#49 Dark Shadows: The House by the Sea

My Randomoid Selectortron leaves Davros to commence his trial and lands me at...

Dark Shadows: The House by the Sea

Starring: Colin Baker as Gerard Conway, also delivering other characters' dialogue in narration
Format: Mostly single-actor narrated single CD (or download) with no episode breaks.
Silly? Yes, in a campy horror-movie way.
Standalone? This is the first part of Big Finish's 1973 Dark Shadows arc. Its ending points forward into subsequent stories and there are many rewards for knowledge of TV Dark Shadows events. Aesthetically, The House by the Sea does work as an experience in itself, if you don't mind something that's obviously a small step in a greater narrative. 
Recommended? Yes, unless you dislike hearing Colin Baker's voice.

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it, and possibly mild spoilers for the rest of the 1973 arc.

#48 I, Davros: The Davros Mission

One short random selection away from the slow recovery of Dalek-ravaged Earth comes...

I, Davros: The Davros Mission

Starring: Terry Molloy as Davros
Format: Full-cast one-CD-length download
Silly? No
Standalone? This is a bridging story between Revelation of the Daleks and I, Davros, but the main action of the story is its own incident.
Recommended? Yes

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it and possible spoilers for the beginning of I, Davros.

#47 Doctor Who Bonus Releases: An Earthly Child

From a lonely mispronounced-Albanian-vampire-infested beach, my Randomoid Selectortron dematerializes. When it next appears, I emerge at...

Doctor Who Bonus Releases: An Earthly Child

Starring: Paul McGann as the Doctor and Carole Ann Ford as Susan
Format: One full-cast CD (or download) with no episode breaks
Silly? No
Standalone? Can function standalone, but also fits into the fourth season arc of Eighth Doctor Adventures. Prior awareness of The Dalek Invasion of Earth is helpful.
Recommended? Yes

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it and for the final arc of Big Finish's Eighth Doctor Adventures.

#46 UNIT: Snake Head

My Randomoid Selectortron leaves the past of Skaro to take me to...

UNIT: Snake Head

Starring: Siri O'Neal as Emily Chaudhry and Nicholas Deal as Robert Dalton  
Format: One full-cast CD (or download) with no episode breaks.
Silly? Flirty banter comes into play in places where it shouldn't.
Standalone? Yes.
Recommended? No, but not necessarily to be skipped if listening to the series as a whole.

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it and for the rest of the first UNIT audio season.

#45 I, Davros: Innocence

On a day when I've decided to listen to more stories than usual, my Randomoid Selectortron has coincidentally taken me to two stories about stories. Let's see where it goes next...

I, Davros: Corruption

My understanding of I, Davros is that it's a chronologically ordered "biography" of pre-Genesis of the Daleks Davros and isn't meant to be listened to out of order. I am therefore activating a manual override and selecting:

I, Davros: Innocence

Starring: Rory Jenning as Davros and Terry Molloy as older Davros
Format: One full-cast CD (or download) with no episode breaks
Silly? No
Standalone? The episode does not have a cliffhanger but is openly just the first of several
Recommended? Yes

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it, and possibly for related stories such as Dalek Empire and Davros.

#44 Doctor Who: 1001 Nights

My Randomoid Selectortron flits across possibilities and arrives at the certainty of...

Doctor Who: 1001 Nights

Starring: Peter Davison as the Doctor and Sarah Sutton as Nyssa
Format: Two full-cast CDs (or download) of four half-CD episodes
Silly? Varyingly, as 1001 Nights is partially an anthology of shorter stories varying in tone. 
Standalone? Yes.
Recommended? Yes. The third short story is weak, but it still manages to contribute to the overall whole.

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it.

#43 Doctor Who Unbound: Auld Mortality

My Randomoid Selectortron departs the snowed-in boarding school and transports me randomly to...

Doctor Who Unbound: Auld Mortality

Starring: Geoffrey Bayldon as the Doctor and Carole Ann Ford as Susan
Format: One full-cast CD (or download) with no episode breaks
Silly? Silly elements exist as in-universe fiction to serve greater plot purposes
Standalone? Yes
Recommended? Highly, to anyone with any interest in Doctor Who audio at all.

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it.

#42 Doctor Who: Winter for the Adept

My Randomoid Selectortron untangles itself from the Marian conspiracy and transports me randomly to...

