The Big Finish Catch-Up September 2021 - December 2021

For those of you new to this section of the blog, I started listening to the Big Finish Doctor Who releases when they started back in 1999, getting them as they were released up to mid 2002 and release No 33 Neverland. At that time I left Uni and due to being a bit busy with life and what not I only heard one or two releases over the next few years. I started getting back into them around 2008 and was 6 years behind at that point. Due to wondering off into the Lost Doctor range and a relaxed listening pace I fell further behind. In order to catch up I'm listening to two releases a month (or more when its a 60 min single disc release, plus without seeing the cover or knowing anything about the story) and my mission to catch up continues; 

However as I've fallen behind its time for some snap reviews of the last years of my Big Finish listening, these contain first time listens and relistens to old favourites: 

The Maltese Penguin - A lovely subscriber special from the early years with a big helping of Frobisher 8/10.

Sympathy for the Devil - An interesting twist as we see a "what if UNIT faced all those invasions without The Doctor" with two melancholy performances from David Warner and Nicholas Courtney. A release where the performances and ending are more engaging than the story 7/10.

Brave New Town - A well plotted "twist story" that is always engaging and has some memorable characters 8/10.

Exile - A rare wrong turn for Big Finish that comes over as transphobic, unfunny and nasty -10/10.

45 - A combination of four episodic stories with a joint theme featuring the 7th Doctor, Ace and Hex. Absolute fun as the regulars are thrown into some fast paced short stories 9/10.

Out of Time - A fun fast paced story as the 4th and 10th Doctors are paired up for some fun with the Daleks 8/10

Return of the Krotons - Fun subscriber special with a notable guest appearance from Philip Madoc 6/10.

Legion of the Lost - First story of the War Doctors second box set, John Hurt is immense but the story feels unsatisfyingly Doctorish 6/10.

Full Fathom Five - Another "unbound" story that gets better with a re-listen as no attempt is made to hide the stories twist 7/10.

The Big Finish Catch-Up September 2019

For those of you new to this section of the blog, I started listening to the Big Finish Doctor Who releases when they started back in 1999, getting them as they were released up to mid 2002 and release No 33 Neverland. At that time I left Uni and due to being a bit busy with life and what not I only heard one or two releases over the next few years. I started getting back into them around 2008 and was 6 years behind at that point. Due to wondering off into the Lost Doctor range and a relaxed listening pace I fell further behind. In order to catch up I'm listening to two releases a month (or more when its a 60 min single disc release, plus without seeing the cover or knowing anything about the story) and my mission to catch up continues;

First this month its back to the monthly range with The Cradle of the Snake featuring, the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan and Turlough. Good dark story, good use of a villain and a very a-typical story 9/10.

Secondly its the 8th Doctor range and Prisoner of the Sun may be the best example of a one disc story Big Finish have done. So many curve balls and twists plus a good hook at the end leading into the next story 10/10.

Finally its a trip over to the Companion Chronicles with the 6th Doctor and Jamie Nights Black Agent. A fun good spooky monster story that I recommend for Halloween 7/10.

The Big Finish Catch-Up June 2019

For those of you new to this section of the blog, I started listening to the Big Finish Doctor Who releases when they started back in 1999, getting them as they were released up to mid 2002 and release No 33 Neverland. At that time I left Uni and due to being a bit busy with life and what not I only heard one or two releases over the next few years. I started getting back into them around 2008 and was 6 years behind at that point. Due to wondering off into the Lost Doctor range and a relaxed listening pace I fell further behind. In order to catch up I'm listening to two releases a month (or more when its a 60 min single disc release, plus without seeing the cover or knowing anything about the story) and my mission to catch up continues;

First up this month its "The Masters of Luxor" in the Lost Story range, not just any Lost Story but the original lost story featuring the original TARDIS crew in what was intended to be the shows second story. Written by Anthony Coburn and adapted by Nigel Robinson this is the most unique story I've listened to from Big Finish. I have no intention of reviewing this story or marking it out of ten I just want to bask in it and feel emotional that I've experienced it. It does feel very old fashioned and very "Metopolis" while also having that feel of the first three stories of Who. Carole Ann Ford and William Russell give a cracking performance - this is a very well realised story. Interesting is a few similarities to "The Daleks" namely the city and there is a bit of lift action that makes me wonder if this was in Verity Lamberts notes. I highly recommend this purchase as I've rarely felt so emotional listening to a story.


Next up its the 8th Doctor range as the 8th Doctor and Tamsin in"Deimos" and "The Resurrection of Mars." This is without doubt a 10/10 release, possibly my favourite script by Jonathan Morris and in my opinion one of the best stories Big Finish has released. From the start it feels like a fun romp that The Doctor is going to wrap up in one episode and then we get a cliffhanger that signifies the moment where everything changes and the story goes in another direction. This is a story of manipulation, fracturing relationships and just how dangerous travelling with The Doctor can be. As usual people die, there are twists but due to the nature of the story the victories feel like something of a relief rather than a reason to party. The Doctor and the antagonist are left in very interesting situations at the end of this story and I look forward to finding out what happens next. At the moment I would say we are in this ranges best season since the first.

