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Post by Chakoteya on Sept 5, 2021 19:50:49 GMT
Two stories in and... Gosh, they are rather good. I like 11 having a 'partner' as bad and devious as him. And the concept of the planet where the people have a 'twin' in their head - very interesting.
I do get rather muddled with all the 11's voices though. I think I should keep a crib sheet by my elbow just to remind me who's who sometimes.
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Post by Who Review on Sept 6, 2021 13:19:57 GMT
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2021 15:08:27 GMT
OK. Finished this last night. THIS succeeds exactly where Dark Universe failed, for the same reason. I wondered why it was just called "The Eleven" and not a double title a la "The Tenth Doctor and River" or "Missy And The Monk" etc. After the first story that feeling was very strong. Then I listened to the second story.... Dark Universe felt like we were missing a disc from a boxset. It had a setup and a payoff but no second act - too much happened off "screen". This set manages perfectly to use that second ep to establish the world, build the characters, the motivations and the tone. In the MR...yeah - we could have done this as a 2-discer and just done it like The Ark where The Doctor revisits the scene of an old adventure to see what's happened and what he could have avoided. But taking the time to show all this from The Eleven's POV (and Muskavell) shows a much more in depth take and allows the entire saga to breathe. Making that second ep mostly a two-hander is also a stroke of genius as we slow things down in The Doctor's absence. Why would things be rushed? The Eleven has all the time in the world. He can enjoy a nice (worm-free) glass of '49 knowing that he's winning slowly. Then when The Doctor and Mrs Clarke do return, I love that upon stopping The Eleven it's not an act of anger. The Doctor is just disappointed and feels sorry for him. Lovely character moment. I do worry with The Eleven sometimes now he's popping up elsewhere that he has to have a way to not just be given stories that are Master-like or Monk-ish. He needs his own feel and tone. Using cloning to separate the disparate personalities was the perfect set up for this. Yes, the Master would take over a planet (and has). Yes, The Master would transpose himself onto everyone on that planet (and has) but not like this. Not with the same setup, motivations and goals. The Eleven, to me, is the Smeagol of Big Finish. To be pitied, not despised. As The Doctor says, who knows what any Timelord with the same affliction would be like, even him? We even get a glimpse that The Eleven was experimented upon and abused. Pity a decent scientist like Tecteum wasn't about (Sorry Timeless Children haters!). So...this is The Eleven. It's not "The Sixth Doctor and The Eleven". It finds a fresh spin on old tropes and a way to use the character that is not just something you could give to, say, Beevers or Roberts. A strong, strong set.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2021 8:16:34 GMT
I'm about two-thirds of the way through. I'll begin with a story. Are you sitting comfortably? Good, I don't know how long it will take for them to realise the chair's gone. Over a decade ago, the Monthly Range began new adventures with Sixth Doctor and Charlotte Pollard. An, at the time, quite unconventional use of a companion. Particularly given she came from the Doctor's own future and believed him there to be dead. I got to these stories after listening to Charley's original run with the Eighth Doctor. Everything from the R101 to Singapore. I enjoyed everything from The Condemned through to Blue Forgotten Planet immensely, but I've been intrigued by an interesting idea. The stories are all made in such a way that you can approach them however you wish. From the perspective of the Doctor (going from Six to Eight) or from Miss Pollard (going from Eight to Six). I've often wondered what it would've been like to experience those stories for the first time going from Sixie to Eight. Big Finish's input these days is so diverse, it's inevitable that something will fall by the wayside. For me, it's been Doom Coalition. Not for lack of interest, but purely one of mathematics. In this case, financial. Imagine my delight, then, when the first 6DA was set to be The Eleven. An adversary, rather than a friend, in this case, but one whose publishing debut lay in the Doctor's relative future. I can say with absolute clarity, as someone with no knowledge of the Eleven outside of promotional materials, that this introduction has been terrific fun. I was never lost for an explanation. Never overwhelmed. On the contrary, I was intrigued, mesmerised and perturbed in equal measure (Nigel Fairs's entry cuts to the bone, doesn't it?). I understand why this character has developed such an enduring appeal. They're startlingly distinctive. A rogue to rival many of the Doctor's long-time opponents in his illustrious gallery. His very presence also invites something rather extraordinary. Several entirely new, brand new, questions about our favourite Time Lord. That's a precious feat. As to the boxset itself, what a clever way of developing an entirer world. Drip fed to us, little by little, over the course of each entry. The scope pulls out like a camera lens from the minute to the massive. The tet-a-tete with Molaruss's Global President put me to mind of the passages between H.G. Wells and the Traveller in Big Finish's adaptation of The Time Machine. With a macabre twist. The structure of the set itself, I think I've only seen in perhaps a handful of other places. It brought back pleasant memories of Shakedown, with its Doctor-lite centre, and is all the better for the choice. I'm starting the conclusion now -- I've talked myself into it while I was writing -- but it's impossible to say that this experiment hasn't paid off. A compelling story saga to break in the new Sixth Doctor Adventures. Hugely enjoyable.
