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Post by newt5996 on Feb 16, 2023 21:44:34 GMT
Listened to The Demon Song. Outside of the ending feeling like a third episode really should have been written to explore the other alien species, I really enjoyed that. Noonan and Cornelius both have settled into their roles (Noonan is especially fun here) and the script’s playing around with some very 1960s concepts in a 2020s shell
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Post by IndieMacUser on Feb 18, 2023 22:01:19 GMT
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Post by cjr on Feb 18, 2023 23:22:28 GMT
I’m sure it’s not just me, but I swear there’s a fragment of “Something” by The Beatles In The Demon Song. I’ve heard too many muzak versions of the song not to pick it 😂🤣
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Post by martinw8686 on Feb 19, 2023 1:48:24 GMT
I’m sure it’s not just me, but I swear there’s a fragment of “Something” by The Beatles In The Demon Song. I’ve heard too many muzak versions of the song not to pick it 😂🤣 Are you sure, you could be a Daytripper, were you seeing Strawberry Fields at the time? Sorry for the terrible Beatles jokes, I'm sure We Can Work It Out. 😂🤣
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Post by mark687 on Feb 21, 2023 16:42:57 GMT
Extended Interview DL for The Incheron Incident in the Bonus Content box
Regards
mark687
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Post by bonehead on Feb 21, 2023 17:22:35 GMT
The Demon Song.
I wish they made more of these First Doctor releases. Stephen Noonan is so bloody good as The Doctor - stern, confused, always with a twinkle. I hope he's enjoying himself, because he's a joy to listen to. No, of course he's not a carbon copy of Hartnell, but he's as close as we'll get to his delightfully befuddled latter day incarnation. Strange to hear references to the pandemic, mobile phones and Harry Potter; just a reminder that we're viewing the First Doctor's era from a different perspective and viewpoint. More out of time than ever, but still a gentleman to boot! Lauren Cornelius continues to delight as Dodo, with Big Finish taking on the job of developing her character more than on television, to great effect.
The story I found to be more reminiscent of Tomorrow People than Doctor Who - lots of cultural references, a modern day phenomenon causing widespread distress etc - but that's no problem. It's a good two-parter, too. Usually I end up wishing a story is fleshed out more after a single-discer, but here events seemed particularly well fitted to a shorter story. I like the way these First Doctor tales so far seem to be exploring the scarier side of Doctor Who too. Somehow this fits well with the monochrome era; black and white I find genuinely less 'comforting' than colour. Might just be me.
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Post by Who Review on Feb 21, 2023 17:34:05 GMT
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Post by bonehead on Feb 23, 2023 14:54:10 GMT
The Incherton Incident.
Forgive the repetition, but I’ve some more words of praise for Stephen Noonan’s First Doctor: he absolutely *owns* the role! The slight hesitation on some words of the dialogue, the annoyed self-correction of some mispronunciations are lovingly recreated; but there are times when I wonder, are we celebrating a veteran actor finding Who’s television workload too much back in the ‘60s, and finding his failing health means he gets his lines wrong? I’d hope not, I really would. I don’t think that’s the case anyway. William Hartnell played up to his own occasional befuddlement by making the Doctor occasionally befuddled too; the first incarnation of The Doctor was an old man when we first met him, and it seems his was the only Doctor who regenerated because of age, because his ‘old body was wearing a bit thin’, rather than subsequent moments of deadly jeopardy resulting in a change of appearance. So the story then – rather ‘The War Games’ in style, I thought, with some very spooky sound design on occasions and a very interesting antagonist/companion in Virginia. I think it takes rather too long for the Doctor to get to grips with the problem in hand, but the ongoing mystery is effectively creepy, and the last episode in particular is a belter (topped with a terrific Series 3-style cliffhanger). This, mixed with traditional human politics, makes a nicely hostile environment in which the Doctor – who only wants to get back to his ship – and Dodo find themselves in. Truth be told, the Doctor himself is occasionally quite creepy in his more competitive, and angry, moments. “You brainless idiot!”
Brilliant.
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Post by The Matt on Feb 27, 2023 10:56:41 GMT
Really enjoyed both these stories. Neither of them were stone cold classics but they were still both up there. I have to agree with bonehead, Noonan is outstanding here. I thought he was good in the previous release but he is even better here. I could picture the 1st Doctor in my head so easily whenever he spoke. I really couldn't fault him in this release. Such a shame we are only going to get one release a year in this range as it deserves more, a lot more.
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Post by shallacatop on Mar 10, 2023 9:47:50 GMT
I thought The Demon Song was a fantastic story that's hampered by its two leads. I don't actually disagree with the praise for Noonan in this thread, it's just that he isn't the First Doctor for me. And it's a similar case for Lauren Cornelius, although to a lesser extent due to the inconsistent characterisation on screen. It's quite fascinating really, they're a great Doctor and companion and have a enjoyable dynamic, it's just that I can't picture the First Doctor and Dodo at all. I actually think the story's setting, references, etc. just reinforce that further.
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Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on Mar 11, 2023 23:52:00 GMT
Review.
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Post by mark687 on Apr 2, 2023 18:24:05 GMT
Another Review
Regards
mark687
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Post by masterdoctor on Jul 7, 2023 14:44:09 GMT
Just finished this after taking a break from Big Finish over the while. The Demon Song was solid, and I look forward to more stories from Bob Ayers. However, it felt too short, while also having an episode 1 that takes a bit too long to get going.
The Incherton Incident was a very nice surprise. A well done atmospheric mystery, that while losing a little steam at the 3/4 mark, is full of string performances, great sound design, and a wonderful cliffhanger for next year’s set!
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Post by shallacatop on Nov 3, 2023 14:25:21 GMT
I felt the same with The Incherton Incident as I did The Demon Song; there's a decent story in there that's hampered by its lead. Noonan just isn't a very good First Doctor. There's no charm, he's constantly aggressive and emphasises rarely used mannerisms far too much; the hmms and I hate the regular use of the stuttering and fluffed lines. Coupled with none of the stories feeling authentic to the era, it doesn't feel like we have the First Doctor at Big Finish and haven't since the Early Adventures range wound down; as much as I like Bradley's Doctor, the AAISAT cast never once makes me feel like I'm listening to something intended to go alongside the wonderful stories we have on screen.
I'm also a bit perplexed by the decision to separate the Doctor and Dodo. The sets aren't out frequent enough to justify such a deviation, especially given their attempts to forge a new era. Noonan's performance will stick out all the more opposite Maureen O'Brien next year.
It's a shame really, as both two parters in the range really were brilliant. I just don't feel it's a First Doctor Adventure.
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