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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2023 12:59:26 GMT
I love 8s early adventures with Charlie and have hoped for some kind of reunion for a long time. By the time we get to the Lucie Miller era, Charley is still nowhere to be seen and 8s tigger like nature has somewhat dampened. There's potential for some really interesting character development here. I hope Audacity doesn't get overshadowed and a promised new era taken over by a returning companion. I'm optimistic that something bigger is at play here. I think the Endgame of this set up links directly into the reshuffle of 8DA Time War 6 and next years 8DAs. Remember Hieronima Friend also played by Jaye. I don't think Audacity was ever going to be a long time companion, instead a very long time antagonist. 8 is going to do something, perhaps because of Charlie and Audacity will pay the price. I think, as Bonehead said, some of us were "sold" on the idea of this as being as close to a fresh era as can be with these things. Like other XDA ranges have been. There's already a series for Charley and McGann's extended adventures. It's not a deal breaker, for me. I think Charley may well feature in just a story. But still - as quoted above, BF used to be conscious of letting things settle before putting too much Who backstory into it. Imagine if we had the Susan reunion with McGann within two stories of Lucie's arrival. Wouldn't have the same heft as her returning to a team we'd followed for 2 or 3 years. McGann inparticular, as I said in my post before the release, is the Doc I feel needed a totally new era more than others. His stories with Charley, Lucie then Helen and Liv are rather epic. I do understand Paul, more than most, is quite choosy in who he works with so may not be as open to completely fresh starts. That doesn't make it more fresh for the audience though. Like I said, Audacity had one story to shine, then she's sidelined for the second and Charley ends that one. So it's more a case of timing rather than it happening at all. If the same thing happened down the road aways? Less of an issue. It's also a bit...odd putting a companion literally introduced as "too much" and struggling for adventure in a man's world with a character who is essentially the same. Would be like...Constance and Helen being a TARDIS duo. But hey, BF be BFing. The stories were good (except for the baffling quick end to Cyber War) and that's the main takeaway.
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Post by timleschild on Nov 3, 2023 14:03:36 GMT
Well this has dampened my enthusiasm somewhat.
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Post by thelonecenturion on Nov 3, 2023 20:51:07 GMT
Really loved this boxset. It's an excellent start for Audacity, and she gets some brilliant characterisation here - plus Jaye Griffiths is amazing. I adored The Devouring, I think it hit all the right beats and made Audacity's general personality clear. She also feels authentically regency-era, which I'm thrilled about.
As for The Last Great Cyber-War, I thought it was a good story but nothing particularly special. That said, I loved some of the 'explanations' for things we see in Revenge of the Cybermen, including the Vogans getting all the gold from the Doctor's TARDIS... so that's how those Seals of Rassilon got there...
As for the final moments with Charley, I don't really see what all the fuss is about. This is still a new era, it's clearly been planned as such, as it will ultimately lead to an explanation of why Charley and the Doctor haven't mentioned Audacity thus far. I do think Charley is sticking around, and I don't think it's a huge problem. I also highly doubt that Audacity has anything to do with Griffiths's character from the Time War boxset.
Overall this was a fantastic start and I hope the Eighth Doctor continues along this strand of his life for a few more boxsets before we return to Liv and Helen.
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Post by martinw8686 on Nov 3, 2023 23:58:58 GMT
I did a stupid thing. I found out about Charlie and assumed she was returning after The Girl Who Waited, not that this set is taking place early in her original run.
I've deleted my original response from before I'd finished the set. I just assumed the talk of the Charlie reveal was about a reunion for some greater purpose.
How utterly pointless this appears to be. I'm with the other dissapointed listeners now. The set was good 4/5 but I just can't see the purpose in setting up the Doctor travelling with Audacity and Charley pre Divergent Universe.
I do feel a little cheated out of a new era for 8. This is a sliver fitting into the smallest gap.
I feel very foolish sharing my imaginings of a grand arc linking all the way up to the Time War and some clever Endgame from Big Finish.
My new thoughts are, they travel as a team of 3 for a bit and then Audacity leaves, either by being dropped off, killed or forgotten.
On a positive note, I enjoyed the stories and will listen to the next set hoping for more fun.
Can I ask, is anyone actually excited by the return of Charley in this way?
I love the character but as others have said, she has already returned in The Further Adventuress set, so the reveal feels like a cheap trick and not an exciting surprise.
