NFET's Doctor Who Spinoff Corner

And here's a story it looks like I forgot! Destiny of the Doctor Part 3

Vengeance of the Stone - 3rd/Mike/Brig. Evil stone monuments in Scotland controlled by a stranded alien race are killing people and it’s shocking no one thought to tie this into Stones of Blood somehow. The story does a good job making you feel for its villains, even though their reasons for attacking are idiotic and their methods even more so. Charming chemistry between the Doctor and the Brigadier, mixed in with a version of Mike Yates’ origin, boost the story, but can’t save it. C+

Nathan Ford's Evil Twin - Damn, I haven't listened to Caerdroia in ages but I definitely agree - fun! Such a breath of fresh air. Lloyd Rose always feels like an under-appreciated, or at least little-rememebred, writer to me and it's good to see something she's written getting some proper respect. Almost everything she's turned out has been good to great (Algebra Of Ice was the only think of hers I've not felt was excellent, and it's still decent). I will also try to keep pace with your reviews more often, since I encouraged you to post here!

I haven't heard Vengence Of The Stone. Bugger! A gap in my knoeledge!

That's a relief. I don't think I even made it all the way through Creed of the Kromon before wandering off.

Oh hey, apparently I bought Caerdroia during one of the previous $5 sales. Neat.

Nathan Ford's Evil Twin - Yea 100 was lots and lots of fun - silly, not at all taking itself seriously, but still carrying some proper bite, and really rather wonderful. It remains such a sad thing that Maggie Stables is no longer with us. And yea, it's sad about Lloyd Rose not writing anything new, though I don't know why - there are so few female writers for Doctor Who and the ones we do get (Kate Orman, Jacqueline Rayner) tend to be really excellent so its sad to know there's someone out there who can really knock it out of the park but can't/won't/isn't. But along the same lines I find it amazing Cornell hasn't written for the TV series again since Human Nature, given how well that was received.

I've had Destiny of the Doctors sitting on my iPhone MP3 player of choice for about four months and have still yet to listen to it.  Somehow I just can't motivate myself.  Though I'm on a bit of a BF B7 kick at the moment, so maybe that's it.

TWO new things, wow wow wow.

67. Dreamtime - 7th/Ace/Hex. Simon A. Forward delivers a story that is relentlessly weird in concept, but sadly straightforward in execution. The story tries to incorporate Australian aboriginal mysticism, but it’s so surface level it’s a pointless exotic flair. Instead of any existing belief system, the story logic runs according to Word of Forward, where bizarre and strange things will happen because he says so, and such and such fixes because it does. The concept of Ayers Rock and a surrounding city being transplanted to an asteroid is great, but there’s no substance beyond being a cool image. The threat of the Dreaming, a parallel world people are sucked into, is interesting, but the story keeps changing it from a parallel world, a time travel experience, some mental link maybe? The story becomes easier to latch on to when it focuses on its more physical antagonist, the well meaning but paranoid Galyari whose attempts to help fix the city nearly doom it. Ace and Hex also help ground the story with solid characterizations, while the 7th Doctor is caught up in the Dreaming nonsense and not much help at all. Still, with the story lurching around so randomly, nothing can feel interesting or noteworthy. C


DotD 5. Smoke and Mirrors - 5th/Tegan/Nyssa/Adric. The Doctor encounters his oft mentioned friend Harry Houdini, and he betrays him to the Master for some reason? And the Master’s a ghost now? And running a circus? The writing is appropriately atmospheric for the spooky 20s carny circus setting, but little motivation or explanation is given for why the characters act the way they do, or….whatever the hell is going on with the Master in this story. C

The second C review for a monthly story in a row, and judging from the start the next one won't be much better. Drat.


68. Catch-1782 - 6th/Mel. This story, where Mel is suddenly thrown backwards into the late 18th century, has exactly two things going for it. One is a very frank and stomach churning depiction of how few rights women and the perceived mentally disabled (and especially both!) had back then. It’s hardly an original point, but it could have been an incisive one if anything was done with it other than fuel melodrama. Two is the classic twist of a compassionate character turning out to be a dick, while a gruff character turns out to really be the one with his head on straight. Also could be good stuff if either character was any interesting. Instead, Catch-1782 is content to not exert itself to hard in any direction and just meander around. All problems are fairly simply solved (sometimes through what feels like massive cheating), making everything before feel weightless and pointless. C

