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Post by sherlock on Jan 24, 2023 21:50:24 GMT
Finished the set. I will say first that this style of storytelling is exactly what I want out of the Eighth Doctor side of the Time War. It’s not him buddying up with Time Lords, or diving headfirst into epic battles with Daleks. It’s Doctor Who stories…but the universe is broken. More like this please.
Secondly, this TARDIS team is really good; an older, bit wiser, Alex plays really well off Eight and Cass complements this dynamic wonderfully. Incorporating Cass is a gimmick, but it feels earned. I was kinda sad we didn’t get more of them just wandering this broken universe. And frankly I’ve never said that about Bliss.
Vespertine A good showcase for this TARDIS team and some really nice concepts.
Previously, Next Time It unravels its plot at a good pace and uses the Daleks minimally and effectively. And I liked the emphasis on the consequences of the Doctor’s choice, though I was a little surprised Eight of all incarnations didn’t grapple harder with this decision. Dunno what the ending means, that’s for Volume 6.
Is this the best Time War release ever? No. But it’s a fun diversion and much more consistent than most of Volumes 2 and 3 were. And it’s left me actually wanting more.
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Post by axelotl38 on Jan 24, 2023 21:55:54 GMT
Holy fiddlesticks, does it really matter within the context of this thread, about nepotism in an obscure British Radio Drama spin-off thread?
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Post by mark687 on Jan 24, 2023 21:56:34 GMT
I don't think anyone's saying that people who are members of families who are part of the entertainment industry have no right to follow in their family's footsteps. The hypothetical scenario you give seems perfectly fine. The issue people have with "nepo babies" is the belief that they were allowed to jump the queue, or may not have been the best person for the job but got it because of their connections. Yes but common sense should be (in the case of the Entertainment Industry at least)Who Cares that strongly? Elected government/ official positions there might be a case for the discussion but otherwise. Regards mark687
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Post by tuigirl on Jan 24, 2023 22:42:49 GMT
Short answer- yes, Cass is perfect new jumping on point. Only thing you need to know is that there is a slight nagging memory that there was somebody else (Bliss).
However. Sooner or later you might want to work your way through the others (even if most are not that good, compared to other 8th Doctor stuff), for the single reason that Volume 4 is EPIC. Terry Molloy is the best. But if I am perfectly honest, since Bliss and 8 are only side characters in the Davros story, you could just get Volume 4 anyways. (and I repeat again, while Cass is all nice and fun and games, it just does not play in the same league as that truly epic Davros story in volume 4).
The only truly great stories in this range before Volume 4, at least in my opinion, are Planet of the Ogrons and The War Valeyard.
I love Planet of the Ogrons “would you like satsuma?” We NEED more Doctor Ogron!
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Post by tuigirl on Jan 24, 2023 22:53:54 GMT
Concerning the alleged nepotism.... Maybe we should do a different thread for that?
In any case, as I said before, I do NOT see a big issue here. Sonny has been working for the company before, he seems to be part of the production team, he plays an established character, he does a good job and I actually do not really see a problem with the him. If you face it, everyone happens to be related to someone and from what I have seen, the kids of actors often become actors themselves! There are so many people working for Big Finish, of course this will happen sooner or later. How do you even begin to avoid it?
Colin Baker has brought his daughter, too, and she did not face that much discussion on here. And-
I mean, nobody seems to have an issue with Peter Davison dragging that obscure son-in-law of his into the studio.... It does not happen all the time, good work has been done, and as we have discussed previously somewhere else, it is not as if Big Finish actors earn millions of pounds for what they do- we had established before that attending a convention is more lucrative. So employing the relative of someone for a set of stories does not make another actor starve.
I simply do not see an issue.
In any case, maybe we should just move this discussion into a designated thread?
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Post by themeddlingmonk on Jan 25, 2023 1:11:30 GMT
Literally every Davison under the sun has done Big Finish, they should get a loyalty card.
