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 Relative Dimensions in the 8th Doctor range featuring the 8th Doctor, Susan, Lucie and Alex. For those familiar with this story I'm listening to it at the wrong time of year and its a rather lovely low key Christmas special 8/10. Its a rather intimate little story with a Doctor Who twist thrown in for good measure and this season is rivalling the first in terms of quality.
Second up The Similarity Engine featuring Jago & Litefoot with the final story of the season 1 box set. I had little idea what was going on but had a fun time none the less 9/10. As for the box set as a whole, I'll certainly be coming back for more. As a box set the first story had to do a lot of set up which I can understand, the final story had to close things up which it mostly did well and it gave us two bonkers stories in the middle, so as a whole 9/10.
Finally this month The Foe From the Future featuring the 4th Doctor and Leela. Loads of fun and its rare that a story can make me cheer out loud like a situation with Leela late in the story does. The best compliment that I can pay a "Lost Story" is that during the story I felt like I was transported back to the era its set and could easily be watching a DVD. Highly recommended and not the story featuring cats on Gallifrey that I was expected 8/10.
Showing posts with label Jago and Litefoot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jago and Litefoot. Show all posts
Saturday, 7 September 2019
Saturday, 11 May 2019
The Big Finish Catch-Up February - April 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;
I've fallen a little bit behind with the reviews so here's some snap reviews of what I listened to between February and April this year...
Theatre of War - A very good, tight adaption of the Virgin New Adventure debut of Justin Richards. Of note is the first appearance of Irving Braxiatel 8.5/10.
Situation Vacant - A fun way of introducing a new companion and the arc of this seasons 8th Doctor Adventures. A brilliant pastiche of The Apprentice 10/10.
The Spirit Trap - Another good fun, spiky engaging episode of Jago and Litefoots first season 9/10.
Domain of the Voord - The start of a new range "the early years" taking over from "the companion chronicles." A very good strong start and a story that adds something to a one off villain from TV 8/10.
Real Time - an oddity, a curates egg, an interesting attempt at doing something in real time. Unsatisfying but worthy 5/10.
The Book of Kells - Very engaging, rollicking break neck speed and fun. The 8th Doctor range is on a roll 10/10.
Fear of the Daleks - A very good companion chronicle with a good performance from Wendy Padbury 7/10.
The Well Mannered War - Some good ideas which may have worked in a book format however its a weak adaption and needed some editing as there is too much going on 6/10.
I've fallen a little bit behind with the reviews so here's some snap reviews of what I listened to between February and April this year...
Theatre of War - A very good, tight adaption of the Virgin New Adventure debut of Justin Richards. Of note is the first appearance of Irving Braxiatel 8.5/10.
Situation Vacant - A fun way of introducing a new companion and the arc of this seasons 8th Doctor Adventures. A brilliant pastiche of The Apprentice 10/10.
The Spirit Trap - Another good fun, spiky engaging episode of Jago and Litefoots first season 9/10.
Domain of the Voord - The start of a new range "the early years" taking over from "the companion chronicles." A very good strong start and a story that adds something to a one off villain from TV 8/10.
Real Time - an oddity, a curates egg, an interesting attempt at doing something in real time. Unsatisfying but worthy 5/10.
The Book of Kells - Very engaging, rollicking break neck speed and fun. The 8th Doctor range is on a roll 10/10.
Fear of the Daleks - A very good companion chronicle with a good performance from Wendy Padbury 7/10.
The Well Mannered War - Some good ideas which may have worked in a book format however its a weak adaption and needed some editing as there is too much going on 6/10.
Sunday, 24 March 2019
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.
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.
Sunday, 24 February 2019
The Big Finish Catch-Up December 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;
Death in Blackpool - The fourth season of the 8th Doctor Adventures start off with an emotional story set at Christmas. Featuring the 8th Doctor, Lucie and "Auntie Pat" this story is the most bittersweet Christmas story Big Finish have ever done. Its certainly a story that feels like its tying up some long standing aspects of the series. As such its not one for you if your dipping in but one for long term listeners. Highly emotional, this is not not your typical story from this range - however it is one of the stand out stories of this range 9/10.
The Bloodless Soldier - The start of Jago and Litefoots spin off series. Very good stuff, lots of fun with a few aspects of the series being introduced. It certainly feels like the start of something fun. The two leads are astounding fun and I'm already looking forward to the next story 8/10.
Return to the Web Planet - A rather cute subscriber special starring Peter Davison as the 5th Doctor and Sarah Sutton as Nyssa. Of note is an appearance by Sam Kelly off of many a sitcom and the early Big Finish release Holy Terror 6/10.
Enemy Aliens - from the Destiny of the Doctor series this entry sees India Fisher reprise Charley Pollard in an adventure with the 8th Doctor. India does an excellent job voicing the various characters (I like her 11th Doctor). This is a rip roaring adventure and lots of fun, one of the best of this series 9/10.
1963: The Space Race - The main range 50th anniversary story featuring the 6th Doctor and Peri. Very nice to hear this team in the main range, a very engrossing story that draws the listener in. Of note are some bloody excellent cliffhangers and a very interesting late story aspect of 1963. I was pleased when I looked at the cover after listening and noted it was written by Jonathan Morris who is one of my firm favourites 8/10.
Death in Blackpool - The fourth season of the 8th Doctor Adventures start off with an emotional story set at Christmas. Featuring the 8th Doctor, Lucie and "Auntie Pat" this story is the most bittersweet Christmas story Big Finish have ever done. Its certainly a story that feels like its tying up some long standing aspects of the series. As such its not one for you if your dipping in but one for long term listeners. Highly emotional, this is not not your typical story from this range - however it is one of the stand out stories of this range 9/10.
The Bloodless Soldier - The start of Jago and Litefoots spin off series. Very good stuff, lots of fun with a few aspects of the series being introduced. It certainly feels like the start of something fun. The two leads are astounding fun and I'm already looking forward to the next story 8/10.
Return to the Web Planet - A rather cute subscriber special starring Peter Davison as the 5th Doctor and Sarah Sutton as Nyssa. Of note is an appearance by Sam Kelly off of many a sitcom and the early Big Finish release Holy Terror 6/10.
Enemy Aliens - from the Destiny of the Doctor series this entry sees India Fisher reprise Charley Pollard in an adventure with the 8th Doctor. India does an excellent job voicing the various characters (I like her 11th Doctor). This is a rip roaring adventure and lots of fun, one of the best of this series 9/10.
1963: The Space Race - The main range 50th anniversary story featuring the 6th Doctor and Peri. Very nice to hear this team in the main range, a very engrossing story that draws the listener in. Of note are some bloody excellent cliffhangers and a very interesting late story aspect of 1963. I was pleased when I looked at the cover after listening and noted it was written by Jonathan Morris who is one of my firm favourites 8/10.
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