The Big Finish Catch-Up May 2019

For those of you new to this section of the blog, I started listening to the Big Finish Doctor Who releases when they started back in 1999, getting them as they were released up to mid 2002 and release No 33 Neverland. At that time I left Uni and due to being a bit busy with life and what not I only heard one or two releases over the next few years. I started getting back into them around 2008 and was 6 years behind at that point. Due to wondering off into the Lost Doctor range and a relaxed listening pace I fell further behind. In order to catch up I'm listening to two releases a month (or more when its a 60 min single disc release, plus without seeing the cover or knowing anything about the story) and my mission to catch up continues;

First up this month is The Prisoner of Peladon a Companion Chronicle starring David Troughton as King Peladon. This is a very good story with good levels of atmosphere, David is outstanding and carries the story well. Its what you would expect from a Peladon story in terms of characters and alien races. What raises the story is that when The Doctor turns up it goes in a direction that is mostly associated with later Doctors. Its rather unnerving to see this kind of thing done with Jon Pertwees more fluffy Doctor however its effective. It gets a 8/10 from me.

Next up is Nevermore with the 8th Doctor and Tamsin in the Eight Doctor range. Its a weak start to Tamsins start as a companion as the story is dull and lacking the distinctive flair of the range. The crows and the cat are memorable but a week after hearing this story I'm struggling to remember anything about it 4/10.

The final story this month is The Whispering Forest from the main range featuring the team of the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan and Turlough. This is a proper good done in one nailed to the plot thriller - although the start and end to lead in and from the surrounding stories. I love stories like this that have a good solid plot, start at break neck pace and keep the listener glued for the duration. I must commend the decision to pair up Nyssa and Turlough who are two characters who couldn't be further different from each other. This release is story telling 101, any aspiring writer looking to write for Big Finish should be listening to stories like this. This is a 7/10 story for me and this is the second time I've heard it (its one of the stories I heard in the anniversary year) and it still stands up to that first listen.

The Big Finish Catch-Up January 20019

For those of you new to this section of the blog, I started listening to the Big Finish Doctor Who releases when they started back in 1999, getting them as they were released up to mid 2002 and release No 33 Neverland. At that time I left Uni and due to being a bit busy with life and what not I only heard one or two releases over the next few years. I started getting back into them around 2008 and was 6 years behind at that point. Due to wondering off into the Lost Doctor range and a relaxed listening pace I fell further behind. In order to catch up I'm listening to two releases a month (or more when its a 60 min single disc release, plus without seeing the cover or knowing anything about the story) and my mission to catch up continues;

First up this month is An Earthly Child featuring the 8th Doctor and Susan in the 2009 subscriber special. This was a very intriguing and engaging story, starting off with the first Doctors music was a good swerve as I initially thought I was listening to a companion chronicle. Paul McGanns Doctor doesn't turn up for a while so when he does its a nice little surprise, Carole Ann Ford as Susan carries the majority of the story and the story is focused on what Susan's been up to since we last saw her. Also I'd like to take a moment to discuss the world building, the story benefits from being a follow up to a TV story but I was firmly entrenched in this future Earth more so than some stories that are double the length. A good story, one that benefited from having no knowledge going in and a good subscriber bonus and the feeling of a later Doctor having the kind of story more associated with an earlier Doctor, 8/10.

Next up its the second story in the first Jago & Litefoot box set The Bellova Devil and it was a complete joy from start to finish. Where the first story felt like mostly set up this felt like a story that could be listened to in isolation. One incident sets of a series of events and its a case of sitting back and letting the two leads get into some humorous trouble. Highlights include a brave turn from Jago while hiding in a bush and Litefoot getting talked into a situation he knows he has no business in. This is the kind of story that I hoped for going in and I suspect this may be the flavour of the series now that we've got the difficult start out of the way 10/10.

The final story this month is The English Way of Death an adaption of the Gareth Roberts book from the Missing Adventure range featuring the 4th Doctor, Romana and K9. A nice little fluffy story featuring the season 17 regulars. A story enlivened by the cast, especially Tom Baker however weak writing which includes rather weak sub Bertie Wooster characters. Even though I enjoyed it a week after writing this review up I'm struggling to remember any details. Given that how close this release was to The Romance of Crime and if you are on a budget I'd recommend getting that release over this. Perhaps it needed a bit more beefing up from John Dorney but as it is stands I feel like I've gone for a slice of cake that has the least amount of ingredients in it as possible. Sadly like the original novels I suspect The English Way of Death will go down as a disappointing follow up, 6/10.

The Big Finish Catch-Up October 2018

For those of you new to this section of the blog, I started listening to the Big Finish Doctor Who releases when they started back in 1999, getting them as they were released up to mid 2002 and release No 33 Neverland. At that time I left Uni and due to being a bit busy with life and what not I only heard one or two releases over the next few years. I started getting back into them around 2008 and was 6 years behind at that point. Due to wondering off into the Lost Doctor range and a relaxed listening pace I fell further behind. In order to catch up I'm listening to two releases a month (or more when its a 60 min single disc release, plus without seeing the cover or knowing anything about the story) and my mission to catch up continues;


The Eight Truths (and Worldwide Web) starring the 8th Doctor and Lucie, Paul McGann and Sheridan Smith.

