Post by Kestrel on May 31, 2021 21:03:56 GMT
Before listening, I'd heard very good things about Death and the Daleks--and I was not disappointed!
That said, it's definitely not a story to recommend as a good entry point to the Bernice Summerfield audio range. I've listened to a lot of these, so I was already well-familiar with Brax, the Collection and the Fifth Axis--but the rest? Yeah, the baby, love triangle thing, Benny's father, her time travel origin story? I'm totally lost on all of that.
But even with that whole host of attendant continuity snaggles, this story was a hell of a lot of fun. Though, again, it kinda pops up out of nowhere. It's like each individual Benny audio is a direct sequel to a novel, or something else, because (annoyingly) there appears to be very little continuity from episode to episode within the range, you'd think 4.4 would fallow 4.3, which would follow 4.2, which would follow 4.1. But such is not the case.
Its especially confusing here as they play fully-voice clips of the invasion/occupation of the Collection, as though it happened, "last time, on Bernice Summerfield." But nope. It's like this range is constructed in the most confusing and inaccessible manner possible.
All that said, I love the hell out of this story--to the point that when the credits rolled after a cliffhanger, I was very upset at the idea of having to go and buy the continuation. I was very happy to realize it was a two-parter, so I could continue straight on to the second half! I definitely plan on moving to season 5 eventually, but ideally after a sale: so, for now, Death and the Daleks marks the end of my journey through the early Bernice Summerfield range.
As per always, Lisa Bowerman delivers a fantastic performance here, with some really snappy dialog "Oh, it's always something mad with you lot!") and gets some great little jabs in at the Daleks, and really sells the emotional bits with her father. And what a twist that was! I certain,y never expected Benny's dad to be Space Hitler!
And Braxiatel was a delight. I honestly kinda feel like I want to see him team up more with Benny, emulating the Doctor/companion dynamic... ah well. Perhaps in NABS he'll give Benny and the Unbound Doctor a hand sometimes?
That said, I definitely could have done without the side plot of the fascist collaborator and her "true believer" space Nazi boyfriend. Maybe don't try to humanize fascists? They suck. And the idea that love can transcend politics is total bullshit when said politics revolve around hate and systemic murder. Oof.
Is this my favorite BEN story so far? You know what, I think it is. Though Oh No It Isn't! comes pretty close. I definitely enjoyed the narrative framing device of the academic conference, even if it led to some heavy-handed foreshadowing. "If only we knew," and "The troubles that came later." Well, way to hype me up for season 5, eh?
Though with my luck those'll turn out to have all been references to a novel or something and have nothing at all to do with the next sequence of audios....
....Well, such are my thoughts. Anyone else give this a listen recently? Did ya' enjoy it as much as I did?
That said, it's definitely not a story to recommend as a good entry point to the Bernice Summerfield audio range. I've listened to a lot of these, so I was already well-familiar with Brax, the Collection and the Fifth Axis--but the rest? Yeah, the baby, love triangle thing, Benny's father, her time travel origin story? I'm totally lost on all of that.
But even with that whole host of attendant continuity snaggles, this story was a hell of a lot of fun. Though, again, it kinda pops up out of nowhere. It's like each individual Benny audio is a direct sequel to a novel, or something else, because (annoyingly) there appears to be very little continuity from episode to episode within the range, you'd think 4.4 would fallow 4.3, which would follow 4.2, which would follow 4.1. But such is not the case.
Its especially confusing here as they play fully-voice clips of the invasion/occupation of the Collection, as though it happened, "last time, on Bernice Summerfield." But nope. It's like this range is constructed in the most confusing and inaccessible manner possible.
All that said, I love the hell out of this story--to the point that when the credits rolled after a cliffhanger, I was very upset at the idea of having to go and buy the continuation. I was very happy to realize it was a two-parter, so I could continue straight on to the second half! I definitely plan on moving to season 5 eventually, but ideally after a sale: so, for now, Death and the Daleks marks the end of my journey through the early Bernice Summerfield range.
As per always, Lisa Bowerman delivers a fantastic performance here, with some really snappy dialog "Oh, it's always something mad with you lot!") and gets some great little jabs in at the Daleks, and really sells the emotional bits with her father. And what a twist that was! I certain,y never expected Benny's dad to be Space Hitler!
And Braxiatel was a delight. I honestly kinda feel like I want to see him team up more with Benny, emulating the Doctor/companion dynamic... ah well. Perhaps in NABS he'll give Benny and the Unbound Doctor a hand sometimes?
That said, I definitely could have done without the side plot of the fascist collaborator and her "true believer" space Nazi boyfriend. Maybe don't try to humanize fascists? They suck. And the idea that love can transcend politics is total bullshit when said politics revolve around hate and systemic murder. Oof.
Is this my favorite BEN story so far? You know what, I think it is. Though Oh No It Isn't! comes pretty close. I definitely enjoyed the narrative framing device of the academic conference, even if it led to some heavy-handed foreshadowing. "If only we knew," and "The troubles that came later." Well, way to hype me up for season 5, eh?
Though with my luck those'll turn out to have all been references to a novel or something and have nothing at all to do with the next sequence of audios....
....Well, such are my thoughts. Anyone else give this a listen recently? Did ya' enjoy it as much as I did?