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 | A trip down memory lane.... |
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| What: | Memory Lane (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 5 April 2008 |
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| Rating: |   9 |
Im so glad that Paul Mcgann was okay to return to the role of the eigth doctor in audio. He really gives brilliant performances. He seems to me to be the most laid back of all the doctors, taking everything in his stride. And therefore makes a suitable own style for his doctor. And its even better when he gets given great scripts!
Memory Lane is a great and interesting idea to say the least. There is a whole street as a prison, for a person who really actually hasnt done anything wrong at all. Mawvik should have had said more than just one line though, the only downpoint in this otherwise excellent story. Strong character performances and strong production all along the way guarantee a great story. A great first script from Eddie Robson, a great new doctor who writing find! This story actually never loses gravitas as it goes on, the suspense and intrigue is kept up right til the very end of the story. This is yet another very good outing from big finish!
| What: | Red (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 5 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
There always was the people and viewers of the classic series who thought that at times doctor who was too violent. Poppycock. Compared to todays standards most doctor who violence pales in comparison to many a horror movie or normal everyday soap or something. But this story is a brilliant exploration of a pertinent and worthy subject. And as it is Stewart Sheargold's first script for a doctor who, it is formidable to say the least.
This story really has a papable sense of menace ringing right through it. From the exploration of the effects of violence in a controlled society. This is so well presented and explored as to be one of the most memorable audio stories from big finish in quite a long while. Add to that Sly Mccoy being excellent in his performance of the Doctor yet again. And i dont think his rolling "r"s are that annoying. Maybe im just weird though.
Bonnie Langford is back again on fine form as Mel. Boy i love Melanie Bush, this story proves that she can be a great character, even though she always was in my book. Then there are the great supporting actors as well. John Stahl as WHitenoise is memorable as the potty and slightly disturbed computer.
I suppose you would call this story a real psycho-drama, a dramatic exploration of real and important subjects. Violence really does get you nowhere at the end of the day. This story comes highly recommended from me.
| What: | Davros (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 4 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
If stories like this one had been put on screen at the turbulent times during Colin Baker's tv reign as the doctor, then it may not have even had to go through that 18 month cut. It would have grown in popularity instead of dwindling down to nothing, even though really Colin's period had some of the best action scenes ever in the history of doctor who. If only Lance had been there and written Davros for the season!
Terry Molloy is excellent as Davros, an intense and gripping performance from a fine actor.
And Wendy Padbury is nice too. Great to hear her again after so long i can tell you. Great that she doesnt scream the place down though. Here she is tough and even a bit catty.
Bernard Horsfall aint all bad either. This is a thrilling piece of Doctor who. An intense drama centred around one of the biggest gits ever in Doctor Who. Davros is mental and disturbed to the core of his soul.
Colin Baker needs no intro for this story either. He's as brilliant and solid as ever facing off again one of his greatest enemies. The anniversry year for big finish productions really did turn out some cracking good stories. The villains trilogy is the finest trilogy of stories ive ever heard in my life.
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| The return of Tegan...ye hee! |
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| What: | The Gathering (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 4 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Janet Fielding was always a favourite of mine. PlAYING such a feisty air stewardess with a wicked sense of humour but also a great sense of compassion. She isnt and never was just a mouth on legs, she was a great companion. And here is her final and yet triumphant return to the world of Doctor Who. Janet was never an actress who pansied around, always delivering a fine performance even if the stories were rubbish, she always grabbed the bull by the horns and made me like her very much indeed on screen. So here she is notably older and a lot wiser and yet again Janet is exceptional in a fine character piece. I cant believe she never actually in interviews seems to have overly loved doing Doctor Who, but she is so great in the role and she must have liked it a bit to have stayed for over 2 years!
This is very emotional and definitely better than many of the family oriented new series tales. Tegan having a brain tumour is shocking and unexpected too. All those years of time travel have talen their toll on her, but she still keeps on plodding on. Pity she wont be back again in the future. This is a wonderfully crafted story from Joe Lidster yet again. The big finish scene is so brilliant even still.
| What: | Frozen Time (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 4 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
There is one thing about big finish productions-way out happenings that are presented very realistically and you still believe all that is going on. Here it is the fact that the Doctor has been frozen for centuries, and still survives the ordeal. He must have the constitution of an ox or two at the very least. Yet another fresh and imaginative idea in an exciting tale with the long overdue return of the ice warriors.
