The God of Phantoms

"We are all play things of the gods."

Writer: Philip Hinchcliffe (adapted by Marc Platt)

Format: Audio

Released: August 2021

Series: Philip Hinchcliffe Presents 04

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

The TARDIS brings the Doctor and Leela to a colony world in the distant future – but they are not the only visitors to this place. The people of this planet are seeing the ghosts of their lost friends and relatives. And the ghosts are stealing people. 

Trapped in the middle of an escalating conflict, the Doctor and Leela investigate the source of the spirits and find a diabolical machine, a terrible secret... and a foe long since forgotten.

Verdict

The God of Phantoms was a decent story to serve as the fourth series of the Philip Hinchcliffe Presents series for the Fourth Doctor and Leela! I thought this was a solid outing and it definitely had the feeling of the era in which it takes place, but it did go a tad too long. When every single part is longer than half an hour and there are six of them, this is going to take some discipline and concentration when it comes to keeping interest. It was good and the cliffhangers in particular were pretty strong to keep the interest and me wanting to listen to more, but it did feel like it was a long time coming to the somewhat predictable final part and what would happen. The atmosphere though was great throughout on the colony world with it being a place that felt scared. That was something that impressed me. I loved that we had a Time Lord Emissary contacting Leela regarding events in this story as that gave it something of a bigger picture. The Time Lords actually having a history with Flindor was intriguing and I liked the idea of them doing research on the all powerful Flindor as a God was terrific and his boastfulness when it came to his claim of having created himself was excellent. I wasn't wholly struck on the voice, but I do like playing with the idea of gods and deities. The God of Phantoms just sounds good and freaky and that title is no surprise given the story that happened. Its past with the Doctor was really good and I thought it was brilliant that the Doctor had defeated it previously, but the impact was so much that the Time Lords had to wipe his memory of the encounter. The Doctor himself was shocked by the occurrence, but not outraged much to my surprise. I thought it was a fun concept for the Doctor to have to take him on again and eventually we reached that point. Leela was great as the companion as always, and her having no hesitation in letting the Doctor know about her discussion with the Emissary was marvellous. I'm so glad she did not keep the secret because why wouldn't she want the Doctor to know? The cliffhangers were good and I particularly loved the moment where it appeared the Doctor's death was confirmed. Hearing that godly voice proclaim itself as the Doctor from Gallifrey meaning he was dead put a smile on my face. How would you come back from death? Leela thinking she was dead during the story was fun stuff too. I thought Hookham was a fine character and his believing himself to be Flindor worked well. It obviously went much further than that by the end though as the god consumed. I thought the comment from Leela about both settlements worshipping the same god but fighting was great because what were they actually in a disagreement over? It was a more than reasonable question! She felt a lot more mature in the story and with the horror theme and enigmatic atmosphere, there was definitely much less humour and comedic value to her character in the companion role. I don't think that hurt things much, but it would have been welcomed to get a little more light relief. Especially given the length of the story! The inclusion of the relic as the Gallifreyan device that saw Flindor's creation was decent and made sense with the Emissary's presence. The Commune were a strong factor in the story and I do think the way things conclude is pretty good and worthy of the build. Overall, a really atmospheric story and some good stuff from the Doctor and Leela, but I think this just went a bit too long to reach a higher rating. I can't fault it too much other than though. A good listen! 

Rating: 7/10

Zombie Motel

"We're being haunted by the ghosts of 1979."

Writer: Paul Magrs

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2007

Printed in: Doctor Who Storybook 2007

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Martha

Synopsis

The Tenth Doctor and Martha come to investigate the Hotel Splendide in the present day, and with something ringing a bell in the Doctor's mind, a mystery spanning nearly three decades starts to reveal itself...

Verdict

Zombie Motel was not the greatest of short stories to continue my way through the 2007 Doctor Who Storybook. Unfortunately I'd describe this one as bang average and that's potentially being a tad generous. It just felt a little awkward right from the start which is a shame as I did think there were a couple of good ideas at the heart, but the presentation was just a little wrong. In this kind of adventure, I do think the illustrations are important but the ones we got here actually hampered my enjoyment of the story. I thought they looked too animated and not really having any semblance of realisms to them, and some of the choices to illustrate were strange. I think the last page showing the Doctor kissing Margery was just weird as not only did that not need to happen in the story, but it's a very powerful image to finish on with the burning of the motel in the background. Doctor Who taking on a zombie story is something that should work, but this was a little too much satire and self-deprecating which was my fear before reading when I saw the name of the story. I understand and appreciate that the Storybooks are probably not intended for fans like myself in their late-20s, but I thought the entire point was to go a bit more mature than the Doctor Who Annuals that were released alongside. This one didn't hit the boat. I liked the mystery that was at hand at the Hotel Splendide and the Doctor having a nagging feeling of something at the back of his mind was good. Seeing that come into fruition when he learned about the inferno that Margery was the sole survivor of was intriguing. I thought it was quite fun for the Doctor to leave Martha in the present day and return to 1979 himself to investigate, but she didn't seem all that scared by the prospect of being left behind. That felt a little off. I thought the characterisation of the Doctor and Martha was decent enough, although the latter felt like she was missing some enthusiasm and charisma which was a slight shame. She was engaging though and that mattered. I thought Cecil made for an interesting villain, and I did find myself laughing at the decoy of food colouring when it came to the strange assortment of colours for the banquet. For whatever reason, I just couldn't find myself wholly invested in the zombie slime. Sure, it was effective at the start with the chambermaid getting covered in it in room 413, but the follow up from there seemed poor. Why was the hotel not under investigation if there had been so many similar incidents in the month since opening? And what are the odds of Margery actually working at the same motel on the same site after being the sole survivor of the inferno? There was too much coincidence. And if the Doctor was the one too save her from something so traumatic, surely she would have recognised him instantly? Especially with the unnecessary kiss. The Doctor being contained to history in knowing what happened in 1979 was good, although he didn't seem too distracted by the countless lives that would be lost when he was present at the fire. That felt strange. I thought the ending was a little rushed as well with the Doctor setting everything in place in offering Cecil off on his home world in return for the antidote. That was weak. Overall, some good ideas at the heart but not the best of adventures in my book. 

Rating: 5/10

The Widow's Assassin

"This is nonsense."

Writer: Nev Fountain

Format: Audio

Released: October 2014

Series: Monthly Adventures 192

Featuring: Sixth Doctor, Peri

Synopsis

Once, long ago, in a land of monsters and corridors, a fair maiden was captured, and placed in a deep sleep. 

She was used to being captured, and she had a hero who rescued her on just such occasions. But this time the hero never came. 

And the fair maiden slept on. 

Eventually, a King rescued the maiden, and made her his bride, which many wise old women might tell you is just another way of capturing fair maidens. 

And still the fair maiden slept on. 

Then, the hero had another stab at rescuing the maiden from her prison, but he was too late. And, more importantly, he had forgotten the rules of fairy tales. 

He didn't slay the dragon.

