Jamie Revell
Note: This is the first half of a two-part story. As usual, I am reviewing both parts here.
This is the two-part finale to the “third season” of Eighth Doctor audio adventures, wrapping up a number of ongoing plotlines, and also a sequel of sorts to a Third Doctor TV story. For much of the earlier part of the story, there are two separate plot threads, one in which the Doctor tries to resolve the mystery of a missing space probe, and one in which Lucie becomes involved with a mysterious cult.
The latter is easily the more interesting of the two, so it's something of a pity that the “big name guest star” for this story, Sanjeev Bhaskar, is really only involved in the other one It should also be noted that, while the cult has clear parallels to a certain real-world religious movement, it doesn't appear to be a direct pastiche of it, and its adherents are treated sympathetically (even if they're dupes of the real bad guys).
The tone of the second half is quite apocalyptic, as the prophecies of the doomsday cult begin to be fulfilled, and this works in the story's favour. It does, however, perhaps take a little long to get there, with the reveal of the “monster” only taking place in part two. Furthermore, considering that this is the final showdown with recurring villain the Headhunter, that character doesn't really have very much to do, and she does seem tagged on to the story as an afterthought - she was much better in Orbis, at the beginning of the “season”.
Having said all of which, it is quite a fun story, and it's nice to see a sequel to a TV story that's not used overly much for these purposes. But it does miss a few tricks along the way, and 4 stars is towards the generous end.
Note: This is the first half of a two-part story. As usual, I am reviewing both parts here.
This is the two-part finale to the “third season” of Eighth Doctor audio adventures, wrapping up a number of ongoing plotlines, and also a sequel of sorts to a Third Doctor TV story. For much of the earlier part of the story, there are two separate plot threads, one in which the Doctor tries to resolve the mystery of a missing space probe, and one in which Lucie becomes involved with a mysterious cult.
The latter is easily the more interesting of the two, so it's something of a pity that the “big name guest star” for this story, Sanjeev Bhaskar, is really only involved in the other one It should also be noted that, while the cult has clear parallels to a certain real-world religious movement, it doesn't appear to be a direct pastiche of it, and its adherents are treated sympathetically (even if they're dupes of the real bad guys).
The tone of the second half is quite apocalyptic, as the prophecies of the doomsday cult begin to be fulfilled, and this works in the story's favour. It does, however, perhaps take a little long to get there, with the reveal of the “monster” only taking place in part two. Furthermore, considering that this is the final showdown with recurring villain the Headhunter, that character doesn't really have very much to do, and she does seem tagged on to the story as an afterthought - she was much better in Orbis, at the beginning of the “season”.
Having said all of which, it is quite a fun story, and it's nice to see a sequel to a TV story that's not used overly much for these purposes. But it does miss a few tricks along the way, and 4 stars is towards the generous end.