Doctor Who: Winter for the Adept

Starring: Peter Davison as the Doctor and Sarah Sutton as Nyssa
Format: Two full-cast CDs (or download) of four half-CD episodes
Silly? More so than the average Doctor Who, but not quite to the point of being primarily a comedy release.
Standalone? Yes.
Recommended? Yes due to having a low price point, but Winter for the Adept is not quite top-shelf Doctor Who.

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it.

#41 Doctor Who: The Marian Conspiracy

The werewolves are tied to the Earth, but my Randomoid Selectortron goes where it will, departing from the pack to take me to...

Doctor Who: The Marian Conspiracy

Starring: Colin Baker as the Doctor and Maggie Stables as Evelyn Smythe
Format: Two full-cast CDs (or download) of four half-CD episodes
Silly? There are farcical elements; compared to TV Doctor Who, there are more than The Aztecs but fewer than The Romans.
Standalone? Yes. Evelyn is introduced and joins the Doctor, but no specific plot arcs for her begin here.
Recommended? Yes.

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it, and mild spoilers for subsequent Evelyn Smythe audios.

#40 Doctor Who: Loups-Garoux

The Randomoid Selectortron departs the grim tableau of medieval Wallachia and travels to...

Doctor Who: Loups-Garoux

Starring: Peter Davison as the Doctor and Mark Strickson as Turlough
Format: Two full-cast CDs (or download) of four half-CD episodes
Silly? In the ways that a soap opera tends to be.
Standalone? Yes.
Recommended? Yes.

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it and the Doctor Who audio Dreamtime.

#39 Doctor Who: Son of the Dragon

My personal Randomoid Selectortron narrowly escapes destruction by the Juggernauts and brings me to...

Doctor Who: Son of the Dragon

Starring: Peter Davison as the Doctor, Nicola Bryant as Peri, and Caroline Morris as Erimem
Format: Two full-cast CDs (or download) of four half-CD episodes
Silly? The antagonist gets a little campy at times, but no more so than many Doctor Who antagonists
Standalone? Yes, although it also has a role in Erimem's character arc
Recommended? Yes


My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it and possibly mild spoilers for The Kingmaker.

#38 Doctor Who: The Juggernauts

Thanksgiving weekend interrupted my journey, but now I'm ready once more to activate the Randomoid Selectortron. My next selection is...

Doctor Who: The Juggernauts

Starring: Colin Baker as the Doctor and Bonnie Langford as Mel
Format: Two full-cast CDs (or download) of four half-CD episodes
Silly? Some callbacks to the First Doctor era are a bit silly, but generally no.
Standalone? Yes; timeline placement is rather specific but is not important to the events of the story.

Recommended? Only for Davros completists.

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it and slight spoilers for the Doctor Who audio story Davros.

#37 Doctor Who: Dust Breeding

Let's launch the Randomoid Selectortron away from the forgettable Vienna and see where it goes next...

Doctor Who: Dust Breeding

Starring: Sylvester McCoy as the seventh Doctor and Sophie Aldred as Ace
Format: Two full-cast CDs (or download) of four half-CD episodes
Silly? One element of the premise is silly but it's not an important element and isn't dwelled on extensively.
Standalone? This is an indirect sequel to events in the novel Storm Harvest. The aliens from that novel appear here without being given a detailed description.
Recommended? Yes due to its low price and the Big Finish debut of a significant actor.

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it, other Big Finish releases featuring the same villain, other Big Finish releases featuring the character of Bev Terrant, and The Fearmonger.

#36 Vienna: The Memory Box

Flung from a devastated greenhouse, the Randomoid Selectortron spins wildly, recovering into a safe landing at...

Vienna: The Memory Box

Starring: Chase Masterson as Vienna Salvatori
Format: One full-cast CD (or download) with no episode breaks
Silly? Possibly not intended as silly, but sci-fi twists pile up to a degree that I could not take seriously as actual storytelling.
Standalone? Yes.
Recommended? No.

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it.

#35 Eighth Doctor Adventures: Hothouse

The Stylophone plays the Randomoid Selectortron out of the 70's and I again spin the giant virtual wheel, finding my next stop to be...

Eighth Doctor Adventures: Hothouse

Starring: Paul McGann as the eighth Doctor and Sheridan Smith as Lucie Miller
Format: One full-cast CD (or download) of two half-CD episodes
Silly? No.
Standalone? No. Plot points follow from the preceding Eighth Doctor Adventures release, Orbis, and there is no recapping.
Recommended? Yes if listening to Eighth Doctor Adventures as a series.


My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it and for Orbis.

#34 Eighth Doctor Adventures: Horror of Glam Rock

My Randomoid Selectortron parts ways from UNIT for now and takes me to...

