UNIT: Shutdown

The second in this series about the modern incarnation of UNIT uses an original threat, rather than something pre-existing in the DW TV series. It turned out to be a one-off experiment (so far, anyway), with familiar aliens featuring in all the later releases, but I wouldn't describe it as a failing here. True, the aliens aren't hugely interesting in themselves, but it does allow for a story that makes good use of the UNIT set-up.

Although the four episodes in the release are individually titled, it is a single story, with each episode ending on a cliffhanger. It starts out as an investigation into the murder of a scientist researching some alien tech from UNIT's archives and grows from there, with aliens and an obligatory sinister corporation somehow involved in events.

The story takes in a worldwide scope, ranging from London to UNIT HQ in Geneva and (in an obvious homage to Ice Station Zebra) Antarctica. It also manages to squeeze in UNIT bases in Gibraltar and Port Stanley, super-fast jets, mini-subs, a fight in a cable car and other appropriate tropes. There's also good use of the Tower of London in the third episode, having fun with the idea of UNIT's main British base being underneath such a major landmark.

The colonel from the first release is absent in this one, but all the other main characters are present, albeit with Sam only turning up in the final part. Speaking of which, while the focus is mainly on the action and intrigue, there are some insights into Osgood's life (it's set before The Zygon Invasion) that add some nuance to the character.

It's a fun, fast-moving action story with strong female leads with a high tech action feel. Oh... and alien ninja assassins.