The strong third season of the Eight Doctor Adventures ends on a high. Strong stuff all around from the cast and production crew. Particular mention I must give to Eddie Robson who has become one of my favourite writers over the last few years. Its the only two disc story in some time and its a lovely slow burn story with a few teases being thrown in about who the villains are - I'm kicking myself for not spotting them. It feels like the end of an era in a way last seasons finale wanted to be but wasn't a few plot points from end of last season and beginning of this one are finished off. Character wise even the one off characters go on a journey and a few familiar characters as well as the regulars have a few nail biting moments.

Highly recommended and after a poor end to the previous season and start to this season the range is back on a high 9/10.


The Trail of the White Work / The Oseidon Adventure starring Tom Baker and Louise Jameson as the 4th Doctor and Leela.

Blimey, you wait around for months and two season finales come along at once. The Fourth Doctors first season ends on a high. This story is just pure fun and is what I hoped for when Big Finish announced that Tom Backer was coming aboard. It is an absolute romp turned up to eleven and if you come in with no spoilers like I did lots of surprises. On top of that theres a change between the first and second disc to the extent I don't begrudge the story having two titles. There is a certain character who I wont give away who is deliciously sneaky during this story. Another powerful 9/10 and even though its the end of a season it is very standalone and could easily be listened to without hearing the rest of the season.

The Big Finish Doctor Who Catch-up August - September 2018

For those of you new to this section of the blog, I started listening to the Big Finish Doctor Who releases when they started back in 1999, getting them as they were released up to mid 2002 and release No 33 Neverland. At that time I left Uni and due to being a bit busy with life and what not I only heard one or two releases over the next few years. I started getting back into them around 2008 and was 6 years behind at that point. Due to wondering off into the Lost Doctor range and a relaxed listening pace I fell further behind. In order to catch up I'm listening to two releases a month (or more when its a 60 min single disc release, plus without seeing the cover or knowing anything about the story) and my mission to catch up continues;

The Canabalists - the 8th Doctor Adventures continue with this single disc story featuring the 8th Doctor and Lucie. A very good release and gets the best out of a limited story set up, personally I think it had enough for a second disc and could have gone further 9/10.

Second Sight - "The Worlds of Doctor Who" is wrapped up nicely with the 6th Doctor finally making an appearance. I highly recommend the box set as its been a fun ride and its nice to see characters from around The Doctors life come together 7/10.

A Storm of Angels - its a visit to the "unbound" range with this release and an alternate 1st Doctor who stayed behind on Gallifrey. This story sees him on his travels after some unseen stories and is a rather engaging story. Geoffrey Bayldon does very well, this is my favourite Mark Platt written story that I've heard in a while 8/10.

The Butcher of Brisbane - a very run of the mill story with a hook (meeting a certain character earlier in their life time before their TV appearance) which lifts it to above average 6/10.

The Doomsday Quatrain - a very busy, engaging story with a lot going on. A proper meaty story featuring the 7th Doctor and Nostradamus - not what I would have expected had I known this going in. A plot story with a slight humorous bent at points, it left me thinking and this could be a story I revisit before others in this entry 7.5/10.

The Big Finish Doctor Who Catch-Up April - July 2018

For those of you new to this section of the blog, I started listening to the Big Finish Doctor Who releases when they started back in 1999, getting them as they were released up to mid 2002 and release No 33 Neverland. At that time I left Uni and due to being a bit busy with life and what not I only heard one or two releases over the next few years. I started getting back into them around 2008 and was 6 years behind at that point. Due to wondering off into the Lost Doctor range and a relaxed listening pace I fell further behind. In order to catch up I'm listening to two releases a month (or more when its a 60 min single disc release, plus without seeing the cover or knowing anything about the story) and my mission to catch up continues;

The Beast of Orlock - A fun story from the 8th Doctor range and a good proper fun story story 7/10.

The Reesinger Process - decent stuff however I am unfamiliar with the range, felt very "Avengers" with a military twist 5/10.

The Architects of History - the finale of the 7th Doctor and Klein is a satisfying conclusion and highly recommended 10/10.

Energy of the Daleks - it felt like a filler story with the Daleks shoved in at the last minute 5/10.

Wirrn Dawn - good story with a twist on an old monster, very serious and not as fun as other stories 6/10.

The Emerald Tiger - good boys own fun with a TARDIS crew having loads of fun 7/10.

Robophobia - a nice dark story with aspects of a certain TV story 9/10.

The Scapegoat - a proper fun story 8/10.

The Screaming Skull - elements of a good story but stops when its getting going 6/10.

The Wreck of the Titan - the most enjoying story I've heard in a while, so engaging and keeps the listening guessing right until the end 10/10.

The Jupiter Conjunction - a good engaging plot 8/10.

House of Blue Fire - An intriguing horror story with a more atmospheric first half 8/10.