Verdict

The Widow's Assassin was a decent story to continue my way through the Monthly Adventures! I must admit that when I took a glimpse and saw that this story was featuring the Sixth Doctor and Peri, I didn't think it would be events after Scavenger with the cliffhanger of Flip apparently plunging to her death. That remains unsolved and ambiguous which I'm not entirely sure I'm a fan of, but at the same time after all of the recent hints that the Doctor wants to be reunited with Peri I'm glad that he got there. Of course, ever since Peri and the Piscon Paradox her timeline following the events of The Trial of a Time Lord has become a little shrouded and multiplied, so the depiction here was quite something! I must say, I enjoyed this adventure and I'm glad that we do have Peri back in the TARDIS for more adventures with the Sixth Doctor,  but this did feel a tad convoluted and slightly too long. There was an awful lot going on! With the constant body switching, that was a little difficult to follow at times in the audio format. And I don't think Colin Baker's take on being inside Peri's body was too flattering with that accent! I thought there was probably also one too many twists but they were fascinating. Peri actually being Lord Kyiv was great stuff and I liked that the Doctor tested his suspicions by making a false reference to the Monoids. If only they had! I'd love to hear or read that encounter should it happen. I am a huge Peri fan and her departure as companion has always left something of a sour note for me, so to prolong her adventures is exciting and it also opens things up as now we don't know how this Peri departs! I'm looking forward to her getting closure and perhaps a more deserving send off. One element of the story that perhaps goes under appreciated is the relationship between Guard One and Guard Two. They're magnificent and definitely provide some good humour as well as a lot of emotion at the end with the former's death. Even there, he wanted Two's child to be named after him. Good humour there. I thought the true villain of this piece actually being Mandrake was very unexpected, but I did like the history with the Doctor. The cliffhanger felt slightly underwhelming given the lack of knowledge we had, but it being the greatest enemy the Doctor could face as it was the essence of loneliness was intriguing. The Doctor's loneliness nonetheless! That's quite something to tackle, but it was done pretty well. The Doctor seemingly being imprisoned for five years was a big shock to me and Peri definitely felt different and more matured at the start when it came to her feeling exasperated at the Doctor leaving her with Yrcanos. The Doctor though equally knew something was up with her companion as he even felt it was odd that she would agree to marriage after such a short time. Peri believing the events experienced for much of the story was actually a dream worked well, and it was always going to lead to shared humour when she realised that wasn't quite the case. Peri longing after information about Flip was good and I'm keen to explore that further moving forward. I do hope the Doctor attempts to save Flip, but for now he's rather happy to be reunited with Peri. The true article at last. I obviously have foreknowledge of what kind of adventure comes next so I appreciated the loose reference to The Dalek Invasion of Earth in the Doctor saying that he always goes back. I do hope that happens for Flip. She just felt like she was getting started. Back to the story at hand though and there were some strong elements with the likes of Wolsey and the Baron, but there was a bit of a mix of sci fi, humour and romance when it came to Dirani in particular. She was a good character, but she went missing for probably too long. Overall, it's good to get Peri back but the body shifting wasn't wholly for me and this was a tad overstaying in its welcome. Regardless, a decent listen! My quote is no accident.

Rating: 7/10

Forged in Fire: The Shadow Squad

"You've been denied normal lives."

Writer: Andrew Smith

Format: Audio

Released: June 2021

Series: The War Doctor Begins 1.03

Featuring: War Doctor

Synopsis

Tamasan is unconvinced of the War Doctor's loyalties, though when their paths collide, both agree that the destruction of the Dalek Time Strategist could be the best route to victory. But on Atherea, the Daleks may have found a way to annihilate all plans to defeat them before they are even begun...

Verdict

The Shadow Squad was an excellent episode to conclude the Forged in Fire first series of The War Doctor Begins! Well, this incarnation really has begun with a bang and I've really enjoyed this boxset. It's been a fantastic start to life for the War Doctor as he begins to realise what he needs to become, whilst still showing vestiges of the Doctor we knew before. He makes it clear on more than one occasion here that he doesn't use the name any longer, but he acknowledges he's still the same man which I think is rather important. I liked the style of this episode as it felt a little different to the first two in the boxset, with the War Doctor having spent some months deciphering code of the Dalek Time Strategist. I think it's good to move on a little past the immediate aftermath of The Night of the Doctor and really give the War Doctor space to breathe now. His relationship with Tamasan is good and the pair took on quite the mission here. I thought the removal of Draven from time was terrific as the Doctor and Tamasan were time sensitive so saw that she'd vanished immediately, whereas everybody else in the establishment had not. They had to take her place in providing details to the titular shadow squad, and once the Arcadia password was accepted after a less than welcoming hello, motions were set to take on the Daleks. I thought it was fitting that the Daleks featured heavily in the boxset finale, and the Doctor interacting with the Dalek Time Strategist was fantastic for this incarnation. It knew the enemy of the Daleks in all forms, name or otherwise. I thought the focus on a weapon was good and the Time Lords understanding the importance of it was evident in the existence of the shadow squad. The entire concept behind it was clever but also heartbreaking. An entire squadron of Gallifreyans who hadn't existed outside of a mountainside. No outside interactions. No families or relationships. Their sole purpose in life was for the Gallifreyan war effort and they would be invisible and immune to the Temporal Eradicator. As weapon names going, that one is more than befitting of the Time War and it pretty much is what it says on the tin. I thought the twist that it was actually a Dalek was brilliant and I loved how even for the Doctor this was a version he had never seen before with it existing in and out of time. It wasn't wholly there but it wasn't absent either. It existed in multiple timelines and could see and erase where Dalek failures were happening or had happened before travelling along them and exterminating in the Daleks' favour. That was pretty great stuff! I liked how the Doctor's presence in almost offering himself for capture was a ploy to bring about the shadow squad and Tamasan. That was nicely done and it almost had me fooled. Trestor as its head was a fine character and I thought the moment he was exterminated was a big shock! Of course, time would change with the Temporal Eradicator being destroyed, and the Doctor seeing him now with a family was a nice way to finish. He got a better life after all which I'm a big fan of and something that seems very Doctorly. The confidence the Eradicator had when confronted by the Doctor was superb as it thought it knew the old enemy and that he wouldn't go so far as to killing. But this was a new incarnation and one focused on the war effort. His method of destruction for the Eradicator was quite incredible as not only did it set the Dalek to self destruct, but it removed the vortex stabiliser to ensure that it destructed across the timelines. I thought that was an incredibly fitting ending! It really dealt with the Eradicator and it was nice to set things back on track. Overall, a fantastic finale and I'm very excited for what comes next in this series. There's so much room to play with where the War Doctor is concerned, and we're just at the beginning. A great listen. 

Rating: 9/10

Forged in Fire: Lion Hearts

"You can take us, or you can leave us."

Writer: Lou Morgan

Format: Audio

Released: June 2021

Series: The War Doctor Begins 1.02

Featuring: War Doctor

Synopsis

Seeking out Gallifrey's new warrior, Commodore Tamasan finds that the War Doctor has invited himself on a secret mission. The time-sensitive Tharils are in danger, and an old friend of the Doctor is trapped.

But Biroc knows better than to trust either side in this war.

Verdict

Lion Hearts was another strong episode to serve as the middle story in the Forged in Fire opening series of The War Doctor Begins! After something of a reintroduction in the opener of Light the Flame, I thought this episode was perhaps a little guilty of not including the War Doctor enough! I love the idea of reuniting him with Botox and the Tharils are a great race to play into the Time War. They’re time sensitive capabilities are made good use of and I liked the eroding of Valetta as Biroc’s sister. He’s a memorable character from the impact made in Warriors’ Gate so to essentially get the female equivalent was most welcomed. I was quite touched by the love she had for her brother which was good to hear, and the reaction Biroc had when he was rescued was joyous. However, I enjoyed the devotion he showed to his kindred as well because he wouldn’t leave them. Abandoning them was completely out of the question and if they all weren’t being rescued alongside him then he wasn’t coming. You had to respect that. I liked the format of the story in jumping intermittently between Lorinus recalling events to Tamasan. She was there in person and led the Commodore to believe that the Doctor truly had changed just by retelling the events we were listening to. However, some of the details were somewhat omitted. Despite the circumstances and chronology of his recent regeneration, there’s still that kind soul at the heart. All of the Tharils were saved in the TARDIS but he wouldn’t have Tamasan know about that. He’d made it look like he had performed a mercy killing which would never have happened in his previous incarnation, but it wasn’t like that at all. I am intrigued to hear the direction moving forward for the Doctor given the change and it being early on for this warrior version, but for now it does seem old habits are hard to break. I think that’s terrific and it only makes sense that it would not be immediate for the Doctor to become warlike. Just what the War Council’s plans for the Doctor though are as of yet unseen. I can’t wait for them though! Jonathon Carley was outstanding again as the War Doctor and I am stunned by just how authentic he sounds. I honestly can’t tell the difference which is about as big of a compliment as I can give. The Voltarans being in league with the Daleks was good and it helped to mention the latter without the need for them to feature. I get a feeling it might be a big moment when (hopefully) we get the first depiction of this incarnation encountering his old enemies. Their presence is still felt though and that’s what you want within the Time War setting. The emotion behind the Tharils is strong and that’s something that seems to follow them throughout their appearances. They’re a complicated race and their sheer makeup and nature contributes towards that massively. Thankfully they wouldn’t need the mercy that Tamasan believes was granted them, as the Doctor got them out just in time. I like that. Overall, a strong continuation of a fascinating series! 

