Written by Scott Handcock & David Llewellyn

Produced and directed by Scott Handcock

Big Finish Productions, 2015

“Tell me Lukas, what do you know about the Adherents of Ohm?”

President Romana, Gallifrey: Intervention Earth

Gallifrey was originally conceived by long-time Big Finish and Doctor Who alumnus Gary Russell as BF’s answer to The West Wing, combining the power plays and politicking of Gallifrey’s inner halls of power with extraterrestrial and temporal threats from beyond the Time Lord capital. The mainstays of the series – Romana, Leela and Co-ordinator Narvin (Seán Carlsen), head of the Celestial Intervention Agency (CIA) – began as bitter rivals before remarkably becoming close allies.

Unlike its parent program Doctor Who, Gallifrey’s first 24 chapters across six series were generally complete stories of roughly one hour’s duration each, with numerous story arcs flowing over into subsequent episodes, and for the most part set on Gallifrey (or in later boxsets, variations of the Time Lords’ home world).

The latest instalment of Gallifrey is a departure from the norm in several ways. Intervention Earth is a single story which eschews the one-hour format for a structure more like a classic Doctor Who four-parter (each episode of 30 minutes duration). The overall serial is also intended to be broader and faster-paced, focusing on a conspiracy that is not only confined to Gallifrey but which (as the title obviously implies) encompasses Earth as well. Indeed producer, director and writer Scott Handcock in early publicity for this title described it as “Time Lords meets 24”, an evolution on the Time Lords/West Wing analogy, although that is really an exaggeration. The pace of this serial is very, very different from the urgency and tension of 24. In fact, it strays little from Russell’s original concept.

Of the veterans of earlier series, only Carlsen reprises the role of Narvin. President Romana is also back but in this story the role is not portrayed by veteran Lalla Ward. Instead, the honour falls to former Buffy the Vampire Slayer alumnus Juliet Landau, who portrayed the Time Lady’s third incarnation in Gallifrey VI as well as the Doctor Who Companion Chronicle Luna Romana. Landau portrays a regenerated Romana sometime after the events of Gallifrey VI, when she is in the last term of her presidency. Leela’s role in this drama is ably filled by the Seventh Doctor’s long-running companion Ace (Sophie Aldred). Now a CIA agent, Ace is equipped with her own TARDIS (with functioning chameleon circuit!) but her bolshiness has definitely not been tempered by life and education on the Time Lord home world.

It is hard to judge exactly how good this new “team” is to the “trio” of Gallifrey’s first six series. This is mainly because they are split up across the four episodes and do not unite until the climactic episode. Indeed, each of the four episodes focuses on key characters. Ace is primarily the focus of part one as she is reluctantly paired with Rexx (Gyles Brandreth), an agent of the Time Lord High Council, on a mission to Earth (“Oh no, no, no, I don’t do companions!” Ace protests, much to the listener’s amusement). In part two, the limelight is shifted to Romana’s presidential aide Lukas (Scott Arthur) as he uncovers an age-old conspiracy on Gallifrey (long-time listeners of the Gallifrey saga will recognise that Arthur played an alternate version of Lukas in Gallifrey V and VI). Part three sees Narvin journey to Stone Age Earth to recover Ace and uncover a cult with links to the conspiracy occurring on Gallifrey. In the process, Narvin becomes aligned with huntress Sol (Rachel Atkins) and boatman Min (Toby Longworth). Considering he ought to have gained a better understanding of primitives from his adventures with Leela, it is amusing to hear that Narvin is equally out of his depth with Sol and Min!

The gang comes together in the last episode as Romana takes charge and she and Lukas are reunited with Narvin and Ace in a confrontation with an ancient Time Lord foe whose machinations threaten the universe itself. Until this point, Juliet Landau’s portrayal of Romana is rather dull and underwhelming, restricted to the character’s presidential duties and diplomacy. Indeed, whether it is down simply to Handcock and Llewellyn’s dialogue or simply that this version of Romana is meant to be more cautious than her previous selves, Landau’s performance is at times almost monotonous. There is certainly none of the humour and mischief that she exhibited as Romana III in banter with Romana II in Gallifrey VI or indeed the naivety and haughtiness she displayed in relating Romana I’s story in Luna Romana. It is a surprisingly flat portrayal. It is only when faced with the serial’s antagonist that President Romana (and Landau herself) really rises to the moment.

