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 | One relishes these different approaches |
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| What: | Situation Vacant (Eighth Doctor Adventures audios) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Wednesday 29 June 2011 |
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| Rating: |  10 |
It was always going to be so very hard indeed to find a replacement for Sheridan...she really is almost the quintessential companion, for any doctor! She had so much verve and charm and a wonderful gob on her that was great for me to hear. Glad she hasnt properly dissappeared yet though, as Ive seen Lucie Miller and To The Death are out!!!
But this story is a little marvel. A diamond gem. It toys with companions like no other story ever has. And for that reason alone is a brilliant addition to the eighth doctor run of adventures! Theres some great dialogue and some great show downs along the way!
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| Don't forget to clean up after yourself |
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| What: | The Whispering Forest (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Clive T Wright, St Lawrence, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 28 June 2011 |
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| Rating: |  9 |
A classic sci-fi plot is the crashed space ship from which a slightly messed up, twisted society rises.
In the whispering forest, this is done with style, a story that makes full use of the cast. At times strange, but with some good humour and action.
So nothing original in the plot, but for a Doctor Who fan its classic stuff a great story which works well for the tardis gang.
| What: | The Eternal Summer (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Saturday 25 June 2011 |
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| Rating: | 5 |
For a start the ending to part two is rather guessable. One of the very few weakly plotted stories, with a lot of scenes that are predictable and rather a lack of decent fast paced adventure. One real saving is Mark Williams as the rather cool and funny Maxwell Eddison. A real injection of a decent character in otherwise a weak release. And the only other good performance here is from Pam Ferris, as dependable and brilliant a performance as ever, but shes only on the second disc, so thats a little disappointing to say the least. But like I said, these duds from BFP are a far rarer breed than duds in the new series. This is sad considering this is a Jon Morris story, after his brilliant former stories. (Except that plain stupid Bloodtide of course)
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| Not all that much to write home about |
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| What: | The Movie (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 24 June 2011 |
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| Rating: | 4 |
Paul McGann has finally been given a decent stab at the Doctor in the Big Finish audio adventures. He was one of the three good things about the 1996 movie. Yes, and it was only three, or if im generous, four, things that stood out about the movie at all.
The first was the cameo by Sylvester McCoy, and its brilliant to see him back as the Doctor. And Im not saying Paul isnt any good, as Ive already cleared stated above, its just I would have loved seeing Sylv have the main story and just change at the very end of this very bland movie. Sylv is one of the major factors that stops this film from falling flat on its face.
Daphne Ashbrook is just perfect as Grace Holloway, bringing sensitivity and dare I say it her namesake to her role! Mind you, shes far better acting good than acting bad, as when she is taken over by the Master she looks just tired, not taken over. But her instant rapport with Paul McGann is very strong indeed, and her character also bolsters up this otherwise rather flat tale.
The final good thing is Eric Roberts as the Master, a wonderful choice to play the Doc's arch nemesis. Just a shame he actually, in all respect, doesnt do much except stand around talking and glare nastily at a woman and walk around like a ponce. He would and should have been given such a lot more to do. Though his final confrontation with the Doctor is climactic and startling, I must admit.
Its just all the other aspects of the script that are so run of the mill. One would have expected there to have been a monster for this movie, like the Cybermen or daleks, not just the Master. For this reason alone I was highly saddened by this film. And despite all the films money, the regeneration sequence isnt a lot to write home about. The fact that the Master only wants to take the Doctor's lives and blow up earth isnt a movie blockbuster kind of theme either is it really? No, not in the slightest.
The highest plaudits then to Sylv and Daphne, and Paul Im glad youve been given more in your big finish world than you ever were with this letdown of a film.