Nick Briggs really impresses as Lord Arakssor, giving a fine nasal performance to a nasty git of a warrior. Really in the same vein as Azaxyr in the monster of peladon. Nick Briggs always could do brilliant voices.
Sylvester Mccoy doesnt need much of an intro in this one. His acting as usual is excellent, i love the cocoa scenes with Maryam D'abo, totally cool. Im not very happy that Maryam isnt going to be a companion. One in a long line of great one off characters that should have been a companion. She shines even better than she did in Bond all those years ago. I love her voice.
And the rest of the actors involved are pretty good in all. And this is a gripping sci fi yarn with everything a doctor who tale needs to make it great. Nick Briggs has set a tale in the harshest of environments, and you really feel like youre their in the antartic. Its very atmospheric and gripping. More of these types of story please...
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| Explosive finale for Charley.... |
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| What: | The Girl Who Never Was (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 4 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
I love the harking back to the past with the brilliant sounding cyber planner. I love the Invasion especially for the cyber planner, and to hear it strong and alive again lovingly recreated by big finish is a cool thing to behold indeed. And the cybermen are as moronic as ever. here they really are rusty and loopy in a tale that is a fine end to the first chapter of Charley's life with the doctor. India Fisher really seems to give her all in a great story. ALan Branes delivers a really good tale. This to me actually even feels a little bit like a fairy tale with many elements that make up the best of them. Poor old Charley gets taken over by the cyber planner! And the resolution of the doc's and charley's relationship is nice too. They never hated each other did they. Its just that everyone has arguments. Just glad this story ends on a very high and emotional note indeed...
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| Ah man, this is wicked!!! |
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| What: | The Dark Husband (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 4 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
The opening scenes of this particularly comedic play are hilarious but not too over the top as to be totally rediculous. So the good old Doc is put back together with Ace and Hex for a memorable tale. In which the Doctor very nearly gets married to Ace. Man, the flow of ideas in some of these big finish adventures is cool to say the very least.
The Doctor and his companions arrive on the planet Tuin, and there has been a war going on for centuries between the two races in the story. But this is not just a silly little tale of the Doc tying the knot. This is the story of a planet making kit that has gone very very wrong indeed.
Oh boy some parts of this story are a hoot, like The One Doctor and Bang Bang a Boom. David Quantick delivers a cracking good story that never stops and never plods along. And then theres the great voice of the planet too. Creepy and atmospheric. Enough serious moments to stop the comedy being too much of a pain, a perfect balance of humour and suspense and action.
I for one love the many great comedy moments in Doctor Who. Some are very funny and some are light hearted relief. Somehow this cool story manages to be both at the same time. This is what i want to hear more of from the great guys at big finish. I am also glad that this story is not packed so tightly into 25 minute episodes, a chance for real character development again at last. You really dont know whose side to be on in this tale. It would have been great if the Doc had indeed got married to Ace, but the story is so brill that it makes this one expected thing pale into insignificance. I would definitely recommend this story to anyone. The big finish crew are still bringing in great writers who deliver stories of very high quality indeed.
Philip Olivier also gets to do a bit more as well, and impresses as Hex, with his nsot covered hair and all that. You can tell that Hex really has the hots for Ace cant you? It isnt a crime to let this interest develope....
Sophie Aldred is also as sure and solid and reliable as Ace. I love her line: I am brave! Cracking up moment again there!
Sylvester McCoy again is excellent as the Doctor, and he seems to really like this story for his acting is great. He is still my favourite audio Doctor. And if i needed a story to showcase the talents of this fine actor, then it would be The Dark Husband.
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| Not the best, not the worst.... |
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| What: | Singularity (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 4 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
I think the main reason Singularity suffers as a story on the whole is Turlough once again being relegated to doing basically nothing at all through the whole story. Mark Strickson deserves far better than just being a bad tempered school boy all the flipping time. Singularity would have been excellent had it not been for the woeful presentation of Turlough. What is usually called a run around for the character is all that i can think of to say for him. But the story is not all bad though by a long chalk...
