Planet Mondas

Short length, big content has been a theme of this season of Short Trips so far and this Sixth release does not in anyway disappoint. As this is a Short Trips, I will try to keep my review short and to the point without my usual rambling style. Of course I remember when I first heard a short trips it reminds me of the time that……

STOP!!!!

See what I did there…

Right, enough silliness, on to the review!

Read by Nicola Bryant (who still amazes me that she sounds nothing at all like Peri when she is herself), it tells a story of Old Sixie and Peri visiting the planet of Malgar whilst the TARDIS recharges (something that happened quite a lot in the Sixth Doctor’s era that, TARDIS needing a recharge). Malgar has a history of violence, just one gunshot from their army could take out an entire invading fleet – however the denizens that Old Sixie and Peri meet are nothing like that, they are pacifists to the point of being a danger to themselves – The Doctor finds out that they have been this way since they were visited by the Sisters of Serenity. But who are they and why have they removed all traces of aggression from the Malgarians?

This is a story about freedom of choice, thematically similar to A Clockwork Orange, the choice to be good or bad has been removed by a third party – can the Doctor in all conscience restore this? and what about the dark heart of The Doctor himself, what if this is removed, where will it go?

Nicola Bryant gives a great dramatic reading, when she acts the Peri parts you forget it is the same woman; she delivers an urgency to the story and her tone build the world very well. This is a very visual script and Nicola really does bring this to life, I love it when you can “see” events without them being described – and this is a great example of visual story telling.

Another big concept story told in a very short time, but without a wasted line. Definitely a winner and a very serene 8/10.

Written by Ed Watkinson

SYNOPSIS:

The Guns of Malgar once defended their planetoid from any who strayed too close; just one gun could obliterate an entire star fleet.

The Malgarians are known as a vicious, belligerent species – so when the TARDIS brings the Doctor and Peri to their homeworld, they are puzzled to be greeted by a pacifistic population.

Peri assumes the Doctor has just got his facts wrong, but he is reluctant to accept the Malgarians’ uncharacteristic behaviour. What lies behind it, and what is the secret of the Sisters of Serenity?

CAST:

Nicola Bryant (Narrator)

Producer Michael Stevens
Script Editor Michael Stevens
Executive Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs

Written By: Nigel Robinson

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“The same but different”; it was how I thought of Doctor Who when it came back in 2005. I loved it with RTD in charge. 10 years on, well, hmmm… Capaldi is wonderful, but the episodes lack a little something to make them feel as special as they used to. Trying to recapture the magic of a bygone era is a difficult balancing act; you don’t want to be a pastiche or a tribute act, but you can’t be so different that you are nothing like the era you are trying to recapture.

Series 4 of the Fourth Doctor Adventures has reminded me of series 8 of the TV series in so much as it hasn’t quite hit the spot for me – brilliant leading man, sublime companion, well written stories but lacking a certain something in a few of the stories. Maybe they were just TOO different from the era they are representing. Actually yes, that what it is, apart from The Darkness of Glass, the stories just have not screamed LATE ERA HINCHCLIFFE! to me in a way the previous pairings of Tom and Louise have, maybe they have been a little too experimental. Luckily The Cloisters of Terror has come along and restored my faith in the series and if you want to find out why dear reader, then read on.

St Matilda’s College, in Oxford, is a woman only college with a strange history; there is a legend that if you see the ghostly “Three Sisters” that they will come and take you away. When a young student tells her friend she has seen them and then disappears, the Dean of the College, Emily Shaw calls in the Police – but gets more than she bargained for when her call is intercepted by The Doctor and Leela. Wow, what a story! This feels just like Who did in late Season 14, dark, gothic, frightening, engaging – everything a Tom Baker story should be – and of course it features Tom Baker! Half way between his serious earlier persona and his madcap later persona, Tom’s commanding presence booms and quips his way through the story. The Dean of the college is Dame Emily Shaw – Mother of past companion Elizabeth Shaw and is aware of The Doctor and UNIT. There is a long standing mystery to solve here, girls have been going missing for almost a millennium…

How are the Nuns of the convent involved? Is the kidnap of the girls for the greater good? Can Leela do a Lancashire accent? All these questions and many more are posed and answered in the story.

It’s a triumph of a production – it’s not the best Who story ever, but it is so well done it really does feel like an audio recording of a 1970’s episode. There is a creepy, doom laden atmosphere, possession, treachery and a 1000 year old secret. Can I at this point make my monthly “we are not worthy” comment on Louise Jameson – she is incredible in this one, such a visual performance, when she answers one of the girls in a Lancashire accent it’s funny but it is also a considered study of Leela’s thought processes; she has never heard the word before, it is spoken to her in a Lancashire accent so why wouldn’t Leela pronounce it in this way – it’s little touches like this that make Louise a cut above and one of the best actresses to have graced Doctor Who.

So a Fourth Doctor Adventure that ticks all the boxes – acting, plot, sound, atmosphere. But at the same time its not a tribute act, its just a very well written story. Yes some of the plot devices are cliched, the ending may be predictable, but it really does give you the 1970’s Saturday teatime glow.

This one definitely is not a terror. 9/10.

Written by Ed Watkinson

SYNOPSIS:

St Matilda’s College, Oxford is haunted. The building was formerly a convent and, so the story goes, three ghostly nuns wander its passages during the hours of darkness. The story goes on to say that anyone who sees the ‘three sisters’ will not be long for this world.

When one of the students mysteriously disappears, the Dean of the College, Dame Emily Shaw, has no option but to call in the police. Her call appears to be answered when a Police Box arrives in her study; the Doctor and Leela have come to investigate and uncover the dark secret that has lain buried beneath the college for almost a thousand years…

CAST:

Tom Baker (The Doctor), Louise Jameson (Leela), Rowena Cooper (Emily Shaw), Richenda Carey (Sister Frances Beckett), Claudia Grant (Megan Matthews), Allison McKenzie (Lynn Pickering), Jane Slavin (Ancient Nun/Brenda)

Producer David Richardson
Script Editor John Dorney
Executive Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs

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They are back – and its about time!

