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Post by mark687 on Nov 2, 2017 10:19:21 GMT
Winter for the Adept. There’s the seed of a good story in here, but it’s stifled by the finished product and some of the mistakes Cartmel made in writing this. I’ll start with the Elephant in the room. Nyssa. Sarah Sutton does a really good job of carrying the story without Peter Davison, however the moment he shows up her established character goes out the window in exchange for a new miserable whiny persona. I enjoyed the narration at the beginning (first time the MR has had narration.) but to do that little bit means you’ve opened up a framing story which Cartmel never addresses. Why have you remembered it? What made you look through you’re diary to reminisce about this time? The sound design is really good, the piano bit during the narration is lovely and the piano being played on its own is suitably spooky. I have the feeling that had this been commissioned and released now, there may have been another draft and the ending might have been a bit better. But alas, as it is we have a boring story that could have been so much more. 5/10. Isn't the framing scene set in a Winter almost as cold as the one in '63 which is what prompts her.
Also notable for India Fisher's BF Debut and I think the 1st Deleted scene at the end of a CD?
but otherwise agreed average
Regards
mark687
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 2, 2017 19:26:28 GMT
The Apocalypse Element. If you’d asked me to write this a year or so ago, this would be a very different review. A great story, an easy 8/10. What's changed your opinion of it?
I agree this is the strongest of the loosely linked "Empire" stories,
Evelynn's gun-ho nature, Colin's Doc's growing frustration at the situation, smarmy Vansell back, and Romana 2s introductory scene is actually very good.
Regards
mark687
I think stopping to listen to it and focusing on things roll to write about it changed my opinion. Before I thought it was overly long and excessively noisy. But having payed more attention to the story had me do a complete turn around on it.
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 2, 2017 21:07:07 GMT
Fires of Vulcan.
A wonderful first showing for this Tardis team, with a couple slight hiccups.
Right from the beginning we have the threat to the Doctor and Mel set up, before they’re even introduced!
Right after we have the threat established we are back with the Doctor and Mel just after arriving. Bonnie is as perky as ever as Mel, but Sylvester is a little more subdued than usual as the (season 24) Doctor. I don’t mind that as much though, he’s far better at playing the Doctor like this than he is when playing outrage. Throughout the story I find Mel and the doctor switch moods, with Mel becoming more morose meanwhile the Doctor rallys himself to change his fate.
The guest cast is well realized and each actor plays there part well. Eumachia is a particularly nasty person and gets the fate she deserves.
We get a bit of the conflict that was present in timewyrm: Genesys (autocorrect really doesn’t like that) but instead of addressing it for the most part, the Doctor usually just switches the conversation topic when Mel’s views clash with the historical ones.
Not a perfect story, there’s a couple slight flaws to be had, I find the sound design a bit subdued in the first three episodes, but in contrast to that it really comes together for the end of the world in episode 4. Now was it just me or is Mel exceedingly persuasive? There seems like there isn’t a scene where she’s convincing someone to help her shift some rubble, rallying the doctor or talking her way out of being arrested! She even squeezes the location of the Tardis out of Eumachia and her slave at the end of episode 4.
Lastly my biggest issue is the end of the final episode. To put it simply, she finds the general location of the Tardis, meets up with the Doctor and then suddenly we find them in the Tardis! For something that’s the main drive of the story, finding the Tardis off screen is an odd choice.
It’s a great story, a successful historical but it’s flaws prevent it from being outstanding.
7/10.
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 3, 2017 0:00:07 GMT
The Shadow of the Scourge.
A sidestep into Virgin territory!
Despite this being an excellent story, this little review is actually rather difficult to review as nothing really stuck out to me. Our three leads are excellent together. (The fact that we’ll only get one more story with this Tardis team until the new adventures is criminal). Lisa Bowerman fits in with Sylvester and Sophie like a glove. Hearing her makes me wish I had Digital versions of the Benny CD’s, I’d love to be listening to them alongside these.
The cast in this story is great, (although, every time I hear Lennox Greaves I can’t help but think of chimes) but it’s really the three stars that shine.
