Doctor Who: The Selachian Gambit
2012

Ratings1

Average rating3

15
JKRevell
Jamie RevellSupporter

A Second Doctor story told from the perspectives of Jamie and Polly. This is a fairly straightforward tale, in which the Doctor and his companions happen to be inside a futuristic bank just as it is being robbed by shark-like aliens. The result is quite different from Time Heist (which, in any event, aired later than this did), focussing mainly on dealing with the aliens as hostage-takers, and why things don't seem to be going as well for them as they evidently expected.

Although this is a Companion Chronicle, with significant narration from the viewpoint characters, much of it is told as direct dialogue, with Hines and Wills providing the voices. (As such, Ben is voiced by both of the actors, depending on who he's supposed to be talking to at the time). This gives it a feel more akin to a regular play, although, for the most part, it's pretty obvious that are fewer actors than there are characters - especially when one of them has to voice a character of the opposite gender.

It's a reasonable turn on the usual base-under-siege story, with most of the action taking place in a single room, rather than running around corridors, or wondering when the aliens will break in. At the same time, while competently written, and with a few humorous moments and dashes of tension here and there, it's doesn't stand out as anything special. It's really worth 3.5 stars, but, on this occasion, I'm rounding down.

March 29, 2017Report this review