tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5784645953425031252024-03-05T21:07:19.907+02:00ENIGMANIAI don't care if it's live, animated or simply just audio, I enjoy it and will continue to spread the word and allow others to feel this enjoyment with updates, reviews, first impressions and so much more. Favorites include Doctor Who, Psych, Fullmetal Alchemist, Suits, Arrow, Fairy Tail, Ghost Hunt, Monk, Charmed, Attack on Titan and so much more!
You can read my contributions to @DoctorWhoTV or catch up on what I do by following me on Twitter at @Avatar_Gustaff. Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.comBlogger272125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-68459804438491941642016-09-29T19:41:00.000+02:002016-09-29T19:41:19.266+02:00REVIEW - DOOM COALITION 3<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Doom Coalition 3 is finally here!
2016 has been the year of Big Finish and as someone who has listened to nearly
every title they've put out so far, I can say that excluding Doom Coalition 2,
it has been one mighty year. After the previous box set, I had deep
reservations going into this volume as there was no Mark Bonnar listed in the
casting call, which meant no Eleven. Which also had me wondering how well a box
set can fare if it went from reducing one of the most innovative villains in
recent years to someone's lackey in one volume to excluding them completely in
the next? Let's find out!<b> </b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Absent Friends</b>
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In a lot of ways, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Absent Friends</i> feels like DC2's <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Beachhead</i>: Both are filler openings
which do not move the plot along all that much, but <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Absent Friends</i> stands out tremendously because it sets out to do a
specific thing and that is to provide character development. </div>
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Up until now, Helen Sinclair, as
a character, could be summed up as "woman from 60s who has faced sexism in
workplace". That is the full scope of her character, but <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Absent Friends</i> takes us further into the
aftermath of DC1 and it does wonders for the character, but most spectacularly,
this story reinvents the tired old "why can't we go back in time to
[insert reason for complaining]" companion storyline and distinguishes
itself from other titles such as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Father's
Day</i> by giving us consequences. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I know right? Consequences in
Doctor Who...who would have thought? </div>
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<br /></div>
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I applaud John Dorney for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Absent Friends</i>, not just for what he
does for Helen as a character, but also for Liv Chenka. While not as
emotionally driving as Helen's storyline, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Absent
Friends</i> also provides us with a bit of backstory for Liv that still manages
to pull at the heartstrings. Even as filler and even without the Eleven, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Absent Friends</i> still manages to be a
great opener. </div>
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<br /></div>
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One of the criticisms I will gear
towards this title would be how detached it is from the overall arc and the
fact that it takes seven stories for Helen to be given some character
development. Other than these two, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Absent
Friends</i> is proof that you don't need a flashy story in order to be great.
Creativity can be found in simplicity and that is the best description I can
give to this opening story: Creativity in simplicity.</div>
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Absent Friends: 9/10. A great
opener which we should have gotten much sooner.</div>
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<b>The Eighth Piece</b></div>
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The Doctor, Liv and Helen
undertake three missions in three different timezones. Also worth noting is
that this story and the next one, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Doomsday Chronometer</i>, sort of feels like a two-parter. In this story, Helen
is side-lined in Rome 2016 while the attention is on the Doctor in 1538 England
where he encounters Thomas Cromwell (yes that one), played brilliantly by John
Sharpnel while Liv learns more about the mysterious Clocksmith in 15th century Prague.</div>
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Now if you've been reading my other
reviews, you'll know that I adore River Song. She is fantastic, but she is not
without fault. I am referring specifically to Big Finish's handling of her when
it comes to Classic Doctors. In hindsight, she wasn't really needed in DC2 and
at times felt truly wasted whereas in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Diary of River Song</i>, the whole "let's meet the Doctor indirectly or
slip around behind his back" really frustrated me even if I understand the
in-universe explanation for this. Thankfully, River Song is NOT wasted in this
story and Big Finish has given her a method of interacting with past Doctors
without messing up the timeline. Sure this idea is not very original and some
might even believe it to be an unimaginative cop-out, but the payoff is well
worth it. One drawback to featuring River Song is that she tends to steal all
her scenes. God bless Alex Kingston. If you are hardcore Liv or Helen fans, you
have been warned. </div>
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Even though River steals all her
scenes, it’s the Doctor and Thomas Cromwell that steal the show as their scenes
together are the most stimulating to listen to. Paul McGann and John Sharpnel have
terrific chemistry together and Sharpnel plays Cromwell so well that it
actually made me do some research on the character afterwards. Knowledge is
power and this really boosted my enjoyment of the story on my second listen to
it. </div>
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The monsters for this piece are
called the Solvers, half-organic, half-machine puzzle-box like creatures.
Unfortunately they sound more interesting than they are, but they are not bad
additions to the box set. They are however, given all the rich dialogue, the
sharp twist and turns, the weak link in this story.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The Eighth Piece 9/10: The
perfect start to a two-part story that is as mad and zany as you'd expect from
great Doctor Who stories.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>The Doomsday Chronometer </b></div>
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Concluding this mini two-parter
is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Doomsday Chronometer</i> and
really on the surface this story feels like a series finale given everything
that happens. It's really easy to forget as you’re listening to it that we
still have one more to go which sort of makes this story feel like the first of
two consecutive series finales. Kudos to John Dorney for that.</div>
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And really, let me just say that
John Dorney this year has been on fire, easily writing the cleverest, funniest
and looniest scripts so far.</div>
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Now what is the Doomsday Chronometer?