Rating: 8/10

Forged in Fire: Light the Flame

"There is no Doctor here."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: June 2021

Series: The War Doctor Begins 1.01

Featuring: War Doctor

Synopsis

The Sisterhood of Karn have a guest, recovering from his traumatic regeneration. To do what is asked of him, the Doctor has rejected his name and his code.

The Time Lords have plans for him and for Karn. Is he ready to light the flame of war?

Verdict

Light the Flame was a great start to the Forged in Fire opening series of The War Doctor Begins! I think it’s so exciting and brilliant that Big Finish get to continue the adventures of the War Doctor because after the four superb boxsets featuring John Hurt in 2016-17, there is definitely untapped potential and unfinished business for this incarnation. I love the idea of starting off at the very beginning for the incarnation with it basically following on from where The Night of the Doctor concluded. It’s a post-regeneration story but there’s not much of the usual trauma at all. This is the Doctor coming to terms with the fact he must make a change to try and avert the Time War destroying the universe for good. That’s essentially the basis for the entire episode and it really works well. I think Jonathon Carley is absolutely astounding in his take as the War Doctor. It obviously helps that the version we see in The Day of the Doctor is one that is somewhat old and clearly tired of fighting. He’s on the verge of ending it all there, whereas here he is coming to terms with who he is and is much younger. But honestly, the voice is uncanny. It’s such a good representation and that helps with the episode incredibly. It’s authentic and just exciting to hear this early version of a Doctor we barely got on screen. The setting of Karn is brilliant and I like that Ohila features, also now recast and seemingly youthful. The importance of the Flame is terrific and I was surprised that Sanmar’s plan was to literally extract the source of it! That was audacious to say the least, but this was war. Rassilon taking an interest in the Doctor’s regeneration was fascinating and I like that he knows how important he could be in the war effort. Whilst he claims to have revoked the name almost instantly, I think it’s a nice Doctorly moment in him outright refusing for his old girl to become a battle TARDIS. She would not be weaponised. That was a nice touch. I thought Lithia was a strong character and her demonstration of her seeker abilities to the Doctor had him very impressed. Was she connected to the Matrix? Exploring the history between Karn and Gallifrey was good stuff and I was loving the dialogue throughout. The story aim itself was relatively simple, so when Tamasus and Rasmus arrived I enjoyed the conversation regarding the Doctor’s previous self. It was fun for the Doctor to talk of his past incarnation as a separate person and I liked how he figured he would go on forever in that body. Something tells me he actually will. Whilst Jacqueline Pearce has sadly passed away, making reference to Ollistra and ensuring that her role continued was nicely done. The use of the time lock at the end was intriguing and I quite enjoyed the concept of Karn being removed to protect itself from the ravages of war. Who could blame the inhabitants? I enjoyed the Doctor discussing the scale of the Time War and with a clear motive now in hand for this incarnation, where would he start? That’s hardly an unreasonable question. And it turns out the beginning was against his own kind. The fate of Sanmar was pretty brutal and the Doctor being involved in the downfall was a good tester for this new personality and direction. He was ready to fight now and that’s set us up very nicely for the next episode! I’m rather excited by this series as we may hear the Doctor go further than ever before. But for now, a pretty simple but strong opener!

Rating: 8/10

Space Babies

"You are alone in this place, and you are scared."

Writer: Alison Rumfitt

Format: Novel

Released: August 2024

Series: Target 182

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Ruby

Synopsis

In space, something can hear you scream. And that something is coming. 

On her first adventure in outer space, Ruby learns that the universe is bigger, more colourful, and crazier than she could ever have imagined. She also learns that even the Doctor can feel afraid – and that certain nightmares are all too real...

Verdict

Space Babies was a really fun novelisation of the Fifteenth Doctor's first series opener! I definitely enjoyed this version more than what we got on screen and ironically given the title of the story, I think that's because I didn't have to see the babies. They were a little freaky on screen with their moving mouths seeming just a little bit too much CGI and unrealistic, but in a novel there were no such problems. As mentioned in the Doctor Who Magazine review of this release, all the author had to do really was retell the story and she'd be onto a winner. And she absolutely was. But I was so impressed with how the book started. You could tell that the author was a fan of Doctor Who because she really grasped that this was the first trip for Ruby as a companion in the TARDIS. All the wonder of the Doctor was there as she realised the TARDIS was bigger on the inside, she could travel not only in space but through time, and she encountered dinosaurs! I thought the open with Ruby stepping on a butterfly was a little forced on screen, but it felt much more fleshed out in this novelisation which was terrific. I have a three-year-old son who is absolutely dinosaur crazy so seeing the names of brachiosaurs and pterodactyls in print is very familiar to me and something that made me smile. I can certainly see why this would appeal to the younger viewers. I thought the book did a stellar job as well throughout of highlighting Ruby's inner thoughts. She had to park a lot of detail like the Doctor being a thousand years old and his planet Gallifrey having befallen to a genocide. It was powerful stuff. I had heard how the Sugababes song of 'Push the Button' was supposed to be included on screen but was sadly cut, so to have it restored here was an absolute treat. Ncuti Gatwa would have just excelled with this on screen I'm sure but thankfully he was just as infectious in prose here. I liked how the theme of pushing the button was fleshed out throughout the book too. It was really good stuff. I don't remember it being the case on screen, but crikey the Doctor doesn't half say the phrase 'space babies' a lot! It was almost in every chapter! It was fun but even I was finding it slightly tiresome by the end. The novelty had certainly worn off. I thought the format of the book was strong and I really liked trying to inject the fear factor with the prologue and epilogue. They sounded scary which was good. The Bogeyman revelation feels much more obvious in print but I guess knowing the truth will also aid there. It was a strong threat and I liked how it felt more important that it was literally built to inject fear. The space station had put the babies in a story and this was the threat which explained why even the Doctor was scared. The space babies themselves are quite adorable and the truth about them not having a hug is heartbreaking. Jocelyn as the Nanny is also good and I do think her role in the conclusion feels more rushed on the book than the time it was given on screen. That was particularly felt with the Bogeyman being in the airlock as that felt like it was an eternity in the televised version! Eric being brave because of Ruby was a big moment and I liked how her guilt was presented. She was just being nice and here he was taking on the Bogeyman to tell it to be nice. The Doctor explaining to Ruby about the snow being a connection and a potential warning was good knowing how the series will pan out, and I like how his one condition to his new companion is that he can never go to Ruby Road on the night her mother left her. That's heartbreaking for Ruby, but she understands. Overall, I think the story itself is never going to be a higher rating than this and with the addition of some inner thoughts and extended scenes, this definitely trumps the televised version for me which is tremendous! A great little read. 

Rating: 8/10

The Crucible of Souls

"He's too boring to be evil."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: September 2016

Series: Doom Coalition 3.04

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen, River

Synopsis

The date has been set.

The trap has been sprung. 

A life has been taken and a maniac is on the loose. 

With the TARDIS crew separated and in terrible trouble, will today be the day the bad guys win?

Spoilers...