Since their apparent demise last year the Companion Chronicles have been missed. Yes there were the “Early Adventures” – and very good they were too, but the style of storytelling in those was more akin to the main range, more full cast rather than dramatic narration and as such lost some of the intimacy of the Companion Chronicles. This month they are back, albeit in a slightly different format, whereas the previous Chronicles were a single CD monthly release, these new ones are in the box set format, and looking at the release schedule on the Big Finish website, these are looking like they are going to be an annual release.

The first release is aptly enough a First Doctor box set – a set of four stories told by his companions Susan, Vicki and Steven. The final two stories are linked by being Steven-centric, but thematically the box set seems to deal with the theme of consequences, consequences of action, inaction, and choices made, and over the four stories we experience consequences.

The First story is called The Sleeping Blood by Martin Day – it is told by Susan, and is a rare thing, a story set before An Unearthly Child. Susan (Carole Ann Ford) tells of a time that the Doctor became ill after being infected by an alien plant, and her search for antibiotics to aid his recovery. The TARDIS (which at this point has a functioning Chameleon Circuit!) takes her to a seemingly abandoned medical research facility, unfortunately it is not as abandoned as she would hope. Soldiers are searching for a terrorist known as “The Butcher” who is holding the whole world to ransom with his genetically engineered nanobots. It’s a great morality tale, where is the line between terrorism and idealism? Is killing in the name of the state ever justified? The experiences of this story have a profound effect on Susan and impact the development of her character throughout the TV series.

The Second Story is called The Unwinding World by Ian Potter – it is told by Vicki (Maureen O’Brien) and details the time that she, Ian, Barbara and The Doctor become stranded on a totalitarian world, with the TARDIS taken away, the food drugged to make concentration difficult, inane soulless TV shows to keep the masses entertained, our heroes must expose the lie at the centre of this society in order to retrieve the TARDIS, but is the truth something that the inhabitants want to face? This is an intriguing story, consequences are all over it, the consequences which have lead to the totalitarian society, and the consequences for the citizens once the Doctor and companions bring it down. It’s not a black and white situation, sometimes ignorance may be bliss, sometimes the Doctor may not be actually acting in the best interest of an oppressed population. Intriguing little morality play this one, very much worth a listen.

The Third Story is called The Founding Fathers by Simon Guerrier – it is told by Steven Taylor (Peter Purves). A bit of different take on a historical here, Steven uses a pure historical encounter that he, The Doctor and Vicki had with Benjamin Franklin. Steven is an old man here, he was once King of the planet seen in the TV story The Savages, but abdicated this position, now he recalls his tale to his granddaughter Sida in order to prove to her that the copy of The Doctor’s mind that they have kept since the Doctor visited is actually not the real Doctor and lacks his moral compass. The actual story would have made a great two part historical in the TV series in the 1960’s in which The Doctor uses Franklin’s experiments with electricity to open the TARDIS, which he has inadvertently managed to lock himself out of. Along the way our heroes are involved in intrigue with a woman called Abigail that history has not recorded, is she a Time Agent or something more??? An enjoyable historical, which poses many questions on ethics and morality.

The Final Story is called The Locked Room by Simon Guerrier. Steven Taylor (Peter Purves) is a very old man, it is some years since the events of The Founding Fathers and his granddaughter Sida is now President. Steven has become a recluse and as his obsessive project to build a radio telescope comes to fruition, he summons Sida for its first use, to use it he locks them in a time-locked, lead lined room, for this is no ordinary radio telescope… Steven has managed to track down The Doctor and is planning to bring him to his planet, but Steven has caught up with the Doctor at a crucial point in his timeline – The Doctor is dying. A fabulous ending to the set, it twists and turns all over the place, its a four-hander between Steven, Sida, The Doctor and one other protagonist who to quote River Song: “Spoilers” – you will have to listen to it to find out! A great end to a very good box set, gripping to the last.

So an interesting set, thematically very challenging, it really makes you consider the character’s actions and the consequences they may have, and its great to have the Companion Chronicles back, there is a certain something to their style of story-telling that makes them an integral building block in the diverse tapestry of the Doctor Who canon.

8/10.

Written by Ed Watkinson

SYNOPSIS:

The Sleeping Blood by Martin Day

When the Doctor falls ill, Susan is forced to leave the safety of the TARDIS behind. Exploring a disused research centre in search of medical supplies, she becomes embroiled in the deadly plans of a terrorist holding an entire world to ransom – and the soldier sent to stop him.

The Unwinding World by Ian Potter

Office life is tough, the commute is a grind, nothing works quite as well as you’d like. Vicki seems to remember things being better once, before the little flat. It’s time she put some excitement back in her life. It’s just a shame the Doctor can’t help.

The Founding Fathers by Simon Guerrier

The TARDIS lands in Leicester Square in the summer of 1762. When the Doctor, Steven and Vicki find themselves locked out of the TARDIS, only one man can possibly help them. But the American, Benjamin Franklin, has problems of his own…

The Locked Room by Simon Guerrier

Steven Taylor left the Doctor and the TARDIS to become king of an alien world. But it’s now many years since he gave up the throne and went to live in a cell in the mountains, out of sight of his people. He’s not escaping his past – quite the opposite, in fact. As his granddaughter, Sida, is about to discover…

CAST:

Carole Ann Ford, Maureen O’Brien, Peter Purves, Alix Dunmore, Alice Haig, Darren Strange

Producers: David Richardson & Ian Atkins (The Sleeping Blood)
Script Editor: Jacqueline Rayner
Executive Producers: Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs

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READ OUR WEBCHAT WITH SIMON GUERRIER HERE

As many long time readers of my reviews, posts and Tweets (@CouncillorEd for those of a tweeting bent) I am a bit of a political animal, I love politics. The General Election to me is what the World Cup Final is to a lot of other people, its an event – a stay up all night, get on Twitter and make comments event, an event that matters, because whether we like it or not, whether we see it or not, politics matters. I am left leaning, a social Liberal, I believe in freedom of expression, freedom of the individual to be themselves within a wider society without fear of persecution or prejudice – to quote my Lib Dem Membership card I believe “exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty ignorance or conformity”.

