mbt66
Chancellery Guard
Likes: 3,079
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Post by mbt66 on May 27, 2018 14:15:07 GMT
This was my first UNIT boxset, the lure of the Cybermen and especially the War Master was just too much for me to resist.
Overall I was very pleased with my purchase and enjoyed listening to the discs all back to back on a long car journey yesterday. (I still have half the extras to listen to)
Lovely to hear "evil Osgood" intellectually battling against Kate. And of course Derek Jacobi as the Master is pure gold (and we know what Cybermen think about gold!)
And speaking of Cybermen I think their use in this boxset was just right, plus I thought to myself how lucky we are to have Nick Briggs who gives us a whole army of Cybermen for the price of one!
On a side note I wonder if the TV series will retain his talents...with all the other changes I am guessing not. It would be strange to hear someone else voice the Daleks or Cybermen in the future.
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Post by theotherjosh on Jun 1, 2018 13:13:16 GMT
I've never been disappointed by Fitton or Adams and they deliver here.
I'm a sucker for the Cybermen, and I'm happy that we got a set that adds to their mythology. The convergent evolution of the Cyber-race is the element that most interests me now and I really enjoyed how the story emphasized that aspect. I also appreciated details like a booby-trapped casing that would convert anyone who tried to open it, thereby replacing the fallen Cyberman. It's a tiny little detail, but it's those kind of details that really build up a story and it's that kind of thing that bumped the story from good to great.
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Post by sherlock on Jun 1, 2018 14:05:56 GMT
I've never been disappointed by Fitton or Adams and they deliver here. I'm a sucker for the Cybermen, and I'm happy that we got a set that adds to their mythology. The convergent evolution of the Cyber-race is the element that most interests me now and I really enjoyed how the story emphasized that aspect. I also appreciated details like a booby-trapped casing that would convert anyone who tried to open it, thereby replacing the fallen Cyberman. It's a tiny little detail, but it's those kind of details that really build up a story and it's that kind of thing that bumped the story from good to great. If Cyber-Evolution's your thing over on the Cybermen's Timeline thread I've been working on a 'family tree' for the Cybermen, which might be of interest.
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Post by theotherjosh on Jun 1, 2018 15:26:34 GMT
I've never been disappointed by Fitton or Adams and they deliver here. I'm a sucker for the Cybermen, and I'm happy that we got a set that adds to their mythology. The convergent evolution of the Cyber-race is the element that most interests me now and I really enjoyed how the story emphasized that aspect. I also appreciated details like a booby-trapped casing that would convert anyone who tried to open it, thereby replacing the fallen Cyberman. It's a tiny little detail, but it's those kind of details that really build up a story and it's that kind of thing that bumped the story from good to great. If Cyber-Evolution's your thing over on the Cybermen's Timeline thread I've been working on a 'family tree' for the Cybermen, which might be of interest. I will definitely check that out! Thank you so much for the tip!
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Post by aemiliapaula on Jun 1, 2018 22:23:41 GMT
A new company that is moving to a city nearby to where I live will produce 3D printed hearts, lungs, and other organs
And so it begins...
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Post by nottenst on Jun 8, 2018 13:46:21 GMT
Haven't read any of the comments as I don't want spoilers. I listened to Game Theory yesterday. I don't quite know what it was but the Overseer/Julia really pushed my buttons and I found it very easy to hate her and want to make her pay.
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lidar2
Castellan
You know, now that you mention it, I actually do rather like Attack of the Cybermen ...
Likes: 5,811
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Post by lidar2 on Jun 8, 2018 15:23:00 GMT
Listened this week. Another very good release. Jacobi's Master was a highlight.
Just before the Cyber Controller died at the end of episode 3 he said something like "Alert Alert Object on my casing" which sounded more like something a Dalek would say rather than a Cyberman.
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Post by nottenst on Jun 12, 2018 14:16:03 GMT
Just finished the set (except the interviews which I hear later today). It was another good one. I was slightly disappointed that the confrontation between Julia and The Master was over so quickly. I wanted to hear them sparring a bit more. The remaining Auctioneers are going to be even more upset with UNIT after this.
At the end I was thinking that it seemed much too easy a defeat of The Master at the hands of Cyber-Osgood and was glad I was correct there. I had been hoping that Osgood was trying to pull a fast one on the Cybermen, but as she kept on taking matters in Code Silver to another level that was clearly not the case. Still, something in her kept her and Sam and Shindi away from full conversion. The Master was the highlight of the whole set.
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Post by TinDogPodcast on Jun 26, 2018 15:45:50 GMT
I for got to upload this review.
Sorry.
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Post by Digi on Jun 27, 2018 22:55:20 GMT
Oh wow. I'm just getting to this one today... I listened to Part 1 on my way to work this morning. I enjoyed it, but was content to wait till whenever I had time to hear Part 2--likely on my drive home. That ended up being exactly it, and I loved it. Loved it so much that when I was finished, I chose to just waste gas by driving around so I could listen to Part 3 immediately after. Now I don't have time to listen to Part 4 right away and I'm upset
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2018 4:39:04 GMT
I've always hugely enjoyed the New UNIT audios, but frankly 'Game Theory' & 'Telepresence' aside, this set bored me rigid, I have no idea how I got through the final two discs. Certainly the worst of the UNIT boxed sets thus far. And if I hear Kate Stewart say "my people" one more time ...
