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Post by omega on Jun 30, 2016 5:29:09 GMT
Synopsis The TARDIS crew have unknowingly become embroiled in a web of deceit. A trap has been laid across time and they have no possible means of escape. Destiny has ensnared them. The Doctor is finally getting the chance to see the Conglomerate's work at first hand. Romana is working to save the alien Laan once and for all. K9 is returning to Ancient Britain in search of an unusual power source. The Doctor, Romana and K9. Today one of them will die. Written By: Nicholas Briggs Directed By: Nicholas Briggs CAST Tom Baker (The Doctor), Lalla Ward (Romana), John Leeson (K9), David Warner (Cuthbert), Toby Hadoke (Mr Dorrick), David Troughton (The Black Guardian) Released August 2016 Part two of a two-part story, continuing on from The Pursuit of History
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Post by Whovitt on Aug 10, 2016 8:32:56 GMT
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Post by chapwithwings on Aug 10, 2016 9:05:19 GMT
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Post by Timelord007 on Aug 10, 2016 13:02:08 GMT
Excellent review my friend, I'm very intriguing now, hurry up BF & deliver my CD.
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Post by Digi on Aug 10, 2016 22:21:48 GMT
I liked this, with the caveat that both this one and Pursuit of History are much improved when listened to in one block.
I hadn't read the credits ahead of time, so the appearance and interference of the Black Guardian was a pleasant surprise. I really didn't see the twist coming re: his involvement in Cuthbert's life. David Warner was reliable as always, and I found the Conglomerate employee (whose character name escapes me right now) that Romana befriended in Pursuit was absolutely endearing.
Good stuff.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2016 22:26:46 GMT
I think it is safe to say that this is the strongest season of the 4DA's yet!
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Post by barnabaslives on Aug 11, 2016 6:16:20 GMT
It was so late by the time I finished Fiesta of the Damned last night that I didn't notice I'd started up Casualties of Time instead of The Pursuit of History that I'd been saving to hear both parts together, and I was two big spoils in before I finally realized. Somehow I kept thinking the continuity references must be to the second series and should have known better. I may wait a day or two and start over at the beginning. I did notice that hearing David Warner and David Troughton in the same audio is so awesome that to me this would be a must-have even without Tom Baker in what seemed like almost astonishingly good form here. Woohoo!
What I heard of Casualities of Time so far suggests that this is most likely a notable success for Nick in trying to capture the feel of an era that often tried to deliver big things, it felt very much like it really could have been a TV episode in its respective season, in a very good way and without feeling dated. I hope we never take John Leeson for granted, btw, it's so nice to have K-9 along on these adventures... same with Lalla, she is always excellent.
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Post by omega on Aug 11, 2016 6:27:49 GMT
I'm of two minds about this. On one hand it wasn't too bad considering the previous finales but on the other hand it didn't really rise about a meh. Since the synopsis promised one of the TARDIS team dying I was on the lookout for duplicates and thought I had it figured out when Romana got an avatar in the time engine. That would have been more satisfying than what actually happened, with a deus ex machina that seemed a bit contrived.
The marketing should not have mentioned the Guardians. The Black Guardian only comes into serious play in the final episode, with the White Guardian getting only a single line at the very end of the last episode. When the TARDIS turned out to be on the train with the Doctor and K9 I instantly though "it's a trap!", considering how the Doctor had been manipulated in another story featuring the Black Guardian.
Another thought, why not have gotten Jane Slavin to voice the AI? It's not like the Laan had much presence, and it would have spared bringing in Lisa Bowerman for the AI.
If this is the conclusion to many of the nostalgic threads I'll be happy. Five seasons was too long to have the nostalgic tone.
Six out of ten Quantum Gateways. It isn't actively bad, does wrap up lingering story threads and does try to make you think, but just isn't exciting. It's better than the finales from series 2 and 4, but about the same as series 1.
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Post by chapwithwings on Aug 11, 2016 11:05:07 GMT
Excellent review at se very intriguing now, hurry up BF & deliver my CD. Many thanks.
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Post by coffeeaddict on Aug 11, 2016 15:06:30 GMT
I thought it was a good episode.
I guess I don't spend a lot of time analyzing and breaking down these releases as I never really give any thought to whether it is a good series opener or close - as long as I'm entertained I'm happy.
