Prisoners of Fate (#174)

   Big Finish Main Range


There something else going on with this story that’s brought up at the end by Tegan – what is the name of Nyssa’s daughter? Nika in this story but I suspect it’s different in the other stories. But that’s for someone other than me to figure out! Details, details.

The beginning of this story reminded me of Minority Report with Tom Cruise – a “something” telling of future crime. Then the story takes a left turn into a different path than what I thought was coming. Instead of a big bad villain we have something from the Doctor’s past and it wants to go home, but wait! It’s a bit crazy and will kill everyone instead. But then it’s a goner and instead cooperates. That turnaround and the Doctor’s forgiveness was the strangest piece of the story for sure. And also why it doesn’t quite get a 5 jelloid rating.

Nyssa is the focus of this story, where her past and future life are brought into focus and the solution to Rictus syndrome is finally brought to the galaxy. And of course the Blinovitch Limitation Effect takes a major role as she returns to her family but then cannot. There is so much resolved in this story in terms of Nyssa’s storyline that to talk about it all would be major spoiling so I won’t. Suffice it to say that it’s all wrapped up pretty nicely, except for the thing I mentioned above.

The extras with Mark Strickson are a story and a half themselves! Turlough is one of my favorite companions and Mark Strickson can really spin a tale. Love it!


Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, Mark Strickson, Sarah Sutton

Writers: Jonathan Morris

Director: Ken Bentley

Release: June 2013

© Laura Vilensky 2019