Now dear reader, what is he going on about? This is more like a party political than a review, but please bear with me. I got interested in Politics because of Margaret Thatcher, even at a young age, her dogma felt wrong to me, and this box set reminds me very much of one of her most famous quotes: “They’re casting their problem on society. And, you know, there is no such thing as society.”  The quote chilled me as a teenager, it galvanised me to do something about it, to get involved, because I thought at the time and I think now that we are better than that. Mrs Thatcher would probably approve of the world of Survivors: no state, no society, no one to give “hand-outs” to, just individuals forming their own way, the ultimate expression of the free market unfettered by state intervention, morals or rules, its a broken mirror held up to Britain in 2015, a cautionary tale, a parable about isolationism and extremism. It made me stop and think of what I might be capable of if the rules of society did not apply any more, if I had total freedom to do what I wanted. Being me, I probably wouldn’t have survived too long unless I found somewhere like The Grange and put my efforts into rebuilding society, you see I think we are better than just individuals, we do have an obligation to each other, and we work together better than alone.

So, Survivors Series Two – the world has ended to all intents and purposes; a plague has killed upwards of 95% of the population and small groups are now trying to rebuild some sort of society, but some see this as an opportunity to let out their more extreme sides that were previously held in check.

The box set is made up of four linked stories forming a loose arc about Abby Grant (Carolyn Seymour) trying to find her son Peter, and the inhabitants of The Grange trying to build a network to trade with. But outside the confines of The Grange, of the veneer of a society that still exists, the world has gone to hell…

Part One is called Dark Rain and is written by Ken Bentley. Some months after the plague and the incidents of Box Set One (available HERE with a FREE download of Episode One available HERE) Jackie Burchall (Louise Jameson) and her friend Daniel Connor (John Banks) are on the road, heading towards the West Country. While sheltering from a storm they encounter what they think is a friend in a time of need, but this nearly leads to their demise. What a grim claustrophobic story this is. On the one hand we have Jackie and Daniel forging out on their own, only to be nearly killed by their own naivety, on the other we have Abby (Carolyn Seymour) Greg (Ian McCulloch) and Jenny (Lucy Fleming) – all from the original TV series – looking for Abby’s son Peter. We find out that Jenny is pregnant by Greg, and this plot-line plays out over the remainder of the set. This episode is a stark reminder that SOME people are really only one step away from barbarism and are ruled by short-term self interest, whilst others take a more holistic view – the group slit at the end of this episode. Episodes Two and Three take place at the same time.

Part Two is called Mother’s Courage and is written by none other than Louise Jameson. The group have split into two, the women – Abby, Jackie and Jenny follow a lead to Aberystwyth, Abby’s son Peter has been spotted there, or at least someone very like him. They have also been told of a women only camp near the coast and head towards it. On the way they pick up a young girl in distress called Molly, she has been kept by a group of men in an abusive situation, passed round, raped, used as a toy. Even with her story being as horrific as it is, the world Survivors creates makes the listener uneasy of new characters, even one as sympathetic as Molly, does she have an agenda, is she telling the truth? Extremism seems to be a theme in this story, Molly shows us the absolute worst and basest abhorrent behaviour men may be capable of – in the woman only camp are they any better?

Louise has a great ease of writing, and writes women so well – in fact this episode has no male characters at all. Themes of sisterhood and motherhood stand side by side with hatred, isolationism and fear. Can a society be forged with just one point of view, just one gender, with an extremist in charge? Because the word of Survivors engenders and enables extremists who were bound by society before the plague. I found this episode an interesting metaphor for the upcoming EU referendum; are we better alone, cut off, isolated listening to only one voice, or are we better as part of a collective whole looking out for each other? I know which side I am on. In creating this woman only enclave with their “no men” rule out of the need for safety from the evil that some men are capable of, the Women have become a mirror image of that, have become extremists that will go to appalling lengths to preserve their world view. To say I enjoyed this episode would be a lie, it’s grim and dark and shows the worst of humanity, but appreciate it, oh yes indeed I did, wonderfully written, paced and superbly acted, and chilling to the bone.

Part Three is called The Hunted and is written by Ken Bentley. As the women go in search of Peter Grant, the men – Daniel, Greg and newcomer Russell (Tim Treloar) go in search of a survivalist called Irvin Warner (Tim Bentinck) who is rumoured to be living in the Brecon Beacons. This episode happens at the same time as the previous and like the other is gender specific, this has an all male cast. Daniel is hurt by a bear trap, the men meet up with Warner who is initially suspicious, he is a survivalist, an isolationist, a loner, but has not lost all his humanity and is open to Greg’s offer of forming a link with The Grange and being part of a new society. However, things do not go to plan, an escaped Lion leads our heroes off their chosen path and in to Hereford, and while they are hunting the Lion, something else is hunting them.

Anyone remember the Torchwood episode Countrycide? No, well this is a grimmer, more realistic less camp version of that – our heroes are being tracked and hunted by a group of humans gone feral, who have realised that the rules do not apply to them any more and have seen this as an opportunity to do what they want to do just because they can. Again the question of how far away from barbarism society is raises its head. The story really is horrific and is aided by the fabulous sound design and acting. The sense of rising panic and terror drips from the production as our heroes realise that they have been tracked for a very long time and that the hunters know all about them. Boy this one was hard going – the scary thing is that humans have reason and have chosen to become like this, chosen to become feral beasts because they can, they have made a choice. Chilling

Part Four is called Savages and is written by Matt Fitton. The two strands of the story are reunited in a desperate rescue attempt, an explosive climax to the box set, to give any more away would be spoiling the plot. Jackie’s bond with Molly grows, she sees her a surrogate daughter, they spend time together, even “go shopping” (raid a boutique) for clothes for Molly – whilst the “A” plot of rescuing  Greg’s party from the Savages is in full flow the quieter “B” plot of Jackie and Molly’s relationship bubbles away in the background almost unnoticed a bit of soap opera froth. Of course this being Survivors it is nothing of the sort and leads to the cliffhanger that takes us to Series Three…

Life will out is the message. Society will rebuild, personified in Jenny’s pregnancy – but it will be a tough road taking decades, maybe even centuries, whilst the Survivors cling to the ideals of decency and civilisation in a world where to some these notions do not apply.

