Big Finish Doctor Who - 2008 Subscribers Special - Return of The Krotons

The dead planet Onyakis is being plundered by the last survivors of the human race, and their leader, Commander Cobden, will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Already there are rumours of those who stand against him mysteriously disappearing. But when the Doctor and Charley find themselves on the side of those trying to expose Cobden, they discover something far more sinister.

Deep in the mines of Onyakis, alien technology is reactivating. Power is flowing. Something is forming in the darkness…

This years Big Finish ‘Subscribers Special’ sees the return of classic Doctor Who monsters ‘The Krotons’!

The Krotons only appearance on television was in December 1968, in a serial that ran until January 1969 – exactly 40 years before the release of this audio. The Krotons themselves are a strange ‘crystalline lifeform’ that need people to use ‘learning machines’ to power them.

I would advise you getting hold of a copy of ‘The Krotons’ before listening to this. I believe it is available on VHS and on ITunes. Surely it won’t be long before a DVD release?

In the audio, The Doctor and Charley find themselves lost. Not for the first time, the TARDIS is knackered and they’ve been left with no clue where (or when) they are. It turns out that this story shares some nice parallels with the 4th Doctor serial ‘The Ark in Space’, which was about human colonies. The ‘ark’ that appeared in that story (Nerva) gets a couple of mentions, which should keep old school fans happy! The story does build up rather nicely but the finish is quite disappointing.

Overall, the audio is just a bit of harmless fun that offers a good insight into The Krotons. I was a little disappointed with the pace of the story, which as mentioned, built up very well but the way everything was resolved was disappointing. However, the performances of the actors (including the legendry Philip Madoc) really do stand out rather well.

2.5/5

Big Finish Doctor Who 116 - The Raincloud Man

Having just defeated the Krotons, the Doctor is treating Charley to a hearty English breakfast, when an intriguing mystery suddenly presents itself. And to solve it, they must plunge back into the criminal underbelly of Manchester, where an old friend is up to her neck in alien trouble.

But what seemed like a mere mystery ends up being a life or death struggle at the centre of an interplanetary war in which the stakes are so high, the Doctor or Charley must gamble and lose their identity. And throughout, the lone figure of the Raincloud Man may hold the key to success or failure.

The guys over at Big Finish bring out their final story of 2008, which sees the return of Manchester and DI Menzies (played by Anna Hope) in ‘The Raincloud Man’.

One thing I can say about it, is that it is pure classic Doctor Who! The story takes a while to get going but that really makes it all the better to listen to!

With it being set after ‘Return of the Krotons’ (the subscriber’s release which is reviewed here) The Doctor and Charley find themselves having breakfast in a café. But when Charley spots something strange, about false £1 coins and Manchester, The Doctor looks up an old friend.

This turns out to be the tireless DI Patricia Menzies, who apart from doing her day job is now taking care of the aliens who ask her for help, after the events of ‘The Condemned’. She agrees to help The Doctor, any way she can but she herself is busy investigating a number of strange deaths. When Charley accompanies her on a visit to an alien who can see the ‘possibilities of time’, she is told that she must tell The Doctor the truth about herself. But when the alien turns up dead, Charley is arrested for murder…

It’s another intriguing story that adds more mystery to Charley’s story. It can run the risk of being a little bit tedious but for how its okay! The audio also takes a nice twist after the second part and the story benefits from it.

Once again Anna Hope was outstanding and here’s hoping she can return again. Michael Fenton-Stevens also offers great support as the mysterious boat-owner, Brooks.

Overall it’s a very good story that is a little slow in places but still manages to make you listen to every word!

3.5/5

Next Time: It’s the start of ‘The Key 2 Time’ trilogy as the Fifth Doctor is joined by new companion Amy in ‘The Judgement of Isskar’

Big Finish Doctor Who - The Stageplays - The Ultimate Adventure

Big Finish have decided to adapt three Doctor Who stage plays onto audio, the first of which is ‘The Ultimate Adventure’. They just manage to pull it off.

The play was originally performed by Jon Pertwee from March 1989, until he became ill. David ‘Cyber Leader’ Banks took over as The Doctor, for some of his performances. It wasn’t long though until Pertwee was replaced by Colin Baker, who was sacked from his television role just three years previously. Colin reprises his role as the 6th Doctor for this audio version.

