Big Finish, Companion Chronicles
This story definitely has a first Doctor atmosphere and particular type of action sequence to it. There’s a bad luck bird, called a Shrazer, that scavenges the bad feelings from people. Why doesn’t that just leech out the bad feelings and allow people to move on? Not how it works, apparently. But that’s not part of the story. The basic plot is that Susan and the Doctor land on Quinnis in the 4th universe. The Doctor is mistaken for a rainmaker and Susan is fetching things from the TARDIS for him, since he must work in the Guild Hall. The rains do come, Meedla steals the key from Susan, and the orphan (Meedla) shows her true colors.
Though I did rather enjoy the story, the villain of the piece is rather undefined. A mysterious bird scavenger creature that preys on unhappiness. How does that work exactly? How could that be food? And the citizens haven’t considered a method for holding back the grasses except for pulling weeds? Hmmm. But that could just be a time constraint issue, too.
Tara-Louise, the actress playing Meedla, is the daughter of Carole Ann Ford. The extras are quite entertaining. And this story happens to be recorded around the time that the Eighth Doctor Christmas story in the TARDIS with Alex, Susan, and Lucie Miller. So the fish in this story is where that fish comes from! Ahhhh.
Carole Ann Ford (Susan Foreman), Tara-Louise Kaye (Meedla)
Writer: Marc Platt
Director: Lisa Bowerman
Release: December 2010