The setting of Russia is different, and the aliens are rather soulless and and balck hearted and evil. And they are given a good voice too for once! And of course Peter Davison is good, even though for the first two parts of this story even the Doc doesnt seem to do much except walk around places talking and not doing much at all. But their are enough good scenes to prevent this story from being a total wash out. Please though, if you ever have Mark back again Big Finish, then please present with a script with at least something exciting to do. He is still one of the biggest missed opurtunities as a companion...
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| Not half as bad as many make out..... |
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| What: | Terror Firma (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 4 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
I really dont know why so many people find this story either badly scripted or badly acted. I for one am going to give my thoughts on this story. After all, it would have had to have had at least something going for it to be labelled the best story of 2006! And i do have some observations to make that are actually brilliant and not pathetic about this story...
If you have half a mind the story isnt half as all over the place as some make out. I for one think Terry Molloy returns as Davros supremely well in this dark tale of lies and manipulation. We get to see him really flipped in this story. Brilliant acting by Terry for a start.
Then Paul McGann gets a more personal tale for a change, having been manipulated into forgetting his companions of the past. Paul really was let down by only doing the movie on screen.
And we see very very decent performances from all other members of the cast. We see India Fisher and Conrad Wetsmaas shining as Charley and C'rizz for start. Especially we get to hear a darker and deeper side to C'rizz, which made me gulp the first time i heard this story.
And the daleks for once are not badly utilised, although this is essentially another Davros story, but the daleks are as cold and clinical as they ever were. Joseph Lidster has indeed delivered a great script here then. This is fast paced and yet not ecletic at all, twists and turns all along the way keep you guessing from the word go. And the green cover is well designed, gives of a feel of the good old days of metal corridors and nasty little aliens roaming around.
So I must be an idiot saying that this story is highly entertaining, but i dont care! Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and this is mine thats all!!!!
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| The misunderstood boy is back........... |
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| What: | Omega (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 4 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Arc of Infinity first showed us a different side to Omega, after the raving lunatic we first found in The Three Doctors, and Omega gievs another new perspective on an interesting adversary. He is not wholly evil like the daleks or cybermen, he has just been driven mental by being locked in an alternate universe for centuries. I think this would drive anyone potty after a while.
But this story is clever and very entertaining to say the least. The cliffhanger to episode three is imaginative and unexpected, giving a very neat little twist to the whole tale. Really the Doc aint even in it til the end of the third episode, what a flipping cool script this story is. Ian Collier is back on very good form as Omega, plagued by schizophrenia. And the Doc has made a mistake as well, a bit of role riversal for change. A fresh new adventure which gives the character of Omega more depth and believability in a fine script from Nev Fountain. Peter Davison is excellent too. Altogether, this is deserving of a place amoung the classic Doctor Who tales.
| What: | Legacy of the Daleks (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Trevor Smith, Nottingham, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Wednesday 2 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
Its all here, The 8th doctor, Susan Forman, the Daleks & guests in a action pact, thrilling adventure. Recommended
| What: | The Trial of a Time Lord (BBC classic series videos) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Wednesday 2 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
I am here to state my personal views on the sixth Doctor as a whole. For a start, Colin is nowhere near the worst doctor. In fact, for his performance on screen, he is one of the most unpredictable and alien like personas. I for one think Colin was a class Doctor.
The Trial Of A Time Lord has been looked upon very unfairly i feel on the whole. I am not one of those who thinks this story is a monumental waste of time for a start. I actually still call this my favourite Doctor Who story ever, and that includes the new series too. Here in this 14 part mammoth tale there is plenty to enjoy.
The Mysterious Planet kicks of the story very finely indeed. Another great yarn from Robert Holmes. Sadly to be his last for the show, but no better story to finish on in my view. Right the good things: Tony Selby is brilliant as Glitz for a start, a real comic character. Glen Murphy aint bad as Dibber either on that matter. And the robot is my favourite of the entire series of doctor who, very well designed and realised. And the story itself is fresh and full of the usual Rob Homes funny dialogue and one liners. And the usual memorable and strong characters along the way too. So, the first four episodes are highly watchable and excellent for lovers of cool tv.
And then we get our teeth into Mindwarp, the sequel to Vengeance On Varos. This story disproves the theory that sequels never quite live up to the originals. Mindwarp is a strkingly visual part of Trial, and the mentors themselves are very well designed and refreshed in this story. Brian Blessed delivers a fine performance as Yrcanos, a brilliant character again. The performance by Nicola Bryant is excellent too, a fine last hurrah on the screen in a truly memorable final scene, a shocking surprise in many ways. Colin Baker is excellent too, a masterful end to episode eight, shows us there is still the vulnerable side to the sixth doctor, the hardest of all the doctors.
