ianto

Synopsis

G. R. Owen is the last of Cardiff's old department stores. Times are hard and the ancient firm has gone into administration. But who are the Administrators? What goes on behind the shutters at night? And why are customers disappearing? Torchwood are already investigating. 

G. R. Owen is the site of their oldest unsolved cases, and Jack is determined to solve it before the store closes forever – which is why Ianto is working undercover in gentlemen's fashions and Gwen is in handbags. 

Are the new mangers really aliens? What connection do they have to the mysterious G. R. Owen himself? And is Jack the only one looking for the Department of Curiosities, last seen in 1905?

Verdict

Department X was an excellent audio to continue my way through the Torchwood Tales collection! This was a really pleasant listening experience and just worked right from the off. With these Torchwood audios usually going over two hours, they can sometimes be difficult to maintain attention and grip the listener but this one had no such trouble. I think a shop is a fantastic setting for a story in the Doctor Who universe which we obviously saw utilised very well in both Rose and Closing Time, but now it was Torchwood's time to have a go and they absolutely nailed it. I thought the history there with both Jack and Torchwood was very intriguing and added a depth of mystery to what was already an interesting prospect. As a relative local to Cardiff, I can't quite remember when the bulk of St David's shopping centre was opened but it feels right that it would be around the time this story was written and that ties in nicely to the dwindling performance of G. R. Owen as an old department store. It was a good reminder of days gone past with it outlasting the likes of Woolworths and Pound Paradise, but now it was on its last legs. The administrators were called in and quickly took over proceedings, but they had an off feeling right from the start. The fact they were surveying the employees and being interested in the species was interesting and I was really intrigued in what they were after. The result was actually fascinating as we learned all about the Department of Curiosities which was a Torchwood mystery dating back decades. I thought that was exciting and Jack having knowledge of the past and having even tried to solve it himself on more than one occasion was very exciting! The shop itself was now due to close so Jack saw this as his final opportunity to solve something that hd gone amiss for Torchwood for a very long time. I thought it was a little obvious that the Department of Curiosities would lie in the basement, or at least the door to it, and Ianto slipping through was excellent. He and Gwen were undercover in unconventional means at the store which was a delight to listen to, especially with Gwen described as a sex worker thanks to her position in the makeup section! But now Ianto encounter Gareth who turned out to be the G. R. Owen himself which was good. Learning about his past and how he nurtured wingless birds and had done the same with the alien parasite that had housed itself within him was brilliant. I didn't see it coming but it made sense for this to be where it was hiding. It was causing torment and Gareth didn't entirely realise it. Jack and Gareth encountering each other again felt like a big moment despite us not knowing much about the store founder. I loved the moment the administrators utilised the store intercom to announce special offers including Ianto's life. That was magnificently evil. Their fascination with the Department of Curiosities too as representatives of Firestone Finance was terrific and I liked their whole purpose of profiting from failing businesses, even alien ones. Absalom and Valentine were strong characters as the heads of this transaction, but by the end the former got a little more than he bargained for in becoming the new host of the parasite. The use of the dimension gate was really well done and I liked how Cardiff and the Rift helped with the department and the coming of the administrators. One last thing I should commend is the narration from Kai Owen. Considering Rhys didn't really feature he did a wonderful job in bringing the story to life. It was exciting and engaging which is all you can ask for really! Overall, a terrific listen! 

Rating: 9/10

Killing Time: Unfinished Business

"The pain is exquisite."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: August 2021

Series: War Master 6.04

Featuring: War Master

Synopsis

For centuries, the Stagnant Protocol has been forgotten by the universe: an empire populated by a race that can never advance... a race the Master seeks to seize control of. 

Unfortunately for him, he has a rival – Calantha – and she understands how to manipulate the system better than he could ever hope. His only chance of defeating her lies in the hands of some old acquaintances, whether they realise it or not. 

One thing, however, is certain. Whichever of them may win, the Stagnant Protocol is destined to lose...