Verdict

The Crucible of Souls was an excellent episode to conclude the third volume of Doom Coalition within the Eighth Doctor Adventures! This entire series has been consistently strong and this finale was no different, although it didn't feel like much of one. It felt like a new segment of the Doom Coalition series was starting and the previous episode of The Doomsday Chronometer had that finale feeling. That's not an issue at all and it's got me very excited for what's to come in the next and final boxset. There's so much going on now and it was fun to play with the idea of Liv and Helen mistaking the Nine for the Doctor. He was an enthralling character and I'm big fan of this incarnation of the Time Lord that seems to be more commonly referred to as the Eleven. Interfering with his own personal future was great stuff and he didn't seem the least bit bothered. He was incredibly rash which is rather delightful! His enthusiasm was infection and I really do think that John Heffernan has the ability to play the Doctor. He was that good. If I didn't know the truth, I could be fooled. It was a stellar performance. Of course, he was acting rather un-Doctor like with his feelings and actions towards Liv and Helen, but that was part of the charm. The way he broke the news that Liv was dead to Helen was incredible. He had no care for how she would take it and when the lie was almost being questioned he claimed she'd been shot in the head! I thought the turn of Padrac was terrific, if not a little unusual. I liked how Liv cottoned onto the fact too. That was really clever. It was also great that because he was working with the Eleven and the nature of this Time Lord in retaining his previous selves, that of course he would recognise the Nine and know he wasn't actually the Doctor. River helping the Eighth Doctor out with his disguise as the Clocksmith was good and I liked how he pondered on the fact that River might be wearing one too. If only he knew! It's a good tool though to respect continuity and I'm glad that we as the listener don't hear the disguise. Kingston and McGann are wonderful together. I like how her foreknowledge of the Doctor was utilised because the Doctor did wonder if a future self of his went psychotic but she confirmed that wasn't the case. Could the next one along not fit that criteria? I was impressed with how well the episode dealt with the growing volume of characters and with many cosplaying as others, there was easily the chance to get confused. No such problems here I'm delighted to say. I thought the information regarding the Crucible of Souls was fascinating and the idea of a group of rogue Time Lords trying to harness the life energy of the future and turn into regeneration power to become immortal was quite something! As plans go, that's rather audacious. The Doctor and River getting a glimpse at the death on show from the temporal refugees who didn't survive the trip was horrifying and really gave credence to just how evil the scheme was. I mean, the concept of the future itself being destroyed is hard to wrap your head around but I really enjoyed it. I like being confused when time comes into play. It's just so exciting! And who knows where things will go from here with the way the episode concluded. Padrac has literally sent the Doctor, Helen and Liv into a future that doesn't exist. A complete nothingness. That really is quite the cliffhanger to set up a final boxset of what has been a superb series so far. Even though there are still four episodes to go, it really does appear that Padrac might have one as he boasted at the end. The Doctor was shocked enough by his betrayal, but it seems to be no facade. I'm excited to hear where things go next! Overall, an excellent episode to see out the boxset. I already can't wait for the next one!

Rating: 9/10

The Doomsday Chronometer

"I came here to create a work of art."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: September 2016

Series: Doom Coalition 3.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen, River

Synopsis

While River Song takes Helen on an archaeological expedition like no other, the Doctor finds himself enlisted by an alien Queen to save her people.

Trapped and alone, Liv stares death in the face as she meets the enemy who's been dogging the TARDIS travellers' footsteps throughout Earth's history.

The Doomsday Chronometer has been protected for five centuries: secret cults and societies jealously guarding its mystery. But what is their real purpose? The Doctor is about to discover the truth...

Verdict

The Doomsday Chronometer was another excellent episode to continue my way through the third series of Doom Coalition within the Eighth Doctor Adventures! Wow, this was intense and enthralling. The hour absolutely flew by and the only reason I don't award this one the perfect rating is because of the reveal of there actually being a ninth piece to the titular Doomsday Chronometer. After everything that happened in the previous episode and even its name, that felt like a little bit of a kick in the teeth. Everything else though was just stellar. This really did feel like the second half of the story already started in The Eighth Piece which was terrific and it also had a feeling of a finale to it! That's a big positive. There was so much going on and this saw us have a big focus on River as well which was welcomed. Her disguise as a nun was good fun and whilst she embraced being referred to as sister, she was in the guise to ensure the Doctor saw her differently. That's a good way around protecting the continuity that starts (and ends) in Silence in the Library and the Doctor is intrigued by the woman he knows as either Malone or the Professor. She's not quite a Time Lord but can definitely help in that aspect, and it's fun for her to learn about the secret Time Lord cult trying to harness the power behind the Doomsday Chronometer. The umbrella title for the series starts to take shape which is great. Helen catching up with herself and encountering the Clocksmith in Rome 2016 was good and I liked how River was able to aid her. Liv had a relatively quiet story, but the way things ended meant she and Helen will play a huge role in the finale! I thought the inclusion of Octavian throughout the episode was fascinating and I found that I was absolutely kicking myself when he started regenerating in the TARDIS at the end. It was right there in the name! The previous incarnation of the being now known as the Eleven that was trying to be a good man was the Eight. And here he was in a disguise trying to play a part in helping the Doctor. I thought that was brilliant, but inadvertently he seems to have created quite the issue with Liv and Helen thinking that the newly regenerated Nine is actually the Doctor! That's incredibly exciting and a fantastic cliffhanger. Liv obviously knows about the concept of regeneration thanks to her meeting the Seventh Doctor in Robophobia, but here she actually sees it happen. Well, they catch the end. It's great stuff. I thought the Clocksmith throughout once again showcased his qualities as a villain and the power behind the Chronometer was huge! The idea of control by the power of thought is obviously a big weapon. The potential there is endless. Rosalia feeling the full effect of that was good stuff. I thought Cromwell showing his dark side was terrific in the story too and the follow on with the Doctor was brilliant. He wasn't messing around. The Solvers were important to the episode which was good and I like how simple they are whilst being incredibly effective. River's foreshadowing of the events of The Girl in the Fireplace when mention Versailles was fun and I also loved the link back to The Time of Angels with her knowing another Octavian. I still can't believe that wasn't enough to make me know the true identity! I liked the chases around time and history, and the paradoxical nature of finding pieces to a clock that was already completed in the now was terrific. I'm a big fan of timey wimey stuff like that and this episode had it in abundance. The discussion about mutual love between the Doctor and his companions instigated by River was a nice touch to end on, and it's nice to know how that is reciprocated both ways. If anyone knows it would be River! Overall, a really strong episode! A tremendous listen.

Rating: 9/10

The Eighth Piece

"It sings in my dreams, from the future and the past."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: September 2016

Series: Doom Coalition 3.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen, River

Synopsis

15th Century Prague: in the castle dungeons, a prisoner raves about the end of the world. Outside, Liv Chenka seeks out the workshop of a strange Clockmaker to see what he is creating.

England, 1538: Lord Thomas Cromwell finds his duties interrupted by otherworldly forces – clockwork soldiers, an unusual nun, and a mysterious scholar calling himself 'the Doctor'. Perhaps the truth can be extracted in the torture chamber of London's Bloody Tower?

Rome, 2016: Helen Sinclair has an appointment with an enigmatic Professor, whose greatest work is almost complete. Only the Eighth Piece is missing...

