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Post by Star Platinum on Dec 6, 2017 18:07:13 GMT
Master
Another great story from the Main Range.
The atmosphere in this story is fantastic. It’s a claustrophobic story with great performances all around.
Geoffrey Beevers is phenomenal in this. His John Smith is a wonderfully layered character, where you can see the master seeping through at times.
Philip Madoc also puts in a fantastic performance as the increasingly unstable Victor Shaeffer. Seeing his sanity slowly slip away as the events of this night slowly get to him is excellent.
I really enjoyed the psychology of the story, about how the mind of a man like the master works.
This is one of the first stories I listened too and it’s remained a favourite ever since.
9/10
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Post by mark687 on Dec 6, 2017 21:16:35 GMT
You know what comes next.....
Regards
mark687
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Post by Star Platinum on Dec 7, 2017 0:31:54 GMT
You know what comes next..... Regards mark687 The only story Big Finish has publicly apologized for.
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Post by Star Platinum on Dec 7, 2017 0:34:58 GMT
Exile
We’ve reached the cheese barrier!
What’s a pylon? In Canada they’re short little orange things used for marking off areas. If the doctor jumped off one of those, she’d have fallen about a foot.
That aside, this is a dreadful story.
The doctors a woman with a serious drinking problem who is burping and vomiting her way through a life as a human.
Frankly, this is abominable. This should never have been green light. How the BBC thought it was ok was beyond me.
The worst part is that at the very core of this story is a great idea. The Doctor is so terrified of the time lords that they force a regeneration and hide out trying to live a human life. It’s a fantastic idea, but the execution is just brutal.
I will say, that after she consults the Doctor in the vodka bottle the story picks up and gets better.
The last twenty minutes or so are an improvement, once Weir stops drinking and starts acting like the doctor she does a good job of it.
Bad, don’t even bother.
1/10
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Post by mark687 on Dec 7, 2017 0:40:31 GMT
Exile We’ve reached the cheese barrier! What’s a pylon? In Canada they’re short little orange things used for marking off areas. If the doctor jumped off one of those, she’d have fallen about a foot. That aside, this is a dreadful story. The doctors a woman with a serious drinking problem who is burping and vomiting her way through a life as a human. Frankly, this is abominable. This should never have been green light. How the BBC thought it was ok was beyond me. The worst part is that at the very core of this story is a great idea. The Doctor is so terrified of the time lords that they force a regeneration and hide out trying to live a human life. It’s a fantastic idea, but the execution is just brutal. I will say, that after she consults the Doctor in the vodka bottle the story picks up and gets better. The last twenty minutes or so are an improvement, once Weir stops drinking and starts acting like the doctor she does a good job of it. Bad, don’t even bother. 1/10 I meant the "other" one but fair comment
Next up
"He sits inside your head"
Regards
mark687
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Post by Star Platinum on Dec 7, 2017 5:27:34 GMT
Zagreus
This story is a very mixed bag.
It’s an anniversary story, but it’s too trapped in the past.
It’s a good story, but it far overstays it’s welcome.
It suffers for many things, all of which drags it down and stops it from being the celebration it should have been.
I like the cast turn out and how it was applied. I know they got flack for how no one played the characters they were known for, but to have them playing they’re normal roles would have bloated the story even more.
Paul McGann does a good job in this story, but I do feel that he’s wasted in this story. He’s isolated for the majority of the story having only the Pertwee recordings and a few minutes with Conrad Westmass for most of the story.
Nick Courtney is marvelous in this story. Casting him as the Tardis is a stroke of genius. Seeing him turn on the Doctor is a mixed moment (I don’t think having the doctor stripped of his companion and Tardis is a good idea for the 40th) but you can clearly tell he’s having a fantastic time doing it.
India does most of the legwork in this story, what with McGann ranting for the majority of the story. She’s pushing the plot forward and gets a ton of time with the not Doctors. But her time near the end of the story reeks of melodrama.
Davison, Baker and McCoy gets to spread their acting wings in this story. Davison is excellent as Townsend I find qualities in him both admirable and despicable. Baker is great as Tepesh in the Gallifrey projection, but the character falters and becomes a gibbering wreck after reaching the death zone. McCoy is again the weakest link, but that might be because I don’t care for Winkle.
The score is excellent in this, certainly befitting the doom and gloom present in the story.
It’s a very flawed story, it definitely needed another draft or two (shorten the projections especially the cardington one and cut the little scenes that weren’t needed, like Leela’ snot death)
I’d have cut Jon Pertwee completely. The sentiment is wonderful, but it’s impossible to make out what he’s saying.
