Seagullslost's Doctor Who (and others) audio reviews

Death Of Empire Blake’s 7 Crossfire 4.12 The war between the presidents has come to a head, two armies fighting a space war, but where does the Liberator stand in all this? Serverlan is hiding away with a ship on standby, Zeera Ros is there for company - though she has appeared in the last few episodes she hasn’t really left a mark on me. Its not looking good for Serverlan. As for the Liberator crew; they’ve already decided who they were siding with, and now’s the time to help. Its a bit more of an action episode, and is fulfilling the “crossfire” title, but I would have liked more of this beforehand. It does go someway to explain Serverlans’ change into Sleer. Also mentions of the old presidents clones. Avon and co are not exactly at the heart of the story though, the presidents, the war,. They turn up get shot at and fail to achieve much. Tarrant still recovering from last episode’s deeds. Things end on a low note for them and presumably to be resolved the the ‘Restoration” series. T...

Hooklight The Fifth Doctor Adventures A problem with the TARDIS means the Doctor, Adric, Tegan and Nyssa have landed on the planet Rift, they track the source of the issue to a museum, where a lamp seems to hold Hooklight! With high ratings, and it being a six part story (and indeed, only the first half) it feels like an epic and something special. Hooklight is a substance the shouldn’t exist, it stops time and never starts again - so don’t touch it. For The Doctor its something he must eliminate. It did remind me of a Star Trek Voyager episode, where they find the existence of an element in which there’s a directive that it must be destroyed.  It is an adventure through time and space. Sending Adric back to move the TARDIS, he goes on he own journey, meets someone who believes Adric is the Doctor he once spent a lot of time with.   The Doctor is sent back in time. Nyssa seems to have a connection with the lamp and won’t leave it - similar to Frodo and the Ring in LoTR. She do...

The Curators Egg The Companion Chronicles  12.1 The Doctor, Polly and Ben arrive on Earth, England slightly in the future. Though the Brontosaurus might make them think otherwise. Its been a hundred years since the Dalek invasion, some kind of glass globe with a mini earth inside is allowing a  billionaire to create Cybernetic dinosaurs, Every home should have one… Its an interesting set up, and we’ve had far more convoluted ideas in DW. This is an odd one for the CC range, usually there’s only 2 actors, but with Anneke Wills as Polly and Elliot Chapman as Ben. Frazer Hines is also here playing the 2nd Doctor, so it comes across more as an early adventure.  There’s no Jamie as this is set early on in the 2nd Doctor era, as the Doctor being ‘The Examiner” is referenced, a well as he’s the Doctor. The Doctor and Ben are written out mid episode one. There's lots of exposition at the start of part 2. Dinosaurs have been escaping and the billionaire has been in an accident so ...

Kith and Kin Blake’s 7 Crossfire 4.11 Tarrant is off on his own in this one. A personal mission on the planet Corrolos, and what’s his brother got to do with it? Once again, having decided on a way to bring the war between the presidents to a more speedy end in the last episode, they don’t to it. Though Tarrants kept his secrets to himself, Avon isn’t so trusting and sent Cally down ahead of him.  Its not a bad setup, the planet is a bit out of the way - a retirement colony for the rich. Though all isn’t perfect. The residents haven’t been told the whole truth, and not as safe as they think. There are some nice melons of Star One, its destruction meaning that it no longer supports Corrolos. We find that Tarrant, having lost one brother is looking for the other, but not in the happy family reunion that you may think. A good audio

Refuge Blake’s 7 Crossfire 4.10 The war between the presidents is taking its toll on the people. Can the gang help? There is some nice discussion between the Liberator crew at the start, How to bring the war to an end sooner, for the good of the people who are suffering? The answer is obvious, but its up to Avon to suggest it, and its not a popular option. It does seem they’re going to take decisive action and looks to be an interesting audio, but then they get waylaid. In the middle of nowhere away from the space lanes there’s another ship, emitting an encoded message.  With the pilot an old acquaintance of Villa’s he’s in a good position to find out why he’s carrying  people in cryogenicc sleep. This ticks all the boxes, though its not the adventure as it began as. Double dealings, friends who aren’t to be trusted, misdirection, the federation ever present, its got all the classic hallmarks.  It is nice to have the full gang, with Yasmin Bannerman doing a great job as D...

Ministry Of Truth  Blake’s 7 Crossfire 4.9 Propaganda in the form of television drama, pumped out to the masses. The exploits of the Federation again the evil rebels. Though there is one who’d like to go beyond the limits and do an episode from the rebels point of view… It is a few minutes before the Liberator crew get involved. Its only Avon, Cally and Tarrant. It wasn’t until I listened to the next episode, that it really felt like Blakes 7, with Villa, Orac etc. I didn’t realise how much I missed them. The facility is more than just a place for making TV, it hides a secret, and there’s a traitor at work. Which is maybe why both the federation and Liberator show up. So the usual stand off situation,  I listened in bits over a few days, and though I got into it, I was never that excited by it, and I do feel a proper listen is best. There are some classic B7 motifs, and Avon living up to his reputation. A reasonable tale.

Power Game  Doctor Who the Monthly Range 248b Kamelion has been missing for three weeks, its York, the 1980’s and that’s just the beginning. This hits the ground running, but not only has Kamelion gone but now they’ve lost Tegan as well. Tegan herself finds she’s on a TV gameshow, how she got there is a bit of a mystery as she no idea how shearrived. The show pops up at various times on different channels in the middle of other programs. It’s a good start, no faffing about and with this a two parter that’s probably a good idea. The Tv show gives contestants challenges, when they fail they’re out, interestingly enough there are no prizes, and the contestants soon forget about their real lives.  It’ll be no surprise that the gameshow isn’t real and is a veneer for what’s really going on. We’ve had stories such as this before so you know what the deal is and you’re waiting for the big reveal. The Doctor and Turlough happen to find someone else who was taken by the game, and set t...

Thirteen O’Clock                                                                                    The Ninth Doctor Audios 4.6                                                                                               If you’ve been flowing this series then this is more of the same.  The Powell Estate and something is wrong. It does start out with the Doctor and Rose on board the TARDIS trying to see how far they can get away from the estate, but back they go. This time people are isolated, afraid and trying to navigate is impossible as corr...

Black Thursday Doctor Who the Monthly range 248a The Doctor,Tegan, Turlough and Kamelion arrive in a coal mine in Wales, in the early 1900’s. A gas explosion means the Tardis team are thrust into middle of it, helping where they can. Its not a bad setting and setup. Mentions of the pit ponys who spend their lives in the mines, afterdamp, and as a historical, informing you as well as entertaining. Though I did enjoy the first part, I lost interest during the second. I do appreciate the fact the BF have tried to do more for Kamelion, but it seems so obvious that the character is very limited. In this story rather than being ‘possessed’ by someone he gets taken over by the grief of a woman who has lost her husband and son. It is a different take on Kamelion but the fact that he is still unable to assert his own freewill and is consumed by outside influence does mean its the same issue.  There is a nice reference early on about the Doctors back - a reference to the damage in the previo...