Unregenerate! - 7th/Mel. David A. McIntee’s script has a lot of things going for it. Nuanced and entertaining characters, loads of fascinating and fun ideas, continuing the trend of characterizing Mel as an emotionally resilient girl genius, and a great central topic I won’t spoil here. After a great in media res first episode that pulls you into the story, the action remains sadly flat. The great first episode manages to string you along the central mysteries (Why is the Doctor insane and in a mysterious asylum?) but the eventual answers are so unpredictable, their reveal is more of an “oh” than the intended “aha!”. And though McIntee loves his characters enough to give each one interest, he loves them too much, and is unable to make anyone out to be much of a villain or do anything truly objectionable. The one character he decides to designate as antagonist has to be cartoonishly so to compensate for the lackadaisical attitude her fellow “villains” have, and even then remains mostly ineffective. This has the weird effect of a middle section that’s unurgent running around and exposition to bring the audience up to speed, and a super flat conclusion that is, in essence, the Doctor lecturing people. After all the intriguing build-up, the story winds up having the momentum of a wiki article. The story ends like one of those awkward goodbyes to a sort of friend that winds up going on a little bit longer than the friendship deserves cause neither party is sure what the last word should be. Oh wait, that’s literally the end to this story. C+


Bernice Summerfield 5.1. The Grel Escape - I can’t believe it, but here we have a Bernice Summerfield story that’s finally as effortlessly fun as the series tries to and fails to be most of the time. The biggest boon is having Jacqueline Rayner as author. She’s an amazing writer that bring the series (and Benny) right back to the light and fun tone of her also penned Oh No It Isn’t. To help she’s brought that story’s great villains, the Grel, back as well, and borrowed the structure of The Chase, which is a great structure to copy for my money. The Daleks are swapped for the Grel and the Doctor and co. are swapped for Benny, her ex Jason, friendly Grel Sophia, and Benny’s toddler son Peter, whose playing with Time Rings kicks the plot forward. Like both mentioned predecessors, the story is mostly a collection of really fun comedic interludes, though here the series gets to with what it’s developed for Jason to give him a strong character arc. His and Benny’s fascinating relationship continues to find more layers. It’s a deft mix of tones that pays off very well, hopefully this is a sign the series has figured out what works. A-

It's been such a mixed bag for me so far. Oh No it Isn't and Just War from the first season are worth a listen, and you can do that right now cause all the S1 stories are mostly standalone adaptations of Virgin novels. There's a loose arc linking them, but one that doesn't impact it much and is easily researchable, and certainly not worth suffering through the bad ones for unless you're a completionist. From season 2 on all of the stories are original, and of all of those Grel Escape really is the first one that impressed me. Confusing and hurting matters are the fact that Big Finish put out tie-in novels that are actually necessary to understand the overarching story and very expensive to get over here, so there's going to be gaps. So right now I'd say it's for completionists only, but from what I understand I'm just now closing in on the best years, so I'll keep you updated with what I find.

Anyways, reviews!

Hinchcliffe Presents: The Ghosts of Gralstead - 4th/Leela. With his first story since leaving the show way back when, Hinchcliffe returns without missing a beat. Gralstead is up there with some of his best work on the show, drawing many comparisons to Talons of Weng-Chiang, Brain of Morbius, Seeds of Doom, and all of them favorable ones. The gothic horror at the center of this story is Mordrega, a monster who’s kills are as brutal as a zombie, but is far more vocal. Carolyn Seymour’s performance is spine tingling, all power and rage, beautifully complemented by the delightfully disgusting sounds of her tearing through her victims. If this story made it to TV, we’d be seeing dozens of novels and audios about her for sure. Also like any good Hinchcliffe story, the supporting cast around the tale shines. Sir Edward plays the sniveling humanity sellout role with a perfect simper, while his kindly brother Gregory makes a perfect foil, for Edward and the Doctor. There’s a fun Burk and Hare riff in Bulmer and Davey, and the joyfully creepy Clementine, but the real standout among the guest cast is Abasi. Hinchcliffe writing an African character in a Victorian setting and using him as a gateway to the exocitism of the Congo seems worrisome on paper, but this is a far cry from the...let’s go with problematic Talons of Weng Chiang. Abasi is nuanced in being torn between his heritage and his upbringing in Victorian London, and also manages to be very badass and a great match for Leela as well. All of the Congo based elements and actions are treated with respect and not used as a punchline or for cheap exoticism. It’s a remarkable step up from the 70s, a fine example of how the writing can be modernized without straying from its roots. But as always, the real stars are the Doctor and his companion. Baker and Jamieson still shine all these years later. Baker’s delivery contains all that wise mysticism and sharp wit that make him such a great lead, while Jamieson can still bring all the deep wells ferocity and curiosity Leela has. The story gets a bit nonsense near the end, but it’s remarkably well paced given the six episode length. There’s so much great story to pick through, even when it ends you’ll find yourself wanting more time with these characters. Gralstead is near perfect, with so many classic elements working for it, it can proudly stand next to its predecessors, and fully justifies this master’s return to the series he made so great. A-