Verdict

Unfinished Business was a great episode to conclude what has been a very strong Killing Time sixth series of adventures with the War Master! I really liked how things came full circle here with the Master back to tackle Calantha after everything that happened in The Sincerest Form of Flattery opener. He was out revenge and crikey did he play the long game! He was more than prepared to take her on and the charade both parties played in feigning friendship with each other was tremendous. I was a big fan of that as we really were waiting for the first one to blink. Both were strong characters though and always believed they had the upper hand. Calantha first appointing the Master to a political position was quite intriguing and a little unexpected so quickly, but he was soon forced into retirement which was where things got rather shocking. We don't often see or hear the Master in a vulnerable position but having him at the mercy of Calantha was a bit of a surprise, even if he did show a supreme amount of confidence for the predicament he was in. Calantha's evil really came out here as if it was needed after setting a plague out on her own people, but when she was taunting the Master with a sandwich and not even eating it all I couldn't help but feel sorry for the Time Lord. He was putting on a brave face but you could clearly hear the anguish and hunger in his voice. The timeframe of how long he was locked up behind the forcefield barrier was unknown, but it was clearly considerable. The fascination with the wallpaper was magnificent and how that came full circle at the end when he got the upper hand was just marvellous. The political nature of the episode was strong and whilst the pace was a little slower than the previous two episodes and admittedly not as interesting with no familiar past characters, it really did grow as the Master came into his own. I liked exploring the society of the Stagnant Protocol a little more and Calantha being questioned on the whereabouts of her parents in an apparently immortal population was very good. There was a real subtle evil to her which I don't think was wholly explored. The inclusion of the Time War element to the story was welcomed and whilst we didn't actually hear the Daleks featured, we did get their ambassador which was more than sufficient. Calantha striking a deal with them regarding the gate to the time lock was good and I loved how that just played right into the Master's hands. And at his own retirement no less! His reemergence was terrific and he didn't hesitate in showing his control over the lock. The Daleks were clearly wiped out before even emerging and there did seem to be some sort of loose Time Lord loyalty there for the Master which was a nice touch. The fear and shock Calantha displayed when the Master did emerge was good and the first time we've really heard her show some form of weakness. It certainly wasn't a strength this time around but she did try to spin it as a miracle. But the Master was quick to reveal the truth about the plague. He had the cure and was fully in control of it, after waiting all the while and going hungry. That kind of determination and failure to give in was admirable. There aren't too many others who could have carried that out! Overall, a really strong finale to what was a fantastic boxset overall. 

Rating: 8/10

Killing Time: The Orphan

"Whoever controls the medication controls the people."

Writer: Lou Morgan

Format: Audio

Released: August 2021

Series: War Master 6.03

Featuring: War Master, Nyssa

Synopsis

For centuries, the Stagnant Protocol has been forgotten by the universe: an empire populated by a race that can never advance... a race the Master seeks to seize control of. 

Unfortunately for him, he has a rival – Calantha – and she understands how to manipulate the system better than he could ever hope. His only chance of defeating her lies in the hands of some old acquaintances, whether they realise it or not. 

One thing, however, is certain. Whichever of them may win, the Stagnant Protocol is destined to lose...

