Big Finish Main Range
This story is a case of the preview completely diverting from the story that unfolds, which is both good and bad. I thought it would be scarier and more of a tense, evil threat to the TARDIS team. But it turns out the whole thing hinges on a bet. And though the Red Queen is this mysterious villain behind the schemes in place, she just isn’t really that much of a threat. Her attitude makes her lose, ultimately, but we never really find out who she is. Possibly the aliens from Enlightenment but the people who “die” aren’t just transported home in this story.
I rather enjoyed this story overall, despite the misdirection. Tegan gets to be bossy and find things out, though taken prisoner. As is Nyssa, as usual. I’m almost counting on that every time anymore. Though it did look like she escaped that fate until the 4th act this time. Adric got to be back to his petulant self, which is at least controlled so I don’t just want to strangle him constantly. Superiority – that’s his teenager attitude that makes me want to boot him out an airlock. Fortunately he only does that for maybe 5 minutes of this whole story. Just enough to remind me…
The acting is fantastic, as usual. The concepts are well done – clones? I initially thought androids but huh, that works too. And Mr. Peabody is just a clueless codger on a power trip. Sigh. He almost deserves what he gets but not really. It starts like a horror-thriller and ends with a space-woosh. Good but a bit confused on what it is.
Peter Davison (The Doctor), Matthew Waterhouse (Adric), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Janet Fielding (Tegan), Clive Merrison (George Augustus), Philip Jackson (Mr Peabody), Lorelei King (The Red Queen), Tim Bentinck (Wakefield/ Cabby/ Stonegood), Alison Thea-Skot (Marjorie Stonegood/ Computer), Olly McCauley (Edward/ The Knave). Other parts played by members of the cast.
Writer: Phil Mulryne
Director: Barnaby Edwards
Release: February 2017