|
Post by tuigirl on Aug 9, 2020 21:41:33 GMT
Aaand. finished Voyage to the new World. Sadly, a fail for me I am afraid. The story just became to confusing and morose towards the end.
But, now I have started on Chase the Night. And this one is certainly better. Really loving Adric in these!
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Aug 9, 2020 22:44:20 GMT
Beyond the Ultimate Adventure (Terrance Dicks)
A surprisingly very subdued sequel to The Ultimate Adventure. And by subdued I mean really boring.
I know Terrance Dicks was practically a god when it came to writing Who (the amount of Target novelisations under his belt is really nothing to be scoffed at) but at best this was merely just cobbled together ideas from previous stories thrown against a wall to see what sticks. Extremely self indulgent when it comes to continuity (Remember the Raston Warrior Robot? Or the Vampires? Terrance Dicks sure does!) and the surprising choice to have multiple narrators for a Companion Chronicles really threw me off guard. Not to mention the main villain of the piece really is nothing to write home about and the way they are defeated is extremely underwhelming.
Came across like rather poorly written fanfiction to be honest. And as a sequel to the Ultimate Adventure I’m not exactly sure it scratches that itch for those clamouring for more Jason and Crystal stories. (If anyone disagrees, please do let me know. I’d love to hear your thoughts)
In fact, I can’t believe I’m saying this but I feel like this could have benefited from the inclusion of a few songs. Would have livened the piece up a bit at least.
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Aug 10, 2020 11:55:23 GMT
The Wax Princess (Justin Richards)
Definitely the most tasteful way you could handle someone such as Jack the Ripper in the Doctor Who Universe. Very well done whilst preserving some degree of ambiguity. As it should be.
Also, the ending is definitely worth the price of admission alone.
|
|
ljwilson
Chancellery Guard
It's tangerine....not orange
Likes: 5,063
|
Post by ljwilson on Aug 10, 2020 17:38:14 GMT
MR: Spare Parts
|
|
|
Post by polly on Aug 10, 2020 22:39:11 GMT
Old Soldiers
Apparently I don't own Helicon Prime. I'm not sure how I overlooked it all these years, but it doesn't seem all that interesting, and I already bought some audios the past couple of weeks. So I'm skipping it.
Anyway, like Blue Tooth, this story really channels that Season 7 feeling. I like exploring some friction between Three and the Brig over the Silurian incident, and I like seeing some of UNIT's not-so-nice activities. Both of those things underlines how much more adversarial the Brig was in Season 7, a fact that is somewhat overlooked.
I can picture this as a TV story very easily that season, but only that season. And yet, as with most of the CCs so far, it has its own indentity and pushes beyond what the TV series might have done. That's the crucial element, putting new flesh on old bones, that was missing from the more nostalgia-driven 4DAs.
Nicholas Courtney was another wonderful reader. That gorgeous voice of his! I miss having him as part of the Big Finish stable, and in general it's such a shame that Pertwee's era has been hit so hard with actors passing away. Thank goodness for Katy Manning.
Another solid effort from the Companion Chronicles.
|
|
|
Post by relativetime on Aug 10, 2020 23:23:06 GMT
Return to Skaro.
It’s fine. Nothing spectacular, but still fun for the most part and I could certainly see this story being made if it’d been pitched in the 60s - but it’s still the weakest First Doctor Dalek story on audio and I don’t think this is better or even on par with most Dalek stories of Hartnell’s tenure. I still liked this story for what it was.
|
|
|
Post by sherlock on Aug 10, 2020 23:28:38 GMT
Destiny of the Doctor: Death’s Deal
This series has slumped back to average; here the villain’s entire motivation is just being mad. Catherine Tate’s performance carries this runaround well, and there are some nice descriptions of weird creatures at least.
|
|
|
Post by Ela on Aug 11, 2020 2:30:54 GMT
Finally finished Jago & Litefoot Series 9 yesterday, after a bit of a hiatus. Fun set of stories. Loved hearing all the different characters and actors.
|
|
|
Post by masterdoctor on Aug 11, 2020 12:35:57 GMT
Robots of War by Roland Moore
Very solid base under siege tale to open the second Robots set. Nicola Walker is brilliant as always and Claire Rushbrook is quite good as Tula. It was nice to have a bit of killer robots in this story, as the production team looked to avoid treading on Robots of Death’s plot points, which I think they did very well. Moore continues to be underrated as a BF writer in my opinion, as I never see enough talk about his work, which ranges from the good to excellent and not a lame duck yet in his credits. In fact next just happens to be one of my favourite Sixth Doctor monthly range releases, and Moore wrote it as well.
Memories of a Tyrant by Roland Moore
Still as brilliant as when I first heard it last year. Baker and Bryant put in some of their best performances, with Bryant really nailing each emotional beat, and Baker clearly having a ball playing a dual role. I think this is Roland Moore’s best BF other than his work on Transference. The writing is on point, with the pacing, plot and dialogue all firing on all cylinders. Highly, highly recommended.
The Sinestran Kill by Andrew Smith
Continuing my way through the 4DA’s I have but not listened to, I venture into the Syndicate Master Plan. It opens with the introduction of the newest companion Ann Kelso, played by the ever wonderful Jane Slavin, in The Sinestran Kill. Andrew Smith writes a very solid introduction for Kelso, and sets up some nice unexplained plot points for the series overall. The star here is Slavin, playing Kelso with warmth, smarts and an immediate like ability that the Doctor himself falls in love with her as much as the audience does. Knowing how well Slavin and Baker get on, it is clear as day through the relationship put to the sound waves as it were. I also loved Frank Skinner in this, who as Chief Inspector finds both an authoritative voice within the madness, but also a clear warmth and kindness that many higher up characters in Doctor Who lack. My main gripe with the story however comes to sound mixing, as there were many times in part two that were hard to understand. However, the music was fun and fit the tone well, and Briggs’ direction of everyone is successful, so all in all, The Sinestran Kill is a quality listen that sets up what promises to be a very enjoyable series long arc.
|
|
|
Post by theotherjosh on Aug 11, 2020 13:36:24 GMT
Jago & Litefoot: The Mahogony Murders
Man, a look at posts preceding this show that everybody's listening to Jago & Litefoot this week.