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| Quite disturbing and dark |
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| What: | The Edge of Destruction (Target novelisation readings) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 24 June 2011 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
The TV screen version of the Edge of Destruction always was a brilliant Doctor Who two parter. It had a sense of real drama to it, and considering it only boasted the TARDIS crew, they all acted their socks off and brought it all to life so well. So I am not usually one to state that a novel of the story is better than the TV version, but with Nigel Robinson's adaptation here, read by the ever great William Russell, we have a novel reading that is something truly truly special. There are many things within this novel that are even more disturbing and bold than the TV adventure.
The way Nigel seems to get deep into the heads of all the crew members is something not many other target novels boast. I feel especially Ian and Barabara are treated in such an deeply pleasing fashion, from the deep descriptions of their waking first to think theyre back at Coal Hill School, to the intense little extras that Nigel has added that really help make this novel stand out above many other ones.
And what also adds to the mood of this reading is the quite freaky and unnerving score, this time the BBC has outdone themselves, for i found the score frankly chilling in the extreme here, one of the most unsettling scores ever. It really adds such layers to the sense of doom that is present so powerfully all the way through this startling novel.
The extra scenes included here in this novel too are excellent. Particularly Barabara's near death scene in the Doctor's laboratory, which is highly imaginative and fearful. Although Ian's getting lost in the corridors then nearly suffocating is highly charged with tension in buckets. And one does feel wether it was the Doctor who deliberately left him in there to die, and then the TARDIS saved him there too, despite the fact that it too was nearly facing death.
And William Russell has such an easy voice to listen to, and his channeling of all the characters is flawless so much as to be uncanny, particularly his rendition of the Doctor and Barbara. He is a first class story teller, and it benefits this audio reading so well to have such a great actor reading it. Well done William
So all in all I would have to say that this is definitely one of the strongest novelisations of any of them. Laiden with menace, fear and a brilliant haunting score, this is one novel reading that is even more fulfilling than its TV counterpart. Absolutely brilliant reading.
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| BIT LIKE THE MIND ROBBER... |
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| What: | The Axis of Insanity (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 23 June 2011 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
And so that fact alone makes this one of those very enjoyable stories. Peri and Erimem are developed well, and Caroline Morris is particularly impressive here. I love her character to bits. The Character of Jarra To is just maybe a little over the top in places, but overall this a very good story indeed. Peter Davison is on top form, playing the Fifth Doctor with his usual zeal and charm. The scenes with the fire breathing dragons are particularly effective, and the TARDIS graveyard scene is quite understated and touching as a finale. Ive yet to see another Simon Furman Doctor Who story yet, I hope he's asked back soon. The sound score for the axis sounds impressive and very intriguing. It feels like this audio is definitely played out against a vast alien backdrop, one cant feel it one every single audio story but one can feel it here. The scenes of Erimem learning to read are particularly funny, and the dialogue is really good.
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| Certainly not an overrated story.... |
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| What: | The Evil of the Daleks (TV episode audio soundtracks) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Thursday 23 June 2011 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
The Evil of the Daleks is, in my view, the strongest dalek story ever produced in the whole of the series run, both of them at that. The Evil of The Daleks for me just possesses something that the majority of other Dalek stories lack, and that is real imagination and scope.
Patrick Troughton is on supreme form here, he just gives his all. The elements that made him such a wonder as the second incarnation of the Doctor, from his wit to his bumbling to his sometimes rather serious and biting moodiness. Never was there a story that truly highlighted all these elements as well as they are within the confines of this truly excellent and gripping Dalek tale.
And now Frazer Hines truly is being treated as a proper companion, and gets to dominate a lot of the script when he is pushed to the limit with trying to elude the daleks and rescuing Victoria, and trying to keep Kemel from killing him for much of part four. We begin to see why I think he is one of the best companions in the entire history of the programme. And one scenraio that is particularly powerful is the point where he blames the Doctor for all he has faced,with quite good reason for once too. Those scenes are highly taught and fraught with tension.
