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Post by kimalysong on Jun 15, 2017 23:03:53 GMT
I quite enjoyed Shadow Planet but count me in as another person who felt World Apart was the real masterpiece of this set.
My minor issue with Shadow Planet is I felt Ace especially acted a bit out of character to want to try to extract her shadow. But I'll forgive that because you need it to happen somehow.
I guess while I like the concept of Shadow Planet I didn't find the exploration of Shadow Ace & Hex was enough for me. It would have been more interesting to see how Ace & Hex changed without their shadow selves. I know there was that part where it was said Ace was less brave without her shadow but I guess I wanted more than that. Also Shadow Ace & Hex almost seemed too similar to me.
I will say that I did like the twist about the villain that was well played and that Hex & Ace's Shadow still were shown to be basically Ace & Hex in the end in the decision that they made just different aspects of Hex & Ace.
Okay I'm starting to ramble going to need to make another post about the splendid World Apart. Maybe later tonight or tomorrow.
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Post by kimalysong on Jun 16, 2017 18:15:39 GMT
Okay World Apart I actually ended up re listening to this one again last night/this morning because I enjoyed it so much. I loved how we just had Hex and Ace trapped and alone trying their best to survive because there were literally no distractions and the entire story could be completely character focused. Also the setting as the monster was quite well done. Although I would also argue the Doctor was a bit of the "monster" as well Or at least in the end of the story he was shown to be as dangerous or at least as uncertain as the planet I think this story did a great job of exploring both the adventure of traveling with the Doctor (Hex talking about feeling small and yet excited was one of my favorite moments of the script) but also in this same episode we see the pure danger of it. I found this episode to be beautifully haunting. I felt the terror of Ace and Hex having to survive out there alone. And while we knew the Doctor would eventually come back for them it didn't stop me understanding the character's fear or being left in that desolate cold place. (Ace's faith in the Doctor and Hex's uncertainty felt equally valid.) But I also couldn't help loving the idea of Ace and Hex only having each other. While I ultimately believe their feelings for each other are different, I could feel the love that each of them shared for one another. I thought throughout the episode what if they didn't have each other? Ace was the one who initially ran out of the Tardis after Hex. What if she hadn't and Hex had been alone? Or what if something had happened to the other. The Doctor did rescue them in the nick of time but I also believe they survived because they had each other. All the time Ace & Hex must have spent alone there and we only caught a glimpse. I thought about the type of conversations they had. This trial probably made the two of them even closer. This is why I love these type of stories because I know there is more story that we aren't privy too. The threat of the planet felt real too, it gives a whole new meaning to Mother Nature is trying to kill you. But as scary as the planet was the way the setting was portrayed felt beautiful to me too in its isolation. I felt I was there with Ace and Hex while listening-on the cold beach with the pink snow. Sometimes the most beautiful things can be the most dangerous. And as for the Doctor: While I think every Doctor would want to save a sentient being like the Planet if they could, would any other Doctor have left their companions in danger like that or even leave the planet be so it could hunt other wary travelers? It's like I understand the Doctor and yet he does seem so alien and dangerous here. His morality seems different. I really like that and I feel only the 7th Doctor can really pull this off. I do wonder what made Hex eventually come around to forgive the Doctor after this though. Because obviously we know he did.
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Post by chapwithwings on Jun 20, 2017 18:44:58 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2017 18:57:24 GMT
Not sure what I can add to what others have said. Shadow Planet was alright, nothing special. World Part was just on another level. Absolutely amazing, pretty much a two-hander between Ace and Hex and they pulled it off so well. Cudos to all involved.
Edit: just noticed World Apart was written by Scott Handcock. Amazing piece of work if you're reading Scott.
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Post by Timelord007 on Jun 21, 2017 8:44:16 GMT
Scott Handcock you are a genius mate, Worlds Apart is a gripping emotional three handed audio drama that delivers one of the most tense & dramatic listens I've heard in years, this is something truly special Scott you've captured lightning in a bottle.
Giving you 10/10 mate.
A bona fide classic.
Shadow Planet was pretty good too, a great concept but it just lacked tension so that gets a 7/10.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2017 16:20:17 GMT
World Apart
An uncomplicated Hex, an unaffected Ace and a crazy-as-usual Doctor (I love the way Sylvester McCoy delivers his lines. Like John le Mesurier, you never quite know what you're going to get) - what more could you want?
Well, a creepy, atmospheric, nicely paced, wonderfully character-based story would be nice. And this was it. A genuine BF classic in my view, which takes advantage of the two-episode format perfectly - although with the characters so well written as this, I could listen to them for longer. Towards the end, it has a genuine tension about it - Ace and Hex trapped in a genuine nightmare, and just where is the Doctor? His reasons for his actions are typically Seventh Doctor, and Hex's effective (and very well played) raged is understandable.
