Dark Tides                                                

The Ninth Doctors Adventures 4.7                                                                            

It maybe the future where the Doctor and Rose have travelled but its also a era of decline, a dark age. The Knights of Atlas seek a treasure aboard a lost ship, now reachable from the Dark tides.

This is a welcome change from the Powell estate audios. The future, space, spaceships - a bit of space opera. Though with the Knights, and Rose being called ‘fair maiden’ there’s a hint of an historical, though it doesn’t last that long. It does feel that the Doctor is back where he belongs. 

The lost ship isn’t as deserted at it first appears, something, or rather someone is on board. A ghost? A hologram? Or some kind of alien? Whatever she is, Dr Vivian Rest is alive. Played by Doon Mackichan; I’ve enjoyed her work since the nineties with Alan Partridge, and its tempting to say she steals the show, but I wouldn’t quite go that far. She is well cast, and is on par with Michelle Gomez’s Missy. Just a delight to listen to and leaves you wanting more. 

There are some stand out moments, a space walk, nicely illustrated by the sound effect. Of course there are deaths and some a little chilling. The story doesn’t forget its setting, the fact that they are in dark times. As its mentioned that even though the lost ship is old they no longer have same level of tech. The Dark tides region of space is a interesting concept, the idea not as explored as much as I’d of liked maybe.

I remember Steven Moffat saying that what used to be part one of the classic series is now the pre titles sequence, and he was right. Here it seems that its just the Doctor turning up and saying hello. But its a minor quibble.

Its a pretty enjoyable adventure, not quite a masterpiece but still good.