A Truly mixed bag.
5/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Dec 8, 2017 6:45:16 GMT
The Wormery
Another story I’m slightly mixed on.
First off the performances are great. Colin is absolutely despondent in his post trial daze, I can’t really blame him for wanting a drink or two after that whole ordeal.
Katy Manning is superb as Iris. A wild drunk, claiming to hear the worms is absurd, but she makes it work. Her heartbreak is palpable when the Doctor rejects her.
Jane McFarlane’s narration was exquisite. That narration along with the sound design make this one of the most atmospheric stories yet.
My only issue with this story is I don’t understand the worms plot line.
Baker and Manning’s reactions to Bianca’s true nature are great, especially the claim of plagiarism!
A well acted and well realized story.
7/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Dec 8, 2017 19:25:21 GMT
Living legend.
Short and sweet. A final fun story before the divergent universe.
7/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Dec 9, 2017 0:20:37 GMT
Scherzo
There’s not much that really happens in this story is there?
The doctor and Charley walk and walk and walk.
It’s a good story, but the tone it sets for this and the next season isn’t exactly good.
The Doctor and Charley are both miserable and bitter and spend a good chuck of the story arguing with each other.
The sound creature is cool, and the story told at the beginning of each episode is a delight.
Another Shearman classic. A pure two hander.
8/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Dec 9, 2017 0:25:27 GMT
The creed of the Kromon
Utterly boring. Philip Martin has completely lost his touch.
This story put me to sleep.
The main drive of the story is boring and unforgettable and C’rizz is a bit too eager to jump to a violent solution.
The highlight of the story is the first few minutes with the kro’ka.
As a cure for insomnia, it’s 10/10.
Otherwise is a 3/10
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Post by mark687 on Dec 9, 2017 0:27:45 GMT
Scherzo There’s not much that really happens in this story is there? The doctor and Charley walk and walk and walk. It’s a good story, but the tone it sets for this and the next season isn’t exactly good. The Doctor and Charley are both miserable and bitter and spend a good chuck of the story arguing with each other. The sound creature is cool, and the story told at the beginning of each episode is a delight. Another Shearman classic. A pure two hander. 8/10 It's strange its a misfire but it still left me wanted more from Shearman in Who (14 years and counting!) but its still the best of that 1st DU Season for me.
6/10
Regards
mark687
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Post by mark687 on Dec 9, 2017 0:35:21 GMT
The creed of the Kromon Utterly boring. Philip Martin has completely lost his touch. This story put me to sleep. The main drive of the story is boring and unforgettable and C’rizz is a bit too eager to jump to a violent solution. The highlight of the story is the first few minutes with the kro’ka. As a cure for insomnia, it’s 10/10. Otherwise is a 3/10 Agreed expect that Philip Martin's trying to deliver traditional Who while Gary Russell wants his own bold new vision for Who to take centre stage.
And Cr'izz is the most poorly conceived companion ever.
Regards
mark687
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Post by Star Platinum on Dec 9, 2017 1:49:18 GMT
Scherzo There’s not much that really happens in this story is there? The doctor and Charley walk and walk and walk. It’s a good story, but the tone it sets for this and the next season isn’t exactly good. The Doctor and Charley are both miserable and bitter and spend a good chuck of the story arguing with each other. The sound creature is cool, and the story told at the beginning of each episode is a delight. Another Shearman classic. A pure two hander. 8/10 It's strange its a misfire but it still left me wanted more from Shearman in Who (14 years and counting!) but its still the best of that 1st DU Season for me.
6/10
Regards
mark687
I enjoyed the concept of the story, as well as the gruesome moments. But I will concede the attitudes of the regulars seriously hurt the story.
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Post by Star Platinum on Dec 9, 2017 1:49:30 GMT
The Natural History of Fear
Utterly brilliant.
I could sing praise about this story all day long.
Paul McGann is at the top of his game here. He attacks the script with tons of enthusiasm and lets himself show a side he can’t in the normal releases. He’s clearly enjoying himself. He’s quite proud of this story.
India too gets to show off quite a bit of versatility in this story in several different roles. Each role brings an entirely new and yet familiar character to the table who manages to bounce off McGann and his zeal.
I can’t describe the plot without spoiling it, but it’s a story that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time while listening to it. I remember the first time hearing it, I was sitting in a car, it had to be like -10 out and when asked to come inside I was fuming, because the story just kept escalating.
