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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2018 10:23:26 GMT
I loved the first story, it felt like the early series' of Gallifrey where we got lots of talking over ethics and factions of Timelords working against each other. Lovely stuff. How fun that the CIA and the War Council both expect and yet seem surprised to find the other working against them. Pippa's Livia was a bit more demure than Celia Imrie's. I'm still not sure if I like the Time War being so....mundane as to have declarations of war and specific terms and start dates - I do kinda miss before it was explored where the notion seemed to be that it was happening at every moment in exisitence and was too advanced to comprehend in human terms. Still, you can only fairly form an opinion on what it, not what isn't.
The second story works well though I never quite buy Sophie Aldred as this older Ace who's been there and done everything...she still plays it the same as the kid of Dragonfire. Everything she's seen and done and essentially she just bounces off Brax as though he was The Doctor anyway? Other actors have been able to subtly tweak their performances to show their companions changing over time. Liked Ace's status quo being changed yet again at the end though I'm not sure this should have been done in post-closing theme! Still, the story itself is cool. Miles Richardson is always a delight and what he does about 45 mins in made me very happy. Just when I was worrying he was getting to be a bit too cuddly and irrascible - Doctor in all but name - Brax's darker, but more pragmatic side, comes out and he almost seemed to have forgotten some of his sins before remembering towards the end. I liked it being a temporal twist on the base under seige story, the visual of all those decaying Daleks was quite something. As was the creepy "Three blind mice" reading both times. "See how they run..." indeed.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2018 10:30:03 GMT
I'd say it's worth buying, if only for the middle two stories. Particularly and especially the third story if you've also listened to the War Doctor box sets and the War Master box set. The first and last stories weren't all that bad either. This was really my first time listening to Gallifrey. I did try to jump on with Intervention Earth, but I never really could get into it. This box set was much easier to get into. It's no War Doctor or War Master set, but it's not trying to be (with the exception of the third story, obviously) and I think it can be enjoyed on its own merits. I think the last story should've more proactive in dealing with the consequences of the pervious 2 rather than all but ignoring them. 2 popular former Companions are in serious trouble possibly but lets ignore that entirely in favour of a political election which Romana hasn't got a hope in winning and is pointless anyway because what she hopes to prevent if she did win is already happening just so a continuity box can be ticked.
Regards
mark687
Ace's story isn't the cliffhanger the ending suggests - we know exactly what happens to her if you listen after the closing theme. BTW, what happened to "spoilers on release" in thread titles? Wasn't that always the forum policy? Mods, can you update?
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Post by omega on Feb 24, 2018 10:35:33 GMT
I think the last story should've more proactive in dealing with the consequences of the pervious 2 rather than all but ignoring them. 2 popular former Companions are in serious trouble possibly but lets ignore that entirely in favour of a political election which Romana hasn't got a hope in winning and is pointless anyway because what she hopes to prevent if she did win is already happening just so a continuity box can be ticked.
Regards
mark687
Ace's story isn't the cliffhanger the ending suggests - we know exactly what happens to her if you listen after the closing theme. BTW, what happened to "spoilers on release" in thread titles? Wasn't that always the forum policy? Mods, can you update? Someone else made the thread. Normally I'd have changed the title to say spoilers and included a poll.
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Post by omega on Feb 24, 2018 10:37:33 GMT
We can add another character to the list of topical satirical figures. Matt Fitton really knows how to write them.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2018 10:44:06 GMT
Ace's story isn't the cliffhanger the ending suggests - we know exactly what happens to her if you listen after the closing theme. BTW, what happened to "spoilers on release" in thread titles? Wasn't that always the forum policy? Mods, can you update? Someone else made the thread. Normally I'd have changed the title to say spoilers and included a poll. No, no - not blaming anyone - just pointing out that we're conditioned to talk openly when something comes out because the title warns people who haven't listened to stay away but there's nothing in this thread to do so.
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Post by sanderf90 on Feb 24, 2018 15:25:24 GMT
This is my first Gallifrey experience so I went into this more for the Time War than anything else.
And it delivered on that front. Being able to connect elements from the new series to the world of Classic Gallifrey is something Big Finish has been doing quite brilliantly and this was no exception.
I figured out quite quickly where the final story was leading to and who was going to be Lord President at the end, but the way they build up to this is still done brilliantly and I cannot wait to see this pan out in another boxset. One can hope against hope that they get a certain James Bond in for this.
Other remarks... Romana, Leela and Ace remain some of my favorite classic companions so it's also pleasant to have them around in this. Just a bit sad how standalone Ace's story is in this.