Eighth Doctor Adventures: Horror of Glam Rock

Starring: Paul McGann as the eighth Doctor and Sheridan Smith as Lucie Miller
Format: One full-cast CD (or download) with no episode breaks
Silly? Somewhat, mostly in musical references and whimsically improvised science-fiction gizmos.
Standalone? Yes; future episodes build on it, but not in a way that leaves it anything but self-contained.
Recommended? Yes.

My reactions to this episode contain spoilers for it, and possibly mild spoilers for later Eighth Doctor Adventures installments revisiting a character from it.

#33 UNIT: Time Heals

The Randomoid Selectortron has meandered into E-Space and back, and now it brings me to...

UNIT: Snake Head

As I explained previously with UNIT: The Coup, I am treating UNIT as a single tightly linked serial, and therefore am overriding the Randomoid Selectortron to select the episode following my previous UNIT listen:


UNIT: Time Heals

Starring: Nicholas Courtney as Lethbridge-Stewart, Siri O'Neal as Emily Chaudhry, Nicholas Deal as Robert Dalton, Michael Hobbs as Francis Currie
Format: One full-cast CD (or download) with no episode breaks
Silly? No.

Standalone? No. There are no strong connections to the previous episode, but major plot threads are begun in this episode and left unresolved.
Recommended? Yes.

 
My reaction to this story contains spoilers for it and for the first UNIT audio season in general.

#32 Doctor Who Companion Chronicles: The Invasion of E-Space

My Randomoid Selectortron departs Windcliff Asylum and transports me to...

Doctor Who Companion Chronicles: The Invasion of E-Space

Starring: Lalla Ward as Romana
Format: One CD (or download) of two half-CD narrated two-actor episodes.
Silly? No.
Standalone? Yes, although its continuity placement within the timeline of the TV series is relevant.
Recommended? No.

My reactions to this audio contain spoilers for it.

#31 Dark Shadows: Clothes of Sand

Having gotten through the unfortunate coincidence of listening to The Fearmonger across an actual election day, I return to the Randomoid Selectortron hoping for it to randomly select something far more escapist...

Dark Shadows: Clothes of Sand

Starring: Kathryn Leigh Scott as Maggie Evans
Format: One narrated two-actor CD (or download) with no episode breaks
Silly? No.
Standalone? The listener is expected to know about Maggie Evans's arc from the TV show, but some recapping is present.
Recommended? If Maggie Evans's Dark Shadows arc is of interest.


My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it and for other material about Maggie Evans.

#30 Doctor Who: The Fearmonger

My Randomoid Selectortron emerges from beneath the Viscoid, shakes itself dry, and randomly selects me to...

Doctor Who: The Fearmonger

Starring: Sylvester McCoy as the seventh Doctor and Sophie Aldred as Ace
Format: Two full-cast CDs (or download) containing four half-CD episodes
Silly? Satirical, but less silly about it than satirical seventh Doctor TV episodes were.
Standalone? Yes.
Recommended? Yes as a Doctor Who adventure with some verisimilitudinous political flavor, but not for any coherent political message.

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it.

#29 The War Master: Beneath the Viscoid

My Randomoid Selectortron encountered the opening salvos of a Dalek invasion but is undamaged, and I escape to...

The War Master: Beneath the Viscoid

Starring: Derek Jacobi as the Master
Format: As I listened to it, one full-cast CD-length download; also sold as the first part of The War Master: Only the Good
Silly? Only as a misdirect on the Master's part.
Standalone? More than you'd expect for the free-teaser first episode of a set; the ending leads into subsequent events, but there is a definite ending to this story and not really a cliffhanger.
Recommended? Yes, especially if an evil William Hartnell impersonation sounds fun.

My reactions to this story may contain spoilers for it.

#28 Dalek Empire: Invasion of the Daleks

My spooky Halloween listening with the witch and the detective concluded, I ask the Randomoid Selectortron for another case...

Dalek Empire: Dalek War - Chapter 4

I have not previously heard more than a little of Dalek Empire, and my understanding is that it may be fairest to it to treat the entire series as a single continuous story. For that reason, I am activating a manual override of the Selectortron and instead selecting:

Dalek Empire: Invasion of the Daleks

Starring: Sarah Mowat as Susan Mendes, Mark McDonnell as Alby Brook, and Gareth Thomas as Kalendorf
Format: one full-cast CD (or download) with no episode breaks
Silly? No.
Standalone? No. Invasion of the Daleks can be understood without having heard any prior Big Finish audios, but has no ending whatsoever and is obviously just the first episode of a larger story.
Recommended? Not in itself, and I haven't heard the entire story yet.


