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 | This is history with reality... |
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| What: | The Settling (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 20 March 2008 |
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| Rating: |  10 |
This would be very very intense on screen, its dark and haunting enough on disc. This really is a trip back to the full wastefullness and horror of war. And add the Doctor having to deliver a baby then this all combines to make a totally rivetting and surprisingly dark historical. This is an easy hartnell echoer, like a modern day Massacre Of St Bartholomews Eve. And Hex thought he was doing the right thing and ends up making a big mistake. Time travel isnt all about fun and games at all here. There are real consequences. This is not a protracted or boring history lesson at all. It is a well acted, well scripted adventure that brings history to life, with a ring of rawness and emotional intensity that is not usual in Doctor Who. Simon Guerrier is a class writer. Sylvester Mccoy leads a brilliant cast, and Clive Mantel is a great choice of actor for Oliver Cromwell. A strong play that leaves you with a lot to think about...
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| This is an interesting style... |
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| What: | Live 34 (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 20 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
This tale is really different in style and feel. The big finish team and the writers do really convince me that this is a radio broadcast from the endangered colony 34. This play is really raw and intense, with quite a reality ringing from it. This doesnt sound much like an alien planet romp, this soundslike everyday radio to me, what with murders and fuel crises and radical gangs being all over the news and radios every minute of the day. Add the doc and ace and hex to the mix and you do still get the resonating feel of a doctor who epic. This is quite something this play. This is one of the better big finish "quirky" tales i can tell you all!
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| This is the best piece of drama.... |
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| What: | Arrangements for War (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 20 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
There is the somewhat quite common blame the Doc for being an alien and not as emotional ring to the opening of this tale, but even this doesnt detract from this tale being my favourite big finish outing ever.
Maggie Stables and Gabriel Woolf just sound so great together. There is real believability in the scripting and the emotion that rings out from these two. The Doctor and Evelyn's wall is tall and choking too, with the Doctor's sadness really hitting home hard. Colin gives his finest performance, especially in the final episode after the death of Kristina and Marcus. This is such a moving scene, rare and yet not over the top emotion ringing out.
And the story as a whole has the feel of Romeo and Juliet but i dont care. This is such a decent and thoruoghly enjoyable play that doesnt stop for breath right from the word go. This is primetime drame that even the Mums will like. This story really is a powerful statement on all things war. Packed with the usual warmongers and princesses but without monotony.
It really is sad that this is only an audio play. Im just grateful theyve had the sense to do it on disc at any rate. This is the best Doctor Who story ive ever seen or heard. Only No Mans Land is joint with this for power and impact. Take your monster romps away, this is the kind of storytelling i want to hear and see more of...
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| A sequel that IS better than the orig!!! |
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| What: | Project: Lazarus (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 20 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Project Twilight was gritty and engaging, with class performances from Maggie and Colin all the way. A real emotional ride.
But im afraid Project Lazarus is far better and far more grittier. This is a story that has it all. Great plot, great performances, creepy score, creepy happenings. And yet again Maggie impresses as Evelyn Smythe, a great companion if ever there was one. Colin Baker and Sylv McCoy sound brilliant together too. This story is packed with entertainment. There is plenty of great character build up in this story too. This is a rare case of the sequel being better than the original. Nitty gritty with a sad ending to part two. Great acting in these final scenes at Cassie's death. A real shame, she was another great missed chance for a companion. But I love the hint that even this is not the end of the Forge or Nimrod, such a great ending. What other disgusting things can one idiot do? I'll be sure glad to wait and see...
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| Keep your brain in check.... |
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| What: | Something Inside (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 18 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Why is the big finish range so good? Evenw riters who have written before just keep on churning out tale after tale packed with new ideas and fresh plots with neat little twists and great acting. The big finish team always seem to know who to get to write a certain kind of tale. For chilling you get Rob Shearman, for character pieces you get Joe Lidster, for history you get Steve Lyons, and for big things of the mind you get Trev Baxendale. And this has to be one of the best stories of his in the entire universe.
