The Fourth Doctor Adventures and Destiny of the Doctor have each come up twice so far on my Randomoid Selectortron, while many other Big Finish ranges remain unselected as yet. Let's see what's next for me...
Doctor Who: The Kingmaker
Starring: Peter Davison as the fifth Doctor, Nicola Bryant as Peri, and Caroline Morris as Erimem
Format: two full-cast CDs (or download) of four half-CD episodes
Silly? Yes
Standalone? Yes. Erimem is an original-to-audio companion but her backstory isn't important to this story.
Recommended? If you are in the mood for an especially comedic Doctor Who built on a pile of increasingly ludicrous plot twists.
My reactions to this story include spoilers for it.
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Monday, September 24, 2018
#10 Destiny of the Doctor: Hunters of Earth
First there was a lamentatious kraken, then phantoms of the deep... maybe the next trip through the Randomoid Selectotron will be of a less oceanic nature?
Destiny of the Doctor: Hunters of Earth
Starring: the first Doctor (narrated), Carole Ann Ford as Susan and as narrator
Format: one narrated two-actor CD (or download) with no episode breaks
Silly? There are several jokes about the 1960's setting, but the story is serious.
Standalone? Mostly, but several obtrusive moments seem to be in the story only to set up later Destiny of the Doctor events.
Recommended? Yes.
My reactions to this story include spoilers for itself and for the overall arc of Destiny of the Doctor.
Destiny of the Doctor: Hunters of Earth
Starring: the first Doctor (narrated), Carole Ann Ford as Susan and as narrator
Format: one narrated two-actor CD (or download) with no episode breaks
Silly? There are several jokes about the 1960's setting, but the story is serious.
Standalone? Mostly, but several obtrusive moments seem to be in the story only to set up later Destiny of the Doctor events.
Recommended? Yes.
My reactions to this story include spoilers for itself and for the overall arc of Destiny of the Doctor.
Saturday, September 22, 2018
#9 Fourth Doctor Adventures: Phantoms of the Deep
The kraken's lament fades into the distance and I depart Atlantis in my Randomoid Selectortron, arriving at...
Fourth Doctor Adventures: Phantoms of the Deep
Starring: Tom Baker as the fourth Doctor, Mary Tamm as Romana, and John Leeson as K9
Format: 1 full-cast CD (or download) of two half-CD episodes
Silly? Not overtly deliberately silly, but a lot of wild science fiction elements are introduced in rapid succession.
Standalone? Yes.
Recommended? If "action story in a submarine with the Fourth Doctor, the first Romana, and K9" is a concept that particularly appeals to you, or if you like action-story audiodrama in general and you can get it at a good price.
My reaction to this story contains spoilers for it.
Fourth Doctor Adventures: Phantoms of the Deep
Starring: Tom Baker as the fourth Doctor, Mary Tamm as Romana, and John Leeson as K9
Format: 1 full-cast CD (or download) of two half-CD episodes
Silly? Not overtly deliberately silly, but a lot of wild science fiction elements are introduced in rapid succession.
Standalone? Yes.
Recommended? If "action story in a submarine with the Fourth Doctor, the first Romana, and K9" is a concept that particularly appeals to you, or if you like action-story audiodrama in general and you can get it at a good price.
My reaction to this story contains spoilers for it.
Thursday, September 20, 2018
#8 Bernice Summerfield: Epoch: The Kraken's Lament
The Sixth Doctor's last adventure will be continuing in some future spin of the Randomoid Selectotron. Now, I step away from that story to find myself at...
Bernice Summerfield: Epoch
Like The Last Adventure, this is a four-story set sold as a single item, and I'm going to handle it the same way I'm handling The Last Adventure, so this post will be just about the first story:
Bernice Summerfield: Epoch: The Kraken's Lament
Starring: Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield
Format: 1 full-cast CD (or download) with no internal episode breaks, disc 1 of 4 not sold separately
Silly? The superficial setting is silly, and Bernice spends most of the story interacting with it on that level, but the silliness is clearly a facade to be pulled away in later episodes.
Standalone? It's not an ideal jumping-on point for Bernice's continuing drama, but it's an acceptable one.
Recommended? The Kraken's Lament isn't sold separately, and I can't say whether I'd recommend Epoch as a whole just from this one episode.
My reactions to this story contain spoilers for itself and mild spoilers for the status quo of Bernice Summerfield continuity immediately preceding it.
Bernice Summerfield: Epoch
Like The Last Adventure, this is a four-story set sold as a single item, and I'm going to handle it the same way I'm handling The Last Adventure, so this post will be just about the first story:
Bernice Summerfield: Epoch: The Kraken's Lament
Starring: Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield
Format: 1 full-cast CD (or download) with no internal episode breaks, disc 1 of 4 not sold separately
Silly? The superficial setting is silly, and Bernice spends most of the story interacting with it on that level, but the silliness is clearly a facade to be pulled away in later episodes.
Standalone? It's not an ideal jumping-on point for Bernice's continuing drama, but it's an acceptable one.
Recommended? The Kraken's Lament isn't sold separately, and I can't say whether I'd recommend Epoch as a whole just from this one episode.