The Big Finish Catch-up: January 2018

For those of you new to this section of the blog, I started listening to the Big Finish Doctor Who releases when they started back in 1999, getting them as they were released up to mid 2002 and release No 33 Neverland. At that time I left Uni and due to being a bit busy with life and what not I only heard one or two releases over the next few years. I started getting back into them around 2008 and was 6 years behind at that point. Due to wondering off into the Lost Doctor range and a relaxed listening pace I fell further behind. In order to catch up I'm listening to two releases a month (or more when its a 60 min single disc release, plus without seeing the cover or knowing anything about the story) and my mission to catch up continues;


Blue Forgotten Planet - Featuring the 6th Doctor and Charley this release is the conclusion of the Charley doppelganger story line. This is a very strange story and highly emotional, around two years worth of releases ago it looked like Charley was going but a curve ball was thrown and she somehow ended up leaving the 8th Doctor for the 6th Doctor. This is not only the finale of the three story mini arc but also the conclusion of the 6th Doctor and Charley story line but also has ties to other stories beyond this. As a story in its own right I found it rather wanting a tiny bit unsatisfying and a tad annoying. 

This story lives on the resolution of the ongoing story line which it does well, answers the ongoing questions listeners would have had. The Doctor is left in an emotional state which keeps his time line intact, Charley is given an interesting status, the Viyrans become even more interesting and the doppelganger story is nicely resolved, 8/10.


The Valley of Death - Featuring the 4th Doctor and Leela its a trip back into the lost story range for this release. This is such a fun bombastic release and genuinely feels like the 4th Doctor era turned up to 11. Highly recommended fun release 8/10.


Orbis - Featuring the 8th Doctor and Lucie this release sees the start of the 3rd season of the 8th Doctor stories. This is without doubt one of the lamest stories I've ever heard from Big Finish and feels like it was thrown together at the last minute. The cliffhangers from the previous season are resolved however it doesn't feel like anyone is trying. There's some interesting stuff as at one point it looks like the Doctor is going to pick up a non humanoid companion and before the resolution kicks in Orbis itself and its community are very interesting. Lucies side of things feel frustrating but there is a feeling that things are being set up for later in the season. A story with promise yet it may be better on a re-listen 4/10. 


Wrath of the Iceni - Featuring the 4th Doctor and Leela, I'm still at the stage with Tom Baker where it feels like a novelty when he pops up (also to a certain extent with Leela). This is the third story in this season I've heard scattered over a few years, I've heard the first two Gareth Roberts novelisations, Light at the End, The Valley of the Death, the BBC stuff and a release from a season I've not got to yet but I still get that buzz in the early Big Finish releases with Tom. On top of that its a full blown historical story which I've yet to hear him do in Big Finish. A fantastic concept of a story that was singing out to be commissioned "The Doctor takes Leela to meet Boudica" FANTASTIC! Its fair to say this is more Leela's story than The Doctors and Louise Jameson gives everything into this story - at times you can sense Tom standing on the side lines and willing her to give it her all. A strong story and after a weak start to this season it feels all involved are hitting their stride 7/10.

The Big Finish Catch-up February - November 2017

For those of you new to this section of the blog, I started listening to the Big Finish Doctor Who releases when they started back in 1999, getting them as they were released up to mid 2002 and release No 33 Neverland. At that time I left Uni and due to being a bit busy with life and what not I only heard one or two releases over the next few years. I started getting back into them around 2008 and was 6 years behind at that point. Due to wondering off into the Lost Doctor range and a relaxed listening pace I fell further behind. In order to catch up I'm listening to two releases a month (or more when its a 60 min single disc release, plus without seeing the cover or knowing anything about the story) and my mission to catch up continues, here are some snap reviews of stories I've heard this year;

The Sontaran Ordeal, from the Classic Doctors/New Monsters box set. A good one featuring a time war era 8th Doctor and the Sontarans. Moody as hell and a bit of a cheat having a classic monster 9/10.

The Skull of Sobek, with the 8th Doctor and Lucie. A so-so unmemorable story 5/10.

Kingdom of Silver, with the 7th Doctor. A very good start but the story loses atmosphere when it changes location 7/10.

Keepsake, a follow up to the last story and lovely intimate story 9/10.

Judoon in Chains, the 6th Doctor in a fun adventure with the Judoon 8/10.

Grand Theft Cosmos, the 8th Doctor and Lucie in a series of events that get more and more out of hand 8/10.

The Doomwood Curse, the 6th Doctor and Charley in the best story I've heard in ages 10/10.

Time Reef, the 5th Doctor and Nyssa in an interesting story that doesn't quite fit the episode format 7/10.

Perfect World, a follow up to the last story that left me non-plussed and stopped before it got started 5/10.

The Zygon Who Fell to Earth, good but it needs another episode and rotates between whimsy and dark to much for one episode 6/10.

Hive of Horror, the 4th Doctor in the finale to his first BBC box set. Ends on a high and emotional as its my final story with Wibbsey as I've heard the other box sets 8/10.

Brotherhood of the Daleks, the 6th Doctor and Charley in an intense plot driven story that has one to many ends 9/10.

The Death Collectors and Spiders Shadow, the 7th Doctor in two decent if unmemorable stories 5/10 and 6/10.

The Vengeance of Morbius, the finale of the 8th Doctors second season. Decent with a very good cliffhanger 6/10.

The Raincloud Man, the 6th Doctor and Charley in a follow up to an earlier story and moves between noir and the more fantastic incredibly well 10/10.