Verdict

The Orphan was another excellent episode to continue my way through the Killing Time sixth series of War Master adventures! This series keeps excelling and honestly give me an entire boxset of the Master encountering companions he's previously tormented. I'm not sure you could get any stronger than the likes of Jo and Nyssa, but I'm sure separate encounters with the likes of Tegan, Peri, Martha and Clara wouldn't go amiss! That's hopeful for the future. For now, what we got was great and this was another powerful story. It made sense to utilise Nyssa's medical abilities and background when it came to the plague and with her being in desperate need of some help to find a cure for the plague threatening the Stagnant Protocol, the War Master was only too keen to volunteer. The emergence of him as the helper to Nyssa was expected but it was still a delicious treat. Derek Jacobi seems to have stepped up a gear during this series which has been tremendous to listen to as the real evil of this Time War incarnation is on full display. I'm a huge fan and the way he slowly let Nyssa work out what he had done and who he was worked so well. The pair did seem to actually fashion something of a working relationship based on respect, but the Master didn't exactly show her too much compassion when a mistake of hers led to a patient death. The scale of the plague was explained well here and I liked that it could transfer from one person to another by the slightest of touches. Nyssa had introduced some iron clad shutdown procedures for the Varnomium ship, but they were child's play when it came to the Master escaping. He was always one step ahead and having Nyssa actually infected and suffering was a strong dynamic. The significance of the serum the Master obtained in A Quiet Night In was established brilliantly as he simply bypassed the defences by not being infected. It's not often we actually get to see the Master win so for him to walk out having done what he wanted and leaving Nyssa behind was quite something! It's a treat when the good guys don't always win and a little refreshing. The moment where Nyssa realises disaster has struck and the plague is spreading rapidly amongst her patients was heart wrenching as we hear her entire body of work on the plague come crashing down. She blames herself initially but then works out that thanks to what she knows of science, there can only be one possible answer. And before she knows it the lightbulb clicks of who the 'doctor' really is. It's the Master in a brand new face. I loved how she questioned if he stole this one too but he just took everything in his stride. The way he calmly stated how he was close to her father was incredible as from The Keeper of Traken onwards, the Master really does make things hard for Nyssa. Her entire world and family are destroyed by him so for them to be reunited here is a big occasion. She's horrified but also determined that he won't get out with the plague. She can't believe that even he would test it on people, but the Master was playing the fast game and wanted quick results. Testing in a laboratory wasn't for him. The warning message that was left on the Varnomium with Nyssa relaying that they were a plague carrier and for nobody to approach was a little sad as that seems to indicate no means of rescue. Might this really be the end of Nyssa's story? It's an emotional way but I like to think the ambitious nature of the conclusions means she will somehow managed to have escaped. Regardless, the Master is looking forward and to finish what he started in The Sincerest Form of Flattery. He's got what he wanted to confront Calantha as we look set for a very exciting finale! Overall, an excellent episode. 

Rating: 9/10

Killing Time: A Quiet Night In

"Don't trust anybody here."

Writer: Lou Morgan

Format: Audio

Released: August 2021

Series: War Master 6.02

Featuring: War Master, Jo

Synopsis

For centuries, the Stagnant Protocol has been forgotten by the universe: an empire populated by a race that can never advance... a race the Master seeks to seize control of. 

Unfortunately for him, he has a rival – Calantha – and she understands how to manipulate the system better than he could ever hope. His only chance of defeating her lies in the hands of some old acquaintances, whether they realise it or not. 

One thing, however, is certain. Whichever of them may win, the Stagnant Protocol is destined to lose...