Maxtible is also another very solid villain, who believes he can get the better of the Daleks and have his dream fulfilled of having the knowledge of how to have metal turn into gold. A dream that the Daleks feed on so well so as to use him as nothing more than a superior slave.
Edward Waterfield is a highly decent character, one of David Whitakers best characters up to this date. His unwilling help given to the Daleks comes across as believable with emtions for once to the fore,and his panic at not knowing what is going to happen to Victoria is quite palpable, even if it is only to be heard sadly now on audio in its full version.
And of course, one has to mention the brilliant introduction of Deborah Watling as Victoria, perfectly cast to play the scared and shy teenager. She immediately gets on well with both the Doctor and Jamie and the dialogue is a joy to listen to.
And the very good and unexpected twist at the end is very very neat indeed, presenting the daleks probably at their most delightfully devious ever. And the humanised daleks are a comical revelation amidst all the more serious notes of the script. The scenes where they play trains with the Doctor and pretty flipping good and highly memorable indeed. Its sad that they have to be blown up in the epic finale! The Emperor dalek too is an almighty achievement, in appearance and voice for the time. His voice literally booms and drowns everyone else out all the time.
So, from all the above you can see that this serial is definitely one of the best written, best directed, and best acted serials in the entire history of Doctor Who. Thoroughly enjoyable.
| What: | Lucie Miller (Eighth Doctor Adventures audios) |
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| By: | Clive T Wright, St Lawrence, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 21 June 2011 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
This pulls us back to earth with a bump. The Doctor is hardly in the story but Lucy being so strong a character carries us along a roller coaster of a story.
Great story, which is fast, pulling no punches, nice cliff hanger.
| What: | To The Death (Eighth Doctor Adventures audios) |
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| By: | Clive T Wright, St Lawrence, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 21 June 2011 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
Everything comes together in an explosive and surprising end.
Difficult to say much without giving everything away, but simply this is great, it tests everyone, shakes things up and leaves you hanging.
OMG
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| The start of something great |
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| What: | The Mahogany Murderers (The Companion Chronicles audiobooks) |
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| By: | Clive T Wright, St Lawrence, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 21 June 2011 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
Jago & litefoot are two legends of classic who. Nothing has been lost in bringing them back to us.
The story captures and continues the victorian horror very well. An excellent and clever story with the wooden monsters which I really loved.
Great story, amazing cast, ripping yarn.
| What: | The Catalyst (The Companion Chronicles audiobooks) |
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| By: | Clive T Wright, St Lawrence, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 21 June 2011 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Mrs Jamieson is one of my favourites with her, rich, strong, engaging voice you could listen too all day.
Combined with a great and interesting story, it is clever well delivered but leaves you feeling a little sad for Leela.
I don't want to give anything away so go and get it.
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| Old Soldier & great actors live forever |
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| What: | Old Soldiers (The Companion Chronicles audiobooks) |
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| By: | Clive T Wright, St Lawrence, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 21 June 2011 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
I bought this after I learned of Nich's sad departure. We miss you.
It is a great story, really bringing back the old conflicts and constant battle between the solider and the Doctor. Perfectly capturing the 3rd Doctors period and delivered with great style and ease from Nicholas.
Go and get it.
| What: | The Great Space Elevator (The Companion Chronicles audiobooks) |
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| By: | Clive T Wright, St Lawrence, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 21 June 2011 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
This would have made a classic 2nd Doctor story for TV, perfectly capturing the period and typical plot of the time.
The Sci-Fi is over the top, people are lost to technology, there is the standard underlying message about the balance of science and nature. Big buttons, lifts, energy, lots of running around and some great sexist lines from Jamie.
Great fun.
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| Well read, with great atmosphere |
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| What: | The Forbidden Time (The Companion Chronicles audiobooks) |
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| By: | Clive T Wright, St Lawrence, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Tuesday 21 June 2011 |
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| Rating: | 8 |
Forbidden Time, is a very enjoyable story. The cast and clever way of bringing Jamie into the story through recorded messages really adds to the story. This combined with a great sound track and effects for the aliens, gives a compelling feeling of danger and emptyness.
