P.H. Presents: The Helm of Awe (vol. 3)

  Big Finish, Special Release

 

This story has the Doctor and Leela dealing with Vikings, or at least the semblance of them. As androids! On an island that is supposed to be deserted, too. Something evil is controlling some of the people on the island with the “Luck of the Renwicks,” that doesn’t seem all that lucky. They get to travel in time without the TARDIS, courtesy of the alien villainous Barbezens, a species that sells planetary resources for a money making venture. No, they don’t own the planets, they just take everything and walk away if the planet cannot defend itself.

So this story is fun and I could absolutely picture it being on TV. Though it’s a complete mystery to me how Leela is a warrior and huntress but can’t seem to defend herself out of a paper bag in this one. She shoots a machine gun to stop an android but otherwise, the men on the island take her captive and threaten her (and the Doctor) pretty regularly. She’s much more awesome and in control in other Big Finish stories but perhaps it’s later on in her story arc? I just never thought that she was incompetent in the fight, which seems to be her story arc here. And that was my biggest problem with this story. Otherwise, it’s a very 4th Doctor romp through time and slug-like aliens!


Tom Baker (The Doctor), Louise Jameson (Leela), Joanna Vanderham (Joanna Renwick), David Rintoul (Professor Angus Renwick), Jane Slavin (Peggy), Ewan Bailey (Davy McTavit), Kieran Bew (Murdo Jamieson), Chris Porter (Nardos), Fleur Hinchcliffe (Young Angus Renwick)

Writer: Philip Hinchcliffe, adaped by Marc Platt

Director: Ken Bentley

Release: April 2017

© Laura Vilensky 2019