My reactions to this story contain spoilers for itself and mild spoilers for the status quo of Bernice Summerfield continuity immediately preceding it.
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
#7 The Sixth Doctor - The Last Adventure: The End of the Line
After my dip into the irradiated wastelands of 2000 AD, I take another trip to the Randomoid Selectortron...
The Sixth Doctor - The Last Adventure
This is a four-story set sold as a single item. I am going to listen to the first story of the set for this selection, leaving the set in the Selectortron so it will be able to come up again three more times in the future for the other stories.
The Sixth Doctor - The Last Adventure: The End of the Line
Starring: Colin Baker as the Doctor and Miranda Raison as Constance Clarke
Format: 1 full-cast CD (or download) with no internal episode breaks, disc 1 of 5 not sold separately
Silly? Slightly silly in a similar way to parts of Trial of a Time Lord
Standalone? Somewhat. You need to already know about two of the Doctor's enemies from TV, and the ending is obviously setting things up for a rematch with one, but the story is otherwise self-contained.
Recommended? Since it's not sold separately, I can't really make a call to recommend or not recommend just from the one episode.
My reactions to this story contain spoilers for The Sixth Doctor - The Last Adventure and for the end of the Sixth Doctor's TV era.
The Sixth Doctor - The Last Adventure
This is a four-story set sold as a single item. I am going to listen to the first story of the set for this selection, leaving the set in the Selectortron so it will be able to come up again three more times in the future for the other stories.
The Sixth Doctor - The Last Adventure: The End of the Line
Starring: Colin Baker as the Doctor and Miranda Raison as Constance Clarke
Format: 1 full-cast CD (or download) with no internal episode breaks, disc 1 of 5 not sold separately
Silly? Slightly silly in a similar way to parts of Trial of a Time Lord
Standalone? Somewhat. You need to already know about two of the Doctor's enemies from TV, and the ending is obviously setting things up for a rematch with one, but the story is otherwise self-contained.
Recommended? Since it's not sold separately, I can't really make a call to recommend or not recommend just from the one episode.
My reactions to this story contain spoilers for The Sixth Doctor - The Last Adventure and for the end of the Sixth Doctor's TV era.
Monday, September 17, 2018
#6 Judge Dredd: Pre-Emptive Revenge
With Nicola Bryant's memorable voice reverberating in my ears, I close a very silly episode of Destiny of the Doctor and wind the virtual crank of my Randomoid Selectortron to find myself directed to...
Judge Dredd: Pre-Emptive Revenge
Starring: Toby Longworth as Judge Dredd and Simon Pegg as Johnny Alpha
Format: 1 full-cast CD (or formerly download) with no episode breaks, no longer available for first-hand purchase
Silly? Yes, in a 2000 AD way. There are outright comedy scenes, and the action scenes are too over-the-top to take seriously.
Standalone? Happens during a specific event in 2000 AD comics and only gives the barest details of that event, so not really.
Recommended? Collectors of 2000 AD might want this CD as an interesting piece of memorabilia, but I wouldn't particularly recommend it just for listening.
My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it.
Judge Dredd: Pre-Emptive Revenge
Starring: Toby Longworth as Judge Dredd and Simon Pegg as Johnny Alpha
Format: 1 full-cast CD (or formerly download) with no episode breaks, no longer available for first-hand purchase
Silly? Yes, in a 2000 AD way. There are outright comedy scenes, and the action scenes are too over-the-top to take seriously.
Standalone? Happens during a specific event in 2000 AD comics and only gives the barest details of that event, so not really.
Recommended? Collectors of 2000 AD might want this CD as an interesting piece of memorabilia, but I wouldn't particularly recommend it just for listening.
My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it.
Sunday, September 16, 2018
#5 Destiny of the Doctor: Trouble in Paradise
Luna Romana was the first four-part story I've written about for this blog, and it was a very twisting tale indeed. My next hit of Randomoid Selection leads to...
Destiny of the Doctor: Trouble in Paradise
Starring: the sixth Doctor (narrated), Nicola Bryant as Peri and as narrator
Format: one narrated two-actor CD (or download) with no episode breaks
Silly? A serious historical event is handled seriously early on, but otherwise very silly.
Standalone? Yes. There are no important connections to earlier episodes of the Destiny of the Doctor series, and the ending does not lead into following episodes.
Recommended? If you like silly sixth Doctor and Peri and you don't mind Nicola Bryant doing both voices.
My reactions to this story include spoilers for itself and for the overall arc of Destiny of the Doctor.
Destiny of the Doctor: Trouble in Paradise
Starring: the sixth Doctor (narrated), Nicola Bryant as Peri and as narrator
Format: one narrated two-actor CD (or download) with no episode breaks
Silly? A serious historical event is handled seriously early on, but otherwise very silly.
Standalone? Yes. There are no important connections to earlier episodes of the Destiny of the Doctor series, and the ending does not lead into following episodes.
Recommended? If you like silly sixth Doctor and Peri and you don't mind Nicola Bryant doing both voices.