The ending whilst clever felels a little sudden, however I recommend to go and get it.
| What: | The Tenth Planet (TV episode audio soundtracks) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Monday 20 June 2011 |
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| Rating: | 5 |
What always struck me most about the original Cybermen was those eerie and skanky cloth faces! Sheer brilliance of design, and when their mouths part like they do it scared the poo out of me as a child.
Yet again this story suffers from having an episode missing for the screen version. The BBC really arent that thoughtful.
There are some things wrong with this story though, it has to be said. One is the lamentable amount of scenes the Cybermen have in episode three, the grand total of one scene, and even in that their handles are falling off in a very uncyberman like way. But this was the nineteen sixties and time was short for Doctor Who serials. But I for actually love the selotape holding their heads together! But the lamentable third part really lets the side down for this story.
The other weakness of this story is the lack of things to do for Ben and Polly. Even when Will Hartnell bows out in episode three, they still do not really stick out or have that much of a role in the story. And I just love Ben and Polly, two of the all time great companions. All Polly does is make coffee and scream, and all Ben does is get punched by a psychotic General. So in those respects this story isnt all that much to write home about.
And the final cybermen's voices are too sing song in the final part, whereas in the earlier parts they are chilling. But the cybermen overall deserved a far better entry tale than this one. They look very good indeed, but the writing doesnt match them.
The only very very good sequence is the regeneration scene, highly imaginative and extremely well done for the time. And one does like the character of Doctor Barclay, and the two astronauts. The General is just a bit too over the top, although some scenes are better than others when he's in them. Such as his anger at his son being sent up in the second capsule by the earth executive! Very well done scenes there too. But for the most part The Tenth Planet isnt the best Doctor Who story to give Will as his last one, he deserved a bit better than this.
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| Another Classy Historical |
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| What: | The Crusade (TV episode audio soundtracks) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Monday 20 June 2011 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
If there is one particular story in Will Hartnell's run that clearly highlights this spectacular actors abilities, then I would overall have to go for The Crusade. William Hartnell positively shines within this story. And so once again it is highly lamentable that this story suffers from being partly lost. It is so irritating that the BBC saw fit to destroy such brilliant serials as The Crusade. If everything else was rubbish in The Crusade and just Will saved it, then it would still be brilliant. But nothing in The Crusade is rubbish, no way.
The Crusade is the perfect mix of comedy and yet horror at times. We have Walter Randall, superbly cast as the sadistic El Akir, and its obvious that he relishes playing the role due to the fact that he's just so flipping good at it. Bernard Kay and Saladin too is perfectly cast, and Bernard gives the role many good and interesting layers, whilst being more subtle than Walter, he is all the more sinister and palpable.
Maureen Obrien really shines with Will Hartnell in this one, there is a level of comraderie between them that outshines even the best scenes Will had with Carole Ann Ford beforehand. Maureen gives by far her best performance here, pretending to be a boy for most of the tale so as not to land in trouble.
Jacqueline Hill delights again as Barbara, and this is perhaps her most involved story of them all, as it really is her story overall, yet still all the other characters dont fade into the background. William Russell too is as reliable as ever as Ian. The opening sword fight sequences are extremely well done for the time.
And then we come to Julian Glover and Jean Marsh. Douglas Camfield definitely picked the cream to play these two parts. Julian delivers a peaked performance as the troubled King Richard, and Jean Marsh as Joanna is an inspiration and joy to watch. All of them just spark off each other so very well indeed and make the script positively glow with life.
There is a gritty realism to the Crusade that was only matched by The Massacre and Marco Polo, it is truly an outstanding historical tale that explores its themes very well indeed and even in the restricted audio medium, this story is just phenomenal.
