Big Finish Main Range
This is just the type of psychological thriller that suits the 7th Doctor’s character. He doesn’t have everything plotted out prior to his arrival on the Lorelei, a robot container ship containing thousands of robots in storage for delivery to Ventalis. However, there’s a “rogue robot” on board killing the crew, much as the introductory moments indicate happened on a sand-liner years before it. What exactly is going on is a bit mysterious, even after the robots are activated and things get crazy. Robophobia is exactly the right title for this audio drama, that’s for sure! It happens multiple times – the fear or robots overcomes everyone’s training and good sense but the Doctor is there to put it back on track in the end.
The only real issue I have with this audio is the lack of crew populating the ship. The Doctor claims to be from engineering yet we never see anyone else from the engineering crew. There is just the bridge crew, security officer, and the ship’s doctor active for the duration of the adventure. A bit odd as wouldn’t they check on who his is if they’re really that suspicious? Go down to engineering and check things out? Yet the crew finds themselves trusting him and doing what he says, despite everything. He even has a pseudo-companion for the adventure in Liv Chenka, the ship’s doctor. Excellent adventure that I cannot recommend highly enough!
Sylvester McCoy and Nicola Walker
Writer/Director: Nicholas Briggs
Release: July 2011