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Post by theillusiveman on Jan 25, 2023 15:20:11 GMT
Finally Finished listening to Vol 5. i had hesitations before listening to the box set due to my views on Night of The Doctor and The Character of Cass however i found myself quite enjoying the box set ill start with the positives: * For The First Time since 2011 we have The 8th Doctor with a Male Companion and the dynamic works really well,8 and Alex have really have a good banter like relationship though i will say there isnt much of a Great Grandfather/Grandson Relationship dynamic in this boxset but i feel as though its a step in the right direction, the stark contrast of The Original Alex and AU Alex is quite nice and its nice to see Jake giving a chance to shine in the role. * The Stories are decent nothing groundbreaking but as a soft reboot of the range its quite a welcome as i felt they are good to ease new listeners into this earlier chapter of The Time War * Cass was handled fairly decently, her character while still forming is likable and a good performance from Emma Campbell Jones, her relationship with 8 is not really touched on i think but i think her and Alex play off well together. i am really glad there were no references to Night of The Doctor in this boxset which makes it feel like its own self contained era The Negatives: * Surprisingly while the stories are decent there is nothing really groundbreaking they are better than Vol 1-3 but they dont really have a candle to The War Valeyard nor Vol 4's boxset Verdict: Honestly the boxset is fine i think its safe and a good jumping on point, i think i am just relieved that its not a Helen and Liv Boxset and that we finally have a new TARDIS Team for 8 that hopefully can be developed properly, i am looking forward to Vol 6 and hope that it continues to build upon i know that David Richardson said in the BTS that BF wants a big Tardis team for The TW Range but i think best to keep developing Alex and Cass as there is potential there for some really good stories Bring on Vol 6 Rating: 7/10
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Post by elkawho on Jan 26, 2023 19:25:43 GMT
I really enjoyed this set. Maybe I'm rating it higher than I should because I wasn't expecting much. I was happy to have Cass be exactly what she was in Night of the Doctor, a way to show us what the Timelords had become in the Time War, and nothing more. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how good a companion she makes and how well this TARDIS team works. Making both of Eight's companions character who are out of time and shouldn't be there is a wonderfully intriguing premise. And then to place that in the background and have them just get on with setting wrongs to rights is terrific. As a listener, I was left wanting to know more.
I'm also happy that this is a self assured Eighth Doctor, back to seeing the universe and enjoying himself when doing it, even with a Time War. I was very happy that there were no other Gallifreyans in this set. Looking forward to seeing where they take this team next!
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Post by dorney on Jan 27, 2023 0:18:50 GMT
A "nepo baby" is ostensibly meant to be someone like Jack Whitehall, who used his father's connections as an enormously powerful talent agent and TV producer to jump the queue most up-and-coming performers face. In practice it increasingly seems to be "anyone in the public eye with famous parents" (see that viral article last month on the subject which classed Phoebe Bridgers as a "nepo baby" on the dubious grounds that her father was a set builder). I used to do stand up when Jack Whitehall started out. He was straight out the gate brilliant and I would have predicted he’d be an instant star pretty quickly and I had no idea about his dad.
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Post by martinw8686 on Jan 27, 2023 0:53:16 GMT
A "nepo baby" is ostensibly meant to be someone like Jack Whitehall, who used his father's connections as an enormously powerful talent agent and TV producer to jump the queue most up-and-coming performers face. In practice it increasingly seems to be "anyone in the public eye with famous parents" (see that viral article last month on the subject which classed Phoebe Bridgers as a "nepo baby" on the dubious grounds that her father was a set builder). I used to do stand up when Jack Whitehall started out. He was straight out the gate brilliant and I would have predicted he’d be an instant star pretty quickly and I had no idea about his dad. I've always found Jack Whitehall really funny, really enjoyed him in Good Omens. I wasn't aware of his Dad until they did a TV show together. Family connections will only get you so far, Jack has consistently entertained for over a decade, he remains popular because of his ability as a performer. My memories hazy but I don't believe Jack has worked on any Doctor Who projects, would be fun to see him have a guest role in the new series, perhaps as a Tivolian.
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Post by masterdoctor on Jan 27, 2023 1:17:06 GMT
I think it’s a matter of recognizing that nepotism exists, it always will exist, and that every "nepo baby" is looked at case by case. Its a privilege they have been given, not through their actions but there parents, it all matters how they handle it and recognize that privilege.
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Post by shallacatop on Jan 28, 2023 11:51:39 GMT
Only listened to Meanwhile Elsewhere so far, but enjoyed it a lot. A soft reboot of the range for Eight by incorporating what makes his Time War appearances outside of it so good; the Doctor is swooping in and helping heal the broken universe where he can in an environment that’s suitably Time War without it devolving to skirmishes with Daleks or missions for the Time Lords. Loving the TARDIS team too; McGann is pitching it perfectly and Alex and Cass are a lovely duo.
Looking forward to the next two stories.
