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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2020 5:29:53 GMT
What is everyone's favourite non-big finish Doctor Who spin off? Looking for recommendations.
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Post by constonks on Mar 6, 2020 9:47:33 GMT
Given that this is in the audio section, I assume you mean on audio... But I have yet to hear any BBV or Magic Bullet, so it's really just the BBC stuff left over (and I haven't heard tons of those either). I'd recommend Dead Air, a Tenth Doctor story, and their Fourth Doctor series - Hornet's Nest - and its sequels (if you like Paul Magrs and some off-kilter wackiness).
As for more of a "spin-off" than just stories with the Doctor, I loved Candy Jar's first Lethbridge-Stewart book, The Forgotten Son - I believe it's available as an audiobook as well!
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lidar2
Castellan
You know, now that you mention it, I actually do rather like Attack of the Cybermen ...
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Post by lidar2 on Mar 6, 2020 9:59:19 GMT
I take it you're excluding official BBC spin-offs as well? If you count them then Sarah Jane Adventures beats Torchwood or Class hands down.
If you mean non-BBC, then go for Kaldor City. A DW/B7 crossover that's hard to beat
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Post by project37 on Mar 6, 2020 10:48:44 GMT
Given that this is in the audio section, I assume you mean on audio... But I have yet to hear any BBV or Magic Bullet, so it's really just the BBC stuff left over (and I haven't heard tons of those either). I'd recommend Dead Air, a Tenth Doctor story, and their Fourth Doctor series - Hornet's Nest - and its sequels (if you like Paul Magrs and some off-kilter wackiness).
I'm going to second these particular recommendations. David Tennant was an early contributor to the Doctor Who BBC Audiobooks, but Dead Air was the first one he'd performed in-character. He has a knack for creating a distinct range of voices, so his narration is a pleasure to listen to. The premise is that you are listening a recently-discovered archival recording, so it makes for a fairly immersive listening experience.
Hornet's Nest is a bold beautiful experiment that plays 100% to Tom Baker's persona and talent as a storyteller. It got a very mixed reaction at the time, but I loved it for being bold, different, and FUN. BF had been chasing him for years, but he finally decided to reprise the role of the Doctor for BBC Audiobooks. Anticipation was through the roof. Because it wasn't a full-on "audio movie" like a lot of BF Doctor Who, many people didn't know what to make of it and were very quick to force it into a "Companion Chronicle" box rather than try to let it be its own thing.
I will say that it takes a bit of an open mind. If you approach it expecting a slavish recreation of Doctor Who on television in 1976, you'll be disappointed. If you're willing to have some fun with the show, you're going to have a fantastic time. It doesn't flat-out contradict anything in the established canon, but it takes the character into weird and adventurous new directions.
The Fourth Doctor occasionally brings the TARDIS to his cottage in Sussex, where he hangs out with a cranky housekeeper named Mrs. Wibbsey. For reasons that unfold as the story continues, he reaches out to retired UNIT Captain Mike Yates to regale him with a series of stories of battling a strange alien menace at various points in history.
There is a full cast, but the sound design and style are a lot more laid-back than what you're used to BF. This is something you can easily listen to while doing the dishes, etc. The writing is a joy and overall structure of the stories in the first series is framed in a fascinating way as the Doctor and his enemies do a strange waltz through the timeline.
I just picked up the entire 17+hour set (called "The Nest Cottage Chronicles") for an Audible credit. For me, Doctor Who is at its best when it takes risks. Can't recommend this enough!
I'll leave you with this essay from Paul Magrs about his experience in writing and recording the series:
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Post by sherlock on Mar 6, 2020 11:40:14 GMT
The only non-BF audio spin off I’ve heard is the Nest Cottage adventures that aired on Radio 4. It’s full of Magrs weirdness, which I enjoyed but does tend to be a matter of personal preference, and Tom Baker is on fine form.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2020 15:52:02 GMT
Given that this is in the audio section, I assume you mean on audio... But I have yet to hear any BBV or Magic Bullet, so it's really just the BBC stuff left over (and I haven't heard tons of those either). I'd recommend Dead Air, a Tenth Doctor story, and their Fourth Doctor series - Hornet's Nest - and its sequels (if you like Paul Magrs and some off-kilter wackiness). As for more of a "spin-off" than just stories with the Doctor, I loved Candy Jar's first Lethbridge-Stewart book, The Forgotten Son - I believe it's available as an audiobook as well! I would agree that David Tennant did some really good readings of the likes of 'The Resurrection Casket' and 'Feast of the Drowned', whilst David Troughton narrated 'The Wheel of Ice' well. Both had atmospheric sound effects and felt more than a book reading affair. David Tennant deserves particular praise though for his range of voices which really dramatises and brings them to life. The Nest Cottage chronicles series, I have only dipped into despite since getting the box set. It was great to hear Tom back in the role again at the time, but then his BF audio's came along and they became somewhat bested. Don't dislike them, merely a case of them going to the back of an ever expanding queue. Of the BBV Time Travellers series, I enjoyed 'Prosperity Island' - I listened to it before BF existed and it felt like a good 7th Doctor and Ace story on Audio. I would like to see that series made available again through BF. |
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