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Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on Oct 5, 2023 8:07:45 GMT
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Post by bonehead on Oct 5, 2023 12:48:07 GMT
Like the last release, I enjoyed this. I'll need to listen again to find out exactly what's going on, but it was speedily told, contained some good - quite scary - scenes, seemed to be suitably epic and featured one of BF's most distinguished casts. David Warner's Doctor sounds inevitably aged, but suitably snappy and snarling, Chris Eccleston imbues his scenes with energy and vitality. I'm not sure we needed to distort the voice of Robert Powell, who already possesses some of the most impressive tones available, and I think it's more than a little late in the series to be addressing the true threat on display, but at least we're confronting it, however complex it may be. And I like the idea of the sands of time. I'd say this was on a level with the previous The Martian Invasion of Planetoid 50 - definitely one of the better instalments of this decidedly mixed series.
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Post by sherlock on Oct 5, 2023 13:19:40 GMT
Stuff happens. I think that’s the most articulate summary I can provide really. There’s a lot of events and noise but I can’t really articulate what it means or why it matters. Eccleston sounds like he’s having a ball at least.
The Doctor actually meeting the Lumiat is nice, but I’m confused over her involvement at all. She recalls her backstory as per The Lumiat but is also degenerating, implying she’s actually the degenerating Master who appeared in the last story. But none of the future incarnations produced by the degeneration seem to have been able to recall future events like that. Also the Doctor handily has a bout of memory loss to cover up continuity issues, fine, but at the start of the story he was able to recall Missy from last episode! The ins and outs of the degeneration just seem to fluctuate, which you’d expect from an arc written by several different writers but you’d also expect the producers overseeing it all to fix this!
Liv is also present. That’s it. She could have been swapped with any companion and the story wouldn’t have changed.
David Warner’s Unbound Doctor (peculiarly credited as Alternate Universe Doctor for some reason) is on good form as ever but doesn't do much unfortunately. I wish the story had more for his character to do.
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Post by mark687 on Oct 5, 2023 13:28:33 GMT
Definitely heading to an enjoyable conclusion even if it probably won't make any sense (The Union will have a lot do)
CE just enjoying playing opposite DW and GM in a weighty story with BF again providing the more intriguing additions to the mythos, and a touching farewell turn from David Warner
2 minor quibbles I'm not sure distorting Robert Powell's voice adds anything and Liv and The Lumiat are very broad strokes of themselves. if this was a listener's 1st encounter with them don't give up they're more subtle then just TV Tegan and Jo cranked up to 10.
Regards
mark687
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Post by fitzoliverj on Oct 5, 2023 14:57:32 GMT
It was OK, but really shows up the problems with the single-CD format (and the false endings and the Doctor and Lumiat not being sure who their proper incarnations are smacks to me of hammering a previously-recorded story into final shape).
Also,
1) why hire a famous actor if you're not going to hear his voice?
2) is the Lumiat always that cloying?
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Post by timleschild on Oct 5, 2023 15:15:13 GMT
Stuff happens. I think that’s the most articulate summary I can provide really. There’s a lot of events and noise but I can’t really articulate what it means or why it matters. Eccleston sounds like he’s having a ball at least. The Doctor actually meeting the Lumiat is nice, but I’m confused over her involvement at all. She recalls her backstory as per The Lumiat but is also degenerating, implying she’s actually the degenerating Master who appeared in the last story. But none of the future incarnations produced by the degeneration seem to have been able to recall future events like that. Also the Doctor handily has a bout of memory loss to cover up continuity issues, fine, but at the start of the story he was able to recall Missy from last episode! The ins and outs of the degeneration just seem to fluctuate, which you’d expect from an arc written by several different writers but you’d also expect the producers overseeing it all to fix this! Liv is also present. That’s it. She could have been swapped with any companion and the story wouldn’t have changed. David Warner’s Unbound Doctor (peculiarly credited as Alternate Universe Doctor for some reason) is on good form as ever but doesn't do much unfortunately. I wish the story had more for his character to do. Sounds crap. Glad I missed this. Lumiat especially a pointless character. |
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Post by mark687 on Oct 5, 2023 15:32:42 GMT
It was OK, but really shows up the problems with the single-CD format (and the false endings and the Doctor and Lumiat not being sure who their proper incarnations are smacks to me of hammering a previously-recorded story into final shape). Also, 1) why hire a famous actor if you're not going to hear his voice? 2) is the Lumiat always that cloying? 1. Completely Agree 2. Not quite as bad usually Regards mark687 |
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bax81
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Post by bax81 on Oct 5, 2023 15:51:40 GMT
Enjoyed it, but the incredibly high stakes story felt like it should be the finale of this mini series, but there 2 more to go (well, 1 and a coda)
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Post by Ian McArdell on Oct 5, 2023 23:50:48 GMT
Fresh up on Cultbox, my take on Time Lord Immemorial. In short - Eccleston and Warner - simply magic! |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2023 0:00:21 GMT
Poor David Warner sounded very unlike his own very distinctive voice. Sad to hear. Was always going to be poignant but very emotional to hear him sound like someone different.