If you’re still uncertain who or what the menace of Intervention Earth is, then read no further. However, if you’ve spied the cover artwork for the release, then the helmeted figure in chainmail armour and flowing robes will be unmistakably familiar to 99.9 per cent of long-time Doctor Who fans and BF listeners. The villainous Time Lord pioneer Omega only made two appearances in Doctor Who on television but left an indelible mark on the mythology of the TV series. From the picture book K9 and the Time Trap in 1980 (which called him Omegon!) to children’s and adult novels (Search for the Doctor, The Infinity Doctors), and from comic strips to Big Finish’s own audio range, which released the self-titled Omega in 2003, the character’s life outside the TV series is as seemingly infinite as his ego. Despite the masterstroke casting of the original actor Stephen Thorne (who is himself a Doctor Who monster alumnus, dating back to 1971), Omega’s involvement in this story is less overt than expected. Considering what a magnificent voice Thorne has for Omega (his commanding voice reminds you why in The Three Doctors it was so pivotal to an entity whose will was all that remained of his being), it is disappointing that his encore performance is so limited and wasted. However, as you discover in the closing moments of the serial, Omega’s role in the plot has been subtly and cleverly all-pervading – and we haven’t seen the last of him ... Whether we will hear Thorne’s booming and authoritative tones again, though ... I guess watch BF’s space. At the very least, Thorne deserves another opportunity to shine.

The conclusion to Intervention Earth is open-ended and the listener is literally left hanging. With the serial’s chief antagonist on the loose, the serial ends on another twist, as another familiar figure (missing since the events of Gallifrey IV) makes a surprise entrance. Whether this figure’s return is a blessing or a curse remains to be seen. What is also not equally clear is whether the next instalment – Gallifrey: Enemy Lines – will address some of the ramifications of Intervention Earth. With further details scarce at the time of writing, Enemy Lines appears to predate Intervention Earth, as Lalla Ward and Louise Jameson will reprise their roles as Romana II and Leela, supported by Narvin and Ace. Of course, perhaps there may be a link – or the cliffhanger to Intervention Earth will be resolved in an entirely different serial at a later date.

That said, perhaps Enemy Lines will address some of the other hints that are dropped in Intervention Earth about both Leela and Ace. Dialogue in the serial implies that Romana and Leela will have a falling out while Ace remarks that she cannot remember any more how, when and why she came to Gallifrey. While various other BF Doctor Who audios (such as Thin Ice) and the New Adventure novel Lungbarrow have previously provided explanations of how and why Ace may have settled on Gallifrey, perhaps there is a fertile plotline here for future chapters of the saga. Ace certainly proves to be susceptible in Intervention Earth ...

If you overlook Handcock’s imprecise comparison to 24, Gallifrey: Intervention Earth maintains the high production values, artiste performances and scripting of its predecessors in the Gallifrey series. While the “regenerated” format and structure are hardly revolutionary, and the decision to set the story later in Romana’s life and presidency is not as intriguing or refreshing as it initially seemed in all the pre-release publicity, there are still signs that the Gallifrey saga is heading in the right direction and that there may still be some interesting twists in future releases.

Written by Nev Fountain, Una McCormack, Guy Adams, and James Goss

Directed by Scott Handcock

Starring: Lisa Bowerman (Professor Bernice Summerfield), Sylvester McCoy (The Doctor), Sophie Aldred (Ace), Nicholas Briggs (The Daleks), Sheila Reid (Claire), and Terry Molloy (Davros)

Big Finish Productions – June 2014

The release of the box set Missing Persons in December 2013 seemed to bring the long-running audio adventures of former Virgin New Adventures companion Professor Bernice Summerfield to something of a conclusion, albeit a not entirely satisfying one for this listener. However this new boxset of four episodes which each dovetail neatly to form a very satisfying overall arc is very much a start of a new phase for Bernice or Benny as she prefers her friends to call her. Unlike the previous range of Boxsets which still carried a large amount of continuity baggage which Benny had accumulated over the course of the previous decade of audios, this set has dumped the other regular characters and presents us simply with an older version of Bernice who we are occasionally reminded has a family and friends. Unlike 2011’s Epoch, this really can be recommended as an ideal jumping on point for anyone who hasn’t heard any of the previous audio adventures. This set also sees her reunited with the Seventh Doctor and Ace with whom she travelled in the Virgin New Adventures novels two decades ago. However, it is Bernice who is the main protagonist throughout this box set with her erstwhile companions only making their presence felt at key intervals. Kudos then is due to Lisa Bowerman, who has been playing Benny on audio for 16 years now for making her such a continued joy to listen to.

