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| What: | Dust Breeding (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: |   8 |
Yet again i say this is by no means a bad story, Geoffery Beevers returning as the Master gives it an automatic and chilling 7 out of 10 already, just for his fine reutrn to the role. And thbe thought of a sentient being locked into a painting is a cool and imaginative thought. Just all the rest of the story that lags a little behind with so so action moments and so so cliffhangers. Although Caroline John is great in the role of Madame Salvadori, love the accent Caroline! Bev Tarrant is back again, pity she doesnt get as much to do this time round. The dust attacks maybe okay, and the krill are just not presented well enough, no distinctive roar or anything like that which lets this story down a bit. But on the whole still a very entertaining story, all things considered. Just not classic in status.
| What: | Colditz (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 |
History isnt dull as ditchwater and easy to forget. History is important to me to this day. All the wars and suffering should not be so readily forgotten by the masses out there. I like stories that dont shy away from the nasty bits of war.
Steve Lyons is great at whole sci fi stories, but he seems in a league of his own when it comes to purely historical tales. No one comes near this guy for history in the making. He showed us brilliance in The Fires of Vulcan, and now here he goes again with a great and classic script in Colditz.
Right, lets look at all the reasons i think this is a great play...
David Tennant is excellent as the perverted Kurtz, a nice and chillingly realistic approach employed by this very talented male actor. A great tenth doctor too man. But here he really is a nasty creep.
Sylvester Mccoy of course, but that should go without saying. He is still my fav overall audio doctor.
Sophie gives realism to the thought of Ace growing up into a proper young woman now, harder and less bawly. A great performance from the word go from a great actress.
Tracey Childs as Klein, a manipulative git from the future. You can really tell when people love the parts they are given to act on film or tv or audio adventures!
And the storyline itself is fresh and imaginative. This is a well crafted story well directed and produced with some genuinely great cliffhangers too. Bring on the diddly dums!!!
| What: | Loups-Garoux (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 |
Marc Platt always did know how to write intellegent stories with many good character pieces along with strong ideas. He brings together many components that work so well together and Loups Garoux is yet another fine example of this guys talent as a writer.
For a start there is the wolves, not bright as day but not as dark as night either, a villian who isnt as evil as many other doctor who baddies. and so Eleanor Bron returns to doctor who to voice Ileana, a great part well acted and interesting. Bert Kwouk is a great choice for Doctor Hiyashi too i must say. The performances really are very good and never ott.
And Mark Strickson gets a decent chunk of script to sink his teeth into too. Nice to hear him getting at least a bit of a storyline in the grand scheme of things again. Love the character of Rosa too.
Love the "no trees were harmed" segment too, shows thought provoking stuff again from Marc. ALways leaves those little things to think on after every story ive noticed. So Peter Davison leads a great cast in a story that is both engaging and far better then Tooth and Claw from the new series too. This is one of the strongest stories from big finish even to this day. A werewolf tale that isnt bogged down in werewolf isms. A breath of fresh air in a mostly stale horror villain story world!!!
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| Eclectic and slighty confused |
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| What: | Absolution (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: | 8 |
This story is by no means bad at all, but it all feel rather confused in areas. There are plenty of great moments along the way though, which still make this a worthy big finish story, just not one of the very best thats all.
Is this supposed to all be C'rizz's fault or just the people's trapped in the absolver eh? I found it a little hard to get around the twists and turns in this story at times. Or is it all Charlie's fault? Sorry, but there is probably just a little too much going on at times. Or maybe it is just me.
The good moments are there though, for a start the tardis behaving erratically and the blood from the central column would have been gross if televised, and then theres C'rizz's goodbye to the good old Doc and Charlie.
I hate the "Charlie have a go at the doc for being alien again" routine. Man, this is getting to be an old and tired excuse now. The Doctor cares about everyone. He cant help it if he's a time lord for petes sake. A nice thing in future would be if all the tv and big finish stories didnt bring up this common as muck attitude and storyline into every story.
Absolution is a decent story on the whole though, with strong acting especially from Conrad Westmaas. So, good but not brilliant...
| What: | Valhalla (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 21 March 2008 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
I wrote earlier on a different site that this story was a little short of the mark for a Marc Platt tale, but ive listenened to it more and more recently and that means there must be polenty of cool stuff floating around in this great little tale. Maybe i had a headache when listening to it before.
For a start theres the great performance of Sylvester Mccoy being the lonely companionless doctor and all that. Well acted part yet again from my favourite audio.
Then theres the great appearance from Susannah York in all, a first class actress in my opinion. And i just love six legged spice, that did make me crack up.
But the coolest thing in this story is still the great performance of Michelle Gomez as Jeavan. Yet another in a long line of should have been a companion greats. Realistic and totally laid back. Adds to the tension and the overall feel of this well produced and directed play.