Verdict

A Quiet Night In was an outstanding episode to continue my way through the Killing Time sixth series of adventures with the War Master! After a decent opener of The Sincerest Form of Flattery to set the Master on his route for revenge against Calantha, this brought us more down to Earth and united the Master with an old friend. The history between the Master and Jo is obvious as she was there at his very first on screen appearance in Terror of the Autons, so to have her meet a new incarnation here was an absolute treat. Honestly, right from the off this was just tremendous and I think for sure this is the best story from the spinoff series thus far. The atmosphere was just sublime and the background music was really creepy and provided that haunting feel. It was uncomfortable at times and that was before Jo was even aware of who her uncle actually was. The prospect of the Master being the uncle of Jo was incredible and I loved the later knowledge of the hypnotic spores. He'd placed them in her nursery rhymes book as a child and now the second dose on the invite to the party at her uncle's home was another significant dose. She was well and truly under the spell of the Master and he'd been playing the long game of implanting into her mind that he was her uncle. It was so well done and Derek Jacobi was just delicious as the evil Time War incarnation. He absolutely relished what he'd done to Jo and that was powerful stuff but was the Time Lord at his very best. Jo literally lost everything in this episode and was almost taunted at the end. The Master challenging her on if she really was the one to choose to leave the Doctor in The Green Death was sensational and whilst she knew she left because she fell in love, the Master questioning if that was a true memory was fascinating because she had just experienced firsthand how her memories could be manipulated. The Master chuckled in announcing that Jo's uncle had died years ago and the house was just constructed from her memories of it as it had been torn down as well. She was well and truly under the spell and he needed something very important from her. She needed to infiltrate UNIT to obtain some serum in a very protected vial, so the Master just got her the job there. The knock on effect of that in his past life with Jo becoming companion to the Doctor is excellent and so fun to think about! Without the Master then Jo wouldn't have joined UNIT? All for one vial so the Master can take on Calantha and show she's not as in control as she claims. The mystery of the house throughout the episode was magnificent and I liked the constant background noise because when it did stop that silence was incredibly eery. The housekeeper actually being a robot was a good twist and the Professor helping the Master with the experimentation on Jo was great, but then even he lost his memories when the Master departed and he had what he wanted. I'm actually surprised he was spared! The Master using Jo as an 'ordinary person' to break through the Doctor's lock on the vial was intriguing stuff as Jo didn't want to believe that's how the Doctor had seen her. But the Master pushing on that as the vial was unlocked and mocking her for the Doctor never coming back was extraordinary. That laugh as he was victorious and left Jo and the house behind with her distorted memories was an incredible conclusion. And now he's out for torment on another old 'friend'. Jo can relate as now the Master has stolen her uncle, we look set for Nyssa to see the man who literally stole her father. An exciting encounter awaits as the story has really kicked into gear! Overall, just a superb listen.

Rating: 10/10

Killing Time: The Sincerest Form of Flattery

"The real people know when they're being lied to."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: August 2021

Series: War Master 6.01

Featuring: War Master

Synopsis

For centuries, the Stagnant Protocol has been forgotten by the universe: an empire populated by a race that can never advance... a race the Master seeks to seize control of. 

Unfortunately for him, he has a rival – Calantha – and she understands how to manipulate the system better than he could ever hope. His only chance of defeating her lies in the hands of some old acquaintances, whether they realise it or not. 

One thing, however, is certain. Whichever of them may win, the Stagnant Protocol is destined to lose...

Verdict

The Sincerest Form of Flattery was a decent start to the Killing Time sixth series of adventures with the War Master! This was a very political affair which was intriguing and this is certainly an incarnation well suited to that environment and type of story, but I can't help but being left with a feeling of wanting a little more. The reference to The Master of Callous series with the Master having his own vineyard was strong continuity and this episode really did feel like it could fit in with that second series of the range. This did feel a little contained for a Time War era adventure but I think that will be okay as there is clearly more to come in the series. This looks set to be more of an ongoing adventure across the four episodes with the Master accepting defeat at the hands of Calantha this time around, but he would be back. Sometimes you have to lose the battle to win the war and that's exactly what he was thinking here. I thought Calantha was a really strong character and the idea of her almost being an equal to the Master was quite something, especially in this incredibly devious and conniving incarnation. He seems one more than willing to play the long game, even more so than his predecessors, so having someone to try and defeat is brilliant. As a Torchwood listener from Big Finish, I was more than familiar with Alexandria Riley so it was nice to hear a familiar Welsh accent! She played the role well and the course of the relationship between the Master and Calantha was developed very nicely. Going from a simple guard with the Master claiming he allowed himself to be captured to now having her rise through the ranks to Minister for Internal Affairs was fantastic. I liked the political direction. The concept of the Stagnant Protocol was fascinating as I am intrigued by the Master's wants with a population that cannot advance. He came to offer Calantha children but she wasn't interested due to her own political ambition. It said a lot about her to put herself above the future of her race. She just wanted power. That was someone strong to oppose the Master. It was fun throughout the episode to have her always one step ahead of the Master and whilst his calm demeanour remained evident, it was clear that frustration was building. She was certainly impressive and he admired what she had done with the spreading of the plague. She even banished her own son to the outer worlds to try and tackle it at its source, even though she was very much in control of things. The demonstration of it being in play just as it was to be revealed that there actually was no plague was intriguing. It's fun for the Master to set his sights now on bringing the plague to her and who knows what consequences that will have on the already stagnant population. I suspect that is where Nyssa might fit in given her medical expertise. I'm excited to hear where both Nyssa and Jo fit in and react to a new incarnation of the Master given their respective histories with the Time Lord, especially now in a Time War setting. The Master somewhat trying to distance himself from the actions of the Time Lords whilst enjoying posing as a mediator was fun. He was a Time Lord when it suited him. That's the Master at his best serving his own means, and now a full plan is in action and I'm excited to see what dastardly direction he sends the series in moving forward! Overall, an intriguing start that sets things up well but could have done with a bit more action and excitement. 