Bah humbug! 😉
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Post by masterdoctor on Nov 4, 2023 0:13:46 GMT
I’m kind of glad that I didn’t pick this up yet, as though I don’t have any issues with them bringing Charley back, I have no real interest in those stories. I am disappointed that Audacity isn’t a companion in her own right and not second fiddle, but with so many other releases that interest me and a limited budget, I’ll be fine to miss out on the end.
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Post by sherlock on Nov 4, 2023 14:11:22 GMT
The Great Cyber-War is a fine bit of space opera, with Revenge appropriate Cybermen with a more brutal edge and high stakes at the end. It’s not the most revelatory Cyberman story ever, but it all works nicely and Audacity works well in the mix. Though I will nitpick the behind the scenes, they keep talking like it’s the first time we’ve ever heard this Cyber-War. I know Last of the Cybermen wasn’t great but bit harsh to forget it entirely!
Then comes the ending. I think it’s a shame that this brave new era is being relegated to a subset of Charley’s. It might be more welcome a twist if Charley appearing was a novelty or even if this was a post-Girl Who Never Was reunion. But neither of those is true. And it’s a shame for Audacity as rather than getting a run to herself she will now share screentime with another companion. I’m just scratching my head why they’ve done this, as honestly a blank canvass for Eight was really quite appealing.
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Post by elkawho on Nov 5, 2023 0:15:00 GMT
I loved this. I was not enamored of Audacity when they announced this set, but I think she works well. I hope she relaxes a bit and they allow her to enjoy her time in the Tardis. I feel like she is caught up in judging those around her, and I hope we get to see her character evolve. I would love for her to lighted up a bit by the end.
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mbt66
Chancellery Guard
Likes: 3,081
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Post by mbt66 on Nov 5, 2023 12:29:41 GMT
Should we expect an updated cover for In the Bleak Midwinter?
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Post by bonehead on Nov 5, 2023 12:50:19 GMT
Should we expect an updated cover for In the Bleak Midwinter? And an updated cast list? And story blurb too, because only one companion is referred to most of the time.
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Post by martinw8686 on Nov 5, 2023 15:29:57 GMT
Does it count as a new era if it's tacked on to a previous Doctor/Companion dynamic or is it an extended guest run as part of a story arc? Perhaps time will tell.
Older 2nd Doctor and Jaime in Beyond War Games counts as a new era because they've splittered from the original timeline and the range has scope to run for a while.
Older Jo Grant with 3, is a new era if it runs a while.
Naomi and Harry with 4 feels like a guest run but could be an era for 7.
When 5 added Marc to his Tardis team, that felt like a guest run.
Hebe with 6 and Mel, looks to me like a guest run for that story arc.
And now Audacity with 8 and Charley, will she hang around long enough to be an era or another Marc?
If she hangs around as long as Flip and Constance then I'd say we can call her a new era for 8, despite sharing the Tardis with Charley.
It is a little frustrating to have been tricked into thinking we have a completely new era for 8 but I'm willing to stay on the train and enjoy next months ride.
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Post by tuigirl on Nov 5, 2023 21:28:13 GMT
I am not sure I am sold on this release. I like Audacity, and her first story was wild and different. Audacity is a great over the top character, she is unpredictable and her heart is in the right place. However, this second story about the Cybermen... is just is much more average, one of these usual Cyberman run-around. And I just did not like the emotional Leader with the broken inhibitor chip. He was just such a typical vindictive sadist villain. This story was completely missing the horror and menace of the silent methodical Cybermen, who live of their body horror. Honestly, they could have replaced the Cybermen with the usual shouty Daleks and it would have been the same, even if the glitter guns would have worked even less. Sorry, not sold on this. And then the ending. As everybody else is saying, not entirely sure what to make of it. Well, of course the behind the scenes reasons are McGann loving to work with India and BF is probably hoping for better sales on their upcoming Christmas story set, hoping to bring in all the nostalgia „Chimes of Midnight“ fans. It would not be Christmas without Charley, would it? No idea if they will keep Charley on beyond that or just dump her on another Himalayan retreat, while the Doctor is off with Audacity. I guess we will have to see. But I agree with everyone here saying that this was a really strange decision to bring early Charley back. On the other hand, early Charley still sounds very much like early Charley, at least we have no jarring aged voice to deal with.