I must say that this story is a touch more mature than previous ones (that’s the virgin influence there) and it’s something that big finish will continue to do in later stories.
All in all Cornell writes a great story that’s a pleasure to return to time and again.
8/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 3, 2017 2:07:29 GMT
The Holy Terror.
A sidestep into a 2d adventure!
This post might be a bit rambley but I adore this story. I know this is Shearman’s first BF DW, but is this his first ever doctor who?
This story is amazing, everything ties in, all the threads are tied up and nothing feels extraneous or superfluous. Even the thin characterizations are explained perfectly and work well within the story. Shearman’s trademark dark comedy works on a pythonesque level and all leads up to an extremely dark ending.
Robert Jezek’s Frobisher is fully developed and realized as a character straight out of the gate. It’s a shame he only has one more adventure with Big Finish. Colin Baker again meets his standard of excellence and is by far the most consistent Doctor Big Finish has available to them. Sam Kelly also rises to the occasion as the wonderfully lopy and equally tragic Tacitus.
I know that this is a fairly Marmite story by BF standards, but I honestly can’t comprehend how people couldnt love this story.
I know that reaction to this story meant Frobisher never really came back, but surely they can squeeze him in for a short trip?
Also, the easter egg always puts a smile on my face.
A perfect story. 10/10.
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 3, 2017 5:45:05 GMT
The mutant phase.
This is a bit of an odd one. I just finished this about an hour or so ago but I can hardly remember what happened in it. I know there’s issues with wasps, some time travel and a potentially disastrous paradox. That’s about it for what I can recall.
That being said, Nyasia gets infected (I should start keeping track of these things). But despite this she seems quite competent, which is a nice change from her time on the tv. The doctor is a little more secretive in this one, but it doesn’t really work with this particular doctor. Leave the mysterious secrets to the seventh doctor please.
What I did enjoy was the last half of so I’d episode 4. With Ganatus coming clean, listening to him deal with the Daleksbis a treat. But aside from that the ending sneaks up on you and leaves me with a feeling of “that’s it?”
6/10
I’m aware of the shorter version, as well as the fact that’s this is based off of one of the AVs. Are either of those versions any better?
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Post by mark687 on Nov 3, 2017 11:16:35 GMT
The Holy Terror. A sidestep into a 2d adventure! This post might be a bit rambley but I adore this story. I know this is Shearman’s first BF DW, but is this his first ever doctor who? This story is amazing, everything ties in, all the threads are tied up and nothing feels extraneous or superfluous. Even the thin characterizations are explained perfectly and work well within the story. Shearman’s trademark dark comedy works on a pythonesque level and all leads up to an extremely dark ending. Robert Jezek’s Frobisher is fully developed and realized as a character straight out of the gate. It’s a shame he only has one more adventure with Big Finish. Colin Baker again meets his standard of excellence and is by far the most consistent Doctor Big Finish has available to them. Sam Kelly also rises to the occasion as the wonderfully lopy and equally tragic Tacitus. I know that this is a fairly Marmite story by BF standards, but I honestly can’t comprehend how people couldnt love this story. I know that reaction to this story meant Frobisher never really came back, but surely they can squeeze him in for a short trip? Also, the easter egg always puts a smile on my face. A perfect story. 10/10. Love this story just 1 quibble I don't think Frobisher fully appreciates the lesson
Regards
mark687
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Post by mark687 on Nov 3, 2017 11:24:53 GMT
The mutant phase. This is a bit of an odd one. I just finished this about an hour or so ago but I can hardly remember what happened in it. I know there’s issues with wasps, some time travel and a potentially disastrous paradox. That’s about it for what I can recall. That being said, Nyasia gets infected (I should start keeping track of these things). But despite this she seems quite competent, which is a nice change from her time on the tv. The doctor is a little more secretive in this one, but it doesn’t really work with this particular doctor. Leave the mysterious secrets to the seventh doctor please. What I did enjoy was the last half of so I’d episode 4. With Ganatus coming clean, listening to him deal with the Daleksbis a treat. But aside from that the ending sneaks up on you and leaves me with a feeling of “that’s it?” 6/10 I’m aware of the shorter version, as well as the fact that’s this is based off of one of the AVs. Are either of those versions any better? The shorter version if you want to compare
soundcloud.com/big-finish/doctor-who-the-mutant-phase
This is the 1st BF I went "meth" over nothing wrong with it, nothing memorable either.
