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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 19, 2017 18:46:16 GMT
Neverland
This is a great story, the cream of the crop one might say.
It’s a story that brings together plot threads seeded since storm warning and brings everything together so well that you can’t help but enjoy it.
Paul McGann is once again wonderful as the Eighth Doctor, doing everything he can to keep Charley safe. India shows just how much Charley has grown in that beautiful moment where she accepts she’s been on borrowed time and acknowledges her fate as another grand adventure.
Romana is cold as usual, her and the doctor not having quite the same chemistry as they did in shada. Hers has been a rough presidency so far, hasn’t it?
I’ve gotta give a shout out to Don Warrington as Rassilon, he plays him with such dignity and gravitas befitting of the founding father of time lord society.
A wonderful tale, pity it’s follow up couldn’t keep the momentum going.
9/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 20, 2017 0:31:46 GMT
Spare Parts.
A triumph for the cyber men!
This story still stands as one of the crowning achievements of of big finish, after almost 20 years!
I could go on all day about this story, from showing the Terror of conversion on a family, to the tenth planet references. This story does nothing wrong.
Outstanding!
10/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 20, 2017 7:48:08 GMT
Sarah Jane Smith: The Tao Connection.
This is completely new to me, so I don’t have any preconceptions going into it.
First, I didn’t know that Barry Letts did any work for Big Finish.
It hurts a bit not listening comeback, I feel like this story doesn’t establish the supporting cast the way comeback would have.
Sarah Jane is very well written, but that’s no surprise given who wrote the story. Josh hasn’t really done anything that makes him stand out.
It’s really obvious that Letts wrote this, the spiritual side had really become his calling card.
I can’t say I enjoyed the music, to say it sounded like a bad 80’s buddy cop soundtrack would be an understatement.
It’s an ok story, just wish I’d heard the first one.
6/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 21, 2017 1:19:37 GMT
...ish
I really want to like this story, but I have to admit I struggled with it.
Colin Baker is great in this story, he’s also surprisingly soft in it. Big Finish has clearly noticed that the 6th doctor and Evelyn approach is clearly working.
Peri has a good role as well, she connects to warren and book. She brings out a side to them that the other linguophiles don’t.
I rather did enjoy the few scenes where they were using that censorship program. A nice knock on the fourth wall
As for my issues, I found the story a touch difficult to follow. I get that warren wanted the Omniverbum, but I couldnt tell you why, or what that would mean.
I enjoyed it, well acted but a touch confusing. A love letter to the English language.
7/10.
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 21, 2017 3:53:50 GMT
Sarah Jane Smith: Test of Nerve
Wow, this was utterly brilliant. This story had me on the edge of my seat. With the terrorist attacks in London over the past few years, it really gave this a sense of realism.
Sarah and those closest to her are targeted, and Sarah Jane has to make a difficult choice.
Outstanding, I hope the rest of the range is this good.
8/10.
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 22, 2017 16:05:54 GMT
The rapture.
My goodness, what a stinker.
In my eyes, this is a story that never really takes off.
We’ve got bad performances, bad lines (you’re going to take a shot at stargate, which aired after ace left earth, and call them out for bad acting in this story?!) and when liam revealed to ace their kinship in one of the most ham fisted scenes I’ve ever heard.
Sorry. This story is dreadful, decent soundtrack but not worth listening to.
3/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 23, 2017 1:55:49 GMT
Sarah Jane Smith: Ghost Town.
Not much to this story, is there? A very by the numbers affair.
Lis a delight and Jeremy is starting to grow on me, but there’s nothing that makes this story stand out.
Curious to see where the overarching plot is going though.
6/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 23, 2017 3:22:18 GMT
The sandman.
I can’t say I’m a fan of this story, I find the flashbacks take up a bit too much time, and hurt the pacing. The doctor seemed to be In that one guys office for a very long time.
But in spite of my apathy towards it, there’s a hell of a lot of good in it.
First is the clutch. It’s a fantastic idea. I can just picture it, hundreds upon hundreds of interconnected spaceships forming an ever changing flock. That’s a brilliant idea, and the galyari work very well as their own culture. Forward has put a lot of work into them and it’s payed off. It’s a no brainer that they’re one of the returning aliens in Big Finish’s stable.
