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 | Ghosts in Transylvania? Nah. |
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Sarah takes a trip out of England to visit an old journalist friend who just happens to have a man who lost his memory as her butler and a little ghost problem. This story is almost totally tangential to the arc of the series, with just Sarah and Josh on their own facing down the spooks in Romania and encountering a mysterious English ex-patriot who we know must be the baddie from the start. While the explantion for the phenomenon is novel, not much else in the story is.
The third installment of the Sarah series is, in its own way, the best. The action in this one revolves around experimental germ warfare and government coverups. Hmmmm, sounds just a little too close to reality. The omnipresent Mr. Harris becomes truly scary in this story, thanks to the superb voice of Robin Bowerman. And Sarah is forced to make a truly terrible choice between competing emergencies. The whole is played at just the right emotional pitch. So what keeps it from being higher than a 7? A bit more dialogue than is necessary at some points, for starters. Also, a couple of improbabilities such as Harris's complicated trap in the underground. However, the good far outweighs the bad in this production.
Of the 5 "first season" Sarah Jane adventures, this is, surprisingly, the weakest. I say surprisingly because one usually expects better writing from Barry Letts, especially involving his own Dr. Who contributions. The premise is that someone is kidnapping homeless teenagers for use in a rejuvenation process at an exclusive old age home. Letts' longtime fascination with Eastern mysticism in this script actually gets in the way of the story instead of enhancing it. Besides that, most of the mystery is fairly easy to figure out in the first few minutes. On the plus side, the interaction between the regulars of the series advances fairly well, and Elizabeth/Sarah manages a really good Yorkshire accent (fooled me, anyway; but what do I know about it, I'm from America).
| What: | Sarah Jane Smith: Comeback (Sarah Jane Smith audios) |
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| By: | David Layton, Los Angeles, United States |
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| Date: | Sunday 5 October 2003 |
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| Rating: |   7 |
Sarah Jane is back. Often rated as the most popular Dr. Who companion, Sarah Jane Smith was an unusually strong character made so by the excellent performance of Elizabeth Sladen. Sladen has returned to the character, making her quite as she was in Dr. Who and at the same time creatig a mature and self-reliant Sarah Jane. The premise is that Sarah had enjoyed a stellar career as a journalist, only to have the career destroyed by forces unknown who planted a false story for her to find. Now those same unknown forces are out to destroy her completely. This premise provides a story arc for all 5 audio adventures, creating a kind of "first season." Fans of Dr. Who expecting more of the same will not find it here. The story and atmosphere, double-dealings in high places, paranormal science, and the like, are more akin to "The X-Files." And, Terrance Dicks shows here that he is still a better script writer than novelist (generally speaking).
| What: | The Seeds of Doom (BBC classic series videos) |
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| By: | Chris , Merseyside |
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| Date: | Wednesday 1 October 2003 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
Very good horror story. Borrows from The Thing from Outer Space. John (Boycie) Challis is very good as a henchman.
after reading some of the 8th doctor's adventures and getting sick of Sabbath, I need a change and picked up Loving the Alien. Although the alternate realites storylines are hard to follow I really enjoyed this story. The fact that the Doctor is being held responsible for his changes in history makes for a great story (even though everything turns out ok at the end). all in all, very enjoyable with one of my favorite docs.
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| The Trial of the Triumphant |
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Colin Baker stars in his greatest and most dangerous adventure yet. Friends and foes alike are not as they seem as the Doctor faces trial by the Time Lords. Heading up the prosecution is the sinister Valeyard who has a hidden agenda of his own.....
| What: | The Caves of Androzani (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Theta Sigma, USA |
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| Date: | Friday 19 September 2003 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
This remains the ultimate Dr Who story from the original series. Peter Davison races against time to save his young friend Peri. Mercenaries and killer androids are evrywhere in the titular caves and not everyone is going to make it out alive. The DVD is even better with many behind the scenes featurettes including the Regeneration scene at the end of the four-part adventure. John Nathan Turner also makes an appearance in a rare news interview alongside his star to answer questions about the series' future.
| What: | The Ark in Space (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Theta Sigma, USA |
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| Date: | Friday 19 September 2003 |
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| Rating: | 4 |
I gave this one a 4 and that was only because it has Tom Baker in it. Also the behind the scenes interview with Tom was creative to say the least.
