melkur
Chancellery Guard
Likes: 3,967
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Post by melkur on Mar 15, 2024 23:54:47 GMT
For those who have heard it, I'm guessing the Harmony Shoal episode is set before their Christmas specials with Capaldi? Depends on Point of view Regards mark687 Thank you Obi Wan...
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Post by elkawho on Mar 16, 2024 2:07:04 GMT
I'm in the middle of the last story, and boy am I loving these. 2 good 6th Doctor stories this month! It's about time! (he he) I personally think Jaq Raynor works a lot better as a writer than as a producer. I have not really enjoyed the sets she has produced, but for this story she is back in fine form.
Does Syl sound like he's unwell at the start of the last story, or is it just me? His voice sounds oddly low (register, not volume). It quickly changes back, but I found it surprising.
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Post by dasmaniac on Mar 16, 2024 4:32:39 GMT
The Queen of Clocks is brilliant and very bleak.
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Post by sherlock on Mar 16, 2024 9:09:29 GMT
Tom Baker really seems to sink his teeth into Invasion of the Body Stealers. It’s an apt choice of monster for him and Sarah, who presumably only a few trips previously encountered a very different brain in a jar, and the downbeat ending matches that accordingly. It’s a good time.
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Post by mark687 on Mar 16, 2024 12:26:34 GMT
I'm in the middle of the last story, and boy am I loving these. 2 good 6th Doctor stories this month! It's about time! (he he) I personally think Jaq Raynor works a lot better as a writer than as a producer. I have not really enjoyed the sets she has produced, but for this story she is back in fine form. Does Syl sound like he's unwell at the start of the last story, or is it just me? His voice sounds oddly low (register, not volume). It quickly changes back, but I found it surprising. Yes I noticed it too Regards mark687
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Post by martinw8686 on Mar 16, 2024 15:30:01 GMT
I've listened to the first two stories, both are brilliant. It's great hearing Sarah Jane with the 4th Doctor, more please!
Mel and the 6th Doctor are also on fine form. I like how 6 is written here, just the right amount of ego and pomposity, "I'm a mathematical genius".
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Post by shallacatop on Mar 16, 2024 17:32:24 GMT
I thought The Queen of Clocks was disappointing, which is a contrast to everyone else, it seems. Not bad, but I didn’t feel anything was well realised or plotted enough for it to really have the desired impact. The Clockwork Droids could’ve been anything really, they didn’t pose a threat, weren’t described and didn’t do anything beyond have squeaky voices and bang on a door. It’s too reliant on us knowing what they’re like in The Girl in the Fireplace & Deep Breath without adding anything else or even touching upon what those variants did in their respective stories. Events unfolded simply because they were written to and full of exposition and therefore the bleak outcome rang hollow for me.
There’s a cracking story in there, but it needs a polish and to really draw out the characteristics of the Clockwork Droids. And no body horror whatsoever was a strange choice; it’s what makes them monstrous.
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Post by dasmaniac on Mar 16, 2024 19:42:26 GMT
I thought The Queen of Clocks was disappointing, which is a contrast to everyone else, it seems. Not bad, but I didn’t feel anything was well realised or plotted enough for it to really have the desired impact. The Clockwork Droids could’ve been anything really, they didn’t pose a threat, weren’t described and didn’t do anything beyond have squeaky voices and bang on a door. It’s too reliant on us knowing what they’re like in The Girl in the Fireplace & Deep Breath without adding anything else or even touching upon what those variants did in their respective stories. Events unfolded simply because they were written to and full of exposition and therefore the bleak outcome rang hollow for me. There’s a cracking story in there, but it needs a polish and to really draw out the characteristics of the Clockwork Droids. And no body horror whatsoever was a strange choice; it’s what makes them monstrous. I agree with this although I enjoyed the story a lot.
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Post by shallacatop on Mar 17, 2024 14:35:07 GMT
Loved The Silent Priest. A well realised world, great use of the Silence and McGann was on fine form; I love his solo adventures. Also liked the link to the Time War. The Silent City takes that world building and furthers it to show the development following prior events, although I think the use of the Silence isn’t as good, and lost its way towards the end. I agree with other comments about Sylv’s first few lines; you’d be forgiven for thinking they’d got a recast in. He gets better as the story goes on; not one of his best performances, but better than most of his recent outings.
I think my key issue is that the stories are in the wrong order. I’d be much more interested in hearing The Silent City before The Silent Priest. Let us spend time in that world and then hear how that came to be. With the way City pans out, it’s not as interesting in the format it’s presented, especially as the nature of the Silence means the Doctors don’t remember anyway, so it being out of order doesn’t mean anything either way. They’re good stories individually, but a better whole the other way round, I’d say.