My reactions to this story include spoilers for itself and for the overall arc of Destiny of the Doctor.
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
#4 Doctor Who Companion Chronicles: Luna Romana
With the Maltese Penguin cracked, I return to the Randomoid Selectotron for another case...
Doctor Who Companion Chronicles: Luna Romana
Starring: the fourth Doctor (narrated), the first Romana (narrated), Lalla Ward as the second Romana, and Juliet Landau as Romana
Format: Two narrated CDs (or download) containing four half-CD episodes, with three actors total
Silly? Frequently, but also with moments of outright tragedy.
Standalone? Not really. The Beginning is a prerequisite for full enjoyment, and events from The Dying Light are also relevant.
Recommended? Yes, after you've heard The Beginning.
My thoughts on this story contain spoilers for the Companion Chronicles trilogy consisting of itself, The Beginning, and The Dying Light. There are also spoilers for Romana's post-TV continuity as told in Big Finish audios.
Doctor Who Companion Chronicles: Luna Romana
Starring: the fourth Doctor (narrated), the first Romana (narrated), Lalla Ward as the second Romana, and Juliet Landau as Romana
Format: Two narrated CDs (or download) containing four half-CD episodes, with three actors total
Silly? Frequently, but also with moments of outright tragedy.
Standalone? Not really. The Beginning is a prerequisite for full enjoyment, and events from The Dying Light are also relevant.
Recommended? Yes, after you've heard The Beginning.
My thoughts on this story contain spoilers for the Companion Chronicles trilogy consisting of itself, The Beginning, and The Dying Light. There are also spoilers for Romana's post-TV continuity as told in Big Finish audios.
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
#3 Doctor Who Bonus Releases: The Maltese Penguin
The Flip Side had no episode breaks and no other clear place to stop in mid-disc, so I listened to it as a single chunk, and now I'm back for another spin of my Randomoid Selectortron...
Doctor Who Bonus Releases: The Maltese Penguin
Starring: Colin Baker as the sixth Doctor and Robert Jezek as Frobisher
Format: 1 full-cast CD (or download) with no episode breaks
Silly? Yes.
Standalone? Yes.
Recommended? If the idea of a Doctor Who-adjacent noir detective parody sounds like something you'd enjoy.
My thoughts on this story contain spoilers for it, and potentially for Doctor Who Magazine comics.
Doctor Who Bonus Releases: The Maltese Penguin
Starring: Colin Baker as the sixth Doctor and Robert Jezek as Frobisher
Format: 1 full-cast CD (or download) with no episode breaks
Silly? Yes.
Standalone? Yes.
Recommended? If the idea of a Doctor Who-adjacent noir detective parody sounds like something you'd enjoy.
My thoughts on this story contain spoilers for it, and potentially for Doctor Who Magazine comics.
Monday, September 10, 2018
#2 Dark Shadows: The Flip Side
After setting down my thoughts on Wrath of the Iceni, I gave my Selectortron another spin and hit...
Dark Shadows: The Flip Side
Starring: Nancy Barrett as Carolyn Stoddard
Format: one full-cast CD (or download) with no episode breaks
Silly? Dark and serious. Even a moment of metafiction isn't played for laughs.
Standalone? No. Previous Dark Shadows audios are needed to understand some dialogue.
Recommended? No by itself, but yes in its place as part of Big Finish's "1973 arc".
My reflections on this story contain spoilers for it and for the Dark Shadows TV series.
Dark Shadows: The Flip Side
Starring: Nancy Barrett as Carolyn Stoddard
Format: one full-cast CD (or download) with no episode breaks
Silly? Dark and serious. Even a moment of metafiction isn't played for laughs.
Standalone? No. Previous Dark Shadows audios are needed to understand some dialogue.
Recommended? No by itself, but yes in its place as part of Big Finish's "1973 arc".
My reflections on this story contain spoilers for it and for the Dark Shadows TV series.
Saturday, September 8, 2018
#1 Fourth Doctor Adventures: The Wrath of the Iceni
It begins... I have a stockpile of around three hundred Big Finish audios. There are many I've never listened to at all, and there are few I've listened to more than once. This is where I start doing something about that. My first spin of my personal Randomoid Selectortron brings up...
Fourth Doctor Adventures: The Wrath of the Iceni
Starring: Tom Baker as the fourth Doctor and Louise Jameson as Leela
Format: one full-cast CD (or download) of two half-CD episodes
Silly? The character of the Fourth Doctor acts a little silly, but the story is serious.
Standalone? Yes. Only vague prior familiarity with Leela is called for.
Recommended? Yes, though not at full price unless you're specifically a Leela fan.
My reflections on this story contain spoilers for it.
Fourth Doctor Adventures: The Wrath of the Iceni
Starring: Tom Baker as the fourth Doctor and Louise Jameson as Leela
Format: one full-cast CD (or download) of two half-CD episodes
Silly? The character of the Fourth Doctor acts a little silly, but the story is serious.
Standalone? Yes. Only vague prior familiarity with Leela is called for.
Recommended? Yes, though not at full price unless you're specifically a Leela fan.
My reflections on this story contain spoilers for it.