Big Finish, Companion Chronicles
This is an oddly riveting little tale, though the “bad guy” isn’t really bad, as such, and therefore isn’t very interesting. Taken in conjunction with the doomsday clock, which is an interesting character indeed, he is just marginally interesting but a whole lot more threatening! People on a committee start dying – everyone who opposes Mr. Pendelton, conveniently enough. And they get a letter in the mail telling them the exact time and date of their death! A very polite knock-off if I’ve ever seen one.
Liz gets to work with her mother, Emily, who just happens to be a stubborn lady on the committee in question. And most of the communication is through letters sent in the mail and phone calls. I did have to keep reminding myself that postal service in England was always miles ahead of US postal service – we’re happy to get a letter in 3 days time! So it was a bit odd to consider people communicating via mail and reading it within the same day. Or a day later. Just a gentle reminder of one of the many differences between England and the USA, that’s for sure.
You would never know that this is Caroline John’s last performance as Liz Shaw as she doesn’t sound sick or anything. But that is the insidious nature of cancer. You can’t really see the effects until it eats the person away from the inside. It’s a well written and well-acted story, though the story and problem are solved without the Doctor, who pronounces what the problem is so Liz can then go solve it. This is a fine send-off for an intelligent character!
Caroline John (Liz Shaw) and Rowena Cooper (Emily Shaw)
Writer: James Goss
Director: Lisa Bowerman
Release: October 2012