Doctor Who: The Angel of Scutari

The Doctor and companions arrive in the middle of the Crimean War, in a story that follows on directly from Enemy of the Daleks. There are no aliens or monsters here, although the plot involves too much time travel for it be truly a straight historical, either. Indeed, it's worth mentioning that the story isn't told in chronological order from the perspective of anyone within it, although it's deftly handled enough that I was never confused about what was going on.

Apart from one slightly mad general who forms an integral part of the story, all of the major guest characters are real historical figures. Hugh Bonneville, is, admittedly, somewhat wasted as Czar Nicholas I, appearing in just one scene that isn't really all that important, but the others are rather better used. Ace gets chatted up by Leo Tolstoy and Hex hero-worships (and tries to pretend he isn't also lusting after) Florence Nightingale.

In fact, while the Doctor struggles to prevent a time paradox, and Ace gets a few action scenes, in many ways this is Hex's story. In a theme harking back to the last season of the classic TV series, the Doctor is trying to get him over the trauma of events in the previous story, and we really get to see Hex doing his thing. Nightingale is also well played, coming across as the very determined and dedicated young woman that she presumably was at this point in her life.

Surprisingly, given that the 7th Doctor won't be back until #130, this ends on a cliffhanger. Which, combined with the repercussions of the previous story still being felt within it, makes this one of the less standalone stories in the line. But if you don't mind that, and don't find non-linear storytelling too confusing, this is a good use of the historical format.

The CD rounds out with the third segment of the “Three Companions” story, in which plotness finally happens. That ends on a major cliffhanger, too, possibly because we're now at the 30-minute mark, and it still feels too short on its own.