Castle of Fear, the 5th Doctor and Nyssa in the most fun story I've heard this year 9.5/10.

The Magic Mousetrap, the 7th Doctor in a well plotted mystery 9.5/10.

Papercuts, a good tight story with the 6th Doctor and Charley 7/10.

The Romance of Crime, a fun runaround with the 4th Doctor, Romana and K9 9/10.

Enemy of the Daleks, a moody story featuring the 7th Doctor, Ace and Hex 7/10.

The Eternal Summer, the 5th Doctor and Nyssa in a well plotted story 8/10.

Patient Zero, the 6th Doctor and Charley in a cracker of a story 10/10.

The Company of Friends, the 8th Doctor in a collection of fun stories with various companions 6/10.

Plague of the Daleks, the 5th Doctor and Nyssa in a fine finale to the Stockbridge trilogy 8/10.

The Angel of Scutari, good but not as good as other war stories featuring the 7th Doctor, Ace and Hex 7/10.

The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance, the original Doctor and team in a rather emotional coda and a-typical story 8/10.

The Scorchies, Jo Grant and the UNIT team in a fun story that will raise a laugh 7/10.

The Big Finish Catch-Up: November 2016

For those of you new to this section of the blog, I started listening to the Big Finish Doctor Who releases when they started back in 1999, getting them as they were released up to mid 2002 and release No 33 Neverland. At that time I left Uni and due to being a bit busy with life and what not I only heard one or two releases over the next few years. I started getting back into them around 2008 and was 6 years behind at that point. Due to wondering off into the Lost Doctor range and a relaxed listening pace I fell further behind. In order to catch up I'm listening to two releases a month (or more when its a 60 min single disc release, plus without seeing the cover or knowing anything about the story) and my mission to catch up continues;

First up this month is the main range story featuring the 5th Doctor and Nyssa. This is a very very good story on so many levels. Every episode has a different feel from the rest of the story, in particular the first episode really draws the listener in before dropping a cliffhanger on us that would have had even the those who listen to one episode a night rushing straight into the next episode. I especially enjoyed the situation the regulars found themselves in and how it related to the first episode.

The story leaves the regulars in a very interesting position and I can't wait until the next story this team of regulars turn up in. Of note when I finished the story and had a look at the CD case I was pleased to see it was written by Jonathan Morris who is one of my favourite writers in the range and that the guest cast had a 90's sitcom theme featuring Leslie Ash from Men Behaving Badly and John Pickard from 2.4 Children who gave good performances although I didn't recognise them. 9/10

Up next its the "Classic Doctors New Monsters" range featuring the 5th Doctor and the Weeping Angels. I'm so pleased that the Angels have popped up in this box set, as I said in the Sycorax story I'm aware of the concept but don't know which Doctors or monsters are in it. Some people may think its brave to have a story with a silent monster but I say Big Finish have earned my trust and I'm in whatever happens. Its another 90's TV guest star in Matthew Kelly off of "Stars in their Eyes." Its good to see the 5th Doctor have a go with the Angels given that later more experienced Doctors have been challenged by them. Its not as "timey wimey" as you might think and is a good action story. 8/10

The final listen of the month was the 8th Doctor range featuring the 8th Doctor and Lucie in a funny little story with "Doctor Who" doing "Top Gear" IN SPACE! I like it when Doctor Who does comedy and this story really goes for it and is the stronger for it. In particular Paul McGann and Sheridan Smith sound like they're having a whale of a time. I'm pretty sure this may be the first time this range has done a comedy and the 8th Doctor do one since Faith Stealer which was ages ago - we've had a few moments particularly in the first series of this range and its good that this story goes full on out. I was surprised when I checked the CD case and saw it was another story written by Jonathan Morris - you wait ages for one then two come along at once! Really good stuff, you'll get more of you're familiar with Top Gear and a strong 8/10 from me.

The Big Finnish Catch-Up: October 2016

For those of you new to this section of the blog, I started listening to the Big Finish Doctor Who releases when they started back in 1999, getting them as they were released up to mid 2002 and release No 33 Neverland. At that time I left Uni and due to being a bit busy with life and what not I only heard one or two releases over the next few years. I started getting back into them around 2008 and was 6 years behind at that point. Due to wondering off into the Lost Doctor range and a relaxed listening pace I fell further behind. In order to catch up I'm listening to two releases a month (or more when its a 60 min single disc release, plus without seeing the cover or knowing anything about the story) and my mission to catch up continues;

Well I am absolutely kicking myself for thinking Charley was gone for good and not noticing the 'Trial' theme at the end of her last story. Very interesting things happen in this story but I found it hard to follow for the first half as I was in shock that Charley was back and had been saved by the Sixth Doctor. Its very intriguing stuff asking long term and short term questions, however like the new status quo with this TARDIS crew it feels uncomfortably distant 7/10.

Up next we venture into a more recent boxset - I should say I'm aware of the concept of this set however I don't know what villains/monsters are in it. So here we find Sylvestors Seventh Doctor taking on the villains from the first Christmas special the Sycorax. Decent little story which actually makes a good attempt to add some depth to this one off race villains however the acting is bloody awful and drags the production down 5/10.