Early on it becomes obvious that this play wasn’t designed to be on audio. Everything seems a bit OTT but once everything settles down we are treated to a good story. We are introduced to the Doctor’s companion – Jason (played by former Hearsay ‘singer’ Noel Sullivan), a Frenchman saved from the guillotine by The Doctor. They materialise in London to meet Prime Minister Margret Thatcher, who wants them to protect a US envoy, who is a key man in peace talks being held in London. When they turn up, at the nightclub, the Cybermen are coming from the shadows and abduct the envoy but they are not working alone in their attempts to plunge earth into war….

The audio really gets going from part two onwards, once we are introduced to nightclub singer, Crystal (Claire Huckle), the play really goes up a notch. While it doesn’t hit the heights of Big Finish’s monthly releases, the play is adapted very well and does what its designed do - a bit of harmless fun!

The supporting cast are good and it’s great to hear David Banks back on Doctor Who. He isn’t playing the Cyber-Leader though, so there’s no chance of an “Excellent” catchphrase! Booooo!

We are also treated to the songs from the original play. Whilst there isn’t many, “Business is Business” is the standout song and the title is used as a catchphrase throughout the play. We could have done with a few more songs though!

3/5

Next Month – Trevor Martin plays The Doctor in ‘Seven Keys To Doomsday’

Big Finish Doctor Who 108 - Assassin in the Limelight

Doctor Robert Knox returns in this story, set before the assassination of American president, Abraham Lincoln and it’s almost perfect, almost!

Colin Baker and Maggie Stables make a welcome return as they end up in Ford’s Theatre but someone is already waiting for them. Add to that a plot to kill the president and a little bit of corruption, we have ourselves a story!

We learn a lot more about Doctor Knox (Leslie Philips), who first appeared in ‘Medical Purposes’, alongside David Tennant (as ‘Daft Jamie’). I think the character is a lot lighter in this and the story benefits from that. We also get a look (or listen?) inside his TARDIS, which is, of course, better than The Doctor’s!

The story itself starts off brilliantly. I’m a big fan of historical stories and we get a really good insight into the goings on in that particular time period. However, I felt the story trailed off at the end and we weren’t given enough explanations about how certain things were done in the story. There is a nice link to the story ‘Pier Pressure’ too but I don’t think it really worked as the plot went a little flat. Despite this I enjoyed it immensely!

Eric Loren (Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks) and Lysette Anthony guest star. It’s Leslie Phillips who steals the show though. I honestly didn’t believe it was him, forgive me for being an ageist!

4/5

Coming Next: Sylvester McCoy runs into the ‘Death Collectors’. Star Trek fans (SCUM!) will collect anything won’t they?

Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf

“I didn’t need drugs to be transported away from the mundanity and frustrations of life – I had the Mind Robber on VHS”

Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf

Being a Doctor Who fan, for many, is a way of life. Like any way of life, some people abandon it, some fall out of love with it and some never leave it. Toby Hadoke never left it.

‘Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf’ was (and still is) a part of Toby’s regular stand-up routine. It’s a life story set in the background of the Saturday evening battles against the evil of the universe. It tells of the joy we all feel when our favourite television program flickers into life. How we get away from real life and go, well, anywhere, with our hero – The Doctor.

We are given a tale of growing up, being bullied, going to university, getting jobs and having kids. All of these connected in some way with his obsession of a television program.

Struggles of a childhood which were spent in the company of the good Doctor, when his Dad left home or whenever Star Wars ‘fans’ had a pop. It isn’t just Toby’s tale that is unique. Many fans during those glorious years of the 70’s/early 80’s, will reminisce the same. Even those turbulent times in the late 80’s and the years without Doctor Who and the false dawn that was the 96 movie. Right through the novels, audios and fan conventions.

Even today, with Doctor Who being ‘cool’, there is still the same love, the same sense of pride. It’s now acceptable to be a Doctor Who fan. A new generation of children and families are tuning in. Toby’s obvious delight at his young son inheriting his love for Doctor Who is evident, maybe Toby would like to share his Dalek toys now? Ok, maybe not!

Doctor Who memorabilia such as books and audios are selling more than ever, fan conventions are being sold out as quickly as top West End shows. The show is watched by people all around the world, thanks to their ‘red eye flights’. DVD sales are stacking up in their millions. Has Doctor Who ever been so popular? How long will it last? Who cares, I know I’m a Doctor Who fan for life, even if they do bring The Kandyman back!

Funny, witty and cleverly written, ‘Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf’ is the fan’s fan audio and is well worth a listen. Louise Jameson also stars and Colin Baker makes a voice-over cameo. You can grab the story on CD and if you can catch him live, I would strongly recommend you do so!

Doctor Who isn’t a television program, it’s a way of life.

http://www.tobyhadoke.com/moths.php