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| Would have made a great TV episode |
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| What: | Nekromanteia (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Theta Sigma, USA |
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| Date: | Thursday 18 September 2003 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
Well-written story featuring Peter Davison and Nicola Bryant along with newcomer Caroline Morris. This 4-part audio has the youthful Doctor and his two new companions caught up in an interstellar crisis connected to a cult of witches. The cliffhangers are dramatic and -in the case of Part 2-shocking. The original Davison theme is reprised here and the entire serial matches the feelings of the latter TV stories of the Fifth Doctor. Would have made a great televised episode for the most part. The voices of the chanting witches is the only drawback.
| What: | Bang-Bang-a-Boom! (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Theta Sigma, USA |
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| Date: | Thursday 18 September 2003 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
Excellent recreation of the much lamented Season 24. Sylvester McCoy is back as his earlier jokey self and Bonnie Langford's involvement makes this a reunion you don't want to miss. Mel and pop sensation Nicky Newman investigate a series of murders while the Doctor is mistaken for the new commander of the deep space station which is the setting of this tale. And I should warn all future listeners of this serial:There are a few suprises and startling revelations in the final episode.
| What: | The Movie (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Theta Sigma, USA |
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| Date: | Thursday 18 September 2003 |
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| Rating: | 7 |
This special feature length adventure introduces a brand new Doctor (Paul McGann) and a new Master (Eric Roberts)who race against time to guarantee not only the future of Earth but their own survival as well. Co-starring Daphne Ashbrook.
| What: | The Mutants (BBC classic series videos) |
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| By: | Olly, UK |
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| Date: | Saturday 13 September 2003 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
I don't know why this was left to be the penultimate 3rd Dr Video. I like it, I like it a lot. Good chemistry between Jo and the Dr, an enjoyable story which was put together on celliod well. The cover is good too. Enjoy!
| What: | Pyramids of Mars (BBC classic series videos) |
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| By: | Olly, UK |
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| Date: | Saturday 13 September 2003 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
The best ever Dr Who story ever.... This is as good as it gets. Tom Baker and Liz Sladen show the best ever combination between Dr and Companion. Sutekh is "supreme" with excellent quotes, the mummies like superb, and Scarman is creepy. Based on Egpyt methology and early Hammer films, it shows what is best about Dr Who.
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| An exciting first chapter! |
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Big Finish Productions has done it again with more of their enticing tale continuing the Dalek Empire saga! This time, it's six years forward into the future. The Daleks from the alternate universe are starting to show their cruel side in their "peacekeeping" techniques. Susan Mendes is NOT dead and the Dalek Emperor has put all of his conciousness into her! A thorough introduction into the new storyline with impressive sound effects and dialogue, as always! Well done, Big Finish! I can't wait to hear the next chapter! And thanks for the coming attractions at the end and the ad for the previous chapters.
| What: | Wolfsbane (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | EDL Foster, Invercargill, New Zealand |
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| Date: | Saturday 13 September 2003 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
A story worthy of the "Cold Fusion" tradition, where fate and circumstance bring together a past and future Doctor and various companions - and as before, the two incarnations chosen are perfectly matched due to current events. And the Eighth Doctor gets a decent bite of the action (no pun intended!).
Thoroughly recommended for both multi-Doctor and Loup Garoux fans, overall.
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| Good start, dull middle and fair end |
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Shadow starts of as a good read until about a third of the way through, then the rambling dialog and tardis, jumping backward and forward lost it all for me. A shame at is started so well, the end pulled it back a little but not enough.
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| A classic Doctor who Yarn |
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This story offers all what you would expect from a good doctor who ripper. Dark corridors, body count slowly rising, lots of screams and a realistic plot and monster.
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| Great cover is only the start |
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| What: | Father Time (BBC Eighth Doctor novels) |
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| By: | David Sharpe, Woodland Park, USA |
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| Date: | Monday 8 September 2003 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
First, the book has my favorite cover of all time. The snow being woven into the baby's blanket is just SO cool! (pun not intented) The story is gripping and the Doctor having an adopted daughter is a wonderful idea, well suited to the "stranded on Earth" story arc. I do wish the relationship with the Doctor's lady friend had been worked out more, and the book is another example of the distressing trend I've noticed of killing off supporting characters. It reminds me, to a lesser extent, of the death-filled early 90s of the Legion of Super-Heroes. All in all, it's a great Doctor Who novel and I highly reccomend it!
| What: | The Witch Hunters (BBC Past Doctor novels) |
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| By: | David Layton, Los Angeles, United States |
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| Date: | Saturday 6 September 2003 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
What more can I say? This book is superior in nearly every way to most the other Doctor Who novels. Lyons has done his homework and writes convincingly about the actual events of the Salem withch trials. The Doctor and his companions are embroiled in a realistic way. The companions are characterized in a mature fashion. Ian, especially, comes to life as thoughtful and compassionate. Read this one.