Verdict

The Eighth Piece was a great story to continue my way through the third series of Doom Coalition within the Eighth Doctor Adventures! This one once again fails to see the Eighth Doctor and River Song interact which is a shame, but I do feel like it's going to come. Maybe everything that's going on with the focus on the Doomsday Clock and the passing of time that something whacky will occur to ensure they can meet but have the Doctor fail to retain the memory. I do hope it happens. Considering her position on the cover artwork, River was surprisingly absent from the episode for much of it. That wasn't a huge issue just more of a surprise on my end. I thought the format worked well in splitting up the TARDIS trio and sending them across the planet and across time. I think there might have been perhaps a little too much going on for just an hour's episode, but things quite clearly aren't finished given how we ended the story so I'm excited to hear what comes next. I thought the continuity within the episode was strong and I liked how things came full circle with the part of the clock being left at a lost luggage on the London Underground. Hearing the Clocksmith threaten to burn Apolena. That was brutal but I felt like the threat was real, as was proved when he had obtained the lost luggage ticket. He killed her anyway in quite horrifying fashion! Live was disgusted and rightly so. I thought it was a little humorous how a being like the Clocksmith who clearly had the power to cross time and make violent threats with molten couldn't just find his way in and get the extra piece of the Doomsday Clock. I loved the continuity dating back to the Eleven too at the end of the previous boxset with his TARDIS blowing up. The concept of it materialising and the Clocksmith using some of the molten metal it left behind before perishing to build the clock was tremendous! That's some great use of time and putting pieces together. I was a big fan of that and I look forward to it being explored more moving forward. Helen being the one to go to Rome in 2016 seemed a bit of an odd choice given how unfamiliar she was with the time and country, but I did like hearing her traverse her way to observe part of the Doomsday Chronometer. River being disguised as a nun is definitely something I'm all here for and it was fun that Liv caught her before she could hide herself. She knows her as Professor Malone of course which is good fun and I like how the hypothesis came from her. She had the working theory, now let's put it to the Doctor. Except he got in quite the mess with Thomas Cromwell who was presented as being quite the awful man! The relationship between those two was feisty to say the least and the pleas to have King Henry vouch for the Doctor went on deaf ears. Cromwell was having none of it which did seem right in character. The Doctor didn't exactly present himself as someone fit for an audience with the monarch! I thought the clock being split into eight pieces was intriguing and I like that it gives us a mission to build towards for the next two episodes, although where the Doctor fits is unknown given the ending that seemed cemented in time. The escaped prisoner was killed during escape which the Doctor would take the place of. That's quite concerning! It also seemed that River didn't want to stick around which is a shame, although this won't be the last of her. The Doctor being insinuated as part of the Revelation Sect was fun and I loved how he was dismayed and constantly being referred to as part of that organisation. Overall, a great episode! 

Rating: 8/10

Absent Friends

"You never forget losing a loved one."

Writer: John Dorney

Format: Audio

Released: September 2016

Series: Doom Coalition 3.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Liv, Helen

Synopsis

Earth. The late 20th century. Across the world, the mobile phone is gaining popularity as more and more people decide to join the digital age. But for the residents of a sleepy English town sitting in the shade of a new transmission mast, that ubiquity has a troubling cost. 

When the TARDIS veers off-course, the Doctor and his companions find themselves in the middle of a mystery. Sometimes the past comes back to haunt you. And sometimes the future does as well.

Verdict

Absent Friends was an excellent start to the third series of Doom Coalition! This was a real emotional rollercoaster and one I thoroughly enjoyed. There wasn't too much in terms of the overall story arc which was absolutely fine, but we did get a fun insinuation of River Song's presence still being close by given that there was an archaeologist staying at the pub but she hadn't paid up her bill. Given the cover of the boxset, we know she's going to show up at some point and it's fun to think she might be a step or two ahead of the game. The Doctor aiming for Gallifrey was fun as I'm all for sending this incarnation back to his home planet, but instead we got a little closer to Helen's home than his. Although she's from the 1960s, Helen could really see just how close she was to her home life now the TARDIS had landed in 1998. She convinced Liv to let her run off back home with the Doctor's debit card to pay for the train, and what she found there was probably a little more than she bargained for. She was clueless to the decimal monetary system which was amusing and there was no contactless for taxis at this point of time! Her encounter with George was really strong and powerful as she learned of the destruction and damage her hasty departure had caused to the family. She also got a double dose of death in finding out that her parents were both dead, as well as Harry. That must have been cruel and not what she was expecting, but I could understand the temptation. She had no initial plans to ring the doorbell and interact on her way to her family home, but once she was there how could she not? The emotional pull of the episode didn't stop there though as with a new phone mast being installed in the town, all the residents were provided with free phones as a form of compensation. The irony there was not lost on me and I found it quite humorous. The residents all receiving disturbing calls was a fun basis for a story and I loved the emotional pull of them having calls from the past. From loved ones now lost. That would be horrible enough in thinking that somebody was impersonating them and trying to taunt you, but I think it was even harder for Liv when thanks to the Doctor she realised that her father was actually calling from the past. It was really him. Not a memory. She got that final chance to let him know how much she loved him which was quite beautiful, and I also liked how she tried to convince Kate to take the call at the end of the story. She'd lost her little boy at age eight which must have been dreadful, but here was a chance to interact. Anyone would kill for that kind of engagement I'm sure. I thought Selwyn was a decent character and a typical businessman as the front for Superville Com, and his reaction to being threatened by the Doctor and Liv was good. I thought she was good value as a fake photographer considering she wasn't entirely sure what taking a snap meant. I thought the revelation of what was actually causing the phone calls was slightly underwhelming with it being a rogue clock part of a much bigger clock that was warping space time, but the emotional value of the rest of the episode meant this remains very strong for me. I sense we're not entirely done with the Doctor planning on taking the component to an alien friend in London, and I was left frustrated but smiling by the ending and the listener not getting to hear who would be on the other end of the phone when the Doctor answered. That's a bit of a shame, but it's not impossible we don't find out later in the series. I suspect we won't though! And who was he kidding in claiming he wouldn't answer? Curiosity was always going to win the battle there. Overall, an excellent episode to kick off the series! 

Rating: 9/10

Deathworld

"Death has picked a fight with the Time Lords."

Writers: Dave Martin & Bob Baker (Adapted by John Dorney)

Format: Audio

Released: August 2024

Series: Lost Stories 8.01

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo, Brigadier, Second Doctor, Jamie, First Doctor

Synopsis

The Doctor was dead, to begin with. Killed alongside his beloved to Jo Grant in an explosion in the UNIT labs. But Time Lords are notoriously hard to kill. 

Because with UNIT under siege, the Brigadier is rescued by two familiar faces... the Doctor he first encountered, fighting the Yeti, and Jamie McCrimmon. With yet one more waiting in the wings. 

They are all pawns in a deadly game of chess played by a being more powerful than any they've ever encountered before. And when you battle Death himself... can anyone even win?

Verdict

Deathworld was a really strong Lost Stories adventure! This is a bit of a unique one as it's an earlier version of what eventually became The Three Doctors, and whilst I do think the tenth anniversary on screen adventure is better than what we got here, it was a fascinating insight into what could have been! It's wonderful to get the Big Finish iterations of the first three incarnations of the Doctor together, but in saying that I think it is pretty noticeable that Stephen Noonan doesn't feel authentic as the First Doctor. That's a bit of a shame and it is kind of easy to bypass in the ongoing First Doctor Adventures, but here it felt glaring that he wasn't much reminiscent of William Hartnell's portrayal. Thankfully, Michael Troughton and Tim Treloar do tremendously well as the Second and Third Doctors and their chemistry and banter is just so much fun. The giraffe comment towards the Third Doctor from his immediate predecessor had me in hysterics, as did his reaction! I thought the format of the first part was intriguing and I liked the mystery and the bigger picture feeling when it came to the man that would be Death and the Madam President of the Time Lords playing chess. The Doctor and company were merely pieces in a much bigger game. I do like the idea of Doctor Who tackling the personification of Death, but I am glad we got Omega on screen. He's a much more iconic villain and figure. Whilst the Noonan portrayal feels slightly off, it is fantastic to get the First Doctor fully present for this adventure. It definitely makes a difference to have all three on equal footing. I thought the chronological placement for some of the characters in the story was fascinating too as for the Second Doctor and Jamie, the events of The Web of Fear and The Invasion had yet to take place so they weren't aware of the Brigadier! That's obviously a big switch from what we saw on screen. It was good for the Third Doctor to hand off the space time telegraph to the Brigadier after his complaints of not being contactable, and then the First Doctor being the one to answer the call. Getting some time with this Doctor and the Brigadier was a welcomed treat and not something we ever got to see on screen! So that was a delight. I thought it was a bit cheesy for the First Doctor to mention that he had a likeness to Bret Vyon in a niche The Daleks' Master Plan reference, but it was quite fun. I knew it was going to happen as well which was strange! I thought the premise of the First Doctor having succumbed to death was decent and I liked the part three cliffhanger where it was proclaimed nothing could be done. Death would soon catch up with the Second and Third Doctors which was an exciting prospect for the final part. I thought some of the methods of death in the story were quite whacky with the likes of spiders and zombies not quite feeling of the era, but a meeting we got within all this was definitely a highlight. I loved that Jamie and Jo got to interact and they both took a little shining to one another which was tremendous! The Second Doctor's reminder of Victoria sparked a fun reaction from the pair, and it was also rather touching for the Third Doctor to be quietly fond and happy at seeing Jamie again. The events of The War Games are obviously traumatic, so for him to be reunited here was magnificent. I thought the way things ended felt like a little bit of a letdown though with no sense of satisfaction in defeating Death and instead it just being a test. A lesson for the Time Lords? It explained the chess match but I'm not sure I was a huge fan of that. Overall though, it's hard not to love a multi-Doctor adventure like this. There was more than enough good to make this an enjoyable two+ hours! 