Regards
mark687
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 3, 2017 20:17:55 GMT
Last of the titans
Big Finish’s first “freebie”. It’s a fairly unremarkable tale. There’s nothing that makes this a essential listen, essentially a two handed between McCoy and Briggs. They play off each other well enough. Vilgreth is a criminal but I do question his intelligence. How much he could be held responsible for is another conversation.
The only issue I really have with this story is the narration. I don’t really like the idea of being privy to the doctors thoughts. Especially when it’s the one known for being mysterious.
6/10. Average, nothing more, nothing less.
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 5, 2017 0:29:14 GMT
Storm Warning
A new life for the eighth doctor begins at Big Finish.
This is an excellent debut story for the Eighth Doctor and Charley.
The story opens with Paul McGann slipping back into the shoes of the Eighth Doctor (and they still fit perfectly!) it’s like he’s never been away, this young traveler filled with boundless enthusiasm.
It’s not long before we’re intro to India Fishers Charlotte Pollard. In a wonderful showcase of showing, not telling. We meet her in the middle of her own adventure when she falls down the rabbit hole into the doctors world.(probably should have saved that metaphor for Zagreus, oh well)
Now it would take an excellent writer to introduce these characters and write a top notch story all while planting the seeds of an ongoing story line, but Alan Barnes does a superb job with all of these tasks.
A true pleasure to listen to.
9/10.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2017 0:36:48 GMT
Storm Warning A new life for the eighth doctor begins at Big Finish. This is an excellent debut story for the Eighth Doctor and Charley. The story opens with Paul McGann slipping back into the shoes of the Eighth Doctor (and they still fit perfectly!) it’s like he’s never been away, this young traveler filled with boundless enthusiasm. It’s not long before we’re intro to India Fishers Charlotte Pollard. In a wonderful showcase of showing, not telling. We meet her in the middle of her own adventure when she falls down the rabbit hole into the doctors world.(probably should have saved that metaphor for Zagreus, oh well) Now it would take an excellent writer to introduce these characters and write a top notch story all while planting the seeds of an ongoing story line, but Alan Barnes does a superb job with all of these tasks. A true pleasure to listen to. 9/10. Couldn't agree more. I will never forget the feeling I had the first time I heard it knowing we had the 8th Doctor back for new stories. From the "Time ships crashing...and again...AND AGAIN" opening to the Vortisore to meeting Charley and getting on the Zeppelin it WAS Nu-Who well before the BBC brought the tv show back. I adore that run of McGann and India, it just felt like a new frontier. Though I had the 8DA books, his character there was so erratic and inconsistent that when BF got McGann and nailed him on day 1, it felt like home.
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 5, 2017 17:44:18 GMT
Storm Warning A new life for the eighth doctor begins at Big Finish. This is an excellent debut story for the Eighth Doctor and Charley. The story opens with Paul McGann slipping back into the shoes of the Eighth Doctor (and they still fit perfectly!) it’s like he’s never been away, this young traveler filled with boundless enthusiasm. It’s not long before we’re intro to India Fishers Charlotte Pollard. In a wonderful showcase of showing, not telling. We meet her in the middle of her own adventure when she falls down the rabbit hole into the doctors world.(probably should have saved that metaphor for Zagreus, oh well) Now it would take an excellent writer to introduce these characters and write a top notch story all while planting the seeds of an ongoing story line, but Alan Barnes does a superb job with all of these tasks. A true pleasure to listen to. 9/10. Couldn't agree more. I will never forget the feeling I had the first time I heard it knowing we had the 8th Doctor back for new stories. From the "Time ships crashing...and again...AND AGAIN" opening to the Vortisore to meeting Charley and getting on the Zeppelin it WAS Nu-Who well before the BBC brought the tv show back. I adore that run of McGann and India, it just felt like a new frontier. Though I had the 8DA books, his character there was so erratic and inconsistent that when BF got McGann and nailed him on day 1, it felt like home. I suspect that it was really a case of leading from the BBC books lines mistakes that helped them nail his character right out the gate.
