BBC Audio adventure, July 25 - Aug. 8, 1985
I’m not sure who is more whiney in this adventure, Peri or the female computer voice! Ugh. I understand that this was created to fill the gap between seasons 22 and 23 but was Peri really that co-dependent on the Doctor? After he tried to kill her, they got along after a fashion. But how soon after his regeneration was this audio adventure? Honestly, Peri doesn’t have much to do except be the woman in peril in this episode. She falls through the ducts to land on one of the policemen, gets marched around the duct work until they run into Sherinbone Grant, and when the Doctor reappears, they run back to the TARDIS. The police don’t listen to her or believe her. She doesn’t really do much except run from the monster (Maston) and walk around.
The Doctor does try to thwart the plans of the computer’s alterego with the sexy voice. But he doesn’t end up doing much except the wrong thing as well. And just how does he escape the room the computer imprisons him in? And what happens to Grant when they escape? He’s still in the TARDIS though not saying much. He isn’t even all googly-eyed about the TARDIS when he walks in, despite everyone having that reaction. The computer with the split personality is kind of fun, the silly voice versus the sexy voice are really a contrast in types, and the captain and mors immedicabilis (the incurable death) are just nuts!
That captain is quite the character. He describes his pustules growing and it’s really quite gross (I was, unfortunately, eating lunch while listening to this part). But he’s only in the story for one purpose, to suit the computer’s purpose and kill off the crew. The computer has the logic but not the morals to really implement her plan in an acceptable manner for the Doctor. The interference by the Time Lords keep the Doctor from interfering himself but he caves to their brow-beating far too easily. He just doesn’t cave that easily in most episodes. Overall, this story isn’t terrible and the technical aspects (the sound effects are amazing! Incidental music? Excellent—very 80s) are very, very good but it doesn’t make up for the plodding nature of the story in general. Fun but not fun enough.
As the captain’s releasing the disease, the ship’s doctor tells him “I’ve always said, you were a terrible martyr to your responsibilities.” Hehehe. The ultimate martyr indeed!
Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant
writer: Eric Saward