This is one of those story’s where by the start of part 4 I expected it to start resolving itself, and yet the situation continued to spin out of control.
I had the opportunity to talk to meet Paul McGann back in June, I had him sign this story and got to see him reminisce about it. It’s a great memory.
The single best release by Big Finish.
10/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Dec 9, 2017 16:27:54 GMT
The twilight kingdom
Another snoozefest in the divergent universe epic!
The problem with this one is yet again, it simply isn’t an interesting story. The Doctor says several times that he’s fought with rebels, yet these ones lack that certain spark.
A couple changed words and he could have been describing this story.
While there are a couple good ideas in this story, (particularly the revelation about Koth) they all come at the end of the story, beyond when they could have salvaged it.
Meanwhile Koth’s influence or not, Charley is becoming more and more annoying.
Wish I’d skipped this.
5/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Dec 9, 2017 17:33:34 GMT
Axis of insanity
Is it me or is there just a general drop in quality since Zagreus?
Axis has a lot of good ideas in it, itself being one that is returned to much later.
I feel like it would have been a good chance to take another glimpse at the unbound universes.
Peter Davison does a good job in this one, playing both roles well. I particularly liked his duplicitous role. He played that with a little more whimsy which I think suited him.
Caroline Morris is once again the star of the story, doing a lot of the legwork with the villain. She’s quite entertaining.
I liked that Peri was trying to teach Erimem how to read. They’ve really bonded together.
It’s alright, but it doesn’t stick in the mind.
7/10
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Post by mark687 on Dec 9, 2017 19:03:09 GMT
Axis of insanity Is it me or is there just a general drop in quality since Zagreus? Axis has a lot of good ideas in it, itself being one that is returned to much later. I feel like it would have been a good chance to take another glimpse at the unbound universes. Peter Davison does a good job in this one, playing both roles well. I particularly liked his duplicitous role. He played that with a little more whimsy which I think suited him. Caroline Morris is once again the star of the story, doing a lot of the legwork with the villain. She’s quite entertaining. I liked that Peri was trying to teach Erimem how to read. They’ve really bonded together. It’s alright, but it doesn’t stick in the mind. 7/10 Copy of my Post from the Discussion Thread for this one
Ah Axis of Insanity this suffers because of when it was released. The first story after the first DU Season and what do we get? Another altered states twisted dimension story. And the villain is just an insane ranter. It could have been more subtle ( someone wanting to get back to family, but the result would be catastrophic for example). Erimem is once again well served the final act is virtually all hers, unfortunately disinterest seems to be seeping back to Davison and Bryant's performances.
Regards
mark687
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Post by Star Platinum on Dec 11, 2017 0:42:50 GMT
Dalek Empire 3: The Exterminators
This one didn’t do too much for me. It doesn’t spend enough time with any of the characters to really get to know them, and it’s placement in the timeline left me a little confused.
It sets up a few plot lines in curious about, (the disease, the one girl, can’t remember her name)
It’s okay, but then again I find the first episode has been The weakest one in the past.
7/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Dec 12, 2017 18:09:23 GMT
Arrangements for war
Another win for Colin and Maggie!
Picking up after the events of Project: Lazarus. Evelyn needs some time apart from the Doctor. Arriving on Vilag, they inadvertently set a forbidden romance in motion that will change the history of the planet.
This is a great story, it’s almost a futuristic historical and the two genres blend so nicely.
Colin is great, setting everything in motion with some good, but misplaced advice. He does his best to keep Krisztina and Marcus together, but when they’re caught it throws the world into a future disaster. This story really highlights just how gentle he’s become with Evelyn.
Maggie is also wonderful, she hits it off quite well with Gabriel Woolf, and their chemistry is subdued, but quite palpable. She’s upset with the Doctors reaction to the Cassandra situation, but he’s always been one to keep moving forward.
A wonderful story with a great cast, always worth returning to.
9/10.
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Post by Star Platinum on Dec 14, 2017 4:13:03 GMT
Dalek Empire 3: The Healers.
Things are starting to pick up.
Still struggling with a few of the character names, but they’re all interesting. I’m curious to see where Galanar’s part in the story will take him, once he’s in too deep.
The two soldiers (can’t remember name) they’re interesting. Using the funeral of a friend as a protest against the Daleks was brilliant.
The Daleks have been rumbled, but the secrets not out yet, will they contain the situation or is it all out war?
Promising.
8/10
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