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Post by omega on Apr 18, 2018 9:50:17 GMT
DOCTOR WHO - MAIN RANGE » 196. EQUILIBRIUM Released February 2015SynopsisStill looking for a way out of E-Space, the TARDIS crashes to Isenfel - a realm of snow and ice. Snarling beasts stalk the frozen plains, a feisty princess leads the hunt, and a queen in an ice palace rules over her loyal subjects. But this is no fairytale kingdom, and everyone in Isenfel knows the price of survival. While Nyssa and Tegan uncover deadly secrets hidden in the palace, Turlough flees for his life across the tundra. And as for the Doctor... he only ever wants to change things for the better. But in a world such as Isenfel, such a hope may not even be possible. Written By: Matt Fitton Directed By: Ken Bentley CASTPeter Davison (The Doctor), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Janet Fielding (Tegan), Mark Strickson (Turlough), Annette Badland (Queen Karlina), Nickolas Grace (Balancer Skaarsgard/Viktor Skaarsgard), Joanna Kirkland (Inger), John Albasiny (Jesper), Ella Kennion (Romy)
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Post by omega on Apr 18, 2018 9:53:11 GMT
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Post by sherlock on Apr 18, 2018 9:56:37 GMT
Great story. The regulars are all characterised well, supporting characters are depicted well, and the score is magnificent.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2018 10:00:43 GMT
An absolute belter of a story. When Big Finish announced they werereturning The Doctor to E-Space, I didn't imagine they would capture the atmosphere of Series 18 so perfectly, and with such a brilliant story. Matt Fitton's finest work, I think.
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Post by omega on Apr 18, 2018 10:06:33 GMT
This one is an absolute favorite. The antagonist isn't a mustache twirling villain or a misguided fool in over their head, it's literally a balance. A whole society that lives by equivalent exchange, where the population survives but doesn't truly live. It's the perfect situation for the Fifth Doctor, a situation that a gun will be no help in and yet hope can be snatched away when it seems nearest.
Like a fairytale there's the core aspect of things coming at a price. For each baby someone in the family must die. Skaarsgard sacrifices himself to let the people of Isenfel live, even if Isenfel's expiry date will come a lot sooner. Karlina sacrifices herself as this new era begins, at the time the machine that has dictated her peoples lives gives out.
The characters are wonderful. MVP goes to Annette Badland as Queen Karlina. She could easily have been a flat character or a token human antagonist, but she's got so many sides. To her people she's a refined monarch, to the Doctor she's a woman who just wants to learn about her world and Skaarsgard is the only one she opens up to. Karlina protests the Doctor's unorthadox behavour in the balancing chamber, but it's more a reflex of standards than genuine protest. Her character develops to recognise when her path diverges from that of her people, and she has faith in Inga to lead them, facing death with dignity even when there's no one to be dignified for.
The soundscape can't go without mention. It's a gorgeous fairytale wonderland populated with royals, villagers and scary wolves. RIchard Fox and Lauren Yason's music is one of the highlights of the entire Big Finish catalog, not loud enough to intrude on a scene yet subtle enough to convey the mood of the moment.
And, in foreshadowing, Nyssa confesses to Karlina that she doesn't want to travel anymore. She's secured herself a fate that's at best bittersweet in the grand tradition of tempting fate and retirony (when a character has definite plans to leave or retire, fate will intervene with something bad). Knowing what she's already been through, it's not going to be a happy ending.
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Post by Hieronymus on Apr 18, 2018 16:56:04 GMT
The soundscape can't go without mention. It's a gorgeous fairytale wonderland populated with royals, villagers and scary wolves. RIchard Fox and Lauren Yason's music is one of the highlights of the entire Big Finish catalog, not loud enough to intrude on a scene yet subtle enough to convey the mood of the moment. The Music Suite for the story is more than a soundtrack. It's one of only three musical suites that I've listened to afterwards over and over. Equilibrium is my favorite release from Big Finish, and one of my favorite DW stories in any medium. |
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Post by mrperson on Apr 18, 2018 21:09:25 GMT
I loved this one.
Everything was fully thought out, fully understandable. The suspense lasted the entire episode. One of my favorites.
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Post by Tim Bradley on Jan 19, 2021 0:09:56 GMT
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Post by slithe on Jan 23, 2021 11:20:07 GMT
Really enjoyed this. It redeemed the trilogy after the poor Mistfall.
Amazing concept - the idea of living in a snow globe world is interesting. The pseudo-medieval idea ties nicely into steampunk as well - which also is continued with the next release. Turlough is well developed in this one and gets to take more of the lead for a change - we see a side of his character that is not often explored.
I also love the underlying political theme here. I always envisaged the Balancer to bear a certain resemblance to a former Chancellor (especially with the references to 'being constant'). The extreme form of austerity perhaps?
Imaginative and interesting!
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