We're now onto season 2 of the Eighth Doctor adventures and we're in new territory for me. The 8th Doctor and Lucie are in London but when exactly? This is jolly, fun fresh and light just what I needed after the previous story further up. Some interesting characters and perhaps one who may crop up again, snappy dialogue - fully recommended 8/10.

Its back to main range with the 7th Doctor, Ace and Hex - a team who haven't been around in some time and a firm favourite of mine. Its a comedy that is fairly amusing (and gets its best laugh in the first five minutes) but unlike some previous comedy stories in the range it doesn't embrace humour as much as other stories have and as a result feels more amusing than hysterical. Sylvester McCoy and Philip Olivier have the most success with the comedy on offer and genuinely feel like they're having fun. I found the story intriging and the choice reguarding the guest cast was very interesting. Its a 6/10 for me although if it had embraced the comedy a bit more it could easily have been more. 

I hope there isn't another gap until we see this team again as they are one of my favourite teams and my other favourites have recently been pulled apart. I'm aware that within the last ten or so stories Gary Russell has past the baton over to Nicholas Briggs and Nick is probably making the changes that he wants now he's a few stories in. I'm still in shock from the changes to range over the last few months; C'rizz has died, Erimem has left and Charley looked like she was leaving and has somehow ended up with a previous incarnation of the Doctor. Without doubt I've reached a time of great change in Big Finish, I think this section of the blog is at its best when changes I don't know about are happening and I hope you are enjoying this catch-up journey with me.

The Big Finish Catch Up: March 2015

For those of you new to this section of the blog, I started getting the Big Finish Doctor Who releases when they started back in 1999, getting them as they were released up to mid 2002 and release No 33 Neverland. At that time I left Uni and due to being a bit busy with life and what not I only heard one or two releases over the next few years. I started getting back into them around 2008 and was 6 years behind at that point. Due to wondering off into the Lost Doctor range and a relaxed listening pace I fell further behind. In order to catch up I'm listening to two releases a month (or more when its a 60 min single disc release, plus without seeing the cover or knowing anything about the story) and my mission to catch up continues;

Its back into the 8th Doctor range with the 8th Doctor and Lucie with Immortal Beloved. Of note is an appearance by Ian McNeice who would go onto play Winston Churchill on the TV series, apart from this I'm struggling to think of anything to say - its all very forgettable. I think this story suffers from the single episode format. It feels like theres a central idea to this story but apart from a rather good set piece at the start and some half glimpses we don't see a lot of what is a very interesting setting. On top of that the pacing is a bit off the story moves along nicely and then stops. I'm left feeling rather indifferent, theres a lot to lure the listener in and very little to fault however I'm left with a feeling of ambivalence.

Next up in the range for the 8th Doctor and Lucie is Phobos. Rather like the previous story this is also a single parter with a lot on going on and its paced and played brilliantly. On the cast front we have TV stalwart Timothy West and former Liver bird Nerys Hughes (also of note played Todd in highly acclaimed Peter Davison era story Kinda). Various members of the guest have their own story lines going on and as a result the characters feel very rich, we'll probably never hear of these characters again yet I feel more for them than some recurring characters. Set on Phobos the moon of Mars the story is set in and around an artificial dome taken over by squatters and has become an extreme sports haven, also homing a share of various hippies and people wanting to disappear. This is a story I strongly recommend, there are various set pieces through out the story, lovely character scenes and possibly the best set up gag at the end I've heard in ages.

Over to the main range as we go further into 2006 with the 5th Doctor, Peri and Erimem in The Kingmaker. I have to be honest when I was taking the wrapping off I caught a glimpse of the robot on the cover and thought it was the one in the background in 'The Celestial Toymaker' fortunately he's nowhere to be found in this story. I'd like to paint the scene when I listen to these audios I lay down and let the story wash over me with my imagination providing visuals. All the way through this I found myself getting up to press rewind so I could re listen to a joke, a cracking piece of dialogue or double check a plot point - this rarely happens I was completely drawn in and hooked. Arthur Smith has one of my favourite voices so it was lovely to hear him as well as Jon Culshaw of the late 90's Radio 1 afternoon show doing some acting as well as a Tom Baker impression. This is the third story I've heard by Nev Fountain and he's become a favourite, I must gloat I worked out the cliff hanger in part three but nothing else. 'Omega' and 'The Revolution' are also puzzle stories its a brilliant aspect of all of his stories. Not only do I recommend this story I find myself placing it a firm favourite not only in this range but Doctor Who's entire cannon, it may battle a certain long standing story as one of my favourites. 

That's it for March but a bit of admin regarding the next entries in this section, I've noticed that 'The Kingmaker' was release number 81. Anyone looking forward to 'The Reaping' and 'The Gathering' I've already heard them (due to them being on offer) certainly 'Gathering' was done before I started doing these blogs 'Reaping' may be in an earlier entry although I'm pretty sure I reached it just before I started. Theres one or two other ones I've heard out of order but I'll mention them when we get to them.

The Big Finish Catch Up: December 2014

In my ongoing mission to catch up with Big Finishes output I squeeze four releases into December.