Liv was there. That's about it. The Lumiat seems to be there just to have a Master figure without having to make them turn good or be a threat. Missy's been done already so..
Neither of them were much cop at all. Robert Powell's face not being on the standard edition makes sense now - he could be played by ANYONE. Why cast him? Major waste of talent.
Eccleston give it his all but it's in the service of so little. He's also far too quippy and ready with one liners and puns for the character. Comes off like McMullen was writing Tennant more than Eccleston. A lot of "it's ancient Timelord lore...." that is convoluted and weightless. What should be a more heavy episode turns into a bit of a romp - without the fun - and there's very little peril. Two universes at stake and it's written and played with less worry than an average MR story would be. Should be a massive stakes event but.. no. It feels like this should have been an early episode leading to much more. Not a latter ep when we've only one more to wrap it up, then a coda.
Fun hearing Eccleston saying "Susan.." at the end. That's about it. What an impossible let down this enterprise has been.
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Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on Oct 6, 2023 4:13:26 GMT
I am 1/2 way through- 1st thing I noticed was the change in voice due to ... circumstances.  |
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Post by shallacatop on Oct 6, 2023 9:08:50 GMT
What a mess. for me it's tied with The Artist at the End of Time as the worst of Once & Future so far. Liv & The Lumiat are surplus to requirements, Warner's Doctor barely does anything and Eccleston's Doctor is the most out of character that Big Finish have portrayed him as so far. They might as well have got Nick Briggs in for nowt instead of Robert Powell for how recognisable he is. The story somehow manages to be completely lightweight whilst also bogging itself down with overly complicated and inconsequential Time Lord lore.
We know that this range, for all its years of production, is being done on the cuff depending on availability. It's been clear from the interviews and articles and it's abundantly clear in the end product. It's baffling how anyone at Big Finish could organise and listen to the output and think it's remotely acceptable.
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Post by tuigirl on Oct 8, 2023 21:29:35 GMT
Sigh.
This could have been good.
The line-up was promising and amazing.
The result?
As previously mentioned by me about other entries in the series- too many characters are vying for attention and in the end, it just falls flat, because none of the characters gets the room they deserve in these 1 hour offerings.
Plus- I am sick and tired of pseudo- mythological Time Lord macguffin shenaningans. Including a made up legendary nursery rhyme. Zagreus and the New WHO TV series did it better, and this just felt surplus to requirements.
The little we heard of each of the actors was good I guess? None of them stood out. And I agree, poor David Warner sounded very old and frail. I also had trouble recognizing him at first.
I just wish they would not have crammed so many characters into each release, this does not sound like an exciting adventure across the universe and more like a bucket list that needs to be ticked off and everyone on the list has to shout a couple of words to know they took part.
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Post by Chakoteya on Oct 11, 2023 8:38:12 GMT
Diamond Array....................................
Bwahahahahahaha!
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Post by nottenst on Oct 11, 2023 18:12:22 GMT
I agree that David Warner's voice didn't have the weight it usually has. Still, it was good to hear him here. I have not listened to the extras yet (36 minutes for extended as opposed to 17:17 in regular). I had completely forgotten who the Lumiat was. I remember being quite a bit confused in Missy 2 as to her identity and I don't remember it being all that clear. I did not get Masterful yet. One of these days, perhaps. I did like the bit with her and Liv at the end with the Lumiat not wanting to degenerate into a Master that would try to kill Liv.
Overall the story was a bit confusing, but quite fun. I am hoping that the last of the regular parts gives some enlightenment and satisfaction. It does say "And the truth about the Doctor’s degeneration will finally be revealed." My hope is that upon listening to that, all six of these preceding episodes will be enhanced on a second listen.
Edit: Listening to the extras - I didn't know that it was some 26 years ago (when making this) that Chris acted with Gina McKee in a show called Our Friends in the North (shot in 1995-1996).
Lots of reminiscing of the actors talking about being with or meeting the other actors.
About 25 minutes in they discuss treating Robert Powell's voice.
It ends with a tribute to David Warner.
There is a lot more. Again, I do get a greater appreciation of what they are doing here from listening to the extended extras.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2023 21:44:08 GMT
Edit: Listening to the extras - I didn't know that it was some 26 years ago (when making this) that Chris acted with Gina McKee in a show called Our Friends in the North (shot in 1995-1996).# One of the most popular shows of its time too. Massive success for BBC2. Eccleston was well known already but Our Friends really pushed him forward, as it did for a little known actor called Daniel Craig. Dunno where he went! |
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