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Post by mark687 on Aug 14, 2016 12:39:52 GMT
Just got round to it (was at my cousin's Wedding at Bath Abbey during the week but that's nether here nor there)
Anyway it was a fairly decent end to the Conglomerate Arc. Tom Baker, David Warner and David Troughton bring their A game. Nice touch of BF nostalgia to have Lisa Bowmen and Jez Fielder provide background voices galore.
But please I beg BF try to inject more than bored smugness into Romana 2 next year its so wearing.
Regards
mark687
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Post by elkawho on Aug 14, 2016 13:43:59 GMT
I actually thought Romana was much more animated in this (which, yes I know, isn't saying much). I really enjoyed it. I realized only recently how much of a Black Guardian fan I am. I'm not sure why. And I love David Troughton in the role. If they ever bring him back on TV, I hope they cast Troughton.
And for those commenting that it works better if you listen to The Pursuit Of History and this back to back are correct. I started listening to this and then stopped, went back and listening to the two together. I enjoyed it a lot more.
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Post by Audio Watchdog on Aug 14, 2016 20:18:04 GMT
I actually thought Romana was much more animated in this (which, yes I know, isn't saying much). I really enjoyed it. I realized only recently how much of a Black Guardian fan I am. I'm not sure why. And I love David Troughton in the role. If they ever bring him back on TV, I hope they cast Troughton. And for those commenting that it works better if you listen to The Pursuit Of History and this back to back are correct. I started listening to this and then stopped, went back and listening to the two together. I enjoyed it a lot more. So like a proper 4 parter then.
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Post by omega on Aug 14, 2016 20:24:17 GMT
I actually thought Romana was much more animated in this (which, yes I know, isn't saying much). I really enjoyed it. I realized only recently how much of a Black Guardian fan I am. I'm not sure why. And I love David Troughton in the role. If they ever bring him back on TV, I hope they cast Troughton. And for those commenting that it works better if you listen to The Pursuit Of History and this back to back are correct. I started listening to this and then stopped, went back and listening to the two together. I enjoyed it a lot more. So like a proper 4 parter then. I believe that was the intention. A couple of years ago Big Finish finally stated on the product page when a story was part 1 or part 2 of a two release storyline after people complained on the forum.
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Post by elkawho on Aug 14, 2016 21:52:03 GMT
So like a proper 4 parter then. I believe that was the intention. A couple of years ago Big Finish finally stated on the product page when a story was part 1 or part 2 of a two release storyline after people complained on the forum. Yep.
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Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Aug 15, 2016 7:29:20 GMT
That ending was a bit ... I dunno, rushed? Cuthbert just randomly decides to be a better person, the Doctor has a magic memory restoring bird in the TARDIS (which would have helped the eighth Doctor no end!) and despite how dangerous the whole time engine is, they just leave it (although the whole "great evil and great good" has precedence I suppose).
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mbt66
Chancellery Guard
Likes: 3,081
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Post by mbt66 on Aug 21, 2016 10:47:33 GMT
I waited before I had both CDs before I started to listen to them and was very glad that I did.
In keeping with the other conglomerate stories The Pursuit of Time was simply the first two episodes of a four part story. A story that didn't even have very good cliffhangers to break it up.
Personally I found it all very disappointing. Perhaps I was looking forward to it too much and had been anticipating the confrontations, what might happen in the story and who will die and how that would be explained. Therefore when I listen to these again hopefully I will simply enjoy them for what they are. However I suspect that I will still find that ending contrived and nonsensical.
If you are going to have something as outlandish as...
*** SPOILER ***
...a parrot restoring the Doctors mind, they would IMO have been better having the Doctor brain dead at the end of the third episode (at least that would make a good cliffhanger) which would then give them the opportunity (eg the time) to better explain the final resolution.
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Post by acousticwolf on Sept 8, 2016 15:03:49 GMT
I listened to both stories back to back and enjoyed Casualties ... far more than Pursuit ..! I don't know, perhaps I just wasn't in the mood for the overall comedic tone of Pursuit, but I thought the general story was good and as others have said David Troughton is brilliant as The Black Guardian.
I think tho' after this series, I'm ready to move onto a different phase with Four ... even if it's just back to Leela . Cheers Tony
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Post by mark687 on Sept 17, 2016 20:46:21 GMT
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Post by Audio Watchdog on Sept 17, 2016 20:50:10 GMT
I saw that earlier today, and shared it on my FB feed. That whole series of photos just makes me really happy and makes me wish we had more albums like that. I also wish they would put on those photos, and more like them, on the behind the scenes tabs on the web site.
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