My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it and for other releases under the Dalek Empire banner.

#27 Dark Shadows: The Devil Cat

My Randomoid Selectortron had brought me to the beginning of Jago & Litefoot's long career together as audio investigators of the infernal. With that tale told, it now takes me to...

Dark Shadows: The Devil Cat

Starring: Jerry Lacy as Tony Peterson and Lara Parker as Cassandra
Format: one mostly full-cast CD (or download) with no episode breaks
Silly? Only in the ways paranormal soap operas typically are, or to set up swerves.
Standalone? No. This is chronologically the last story of the Tony & Cassandra arc and is better saved until after having heard at least The Death Mask and The Phantom Bride.
Recommended? No by itself, but yes in its place after the aforementioned releases.

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it, previous Tony & Cassandra audios, and the Dark Shadows TV series.

#26 Doctor Who Companion Chronicles: The Mahogany Murderers

With the mystery of the white worm resolved, the Doctor and Leela are on the brink of another threat, but my Randomoid Selectortron won't be following them right away. Instead, I turn to...

Doctor Who Companion Chronicles: The Mahogany Murderers

Starring: Christopher Benjamin as Henry Gordon Jago and Trevor Baxter as Professor Litefoot
Format: 1 CD (or download) of two half-CD episodes, mostly told by one actor at a time
Silly? There is a degree of metafictive silliness, using Victorian science instead of modern science and playing with the different narration styles of the two leads, but the main thrust of the story is not silly.
Standalone? This was standalone when released, but it is also the de facto pilot episode of the subsequent Jago & Litefoot audio series.
Recommended? Yes.

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it, and possibly mild spoilers for the Jago & Litefoot series following it.

#25 Fourth Doctor Adventures: Trail of the White Worm

Bernice and company have been through the looking glass, and now I part ways from them and return to my Randomoid Selectortron...

Fourth Doctor Adventures: Trail of the White Worm


Starring: Tom Baker as the fourth Doctor and Louise Jameson as Leela
Format: one full-cast CD (or download) containing two half-CD episodes
Silly? Somewhat, but within the range of TV Doctor Who silliness.
Standalone? This is the first half of a story released as two separate titles, concluding in The Oseidon Adventure.
Recommended? Yes, but probably not at full price.

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it.

#24 Bernice Summerfield: The Mirror Effect

My Randomoid Selectortron has landed on two heavy, morally complex (for Doctor Who) two-disc stories in a row. If another one like that comes up, I might have to manually select something light before going back into the darkness...

Bernice Summerfield: The Mirror Effect

Starring: Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield, Miles Richardson as Irving Braxiatel, Stephen Fewell as Jason Kane, and Harry Myers as Adrian Wall
Format: one full-cast CD with no episode breaks

Silly? Not deliberately, but some surrealistic moments go over the top.
Standalone? No. This story is a turning point in ongoing interpersonal relationships among the main characters, depending on earlier Bernice Summerfield installments and setting up later ones.
Recommended? If you are interested in the larger Bernice Summerfield arc, yes.

My reactions to The Mirror Effect contain spoilers for it and for Braxiatel's character arc in subsequent Bernice Summerfield audio releases.

#23 Eighth Doctor Adventures: Deimos/The Resurrection of Mars

Bernice has returned to her future and I return to the Randomoid Selectortron... Just War was as excellent as I remembered it, but I am hoping for lighter entertainment next.

Eighth Doctor Adventures: The Resurrection of Mars

The Resurrection of Mars is sold separately, but it is the second half of a two-disc story. For that reason, I am activating a manual override on the Selectortron and selecting the entire story:

Eighth Doctor Adventures: Deimos/The Resurrection of Mars

Starring: Paul McGann as the eighth Doctor and Niky Wardley as Tamsin Drew
Format: two full-cast CDs (or downloads) of four half-CD episodes
Silly? No.
Standalone? This is part of the arc of the fourth series of Eighth Doctor Adventures and includes moments that are important to that arc and depend on previous events in it. Also, it expects you to be aware of the events of the fifth Doctor audio story Red Dawn and to recognize references to the second Doctor TV story The Seeds of Death. Phobos is mentioned but not in an important way.
Recommended? Yes, as part of the Eighth Doctor Adventures season four arc.

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it, Full Fathom Five, and the general arc of the fourth series of Eighth Doctor Adventures.