This story really actually does feel claustrophobic and cramped in a little confined space with not much hope of escape for once. A little remiscent of The Last, but with no direct and copied links at all. The Brain worm sounds flipping cool and fresh too i can tell yer. And Paul McGann is particularly great with this acting in this one i can tell yer. And India Fisher is great as ever as the cool Charley. And all the supporting acts are pretty good in all. SO this happens to be another great story from a great company. They dont know when or even how to stop churning out brilliant stories that make the new tv series pale into insignificance.
| What: | Time Works (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 18 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Steve Lyons is one of those writers whose stories may not be the grandest or most mind blowing, but they certainly are involved and definitely worthwhile pieces of storytelling.
Steve works when he's writing futuristic tales just as good as when he writes historicals. Steve has always had the knack. He should be allowed to write a story for the new series I say. After all, he is one of best writers of Doctor Who ever, second or third maybe to Robert Holmes.
ANd so here we have a stab at a time piece i suppose you would call it. People frozen in time with clockwork men, not the same as the girl in the fireplace by the way, but still just as exciting! This tale has all the elements that make up the best of the big finish range. A fresh new idea with plenty going for it. This makes the tale very good indeed. The acting is very good too on this story.
| What: | Pier Pressure (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 18 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
A dark tale.
A great part played by Doug Bradley, not quite as gross as Pinhead, but still memorable actually in my opinion.
And Maggie Stables and Roy Hudd sound so great together, just as she did in Arrangements For War with Gabriel Woolf, she seems to hit it off with older guys.
Comedy is at the forefront of this story, but like The One Doctor doesnt mean the story is rubbish in the slightest. For a start, theres still some good horror moments interspersed between great character pieces. This would have been another good stage play i think. The characters are cool and this story on the whole is flipping excellent stuff.
Colin Baker doesnt need any more comments either, he's just a great Doctor. All elements put together make this story another success for the big finish team...
| What: | Renaissance of the Daleks (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 18 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
I dont know what it is about this tale but i just love it to pieces. for a snapshot of who as it was, with decent plot and not too many recycled elements this story really does have a lot going for it. Apart from the new zero room, i cant actually see any recycled ideas at all. Chris Bidmeads stories for the original series were involved and interesting too. And this dalek tale is packed with cool moments.
This has the feel of a film too, the first few earth scenes are particularly impressive, and the toy daleks are a neat new idea. And the Graylish sounds like a great new find in the..well i wouldnt say monster. But not an ally either. I like it when some parts of the story are left largely unexplained, it gives you room to use your imagination. So once again everyone is on fine form too. The hoparound from place to place works in this story for once, and doesnt become laboured at all. Chris Bidmead always knew how to write great stories, and i disagree with most people that this is rubbish. I think it is class!
| What: | Minuet in Hell (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Sunday 16 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
This story is longer than The SPectre of lanyon moor, but the 43 minute first episode is not boring in the slightest, and neither does the tale peter out as it goes along. In fact, it just keeps on building up menace and momentum until a great end, with the good old Brig again saving the day. Paul Mcgann and Nick Courtney sound great as a team in their scenes together. Nick Courtney always was a favourite of mine. Minuet In Hell is a small tale though, all in all, a few little things put together for a grand finish. But even the rather silly voice of Marcosius doesnt let this story down. Nick Briggs directing is top of the class again. And he gives a good and jolly performances as Gideon Crane. So altogether, a brilliant story.
| What: | The Stones of Venice (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Sunday 16 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
This story feels detached and different from any other Paul Mcgann big finish outing. this is a relaxed and easy flowing story which is very nice to listen to. However this doesnt make the stroy plodding or confusing in my opinion at all. And we have a great last doctor who appearance from Michael Sheard, who plays the lead role very well indeed. This really does have the feel of a shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet comes to my mind. A city cursed by a betrayed alien lady. This story is one i can play whilst settling down at night to go to sleep, and not because itll send me to sleep either, more other it will make me smile before drifting off. Paul Magrs tales are always fresh and imaginative to say the least. And India Fisher impresses again as Charley doesnt she?
| What: | Sword of Orion (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Sunday 16 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
The return of the cybermen pon audio. So much mroe frigtening on audio than on screen i feel. Much more in depth stories too.