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| A lot better than most stories... |
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| What: | Death to the Daleks (BBC classic series videos) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 17 June 2011 |
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| Rating: | 9 |
The opening five minutes of this story are probably the most eerie and chilling scenes in the entire history of Doctor Who. The atmosphere is palpable and the Exillons make a distinctly disturbing villain, given their blank skull mask faces. They frightened the living rubbish out of me when I first saw this tale.
This serial seems to be one of the least remembered Dalek stories of all of them, but I just cannot see why. Right OK yeah Ill list the bad bits first, of which there arent that many. The first is the fight between the dalek and the root, one can clearly see that between blows from the root the dalek isnt moving at all, and does look a bit odd for that reason. And its got a very noticeable wire attachment too hasnt it that root?! The other sore point is yes, the score. Those sax bits just dont work at all, and make the drama far less impacting for it. But those scraper bits are brilliant, and that whistling eerie sound too are excellent. And those though are the only bad things I can find in this tale.
Bellal is another in the long line of extremely likeable characters, and is played to perfection by Arnold Yarrow. The Daleks too are brilliantly voiced by Michael Wisher. The acting front is particularly good too. Jill Tarrant and Dan Galloway are brilliant characters, and John Abineri is in this tale for far too short a time. That Dalek getting its head mashed in by the exillons is a brilliant scene!
The plot here too isnt convuluted, and the design of the city is excellent. And those anti body exxilons are quite frankly skanky and horrific looking, one of the best designs from the Jon Pertwee era of the show. Mind you, maybe that episode three cliffhanger is a little bit wierd and totally uneventful, although in its wholly abridged film version its good, as the story just continues on its way very well indeed.
Its good to see the Daleks on the recieving end of some destruction for once, and good idea of making them helpless, at least for a little while. So actually overall (because those bad points dont detract hardly at all from the good points) another very strong dalek story from a very strong writer indeed.
Jon and Elizabeth too are just gelling so very well indeed and they really bounce off each other brilliantly.
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| Absolutely cool release I cant wait for! |
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| What: | Earth Story (BBC classic series DVDs/Blu-rays) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 17 June 2011 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
The Gunfighters has always suffered a lot of flack. And Im here to say that this is totally unwarranted. The Gunfighters for a start is the only western oriented programme ive ever liked. Here there is plenty of comedy, along with plenty of decent drama too though. The character of Doc Holliday is brilliantly over the top, and to see Lawrence Payne in his earliest Doctor Who role is great. Peter purves gives a great performance as Steven and yet for me it is the brilliant Jackie Lane who sparkles here. Her cocking the pistol at Holliday and then nearly fainting from the thought of having to really use it was a great scene for me. William Hartnell of course doesnt need much talk. He clearly relishes this story, and his performance is truly one of the strongest ever. He could have worked so well ina western film. He has all the right attributes. One of the most wrongly maligned tales in the whole of the series. Yeah, okay it might not be wholly true to actual events, but its a ripping great yarn that still pleases this 25 year old after all these years.
The Awakening is possibly the strongest two parter in the original series of Doctor Who, except for maybe Black Orchid. There is so much atmosphere packed into this two parter. The acting standard is very high indeed and the design of the Mauls is highly imaginative and convincing. And for once its actually not a failure in the fact that its only in one place for the whole of the story. Peter Davison is perhaps at his strongest and most confident, and Janet Fielding is always a star. Mark Strickson brings his yet again slightly meagre offering as Turlough still to brilliant life. The character of Will though is a spark of genius. And I would have wished for him to stay on as a regular! He was so funny and yet so well portrayed too. The beheading scene of the soldier, although not shown too graphically is still a shocking horrific moment, and makes this story all the darker and more impacting.
So just to lay it down for you all, Earth Story contains two very very strong stories indeed, One riveting and funny comedy, and one strong sci fi horror story. Very good stuff indeed.