The set opens with The Revolution by Nev Fountain. This is very much a comedic piece in the mould of some of the more whimsical of Benny’s past adventures opening with her getting drunk in a bar on the planet Arviem 2. The introduction into the preceedings of Sylvester McCoy’s Doctor, who has apparently lost track of both his TARDIS and mind leads to a number of comic mishaps which may grate a little on first hearing. Fountain later observes in the CD extras that even the Doctor has the capability to just be an annoying man in a hat sometimes although those who are not fans of McCoy’s more season 24-esque performances are duly warned to expect occasional over the top silliness. However the conclusion to the story seems to justify the means to which it is arrived at and so Benny is duly dispatched to search for Ace.

Goodnight Sweet Ladies by Una McCormack is possibly the highlight of this whole boxset. Pitching Benny into a situation where she ought to be at home and yet the reality of what’s really going on reminds just out of sight until it’s too late. The two guest stars for this story add to the atmosphere. John Finnemore is a genuinely likeable if somewhat useless companion but just as she has done on TV as Clara Oswald’s Gran, Sheila Reid steals every scene she’s in as the mysterious Claire whose role is central to this story.

Next up is Random Ghosts by Guy Adams. This changes the pace quite dramatically as Benny is reunited with Ace on the Forbidden World where time is not running correctly. The device of events jumping around in time is not a new one for audio plays but it certainly seems some time since Big Finish last produced a play that did so this memorably (The examples of 2003’s Creatures of Beauty and 2004’s The Natural History of Fear come to mind). Some listeners may find the continual jump cuts between scenes and varying outcomes of conversations slightly hard work but the conclusion is a worthwhile one and despite seeming obvious given the clues we’ve had previously still manages to seem surprising at the same time.

The set concludes with The Lights of Skaro by James Goss. Whilst this set has been very much centred on Benny, this final story pitches her firmly back into the world of Doctor Who with Daleks around every corner and even a fleeting cameo from Davros. There are some clever revelations and if you’ve survived some of the topsy-turvier moments of the first three stories you’ll be well rewarded in this finale. Possibly the best thing about this set is that is has allowed some fresh storytelling from writers who are not regulars at the Big Finish stable. It is to be hoped that this new phase of Benny’s return to the worlds of Doctor Who will continue for the foreseeable future under new range producer James Goss (whose track record includes having produced some great audios for the BBC Doctor Who and Torchwood ranges). This listener is very much looking forward to The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield Volume 2: The Triumph of Sutekh.

 

Written by Matt Fitton
                                 Directed by Ken Bentley

Starring: Paul McGann (The Doctor), Nicola Walker (Liv Chenka), Ruth Bradley (Molly O’Sullivan), Alex Macqueen (The Master), Natalie Burt (Dr Sally Armstrong), David Sibley (Professor Schriver and The Eminence), and Sean Carlsen (Narvin).
Big Finish Productions – November 2014  

The third boxset in the Dark Eyes series is something of a departure from the first two releases. Rather surprisingly Nick Briggs has taken a back seat from being involved in this release and some fans may have been relieved that the four episodes of Dark Eyes 3 are a Dalek-free zone. Instead, these episodes focus instead on the mysterious origins of the Eminence and its Fifty Year War against humanity plus a goodly helping of Alex Macqueen’s delightfully camp yet utterly sinister incarnation of the Master. In Briggs’ absence, all four episodes are written by Big Finish stalwart Matt Fitton and whilst there may not always be the same flair of originality which made the first Dark Eyes such as success this is a consistently solid sequence of stories which sows together various elements neatly in preparation for the fourth and final instalment of the saga.