Just like The War Master boxset Dereck Jacobi is a highlight in this. Big Finish writes The Master so well... and this Master is delciously fun.
And finally... Irving Braxatiel. What a strange, magnificent character he is. I'm not sure whether to root for him or hate him. But he is fascinating.
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Post by shallacatop on Feb 24, 2018 17:07:39 GMT
The Devil You Know is brilliant. A fascinating character piece for both Leela and the Master, as well as being a great lead in to elements of the War Doctor and Master ranges. I was genuinely gripped for the full hour.
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Post by omega on Feb 25, 2018 0:49:36 GMT
Don't know why it was changed to spoilers on release when it's already been released (April has certainly made a lot of noise about it on Facebook).
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Post by omega on Feb 25, 2018 0:51:31 GMT
I love the round table interviews with the cast of each story. It feels more like a conversation than the usual one-on-one/two interviews. More engaging as well, and we get an idea for the dynamic in the recording studio.
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Post by Digi on Feb 25, 2018 2:01:42 GMT
One can hope against hope that they get a certain James Bond in for this. That would be pretty cool, wouldn't it? I don't mind if it takes them a while to get him though, and have someone else fill the role first. Heck, I think it'd be a neat bit of internal Big Finish continuity if they brought back Don Warrington. And finally... Irving Braxatiel. What a strange, magnificent character he is. I'm not sure whether to root for him or hate him. But he is fascinating. Which is about as accurate a description of Brax as it gets, even after all these years
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Post by shallacatop on Feb 25, 2018 14:11:09 GMT
Imagine if they did get that certain James Bond in?! Makes me sad John Hurt is no longer with us for an Engines of War adaptation. That would have been excellent.
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Post by number13 on Feb 25, 2018 15:37:04 GMT
Poll Alert: The normal ranking order is reversed on this thread's poll, with 5* at the top, 1* at the bottom. A Space/Time distortion, or attempted interference in our democratic process by a certain Time Lord Agency? Vote with care!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2018 23:06:16 GMT
Finished the set this evening - really thought it was one of the most consistently good, intriguing boxsets BF have put out in a while. It's not got a duffer in it and unlike Gally releases since pretty much the boxsets began it didn't feel convoluted. It didn't feel like a continuity fest. It was clear and everyone had goals and motivations that were nicely established. We need Brax to come back now and get on a different path because Jacobi is already doing the "amoral Timelord fears the War so runs away" shtick. I've no idea where Brax is heading but that's part of the fun of the character. The Master and Leela were a double act I never knew I needed so much. In the 4DAs, Lou just gets to bounce off Beevers as she would villain of the week but with this Master she gets a really fun antagonistic relationship. I almost got sucked in with her in being surprised he betrayed her...almost. Loved the last ep though Romana's argument at the debates was really quite weak and I could have done without the on-the-nose "Make Galifrey Great Again" line. Minor quibbles though as there was a real sense of dread to the story. Never, once, do you think Romana and co are winning here, the real tension isn't in the election but in what the War Council's ultimate goal is. While we know from TV that they resurrected Rassilon but I'm not sure any of us expected him to be back at the end of this. It'd be cool if they got Dalton in but he's not cheap and very picky with work. Don Warrington got to do a more ethereal Rassilon in the Divergent arc (and who expected a Zagreus mention in this?!) so I guess he could be used. And a freshly recast would also be fine - seems like a good chance to get a nice big name ham in!
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Post by Digi on Feb 25, 2018 23:19:07 GMT
It'd be cool if they got Dalton in but he's not cheap ... And a freshly recast would also be fine - seems like a good chance to get a nice big name ham in! This has been my thinking as well. I'm not sure it would be wise to commit to someone as big-name and expensive as Timothy Dalton so early on, if the Time War subseries of Gallifrey is going to go on for a while, since we know from the TV series that he's there until the end of the war. What if they can only get Dalton to commit to a single or couple of box sets, but Gallifrey as a line ends up running for 8 more? It'd be a bit of a glaring hole to have Dalton appear and then be an unheard background character. It probably makes more sense to continue this series with another actor, and if they can manage to recruit Dalton, make sure they have him locked down for something like an event release or series closer to the end of the war. ...and this all presupposes that there will be more Gallifrey. The "Volume 1" in the title seems to indicate as much, but I have a hard time fathoming Gallifrey as an ongoing series without Leela. Or, at this point, Ace either.
