Short Trips 7.01: The World Beyond the Trees (spoilers)

Out now:

www.bigfinish.com/news/v/doctor-who---the-world-beyond-the-trees

I would say you're right, Digi.

This is my first 'main stream' Short Trip (I've only heard last years Subscriber Exclusives from the Main Range), and I have to say I really enjoyed it However, I kind of feel that it was trying to play too much into setting up Absent Friends, which was a bit unnecessary. Still, a fun little story nonetheless. I'm looking forward to the rest of this years subscription!

Also, does having listened to last years Damascus give the listener a more satisfying experience? I feel like I was missing something not having heard it.

I actually really enjoyed the tie in to Absent Friends. I really enjoyed this story a lot. In some ways it felt closer to a companion chronicle to me with the use of 1st person (just with only one voice) that made it easier for me at least to feel engaged then I do with some other short trip stories. The fact that it called back to Liv's experience with her father also made this story feel very personal. And I had just finished listening to Absent Friends too.

I also liked that throughout the story we got little tidbits of how Liv felt about the Doctor, Molly, and her travels. I do hope that now that some time has passed Liv feels closer than a colleague to the Doctor. But I suppose at this point in the story that makes sense for her character.

Nicola Walker also did a great job with the reading. Her voice was very relaxing. Too relaxing as I was listening I was taking too long to get ready for work & now I am running late.




Edit: I didn't even realize there was a prequel story

Why does there need to be more to the story? The Edge of Destruction is "The travelers all wake up in the TARDIS with mild amnesia and distrust, slowly get over it in two episodes." and it's a highlight.

Wasn't expecting the tie-in to Damascus there, but then again I had forgotten what time period this took place in. Still expecting a more meaty follow-up in a Third or Fourth Doctor story.

But yeah, Liv was great in this, I really liked it. The framing device of her orating/writing/whatever to her father, with the forward nods to Absent Friends, was good. Story was slightly fairytaleish, and they kept the pace moving right along, whereas and an actual episode in a set probably would have drawn out Liv exploring the sleepy world or the pair running through the woods for a bitm just to stretch out to that 45ish minutes mark. I've often said they needed some single episodes interspersed throughout the early bits of Dark Eyes to make it feel more meaty, and it's nice to see they're actually doing so.

My Review is now on Planet Mondas:

www.planetmondas.com/2017/01/31/review-world-beyond-trees/