Doctor Who: Memories of a Tyrant

Set on a space station some time around the 30th century, this is, as its title suggests, partly a story about memory. One of the first things that has to be said, therefore, is that, while I'm no expert on the subject, I've read enough about memory to know that it doesn't work in the way portrayed here. But that's something you have to take as part of the premise and it doesn't really get in the way of the story.

In fact, the tyrant of the title is also something of a MacGuffin. We don't really learn much about him and get only a vague outline of what he's done. While the first part of the story builds up the titular mystery, it soon switches to a focus on what different people are prepared to do to either punish or rescue him and only partially returns to the original question. It does this deftly enough that it isn't disappointing and didn't feel (at least to me) like too much of a bait-and-switch.

Peri is an awkward character to use as a companion, given her history on the TV show. While that's not ignored here, it is brushed over in favour of giving her more agency and less whininess than she was often written with, as well as a more positive relationship with the Doctor. Most notably, she's really the driving character behind the third half-hour segment, with the Doctor effectively absent. We also get a couple of scenes delving into her own childhood memories, which are touching but don't add too much to what we already know.

The result is something of a mixed bag, with some good elements and some weaker ones. Peri is used well, and Baker gets to show off more of his acting range than usual. But the setup is a little weak, and the motivations of the villains are very much on shaky ground. 3.5 stars, then, but I think I'll be generous and round up.