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Post by Timelord007 on Jul 15, 2018 12:11:14 GMT
Just what the Doctor ordered, i loved this, purely entertaining nostalgia fest audio drama, David Banks booming Cyberleader voice took me back to being 7 yrs old again.
Cracking script from Andrew Smith, Colin Bakers on top form & love the cover art, I'll be listening to this again later, the sheer imaginative power of audio drama gave me tingles, awesome just awesome.
5/5.
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Post by slithe on Jul 16, 2018 18:56:53 GMT
This was one of those releases that I would imagine most of us were waiting with mixed-feelings for. Yep, it's 'Ole Sixie' again - which is always a bonus AND he's up against the Eighties Cybermen! The chance for Banks and Hardy to reprise their roles could have either gone two ways: great or trite fanw**k. I always remember JNT's infamous recasting of Michael 'the fat Controller' Kilgarrif in Attack of the Cybermen and was really, really hoping that history would not repeat itself. Thankfully, Big Finish haven't let us down - this is a release that is very good, almost *excellent* you might say!! Possibly helped by the unseasonably hot weather in Britain, this release is probably one of the best Cyberstories we've had in a long time. Last of the Cybermen was silly fun, but this one shows the creatures at their best. Very much in the style of The Invasion (a good model to use), the Cybermen have been plotting for many years and have indirectly been manipulating events behind the scenes for a long while. This makes the story itself seem more rounded and fuller, without everything have to come to the end at a frantic pace. Whilst it is good that Banks and Hardy have reprised their roles, they are used sparingly - the Cybermen are in the background - deadly but serving purpose. Their use of human agents is effective and the mystery as to the identity of the agent (although fairly obvious) adds another layer to the story. I found the plot itself quite clever: using a weather control device to engineer a drought and weaken the humans. Yep, this is another hint to a previous Cyberstory (the Moonbase) but it is done more selectively and carefully. The Cybermen have thought how they are going to use their weapons and have carefully targeted Britain. The material on where they have tested their weaponry before focusing on humanity is further evidence of their cold, calculating nature. It also makes the whole thing hang together better - this is more than just 'return of Banks and Hardy' - Big Finish have thought about the plotting and story telling (which is easily forgotten!!)
Although their voices have aged, Banks and Hardy still sound like they did on the TV. Ironically, for a supposed emotionless race, Banks still manages to make his Cyberleader more emotional than should have been the case. Particularly in episode 4, the failure of the Cyber plans does elicit a rather aggressive response. Certainly, Bank's interaction with Baker in the closing episode is a real highlight to listen to. This is the Cyber story that Baker should have got and, once again, Baker shines on audio.
Harrison does well as Hopkins although this time he is in a different key. His relationship with the Doctor is more subdued this time and more strained than in the previous story. Certainly, the adventure remembers that it is part of a trilogy and manages to link effectively to the previous Davison story. As has been mentioned, there are enough loose ends that need tying up for McCoy. Just a couple of points: {Spoiler} 1. The Doctor is 'betrayed' again - first by Mathew Sharpe and now by Hopkins - is this going to be an arc that Big Finish could develop? Might it explain why the Seventh Incarnation was so manipulative?
2. Baker shows the manipulative streak here that McCoy would become famous for. It is clear that he hasn't trusted Hopkins for a while, yet choses to let Hopkins reveal himself and has planned for this.
3. Is Weather a theme in this trilogy? Heavy rain in the Heliax Rift and drought in Hour of the Cybermen...
4. Although the horror of Cyber Conversion is discussed, Hopkins' passionate defence in favour of it is an alternative that we've never seen developed before.
5. The reason for Pryce's change in attitude towards the Doctor is not fully explained. He is positively hostile in the Heliax Rift, but begging for his help here?
A good release. An impressive run for the MR. Hope McCoy keeps up the quality.