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 5, 2017 18:01:46 GMT
Sword of Orion.
To sum it up in a sentence, oh dear.
I’m really not a fan of this story. I find it very slow, some of the twists confusing (the captain is an Android! Wait, she’s an earth agent, no wait, she’s a double agent!) make up your mind!
After a wonderful start in storm warning, McGann is lukewarm in this tale. However, India is still wonderful as Charley, her wonder in the bazaar to her deep distain for the depravity that humanity is capable of.
There’s a little bit of good in this story, the bazaar material in the beginning is great stuff (pity they couldn’t stay there.) As well as some great ideas at the end. (Androids reflecting the worst of humanity back at them, humanity appropriating cyber conversion to create better soldiers.)
Just just a shame the stuff inbetween these two things were so boring.
5/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 5, 2017 19:24:52 GMT
Stones of Venice.
Another story I’m not a fan of.
It’s not that there’s anything bad about this story, I just feel that there’s a separation between what the story says, and what the story shows. The gondoliers are described as amphibious, but there’s no sound effect applied to them I find it easy to forget that fact. The story is set in the future, but there’s nothing in the story that takes advantage of that fact. Venice has always been sinking, this story could just as easily been set in the past with a few tweaked lines.
Another thing that bothers me is that it’s the drug forced on charley that makes her act like estelle. That doesn’t make any sense to me. What kind of drug could do that. That’s more of a brainwashing thing to me. But it seems like Magrs did want to deal with those implications and just chalked it up as a drug.
Not a story I’ll be returning to any time soon.
4/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 5, 2017 19:25:18 GMT
Dear lord, minuet is dreadful. Send help please.
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 6, 2017 7:47:00 GMT
Minuet in Hell.
I want that two and a half hours of my life back.
1/10
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Post by mark687 on Nov 6, 2017 9:47:40 GMT
Minuet in Hell. I want that two and a half hours of my life back. 1/10 I give it 4/10 (but only for Nick Courtney)
Regards
mark687
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Post by omega on Nov 6, 2017 9:56:06 GMT
The mutant phase. This is a bit of an odd one. I just finished this about an hour or so ago but I can hardly remember what happened in it. I know there’s issues with wasps, some time travel and a potentially disastrous paradox. That’s about it for what I can recall. That being said, Nyasia gets infected (I should start keeping track of these things). But despite this she seems quite competent, which is a nice change from her time on the tv. The doctor is a little more secretive in this one, but it doesn’t really work with this particular doctor. Leave the mysterious secrets to the seventh doctor please. What I did enjoy was the last half of so I’d episode 4. With Ganatus coming clean, listening to him deal with the Daleksbis a treat. But aside from that the ending sneaks up on you and leaves me with a feeling of “that’s it?” 6/10 I’m aware of the shorter version, as well as the fact that’s this is based off of one of the AVs. Are either of those versions any better? This one I couldn't get through the first episode of (you'd rather Insay this story is good enough for Jehovah?). *Ducks for cover*
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Post by omega on Nov 6, 2017 9:56:51 GMT
Couldn't agree more. I will never forget the feeling I had the first time I heard it knowing we had the 8th Doctor back for new stories. From the "Time ships crashing...and again...AND AGAIN" opening to the Vortisore to meeting Charley and getting on the Zeppelin it WAS Nu-Who well before the BBC brought the tv show back. I adore that run of McGann and India, it just felt like a new frontier. Though I had the 8DA books, his character there was so erratic and inconsistent that when BF got McGann and nailed him on day 1, it felt like home. I suspect that it was really a case of leading from the BBC books lines mistakes that helped them nail his character right out the gate. There were also the DWM comic strips, which I believe Alan Barnes was involved with.
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Post by omega on Nov 6, 2017 9:58:37 GMT
Dear lord, minuet is dreadful. Send help please. I can send you hell. A Minuet in it to be precise. At least Sword of Orion has the Alien stuff.
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