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Asking For a Friend                                 


The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield 4.2                                       


The Doctor is having a hard time being president of the universe - a doomed universe at that, maybe some counselling will help….

The structure of this audio is that it’s a series of sessions with the Doctor and therapist intercut with a number of interactions with Benny, flashbacks and such. There is no plot as such, being more of a reveal as to why the Doctor is behaving the way is, and “not the Doctor’ according to Benny.

The Doctor is having to use diplomacy, negotiations, and bureaucracy to try and save people, planets and the universe, and its not easy. Gone are the days when’re he could sweep in, set the world to right in a day and swan off again. Now he has to stick around and deal nicely with people.

Benny’s frustrations are explored here. Her dissatisfaction with the Doctor, that cropped up in the last episode, are still present. But you do get to see what the Doctor is dealing with, and its not as easy and straightforward forward as it's thought to be.

Annette Badland plays the therapist, better know for playing a Siltheen, and is great. Again the relationship develops with her adds to the message of the story. She herself not immune to the Doctors behaviour and ways of dealing with an impossible situation.

There are mentions on the Emporium and other previous adventures. One or two great moments. It was a surprisingly good audio, and well recommended. 

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