Big Finish Doctor Who Audios
"Land of the Dead"
reviewed by Kathy Sullivan
by Stephen Cole
"The Land of The Dead", a four part adventure written by Stephen Cole and directed by Gary Russell, opens with the TARDIS materializing in the sky over Alaska and almost causing a plane crash. Although the Doctor avoids the midair collision by rematerializing thirty years later, he and Nyssa spot the same energy readings as earlier and set off across the ice fields to investigate. But as night falls, large creatures chase them to the door of a strange house.
The Doctor and Nyssa find their investigation into the strange energy readings and mysterious creatures is linked to other questions. Why is the millionaire Shaun Brett spending his fortune constructing a house where each room is made of only one material? What killed Tulung's father and why does Tulung blame Brett? Is there a link between what is happening inside the house to what took place at a dig in 1964?
Peter Davison is once again the Fifth Doctor, with understated panic, calm in the face of danger, and well-meant lectures. Sarah Sutton brings Nyssa--intelligent, analytical, and able to talk to anyone--back as if she had never been away from the part. This is a team that hasn't truly been seen on their own before, and, without the need to link back to other missing/kidnapped/possessed companions, the story runs smoothly, especially with both Nyssa and the Doctor taking turns explaining things. Neil Roberts makes the complex Tulung a very interesting character. Christopher Scott as the obsessive Brett, with an understated nastiness to his snide insults, does make the listener wonder why his employees continue to work for him.
Written by Stephen Cole, "The Land of the Dead" is an interesting horror/mystery. The incidental music by Nicholas Briggs is nicely moody. The liner notes also include a map of the house, useful for when the story seems too claustrophobic.
Along with Peter Davison and Sarah Sutton, the cast includes Lucy Campbell as Monica Lewis, Christopher Scott as Shaun Brett, Neil Roberts as Tulung, Andrew Fettes as Gaborik, and Alistair Lock as Supplier.
The trailers for "Fearmonger" and "Wetworks" are included on the CD and sound especially good.
110 minutes
Recommended.
"The Fearmonger"
by Jonathan Blum
"The Fearmonger", a four part adventure written by Jonathan Blum and directed by Gary Russell, opens with the Doctor appearing in the studio of a radio talk show while it's on the air and leaving a message for one of the listeners. The flustered talk show host soon finds that he hasn't seen the last of the Doctor. Hate mobs are on the rise, and terrorists are sending assassins after the leader of the New Britannia party. But one would-be assassin hears something else in the leader's speeches, an alien voice. It's up to The Doctor and Ace to find out who's really behind the attacks and stirring the mobs to riot.
Sylvester McCoy is once again the Seventh Doctor, the one who travels to places to prevent things from happening, yet is capable of making mistakes. It's also fun to notice the misquotes are back as well as the plots within plots within plots. Sophie Aldred brings back the Ace in apprentice mode. She's been learning a lot from her travels with the Doctor and her attempts to emulate him are great to hear. Ace is aided in the fact that they have arrived in a place familiar to her and she knows people who can help. Jacqueline Pearce is wonderful as Sherilyn Harper, political leader of the New Britannia Party.
Written by Jonathan Blum, "The Fearmonger" is a very well-plotted fast-paced story, which captures the spirit of the Sixth Doctor/Ace pairing. The cliffhangers are especially good. The 'butterfly' references will seem excessive to those who have already encountered them in Blum's novels, however. Alistair Lock's incidental music is wonderfully done, and his post production/sound effects are riveting, especially the alien voice.
Along with Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred, the cast includes Jacqueline Pearce as Sherilyn Harper, Hugh Walters as her devious assistant Roderick Allingham, Jack Gallagher as Alexsandr Kardjic, Mark McDonnell as Walter Jacobs, Vince Henderson as radio announcer Mick Thompson, Jonathan Clarkson as the helpful Paul Tanner, Mark Wright as Stephen Keyser, and John Ainsworth as a Tannoy voice.
The trailer for "Dalek Empire" is included on the CD and sounds especially good.
110 minutes
Highly recommended.