Terrific.
These two x two parters have been great on the whole. They aren't just stories split in two, they are expressly crafted for a shorter formula and play to the strengths such a format can bring. Also, the two stories on each disc have subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) links with each other, making the whole experience uniquely enjoyable on another level.
I hope the experiment is repeated.
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Post by masolko on Jun 22, 2017 3:50:31 GMT
World Apart made for a fascinating bottle episode. I completely bought into the peril despite knowing the toys had to go back in the box by the end. There is still a fair bit of the Hex saga I need to catch up on and the events of this story will do much to influence my future listening. I see myself revisiting this one again in the near future.
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Post by mark687 on Jun 23, 2017 8:44:20 GMT
Subscriber Bonus ST The Horror Hy-Brasil is now in Accounts
Regards
mark687
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Post by barnabaslives on Jun 23, 2017 19:13:14 GMT
I'm holding these two great stories in pretty much equal esteem. I think Shadow Planet had a lot of challenges to face that it met beautifully, and if I could change anything about either I think it would be several things about World Apart. I'd have loved for there to have been five minutes at the end of the later for The Doctor to explain his actions and be halfway understood rather than ending on a sour note. Both stories were outstanding, though, and I loved how much they actually seemed like one story in spite of the format - very seamless. Also I gotta say, it was just fantastic to have Hex back - I really missed him!
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Post by nottenst on Jun 26, 2017 15:56:39 GMT
I finished them on Saturday. They were very good. I liked the device in World Apart of Ace dictating the story as a warning.
I do remember not quite hearing a couple of things in each of the two and so am looking forward to scanning the pdf scripts to see what, if anything, I missed or misunderstood.
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Post by nottenst on Jun 26, 2017 19:20:51 GMT
I could have sworn there was something in Shadow Planet that I didn't hear the first time, but nothing popped up in the script. World Apart, on the other hand, definitely has some items I didn't quite hear when listening. (FX: UNDER THIS, THE FAINTEST SOUND ON THE WIND. THE DOCTOR’S VOICE, BUT DISTORTED - SOFT AND UNRECOGNISABLE AT THIS STAGE.) WHISPERY DOCTOR: Ace…? Hex…? ... WHISPER: Can you hear me?
(FX: CRACKING – FROZEN CORPSE FALLS ON HIM.)
WHISPERY DOCTOR: You don’t have long… WHISPERY DOCTOR: There’s no escape… It was quite interesting to read the script. There were some other descriptions that filled in a couple of things as well.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2017 19:43:12 GMT
It was quite interesting to read the script. There were some other descriptions that filled in a couple of things as well. Yeah, I find the scripts interesting to read too. (Usually with a cup of tea after I've heard the story once or twice.)
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Post by mark687 on Jul 7, 2017 13:26:53 GMT
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Post by glutamodo on Jul 8, 2017 4:29:54 GMT
re: Shadow Planet:
So was I the only one who thought immediately of the Valeyard here? Yeah BF has refined the character a little bit but I could just not help but think that Seven didn't want anything to do with the Shadow Process in fear that a Jayston-esque-nasty might pop out.
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Post by mark687 on Jul 10, 2017 10:58:30 GMT
Subscriber Extended Extra DL now in Accounts
Regards
mark687
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Post by agentten on Oct 5, 2017 1:21:52 GMT
World Apart has some of the most immersive sound design Big Finish has ever done and the score is a wonderful riff on John Carpenter. I was really captivated by this story. I love how stripped down and focused the script is. I felt like I could listen to it all day.
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Post by Timelord007 on Oct 5, 2017 7:32:08 GMT
World Apart has some of the most immersive sound design Big Finish has ever done and the score is a wonderful riff on John Carpenter. I was really captivated by this story. I love how stripped down and focused the script is. I felt like I could listen to it all day. Yeah i agree the sound design really captures that haunting John Carpenter vibe that goes tonally well with this release.
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Post by Ela on Apr 15, 2018 22:23:53 GMT
I listened to these stories a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed both of them. re: Shadow Planet: So was I the only one who thought immediately of the Valeyard here? Yeah BF has refined the character a little bit but I could just not help but think that Seven didn't want anything to do with the Shadow Process in fear that a Jayston-esque-nasty might pop out. I didn't actually think of that at all. I guess in part because I associate the Valeyard more with the Sixth Doctor.
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Post by omega on Aug 19, 2018 5:41:00 GMT
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Post by Hieronymus on Sept 9, 2018 19:50:07 GMT
I would rate both stories 5/5, but the poll only allows one vote.
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