This was an explosively good debut. It's hard to believe that it's only from 2009, because the Jago & Litefoot line feels like the cornerstone of Big Finish. Everything is perfect. There are none of the growing pains associated with something new. Benjamin and Baxter step back into their roles as if they never left them. Brilliantly acted, brilliantly written, brilliantly paced.
The humor pairs so well with the horror elements, which are genuinely frightening. I always enjoy the extras, but these are especially good. Their joy and overall good nature are infectious. An audio I keep returning to again and again.
|
|
|
Post by Ela on Aug 11, 2020 16:21:20 GMT
Mahogany Murders was a fantastic story.
|
|
|
Post by polly on Aug 11, 2020 22:50:13 GMT
As a newly minted fan of the range, I'm loving the Jago & Litefoot trend going on in this thread lately. The Catalyst
This is another story where my memory cheated me. My impression of the Leela arc that starts here is that they're nearly incomprehensible, but I think that may have been colored by later installments like Time Vampire and The Child. Because this one is actually rather straightforward. Leela, in my opinion, was a masterstroke of a character. Primitive, but not stupid. Honorable, but willing to cross the line further than the Doctor would. There are so many layers to her both in the TARDIS and on Gallifrey that she just keeps on giving. Big Finish has done a wonderful job delving into a teacher/student dynamic between Leela and Four. And this story brings to the surface the tension resulting from that underlying disagreement about violence. Better still, it suggests that perhaps one reason the Doctor reacts so badly is because of things he himself has done and is not proud of. As for the Z'dnai, again, I had dim memories of confusion, but in this story at least, they're suitably loathsome villains. I like the idea that Lord Whatsisface traveled with Three for a bit. No matter how many stories you tell, it seems there's always more waiting to be uncovered. I don't like the snooty jerks picking on Leela's table manners. Be like that absolute sweetheart Litefoot and join her in eating with your hands. Maybe the best Chronicle yet (though Mother Russia is in the running). Leela really ought to be wearing a mask and social distancing though, not spitting on people...
|
|
|
Post by sherlock on Aug 11, 2020 23:16:29 GMT
Destiny of the Doctor: The Time Machine
And so the epic series ends, with a bit of a whimper really. Credit to Matt Fitton to tying up 10 loose ends, but the resulting plot is rather undramatic. Maybe it would have worked better if the Doctor had sent messages at various points in the story rather than a big lecture at the end.
Destiny as a whole is a bit an oddity. The run from Babblesphere to Enemy Aliens is quite strong, and Shadow of Death is good too, but the rest are really quite average stories. I wouldn’t say any of them were outright bad, just distinctly meh. It’s easy to see why this series has slipped under the radar so much (such that they gave it away free with DWM last year).
|
|
|
Post by number13 on Aug 12, 2020 10:30:23 GMT
'Have you seen this Henry? Look up there ^. It says we were in something called 'The Mahogany Murders'.' 'Does it indeed? I only signed us up for 'The Mahogany Murderers'. If I'd known they were going to make two turns from the same act, I'd have put in for a double fee...'
(And yes it's brilliant, of course! )
|
|
|
Post by mark687 on Aug 12, 2020 10:38:40 GMT
'Have you seen this Henry? Look up there ^. It says we were in something called 'The Mahogany Murders'.' 'Does it indeed? I only signed us up for 'The Mahogany Murderers'. If I'd known they were going to make two turns from the same act, I'd have put in for a double fee...'
(And yes it's brilliant, of course! ) They'er Both acceptable Regards mark687
|
|
|
Post by number13 on Aug 12, 2020 10:45:40 GMT
'Have you seen this Henry? Look up there ^. It says we were in something called 'The Mahogany Murders'.' 'Does it indeed? I only signed us up for 'The Mahogany Murderers'. If I'd known they were going to make two turns from the same act, I'd have put in for a double fee...'
(And yes it's brilliant, of course! ) They'er Both acceptable Regards mark687 I still mix up 'Revelation' and 'Resurrection' after 30 years so I'm a fine one to talk anyway...
|
|
|
Post by mark687 on Aug 12, 2020 10:45:41 GMT
DW MR
Thin Time/ Mindquake
(One of BFs more cheeky releases worth getting if your Newer Who Era fan dipping your toes into Classic Era)
Regards
mark687
|
|
ljwilson
Chancellery Guard
It's tangerine....not orange
Likes: 5,063
|
Post by ljwilson on Aug 12, 2020 13:12:01 GMT
The Bellotron Incident (which was just about ok, I like the 4 Monthly Range stories by Mike Tucker but wasn't overly thrilled by this one)
|
|
|
Post by barnabaslives on Aug 12, 2020 13:30:40 GMT
It's been awhile since I listened to the Monthly Adventures upon release, so digging right into Thin Time / Madquake.
|
|
|
Post by theotherjosh on Aug 12, 2020 18:48:06 GMT
'Have you seen this Henry? Look up there ^. It says we were in something called 'The Mahogany Murders'.' 'Does it indeed? I only signed us up for 'The Mahogany Murderers'. If I'd known they were going to make two turns from the same act, I'd have put in for a double fee...' (And yes it's brilliant, of course! ) *Checks cover art for the title* Ha ha ha! Whoops! What a massively mortifying mistake! A monumental misapprehension.
|
|