#22 Bernice Summerfield: Just War

Having just heard the opening moves of UNIT's dangerous game, I am looking forward to the next time the Randomoid Selectortron brings me to that particular series. Now, though, it brings me to...

Bernice Summerfield: Just War

Starring: Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield, Stephen Fewell as Jason Kane
Format: one continuous full-cast drama with no episode breaks, on 2 CD
Silly? No.
Standalone? This is the last part of the "Time Ring Trilogy" and does not quite fully recap some relevant previous events. This leaves some character motivations slightly unclear, but the main action of the story still works without those details.
Recommended? Yes. Because of the way Big Finish's shipping pricing works, it's best to get the entire Bernice Summerfield Series 01 bundle, unless some other better discount applies.

My reaction to this story includes spoilers for it and slight spoilers for preceding and subsequent Bernice Summerfield audio stories.

#21 UNIT: The Coup

Night of the Whisper was a rare miss from writers I'd expect better from, and it is with disappointment that I pilot the Randomoid Selectortron away from New Vegas and into...

UNIT: Snake Head

While episodes of Big Finish's first UNIT series are sold separately and have narrative time gaps between them, I nonetheless feel that they are best treated as a tightly linked serial, based on my previous listening. I am overriding the Selectortron in order to enter the UNIT series from its beginning:

UNIT: The Coup

Starring: Nicholas Courtney as Lethbridge-Stewart, Siri O'Neal as Emily Chaudhry, Michael Hobbs as Francis Currie

Format: one half-CD-length episode, originally on a Doctor Who Magazine bonus disc but now a free download
Silly? No.
Standalone? The groundwork is laid for a new UNIT status quo, and a trailer at the end promotes subsequent stories, but there is a satisfying ending with no direct cliffhanger.
Recommended? Highly.

My reaction to this story includes spoilers for it and slight spoilers for the rest of the first UNIT series and for other Big Finish audios featuring Lethbridge-Stewart.

#20 Destiny of the Doctor: Night of the Whisper

Bernice Summerfield has cracked yet another xenoarcheological mystery, and so I reactivate the Randomoid Selectortron...

Destiny of the Doctor: Night of the Whisper

Starring: the ninth Doctor (narrated), Rose Tyler (narrated), Jack Harkness (narrated), Nicholas Briggs as narrator
Format: one narrated two-actor CD (or download) with no episode breaks
Silly? The story is not narratively silly, but many of Nicholas Briggs's voice characterization choices are silly in performance.
Standalone? Yes; connectivity to other Destiny of the Doctor episodes is virtually nonexistent.
Recommended? No.

My reactions to this story include spoilers for itself and for the overall arc of Destiny of the Doctor.

#19 Doctor Who Companion Chronicles: Bernice Summerfield and the Criminal Code

I exit 1900 Paris via Randomoid Selectortron and arrive in...

Doctor Who Companion Chronicles: Bernice Summerfield and the Criminal Code

Starring: the seventh Doctor (narrated), Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield and as narrator
Format: one narrated two-actor CD (or download) as two half-CD episodes
Silly? No. The main science-fiction plot device of the story could have easily gotten silly but doesn't.
Standalone? Yes.

Recommended? To Lisa Bowerman fans.

My reactions to this story include spoilers for it and brief mention of a metaplot detail of the Virgin New Adventures novels.

#18 The Confessions of Dorian Gray: This World Our Hell

Beyond The Dalek Contract and The Final Phase is another visit to the Randomoid Selectortron...

The Confessions of Dorian Gray: This World Our Hell

Starring: Alexander Vlahos as Dorian Gray
Format: one downloadable episode of half-CD length
Silly? Not overtly, but the entire premise is arguably an extended shaggy dog story to set up a punchline which, while never stated directly, may be obvious to listeners familiar with the real-world events.
Standalone? Yes. Some version of the events of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray happened in the past of this audio, but those events are substantially different from what the novel describes as it exists in the real world. Reading the actual novel does not enhance This World Our Hell.
Recommended? Yes, regardless of whether you have any interest in the novel.

My reactions to this story include spoilers for it and for the 1890 Oscar Wilde novel.

#17 Fourth Doctor Adventures: The Dalek Contract/The Final Phase

With the Doctor's situation filled, I move on to another Randomoid Selection...