Rating: 7/10

Dot and Bubble

"We work and then we play."

Writer: Russell T Davies

Format: TV

Broadcast: 1 June 2024

Series: 14.05

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Ruby

Synopsis

The world of Finetime seems happy and harmonious. But an awful terror is preying on the citizens. Can the Doctor and Ruby make them see the truth before it's too late?

Verdict

Dot and Bubble was another good episode to continue the ongoing series! This was a very unique episode and a rather different change of pace from last week's 73 Yards and initially it had a vibe of being a little more uplifting and feel good, but it was far from that by the end! The idea of the story focusing on the younger population being ingrained in the world of any form of social media was good and taking that to a futuristic setting worked well. I thought the bubble was good and I loved just how reliant the population were on their bubble. Right from the moment they woke up they needed to catch up on what everyone else was doing. It was a bit mad and whilst I certainly have a presence on social media, I'm not flaunting myself to the levels here! I don't have Instagram or TikTok and mainly use it for gossip on the likes of football, WWE, darts and television shows, but this was a whole new level. The idea of communicating via the bubble whilst working in the same room of your so called friends was just mad. I work from home and I'm not a fan of a call at the best of times, but some sort of interaction is needed! This was awful. The involvement of the Doctor and Ruby basically being restricted to scenes within the bubble was intriguing and I liked that aspect of the episode. It was a unique format that really did have a modern vibe. I find it fascinating that Russell T Davies proposed the idea at the heart of this story for Matt Smith's first series way back when and it would be interesting to see how it would have worked then. Especially with the Doctor not being at the front of the deep racial tones in the episode. This was powerful stuff and it was only partway through that it was obvious that the bubble users were all white. Sure, they were rich and entitled but that was obvious just from the way they carried themselves. Two hours of work! Bless them. I thought Lindy was unlikeable pretty much from the start with her attitude of being stuck up. She's not the kind of person I would be able to get along with or take seriously. Ruby's reaction to her comments when the Doctor offered to save her was exactly how I would think of her all the time. It's only when you look back that you realise why Lindy blocked the Doctor immediately and is then stunned that he's in the same room with Ruby. The comments about the way he looks are shocking when the true thoughts of the rich kids is revealed. The Things were a bit silly and looked grotesque, but they were a little difficult to take seriously. The way they just consume people is brutal and horrifying to see, but their slow nature meant they were a pretty forgettable monster if I'm being honest. The efforts in the direction to make them seem fearful were appreciated though! Lindy not being able to walk without the directions of the bubble was a little laughable and it was nice that she got help from Ricky September. He was a fun character and his determination to save her was admirable. So the moment she used her knowledge of him and his true birth name after we realised the population were being killed off in alphabetical order was a stunning moment. I didn't see it coming and showed just what kind of person she really is. The dot killed him pretty swiftly then! The Doctor offering to save the rich kids who'd escaped was admirable but the line about contamination referring to the Doctor's skin colour almost floored me. It's had a big impact on me since finishing the episode and I love how this turned quickly from not being about millennials on their phones. It became about white supremacy and even now these survivors were off to the woods and lands to start anew. Perhaps my favourite moment of the episode though is the Doctor and Ruby recognising the mysterious woman claiming to be Lindy's mummy. I love that they recognise her now and I can't wait to find out who she is! Overall, a decent episode to move forward. 

Rating: 7/10