Another good set on the whole. Not sure it’s my favourite of the four, but it’s a range I wouldn’t be without and a brilliant way to dip into different eras without any commitment. I hope they do a fifth and sixth set; there’s still some monsters they’ve yet to touch and more thanks to the addition of Jodie’s era to the licence.
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Post by thegreendeath on Mar 17, 2024 14:39:36 GMT
Wasn’t going to pick this up, but did so on a whim because I’m laid up after some dental work. Despite having never heard “Husbands” the first story was thoroughly entertaining. Loved 4 and Sarah together! I’ll listen to it again sans pain and pain relievers as well!
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Post by mark687 on Mar 17, 2024 14:41:11 GMT
Loved The Silent Priest. A well realised world, great use of the Silence and McGann was on fine form; I love his solo adventures. Also liked the link to the Time War. The Silent City takes that world building and furthers it to show the development following prior events, although I think the use of the Silence isn’t as good, and lost its way towards the end. I agree with other comments about Sylv’s first few lines; you’d be forgiven for thinking they’d got a recast in. He gets better as the story goes on; not one of his best performances, but better than most of his recent outings. I think my key issue is that the stories are in the wrong order. I’d be much more interested in hearing The Silent City before The Silent Priest. Let us spend time in that world and then hear how that came to be. With the way City pans out, it’s not as interesting in the format it’s presented, especially as the nature of the Silence means the Doctors don’t remember anyway, so it being out of order doesn’t mean anything either way. They’re good stories individually, but a better whole the other way round, I’d say.
Another good set on the whole. Not sure it’s my favourite of the four, but it’s a range I wouldn’t be without and a brilliant way to dip into different eras without any commitment. I hope they do a fifth and sixth set; there’s still some monsters they’ve yet to touch and more thanks to the addition of Jodie’s era to the licence. Which is how i did it Regards mark687
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Post by dasmaniac on Mar 17, 2024 20:17:33 GMT
Loved The Silent Priest. A well realised world, great use of the Silence and McGann was on fine form; I love his solo adventures. Also liked the link to the Time War. The Silent City takes that world building and furthers it to show the development following prior events, although I think the use of the Silence isn’t as good, and lost its way towards the end. I agree with other comments about Sylv’s first few lines; you’d be forgiven for thinking they’d got a recast in. He gets better as the story goes on; not one of his best performances, but better than most of his recent outings. I think my key issue is that the stories are in the wrong order. I’d be much more interested in hearing The Silent City before The Silent Priest. Let us spend time in that world and then hear how that came to be. With the way City pans out, it’s not as interesting in the format it’s presented, especially as the nature of the Silence means the Doctors don’t remember anyway, so it being out of order doesn’t mean anything either way. They’re good stories individually, but a better whole the other way round, I’d say. Another good set on the whole. Not sure it’s my favourite of the four, but it’s a range I wouldn’t be without and a brilliant way to dip into different eras without any commitment. I hope they do a fifth and sixth set; there’s still some monsters they’ve yet to touch and more thanks to the addition of Jodie’s era to the licence. We both have opposite thoughts on Queen of Clocks and Silent Priest. You didn't care for the first, I loved it and you love the latter but I wasn't a huge fan of it.
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Post by dasmaniac on Mar 19, 2024 5:29:30 GMT
After finishing all four stories, I would say the first is unquestionably ths strongest. Mileage may vary with Queen of the Clocks but I quite enjoyed. The remaining two stories are also good too. I suspect I will enjoy them better after listening to them again.
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Post by sherlock on Mar 19, 2024 9:09:20 GMT
I liked the atmosphere of The Queen of Clocks a lot. The ticking, the odd worldbuilding; it just had an unsettling vibe which dovetailed well into the bleak ending. Plot-wise it is very exposition heavy.
I think the Clockwork Droids are hardest to expand as they are just evil robots with a specific gimmick. They don’t really lend themselves to any re-interpretation so I suspect that’s why Rayner’s story here relegates them to a somewhat distant threat.
I thought the last scene was a bit odd. Going from downbeat to Mel’s exercise regime in mere moments. Be more effective ending wrap up a few lines earlier on that downbeat note.
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Post by BHTvsTFC on Mar 19, 2024 12:52:57 GMT
The stories were great, the performances superb, but the character name, Kavita Aradhana, has got to be the best in Big Finishes history!