Wow, long review, but a very in depth box set covering many complex themes. It’s a deep and thought provoking set and whilst not “enjoyable” in the conventional sense, it is gripping, moving, and morally ambiguous. My one tiny tiny little niggle is that the “good guys” are all nice middle class people where as the “bad guys” seem more “working class” for want of a better description, it’s a very very small gripe in what has been a harrowing and moving box set that will stay with me for a very long time.

10/10.

Written by Ed Watkinson

SYNOPSIS:

It begins with just a few people falling ill. Another flu virus that spreads around the globe. And then the reports begin that people are dying…

When most of the world’s population is wiped out, a handful of survivors are left to pick up the pieces.

Cities become graveyards. Technology becomes largely obsolete. Mankind must start again…

Dark Rain by Ken Bentley
Introducing: Tim Treloar as Russell, Bernard Holley as Ridley.

Months after the plague, storms batter the country. As Abby resumes the search for her son, Jackie and Daniel fight for their lives.

Mother’s Courage by Louise Jameson
Introducing: Fiona Sheehan as Molly.

The search for Peter leads to Aberystwyth, and a community of women who have cut themselves off from the outside world. But what appears to be a safe haven could be nothing of the sort…

The Hunted by Ken Bentley
Introducing: Tim Bentinck as Irvin Warner.

Greg, Daniel and Russell need the help of survivalist Irvin Warner, who is hiding out in the Brecon Beacons. But predators are roaming in the barren countryside too…

Savages by Matt Fitton

Wounded, split apart and fighting for their lives, the survivors discover that survival isn’t everything…

Lucy Fleming (Jenny Richards), Ian McCulloch (Greg Preston), Carolyn Seymour (Abby Grant), Louise Jameson (Jackie Burchall), John Banks (Daniel Connor), Bernard Holley (George Ridley), Tim Treloar (Russell Baines), Chris Finney (Hargreaves/Jenkins), Fiona Sheehan (Molly), Rachel Atkins (Charlotte), Jane Slavin (Jane), Tim Bentinck (Irvin Warner), Allison McKenzie (Patricia Gallagher)

Producer David Richardson
Script Editor Matt Fitton
Executive Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs

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NOTE: Survivors contains adult material and is not suitable for younger listeners.

As many of you may already know I am hardly a fan of Matt Smith; I could (and have on numerous occasions) go on for pages and pages about his unsuitability for the role of The Doctor and how he damaged the brand – but enough of that, been there done that over many years and many posts. The reason I bring Mr Smith up is one particular episode that was almost good, “The Lodger”; it didn’t really have a lot going for it Matt Smith and James Corden together, I ask you!! However, it was a bit of a gem, a fish out of water story, and the highlight (Apart from River Song) of a rather lacklustre Season 5.

The reason I brought “The Lodger” up is this months Fourth Doctor story “Suburban Hell”. On the surface they seem very similar, The Fourth Doctor and Leela trapped in a suburban 1970’s dinner party, Doctor Who meets Abigail’s Party – and for the first half of Part One this is just what we get – social situations. Belinda (for it is her party) moaning about not having any mayonnaise or her husband not making an effort – it’s less dinner party, more social lions den for our unsuspecting guests – Leela trying a Gin and Tonic is hilarious! For 15 minutes or so this story is fab; I could have listened to an hour of social awkwardness, of middle class aspirational middle England being invaded by the force of nature and anarchy that is Tom Baker, I really could. Unfortunately “Suburban Hell” had different ideas…

The cast are uniformly excellent, Katy Wix is wonderful as the hostess come monster (in a very human sense), Belinda, Annette Badland excels as Thelma (from over the road), and as always Tom is on form and Louise is effortlessly wonderful, completely alien, intelligent but not educated and complete instinct. Some of the best parts of the story are formed from Leela making social faux-pas, as I said earlier, if only the whole story was a satire on middle class England in the 1970’s – but it isn’t, it also has a plot regarding an alien invasion that has been in the planning for 40 years – yes dear reader, you guessed it – Time Travel is involved.

Unfortunately it’s Time Travel in a Moffat way, used as a cheat, as a magic wand, as a device to change the future. Now some may enjoy this, but I am more of the Hartnell camp – “you cannot rewrite History, not one line” alternate timelines are really not my thing and ruin what was shaping up (for 15 minutes) to be a bit of a gem. So the alien invasion plot has The Doctor trapped 40 years in the past with Thelma (from over the road) whilst Leela, Belinda and her friend Penny defend the house in a base under siege style story. Leela is really in her element here, taking over as the alpha female, thinking intelligently, rationally and defensively – she has honour and bravery to spare and actually inspires Belinda & Penny to help her (though Belinda seems more concerned about her fixtures and fittings being destroyed). Unfortunately, the plot seems a bit tired and very Nu-Who, or to be specific Moffat Who, and to use the oft used but cringe inducing phrase it has a “timey-wimey” resolution.

A great set up, a great premise which in this reviewer’s opinion could have been a great story, but the unnecessary aliens & time travel plot cheapened the story for me. So more of an own brand Mayo than a Helmans I am afraid 5/10.

Written by Ed Watkinson

SYNOPSIS:

Somewhere in a suburb of North London, there’s a crisis. More than a crisis, a positive disaster: Belinda and Ralph are expecting four for supper, and there’s no Marie Rose sauce for the Prawns Marie Rose. All in all, the evening couldn’t possibly get any worse…

Until the doorbell rings, bringing the Doctor and Leela to the dinner party. They’ve got a crisis, too – temporal ruckage has sent the TARDIS to another time zone entirely. Meaning they might have to endure a whole evening in Belinda’s company.

But the Doctor and Leela aren’t the only uninvited guests tonight. There’s a strange fog falling, out in the road. And in that fog: savage blue-skinned monsters, with dinner party plans of their own. Because it’s not Prawns Marie Rose on their menu – it’s people!

CAST:

Tom Baker (The Doctor), Louise Jameson (Leela),  Annette Badland (Thelma), Katy Wix (Belinda), Alix Dunmore (Penny/Acolyte), Raymond Coulthard (Ralph/Second Acolyte), David Ricardo-Pearce (Pete/Priest).