Bernice Summerfield 5.2. The Bone of Contention - Benny’s adventure on to the clutch to recover an artifact is a bit too predictable. Every plot turn is telegraphed for miles, meaning it’s down to the details of the story to save it from tedium. It kind of manages. The Clutch was a fascinating setting in The Sandman and remains so here, and the Galyari are a fun race I always like to see more of. Mordecan is a fine foil for Benny, his grifter type is a very familiar character, but Robin Bowerman brings the same amount of likable charisma that he did to The Sandman, and helps that he’s playing across his sister. Speaking of, that sister, yet again, delivers a fantastic performance, easily outshining every element around her. Really, this line doesn’t deserve Lisa Bowerman’s consistently layered and emphatic performance, but I’m so glad it’s there. She’s wonderful, even when her character turns absurd due to some mental manipulation and she spends most of the climax shouting hysterically, you still feel that she means every line. It’s her commitment that saves this otherwise standard story. B

🐍 huss 🐍 - I actually listen to these as a sleep aid, so I can relate lol. This'll backfire when an episode is very exciting, but the generally calm sweeping music and dulcet British accents make for remarkably relaxing listening. Then I use an online recap to find where I was in the morning and continue from there, (either right then till the end of the "episode", or the next night).

Now in honor of Davros' return to TV, I reviewed one of his well regarded Big Finish appearances. I...did not regard it well!


Terror Firma - 8th/Charley/C’rizz. Eight is back in our universe! And Russell and co. choose to inaugurate the occasion with McGann’s first square off against Davros. Their battle of wills and philosophy lives up to some of the best encounters with Davros, from the classic Genesis, to last Saturday’s Witch’s Familiar. It’s fascinating how even though these confrontations generally hit the same beats each writer can still find new variations on it which is what makes Davros such a special character. Though I’m now gonna contradict myself and say it’s a shame he sucks up all the oxygen out of this story. This story is all about Davros, his conversation with the Doctor nearly takes up a whopping three episodes in this four episode story. Long dialogues about how he and the Doctor aren’t so different, and his despair over being absorbed and betrayed by his own creations is interspersed with a long line of tragedies Davros inflicts on the Doctor and the human race just to show how evil he is. Some of these acts are absolutely flooring, the now famous twist involving Samson and Gemma is famous for a reason and even knowing it going in, the way it’s sold is still shocking storytelling. One major disadvantage though is most it is Davros describing what he has done, the character actually does little in the story. This means we essentially sit through an hour of exposition, exposition told in a frustrating and random order to preserve every twist for the appropriate cliffhanger moments. And since it’s All About Davros, this leaves us with Charley and C’rizz sidelined throughout. C’rizz essentially runs in place for the first 3/4ths of the story, and just as his subplot finds it’s hook it has to wrap up the action (in a very chilling way, but it still feels rushed). Charley is hit worse, sidelined to uselessness. Even major guest character Samson and Gemma are mostly walking plot devices, important for what they represent but little actual character shines through. There’s also little room for the story to resolve satisfyingly (I despise the incredibly banal and rushed way the Doctor saves the day in the end), and it’s hard to take the happy ending the story sells seriously when it doesn’t even attempt to address or undo the serious and huge extent of Davros’ actions. This is a story with fantastic ideas, that push Who into one of the darkest places it’s ever been, it’s a shame it feels essentially like an excellently narrated Wikipedia article. B

The Council of Nicaea - 5th/Peri/Erimem. We return to a purely historical story with Erimem, who puts in her best work yet. The idea of changing history is one that Who always has to tread on eggshells on, given the morality inherent in the question. If the Doctor can go anywhere and do anything, why can’t he save everyone? Having Erimem directly challenge this attitude at the Council of Nicaea, the summit where the Roman state endorsed Christian theology was laid out and had disastrous consequences for any dissenters, is a great setting for the argument. The consequences at stake are so human culture defining that it’s easy to side with the Doctor’s non-interference policy, but the direct look at how fucked up Rome’s lack of freedom of speech and repression of rebels makes Erimem crusade to bring justice for dissenting priest Arius feel important. Placing this story in the 4th century also helps drive the tension, though we know the history we remember must take it’s course, the lack of records from that time give the Doctor and Erimem to have much more freedom in how they can influence what’s around them. Caroline Symcox fills out a brilliant supporting cast around them, each with their own views and vibrant personalities. This plus a great sound design create a very immersive atmosphere. Constantine in particular is both a highlight and a problem. David Bamber’s performance is excellent, but the character swerves too often between a calm and righteous leader and knife wielding maniac. This unsure footing pays off in the end though, as the climax hinges on the Doctor not being sure what the emperor will do next. Though the plotting leaves bits to be desired, mostly running from location to location in between speechifying and debate, Symcox raises some important and fascinating questions in those debates that give Davison and Morris chances to shine. Morris’ monologues in particular are brilliant, filled with fire and energy. Definitely worth your time, Nicaea is a perfect example of how to do a historical right. A-