For the people who quibble about Charlie getting too used to future tech, how much time could have passed between the first two stories eh? Leave it to the imagination. This is such a classy tale.
Yet again Nick Briggs brings us a tale with two things: great plot and a strong female character again. Deeva Jehnsen is quite a cool creation i can tell you. Pity she dies in the end though. Why is it people always see fit to kill great characters for pitys sake?!
And Bruce Montague as Grash is a real good piece of acting too. Nasty and loud mouthish to the extreme. Some quite graphic scenes of death if this had been on screen. A pulverised body, cybermats make a great return in there only audio so far. Come, bring back more of the cybermats soon please!
ANother strong story that lifts the first four Paul McGann tales, after a weak start in Storm Warning. This is great stuff!
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| Great acting by two people... |
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| What: | Storm Warning (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Sunday 16 March 2008 |
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| Rating: |  5 |
This is one of the few run of the mill stories produced by big finish. This is quite forgettable had it not been for the saving and brilliant performance by the great Paul Mcgann on return to the disc as the eighth doctor. He is a great actor, and an even better Doctor. And the introduction of formidable companion Charlotte Pollard is great too. Pity the rest of the story is so boring and unenguaging, a rare let down for an otherwise classy series from big finish...
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| Let down by a stupid ending.... |
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| What: | The Mutant Phase (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Sunday 16 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
This story would have been one of the best dalek stories ever if it hadnt of been for the totally woeful it never really happened ending. Really for such a great writer as Nick Briggs this really is rubbish. If you can ignore the last few minutes of this tale though, then you are in for a treat. The daleks are afraid of something for once. Mutant infected daleks yucky stuff i can tell you. Sarah Sutton is great again as Nyssa, and all the cast involved are on fine form once more. This is a story that would have benefited though from having an alternate ending i must say, as it makes the rest of the story slightly stupid doesnt it? Cut out the ending and you have brilliance. But far better than the next story in the big finish range by a long chalk...
| What: | The Holy Terror (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Sunday 16 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
The Holy Terror has the unique feel of a stage play on disc. Like it really is set in a few cramped stages in some theatre somewhere. But this is not a bad thing by any means. Im afraid that The Holy Terror is faultless in my opinion.
List of reasons for this comment are below....
Well, firstly you dont get a run of the mill monster runaround. You get kings and queens and deep dungeons and people wanting to be hurt and babies who are not all that they first appear to be. That baby's voice is so creepy let me tell you. This story would be classed as a go between of horror and comedy. the line "last time i try to get to power by marrying a moron" made me crack up when i first heard it. This is total class.
Rob Jezek happens to be great as Frobisher too i have to say. he seems to relish being a penguin. The scenes with Colin in the TARDIS are so cool and well scripted, they could have worked on screen so well i think. This story is packed to the brim with memorable doctor who moments that the new series on tv should take some lessons from...
| What: | The Shadow of the Scourge (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Sunday 16 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Dont really like many of the new adventure books. All they are is the doctor hardly ever present, and benny and ace at each others throats most of the time. a total waste of time. at least Paul Cornell has had the sense to tone down that line of writing in this epic and brilliant scary sci fi at its best story. The Doctor is pushed to the limit again. Is it mhy imagination or in the big finish range isnt it always Sylvester's doctor who gets pushed to the limit the most?! But Sylv Mccoy is such a great actor that he can afford to always be given the most intense and horrible scripts to do. He's leading a great cast in this story. Yet another filmic adventure to me. A great new monster in the Scourge, praying mantis with attitude. And Lisa Bowerman returns as Benny. The audio stories of Benny are classic, and here she goes again, giving it her all to save the Doctor's sanity in a plot full of originality and twists and turns all along the way. Sophie ALdred is great as Ace too, being deaf and all that. Ouch! But definitely classy stuff!