Producer David Richardson
Script Editor John Dorney
Executive Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs

BUY YOUR COPY HERE

There is an oft used phrase in sport (or so I am told) “It was a game of two halves”, well, obviously yes it was; it is usual in most sports for some sort of half-time break. But stopping being so literal, I can see what this means; the quality, tone and general atmosphere had palpably changed between half one and half two.

This phrase is rather apt for Last of the Cybermen. Last months main range release introduced the idea of future Doctor’s being swapped in time with their former selves and having adventures with past companions a sort of “mash-up” as I described it last month; as I have used that phrase last month, I won’t be using it this month…

So Last of the Cybermen; the Second Doctor is displaced in time with the Sixth Doctor, he stumbles in to the TARDIS to meet an initially doubting Jamie and Zoe, but soon wins them round – after a punch up with Jamie! There are some stories that are good jumping on points for new fans, Talons, City of Death, Rose – Last of the Cybermen is not one of these. It is densely packed with almost 50 years of Cyber Continuity you need to know your Mondas from your Telos, your Glitter Gun from your blaster and your Tombs from your beacons – because this story in part at least tells the story of the last great Cyber War – the humans final assault on Telos armed with Glitter guns. But I am getting ahead of myself. I said earlier that this was a game of two halves, and boy it is.

The first half is almost a retread of Tomb of the Cybermen. The Doctor and his companions are taken to a giant Cyber beacon in the shape of a 500 foot high cyber head and set about opening up the way to the top for the icy cold Zennox (Lucy Liemann) logic gates, electrocutions, traps, counter traps leading too, well that would be telling. It’s very worthy, but in truth rather dull and very much a Tomb retread.

It’s in the second half that thing REALLY start to step up a gear. Set during the final assault on Telos with the Cybermen losing badly to the Humans who have discovered their weakness to gold and developed the Glitter Gun, this is where it really gets going. The stakes really are high, lives are in danger, the full horror of Cyber Conversion is visited, a victim is heard to say “I won’t give you the satisfaction of hearing me scream” before screaming in agony – truly horrific. Its a very clever plot, and unlike lots of TV episodes of Doctor Who that involve Time travel a) makes sense and b) does not cheat.

Colin is just wonderful as always as the Doctor, Frazer is belligerent as Jamie – but the star of this show is the one and only Nick Briggs, who plays not only the Cybermen, but a wonderful character called Lanky (spoilers if I tell you anything about him), so fab was the performance that I didn’t realise it was Nick until I listened to the special features. An interesting story, and again as with last month’s release a bigger picture with a Big Bad hinted at – who is it that is displacing The Doctor in time and why? Hopefully we will get some answers next month…

So, flat and slow for the first half, hitting the ground running and not letting up for the second half. Overall 7/10.

Written by Ed Watkinson

SYNOPSIS:

It’s been ten years since the final assault on Telos, the last act of the Great Cyber War. Thanks to the Glittergun, humanity prevailed – and the half-machine Cybermen were utterly obliterated.

Out on the furthest fringes of the galaxy, however, they left their mark – in the form of a giant Cyber-head, hundreds of feet high. A monument? A memorial? A tomb? The Doctor, the Cybermen’s most indefatigable adversary, sets out to investigate… but he fails to return to his TARDIS. Leaving the Ship, his two companions – brave Highlander Jamie MacCrimmon, and super-intelligent Zoe Heriot – find a stranger in the Doctor’s place. A stranger in a coat of many colours, who insists that he’s the Doctor – transposed in time and space with one of his former selves…

But why here? Why now? Has the universe really seen the last of the Cybermen..?

CAST:

Colin Baker (The Doctor), Frazer Hines (Jamie), Wendy Padbury (Zoe), Lucy Liemann (Zennox), Kieran Hodgson (Findel), Nicholas Farrell (Captain Frank), Nicholas Briggs (Cybermen)

Written By: Alan Barnes
Directed By: Ken Bentley

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If I have one fault, (actually I have many), it’s that I tend to over-think things; follow this if you dare reader! …

In Jago and Litefoot Series 7, Sherlock Holmes is undeniably a fictional character; Messers H & L meet Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who is persuaded to write more stories; with me so far? Anyhow, The Doctor is a real character in the worlds of Jago and Litefoot, Talons, S4, Justice of Jalxar, they interact and have adventures together. Now, if Sherlock Holmes is fictional in Jago & Litefoot & the Doctor is real in Jago and Litefoot, how on earth is Sherlock Holmes real in Doctor Who? Glad I got that off my chest, answers on a tweet to @CouncillorEd.

So my preamble brings me to The Worlds of Big Finish – an epic story spanning aeons, told in six acts, each with a Big Finish hero taking the main role. From a galactic archive in the far future to Victorian London to the roaring 20’s, to modern London to Mars, to the planet Sisyphus 9 – it never lets up. This is Big Finish does The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen or Avengers Assemble – however, this is far far superior to either of these Hollywood offerings for two big reasons – and these should be the considerations for any writer – Number 1: The Characters, and Number 2: The Plot.

So the characters, and what a line up; all related in one way or another to the Doctor, so a genuine genre, spanning, franchise crossing spin off . Abby and Zara from Graceless, Sherlock Holmes, Dorian Gray, Iris Wildthyme, Vienna Salvatori and Bernice Summerfield – could be a crowded list, but they way the story is told is far far cleverer than this – really really clever indeed, in fact there is only a couple of cross overs with characters meeting (Dorian meets Holmes and Vienna meets Bernice) but all the stories are linked by a book, the most important book in creation called The History of Earth Vol 36,279 by Kronos Vad. The device of the book is not just a hook to hang the story on, it’s central to driving the plot onwards.

The epic begins with the Graceless Girls Abby and Zara visiting the Archive (think The Library in Doctor Who) to see an old friend, only they arrive thousands of years too late. People are being killed off due to a cult of “Gomegogue”, it is linked to a book – the book – The History of Earth, which Abby and Zara take back in time for safe keeping, leading to the Holmes adventure, which leads to the Dorian except, which leads to Iris, to Vienna and finally Bernice.