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| One loves oddball stories. |
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Raine Creevy is a brilliant character and Beth Chalmers is the perfect choice to play her. Shes got just the right kind of voice for the safe cracking individual.
The first excellent idea here is having her break into a house to steal jewels from the safe, only to find Doc Who squatting down inside it. This is a very good idea and is pretty funny too.
The plot twists here are also not predictable, which is always such a brilliant thing. One can get tired of the same plot elements all of the time. That it should turn out that the stuff Raine has nicked is her Dad's is a neat little twist for a start.
The Metatraxi too are a brilliant creation. Wonderfully comedic stuff with their broken translator makes for a pitch perfect funny ha ha moment amidst the far more serious elements of the story. John Banks is so wonderfully camp as the leader of the Metatraxi.
Sylvester McCoy is good as the Doctor who thinks he's got a foolproof masterplan, but as usual it goes rather vastly wrong. And the death of the Prince near episode threes ending is very shocking and a real piece of horror in this sci fi gem.
All the characters here are well rounded and get a decent amount of stuff to do all throughout the story. one is lamenting the fact that these stories were never done on the screen when the series got cancelled. Sylv at last gets the chance to return to his brilliantly different persona that he first brought to life so well on the screen all those years ago.
One loves the banter between Ace and Raine towards the end of this story. Sophie Aldred is just as brilliant and dependably strong and mouthy as ever. She always will be a firm favourite of mine amidst the world of companions.
The plot of this story is also not simple either, one has to really listen to keep up with all the happenings along the way up until the exceptionally good climax. Andrew Cartmel really did well with his earlier Winter For The Adept, and to hear his tales originally intended for the screen is brilliant. And its even more good when the story is as good as Crime of the Century.
Im really looking forward to seeing what happens when the next lost sory comes along in the shape of Animal.
This story captures all the spice of the seventh doctors TV era, the Doc is more mysterious and manipulative but at the same time still as moral and excellent of fibre as he ever was. One loves this excellent slant to the character that had long not been all that present in the series. Its gets you thinking wether you really know the Doctor at all.
So this story has it all, comedy, action, plenty of bangs and flashes. Great dialogue and not too long episodes. What could more ask of a Doctor Who story? I hope their are far more like this great tale in the future from big finish. They dont half know how to make brillliant stories these guys. Its great, given the fact that the TV series now is so largely klamentably moronic and dull and uninspiring to say the least. This comes from the period where Doctor Who was the best programme on TV, and this story fits in their like a piece of the jigsaw.
Well done Andrew, a brilliant story.
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| More developement for cool Turlough |
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| What: | Kiss of Death (Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures) |
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| By: | Matthew David Rabjohns, Bridgend, United Kingdom |
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| Date: | Friday 17 June 2011 |
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| Rating: | 10 |
Good to hear Mark Strickson getting another really decent story. Hes being far well better served in this audio series, especially in these last two trilogys. This story is excellent for a whole lot of other reasons too. It has all the companions being strong and getting a very good chunk of the script too. Peter Davison again is brilliant and flawless in this very atmospheric production. Love Janet Fielding as Tegan, and again here she is particularly meaty and fantastically written into the story, what with her escape from those thugs that are seeking to open the Vault. And Sarah Sutton is her typical brilliant self too.
Its nive to hear some more of the back story for Turlough too. Deela is a real manipulative little minx, and the other characters are your typical yet brilliant morons of the highest order. The sound design too once is again is highly effective, you really feel youre in a freezing hole somewhere. The Morass is a particularly effective and interesting alien thing too. All the elements of the script come together very strongly, better than Stephen's earlier The Land of The Dead by far.
And we get the return of the gravity wells too, from his second audio for BFP, from The Apocalypse Element. And here they aree utilised and explained far clearer. But still the best factor of this story is Mark. A great character indeed, and his acting here is particularly good. This continues the high note set by Heroes of Sontar, and One looks forward to whats to come in the next story, Rat Trap...
