6th Doctor

Doctor Who: The Crimes of Thomas Brewster Review

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DW Crimes of Thomas Brewster

That’s right, just three stories later (in the audio / comic companions debut story marathon) and we’re back with a story ending in “of Thomas Brewster”. This is also the first of three stories in this list that the companion debuting doesn’t actually become a travelling companion until later, as yes, this is the debut of the frequently annoying Flip… It’s actually funny listening to it, how clear that the story wasn’t written with the character becoming a permanent fixture in mind. With all that being said, let’s take a look at “The Crimes of Thomas Brewster”…

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Doctor Who: The Marian Conspiracy Review

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DW Marian Conspiracy

The audio and comic companion debut marathon reaches one of my favourite companions and an era of Who I’m looking forward to revisiting: Evelyn Smythe. The kindly older lady is the antithesis of what you expect from a companion, but she works so well alongside the Sixth Doctor, and her being responsible for his eventual softening is really well done. So let’s look at how it all began with The Marian Conspiracy…

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Doctor Who: The Shape Shifter & Voyager Review

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DW The Shape Shifter and Voyager

In terms of companions created for the comics, you don’t get more well known or infamous than Frobisher. The shape shifting “Whifferdill” who ends up enjoying the form of a penguin is certainly amongst the most unique companions! It’s almost a shame that I like to do these comics in batches of two (when they’re not too long, anyway), because as note-worthy as Frobisher’s debut story is, Voyager is a comic masterpiece, full of amazing imagery, beautifully written prose and some great scenes and characters. I may be covering this double bill as part of the Audio/Comic Companions Debut marathon, but Voyager deserves the most attention! Let’s have a looksie, then!

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Doctor Who: Hour of the Cybermen Review

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DW Hour of the Cybermen

Hour of the Cybermen is two things. First it’s the second in a loosely connected trilogy based on 80s UNIT (or possibly a specific member of 80s UNIT), and it’s also the long-awaited return of the more talkative, fist-clenching “EX-cellent!” shouting 80s Cybermen! On top of all that, it’s actually a really good story, so let’s take a closer look!

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Doctor Who: Iron Bright Review

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DW Iron Bright

The monthly range continues with a second “Sixth Doctor paired with a sort-of new companion for one story” … story, as The Doctor becomes paired with famed civil engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel during the time he was excavating the Thames Tunnel with his father. Sounds dull? Well, there are some ghosts… and an alien world connected to London via a bunch of portals… Also, there’s a good story as well! Hooray! Let’s have a closer look then!

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Doctor Who: The Lure of the Nomad Review

David Hogan1 Comment

DW Lure of the Nomad

The Lure of the Nomad is written by Matthew J. Elliot, the man who brought us Zaltys (hooray!) and the Silurian Candidate (Oh God no…), but which is this more like? Sadly, the answer is the latter. While it has some decent characters and ideas, they’re are either ruined by bad acting or ruined by a Part 4 that if it were visualised would literally be everyone standing around and telling their backstories to each other. Oh well, let’s have a closer look anyway…

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Doctor Who: Vengeance on Varos Review

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DW Vengeance on Varos

The Sixth Doctor’s TV story section on this blog is still barren, so let’s finally stick one of his televised stories up, shall we? Vengeance on Varos is one of the few true highlights of Colin Baker’s one regular season, full of violence, political messages and a critique on then-modern trends and TV itself… most of which is just as, if not more relevant today! Plus it’s a good story in and of itself, messages aside. So let’s take a look at it!

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Doctor Who: Static Review

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DW Static

A little late with the main range this month, but that was solely due to not wanting to “over-Who” my blog by putting the audio releases up at the same time as the Regeneration Marathon. Anyway! Static concludes this three release… “season”? … of Sixth Doctor stories with Constance and Flip, and does so in a really well told, creepy fashion! Let’s take a look…

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Doctor Who: The Brink of Death Review

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DW The Brink of Death

After a shockingly poor “regeneration” in what is really just the Seventh Doctor’s debut story, Big Finish and Colin Baker got to “do it right” and create a story set just before the Sixth Doctor collapses mysteriously at the start of “Time and the Rani”, and here it is! “The Brink of Death” is sadly not terribly interesting, and beyond the actual regeneration scene it’s very little in the way of … anything beyond talking. Oh well! And we get so few second chances in life…

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Doctor Who: The Middle Review

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DW The Middle

After a short delay to re-subscribe to the main range, we’re back with the trio of the Sixth Doctor, Constance and Flip. Tackling the “problem” of older people’s role in our society, The Middle does a good job of tackling this issue while also creating a very alien yet believable dystopian society. Not without flaws, but pretty damn good! Let’s take a look!

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