Colin puts in a great performance in this script. It takes the season 22 doctor and the BF doctor and contrasts them, with Evelyn being shocked by the differences. Colin does a great job playing the two sides of his character.
I just wanted to mention that I couldn’t believe that it was Anneke Wills as Nrosha, I couldn’t recognize her at all!
It’s not my favorite story, but I can appreciate the character work and the world building that’s gone into it.
7/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 24, 2017 2:15:16 GMT
Sarah Jane Smith: Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre
Bit of a mixed bag this one. A higher profile case with bigger ramifications starts the story, but it trips over its own feet and stumbles its way along.
Sarah has become quite cold in this one, I know the taxi driver was annoying, but I think she went a bit to far in threatening him. Also, deliberately cutting her friends off? I know she’s trying to protect them but you’d think by now she’s realized that’ll do more harm than good.
Josh has come a long way , he’s taken a life to protect Sarah Jane, but will that change him.
Not the strong ending I’d hoped for, but entertaining nonetheless.
7/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 25, 2017 1:24:51 GMT
The Maltese Penguin
This story is a delight, plain and simple.
Frobisher’s final outing. It’s a shame Big Finish has never returned to the character, he’s a delight to listen too.
This story is a play on a lot of detective and film noire tropes. Yet it doesn’t take them very seriously. The something is a mcguffin in the purest sense. A reason for a story.
The real meat of the story is Frobisher. This is a world, while a bit silly, is one in which he fits like a glove.
Robert Jezek is wonderful as Frobisher, the only downside is this is his final outing as the talking penguin. Upping his gam, Colin is exceptional in this story, he practically channels Jezek when he needs to. There’s no issue at all telling which character he is playing at any given moment.
A fantastic story, well worth an hour of your time.
9/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 25, 2017 3:57:09 GMT
The Church and the Crown
This is another story I’m split on. On one hand, I don’t know much about English and French history, hell I didn’t even know there was a Queen Anne. (I’m Canadian). British history has never been my strong suit and story’s of this nature aren’t my favorite ( I admit to struggling with the Doctor’s tale)
On the other hand, this is an exceptionally well acted story. First, we have Erimem, who fits in so well I’m shocked to believe she wasn’t written as a new companion from the get go. Not to mention just how well she thinks on her feet and gets a grip on the political situation.
Nicola Bryant is a tour de force in this story. Playing the dual roles of Peri and Queen Anne, she brings both to life.
Even Peter Davison gets some great lines out of this story. You can tell each of the main cast are enjoying themselves and are bringing out the best in each other.
It’s not a story that does a lot for me but the excellence is in the performances and there it shines.
8/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 25, 2017 4:24:17 GMT
A Soldier in Time: The Nick Courtney Memoirs
I want to say that this was a pleasant listen, spent most my day listening to this. I learned quite a bit about the doctors oldest friend.
I’d easily recommend this release.
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Post by glutamodo on Nov 25, 2017 5:47:35 GMT
I just wanted to say, I've been enjoying reading your mini-reviews as you go through these. While I've heard all of these before, I can't imagine consuming them nearly as quickly as you have been. I'm never at home when I finish listening to a story, so even though I often have comments or reactions, I'm not usually able to record them anywhere, and I just move on to the next story or podcast on my list...
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 25, 2017 8:18:05 GMT
I just wanted to say, I've been enjoying reading your mini-reviews as you go through these. While I've heard all of these before, I can't imagine consuming them nearly as quickly as you have been. I'm never at home when I finish listening to a story, so even though I often have comments or reactions, I'm not usually able to record them anywhere, and I just move on to the next story or podcast on my list... I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying these. I’ve always been a binge listener, while I’m driving, doing housework, on break, even while I’m playing video games I’ve usually got something playing. As for the reviews, they’re usually quick 3/4 minutes things when I have a spare moment. To be honest, I usually post it and remember a little while later a whole bunch of things I wanted to mention. I’d like to do a few where I just sit and take notes. For anyone else out there, please feel free to post, I’d like to discuss some of these stories as I experience them. After all, I know I’ve been harder on some stories than others and I know I’ve gone against the grain on a few. I’ll be posting Bang Bang a Boom and Jubilee tomorrow, that’ll be a good one.
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 25, 2017 19:25:20 GMT
Bang-Bang-a-Boom
The seventh doctor and Mel reunite again!