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Post by eric009 on Jul 19, 2018 13:49:12 GMT
{Spoiler} maybe he talked to a few more unit people since last time was 5 years ago
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Post by sherlock on Jul 19, 2018 14:07:10 GMT
This was one of those releases that I would imagine most of us were waiting with mixed-feelings for. Yep, it's 'Ole Sixie' again - which is always a bonus AND he's up against the Eighties Cybermen! The chance for Banks and Hardy to reprise their roles could have either gone two ways: great or trite fanw**k. I always remember JNT's infamous recasting of Michael 'the fat Controller' Kilgarrif in Attack of the Cybermen and was really, really hoping that history would not repeat itself. Thankfully, Big Finish haven't let us down - this is a release that is very good, almost *excellent* you might say!! Possibly helped by the unseasonably hot weather in Britain, this release is probably one of the best Cyberstories we've had in a long time. Last of the Cybermen was silly fun, but this one shows the creatures at their best. Very much in the style of The Invasion (a good model to use), the Cybermen have been plotting for many years and have indirectly been manipulating events behind the scenes for a long while. This makes the story itself seem more rounded and fuller, without everything have to come to the end at a frantic pace. Whilst it is good that Banks and Hardy have reprised their roles, they are used sparingly - the Cybermen are in the background - deadly but serving purpose. Their use of human agents is effective and the mystery as to the identity of the agent (although fairly obvious) adds another layer to the story. I found the plot itself quite clever: using a weather control device to engineer a drought and weaken the humans. Yep, this is another hint to a previous Cyberstory (the Moonbase) but it is done more selectively and carefully. The Cybermen have thought how they are going to use their weapons and have carefully targeted Britain. The material on where they have tested their weaponry before focusing on humanity is further evidence of their cold, calculating nature. It also makes the whole thing hang together better - this is more than just 'return of Banks and Hardy' - Big Finish have thought about the plotting and story telling (which is easily forgotten!!)
Although their voices have aged, Banks and Hardy still sound like they did on the TV. Ironically, for a supposed emotionless race, Banks still manages to make his Cyberleader more emotional than should have been the case. Particularly in episode 4, the failure of the Cyber plans does elicit a rather aggressive response. Certainly, Bank's interaction with Baker in the closing episode is a real highlight to listen to. This is the Cyber story that Baker should have got and, once again, Baker shines on audio.
Harrison does well as Hopkins although this time he is in a different key. His relationship with the Doctor is more subdued this time and more strained than in the previous story. Certainly, the adventure remembers that it is part of a trilogy and manages to link effectively to the previous Davison story. As has been mentioned, there are enough loose ends that need tying up for McCoy. Just a couple of points: {Spoiler} 1. The Doctor is 'betrayed' again - first by Mathew Sharpe and now by Hopkins - is this going to be an arc that Big Finish could develop? Might it explain why the Seventh Incarnation was so manipulative?
2. Baker shows the manipulative streak here that McCoy would become famous for. It is clear that he hasn't trusted Hopkins for a while, yet choses to let Hopkins reveal himself and has planned for this.
3. Is Weather a theme in this trilogy? Heavy rain in the Heliax Rift and drought in Hour of the Cybermen...
4. Although the horror of Cyber Conversion is discussed, Hopkins' passionate defence in favour of it is an alternative that we've never seen developed before.
5. The reason for Pryce's change in attitude towards the Doctor is not fully explained. He is positively hostile in the Heliax Rift, but begging for his help here?
A good release. An impressive run for the MR. Hope McCoy keeps up the quality. To address No 5. At least as I see it Pryce was never personally hostile to the Doctor. He's just focused on doing his job, and in The Helliax Rift the Doctor was being something of a rogue element and somewhat undermining him which led to the escalation of those events. Here his job is to save the Earth and the Doctor represents the best chance to do so, so he swallows his pride and calls him in. He's just a man doing his job at the end of the day. Plus 5 years have passed, plenty of time for his more hot-headed attitudes to cool down.
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Post by Audio Watchdog on Jul 19, 2018 18:54:46 GMT
I started in on this today. I liked episode 1 although I do think the stronger cliffhanger would have been the Doctor discovering Riva's cyber conversion rather than the ending we got. Still, that is a niggle.