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Post by TinDogPodcast on Oct 3, 2018 12:27:22 GMT
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Post by Audio Watchdog on Nov 18, 2018 23:38:43 GMT
That was easily one of my favorite installments of the series.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2018 6:29:46 GMT
Was it the strongest set No,but decent enough
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Post by Kestrel on Mar 27, 2021 20:12:34 GMT
Someone told me not to bother with this set if I was mainly interested in the War Master. They were absolutely correct. It's a shame--GTW1 definitely demonstrated that Jacobi could work well in a single standalone episode. Ah well. Anyway, my reactions: UNIT 6.1: Game Theory- A death game, eh? Figures it was only a matter of time before I encountered this particular cliché in Doctor Who, though in retrospect it's amazing how long it took. The faux-time loop is a neat gimmick, though.
- You know what trope I hate? When Character A is lying to Character B, and accidentally lets slip something that reveals the lie, and Character B immediately calls them out on the deception. No! This is so stupid! You gotta sit on that info and choose your moment, right? Otherwise you're just throwing away a crucial advantage.
- "Actually, I always liked secret agent games." This line would land a bit better if these were really a thing that exists. Sadly, they don't. There's basically just Alpha Protocol and nothing else.
- Kinda wondering what the whole point of this elaborate scheme was. These auctioneers are, I assume, a foe from a prior set? And they're just... messing with UNIT? Just for the fun of it?
UNIT 6.2: Telepresence- So, Sea Devils, eh? There's a fun reference, and a great reminder how how much of a Doctor Who fanboy Osgood is. Sadly it's just a coincidence and has no bearing on the actual story here.
- "Like a cake shop where nothing's for sale" is a fantastic analogy.
- This time we're doing The Matrix. Neat?
- Another trope I really hate? Characters in a scenario where their abilities are limited solely by their imagination, who then prove to be excruciatingly unimaginative. When the sky's the limit—literally--it's so annoying to see people insist on crawling about on the ground. Figuratively and literally.
UNIT 6.3: Code Silver- Kinda weird how long it took for the Cybermen to show up, right? Also seems weird that they're re-using the whole, "random ghosts materialize into Cybermen" thing, which has already been done several times before—at least twice in New Who.
- Love how there are different voices for the Cybermen. Makes them feel much more like the cyborgs they are than the robots they're frequently depicted as.
- Cyber-Osgood is a lot of fun. Definitely the highlight of the set. Though I think there's a missed opportunity here to really explore cyber-ethics.
- Love that UNIT has a "code silver" because they're just that familiar with the Cybermen. Like this is just a routine thing for them at this point.
- Oh, God. They're seriously doing the whole, "using humans as batteries" thing that everyone's spent the last twenty years mocking The Matrix for doing? Why?
- Cyber-Osgood is just a constant delight: love how mercilessly she tears down the Cybermen—they really are nothing but ego. No more than hubris encased in metal.
- "Wait, that's not the Doctor's TARDIS." Pretty solid cliffhanger, and obviously no one is expecting the Doctor to show up, but I can't help but feel that it would've been better to end the episode before the Master appears—to really lean into the ambiguity of the materializing TARDIS. It doesn't matter that we already know it's the Master's TARDIS from the cover—you can still have suspense in the scene.
UNIT 6.4: Master of Worlds- At this point, I really feel like the first story in the set was pointless. Surely they could have condensed the first two episodes into one, and then allowed us two episodes o Derek Jacobi playing around with UNIT? Feels like such a waste to do a big crossover set like this, but then relegate the crossover event to just the last episode.
- Once again, we have the War Master setting up to play the Doctor's role, this time as UNIT's scientific advisor... which, honestly, is a pretty fantastic premise. I'd kill for a boxset that's just the Master working for UNIT. Maybe an idea for the Beevers-Master range that Big Finish is secretly working on?
- Highlight of the episode? The Master and Kate chatting about the good old days at UNIT. I'll admit it, I'm a huge fan of Pertwee's era, so this whole exchange made me smile.
- "Did he die in some patch of foreign mud?" Goddamn, Derek.
- Oh, wow. The "Cyber Master" is such a terrible idea... the voice modulation just butchers Jacobi's performance. And even if it's a ploy, the Master being assimilated so quickly and easily just feels... wrong.
- Love how apathetic the Master is to the whole plot of the episode. Why should he care what happens to these apes?
- Definitely curious where this might fit in the War Master's timeline. He says he's, "exploring possibilities," which makes me think it's near the end of his regeneration cycle, but at the same time his comments on duty make it seem like he's still working with the Time Lords, which would place it earlier.
- "I actually met the Master. And survived!" Now there's one hell of a line for Osgood, considering what happens the next time she meets the Master. Or was that Zygon-Osgood?
- Overall a fun romp, but not terribly impressive. Jacobi was, as ever, utterly sublime, but he definitely feels underused in this set.
And with that, I've now listened to two full boxsets of the UNIT range and... I gotta say... I'm not terribly impressed. While the third boxset was solid enough, this one was decidedly underwhelming. I enjoy the characters well enough, but I can't really see myself continuing with this range in the future.
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Post by Ela on Oct 12, 2021 4:26:10 GMT
Just finished listening to this and enjoyed it overall. I had been hoping that Osgood was trying to pull a fast one on the Cybermen, but as she kept on taking matters in Code Silver to another level that was clearly not the case. Still, something in her kept her and Sam and Shindi away from full conversion. The Master was the highlight of the whole set. Yes, I too was hoping Osgood was going to do something clever against the Cybermen. And I enjoyed The Master. It was funny, in the behind the scenes, to hear Derek Jacobi say that getting asked to play The Master was the "highlight" of his career, with all the things he's done.
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Post by Kestrel on Oct 24, 2021 8:50:06 GMT
Makes me think of the (text)books where certain chapters wind up with far more text highlighted than not.
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