The opening episode, The Death of Hope, picks up fairly directly from the cliffhanger coda to Dark Eyes 2 which saw Molly abruptly kidnapped by the Master and his accomplice Dr Sally Armstrong. The Doctor’s quest to save his companion finds him united with the Coordinator Narvin of the Celestial Intervention Agency. Sean Carlsen reprises this character who has previously only appeared in the spin-off series Gallifrey and it is fun to hear a character who has been at times both an enemy and an ally to Romana and Leela finally cross paths with the Doctor. This story makes clever use of the narrative device of the Doctor and Narvin witnessing a matrix projection of the Master’s activities, in which he appears to be offering salvation to a planet under threat of invasion by the Eminence. It certainly gives Alex Macqueen’s Master and Natalie Burt as Dr Armstrong a chance to shine as the main protagonists for this episode.

The second episode pitches the Doctor and his newest companion, Nicola Walker as Liv Chenka firmly back into the action on the planet Ramossa where tensions are rife between human colonists and the indigenous insect-like Ramossans. Particularly notable is an unrecognisable Sacha Dhawan (An Adventure in Space and Time) as Ramossan General Jaldam. The final scenes feature Paul McGann’s Doctor at his best. Believing himself to have been outmanoeuvred by both the Master and the Time Lords and learning with some dismay of his companion Liv’s terminal illness,  the Doctor resolves to take drastic action.

Masterplan finally delivers on the promise of this boxset’s unofficial subtitle “Doctor vs Master” as the two Time Lords finally come face to face in a scenario where they are given some enjoyable verbal sparring which will call to mind their future encounters in the TV series guises of Tennant and Simm. Meanwhile, Liv is working under-cover as a research assistant to Professor Markus Schriver, the mentally unstable scientist destined to create the Eminence (nicely played with a lighter contrast to his sinister Eminence voice by David Sibley). Here she is confronted by the Master’s companion Sally Armstrong in a nice mirroring of the stories main confrontation between the Doctor and the Master. Considering Sally was originally a potential companion to the Doctor in Dark Eyes, the outcome of this story will be disappointing to some listeners.

The boxset concludes with a suitably large-scale finale. The Rule of the Eminence sees the Master attempt to take control of the human race using the Eminence’s controlling gas combined with Molly’s progenitor particles. Whilst this story is reminiscent of Last of the Time Lords, it does have enough originality to stand on its own. Having only appeared peripherally in the first three episodes, it is a joy to hear Ruth Bradley as Molly, playing such a central role in the action. Knowing that there is a further final Dark Eyes box set to follow, Molly’s apparent exit in this story is a surprise but it seems Big Finish made good plot expediency of Ruth Bradley’s limited availability for recording in what has proved to be her final audio appearance. This listener is a fan of the character of Liv Chenka, so her continuing as a regular companion into Dark Eyes 4 and the forthcoming Doom Coalition series is welcome. However the magical cure bestowed on her in this story to enable this to happen was rather convenient and could have warranted further development. Overall, this is a worthy conclusion to this boxset which makes particularly good use of the Macqueen incarnation of the Master (who sadly only features in one of the four episodes of Dark Eyes 4).  Hopefully Macqueen’s Master will be have another chance to spar against the Doctor in the not too distant future.

It seems a fitting addendum to mention that the fifth CD in this set, featuring the usual round of interviews with members of the cast and crew, reminds listeners that this set of stories was recorded in the immediate aftermath of the untimely death of Paul Spragg in May 2014. Paul was a much loved member of the Big Finish production staff who worked on numerous releases across many audio ranges over the preceding five years. He continues to be missed both by those who had the pleasure of working with him and by many  fans who either met him or just heard him on Big Finish podcasts and extras. This set features well-deserved and at times deeply poignant tributes to him, led by actors Paul McGann and Nicola Walker. 

Writer - Cavan Scott,
Artist - Blair Shedd,

Color Flats - Jesse Durona

Letterer - Richard Starkings and Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt

Editor - Andrew James

Assistant editor - Kirsten Murray

Designer - Rob Farmer

Weapons Of Past Destruction - Part One

This brand-new adventure directly follows the Doctor's cathartic experience of ensuring that "Everybody Lives" despite the terrors of Blitz-torn London and some misguided nanogenes. Now he intends to show his younger friends the wonders of planet Excroth, at a time of 'enlightenment' and 'artistic freedom'.