Bernice Summerfield 5.3a. Silver Lining - Another half hour bonus story, and as with the rest this is mostly a one note tale, set-up and punchline. Featuring the Cybermen, though their presence is fairly superfluous, the real highlight is Nicholas Briggs in a performance that’s not behind a vocal distorter. And as always, Lisa Bowerman is delightful, getting in loads of snappy one liners and showing off her archeological acumen. A fun trifle. B

I swear these just keep getting longer and longer. I almost hope Big Finish lobs me another boring story soon so I can say "it was boring, C"


Thicker than Water - 6th/Mel/Evelyn. Penning a companion departure story has to be an inenviable task. Make the departure too sudden and it does a disservice to the bond said companion and Doctor have formed. Draw out the inevitable conclusion too long and it becomes an emotional slog. Paul Sutton has a stroke of genius then when he figures out how to address the departure of the beloved Evelyn: have her already be gone. It helps that we’ve already had several stories after her departure, we know what the status quo without her looks like so we can just jump to there and double back to fill in the circumstances. But still, Evelyn’s quiet, unflashy, but resolute decision to leave the Doctor and reunite with old flame Rossiter from “Arrangements For War” is a very effective flashback. Playing off the relationship between the two characters and Evelyn’s own development, it’s a natural conclusion to the character’s arc. Putting such a quiet exit at the front of the story means it doesn’t have to serve as a tacked on footnote to another adventure, and means we get to explore what separation means for the Doctor and Evelyn. Their reconciliation across the story is very sweet, and the final scene is a heartwarming moment of honesty. Given the focus on Evelyn, it’s fair that Mel gets neglected bit, but Sutton throws her a bone by letting her figure out the villain’s scheme. To fit all this in, it means the actual dramatic story has to take a backseat. This is welcome after the overstuffed “Arrangements”, but the story feels undercooked. Character motivations feel very sketched in, the main villain is especially a non-entity. Though Rossiter benefits from being a returning character, his daughter Sofia is just not given enough character to justify all the time we spend with her this story, which is a shame because Rachel Pickup gives the character a lot of life. The story is boringly predictable and low stakes, and as the characters get jerked through the motions it’s just filler between the beautiful character moments between our principle players. But once those moments starting hitting after the far too pat resolution, a lot of these criticisms melt away. I’m glad there’s still a couple more Six and Evelyn stories ahead of me, cause they are truly a magnificent pair. B+

Now you see Nathan Ford's Evil Twin this is really interesting because I really loved Live 34 yet I'm led to believe it had a generally poor reputation. I went into it knowing absolutely nothing about it and was listening through an enforced Saturday working when I should have been at home with a hangover. But I was utterly engrossed by it, and I loved the stylistic experiment (and honestly, I wish BF would do more of that kind of experimentation). Hex is not, by some distance, my favourite BF companion, yet Live 34 finds a way to make him not only interesting but actually compelling, it uses his nurse's background as something more than just background (but without it feeling shoehorned in) and he generally shines here. Ace feels like more "New Ace" than we're maybe used to in the 7th main range but that's OK (and Aldred's on fine form here). And of course this is the perfect use of the 7th Doctor, and another stand-out performance from McCoy. I really, really loved this story and cannot recommend it highly enough.

EDIT - I should say something about "Thicker Than Water".  It's fine.  Solid B stuff.  It's not how I really wanted to see Evelyn go out, though I approve of everything being low-key and underplayed and that feels fitting.  It's more that Rossiter is a better idea on paper than in execution, where I find him a bit... bland I suppose.  Though it works as a call back to "Arrangements", as you say, there's just something about it that doesn't quite sit right with me, though I'm having a hard time pinning down what.  Maggie Stables and Colin Baker are perfect, obviously, and Our Bonnie does fine despite clearly being the fifth wheel here (third wheel? You know what I mean).  There's nothing bad here, and this is a perfectly solid story - it's just never more than that.

Nathan Ford's Evil Twin - Interesting spin off spin off. Are the books worth the effort? I must admit I haven't ready them (yes it's true, there's actually some Doctor Who out there that I haven vociferously consumed!)

Nathan Ford's Evil Twin. May I just say... WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


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