Up first this month is "The Chaos Pool" featuring the 5th Doctor and Amy played by Peter Davidson and Ciara Janson. In case you can't remember I got the first part of this trilogy in a sale a few years back and when the rest of Key 2 Time came on offer I nabbed in and slotted it into my "listen to" pile. Well this story is rather run of the mill, we're wondering into big budget blockbuster territory that isn't to well suited to audio. Peter Anghelides usually pens a fun tale but we're in serious end of the universe territory here and theres very little of the fun in the previous two instalments here. Also theres a lot of filling time and "moving the the chess pieces" around the the board. Things get better as the story progresses, very much a tale of two half's and as things escalated on the second disc my attention was firmly grabbed. Familiar faces reappear (take a look at the cover - although its not what you think) and start influencing the story giving it a sense of urgency. I came away with a sense of enjoyment, I'm also rather tempted to investigate the "Tracers" spin off. The 5th Doctor and Amy were a rather fun TARDIS crew and I hope their paths cross in the future.

Second up this month is "Live 34" featuring the 7th Doctor, Ace and Hex. This is firmly a story I urge you to get, utterly brilliant and borderline perfect. In 2003 Big Finish released a number of experimental stories and this 2005 release could fit into those stories perfectly. Its all about the presentation for this story, its told in the format of a radio show reporting incidents The Doctor and company are involved with and hearing a Doctor Who story from the point of view of the population The Doctor is trying to save. We don't even get the theme music on this disc we get jingles and music from the titular Liver 34 radio station. If like we you enjoyed BF's 2003 experimental phase this is definitely a story for you, in all honestly the resolution leaves a little to be desired but up to that point the stories so good its only a little niggle. Of note is an appearance from 90's radio host and current TV and film reviewer Andrew Collins.

Next up is "Horror of Glam Rock" we're off into the 8th Doctor Adventures range featuring the 8th Doctor and Lucie. A rather amusing 45 minute story set in a motorway service station populated by 70's rockers on their way to gigs or Top of the Pops, Paul Magrs works his usual stuff and like the title theres a few 70's song lyrics hidden in the story. The cast is like a whose who, apart from Paul McGann and Sheridan Smith as the regulars we have BERNARD BLOODY CRIBBINS of virtually everything from the last 50 years, Una Stubbs best known from Sherlock, Stephen Gately from Boyzone and Clare Buckfield of Grange Hill and 2.4 Children. Lots of fun and a rather quick story that left me looking forward to the next episode, Lucie after experiencing an alien planet gets to experience time travel and meets and unexpected person. Keep your ears peeled for an element of the season long plot.

After hearing Demon Quest and Serpents Crest I decide to nip back to the start of the 4th Doctors audio adventures. Featuring the 4th Doctor, Mrs Wibbsey and Mike Yates its another Paul Magrs penned story this month. As opposed to the plays I've heard this month this is an audio book, its bloody good fun though. Tom Baker and Richard Franklin cover the narrating duties with Susan Jameson and Daniel Hill voicing their respective characters. This is pure traditional 70's cookies and milk Doctor Who and set in Nest Cottage with a wonderfully OTT Tom Baker this story is pure nostalgia and all the best for it. A jolly spiffing story that sees the 4th Doctor taking on the might of some stuffed animals - Magrs at his most bonkers. Having heard the future ranges from this team its fascinating to hear the start and it sounds like a have an origin for Mrs Wibbsey to look forward to.

I can recommend all the releases reviewed this month and look forward to continuing my journey through the Big Finish output in 2015.

The Big Finish Catch Up: October 2014

In this months update of my attempt to catch up with the Big Finish releases I wonder off the main range into the Eighth Doctor Adventures and The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield...

First up is Blood of the Daleks, the first story in the new range of "Eighth Doctor Adventures" an offshoot series taking the 8th Doctor out of the main range and giving us something more familiar with  post 2005 Who. I have to say I did originally hear the first season when it aired but haven't heard it since. This story feels different from the main range, its more snappy and less fluffy than the usual Big Finish play. Its a stark story albeit traditional, a colony invaded by the Daleks but this is a very bleak colony perhaps teetering on the edge of collapse before the Daleks turn up. Very few of the colonists are sympathetic and some are worse than the Daleks, if you like stories with an edge this one is for you. Getting on to the regulars Paul McGanns 8th Doctor is wonderfully put out from the onset, having a new companion and status quo forced on him - the Doctor is in a grumpy mood and wants to show it. We haven't heard McGann play the Doctor this prickly since the alternative universe season. Sheridan Smith is a welcome addition as Lucie, neither her or The Doctor like each other or wanting to spend any time together is a wonderful little twist. Lucie has been placed with The Doctor for her safety by the Time Lords for some undisclosed reason. An amusing start, an engrossing story and a little bit of spice at the end as a new character is introduced that is pivotal to the season story line.

The next listen was the final two parts of The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield box set "Random Ghosts" and "The Lights of *****." Two strong stories bringing the story to a close. On finishing the set I can best describe this as one story separated into four acts, centering on Bernice with the other characters flitting in and out. "Random Ghosts" is perhaps the most fascinating Big Finish story I've heard, I absolutely adored it (and the format) and could have listened to an expanded version for hours if it existed. The final story is quite odd, I'd advise not to look up its title as it improves the 3rd story. Its more of a small scale deep story that presents a few interesting thoughts and a lot less flash bang wallop than I expected. Strongly recommend and a welcome return for the Virgin New Adventures team.