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| cant see what all the fuss is about... |
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| What: | Dreamtime (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Wednesday 12 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Dreamtime is another badly rated story from big finish i see from many other reviewers. This is my personal thoughts on this interesting and well paced story.
Hex gets off a far better start than some other companions i could mention in this series. Philip Olivier is a great find. He seems to like his character a lot.
So anyway, back to this story. A strong feel of myths and aboriginal thoughts laced through this great story. A story still though with plenty of sci fi and galyari to stop you from getting bored. This tale is highly thought provoking. Talks about the bond we share with the land we were born in or belong to. The ties that bind, you might say. How our thoughts could affect the land. Some of our thoughts may well make a land wanna shoot off into space as quickly as it can. And the Doctor makes a mistake again, he is fallible and therefore far more believable too. Love the music score, especially the digeridoo. Love it to bits. This story is entertaining, it just depends on whether you like myth or not at the end of the day. But i find it so interesting learning of other traditoins and cultures. SO that is why this story is a winner for me.
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| History at its very best... |
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| What: | The Fires of Vulcan (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Wednesday 12 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Bonnie Langford makes her return to Mel Bush and doesnt scream, thank goodness. She was another undervalued companion wasnt she? She has a great meory and brain like a computer and just never got to really use it on screen. But she is back now and better than ever when teamed mostly in this great story with Gemma Bissix as Aglae, a roman prostitute! Man, but you really like the girl. Steve Lyons is a great Doctor Who writer. Ive liked every story ive read or heard of his. And he seems to like his history. And The Fires Of Vulcan is a fantastic story. Hate the new series when its supposedly an alien invasion that sets of the volcano, boy what a load of rubbish. Some moments in history surely can be attributed to natural causes cant they for goodness sake?!! I hate discontinuity. It eats me up. Probably wont liek the series four episode at all either, but i may be wrong. Have to wait and see. Just seems the bbc pay no heed at all to big finish recordings at all. Cant they at least try?
| What: | The Apocalypse Element (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Wednesday 12 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
This would have made for a far better movie than the Paul Mcgann one i can tell you. This story has an epic feel to it, almost filmic quality. I can imagine this being played in the cinema, a great soundtrack with great music. The daleks are back and more scheming and evil than ever before. Nasty dialogue...i found the eye scene completely gross and unnerving, despite it still only being audio, visualising some things can be yuck! Colin Baker leads a grand cast with Lalla Ward returning greatly as Romana. This is brilliantly directed by Nick Briggs!
| What: | Winter for the Adept (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Wednesday 12 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Nyssa gets to dominate the script for once, with the Doctor hardly even in the first episode. Sarah Sutton always was good as Nyssa and here she reallyn shines in a story that is nearly all hers. She even helps to stop the Spillagers from coming through into our space in the end. This is a real comapanion piece and thanks to big finish for that! Nyssa gets a lot to do throughout and that is great. Its great to hear Sarah cutting her teeth as Nyssa for a change. She used to just be left as a spare part in the TARDIS in most of her tv appearances. This is a real pleasurable break from the norm for her. She is really a cool companion and we can all see that here in this wonderfully spooky tale. This story works on all fronts though. Decent aliens and decent plot, decent India Fisher before she came to be the great Charlotte Pollard too. But this story won me over the most for Sarah Sutton, as if you couldnt guess from my review!!
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| Slow but sure at the end... |
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| What: | The Spectre of Lanyon Moor (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Wednesday 12 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
Episode one is very very slow isnt it? And there is a little continuity snag, as the sixth doctor is told abotu the brigs wife yet in Battlefield the seventh doesnt know her, maybe he's forgottern, so i wont hold that against Nick Pegg!
But apart from that this story is a return to classic and totally not outdated who. A great monster. Nick Courtney churning out another first class stab as the Brigadier. A warlock and cellars and goblins and underground passages. What more could one ask for. And the good Brig gets to save the day too for once! This is overall a great return to the days of old. Tea and biscuits time in front of a walkman instead of the tv, but it still feels just as good!
