Post by wolfdog95 on Aug 23, 2024 13:14:06 GMT
Really enjoyed this one.
One of Jonathan Carley's best performances yet. While he's still playing the voice of John Hurt as a young man, I noticed that he's putting in a more weary and dejected tone at this point compared to the more boisterous and springy voice in Begins. This is clearly a more cynical War Doctor who is well on his way to becoming the man willing to push the button and destroy Daleks and Time Lords alike.
I must admit, I'm not very well-educated on Morbius as a character. The script didn't do much to differentiate him from other evil Time Lords like the Master/Missy, Rassilon, the Monk, the Rani, the Valeyard etc. But Samuel West gives a charismatic and genuinely intimidating performance, and I look forward to listening to him in Dark Gallifrey when I finally get round to it.
The Third Power was quite well done. I was a bit worried that the story would turn into the War Doctor vs Morbius vs the Daleks vs the Third Power, and would collapse trying to balance three antagonists with their own agendas. So I was quite relieved when the Third Power turned out to be a more benevolent force, albeit one opposed to the Doctor. I hope we see more of 1-8-1 in the future.
It's easy to get fatigued with Daleks in Time War Audios, but they managed to be quite exciting in this story. Even though they only make themselves known towards the end, the story manages to balance their threat with Morbius's without making either feel overshadowed.
I enjoyed Sheila Ruskin as Cora. A likeable pseudo-companion, and its easy to tell that she and the War Doctor genuinely care about each other even if neither will admit it. That said, I don't see why that role couldn't have gone to Ohila, given that character's deep connection to the War Doctor.
The dialogue about the War Doctor refusing to regenerate because he feels he doesn't deserve to be free of his burden until his task is complete was quite fascinating, and I think makes sense for why he starts to regenerate as soon as Gallifrey is saved in Day of the Doctor. His duty was fulfilled, so he was happy to let his elderly body fail and start afresh in his next incarnation.
My only real gripe carries over from Sontarans vs Rutans, that they still haven't addressed the fallout from the Case storyline. To me that loss was to the War Doctor what Adric was for Five, Rose/Donna for Ten, Amy/Rory for Eleven and Clara for Twelve. Vital to the character's development. I hope we get the War Doctor's thoughts on this in a future release.
And of course the music. Howard Carter is clearly enjoying himself with numerous variations of the War Doctor's leitmotif. It was sorely missed in the character's appearance in Sontarans vs Rutans. Now the War Doctor is well and truly back. My favourite version from this story has to be the choral version as the man himself appears. It's strange how a few lines of dialogue ("Sir? I like him less and less!") and a piece of beautiful, solemn music can tell you everything you need to know about a character.
9/10 Can't wait to see what's in store for the next boxset.
One of Jonathan Carley's best performances yet. While he's still playing the voice of John Hurt as a young man, I noticed that he's putting in a more weary and dejected tone at this point compared to the more boisterous and springy voice in Begins. This is clearly a more cynical War Doctor who is well on his way to becoming the man willing to push the button and destroy Daleks and Time Lords alike.
I must admit, I'm not very well-educated on Morbius as a character. The script didn't do much to differentiate him from other evil Time Lords like the Master/Missy, Rassilon, the Monk, the Rani, the Valeyard etc. But Samuel West gives a charismatic and genuinely intimidating performance, and I look forward to listening to him in Dark Gallifrey when I finally get round to it.
The Third Power was quite well done. I was a bit worried that the story would turn into the War Doctor vs Morbius vs the Daleks vs the Third Power, and would collapse trying to balance three antagonists with their own agendas. So I was quite relieved when the Third Power turned out to be a more benevolent force, albeit one opposed to the Doctor. I hope we see more of 1-8-1 in the future.
It's easy to get fatigued with Daleks in Time War Audios, but they managed to be quite exciting in this story. Even though they only make themselves known towards the end, the story manages to balance their threat with Morbius's without making either feel overshadowed.
I enjoyed Sheila Ruskin as Cora. A likeable pseudo-companion, and its easy to tell that she and the War Doctor genuinely care about each other even if neither will admit it. That said, I don't see why that role couldn't have gone to Ohila, given that character's deep connection to the War Doctor.
The dialogue about the War Doctor refusing to regenerate because he feels he doesn't deserve to be free of his burden until his task is complete was quite fascinating, and I think makes sense for why he starts to regenerate as soon as Gallifrey is saved in Day of the Doctor. His duty was fulfilled, so he was happy to let his elderly body fail and start afresh in his next incarnation.
My only real gripe carries over from Sontarans vs Rutans, that they still haven't addressed the fallout from the Case storyline. To me that loss was to the War Doctor what Adric was for Five, Rose/Donna for Ten, Amy/Rory for Eleven and Clara for Twelve. Vital to the character's development. I hope we get the War Doctor's thoughts on this in a future release.
And of course the music. Howard Carter is clearly enjoying himself with numerous variations of the War Doctor's leitmotif. It was sorely missed in the character's appearance in Sontarans vs Rutans. Now the War Doctor is well and truly back. My favourite version from this story has to be the choral version as the man himself appears. It's strange how a few lines of dialogue ("Sir? I like him less and less!") and a piece of beautiful, solemn music can tell you everything you need to know about a character.
9/10 Can't wait to see what's in store for the next boxset.