As a whole I rate this box set highly, personally I think the price is a bit steep but this set imo has the most re listen value in anything Big Finish have produced. Every disc in the story has at least one scene or reveal I want to hear again, in particular how I missed all the clues in part one and I want to hear part three again as it packed a lot in and I'm sure I missed loads in here. As someone whose only heard the main range stories of Bernice along with the Love & War adaption and her Excelis story its made me want to listen to more stories from her range which makes this set a success in my book.

More than just a TV movie

We're a few months on from it now but if anyone didn't know on the 23rd of November last year it was the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who. What you didn't know? You manged to miss all the build up? The merchandise? The celebration episode itself? Blimey you'll have to tell me how you did it because there's five or six shows around at the moment I'd love to bypass. Anyway getting back to the point, 50 years... That is a long time, its 10 Prime Ministers, 0.000000000000000894 of an Ice Age and 11 Doctor Who's. (Don't mention Peter Cushing - I did but I think I got away with it)

For this blog I want to focus on a period of those years when Doctor Who wasn't on our screens, a period known as the wilderness years when The Doctor in his eighth incarnation was played by Paul McGann.

Sexy stuff indeed! I'm in the mood for a bit of 8th Doctor blogging because dear ladies and gentle readers I've been on a bit of an 8th Doctor binge recently. No I haven't been watching the TV Movie on endless repeat for a week and that's pretty much my point. The general public and fans who've signed up post comeback may very well think that from 1990 to 2004 there was only one Doctor Who story, when in fact there well over one hundred!

After Sylvester McCoy's third season the show left the airwaves to return six years later with the aforementioned 8th Doctor. Sadly this didn't lead to a new series however with the best part of a decade until Rusty Davies and Christopher Eccleston rolled into town most of the 8th Doctor's stories would be in the book range. To many a fan Doctor Who is synonymous with books, indeed I'd go as far as saying if it wasn't for the Target Novelisations of the TV stories and in particular Terrance Dicks I wouldn't be reading books today. As a child I gobbled those books up and refuse to part with them today. Anyway after the show went off air and with stories running out to be novelised someone came up with the bright idea of an ongoing series of books starring the 7th Doctor which proved so successful that when the 8th Doctor took over the BBC brought the license in house and started a range starring the 8th Doctor.

I have a fondness for this range as it overlapped with changes in my life as when the the first book in the range came out I was in college and eight years later when the final one came out I was managing two departments for a loan broker. During those years the Eighth Doctor Adventures (or EDA's as they were known) were one of the few constants. Never more was there so much variety in Who, future, past, aliens, done in ones and ongoing plots that last years these were a fantastic line of books. Personally I never got all of them as there's always one or two you don't fancy or other things that tend to get in the way. Of course there were companions with Fitz being a personal favourite, the lovable loser often hankering after a female guest character yet always loyal to the Doctor. It was due to this range I discovered Paul Magrs and Lawrence Miles, quite frankly I don't want to be living in a world where I haven't read their stuff. Regular authors I have to mention from this range are Lance Parkin, Kate Orman, Jon Blum and Steve Lyons, all firm favourites.

Diverging a bit (8th Doctor in joke for the hardcore fans there) around the late 90's a company called Big Finish started doing audio's of Doctor Who. With no TV series about I was all over this and for a number of years before I fell behind I way buying/listening to them as soon as they came out. At first Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester Mccoy rotated on each months release and then lo and behold Big Finish announced that they had got Paul McGann - who and this was the key thing WAS THE CURRENT DOCTOR! On top of that he wasn't going to be fitting in and doing one audio every four months, he was going to be doing seasons! One of my favourite moments as a fan was playing Storm Warning and hearing the Paul Mcgann the current Doctor continuing the series that I was convinced wasn't coming back. Over the years I've fallen behind with Big Finishes monthly output to the point where I'm only up to 2004's output. So in a way for me Paul Mcganns still going and I'm midway through his third season - with Capaldi right around the corner how timey wimey is that?

Getting back to the TV series it was a pleasant surprise to see Paul McGann come back to the series for the 50th anniversary and regenerate on screen. It was a lovely touch for this Doctor whose best moments were on audio and in book format to get a sendoff on TV. An extra nice touch was the audio companions getting a mention. Saying goodbye to Paul made me remember that despite being a reader of the EDA's I hadn't actually finished them. As I said earlier life has a habit of getting in the way and I'd completely forgot that I hadn't got an answer to the plot threads hanging in the books. A read of The Gallifrey Chronicles by Lance Parkin gave me a chance to say goodbye to a Doctor in the format that for a time kept going albeit nine years. Anyway to get to the point, there's a lot more to Paul McGanns Eighth Doctor than most people think. During the wilderness years most of fandom yearned for a comeback and something the anniversary was  able to do was give an affectionate nod to the shows history, including the wilderness years and a Doctor TV never really got the chance to embrace.