I feel like I should stop now, as I will utterly ruin the story for anyone by giving anything else away – but I can talk about the characters, so well drawn, so rounded. Abby and Zara first appeared in the Fifth Doctor Key 2 Time story, they are flirtatious, feisty and clever. Holmes is played by the fab Nick Briggs – it was my first experience of this version of Holmes and what an interpretation; an older, more world weary take on the great man, semi retired to keep bees, his mind is still as keen as it was but he no longer has the tenacity to pursue a case to the end he once had. I look forward to hearing more from Mr Briggs as Holmes – bought a few of the episodes in the promotion last week, and we have All Consuming Fire to come later this year – Holmes and the Doctor, now that is a crossover!

Alexander Vlahos is a revelation as Dorian Gray; this was my particular favourite section of the epic – dark and mysterious, Vlahos is a seductive, arrogant, braggart as Gray – a true “anti hero” but utterly compelling and (curse you big finish, my wallet hates you!!!) I have purchased the remainder of the Dorian Gray range based on this section alone.

What can you say about the lovely Katy Manning as Iris Wildthyme – as mad as a box of frogs, an intergalactic bag lady with a twinkle in her eye and a gin in her hand! This is the lightest in the series, and a good bit of well-earned comic relief after the first three doom laden episodes (Katy, I am not ignoring Iris in the buying of episodes, already had them).

Vienna Salvatori Bounty Hunter is sassy, sexy and tough as old boots, Chase Masterson plays her as a tough, no nonsense, businesslike, you would not mess with this lady, her section reminded me very much of an episode of Hustle, all casino’s, mob bosses, crosses and double crosses, again (curse you big finish, my overdraft will be growing by the second!!!) I have indulged in some of Vienna’s episodes.

Finally the one and only Bernice Summerfield – the greatest companion of the Doctor we didn’t see on TV; drunk, sarcastic, witty, stupendously intelligent (and holder of the Edward Watkinson chair of Archaeology at Dellah Univeristy, I will have you know!), her story brings all the threads together – the book, the “Gomegogue”, the prophecies – there are so many real “ahhhh” and “ooooh” & “oh that’s what that was!” moments, it’s brilliantly written, paced, edited, acted, and scored – the story is bigger than the sum of its parts – its a true epic that I wish we could see the like of on the BBC in their Doctor Who episodes.

Should you buy it? Absolutely yes, but be prepared to dip in to the worlds of all the other characters as well, get in touch with your bank and extend your overdraft – a great jumping on point for newcomers to the extended world spun-off from Doctor Who.

An epic and engaging 10/10.

Written by Ed Watkinson

SYNOPSIS:

From the streets of Edwardian London to the corridors of a near-infinite library in the distant future, a single book holds the key to the fate of life on Earth.

Some believe it predicts our future – and the apocalypse – with unnerving accuracy. Others will stop at nothing to destroy it, and will chase it from one side of the universe to the other; from a country house in the Roaring Twenties to the casinos of Mars, and from 221B Baker Street to the terrifying desert world of Sisyphus IX…

Featuring Abby and Zara, Sherlock Holmes, Dorian Gray, Iris Wildthyme, Vienna Salvatori and Bernice Summerfield, The Worlds of Big Finish brings together some of Big Finish’s best-loved characters in an adventure spanning thousands of years!

This release includes a fourth bonus disc – Round the Worlds – where director Scott Handcock leads a roundtable discussion with writer and cast about this special adventure, plus a selection of outtakes from recording.

CAST:

Lisa Bowerman (Bernice Summerfield), Nicholas Briggs (Sherlock Holmes), Laura Doddington (Zara), Ciara Janson (Abby), Katy Manning (Iris Wildthyme), Chase Masterson (Vienna Salvatori), Alexander Vlahos (Dorian Gray)

1. Graceless: The Archive

Barnaby Edwards (Romulus Chang), Hugh Skinner (Lucian Theta-Singh), Lisa Bowerman (The Archive), David Menkin (Security Drones)

2. Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Bloomsbury Bomber

David Warner (Mycroft Holmes), Michael Thomson (Alexander Korvo), George Rainsford (Albert Taylor), Katy Manning (Mrs Waters), Terry Molloy (Mr Robins), Barnaby Edwards (Alfred Vandermeer)

3. The Confessions of Dorian Gray: The Feast of Magog

George Rainsford (Evan Morgan), Rebecca Night (Pamela St John-Edwards), Michael Thomson (Alexander Korvo)

4. Iris Wildthyme: Kronos Vad’s History of Earth (Vol. 36,379)

Hugh Skinner (Captain Turner), Katharine Mangold (Jenni Marcel), David Menkin (Zack Hoffman), Barnaby Edwards (Mr Vandermeer), John Dorney (Bridge Controller)

5. Vienna: The Lady from Callisto Rhys

Rhys Jennings (Cage Zorn), Rosanna Miles (Magenta Dotrice), Rebecca Night (Lara Memphis), John Dorney (Rodrigo), David Menkin (Check-In Attendant), Katharine Mangold (Passenger), Terry Molloy (Driver)

6. Bernice Summerfield: The Phantom Wreck

Terry Molloy (Captain Quinn), Rosanna Miles (Selina), Rhys Jennings (Phillips), John Dorney (O’Neill), Katharine Mangold (Jenni Marcel), Barnaby Edwards (Romulus Chang)

This release includes a fourth bonus disc – Round the Worlds – where director Scott Handcock leads a roundtable discussion with writer and cast about this special adventure, plus a selection of outtakes from recording.

Written By: David Llewellyn
Directed By: Scott Handcock

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When Victorian London becomes a comfort zone, what do you do? One idea is to move the action to 1960’s London – big tick, been there done that in Season 5 – so after the events of Series 8, our heroes take a well-earned break. They decide to go on a cruise – and so (ahem!)… My Lords Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce for your enjoyment, entertainment and edification, four tales of the ocean blue, of our daring two, of a cruise of the convivial, ladies and gentlemen, I proudly present… Jago and Litefoot Series 9!