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Post by IndieMacUser on Sept 8, 2021 16:00:10 GMT
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Post by Audio Watchdog on Sept 8, 2021 21:40:40 GMT
Loved episode one. Colin definitely sounds a older but he goes at 6 with his usual sense of gusto, that after a little while all I heard was the 6th Doctor. Was it just me or did Miranda Raison sound like she pitched Constance with a slightly stiffer lip than in the past? Anyway, on to ep.2.
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Post by Audio Watchdog on Sept 9, 2021 0:57:04 GMT
I don’t normally give anything a five and generally think perfect scores are pretty silly but this was as close to a perfect BF Doctor Who box set as I’ve heard recently with the middle episode being a pretty good example of exactly how riveting audio drama can be. Having heard episode three I’m convinced Raison did pitch Clarke a little stiffer than usual to give herself a little more wiggles room when she had to do the multiple voices. Excellent set.
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Post by Kestrel on Sept 9, 2021 1:56:43 GMT
Damn, that's really high praise. May have to move this one up in my queue....
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Post by Chakoteya on Sept 9, 2021 16:17:24 GMT
Elevation - a remarkable concept and story. But sheesh - all those voices with sound effects! I know that's the point but I found it hard going at times. Well done the writer and production team.
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Post by Ian McArdell on Sept 16, 2021 13:12:10 GMT
My take on The Eleven is now up at CultBox... a case of diminishing returns with the titular villain for me, but Lucy Gaskell's Miskavel is fun.
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Post by johnhurtdoctor on Sept 19, 2021 16:16:07 GMT
Loved it. Great stories that really make use of the specifics of the Eleven & Lucy Gaskell is brilliant also. The last story is fun giving the actors lots to do. Hope we get more of this quality.
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Post by drj on Sept 23, 2021 12:29:45 GMT
This was a real treat. Lovely world building, excellent actors and a great use of the Eleven. The middle segment really adds to the whole story arc and is a joy to listen to, as indeed are parts one and two. The dialogue between the Eleven and Oliver Akkron was music to the ears. Also, very nice concept for part three, I have to say… brings a whole new meaning to the word “elevated”.
Basically though, everyone involved did such a good job. The many facets of Constance and Miskavel was good fun and you just can’t go wrong with Colin, you really can’t.
Roll on the next part of the saga!
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Post by timegirl on Sept 23, 2021 18:36:12 GMT
I liked this set for the most part. I think the Eleven’s wife is a brilliant addition. But I found the first two stories very confusing at times with the Eleven’s clones. It’s odd, I like the Eleven and all his many personalities a lot but sometimes I find stories with him confusing. The first two parts were just okay and kind of ran together in a confusing mess other than the always brilliant performances and the wonderful addition of the Eleven’s wife and her scheming ways. The third story is what made this set for me! I think the twist with Constance gaining her own alternate personalities was amazing and contained some of my favorite moments ever for her character!
Bit of a mixed bag but I am glad I listened to it for the good bits it did have🤔🙂
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Post by Kestrel on Sept 25, 2021 6:25:04 GMT
I'm at the 2/3 mark, so too soon to weigh in on this set in depth, but for now, wow, the ending was a bit too convoluted for my tastes, but I really loved the second story! Bonnar really delivers an exquisite performance as The Eleventh here, and that alone really justifies the whole story (and, I suspect, the whole set).
I've said before (and often) that I think the truest test of ability for any writer is whether or not they can sit two characters down in a room, with nothing else, and create interesting and compelling drama just from the dialog--and that's a test this story passes very well. I've also said before (and often) that I seldom note writers' names (one way or the other) unless I'm suitably impressed, and despite some (not insignificant) issues I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for Nigel Fairs' scripts in the future.
(Now watch me, with my wonderful memory, eventually learn that I've already said the exact same thing before, in response to another story....)
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Post by Digi on Sept 26, 2021 1:59:44 GMT
Listened to this set today. Quite enjoyed it!
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Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Sept 26, 2021 3:06:53 GMT
It’s an interesting idea that,while dysfunctional as a sentience, the Collective without the others is just broken at best and dangerous at worst. The somewhat playful kleptomania of the Nine becomes an obsession with possession without the others to reign him in, whereas the Eight becomes almost cynical without the others.
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Post by barnabaslives on Sept 28, 2021 6:08:13 GMT
Finally finished this one this evening. I'm very glad to see how many others think highly of this set. So do I - I think all three authors really reached for the stars here and succeeded, it's really a wonderful showcase for their remarkable talents and the third story quite a showcase for the talents of the performers as well.
