Big Finish, Companion Chronicles
This is a 3 story audio drama that Simon Guerrier wrote and he did an excellent job. It has two major parts to it – on a deserted island and in Soviet East Berlin. I really like 70% of this story but it’s mostly the first part. The second part is intriguing but Soviet-style intrigue is just not my thing. My husband grew up in Ukraine so he was “behind the iron curtain” but his experiences parallel mine – propaganda against the other side and just making a life where you are. So this story is successful in representing an aura, a certain spy atmosphere that carries you through.
But I have questions. How did the Time Astronauts shoot everyone including themselves? Why would they do that? How did the two time ships interact and how did things go so crazy? The 1st Doctor is well represented and the “feel” of the era carries through the story. But I just didn’t love this story. It did feel a bit long as it was three episodes but it works. The Time Sprite character’s a bit spooky so perhaps this would’ve been a good Halloween story! Simon Guerrier does write some crackin’ good stories, Gromit, (The Settling, The Uncertainty Principle) but this one wasn’t it for me.
Peter Purves (Steven Taylor) and Jean Marsh (Sara Kingdom)
Writer: Simon Guerrier
Director: Lisa Bowerman
Release: January 2012