There is one minor little thing, i dont like the voices of the termites. So lame and unimpressive, but really apart from that this has a lot going for it i can tell you. Far far more impressive and litenable than the Voyage of the Damned was for watching!
| What: | Thicker Than Water (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 story is class to me, does that mean im thick or retarded, id be glad to hear any answers from people whove given this story such bad and totally unwarranted reviews.
This is a strong sequel to a great story. This is definitely on level pegging with the tear jerking Arrangements For War. Poor old Evelyn has to face up to her heart problem at last. Shes had a rough time of it hasnt she? Poor old girl. But she gets a surprise visit from the seventh doctor! What a cool and unexpected surprise! Just a great addition to a thoroughly enjoyable story. And she still has the chemistry with Gabriel Woolf too.
Bonnie Langford isnt half bad too. Getting thrown down that lift shaft was nasty. What idiot would or could do that to lovely Miss Bush eh? Good job the Doctor is on hand to save the day, yet again!
You feel sorry for the killorans despite their invasion in the last story, and they really have been totally dealienized here. Reduced to mindless brutes. Poor old killorans too.
And the closing scenes are warm and touching yet again too. This makes me weep a little bit. Continuity when done properly is brilliant. Colin Baker is great again as the sixth doctor too. And the action is very realistic too in my opinion. I dont know why so many other people see this story is such a dim view, but it may be that im the dim wit...but who cares, as long as i like the story, then thats all that matters..
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| only one thing lets this down.... |
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| What: | Spare Parts (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 |
And the thing that lets it down is that the character of Yvonne is basically only in one episode of this drama. Really sad, that. i love the character to bits, so well performed.
But yes this story is excellent. Marc Platt deliver again in this cyberman story and a half. An emotional rollercoaster of an adventure which leaves you gasping for breath.
Doctor Who's best the cybermen are back in very strong form indeed, and the big finish team get those most chilling original cyber voices right on the nail. They freak me out i can tell you all.
And Sarah Sutton proves again why Nyssa is such a likeable and cool companion. And we get a mention of poor old Adric too, aaahh...
Sally Knyvette really does deliver as Doctorman Allen. And what the hell is the creepy cyber planner eh? Flaming scary or what?! This story is really fast paced.
The scenes with poor Yvonne and the family really steal this show though. Real tear jerking stuff when a partially cyberniseed Yvonne comes home cold and almost dead, horrible and realistic drama to the full. This is yet another excellent play from Big finish. Really, what the hell was Rise Of The Cybermen compared to this?! Not any comparison really...
| What: | Bang-Bang-a-Boom! (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 is kind of brilliant.
Clay Hickman and Gareth Roberts can always be trusted to deliver highly entertaining comedy yarns. I thought they couldnt get any better than The One Doctor, but i was happily wrong...
Oh Bang Bang is such a bang! The great Bonnie Langford cuts her teeth as Mel Bush, a truly great outing for her is this one, where she plays non screaming detective at the intergalactic song contest. The aliens here are so wet your nappy brilliant too, with Patricia Quinn being quite brilliant as Angvia especially. Her scenes with the doc and arm pits are really side busting! Ive never laughed quite so much to a story before.
The murder mystery brings in some hard relief from the comedy though, a good balance is maintained right from the word go.
Sylvester Mccoy is impressive as the doc again as usual. This is story that comes highly recommended from me.
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| Another UNDERrated one... |
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| What: | The Church and the Crown (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 |
What is it with some reviewers, is history so boring and forgettable to them? well, this is my own personal thoughts on this classy play...
this is total french bread. With Nicola giving a great performance as both Peri and Queen Anna, she really is quite a nasty little minx as the latter actually. This is the story where Nicola shines more than ever. She has been given a decent chunk of scripting to get her teeth into. But the good old Doctor and Erimem are not forgotten either. In fact Erimem is strongly scripted too, trying to lead the town properly into battle again, like any true pharaoh would. A nice little history with a Three Muskateers feel woven all throughout the episodes...
im only sad that Antranak never got a chance to have a bigger part in the stories! Really, cats have a hard time of it these days dont they?
Airhead kings, deceitful bishops and whatnot. All the ingredients are here. This is not an OVER rated story, this story does deserve to be acclaimed, well, by me at least anyway...
| What: | ...ish (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 |
What i actually really like about this play is the sound score, so cool and different. Really different from the usual sort of themed music to grace who.
And the script and acting aint half bad either in this really intelligent tale. This is quite a different play, with more emphasis on the words than any other play in the big finish range. This is a real brain twister. A murder mystery with a dictionary (yes, in some places it is required!) on top. Some great wording. Colin Baker is very strong as the doctor in this story. Whilst Nicola Bryant does get aomething to do again, which is very nice.
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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?