But things are very much not to plan, as is often the way for the Last Of The Time Lords. And it would appear that powerful technology that once belonged to the Doctor's people has somehow emerged from the Time War and into the galaxies' black market instead. And this could mean that another major war could end in the most disastrous of ways...

This mini series will be with us for a number of months, and starts so strongly that I dearly wish we had a fully-fledged monthly title to join the others in the range. But some is better than none, and given Christopher Eccleston's determination to stay away from any Doctor Who projects this is one of the easier ways to get some new visual material that will remind people just why the very first series of modern Doctor Who was such a firm success.

Having the trio of the Doctor, Rose Tyler and Captain Jack Harkness was a smart move as onscreen they only had three adventures together before the sudden regeneration into Tennant's Doctor, and the abandonment of the 'un-killable' Jack,

This storyline really could not be any easier to follow, but that is quite welcome in an opening issue. In any case the characterisation and dialogue more than make up for the rather basic plot, and show a dynamic where the Doctor and Jack are clearly not comfortable with one another and both feel they offer more to Rose than the other. This story is designed to be read with the recent events of 'The Doctor Dances' in mind, so the 'chummy' camaraderie seen in 'Boom Town' is yet to be the order of the day.

Whilst the heady banter between the two seasoned time travellers works fine, there is room for improvement. Perhaps the wonderfully relatable Rose has been left with material that is a bit too 'old-school' in style, as she just asks questions relating to the oddness around her, with the odd pithy line thrown in to bring some levity to the drama. As many recall, she has by this point in the show proven herself to the Doctor unquestionably. Hopefully she gets to be more positively proactive in later events to come.

The ending sequence is believable enough given the characterisation that has been presented to the reader, and no doubt many will speculate just how apparent disaster can be overcome as the cliff-hanger ending throws a real game changer into play.

As Cavan Scott elegantly manoeuvres events and no doubt has a number of ways to bolster the story arc over the course of a generous helping of five instalments. There is a scattering of material which only leaves us with more questions, such as the effect of time on events, and why the technology of Gallifrey has come to be in this location and point in history.

The visual work from Blair Shedd is very strong indeed, with Jesse Durona's colours helping create a visual treat. I would venture that the end product is even more impressive than the sterling work done on the Twelfth Doctor line. As can be hoped for, these protagonists look and 'feel' very much like the wonderfully lively people presented on the small screen a decade ago. I almost forgot I was reading something that is trying to get noticed on the very competitive comic book market; instead I had  flashbacks to those Saturday nights when Doctor Who was finally back on UK TV screens and seemingly for the long term as well. All thanks to the brilliant efforts of Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner, Phil Collinson and many others.

            What worked especially well for this reviewer was the decision to have a number of silhouette panels; a technique that I have seen sparingly in the past from various comic book lines. To me they fit the tone and themes of this story handsomely. Also the variety of panels, size of images, and use of different scales as required for establishing events and characters also manages to work most effectively.

BONUS HUMOUR STRIPS:

On offer is just the one story this time - entitled 'TARDIS Holiday'. This is notable in being done as two linked episodes that occupy the latter pages of the comic. AJ writes and draws another amusing piece, where his distinctive 3D artwork stands out in a comparatively simple story. The TARDIS crew - identical to that in the main story - have decided to go somewhere special to break up the usual fare of monsters and/or political intrigue. However achieving an end result that will please all three of them is far easier said than done. 

Writer Al Ewing, Artist Boo Cook,
Designer Rob Farmer, Colorist Hi-fi,
Letterer Richard Starkings And Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt,
Editor Andrew James,,
Assistant Editor Kirsten Murray
Released - March 2015

The employees and big wigs of SERVEYOUInc turn up to work expecting just another day at the office, on a world which would more accurately fit the description of an asteroid - except it is full of light, colour. A true embodiment of pizzazz. But individuality and creativity are looking like they might die out.

The sleeping giant that had briefly reared its head  in the science labs is loose and the entire playing board where the Doctor is involved has been reset. This malevolent entity is making a play for power, and the surrounding inhabitants that were utterly dependent on the galactic corporation can only react passively to this dark turn of events

And what of the TARDIS crew who have been going back and forth through time and space with grave fear that they are being stalked? And after the near Armageddon in the Solar System during their last adventure, can they expect any respite that common decency demands?