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Post by 20fridge on Mar 20, 2024 0:01:22 GMT
All four stories were excellent! I think this range has greatly improved since the first two boxsets. They were fine, but this one and the last one were both fantastic. I wonder if it's in part because the range began including companions, rather than just having classic doctors stumble onto new monsters whilst traveling solo.
Invasion of the Body Stealers was a fun Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane episode. As much as I loved what they did with this, I still hope Big Finish or the show proper deal with the implied infiltration of UNIT.
I love how the Queen of the Clocks used the clockwork droids without totally contradicting The Girl in the Fireplace. It also adds an extra layer of irony onto Deep Breath. Also, I always love a story that makes good use of Mel.
The Silent Priest and the Silent City were a great use of the Silence. I am amazed they work as well as they do on audio. I think this was on par with UNIT: Silenced, and better than their use in Doom's Day. It seems to me that both stories can be listened to in any order like Flip-Flop or Echoes of Extinction.
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Post by bonehead on Mar 20, 2024 15:16:54 GMT
The Silent Priest.
I love the idea and realisation of Sunset City, even if it is people with an eccentric collection of accents; I like Mark Elstob, he’s a great voice artist, and his turn here as Bud Shacket is wild, eccentric and distinctly un-American. As a UK listener, I enjoy the performance, but I wonder what do American listeners think? It’s a great setting, beautifully realised. The notion of The Silence’s role in proceedings is a great one and at moments, very scary – all to the backdrop of relentless thunder and rain. The creatures are really inventively used here. Paul McGann is excellent as always, every line delivered to perfection (I felt sorry for The Doctor at the end), while Mina Anwar is great as Kavita. Lovely music and sound design. This, I think, is my favourite story so far. The Silent City.
For once I’m not going to delete the ‘Big Finish Ident’ at the top of this story. Sylvester’s reads the mantra in the way that only he can. Once again, the sound design around The Silence is excellent – it really encases them in a whirl of impending doom. David K Barnes crafts another top-notch tale here – very different from The Silent Priest, but every bit as immersive. The Silent ‘environment’ conjured up here could stretch across a whole box set, or even more, such is the world building going on here. Sylvester adds to this palpable sense of slowly unfolding mystery beautifully - by being part of it. Still, at the end, The Silence endure, and I honestly think they’re due much further investigation. And David K Barnes should write it!
5 out of 5 for this lot - it has been a great set to listen to, consistently the best of the range so far for me. I look forward to listening to it all again very soon.
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Post by sherlock on Mar 21, 2024 8:47:19 GMT
I liked The Silent Priest a lot. It used the Silent in a very interesting way and I liked the portrayal of latter day Eight.
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Post by thegreendeath on Mar 22, 2024 5:25:50 GMT
I thought the last scene was a bit odd. Going from downbeat to Mel’s exercise regime in mere moments. Be more effective ending wrap up a few lines earlier on that downbeat note. I actually quite like the ending as it showed how the two of them try to move forward after such sad experiences without getting drowned by the suffering. Felt like a very human and bittersweet moment.
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Post by dasmaniac on Mar 22, 2024 21:10:28 GMT
The Silent Priest.
I love the idea and realisation of Sunset City, even if it is people with an eccentric collection of accents; I like Mark Elstob, he’s a great voice artist, and his turn here as Bud Shacket is wild, eccentric and distinctly un-American. As a UK listener, I enjoy the performance, but I wonder what do American listeners think? It’s a great setting, beautifully realised. The notion of The Silence’s role in proceedings is a great one and at moments, very scary – all to the backdrop of relentless thunder and rain. The creatures are really inventively used here. Paul McGann is excellent as always, every line delivered to perfection (I felt sorry for The Doctor at the end), while Mina Anwar is great as Kavita. Lovely music and sound design. This, I think, is my favourite story so far. The Silent City.
For once I’m not going to delete the ‘Big Finish Ident’ at the top of this story. Sylvester’s reads the mantra in the way that only he can. Once again, the sound design around The Silence is excellent – it really encases them in a whirl of impending doom. David K Barnes crafts another top-notch tale here – very different from The Silent Priest, but every bit as immersive. The Silent ‘environment’ conjured up here could stretch across a whole box set, or even more, such is the world building going on here. Sylvester adds to this palpable sense of slowly unfolding mystery beautifully - by being part of it. Still, at the end, The Silence endure, and I honestly think they’re due much further investigation. And David K Barnes should write it!
5 out of 5 for this lot - it has been a great set to listen to, consistently the best of the range so far for me. I look forward to listening to it all again very soon. The Silent City features a sad melancholic Seven and Sylvester plays it beautifully. There's a constant theme of renewal throughout this story and I assume that going with the older Seventh Doctor was intentional.
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