This was an awkward one to review, as it felt to recent to re-listen to it retrospectively, yet it was obviously far too long ago to review it from memory. Still, there were worst things to relisten to than the introduction of The Eleven, and the debut story of Helen Sinclair (though mostly because it’s a really good story, rather than for the debut itself) So while it may be a fair few years before I review the rest of Doom Coalition, let’s take a look how it started, shall we?
Continuing the many audio companions of the Eighth Doctor we have Molly O’Sullivan, who appears solely in the Dark Eyes series of audios. Dark Eyes begins the Eighth Doctor’s transfer from the single-disc “Eighth Doctor Adventures” range to series of four, four-story boxset “series”, a theme that continues today, although that really begin with Dark Eyes 2, as this boxset was clearly written as a stand-alone story, a four-parter in all but name, which is why I’m reviewing the whole box rather than splitting it in half like I do for later releases. With all that being said, is it any good? Erm…
When I announced this Audio/Comic companion marathon I actually excluded Tamsin Drew because in reality she’s just a cog in the larger Lucie Miller storyline and only lasts two or three stories as an actual Doctor companion, but you know what? The Eighth Doctor names her in his death monologue, so why not? Save someone complaining I “left her out” anyway! With that all said, let’s take a look at Situation Vacant, a really fun hour of Doctor Who!
If you thought “The False Guardian / Time’s Assassin” was Daleks’ Master Plan-y, then you haven’t seen anything yet! Yes, the four part, two hour story “The Perfect Prisoners” goes even more all-in with its sequel to the 12-part Hartnell TV classic, including either the return of or the son of every delegate remaining from the original story, plus more! Is is worth a listen on its own, or is it just hanging on its sequel-ness? Let’s take a look!
We take a break from all the Syndicate side plots and Daleks’ Master Plan references for a more traditional, self-contained Fourth Doctor Adventure. Fever Island manages to mix a James Bond parody with a good old-fashioned Doctor Who “force from another dimension” plot to create an enjoyable hour. Let’s take a closer look…
When is using existing continuity going too far? That’s what question was on my mind while listening to this story. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very fun story that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but I do have to wonder about… well, the continuity it uses. Want to know more? Then by all means skip to the “Spoilers appear from here on out!” part of the review and find out!
The first ever Big Finish story starring Kamelion is now in the books, meaning this second (and third, I guess) story in the run has a little less intrigue around it, and if anything highlights a potential flaw in writing for the character: originality. Both stories once again feature Kamelion being influenced by another powerful mind, the only real plot point he had on TV, and a plot point from the previous audio story… Still, are Black Thursday and Power Game still worth listening to? Well…
Blood of the Daleks holds a special place in my heart, being the first audio drama I ever listened to, let alone the first Doctor Who audio story in general. It was on the radio, and having seen the TV Movie and liked Paul McGann as the Doctor, I thought I’d give it a go, and literally hundreds of Doctor Who audios have followed since! More of note in terms of this blog is that it’s the debut of Lucie “Bleedin” Miller, one of the more fun original companions, and also saw the Eighth Doctor transfer from traditional, “old Who” four roughly 30 minute episodes per story, into the “new Who” format of roughly one hour stories, with some being two parters. Also, it’s a Dalek story! Phew, that’s a lot of baggage, but does it work? Well…
This story always stuck in my head as not a very good one, and I think that mainly has to do with how the general fan opinion is that … well, it’s not very good. Upon re-listening to it for this marathon, I can confirm that… it’s not very good. Still, it introduces C’rizz to the pantheon of Eighth Doctor companions, so that’s something! Let’s take a look overall then, and then swiftly forget about it all over again…
I actually forgot about the Eighth Doctor’s run with Mary Shelley as a companion when I announced this marathon, but I will quickly add her into it, even if she only lasts three more stories after this 30-minute one… Mary’s Story is a fun one, mind you, full of good atmosphere and two very different versions of the same incarnation of The Doctor. Intrigued? Read on!
Hogan Reviews 