Fourth Doctor Adventures: The Final Phase

The Final Phase is sold separately, but it is the second half of a two-disc story. For that reason, I am activating a manual override on the Selectortron and selecting the entire story:

Fourth Doctor Adventures: The Dalek Contract/The Final Phase

Starring: Tom Baker as the fourth Doctor, Mary Tamm as Romana, and John Leeson as K9.
Format: two full-cast CDs (or downloads) containing four half-CD episodes
Silly? K9 and the villain get some deliberate silliness. Other silliness seems unintentional.

Standalone? Not entirely, as the returning villain's plan directly follows from an earlier adventure. The most relevant details get explained early on, but hearing the actual story they happened in would be better. A mystery is left unresolved at the end to set up further plans of that villain.
Recommended? No, unless the fact that it is the last piece of Doctor Who media ever to star Mary Tamm is important to you.

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it and for The Sands of Life and War Against the Laan.

#16 Eighth Doctor Adventures: Situation Vacant

Babblesphere was a bit disappointing, but so far overall, my time with a personal Randomoid Selectortron has been satisfying. It now brings me to:

Eighth Doctor Adventures: Situation Vacant

Starring: Paul McGann as the eighth Doctor
Format: one full-cast CD (or download) in two half-CD episodes
Silly? Slightly. A pair of tonally typical short Doctor Who adventures make up the bulk of the story, but they are framed in a sillier than usual context.
Standalone? This story advances the arc of the fourth season of Eighth Doctor Adventures, but can be listened to on its own if you don't mind a dangling thread at the end. The details of earlier events aren't important within this story.
Recommended? Yes, but particularly in the context of the Eighth Doctor Adventures as an ordered arc.

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for itself and for Death in Blackpool.

#15 Destiny of the Doctor: Babblesphere

After Full Fathom Five, one burning question is on my mind: will my next Big Finish listen be on dry land? Let's ask the Randomoid Selectortron...

Destiny of the Doctor: Babblesphere

Starring: The fourth Doctor (narrated) and Lalla Ward as Romana
Format: one two-actor narrated CD (or download) with no episode breaks
Silly? Yes
Standalone? Yes. Linkage to the rest of Destiny of the Doctor is brief and not important to the plot.
Recommended? No

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it.

#14 Doctor Who Unbound: Full Fathom Five

Iris Wildthyme has regained her courage and battled a devil, and as her bus speeds away into the multiverse my Randomoid Selectortron speeds me to...

Doctor Who Unbound: Full Fathom Five

Starring: David Collings as the Doctor
Format: one full-cast CD (or download) with no episode breaks
Silly? Generally no. At points, some characterization is broad enough to border on silly, but this does not seem intentional and does not persist through the end of the story.
Standalone? Yes. This Doctor and timeline are not revisited in any other works.
Recommended? Yes. If you haven't already been spoiled about it, consider going into it cold.

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it, including some reference to the ending.

#13 Iris Wildthyme: The Devil in Ms Wildthyme

The Extinction Event was my first time hitting a CD-only audio in the course of this blog. I return to the Randomoid Selectortron and randomly encounter...

Iris Wildthyme: The Devil in Ms Wildthyme

Starring: Katy Manning as Iris Wildthyme, Ortis Deley as Tom, and David Benson as Panda
Format: one full-cast CD with no episode breaks
Silly? Yes, as with all Iris Wildthyme audios, but there are also an above-average number of reflective character-driven moments within the silliness.
Standalone? The ending of the previous episode establishes Iris's situation going into this one, but conversations in this episode state everything relevant about it and hearing the previous episode isn't essential.
Recommended? Not at full price.

My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it, and possibly to other early Iris Wildthyme stories.

#12 Bernice Summerfield: The Extinction Event

The Kingmaker was a long, long ride, and while I enjoyed it I'm glad to now be moving on to something else. Another spin of the Randomoid Selectortron yields...

Bernice Summerfield: The Extinction Event

Starring: Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield and Miles Richardson as Irving Braxiatel
Format: one full-cast CD with no episode breaks
Silly? Not generally, but a climactic moment is undermined by silly choices for an alien character's vocal treatment and language use.
Standalone? Yes. Braxiatel is an established character in Bernice's continuity but this is his first on-mic appearance and there is solid establishing dialogue very early on for the relevant aspects of his role.
Recommended? Not on its own, but yes as part of a larger Bernice Summerfield listen. If buying from the Big Finish website outside the UK, be sure to click the red "BUNDLES" button and buy season 2 as a single item, rather than as separate CDs, as shipping calculations work completely differently depending on how you buy it.


My reactions to this story contain spoilers for it and for the status quo of early Bernice Summerfield audios.

#11 Doctor Who: The Kingmaker

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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.