Rating: 8/10

The War Master Part 2

"Some secrets are just dying to be told."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: August 2024

Series: Dark Gallifrey 2.02

Featuring: War Master, Benny, Captain John

Synopsis

Amid the dreaming spires of Braxiatel University, Benny is dividing her time between her lectures, her cats, and managing the romantic advances of one of her students, John. 

The new Provost – such a nice old man – doesn't approve of their dalliance, and advises her not to get involved. For John wants to know about Dark Gallifrey, which is something Benny has done her best to forget, and thinks he can help her find it again. 

The funny thing is, the dear old Provost wants to find it first...

Verdict

The War Master continued in brilliant fashion with this second part within the Dark Gallifrey series! I’m still totally against the idea of naming each three-part instalment after the Time Lord that it focuses upon, but other than there isn’t a lot to complain about! I thought this followed up the first party very nicely and it was good to get that recap, especially with the recent issues with the Big Finish website and app delaying the release. It’s quite incredible really given the lore and almost mythical status of Dark Gallifrey that Benny actually did find a way there. She had left that behind now and it was clear that there had been a considerable amount of time passed since she found the way to the version of the planet in the story’s first part. Benny definitely did sound more mature in this episode which was really good. I loved that the episode was just a three-hander between a trio of characters I never thought would come together! The dynamic in particular between Benny and John was just gorgeous. There was instant chemistry and I liked that there was appeal on both sides. Even when the inevitable true intentions of Captain John were revealed, Benny knew that it couldn’t all be an act. He definitely took something of a shine towards her and that was clear when the Master was in the middle of killing her by preventing her from breathing. He was literally drawing the breath out of her, but John put a stop to it. I thought that was touching. Benny falling for the disguise of the War Master in the form of the provost was good and I liked the whole university setting. John was obviously not a student but his fascination in Benny’s lectures was soon explained once he question her on Dark Gallifrey. Having crossover from the world of Torchwood to something as important and the standing of Dark Gallifrey is fascinating. I’m a big fan of it and I like how it makes sense. John is a time agent from the fifty-first century after all so it’s more than feasible that he knows about the Time Lords. He would surely know about the Time War as well, so for the Master to be in the incarnation where he was within a temporal conflict as mentioned was good fun. The potential of Dark Gallifrey speaks for itself. I thought it was good how the Master and John came together and I was impressed with how much the latter was presented as being on the same level as the Time Lord. Both were out to kill the other, but preparations had been had which meant that wouldn’t happen. It was still a really fun enemy pairing though and the chemistry between all parties in the story made it a breeze to listen to. This was a lot of basically dialogue but it was very much enthralling. I liked how Benny was pushed into actually revealing the location of Dark Gallifrey, and having her return there and encounter the Imbomination again was terrific. It wasn’t even aware that Benny had departed and yet here she was again. Back to where it all started. And all she was really concerned about was her cats! As a two-cat owner, I could appreciate the need for a cat sitter. It was good humour though! I did like how when things were heading south for Benny, the Unbound Doctor returned for a surprise cameo to rescue Benny at the last minute. I really enjoyed that as it was promised in the last episode, and importantly included in the recap, that this was the plan. And it was very much last minute! I’m so happy that the first part wasn’t the end for the Unbound Doctor and David Warner as there definitely feels like unfinished business, and this was a nice way to continue things. Overall, a really intriguing story that had so much going for it with three very strong and unique characters. I loved it. And I can’t wait for the story’s finale! A great listen. 

Rating: 9/10

Femme Fatale

"Who would want to write a book about us?"

Writer: Paul Magrs

Format: Short Story

Released: March 1999

Printed in: More Short Trips 18

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Sam, Iris

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

Femme Fatale was not the greatest of short stories to conclude what has otherwise been a really strong More Short Trips book! This collection has been far reaching and wide ranging with the Doctors, companions and enemies we’ve encountered, but I must admit I have no idea what was going on during this adventure. It was clunky. It was confusing. It just didn’t make sense for the most part. There didn’t seem to be any kind of resolution. The point of view was jumping from traditional storytelling to first person with Iris as the narrator. It was so inconsistent. On numerous occasions I felt like I was reading words without actually piecing together what they meant in terms of storytelling. There was too much going on without explaining what was really happening which made this a rather frustrating reading experience. Maybe it’s just me? I’m not sure. I read this at 8.30am on a commute into work and I was pretty well rested but I couldn’t work out if Mother was meant to be the Brigadier and if the Doctor alongside them was the real article. It appeared not, but I couldn’t be sure. I did like the interaction between Sam and Iris as there’s definitely some strong potential there. It’s fun for Sam to learn about regeneration from Iris and here she was in her sixth incarnation now and she thought she looked the part. Respectfully, the description provided definitely seemed to put her more on the Doctor’s level than the version we see on the cover art for Big Finish. But this is some time prior to them picking up her own spinoff so it’s fun to explore the early interactions for the character. The story definitely had some good ideas within it and that’s especially evident with Sam wanting to change history. That should have been the entire focus. I liked that we were in 1968 and having her wanting to protect Andy and prevent him from being shot was admirable, but of course not something the Doctor would agree with. So naturally she came to Iris. That showed some maturity on her behalf and I liked that she was taking things into her own hands. The ambiguity regarding Valerie was weird and it never felt like we got a proper resolution or answer regarding the clones. I assume it was meant to be Mother and Doctor that were responsible given the gas infusion at the end, but that lack of clarity was frustrating. It would have been good to explore the 1968 setting a bit more than we did because there’s a lot of potential there. I was also annoyed by the format as the paragraphs just kept coming and we were jumping from scene to scene very frantically. There was no time to stop and take in what was happening. We got needlessly repeated text and too many descriptions of the Doctor’s green velvet coat, when we could have just had more of the Eighth Doctor himself. He felt a little absent from the story when he should have been more involved than just scoffing at Iris! Overall, not my most favourite of stories for sure. Sadly they saved the worst until last with this collection, but it was still a great book! Just a shame to end a downer. But onto the next one!

Rating: 4/10

The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe

"I found a spaceman in a field."

Writer: Steven Moffat

Format: TV

Broadcast: 25 December 2011

Series: 2011 Christmas Special

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor

Synopsis

Christmas Eve, 1938. Madge Arwell comes to the aid of an injured Spaceman Angel, the Eleventh Doctor, who promises to repay her kindness - all she has to do is make a wish. Three years later, Madge escapes war-torn London with her two children for dilapidated house in Dorset. Crippled with grief at the news her husband has been lost over the English Channel, she wishes to give her children the best Christmas ever. The Arwells are greeted by the Doctor, who acts as their madcap caretaker. However, a mysterious Christmas gift from him leads them into a wintry, magical world. Madge must learn how to be braver than she ever thought possible... and that wishes can come true.