My, Gareth really does love his continuity announcements, doesn’t he? Both his Main Range stories use them, well after they generally stopped being used. Also, Big Finish has started using the proper themes!
Sylvester is exceptionally strong in this story, Roberts is playing to his strength as a performer and McCoy is pulling it off with ease. Bonnie on the other hand, while performing well, next to useless in this story. Accusing virtually everyone on the station and nearly killing someone! Funny that she’ll be hyper competent in Roberts’ last story and practically useless in this one!
Special shout out to Patricia Quinn for having the handiest performance this side of season 17!
The story itself is a play on Star Trek with several digs being taken. It sounds like there’s been quite a history of strange events on dark space 8, that coupled with the sheer incompetence of the station staff, it’s a wonder they’ve not killed themselves yet!
A great parody of Star Trek and eurovision, this story is a good, if hammy listen.
8/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 26, 2017 0:29:35 GMT
Jubilee
There’s a fair bit going on in this story.
100 years of English history have been rewritten and the new English Empire plans on celebrating by executing the final living Dalek.
Shearman has written a typically excellent story. He’s written a story where the very presence of a dalek has essentially corrupted the very nature of humanity.
This is personally my favourite Dalek sub genre, it shows the corrosive nature they have upon the soul. The interesting thing in this one is unlike the elite and the Order of the Daleks, the Dalek isn’t the one actively doing it. The presence of it and the salvaged tech has allowed for a ruthless Empire to rise.
I rather enjoy the the commentary Shearman has on what they’ve done to the image of the Daleks. An image of terror and hatred reduced to being used to sell just about anything. Hell, you can draw the parallel with Nazi’s in the real world. Once, one of the greatest evils the world has seen, reduced to the stock badguys in countless movies and video games.
As usual, Colin and Maggie are outstanding, even the guest cast are bringing their A game. Martin Jarvis is delightful as the demented president of England. Not to forget, Rosalind Ayers is great playing the helpless woman, while actually hugely deceitful in her own right.
Just a couple little notes. I do think the reveal would have had more power had it been a surprise that it was a Dalek being tortured. Not to mention, the image of Evelyn as a Bond girl always makes me laugh.
Far better than the TV remake, a perfect 10/10.
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 26, 2017 3:43:13 GMT
Dalek Empire II: Dalek War Chapter One.
That title is a mouthful.
I can’t say I’m totally enamoured with this one. While Kalendorf is back (and fulfilling the role I originally pictured him in when I first listened to Museum Peace) it spends far too much time explaining what happened in the last story. While it does move the plot ahead somewhat with the return of Susan, and setting the new battle lines. It feels as though the plot should have moved further ahead than that.
Hopefully the alternative Daleks play by different rules, otherwise everyone will see there betrayal coming miles away.
I want to say, love the artwork for this series. Minimalist, but it looks great.
Good, but slow. 7/10.
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 26, 2017 17:31:28 GMT
No Place Like Home
Another short freebie, this is a short story about The Doctor giving Erimem a tour of the tardis.
While the villain is a bit of a joke. The real meat of the story is Erimem’s character moments. Hearing her talk about her family and what she’s left behind is heartbreaking.
A sweet story, but the villain of the piece hurts it.
7/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 26, 2017 18:15:32 GMT
Nekromanteia
Dreadful.
I won’t spend much time on this, as I’d like to get it out of my head quickly. It’s tolerable up until they leave the Garazone system, but it nosedives quickly after that. Also, I’m getting real tired of that damn ringtone sound they use whenever they’re there. Just pick up the phone for goodness sake.
He rest of the story is a mess of bad villains, annoying crones and things that never should have happened.
There was only one good joke, and that was Erimem telling Peri that the beammeupscotties were set up.
A dismal story, I wouldn’t have blamed Simon Williams not coming back to Big Finish after this script.
2/10
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Post by Star Platinum on Nov 28, 2017 1:01:02 GMT
Dalek Empire 2: Dalek war 2&3
Double feature!
Things are starting to get interesting.
Susan is up to speed after finding out about the guest in her head. Holding herself hostage is a brilliant tactic and she uses it to help keep her friends safe.
We see that Kalendorf has started to make plans against the mentors faction of Daleks. The cliffhanger of part 3 is brutal.
Eagerly looking to part 4.
8/10 for both.
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