It's even more impressive when you consider that with me, this was an uphill battle because I think I'm a little bit fatigued of The Eleven as a character per se. I mean, I think I said some time ago that for me the biggest attraction is really Mark Bonnar's performance (and I should add that it's also interesting to see how different Doctors react to or interact with The Eleven), but it's almost like The Eleven as a character is awkward for me to try to explain to someone the attraction of - "What's he like?" "Well, he's like The Master, but kind of all at once" "Does he have special powers that The Master doesn't have?" "Well, he argues with himself a lot", lol.
Naturally how spoiled rotten we are with Master stories isn't really lending any favors there, lol. Also, sometimes I nearly need a scorecard to keep track of The Eleven, so throwing him into a framework of other multiplicitous beings technically should have been making things even worse. Quite a bit here, if you ask me, of taking things that shouldn't fly and making them soar. So yeah, this succeeded quite brilliantly, especially when all things are considered.
I dunno, maybe I think The Eleven is sort of a weird character or I just have weird questions - is The Eleven kind of a trademark? Would it be false advertising if a story was billed as The Eleven but featured the Nine? lol - but I want to ask the question, because that's something I wouldn't mind hearing that might also help keep things fresh and interesting is to get to hear Mark Bonnar do more with some of The Eleven's earlier versions.
Anyway, not complaining, just pondering out loud about The Eleven. Really an excellent job with the whole set, all around!
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Post by grinch on Oct 1, 2021 11:02:29 GMT
Well, I thought that was terrific.
Everyone gives very strong performances and I thought the setting was really interesting.
‘The Murder of Oliver Akkron’ made for an excellent two hander and reminded me of Anthony Schaffer’s play ‘Sleuth’ a bit. Although, as much as I like Mark Bonnar in the role I wouldn’t necessarily commission a spin-off series for the Eleven off the back of that alone. However, with all that talk of the Eleven’s early years I do yearn for when we’ll get a story featuring the One. Feel like that would make for a truly fascinating tale as he struggles with dealing with the sudden onset of regenerative dissonance.
It also does make me wonder whether this is set immediately after the Eleven’s appearance in UNIT Nemesis as the Eleven does seem to use a lot of Earth sayings in this. I guess we’ll just have to find out come next month.
Overall, I thought this was extremely well done.
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lidar2
Castellan
You know, now that you mention it, I actually do rather like Attack of the Cybermen ...
Likes: 5,811
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Post by lidar2 on Oct 1, 2021 14:48:49 GMT
OK. Finished this last night. THIS succeeds exactly where Dark Universe failed, for the same reason. I wondered why it was just called "The Eleven" and not a double title a la "The Tenth Doctor and River" or "Missy And The Monk" etc. After the first story that feeling was very strong. Then I listened to the second story.... Dark Universe felt like we were missing a disc from a boxset. It had a setup and a payoff but no second act - too much happened off "screen". This set manages perfectly to use that second ep to establish the world, build the characters, the motivations and the tone. In the MR...yeah - we could have done this as a 2-discer and just done it like The Ark where The Doctor revisits the scene of an old adventure to see what's happened and what he could have avoided. But taking the time to show all this from The Eleven's POV (and Muskavell) shows a much more in depth take and allows the entire saga to breathe. Making that second ep mostly a two-hander is also a stroke of genius as we slow things down in The Doctor's absence. Why would things be rushed? The Eleven has all the time in the world. He can enjoy a nice (worm-free) glass of '49 knowing that he's winning slowly. Then when The Doctor and Mrs Clarke do return, I love that upon stopping The Eleven it's not an act of anger. The Doctor is just disappointed and feels sorry for him. Lovely character moment. I do worry with The Eleven sometimes now he's popping up elsewhere that he has to have a way to not just be given stories that are Master-like or Monk-ish. He needs his own feel and tone. Using cloning to separate the disparate personalities was the perfect set up for this. Yes, the Master would take over a planet (and has). Yes, The Master would transpose himself onto everyone on that planet (and has) but not like this. Not with the same setup, motivations and goals. The Eleven, to me, is the Smeagol of Big Finish. To be pitied, not despised. As The Doctor says, who knows what any Timelord with the same affliction would be like, even him? We even get a glimpse that The Eleven was experimented upon and abused. Pity a decent scientist like Tecteum wasn't about (Sorry Timeless Children haters!). So...this is The Eleven. It's not "The Sixth Doctor and The Eleven". It finds a fresh spin on old tropes and a way to use the character that is not just something you could give to, say, Beevers or Roberts. A strong, strong set. Spot on
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lidar2
Castellan
You know, now that you mention it, I actually do rather like Attack of the Cybermen ...
Likes: 5,811
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Post by lidar2 on Oct 1, 2021 14:50:45 GMT
Great boxset, but like others I did think Col sounded his age
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