Verdict

The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe was a decent episode to continue our modern rewatch! I must admit I wasn't exactly excited to get watching this Christmas Special for 2011 as I do believe it is comfortably the worst of the festive episodes within the modern era, but it's still not bad by any means as my rating reflects! I do think I enjoyed it more than I expected and whilst it's not ideal to be watching a Christmas story in the summer, I really did appreciate how well the theme was utilised. It felt festive and that was lovely! It does feel wrong that essentially for the second Christmas special in a row the Doctor is travelling without Amy and Rory, and the ramifications following on from The Wedding of River Song really are strong. He believes that his companions think him dead, but of course we know River revealed that isn't true. But still, here he is jollying about and I think Madge does a somewhat decent job of filling the role. I mean, there's only so much joy and enthusiasm a widow can bring to a story and it's clear that the impact of the Second World War is being felt. It's nice to get to know the Arwell family and whilst I wasn't a huge fan of Cyril, it's clear how much he loved his dad. The same could be said for Lily too but she was a little older and more mature which meant she was very much interested in the Doctor. I thought this introduction to the manor as the caretaker was good fun and the sheer joy he had in showing Lily and Cyril their room of wonder was magnificent. Hammocks! What wasn't to love? The moment he goes to jump on them and completely misses falling between them had me in stitches. They very much do seem to have developed a fault. I thought the open was a little strange and just unnecessary with the use of the impact suit seeing the Doctor fall to Earth from an impossible height, but it was a good introduction for Madge and the fact he had the suit on the wrong way around was good to preserve the fact they'd actually met already when we got to three years later. He recognised the driving too when in the Androzani vehicle as it was a little bumpy to say the least! Cyril going exploring through the dimensional door and into the world that was to be harvested was good, and the Doctor and Lily going after him was pretty fun if not a little long. I thought the design of the Wooden King and Queen was superb and my first reaction when seeing the King was disbelief that Eaglemoss never released a special figure! It seemed perfect for such a thing. Unfortunately, the design is where their successes seem to finish as they don't seem that great as part of the episode. Wooden people as avatars essentially and even the building being fake? It was a little much for my liking. It was a nice moment though for Madge to be the one strong enough to pilot as what could do such a job more than the mother ship? It bordered cheesy, but the power that came from her emotional reveal to her children that their father had died when we were seeing her memories was huge. We'd seen how he courted her to marriage but now we could potentially see him die. Except thanks to Madge piloting through the Time Vortex itself, she could be the light that Reg would follow and she brought him to safety and to the future of Christmas Day! It was an emotional ending that was really nice to see a family thought permanently broken apart brought back together. And it was nice for Madge to push the Doctor into telling his friends that he wasn't exactly dead. He'd been gone for two years as far as Amy and Rory were concerned, but neither was surprised to see him which surprised the Doctor somewhat. It was beautiful though to see the theme of happy tears carried full circle by the end of the episode when the Doctor learned that his companions always left a place for him at their table. Here he was ready for Christmas with the Ponds and that was just beautiful. Overall, a strong special as a whole! 

Rating: 7/10

Visitants: The Last Line of Defence

"It's time for you to decide which side you're on, Brigadier."

Writer: Robert Valentine

Format: Audio

Released: December 2022

Series: UNIT: Brave New World 2.03

Featuring: Bambera

Synopsis

With the civil war in Valge Maja threatening to spark an even greater conflict, Bambera is put in charge of security at a secret Millennium Eve peace conference to settle the matter. But as all of Earth's leaders gather to debate the future of humanity, dark forces have conspired to ensure that this meeting will usher in a terrifying New World Order – and with the clock ticking, who can possibly stand in their way?    

Verdict

The Last Line of Defence was a strong episode to conclude the Visitants second series of UNIT's Brave New World! As it stands, this is the end of the line for the spinoff series and I think it does end really well. I'm starting at the conclusion but I thought it was really great to have the episode set on New Year's Eve and it wasn't just any old year! 1999 is obviously a big year so seeing UNIT bring in the new millennium was good fun. It just feels like the right kind of time for an alien threat and whilst the Eighth Doctor was taking on the Master over in San Francisco as part of The Movie, there was another threat on the British shores in the form of the Zeta Hydri. I liked the reveal and the revelation regarding the phone call at the end of The Frequency as a subtle warning for the Brigadier was good stuff. It explained a lot and whilst it wasn't perhaps the most exciting of reveals, it made sense and tied in well with the story. I loved the continuity in having the Hoplite Frequency being used once again and the Zeta Hydri were thinking that they were very much in control. They were quite taunting towards Rix when she explained what she knew of it, and the inclusion of sonic feedback was sensational. She was mocked, And then one turned to literal sludge. Rix working out that the organic that acted as the receptor was within and couldn't be removed, unlike her own earpiece. That was tremendous stuff but she was a little guilty as she only wanted to show what she was capable of and not actually bring about a death! Colonel Birch was very impressed though! I thought given the warnings he'd been instructing Bambera with that they would have had a little more time together, but he actually developed a strong relationship with Rix. I enjoyed them a lot. I enjoyed the throwback to Rogue State with the positioning of the civil war within Valge Maja which was a reminder that despite this spinoff series only being six episodes long, we really have come a long way! It does feel a slight shame that there hasn't been any further continuation yet, but it really does end perfectly to send UNIT off into the modern era. We would see UNIT come into play on screen in Aliens of London/World War Three which is set in 2006, and with the UNIT team here seeing their state of play move to the Tower of London that's a fine bridge between eras. I thought that was just wonderful. What was less wonderful was the traitors at play in the episode. It was a little surprising to find that Dame Lydia had sold out to the Zeta Hydri and was willing to offer a power share. Why she thought it would be accepted by the rest of the population is beyond me, but I loved Bambera's reaction. She was disgusted by the decision that was supposedly in the interests of mankind. The use of sound against them is a pretty good mitigating factor and Lydia looked a bit stupid for thinking she got ahead of the game and stopped the destruction of her species. It didn't take too long for UNIT to step in, arrest her, and broker some peace talks. That was a fitting ending really and rounded things out very nicely. The last line of defence indeed! UNIT did a job well done. I did find the balloon cover story very amusing though and it really is a reminder that the general public will believe anything told to them. Overall, a really strong audio to round out what has been an enjoyable boxset! I hope this isn't the last of the Brave New World.

Rating: 8/10

Visitants: Haunt

"Ghosts aren't science."

Writer: Lizzie Hopley

Format: Audio

Released: December 2022

Series: UNIT: Brave New World 2.02

Featuring: Bambera

Synopsis

Bambera joins Rix on an excursion up north to investigate strange goings on at the abandoned Greensands Hotel. Are local legends true that the hotel is haunted by a murderous bogeyman known as Baghead, or is there a more down-to-earth explanation? The only way to uncover the truth is to stay in the hotel overnight, but their digging into the building's past has awoken something that would have been better left alone.