So, four stories, but all very closely linked by a central mystery – taking our heroes away from London, Ellie and Sgt Quick really reinvigorates the characters, the comfort zone and support network are gone and they must make new acquaintances on the voyage in order to survive. Survive you ask? well, yes, as this being Jago and Litefoot this is no ordinary cruise.

Story One is called The Flying Frenchman – it sets the scene, introduces us to the crew and fellow passengers on the cruise, the ship is called the Fata Morgana and our heroes spend time making the acquaintance of fellow passengers, it’s actually quite slow and takes a while to get going, but then a fog appears, the ship stops and becomes becalmed, and they are all alone lost on the ocean. They send away rescue parties in boats, but they return minutes later, having been away for days according to the rescue parties. Soon food begins to run low, and then another ship approaches through the fog, another Fata Morgana from a point further on in time, and then things start to get really strange…

The adventure is a bit slow to get going, but really intriguing when it does and sets the scene of the central mystery of the story – what has caused the strange fog and why is it transporting the Fata Morgana to random locations…

HAYLEY’S THOUGHTS:

It may come as no surprise that my favourite classic series story is The Talons of Weng- Chiang, due almost entirely to the genius combination of Messers Jago & Litefoot – I say ‘almost’ because of the master that is Tom Baker! I’ve been eagerly awaiting Series 9 and the opening episode did not disappoint. I have initial reservations about stories set outside London and the Red Tavern; Ellie and Sergeant Quick feel as integral to the series as our fine protagonists. and the city has almost become the third star. However, new characters are always so well rounded and intriguing that you are immediately engaged and those aboard the Fata Morgana tick all the boxes. The story itself, to echo Ed, is a slow builder, setting the scene and introducing new temporary companions. Once the fog descends and envelopes all the tension builds and our taste for the weird and wonderful starts to become satisfied. Episode 2 had to be heard and as soon as possible…!!

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Story Two is called The Devils Dicemen and is my personal favourite of the set, it is very Jago-centric, you can see it coming a mile off, but it’s all the funnier for it. The Fog has deposited the Fata Morgana in Monte Carlo, Jago and Litefoot decide to visit a local casino, Jago thinks his luck is in as he and ships Purser Aubrey (Jamie Newall) have a winning streak at the casino, as Litefoot befriends Dr Betterman (David Warner). Jago & Aubrey are lured to the Dark Casino by the seductive Madame Diabolique (Miranda Raison) with hilarious and deadly consequences.

A joy from beginning to end, Jago is in full alliterative pompous poltroon mode, his vanity blinding him to the path he is taking, whilst Litefoot plays a quieter more cerebral role in investigating the Dark Casino from another angle. Top stuff!

HAYLEY’S THOUGHTS:

This episode felt detached from the first and took us in another direction, but where it took us was just as thrilling. We’re on our way to a casino, but so is Henry, and I think you can probably guess that our hapless impresario will find himself in deep water. An excellent episode with great characters that shows Jago at his buffoonish and brave best.

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Story Three is called The Island of Death, and basically does what it says on the tin – albeit a Jago and Litefoot shaped tin. The mysterious fog deposits the Fata Morgana on an island, we don’t know where it is, but our heroes decided to investigate – this is a very H G Wells style story, lost island, lost tribe, monsters, all excellent boys own stuff, which could be dull, but with our investigators of the infernal there is never a dull moment, Jago gets to practice his music hall hypnotism act in the most unlikely of situations, the story rattles along at quite a pace and finishes on a cliffhanger which leads us on to story four – oh corks!

HAYLEY’S THOUGHTS:

Michael Palin may well have written an episode of ‘Ripping Yarns’ like this one. You can see the cover of the novella – a French ‘Alan Quatermain’, a society damsel, mysterious savage islanders and the two very English gentleman. But what is the powerful force that terrifies and controls…?

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Story Four is called Return of the Nightmare, it brings together various threads from the three previous stories, what is the fog, how is it generated, why is there a murderous beast loose on the Fata Morgana and how can the situation be resolved? All these questions are answered back in London where our heroes team up again with Ellie the barmaid (Lisa Bowerman) and Sgt Quick (Conrad Asquith) to defeat the nameless horror that the fog brings – proper edge of your seat adventure with the usual banter and bonhomie, and finishes as always with a pint at the Red Taverna and a teaser to lead in to the next series…

HAYLEY’S THOUGHTS:

I know I said I feel slightly less enthusiastic about adventures outside ‘The Big Smoke’ (sorry), but I almost felt sorry when attention turned back to their stomping ground. I was getting used to life aboard the Fata Morgana, grim and unpredictable as it was. Having said that, the voices of Ellie and Sgt Quick made the return home all the more welcome and you felt that with them, a resolution was in sight. So we raced towards it, breathless and anxious, but not quite wanting the adventure to end.

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I loved this series, it was a little slow to get going, but once the first twenty minutes or so were passed, it didn’t let up – Christopher Benjamin and Trevor Baxter are masters at work, their performances seem effortless – why oh why they were not given a spin-off series on TV I will never know – come on BBC, how’s about they meet up with the Paternoster Gang, just one scene, it’s not a lot to ask…

So, cruise of the convivial, voyage of the venerable and again another 10 out of 10 for Messers Jago and Litefoot.

HAYLEY’S THOUGHTS:

Too few episodes!! Yes I do know that sounds ungrateful but I listened to the series in one go, and after waiting so enthusiastically I felt it was over too soon. They certainly packed in a lot of real adventure, peril and humour and it is the best of the series away from their natural home; each episode was a joy. It was wonderful to hear the great David Warner as Dr Betterman in Episode 2 and I do hope they make more of the character in Series 10, which I am anxious to hear. So with that in mind I would like Big Finish to hurry it up a bit; we Jagoists and Litefootists, (for that’s what we are), just can’t wait.

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Written by Ed and Hayley Watkinson

SYNOPSIS:

The Flying Frenchmen by Jonathan Morris

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?

The Devil’s Dicemen by Justin Richards

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.

Island of Death by Simon Barnard and Paul Morris

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?

Return of the Nightmare by Justin Richards

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.