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Post by shallacatop on Jan 29, 2023 13:24:19 GMT
Loved the concept of Vespertine. Allowed our new TARDIS team to really gel together whilst honouring the strengths of what makes Eight in the Time War work. Previously Next Time I think is a pretty strong story that gets caught up in a pointless framing device as a way to justify it being two parts. All of those flashbacks serve no purpose because we’re already well aware of the twists and turns in the opening scenes of the story. Instead they give us some additional content with the Doctor, Alex & Cass, which is nice and their interaction shines, but it’s at a detriment to the story because it is reliant on the guest cast that never feel rounded or developed. That additional running time should’ve been spent on them. In the end the conclusion falls flat, reinforced by a very quick acceptance by the Doctor, which, as sherlock pointed out, Eight should’ve considered much more of all the incarnations. There’s a better story to be had here, but is let down by the script editing, I think. Overall it’s a good set that, as I mentioned in my previous post, utilises the Eighth Doctor in the Time War in a way that plays to his strengths. The addition of Alex & Cass, whilst a gimmick, is played to its strengths to the point where the ending is actually sad. It’s a complete contrast to Bliss, where I’d have been elated!
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Post by martinw8686 on Jan 29, 2023 20:20:32 GMT
Just finished Vol 5.
The first 2 stories are solid 8/10, good use of time distortion, no Daleks or Timelords and the Doctor helping on the sidelines.
The final 2 parter was my favourite, the first part was mostly exposition but still interesting, part 2 was excellent, interesting twists and a final dilemma that is perfect for the character development of the Time War 8th Doctor.
For me the essential elements for Time War 8th Doctor are helping where he can, not fighting. Standing against what the Timelords are doing, trying to find hope in the madness. This set is taking this Doctor in the right direction.
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Post by timleschild on Jan 29, 2023 20:52:23 GMT
Holy fiddlesticks, does it really matter within the context of this thread, about nepotism in an obscure British Radio Drama spin-off thread? Its not obscure radio drama spin-off. & yes say it doesn't matter to all the actors who didn't get the breaks because they weren't the children of famous actors.
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Post by martinw8686 on Jan 29, 2023 22:57:35 GMT
Holy fiddlesticks, does it really matter within the context of this thread, about nepotism in an obscure British Radio Drama spin-off thread? Its not obscure radio drama spin-off. & yes say it doesn't matter to all the actors who didn't get the breaks because they weren't the children of famous actors. Less of the "obscure radio drama" please Otherwise I agree this is not the thread to discuss the nepotism debate, perhaps what we can discuss is the performance in question. Sonny's acting has improved significantly since To the Death, he's more natural and does everything the script requires from him, the star of the show is the Doctor and the other focal point is Cass, Sonny's Alex feels at home as a companion, he doesn't steal the show but that's not what's required of him. The most important thing is he never feels like a passenger, he contributes, delivers tricky techno babble and has an easy manner when sharing scenes with the other cast. Big Finish work with little time and money, as well as delivering a performance, cast members need to fit the ethos of the working environment, I'm sure these are factors considered when casting a production. When putting a team together a good employer considers who works well together, in this instance we have the Mcganns, clearly Big Finish thought let's bring Alex back,they've seen first hand how Sonny's grown over the years working with them, also reading Vortex he mentions working on a play with Paul. .
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Post by theillusiveman on Jan 30, 2023 0:09:28 GMT
Holy fiddlesticks, does it really matter within the context of this thread, about nepotism in an obscure British Radio Drama spin-off thread? Exactly
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Post by axelotl38 on Jan 30, 2023 2:57:25 GMT
Look guys, I just feel Michael Troughton shouldn't be at Big Finish because it's nepotism.
And Sadie Miller.
And Daisie Ashford.
I can handle the incredible insult of recasts, but using their own children? Now that's DISGUSTING.
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Post by sidestep on Jan 30, 2023 4:05:01 GMT
Look guys, I just feel Michael Troughton shouldn't be at Big Finish because it's nepotism. And Sadie Miller. And Daisie Ashford. I can handle the incredible insult of recasts, but using their own children? Now that's DISGUSTING. One of the above said in an interview that their parent brought them in. The resultant roles/performances were actually some of my favorites. & I didn’t even know at first that it was the lead’s child. All the actors kids that do Big Finish do a good job imho. That they carry on their parent’s role & the character keeps going… I feel the word should be lucky? Fortunate? Instead of all these other things.
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Post by Chakoteya on Jan 30, 2023 9:56:50 GMT
I enjoyed the boxset, and the faffing about of Time within the context of the War.
For a moment I thought they had Bliss say Doctor near the end, but I'm not sure.
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