Verdict

Haunt was an excellent episode to continue my way through the Visitants second series of UNIT's Brave New World! This was perhaps my favourite of the entire spinoff range so far and that might just be because of how different it felt. The atmosphere was completely different from the Brave New World episodes we have had so far and that was a big bonus. It was refreshing. I liked the move up north and whilst Savarin was very much on the back burner for this story, Rix was allowed to shine. She was almost obsessed with the legend of the Greensands Hotel which was fascinating and it really did feel like a kind of unsolved mysteries vibe. That was tremendous stuff. Rix convincing Bambera to stay overnight was quite fun and you could tell that the Brigadier wasn't all that interested in staying over. One night was bad enough and with breakfast promised, Rix did manage to persuade her. She wasn't putting a whole lot of effort into her tape recordings and I found it amusing that considering the organisation she is Brigadier of and the history of what they have encountered, that she was so willing to disregard the potential of a haunted hotel. The way she just shunned off all of the evidence was amusing. She had an answer for everything as well! Distorted sound? An already recorded on tape? She wasn't accepting that there was anything wrong at play. I could have got frustrated by this because of her position and the assumed intelligence and experience to reach that role, but it was just reminiscent of Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart when he was Brigadier. He would never believe what the Doctor saw as the obvious when it came to alien involvement. I liked that subtle way of paying homage. Taking UNIT up north was good and I liked that Rix felt a little more at home. She really did shine in this episode. The science behind the haunted hotel was fun to explore and it was something which Bambera couldn't understand. Their dynamic was great throughout the story! I thought we might have gotten something more to follow up the cliffhanger at the end of the The Frequency last time out, but it wasn't coming. Maybe there'll be a follow up in the finale to explain? I thought the rituals being in play was very intriguing and I really liked the moment that Rix and Bambera recreated the one of Clare Yale's. The emergence of Baghead was very interesting and I liked the history behind him. Rix being questioned on why she was listening to the audio recordings confirmed there was something more at play, and Bambera being convinced that Climber was still alive was something I really enjoyed. I liked that she was correct and the whole concept of the MP's involvement felt like it was coming. But it wasn't any less of a pay off with the animated corpse. It was quite the image being painted. I thought the change of attitude by Lantern Construction at the end was decent as they would create a memorial on the site instead of their initial plans, and the animation that was Baghead was defeated and destroyed. That was perhaps slightly too easily, but I could appreciate everything that was being done in the episode. It was unique, had a chilled feeling and kept me engaged throughout. I also really appreciated the radio inserts! They were a thing of art that helped with the different feel of the story. Overall, a tremendous listen! 

Rating: 9/10

Visitants: The Frequency

"This is too important to be ignored."

Writer: Tajinder Signh Hayer

Format: Audio

Released: December 2022

Series: UNIT: Brave New World 2.01

Featuring: Bambera

Synopsis

UNIT has been invited to take part in the testing of a top-secret US Air Force project designed to make military groups function better as a team: the 'Hoplite Frequency'. However, the implications of this powerful mind-altering technology make Sergeant Savarin uncomfortable. Will Bambera heed the misgivings of her loyal Number Two, or take the charismatic Colonel Hagen up on his offer and choose to embrace the Frequency?

Verdict

The Frequency was a great little story to kick off the Visitants second series of UNIT's Brave New World! I am still so intrigued that Big Finish decided to make a spinoff series of the 1980/90s UNIT team but the potential there is endless. Whilst Brigadier Bambera probably isn't as enticing or exciting as a character compared to Kate Stewart of the modern instalment of the organisation, she carries the story well and it's lovely to be reunited with her, Savarin and Rix. They make for a really strong trio to carry this version of UNIT. It feels pretty crazy that it's nearly a year now since I listened to the Seabird One first series, but this felt very much isolated and not relying on any kind of continuity. I feel like a new kind of story arc is starting here with how the episode ended and the mysterious phone call. That was ominous which worked and suited the atmosphere brought by this UNIT era. I liked the idea of UNIT getting involved in some top secret testing because they really are the perfect kind of organisation to aid. The US Air Force obviously have quite the reputation so bringing in the military organisation of UNIT makes sense, but I think they got a bit more than they bargained for! I thought the concept behind the Hoplite Frequency was very good and on the whole it was actually rather simple. That was a huge benefit as despite the technical knowhow of those in the story, for the listener it was easy to understand and that's what you want. I felt rather sorry for McClean throughout the story as she was manipulated, but her moment of triumph at the end was terrific after Bambera had given her the calling card. She hadn't loaded the gun just when it seemed like Hagen was going to get away with everything. I thought his testing was unique to say the least but I was impressed with how much of the actual experiment we got to experience as the listener. Bambera was getting stuck into the thick of the action despite her status as Brigadier which I enjoyed, and it was certainly a trying test! The development of linked thought when it came to the simple questions of thinking of a number, colour, capital city, and then what one would do if a cat was stuck in a tree was fascinating. It developed quickly and I liked the idea of it learning from the information it provided. This was innovative stuff for the time period even though it wasn't all that long ago. Rix even being confused by how it had been pulled off was great stuff. I thought she was a little quiet but when she was allowed time she absolutely shone. I thought Savarin having stolen some earplugs from the shooting range was a little bit like cheating when it came to blocking out the frequency, but that was soon mitigated by the McClean gun reveal that would lead to Hagen's arrest. That seems a fitting end in a UNIT type of story as we don't really need that kind of emphatic finish that we usually get when the Doctor is around. The enemy often dies, but here he will face the full force of the law. UNIT style. I like that. It feels right. Bambera gets a big win and the UNIT team are off to a flyer this series! The late phone call was just the right amount of intrigue to keep me wanting more and I'll definitely be back to find out who's behind the phone! Overall, a really strong series opener! A thoroughly enjoyable episode! 

Rating: 8/10

The Hans of Fear

"Never meet her gaze."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Comic Strip

Released: May-August 2024

Printed in: DWM 604-607

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor, Ruby

Synopsis

Nineteenth century Copenhagen, and something is haunting the stories of Hans Christian Andersen. Are his tales really his? Will Ruby become a fairy? The wrath of Snedronningen will be felt. 

Verdict

The Hans of Fear was a decent story to continue the ongoing comic strip adventures of the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby within the pages of Doctor Who Magazine! I've started to take a different approach with this comic strip now as instead of reading each part as I read the respective issue of the magazine, I've decided to hold off until it completes and read in one go. I feel it's the best approach and keeps things fresh instead of ending up reading multiple parts multiple times. I think it's the best way to move forward, especially with this being the current storytelling device! Of course, that is until Christmas at least. This obviously takes place prior to The Legend of Ruby Sunday/Empire of Death as well and it was good to acknowledge the in series continuity by making reference to the snow that has been following the Doctor and Ruby since The Church on Ruby Road. It was different snow this time around though and not the mysterious memory version. This was signalling the arrival of an Ice Queen in the form of Snedronningen who made for a strong villain. She was no native of Mars, but I enjoyed how she was able to toy with the elements. I also appreciated the suggestion that she was of a different reality and perhaps tying in with the whole emergence of gods that has followed the series since Wild Blue Yonder and beyond. It makes it feel authentic and genuinely part of the ongoing series storytelling. The only reason I think this story gets a slightly lower rating than it perhaps deserved is the format of the comic strip itself. I just don't think six pages is enough content to allow for compelling storytelling. By the time something has started and got into gear, we're already building up for a cliffhanger! I think it would be beneficial to just get rid of the cliffhangers and tell a story over twenty-four pages for example without the breaks. Just present six pages of the story each issue. But hey ho, as long as we're getting content then I'm happy! I really enjoyed the setting and I loved how happy the Doctor was to be encountering Hans. He seemed to have a history with the author (I mean what historical figure doesn't he have history with by now?) and was thrilled to introduce him to Ruby. I thought the characterisation and illustration of Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor was excellent, but I didn't have the same kind of sentiment when it came to Ruby. Her illustration didn't seem consistent, but I must admit I loved the idea of her being experimented on to become a fairy! More should have been made of that. It wasn't tapped into enough and I do wish she would have been able to utilise some sort of fairy ability. I did like that she was able to round up the troops of those also subjected to the Snedronningen experiments, but she felt a little out of the way. The concept of belief when it came to Snedronningen was good and without it, she quickly lost her power. Seeing her diminish at the end into a miniature version of herself was amusing, although the ending did seem to come slightly too quick for my liking. It came all of a sudden with Ruby having her fairy wings just dissolved in a flash. I get that it was to stop her mid-flight, but almost immediately she was saved. A little more trepidation would have been welcomed! I thought the reveal of one of the tin soldiers actually being the father of Hans and his contract terms of protecting his son having been broken was terrific. That worked very well and I liked how he was smiling at the end as his son was safe and returned to the normal world. He wouldn't be so lucky which was a shame, but he did his son well which was brilliant. Hans enjoying the storytelling devices and seeing the wonder in a young boy thinking he saw a mermaid was a nice way to end things. Overall, a good little comic strip adventure!  

Rating: 7/10