|
Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Apr 7, 2016 9:24:54 GMT
I was a little disappointed by Ollistra's characterisation. In the first box set, she is the careful arch manipulator of The Doctor - ensuring his continued presence in the fight - but Infernal Devices had her being more overt and less subtle, even trying to bring him to 'heel' at the end! It's still a great set, but a little bit disappointing. I can see that as "the Doctor effect", basically it's true that he's Gallifrey's ultimate weapon, but now he's demonstrating openly his anarchical nature, he's the Doctor and he will topple governments and defy orders and cause havoc, it's who he is. He's already disobeyed direct orders. He's already destroyed something that could have literally won the war for Gallifrey out of conscience. And Thn he puts himself in direct opposition to another operation to reinforce the body of soldiers that Gallifrey has. But now he's gone off script. She could allow his occassional moments of tilting at windmills, his rare moments of conscience and Doctorishness (like allowing him to save the Thousand Worlds and then showing him his success instead of simply taking him to his TARDIS). In fact, she could use those moments. But now, those rare moments are becoming more and more common. The Doctor is coming out of the Warrior's shell, and she's worried what the Doctor will do - it's almost as if she knows what's in the Omega Vault and that there is only one man in the universe mad enough to use it. so she has to abandon subtle manipulation and instead use direct influence. She still uses him. She still manipulates him, but it's far more immediate, direct cause and direct effect. She steals something, she pisses him off and he storms off in a huff - leading him to do her bidding as a catspaw again, but it's not Ollistra's style to push so openly, but she has to because the Doctor is getting unpredictable, she needs to push hard to get a predictable reaction. importantly, she's surprised that the Doctor tries to broker a peace between the Neverwhen combatants. She expected him to euthanise thrm just like he did to another, and similar, group in "The Innocent". She mocks his choice because she needs the callous warrior with the Doctor's competencies and abilities - instead he's becoming the Doctor of War rather than the War Doctor - it's an important distinction. The key is in the emphasis, the later is a weapon of war, the former a man fighting for peace.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2016 12:45:47 GMT
So this year I'm intentionally not listening to BF "live" but spreading it throughout the year. Over the weekend I listened to this and had a really good time with it. Despite the first set having one author as opposed to the three here, this one felt thematicaly tighter. The ethics of ressurection and the abomination of bringing back the dead are all over these stories. I know - as with Engines Of War and the first set - some people will not feel like the War Doctor is different enough to his other selves but I feel like this series backs up the theory I've had, as have others, that it's the use of The Moment more than anything else that makes his later selves despise him. Not so much what went before. Here we get more than one occasion where he just can't help but be The Doctor - trying to save people who are ultimately disposable to the war effort. I'm loving Olistra and if she doesn't regenerate into Ken Bones at some point, she is surely heading for a fall. Jackie gets to really show her Servalan side here. Yet, she gets the last words again. It seems as though she's manipulating everything. I loved that little Blake's 7 reference when it's said "The Cardinal is down and safe"
|
|
|
Post by kurumais on Aug 24, 2016 0:17:03 GMT
working with john hurt must be amazing for the folks at big finish they must be over the moon.
so far i dont see any difference between the war doctor and other doctors
|
|
|
Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Aug 24, 2016 7:31:34 GMT
working with john hurt must be amazing for the folks at big finish they must be over the moon. so far i dont see any difference between the war doctor and other doctors The difference is almost entirely internal. he hates himself for the choices he's made, so he eshued the name "Doctor" because he doesn't think he's behaving like the Doctor - literally no one else thinks that, some have commented he's more pragmatic than other Doctors, but the seventh Doctor attempted genocide on the Daleks and the Cybermen, manipulated his companion, allowed innocents to die to draw out Fenric etc etc. there is ONE incident references in the first release - the War Doctor opens fire on civilians in order to destroy cloaked Dalek ships - that is utterly UNDoctorish. And that's that.
|
|
|
Post by Timelord007 on Aug 24, 2016 7:53:55 GMT
working with john hurt must be amazing for the folks at big finish they must be over the moon. so far i dont see any difference between the war doctor and other doctors The difference is almost entirely internal. he hates himself for the choices he's made, so he eshued the name "Doctor" because he doesn't think he's behaving like the Doctor - literally no one else thinks that, some have commented he's more pragmatic than other Doctors, but the seventh Doctor attempted genocide on the Daleks and the Cybermen, manipulated his companion, allowed innocents to die to draw out Fenric etc etc. there is ONE incident references in the first release - the War Doctor opens fire on civilians in order to destroy cloaked Dalek ships - that is utterly UNDoctorish. And that's that. I couldn't have put it better myself mate.
|
|
|
Post by shallacatop on Apr 2, 2018 21:17:15 GMT
Having a relisten to the War Doctor range, and have just finished Infernal Devices. It’s the pinnacle of the range, I think. Each story is unique and wonderfully high concept, yet flow so well into one another. It’s a great set for Ollistra, particularly in A Thing of Guile. John Hurt is obviously on fine form, as ever; I love his interactions with David Warner in Legion if the Lost.
The Neverwhen is, for me, one of the best things Big Finish has ever produced. Absolutely superb.
|
|
|
Post by Ela on Apr 15, 2018 22:43:16 GMT
Having a relisten to the War Doctor range, and have just finished Infernal Devices. It’s the pinnacle of the range, I think. Each story is unique and wonderfully high concept, yet flow so well into one another. It’s a great set for Ollistra, particularly in A Thing of Guile. John Hurt is obviously on fine form, as ever; I love his interactions with David Warner in Legion if the Lost. The Neverwhen is, for me, one of the best things Big Finish has ever produced. Absolutely superb. Definitely was a good set, and the Neverwhen was interesting to consider.
|
|
|
Post by mark687 on Oct 3, 2020 21:39:17 GMT
On a War Doctor re-listen and Olistra almost went full Servalaan just as the War is reminded of his core principles (sadly with little effect)
Hurt playing opposite Warner was terrific, Guile was a pacey run around, Neverwhen was a reminder of why the War must end how he thinks it ends.
4/5
Regards
mark687
|
|
|
Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on Jan 21, 2023 10:22:09 GMT
|
|