CAST:

Trevor Baxter (Professor George Litefoot), Christopher Benjamin (Henry Gordon Jago), Conrad Asquith (Inspector Quick), Lisa Bowerman (Ellie), Jamie Newall (Aubrey), David Charles (Captain Mercer), Sarah Badel (Lady Isobelle Danvers), David Warner (Dr Luke Betterman), Miranda Raison (Madame Diabolique), Dan Starkey (Neville Tibbs), Anthony Howell (Victor Bataille), Jonathan Coy (Fowler)

Written By: Jonathan Morris, Justin Richards, Simon Barnard, Paul Morris
Directed By: Lisa Bowerman

Producer David Richardson
Script Editor Justin Richards
Executive Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs

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Half an hour really isn’t a long time to tell a story, you have to be concise and frugal while creating a believable world. This months Short Trips does all of these.

The King of the Dead is the latest Short Trips release, bite-sized slices of Who, talking books told by one of the actors of the era. This months release is the fifth release of the year, so is a Fifth Doctor story, set between Earthshock and Time Flight, I assume this as Tegan is still trying to get home and there is no Adric. The TARDIS actually materialises in the right time in the right place for once, 1980’s London, so far so not typical – but they have materialised in the middle of the hottest ticket in town – The King of the Dead, an interactive play, partly improvised, partly acted, where the audience wear masks. This story is at the case of the chickens coming home to roost, of events years before that the Doctor wasn’t even party to effecting the here and now, it is a revenge story, a tragedy – a real study of the effect of loss and the establishments attitude to it, sometimes a stiff upper lip isn’t the best way to deal, sometimes there should have been another way.

Sarah Sutton really brings this story to life doing reasonable impersonations of Davison and Tegan – but the magic of this story is that even though it is so short, it pulls you in and genuinely involves and intrigues you so it seems longer than it actually is.

A very worthy addition to the Short Trips range, not quite a King, but definitely an heir apparent 8/10.

Written by Ed Watkinson

SYNOPSIS:

When the Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan arrive in 1980s London, they find the current hot ticket is The King of the Dead, an interactive theatre experience they’ve inadvertently become part of. The Doctor settles into his usual role – trying to save the day after discovering an alien presence – but it’s Nyssa who finds herself dealing with someone who is working from a different script entirely…

CAST:

Sarah Sutton (Narrator)

Written By: Ian Atkins
Directed By: Lisa Bowerman

Producer Michael Stevens
Script Editor Michael Stevens
Executive Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs

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The first season of Fourth Doctor adventures from Big Finish is coming to BBC Radio 4 extra later this month.

The season begins with Destination Nerva from 2012, which brings together Tom Baker and Louise Jameson in a story written by Nicholas Briggs.

After saying their goodbyes to Professor Litefoot and Henry Gordon Jago, the Doctor and Leela respond to an alien distress call beamed direct from Victorian England. It is the beginning of a journey that will take them to the newly built Space Dock Nerva… where a long overdue homecoming is expected.

The series starts on Radio 4 extra on Saturday 16th May at 6pm. Radio 4 extra can be heard globally on the BBC iPlayer.

When I was younger, in the 1980’s, I was an avid reader of 2000 AD – not so much for Judge Dredd, but for Strontium Dog. Strontium Dog was the derogatory term for mutants who took on the job of Bounty Hunters, and the hero of the comic strip was Johnny Alpha. His mutation if I remember correctly was something to do with his eyes – anyhow, there was one Strontium Dog story that stuck with me, it was called The Killing. So famous was this story that it even had a spin off ZX Spectrum game. In the Killing, combatants enter an arena and pick each other off until only one remains, the tension in this particular story was that Johnny Alpha’s best friend Wulf Sternhammer was also a contestant…

It’s a story that has been told many times. The latest big screen version is probably The Hunger Games, a similar theme and a similar outcome, and now this month’s Fourth Doctor release from Big Finish enters this arena (sorry) of story telling with Death Match.

Following on from last month’s story, Leela has been kidnapped by The Master and fights as his champion in the Death match. The match itself is entertainment for oligarchs, criminals and the super-rich and their champions fight each other for their sponsors entertainment. The Doctor is summoned by Marshall (he from last months Rocket Men story), he is looking for Leela and the trail leads to the Quarry Station and the Death Match. The games have recently come under new management and the new manager is none other than The Master, played with oily charm by Geoffrey Beevers and into this comes the Fourth Doctor, all moral outrage and crusading zeal, very reminiscent of his persona in the early Hinchcliffe era rather than my preferred “boggle eyed loon” version. If you have seen The Hunger Games, you pretty much know what to expect, the this here being that the Doctor, Leela and her romantic lead Marshall are all involved in the arena, and it really really does not end well.

It’s a very safe story, not really breaking any new ground using a tried and tested basis for the story, one that listeners will be familiar with. It’s workmanlike, but will never set the world alight. That’s not to say it doesn’t have its moments, and as usual (I seem to be saying this most months) it is Louise Jameson that shines. Her range is stunning, she lends the situation true urgency, sadness, rage and a sense of loss – because after all the gun-ho battling, the final few minutes are an emotionally charged, seldom seen (or heard) venture into new Who territory of love and loss.

Overall, not a Match of the day, more of a mid-table clash. 6/10.

Written by Ed Watkinson

SYNOPSIS:

The Death-Match is under new management. The Hunt Master’s Champion has been installed. All regular players are welcomed back to the Pursuit Lounge to observe the contest in luxurious surroundings. Privacy is assured. For this reason we ask our elite guests to abide by the strict security protocols. Please note, the house has no limits.

In the Gallery, your combatants can be observed on the orbiting Quarry Station. A purpose-built environment filled with deadly traps and hidden dangers. Prizes are offered for every kill, with bonuses for rogue elements. Only an elite hunter can survive the End-Game. Do you have a worthy champion? Kill or be killed: the only rule of the Death-Match…

CAST:

Tom Baker (The Doctor), Louise Jameson (Leela), John Leeson (K9), Geoffrey Beevers (The Master), Susan Brown (Kastrella), Andy Secombe (Vargrave)

Written By: Matt Fitton
Directed By: Nicholas Briggs

Producer David Richardson
Script Editor John Dorney
Executive Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs

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