Terror of The Vervoids is pure class. Well, you only need very good sets, well designed monsters, i cant see any cauliflower on the vervoids. Utter nonsense. The performances are solid and believable too, with many of the special guest stars impressing. Bonnie Langford actually makes a great debut as Mel, not shoddy like ive seen and heard about her performances recently. An assured performance, a good and decent amount of plot for her too, being the detective amoungst other things. A brilliant and stylish 3rd parter.
Time Inc brings the brilliant story to a fast paced and memorable end. Tony Selby is back again as Glitz, giving a brilliant performance yet again. And the great return of Anthony Ainley as the Master. A fine performance as per usual. Colin Baker and Michael Jayston face off memorably in a cool finale. So these are the brilliantly cool parts of the story, cant fault this story in any way.
And it always seems the mammoth dr who tales dont drag either, the soundtrack of the Daleks Master Plan is excellent and well paced, the War Games is a masterful piece of work, and here the trial of a time lord is suitably paced so as not to appear lagging or lacklustre, and plenty of fresh elements. Not just a rehash of old who at any rate, unlike the woeful Voyage of The Damned. This is imperial television.
| What: | Millennium Shock (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | Mike Harrison, Los Angeles, United States |
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| Date: | Tuesday 1 April 2008 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
I have to say Millemium Shock was a great read!, I love the idea the 'monsters' of the book where half human, half machine and a little bit of snake!. Justin Richards never ceases to amaze me with the amount of action he puts into his books this has everything from car chases (invloving the Doctor in a tank) to rather scary operations and a nail bitting finish. The Charecterisation was amazing with the 4th Doctor being almost off the wall yet slightly serious and Harry Sullivan always being the rather pesimistic companion!
all in all a great read!
My hunt through my local library led me to find this gem of Who lore. The idea of a temporal paradox is fascinating and when the details of the paradox are revealed it sent shivers down my spine. In grand Who tradition, this story features awful visual effects, bad makeup and costumes and amazing scripts and above average acting. True the Daleks are not the highlight of this episode but if they had not been listed in the title I might never have seen this.
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| A very good story indeed... |
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| What: | The Last (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 28 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
The Last is a fantastically grim and thought provoking tale. A nuclear winter on the planet of Bortresoye. Carolyn Jones really plays Excelsior brilliantly. She is a horrible and cold hearted snake of a character, fully encapsulating all that is bad about warfare. A fine performance from Carolyn. And India Fisher gets to be more vulnerable than ever when Charlie is apparently left paralysed from a roof fall in. The Doctor's optimism really is pushed to breaking point in this story. This has the feel of a tense and gripping drama of emotion. Conrad Westmaas is great in his portrayal of C'rizz too. The last hope of a whole world that has been destroyed by one bomb dropping. Madness has set in to say the least. And the few survivors live in a bunker a mile underground, yes, i can see why that would make people loopey. Very well written stuff.
| What: | Project: Twilight (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 28 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
I really like horror stories that are more stories than just blood and guts. And in this tale you get an exploding body, but the story is strong too. That scene is really gross. Evelyn commenting about never having flesh in her handbag is a gross and over the top piece of dialogue, yuck. But still flipping entertaining too. Another take on the vampire tale. Poor old Cassie, she didnt stand a chance really did she? And that Nimrod is a nasty piece of work too isnt he? and Reggie Mead needs to take a chill pill too. And Maggie Stables is great as Evelyn again. and the little hint of the future when the good old doc starts singing the zagreus nursery rhyme in his head. Chilling prequel to Project Lazarus.
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| Flip Flop only has its ups... |
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| What: | Flip-Flop (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 28 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
This is such a clever outing for big finish. You can listen to the black or white dic first, now isnt that clever? Well, i think its clever. Its all about a time loop you see. The poor old doc and mel get themselves into trouble on the planet Puxatornee, what with the sluggy slithergees and the radicals intent on changing their own history. Personally i listen to the black disc first, but thats just my preference. Either way, you get a witty and engaging little tale from Jonathan Morris, none of the let downs of Bloodtide are present in this outtake. This is just a cool and different tale that shows how great the big finish doctor who scene is...