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Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Nov 6, 2023 8:29:55 GMT
I lov3 how bonkers the Cyber-Leader is. Also, anhhh Fanwink ahoy! A stealth explanation for the Seal of Rassilon being on Voga. I was dead set certsin that “the scientist who’ll lead us to victory….” was gonna be Davros.
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Post by timleschild on Nov 8, 2023 18:35:12 GMT
Jaye Griffiths is fantastic in this. The Devouring is a decent introduction even if the villain is rather corny. The Great Cyber-War is OK, entertaining but unremarkable. Sadly that character turning up at the end is eye-rolling. A pointless addition.
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Post by relativetime on Nov 8, 2023 22:22:08 GMT
I enjoyed this. I think The Devouring is one of the strongest companion introductions in a long while and I instantly warmed to Audacity. The Great Cyber-War was good too, but I admit I was very disappointed for a while by that ending. Honestly I might have held off preordering these releases right away if I'd known this was going to be slotted into the early Charley years. I adore Charley, she's always been one of my favorite companions, but I was hopeful that Audacity wouldn't have to share the limelight with one of the old greats for at least a little longer than a single boxset.
That being said, the next boxset is written by three of the best writers at Big Finish and I've already preordered these stories anyways, so I'm still optimistic regardless.
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Post by BHTvsTFC on Nov 13, 2023 17:36:25 GMT
I find it hard to believe that when they are discussing sets in the writers rooms that the relevant people get excited when some of these ideas are suggested. Maybe there are certain suggestions like 'let's bring back an older version of...' or 'let's do a story about why Romana regenerated' or 'let's bring Charley back,' that should lead to immediate dismissal.
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Post by martinw8686 on Nov 13, 2023 22:21:09 GMT
I find it hard to believe that when they are discussing sets in the writers rooms that the relevant people get excited when some of these ideas are suggested. Maybe there are certain suggestions like 'let's bring back an older version of...' or 'let's do a story about why Romana regenerated' or 'let's bring Charley back,' that should lead to immediate dismissal. I quite like the Gallifrey ranges explanation for Romana's regeneration.
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Post by Ian McArdell on Nov 24, 2023 15:16:57 GMT
My take on Audacity is now up at CultBox - in short: Love Jaye Griffiths, enjoyed the Cyber War, baffled by the *twist* at the end.
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Post by Timelord007 on Nov 26, 2023 16:40:52 GMT
A great set of stories, Paul McGann is excellent as always & Jaye Griffiths makes a great addition & companion.
8/10
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Post by bonehead on Dec 6, 2023 21:10:10 GMT
The Devouring by Lisa McMullin.
I should be spending my money on others at this time of year, not impulse buying for myself. When the purchase is this good though, it's difficult to feel guilty! This was a great story - a journey, if anything. As always Paul McGann is excellent as Eight: a quieter, more thoughtful interpretation of The Doctor. To be honest, Liv and Helen are a tough act to follow. Quite a problem, I would think, the find anyone with their chemistry. Jaye Griffiths is excellent in a role that could, in lesser hands, be a bit of a pain. She's a very likeable actress and makes Audacity a steely, sincere, wonderful new character, instantly at home in the Tardis. This is why I would have preferred any return for Charley (or anyone else) to be a few boxsets down the line. Still, it's all good. This story is a fine one, a fast paced almost romantic, almost buccaneering rollercoaster. The Devouring are a deceptively simple creation and very effective. Glad I got this!
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Post by bonehead on Dec 7, 2023 17:39:18 GMT
"Honestly, the manners on this one!"
The Great Cyber-War Part 1 by Tim Foley.
I don't know whether I'm just in the right mood for this but again, I thought this was fantastic. Really well played by all. Nice to hear Trudi Goodwin and Karen Archer excelling as a couple of bitter, grizzled operatives (I'd no idea Karen had been David Collings' wife). Jaye Griffiths continues to delight as Audacity, her chemistry as sharp as ever with Paul McGann's brilliant Doctor. Really, I hope they continue to do these audios for a long time to come. Nicholas Briggs is great as the Cybermen - didn't recognise him to start with - Christopher Robbie's Cyber Leader would be proud. Tim Foley, truly one of BF's most exciting writers, turns in a great 'episode one'. I love it all. A terrific set so far, and it's great to hear the cast and crew audibly enjoying the experience in the extras.
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