The answer is simple: No, and there are more trials and tribulations coming en masse.

But the Doctor won't react cagily like some. This time enough really is enough. Spurred on by the disturbing manipulation of Alice by the very-much-'alive' Talent Scout, the Doctor is taking the fight to SERVEYOUInc. Or whatever he finds down on the asteroid...

This latest instalment in the 11th Doctor range builds on the arc that has been so strong and noticeable up to now, (excepting the chronic instabilities of High-Watermark-Issue 6).

Red herrings have been scattered in the readers direction leading up to this latest edition, and it is very organically done when the reader is alerted to who the real enemy is for the Doctor and friends. The final pages and panels are especially riveting as the TARDIS crew have a seeming traitor in the midst, when that would be the last thing they would have come to expect by now.

After Warren Pleece's somewhat inconsistent efforts in the previous two issues, we are once again privy to the assured work of Boo Cook. This type of presentation is once again more than ideal - for my money anyway - and really sells the emotional stakes very well.  The sheer fury that the Doctor is trying to stop from erupting is never far away, even when he contrives to make light of the events and people he encounters.

The duo of ARC and Jones however continue to serve the plot first and foremost. They really have lacked the splendid rich character development of Alice, but perhaps there is a planned pay-off which still requires perseverance for these two unique individuals.

The dialogue is full of great moments. A few select gems of our leading rogue Gallifreyan being:

"I’ve made my calls and I’ve done my homework and today this day is the day it comes down. Today......I mean business".

"I’ve spent a thousand years living in a box and stealing most of my clothes. I’ve saved up" (when the Doctor is challenged over finances). 

And the dismissive " Whatever they've done, they’re just... monsters. That's all. Because they don’t have the imagination not to be monsters. They can’t think of any other way than cruel and cowardly".

Al Ewing has been a touch questionable in his consistency compared to colleague Rob WIlliams, but this issue is very strong work and now has convinced me that his earlier plotting choices were well-chosen and will pay off well.

This is an assured and swift read for any true fans of Matt Smith's era, and hopefully Doctor Who fans in general. I never felt like I was having to generate belief in the story, and I managed it in one sitting being left wanting more.  And with such a brilliant cliff-hanger to tantalise, 'more' is certainly coming with the force of a speeding bullet.

Bonus Humour 'Tag' Stories:

'Daylight Savings' is a perfectly respectable piece of fun from regular writer and 3D artist AJ. As the clocks move forward at the time of reviewing this issue, it is amusing to see the Doctor have his own issues with units that measure time. And some old 'friends' that were brought to life from Steven Moffat's vast imagination on several occasions make a suitably mechanical impression.

Marc Ellerby conveys a brilliant return to the much-loved quartet of Amy, Rory, The Doctor and River with 'Double Date'. The near-absurdities of age gaps and power relations not being as they should are brilliantly high-lighted with sharp banter and a dollop of awkwardness. The variety of colours for backgrounds help the 2-d sketches feel as lively as AJ's computer wizardry.

Nick Abadzis  works on the ongoing Tenth Doctor series from Titan Comics. He recently gave an interview to Martin Hudecek of Doctor Who News

How exciting is it knowing that there is a couple of other regular series being made with the Tenth Doctor's successors at the same time?

Where is the 10th doctor at in his timeline? And what impact does this have on the friendship with Gabriella - the new companion you have introduced?

Did you try and recapture David Tennant's sheer zest, and match it with the type of stories you tell?

Which time zone(s) have you set these stories in and why?

Are the 'cliffhangers' a big focus for you in the creative process of writing serialised Doctor Who?

Are there clear heroes and villains in your stories and why?

Is there a preference for having the Doctor or the companion drive the narrative in the stories?

Which other tv /film comic books have you done or might do one day?

What are your all time favourite comic stories or graphic novels? (e.g top 3, top 5)?

What would you say is the highlight of your comic book career so far?

Historical fiction has been important in your writing career thus far. If you had a working TARDIS to hand, which past events would you want to visit and why?

Have you used your own experiences of life in the USA to give life to your stories' characters and surroundings?

Doctor Who: Tenth Vol. 1 hits comic stores on March 25 and books stores on March 31.

Amazon UK Link

Anazon US Link