Big Finish sure does come up with some cool titles sometime, huh?
This story was pretty fun, but I worry that I may not have been able to appreciate it as much as I could have or maybe should have. Is it a direct sequel to something? It kind of feels like it might be, but I have zero recollection of any prior stories with the Mara. Maybe I've simply forgotten (far from unprecedented with me) or maybe it's one of the small handful of early MRs I've yet to listen to? A vanishingly small number that diminishes by the day.
Though if it's not a sequel, then Tegan's
chronic hauntings have an altogether different feel -- an implication of her simply always under threat of possession by this Mara entity, across god knows how many prior adventures.
Well, moving on.
For the most part,
Cradle of the Snake slots into that very well-trod SF genre of the "mirror universe" story, where the actors get to take a fun break from playing their usually characters to instead play twisted, dark mirror versions. And most actors really seem to
delight in these opportunities. So a good portion of the appeal here isn't so much the story itself, but the infectious fun Davison and company have with playing their familiar roles inverted.
Though perhaps in Davison's case he's playing less of an "evil Doctor" and more of an "brat Doctor." Either way works.
And on that note, I'm thinking the most remarkable part of this story is Evil Tegan. If only because Janet Fielding demonstrates much greater range than I'd've expected her to be capable of, once she is unfettered by that Aussie accent.
Quote of the story: "Are you all right? You've gone very edgy."
I mean, come on Nyssa. By now you ought to have figured out that Turlough has
always been a bit of an edgelord. Evil Turlough is only barely recognizable as a distinct, different persona.
....
Okay, I really don't want to get into it as, really, few things in this fandom are more tedious and overblown than criticizing Chris Chibnall (spare me, God, spare us all) but I just have to comment on one thing: the Doctor acts like a proper Doctor here. Oh no! A companion is suffering from some terrible health problem! Does the Doctor ignore it? Make an excuse and change the subject? No, he takes his companion to the best possible medical facility in all of space-time because he
cares about Tegan. The-Doctor-as-a-good-person.
Look, I'm sorry. I am. I can move past quite a lot, but I'm not sure I'll ever be able to move on from that whole thing with Graham. Good grief.
....
So, yeah. Plot-wise this is solid C-tier material, but the fun character acing really elevates this story easily into the B-tier (look, I dunno, a 4/5? These metrics ain't a science),
Evilbrat-Doctor is especially fun, as Davison winds up practically
snarling every line. And his whole MO is also pretty great, as he sows discord among the the TARDIS crew... via the great and terrible power of
petty gossip. I love it. Pure, undiluted, joyous camp.