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Post by slithe on Jul 20, 2018 9:42:50 GMT
To address No 5. At least as I see it Pryce was never personally hostile to the Doctor. He's just focused on doing his job, and in The Helliax Rift the Doctor was being something of a rogue element and somewhat undermining him which led to the escalation of those events. Here his job is to save the Earth and the Doctor represents the best chance to do so, so he swallows his pride and calls him in. He's just a man doing his job at the end of the day. Plus 5 years have passed, plenty of time for his more hot-headed attitudes to cool down. Yep, that does seem plausible. Just found it strange that the Fifth Doctor (who is usually quite placid and amiable) is the one who has the most issues with Pryce. I honestly thought that Ol Sixie was going to really clash with him. Perhaps, with his experience of Nimrod/the Forge, the Sixth has more of a respect for UNIT that the Fifth doesn't yet have? In fact, the Sixth Doctor is surprisingly mellower here than I was expecting - his characterisation is very far removed from the TV series - he doesn't condemn Hopkins and is quite sympathetic/not judgemental. McCoy' interaction will be interesting. Although he has already worked with UNIT in Battlefield...
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Post by kfbate on Jul 20, 2018 10:04:11 GMT
Half way through and I must admit I am absolutely enthralled it is as good as Big Finish ever are with the handling of the material, actors and the story. Excellent find in getting David Banks in as the Cybermen.
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Post by barnabaslives on Jul 20, 2018 18:37:46 GMT
To be honest, I didn't care much for the way things worked out for Daniel here (on several counts), but I really don't think that stopped this from being one of THE best Cybermen stories of all time, in all respects. I unhesitatingly gave it highest marks.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2018 17:13:01 GMT
A wonderful audio experience and so good to have the Alternative cybermen voices it really made the story shine.Hope they do more with these incarnations of the Cybermen.
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Post by mark687 on Jul 22, 2018 19:52:34 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2018 22:42:53 GMT
Oh, wow. The dedication there is genuinely breathtaking; I think it's award-worthy, no question. Did a quick Google search and if you enjoyed Steve Foxon in Hour, he's got a Soundcloud account with isolated scores for other BF releases (such as Enemy of the Daleks, Lords of the Red Planet and Zaltys).
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Post by mrperson on Jul 26, 2018 2:27:54 GMT
"Or a sentient shade of green"... but not hyperintelligent shade of blue (D. Adams), eh?
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Post by TinDogPodcast on Jul 26, 2018 22:26:33 GMT
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Post by IndieMacUser on Jul 31, 2018 9:53:34 GMT
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Post by thegreendeath on Aug 1, 2018 21:36:38 GMT
A well developed story told with interesting characters and wonderful acting. This is very much a Cybermen story told in the “classic” style and it really does capture what’s great about them. It also feels like a genuine 80s tale, but one told from a production team that’s not at odds with each other but rather compliments each other wonderfully. More please!
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Post by mark687 on Aug 2, 2018 10:46:57 GMT
Subscriber Extended Extra DL Accounts
Regards
mark687
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Post by nottenst on Aug 4, 2018 15:07:55 GMT
Only just started listening to this and have listened to just Part 1 so far. Unfortunately, that part had some plot points dealing with my area of expertise (satellites and ground systems for them). When they get it wrong it ruins my ability to suspend my disbelief. I hope the other parts don't get into that. Scavenger (main range #184) was really painful in this regard (almost as bad as the movie Gravity). Just needed to get that off my chest before continuing.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2018 15:17:55 GMT
Only just started listening to this and have listened to just Part 1 so far. Unfortunately, that part had some plot points dealing with my area of expertise (satellites and ground systems for them). When they get it wrong it ruins my ability to suspend my disbelief. I hope the other parts don't get into that. Scavenger (main range #184) was really painful in this regard (almost as bad as the movie Gravity). Just needed to get that off my chest before continuing. Yeah i hate it when they discuss time travel and wormholes...having travelled and gone through one they just dont describe it right😇
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Post by Ela on Aug 8, 2018 0:11:28 GMT
Only just started listening to this and have listened to just Part 1 so far. Unfortunately, that part had some plot points dealing with my area of expertise (satellites and ground systems for them). When they get it wrong it ruins my ability to suspend my disbelief. I hope the other parts don't get into that. Scavenger (main range #184) was really painful in this regard (almost as bad as the movie Gravity). Just needed to get that off my chest before continuing. I have that problem when they discuss biology.
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Post by Ela on Aug 8, 2018 0:12:07 GMT
Just finished listening to this, extended extras still to listen to, but I enjoyed it overall.
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