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Post by ausir on Feb 25, 2018 23:27:03 GMT
I'm pretty sure Leela and Ace will be back in some way. And I'd love to hear Dalton as Rassilon, but if not possible, Warrington would be great too (or a recast if he's not available either – but I'd say they should go for Warrington if he is available).
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2018 23:30:29 GMT
It'd be cool if they got Dalton in but he's not cheap ... And a freshly recast would also be fine - seems like a good chance to get a nice big name ham in! This has been my thinking as well. I'm not sure it would be wise to commit to someone as big-name and expensive as Timothy Dalton so early on, if the Time War subseries of Gallifrey is going to go on for a while, since we know from the TV series that he's there until the end of the war. What if they can only get Dalton to commit to a single or couple of box sets, but Gallifrey as a line ends up running for 8 more? It'd be a bit of a glaring hole to have Dalton appear and then be an unheard background character. It probably makes more sense to continue this series with another actor, and if they can manage to recruit Dalton, make sure they have him locked down for something like an event release or series closer to the end of the war. ...and this all presupposes that there will be more Gallifrey. The "Volume 1" in the title seems to indicate as much, but I have a hard time fathoming Gallifrey as an ongoing series without Leela. Or, at this point, Ace either. Yes, I think Dalton is a bit of a pipe-dream but - hey - we got Hurt and Jacobi and I would have said that of them. I also think you would only want Dalton for that version of Rassilon, desperate and merciless. If you wanted to do a quieter more reflective leader who clearly unites the Timelords I think you'd start with someone less obviously absolutely bonkers. I mean with 13 incarnations, we've seen three so there's loads to choose from with a fresh recast. The nice thing about the enfings for Ace and Leela is they can be picked up here or in a plethora of ranges and not just here. Ace is back on Earth and Leela could be anywhere, anytime. So it's open enough that one or both can easily come back. Personally I'd finish with Ace here - she's not the asset for a war that Leela is nor does Romana have a long lasting relationship with her. So I'd leave Ace dangling while rescuing Leela next time. Likewise The Master can easily come back if required and Brax too. Maybe give them a boxset together. Too much awesome maybe!
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Post by Audio Watchdog on Feb 26, 2018 0:04:20 GMT
Yes, I think Dalton is a bit of a pipe-dream but - hey - we got Hurt and Jacobi and I would have said that of them. I also think you would only want Dalton for that version of Rassilon, desperate and merciless. If you wanted to do a quieter more reflective leader who clearly unites the Timelords I think you'd start with someone less obviously absolutely bonkers. I mean with 13 incarnations, we've seen three so there's loads to choose from with a fresh recast. If the Time-Lords were able to grant The Doctor a new regeneration cycle then surely someone like Rassilon would find a way to get as many lives as needed.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2018 0:15:44 GMT
Yes, I think Dalton is a bit of a pipe-dream but - hey - we got Hurt and Jacobi and I would have said that of them. I also think you would only want Dalton for that version of Rassilon, desperate and merciless. If you wanted to do a quieter more reflective leader who clearly unites the Timelords I think you'd start with someone less obviously absolutely bonkers. I mean with 13 incarnations, we've seen three so there's loads to choose from with a fresh recast. If the Time-Lords were able to grant The Doctor a new regeneration cycle then surely someone like Rassilon would find a way to get as many lives as needed. Right but we've barely seen any of Rasillon's unlike The Doctor so you don't even need some sci-fi explanation of why he has more lives. He can come back as a new actor and it's just one of his non-Dalton, Warrington, Matthews, Sumpter bodies. Or since he's using Valerian's body as a conduit to come back he just stays as David Sibley for a bit, I guess.
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Post by Digi on Feb 26, 2018 1:12:03 GMT
If the Time-Lords were able to grant The Doctor a new regeneration cycle then surely someone like Rassilon would find a way to get as many lives as needed. Right but we've barely seen any of Rasillon's unlike The Doctor so you don't even need some sci-fi explanation of why he has more lives. He can come back as a new actor and it's just one of his non-Dalton, Warrington, Matthews, Sumpter bodies. Or since he's using Valerian's body as a conduit to come back he just stays as David Sibley for a bit, I guess. We've had a few... Richard Mathews in The Five Doctors, Don Warrington in the lead-up to and run of the Divergent Universe storyline, Dalton in The End of Time, and most recently Donald Sumpter in Hell Bent. I guess, aside from Warrington, we haven't seen any of them at length though.
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Post by Audio Watchdog on Feb 26, 2018 1:18:28 GMT
And as David rightly alludes to, if BF is able to attract actors of the caliber of John Hurt & Derek Jacobi, then if they were able to land Dalton it would not be that much of a surprise.
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