|
Post by omega on Mar 31, 2018 22:23:59 GMT
DOCTOR WHO - MAIN RANGE » 11. THE APOCALYPSE ELEMENTReleased August 2000SynopsisWhen the planet Archetryx is threatened by a Dalek assault squad, the Doctor and Evelyn become embroiled in an ever-deepening mystery. What has become of President Romana, missing for twenty years? What lurks in the vast gravity wells of Archetryx? What is the secret of the ancient element the Daleks are synthesising - and how does Gallifrey feature in the plans? The Doctor finds that if his oldest enemies cannot conquer the universe they will watch it go up in flames... Written By: Stephen Cole Directed By: Nicholas Briggs CASTColin Baker (The Doctor); Maggie Stables (Evelyn Smythe); Lalla Ward (Romana); Karen Henson (Monitor Trinkett); James Campbell (Assistant Monitor Ensac); Andrea Newland (Commander Vorna); Anthony Keetch (Coordinator Vansell); Toby Longworth (Monan Host); Michael Wade (The President); Alistair Lock (Dalek voices); Nicholas Briggs (Dalek voices); Andrew Fettes (Vrint / Captain Raldeth); Neil Corry (Alien Delegate)
|
|
|
Post by omega on Mar 31, 2018 22:24:27 GMT
|
|
|
Post by shallacatop on Apr 1, 2018 11:34:52 GMT
Listened to this a few weeks ago for the first time in a while. I wasn’t too fond of it originally, but it’s not too bad. I think, retroactively, what plays to its strengths is it’s now perceived to be one of the events that lead to the Time War. It contributes towards the hostilities between the Time Lord and Daleks, as well the former abandoning their policy of non-interference.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2018 13:52:03 GMT
How could anyone not like this? The Sixth Doctor and Evelyn, Daleks invading Gallifrey, Daleks being cunning and devious, Daleks being ruthless... oh we also had President Romana returning, scheming Time Lords and loads of loud explosions! The Apocalypse Element is a top notch Doctor Who story with some great ideas and high drama. The Apocalypse Element has some great characterisations too; the Sixth Doctor is on top form and showing a softer side, with some great lines and a rant near the end. Plus we get some humourous lines from Evelyn, who despite all the death and destruction around her still comes across as your favourite auntie. Add to those a commanding Romana and scheming Vansell and you get a story that on the face of it could be casually dismissed as fanjodrell but is actually a very well written Doctor Who story full of action and very enjoyable... and who can forget the eye scene?! Great stuff.
|
|
|
Post by Audio Watchdog on Apr 1, 2018 14:50:39 GMT
you get a story that on the face of it could be casually dismissed as fanjodrell but is actually a very well written Doctor Who story full of action and very enjoyable... and who can forget the eye scene?! Great stuff. Fanjodrell is exactly what Gary Russell says about the idea in The Inside Story and that that would be okay.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2018 15:47:23 GMT
you get a story that on the face of it could be casually dismissed as fanjodrell but is actually a very well written Doctor Who story full of action and very enjoyable... and who can forget the eye scene?! Great stuff. Fanjodrell is exactly what Gary Russell says about the idea in The Inside Story and that that would be okay. A few posters said that on the [now defunct] OG forum back in the day too, but who cares if it's a good story? Not me. It's a great story.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2018 21:35:58 GMT
So bored. Nothing original or interesting...Evelyn is the storys one saving grace, and sixie, hes always great. Romanas quite good too I guess... It was just so uninspired and boring...My least favorite big finish story ive heared so far... 2/10
|
|
|
Post by Hieronymus on Apr 1, 2018 21:40:50 GMT
Many good bits: Daleks, Gallifrey, Romana, Sixie, Evelyn
But the good bits weren't properly used. Often little or no context was provided in the story for the characters of events. There was a lot of "business" but less character focus than it needed. The writer assumed that everyone would already be familiar with everyone in the story. That didn't work out well for me when I listened because this was the first Evelyn story I listened to. I really didn't know who she was or how she fit into things except as a generic companion. If you listen to the story with that in mind, you see how little is made of her character.
Colin did a good job and if you pay attention you can tell he put all he had into his performance, which is why this story does still kind-of work despite the shortcomings in the script. There was enough in there for a good actor to work with, and Sixie came through for us.
|
|
|
Post by Timelord007 on Apr 2, 2018 7:46:09 GMT
Brilliant audio drama, tense, exciting, dramatic, Romana, Daleks invading Gallifrey, gets a 9/10 from me.
|
|
|
Post by omega on Apr 2, 2018 10:11:31 GMT
Definitely the highest stakes the Main Range have raised so far at this point, with Gallifrey and the universe itself in very real danger. Evelyn being used as the new retinal lock does come across as a fanjodrell continuity ticked box to explain why Grace was needed to open the Eye of Harmony in the TV movie.