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| A pig of a story? No way! |
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| What: | Year of the Pig (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 28 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
This is where Doctor Who is unbeatable. What you do is get a great leading actor, in this term Colin Baker, then you get a great female actress as companion, hereby Nicola Bryant, you put these two with the likes of Michael Keating and Maureen O'Brien and finally round it off with Adjoa Andoh playing a nurse for a pig. And hey presto, you get the perfect story. Matthew Sweet really has done it on this, his debut script for big finish. May he bring more very soon. I had no problem with the dialogue in this story, after all, in 1913 i should think the language was a tiny bit more archaic. You get real character development for once as well. Really deep plotting and character isms that you pick up on and relish right from the start. And the meat falling from the sky was an unexpected disgusting moment too, if this was visual it would probably make me feel sick. Having steak all over the beach, yuck! The story steadily gathers pace and momentum, without being tedious and dull. This is yet another one of the filmic feel doctor who adventures, a little inspector morse mystery if you like. Where for once no one is really evil, just misled and not understood properly. This story comes with a highly recommended note from me. Paul Brooke is easily one of the best actors in the last 15 or so audio stories, and he really gets his teeth into playing Toby the sapient pig. Love the Doctor saving the inspector in the sea bit too, really great acting from Colin on this one. Peri almost being steamed to death is a nice little ending to part one too. Nice that there is a genuine happy ending to this story, all rather like a fairytale, but with not so much stupid big bad wolf to blow the house down, just confused memories that need rearranging. A great new direction for the audio adventures of doctor who.
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| ARGHH, THE MUSICAL NASTY... |
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| What: | Nocturne (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 28 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
"A human settlement on the planet Nocturne, theres a war on and been going on for a long time" so remarks the doctor upon arriving on Nocturne. When isnt there a war with man involved might i ask? ALways so many of the useless battles around every day of our lives. We seem unable to break away from the hell of wars. And yet there is still some nice people left in the universe though. The Doc says Nocturne is one of his favourite places ever, a new idea. I dont the doctor has ever been to somewhere wholly because he likes it so much before. He never did get to Florana! But instead he arrives in Glassed City where all is not well as usual. A tune is on the loose. A tune that isnt very good at all. A tune that kills. And the doc is in a race against time to stop this new menace. Yes, Dan Abnett is right in his writing of the villain in this one, music can make you emotional and detached or alive and ecstatic! And so to turn this into a nasty little tune is a great thought. And then there is the slighly hot headed Oburst Renney, a great character with lots of attitude. really i love strong female characters. No tv or film or audio story would be any good without at least one strong female character in it. Theres Ragpole with his diabolical poetry too, a ha ha moment, and theres Will Alloran, the summing up of all that is wrong about war. And the nasty little greedy brother in Lomas Alloran too. Greed really does get you nowhere at all. All things considered then , i guess you could say i flipping enjoy this great play. A strong script yet again from dan Abnett, thankfully with no colourful language this time. A fine piece of storytelling. Sylvester Mccoy is ace as the doc again, and both Phil and Soph are on top form too.
| What: | Exotron (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 28 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
This has an echo of Arrangements for War, which is good for me. An echo without being a bland repeat so to say. This story is brilliant to say the least. The Farakosh are not evil, just another miunderstood alien race who are being hurt by man's stupidity yet again. But this is a real and every day thing in the real world, so no stupid views come out in this tale whatsoever. Peter Davison works so well when facing off against Nick Brimble as Major Taylor. A great piece of scripting from Paul Sutton. Yet again this is a small story in a massive backdrop, a hallmark of Paul Sutton it seems, but by no means is it a bad hallmark. No, this gives a more cramped and fast pace to the dialogue and characters involved. This story races along with plenty of enguaging ideas to keep you awake along the way. The big finish team are still on their 98% brilliance role, no bad stories have come along for a long while now, which is brilliant. I love Doctor Who and Urban Myths sums up all i love about the series. It feels like a tales of the unexpected romp, so cool and clever as the bonus one part story. The one part stories big finish have done recently on 100 and Circular Time and on ID and this story and the wishing beast are all highly regardable and flipping excellent i can tell yer. Big finish can you just do some for the seventh and eighth doctors now please?!!
