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Post by bonehead on Nov 18, 2021 17:04:13 GMT
I know it's all subjective, but I'm not always a fan of 'why don't we get X to meet Y and Z'. It's okay once in a while, but when it becomes the norm, such grand meetings are reduced in their effectiveness. Also, such mash-ups - it seems to me - become the reason for telling a story, which can be somewhat limiting. Putting Ace together with Big Finish's audio Torchwood creation Mr. Colechester is something I could never have predicted. I love both actors and their respective characters, so it could lead to something really special.
This isn't quite that, but it's still a great deal of fun. Laconic, sardonic, bad-tempered Colchecter meets passionate, witty and gung-ho McShane. A kind-of lockdown story, but with added aliens, and reminiscences about the good old days, where trust is a major issue - especially difficult where the goalposts keep changing. This is - and I hesitate to use this phrase - an 'oddball couple' story, and its very cleverly written. Colchester doesn't like anyone and Ace doesn't trust ayone, but events roller-coast in such a way that a definite alliance is formed. This isn't the Ace of old, of course (only one toerag in sight) - she's grown up, more sophisticated and laid back, but still a dangerous character. So is Colchester.
Torchwood audios have been so good with the bar raised so high, that this emerges as just another very entertainingly produced story. Possibly, in an other range, it would be standout. I would like to hear more from this pairing. Dorothy and St John. I can see it now.
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Post by thelonecenturion on Nov 18, 2021 19:25:43 GMT
Just finished this one. Really enjoyed it, but I do think it's a good thing that this was Goss's last Torchwood of the year. While his stories have all been really good, some tropes are repeated a fair amount, and it's nice to see that next month there'll be some new talent on the Torchwood range, but it's fair to say Goss has had a really, really strong run of stories recently. Paul Clayton and Sophie Aldred have a really good chemistry, and {Spoiler} Judging by the ending, I hope this isn't the end for the pairing. Perhaps the Unity could be the next Monthly Range arc? It would be the first since the Committee. Or maybe it's setting up Torchwood Series 7? In which case I'd love Ms McShane to become a permanent member... So yes, it's another win for Torchwood. This is, and I've said it before, by far Big Finish's most consistent range.
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Post by Audio Watchdog on Nov 19, 2021 1:49:22 GMT
Loved it. A Colchester/Ace Totchwood spin-off is something I didn’t know I desperately needed when I woke up this morning.
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Post by Who Review on Nov 19, 2021 14:57:09 GMT
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Post by shallacatop on Nov 25, 2021 12:32:42 GMT
Didn’t reckon much to this, unfortunately. Typical Goss tropes, which don’t often do it for me, and commits the cardinal sin of audio of having Colchester constantly talking out loud to himself. The two leads lack any sort of rapport. Their exchanges feel oddly stilted, as though the recordings were stitched together without any consideration for making them actually interact.
I was also disappointed by the lack of development for Ace. I feel as though I know nothing more about her than I got from Sarah Jane’s comments about her, or watching the Season 26 trailer.
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Post by nottenst on Dec 22, 2021 16:54:52 GMT
Just listened to this today. It was a nice surprising pairing and I thought it worked well.
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Post by tuigirl on Mar 6, 2022 21:44:19 GMT
Just listened to this. Not bad. As small cast single room/ balcony stories go, it keeps the mystery and the tension going and we get a nice twist at the end (however, if you paid attention, it should have clicked earlier). I liked it. And I am once again amazed at Sophie Aldred. Her voice seemingly does not age, and she still sounds like the Ace we know and love. There are even explosions!
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