|
|
|
Post by omega on Apr 2, 2018 10:14:19 GMT
Many good bits: Daleks, Gallifrey, Romana, Sixie, Evelyn But the good bits weren't properly used. Often little or no context was provided in the story for the characters of events. There was a lot of "business" but less character focus than it needed. The writer assumed that everyone would already be familiar with everyone in the story. That didn't work out well for me when I listened because this was the first Evelyn story I listened to. I really didn't know who she was or how she fit into things except as a generic companion. If you listen to the story with that in mind, you see how little is made of her character. Colin did a good job and if you pay attention you can tell he put all he had into his performance, which is why this story does still kind-of work despite the shortcomings in the script. There was enough in there for a good actor to work with, and Sixie came through for us. Colin always puts in 100%. Really, there's not much that plays to Evelyn's strengths as an academic. It's not Earth, and history (nor research) come into it. In fact, take out the human retinal pattern and this could be a solo Sixie story, guest starring Romana and Gallifrey.
|
|
|
Post by Tim Bradley on Apr 3, 2018 11:03:13 GMT
|
|
|
Post by whiskeybrewer on Apr 3, 2018 13:16:23 GMT
Fantastic story. Really sets up a lot that pays off in other stories
|
|
|
Post by tardybox on Apr 3, 2018 15:14:27 GMT
I love this one! This was one of the first five Main Range audios I got way back for Christmas 2013, and my very first Sixie audio. I was already a big fan of Colin on TV, so I could hardly wait to see what he'd be like in Big Finish - and I was not disappointed! Apocalypse Element is by turns political thriller and war movie, both epic and personal when the story calls for it. Just brilliant!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2018 13:25:33 GMT
Nice to hear a lot of positivity for this. I remember when it was released, it was the one of first BF releases to get a bit of a drubbing. Too noisy, they said. Too long, they said. Couldn't understand the negativity then, can't now. I love this bombastic, epic story. I mean - the Daleks invade Gallifrey! Now, it seems they invade Gallifrey every other day and, yes, the effect is somewhat diminished. But then, such a thing had only been dreamed of. And here it was. Daleks (tweaked slightly since their debut in The Genocide Machine and now 100% Dalek-y) all over the place, Lalla Ward back as Romana, Colin and Maggie firing on all cylinders (and a few extra ones), cinematic sound design. It fills the speakers - wonderful, show-stopping stuff In fact, I have Sherlock Holmes, Blakes 7 and Omega Factor to listen to but beggar me, I'm going to give The Apocalypse Element another spin!
|
|
|
Post by sherlock on Apr 4, 2018 16:38:30 GMT
A brilliant Doctor Who blockbuster. The Doctor's characterisation is strong, the Daleks are menacing and the sheer scale of the story deserves mention. Think this has the highest death count of any Doctor Who story, save perhaps Logopolis.
I wouldn't want every story to be like this, but as a one-off blockbuster this is great.
|
|
|
Post by number13 on Apr 10, 2018 0:01:37 GMT
This was one of the first BF stories I heard, when I was gawping a bit at the sheer SIZE of the MR (I came in to the MR at #200!) and wondering where to possibly start on the vast back catalogue. Then someone gave The Apocalypse Element a very high recommendation, so I bought it knowing nothing except Sixth Doctor+Daleks - and it blew me away!! And a few years and many BF titles later, it still does. It's a phenomenal story, a thrilling, complex Dalek epic and an eye-opener in more ways than one... with great characters, gripping setpiece battles and ear-rocking explosions and them at their most evil, clever and ruthless. Brilliant scientists and master tacticians who play the Time Lords (and even the Doctor) for fools, forcing them to follow the Dalek plan even when they don't realise it. And the Daleks win. Gallifrey is saved, but only because it was a mere pawn in the Daleks' much grander game. That ending took my breath away the first time I heard it - I was more than impressed and my serious MR collecting began right here! I was very surprised to learn this cracking story sometimes gets heavily criticised. OK, you do need to know the classic series, who Romana is, the history of Gallifrey, etc. but why not? This was released only one year into the life of BF and it was a fair assumption that every buyer would be a serious (classic series) fan. It went without saying; there was no New series then. And what true fan wouldn't want to hear The Dalek Invasion of Gallifrey?! Anyway, I love it; the drama, the excitement, the scheming, Sixie, Evelyn, Romana, all of it; right down to (surprising revelation by the Doctor!) the last polka-dot of The Purple Pyjamas Of Rassilon.
|
|
lidar2
Castellan
You know, now that you mention it, I actually do rather like Attack of the Cybermen ...
Likes: 5,812
|
Post by lidar2 on Apr 11, 2018 8:32:33 GMT
For me this was the first story BF did that showed how audio Who could work on a truly blockbuster scale. 10/10
|
|
|
Post by omega on Apr 11, 2018 9:22:07 GMT
It's also the first audio to show the CIA with a hidden agenda that impedes the Doctor's efforts to resolve the crisis, in that they want access to the latest Monan time travel research(it kind of gets lost in the whole Dalek invasion of Gallifrey, with Vansell surviving to scheme another span). Neverland and later the Gallifrey range use this, where even though the CIA and the Doctor/Romana want Gallifrey to thrive the conflicting means by which each side uses impedes the other (Narvin started out antagonistic towards Romana and Leela). Gallifrey also had a third party in Braxiatel and his machinations, so that's three conflicting stratagems in play.
|
|
|
Post by Ela on Apr 15, 2018 22:58:47 GMT
I remember enjoying this story when I first listened, and later, of course, it tied into other Big Finish story lines.
|
|