Naturally I can’t tell you, but I can tell you what it’s not! It’s not what you
think it is. It is not some sort of Doctor Who doomsday weapon as the title
seems to imply. It’s much more creative an idea than that.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Moving onto characters, Big
Finish seems to have a thing for throwing River Song and Helen together, but
here it simply feels mad…in a good way. River still makes it seem easy to
outshine Helen in their scenes together, but the writing makes up for it with
some wonderful dialogue for both. Their scenes together really puts you in mind
of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Pandorica Opens</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Big Bang</i>.</div>
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The Doctor and Thomas Cromwell
continue to challenge the highlights of this story with their wonderful scenes
together, but it isn’t until Eight meets River Song (as in actually meets her
face to face), that you re-evaluate your definition of “brilliant”. If you
thought Ten/River, Eleven/River or even Twelve/River was gorgeous to behold, just
wait until you get a load of Eight/River, properly chatting, interacting and
being the Doctor and River Song we know and love.</div>
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Nothing more than this I’m
afraid. Moving on! Oh but wait… what of the mysterious Clocksmith I hear you
ask? Well spoilers of course.</div>
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The Doomsday Chronometer 9/10:
Feels more like a season finale, which is a perfect way of setting up a finale.</div>
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<b>The Crucible of Souls</b></div>
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This is perhaps one of the
hardest stories I’ve ever had to review given that it is so easy to spoil. For
this reason, I choose to write this segment of the review comparing this box
set finale to its predecessors and working out if it is an improvement or not.</div>
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Short answer…YES!</div>
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Most definitely! While not
terrible finales, the previous two Doom Coalition season finales did feel
ordinary or anticlimactic to a certain degree. This story…doesn’t. Not at all. If
you share my feelings towards <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Satanic
Mill</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Sonomancer</i>, then this
is the proper, mad, high stakes finale you’ve been waiting for. </div>
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My worry that this box set might
dip in quality thanks to there being no Eleven in it? Utterly squashed! Big
Finish has managed to incorporate a villain just as innovative as the Eleven,
give or take <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">two</i> degrees.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>River Song feeling unnecessary? Well half this
story is essentially an Eight/River solo adventure so read it and weep. Not
only that, but River feels more needed here than in DC2. It’s not just
fanservice this time, though there is a lot of that also.</div>
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My feelings towards Liv and
Helen? Definitely changed. I care more about them than I did previously and I
cannot wait to see where Big Finish takes them next, be it to an early grave or
a happy ending.</div>
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I’ve probably not mentioned him a
lot, but by now it shouldn’t need saying: Paul McGann is so good as the Eighth
Doctor that every day without more of him on television is another day of
torture. Whether it’s him with Liv, River or some puzzle box supporting
character, McGann’s performance shines through and lays waste to the others. </div>
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The Crucible of Souls 9/10: Bonus
points for the Doctor and River teaming up, but also a few well chosen curse
words at that jaw dropping ending.</div>
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To conclude, I went into Doom
Coalition 3 with a lot of reservations and came out with my faith in this
series completely restored. There is no average or good stories in this box
set, only great to near perfect. John Dorney and Matt Fittion do a superb job
penning this third instalment and they are two writers I would really love to
see pen a script for the television series in the near future.</div>
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Recommended: Hell yeah!</div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-47473273373600671312016-08-19T10:55:00.000+02:002016-08-19T10:55:03.558+02:00REVIEW - CLASSIC DOCTORS, NEW MONSTERS VOL.1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
<a name='more'></a>It’s easy to claim that Big Finish is killing it this year when there
is no television series to compare it to, but even if there was; it
would take one hell of a series to hold a candle to what listeners have
been treated to this year. Two Masters trilogy, the return of Ten and
Donna and the utterly fantastic War Doctor second volume among others.
And that’s not even touching the fantastic 2016 Fifth Doctor Trilogy or T<em>he Trouble with Drax</em> by John Dorney. <em>Classic Doctors, New Monsters</em> is blessed with a fantastic premise and cursed with carrying the expectation of raising an already sky-high bar even further.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Fallen Angels</h3>
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Of all the stories, the idea of taking a non-verbal enemy and doing
an audio-only story with them can easily be seen as the most bold and
audacious, not to mention the riskiest. In fact up until I actually sat
down to listen to this story, none of the other titles in the box set
really mattered. This was the <em>one</em> I wanted…and I got it! <em>Fallen Angels</em>
does very little wrong, if any. Before listening to this story, I
wanted the Seventh Doctor to bowl out the Weeping Angels, but the moment
Five opened his mouth, I knew there could be no other. This truly is a
fantastic pairing and this first story proves that Big Finish did a lot
of research and careful choosing when they paired up the Doctors and the
Monsters.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The Doctor’s “companions”, a couple of newlyweds on honeymoon Gabby
and Joel, have a terrific dynamic with the Doctor, especially Gabby,
though they aren’t fleshed a lot. This is forgivable as the pace is
brisk as it should be for a Weeping Angel story. Unfortunately I wanted
more Five/Michelangelo, but Matthew Kelly’s portrayal of the renaissance
artist is breathtaking. Utterly adored every one of his scenes.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As for the Weeping Angels? They couldn’t be in safer hands than Big
Finish. The audio folk did a fantastic job recreating the sound effects
that accompany the Angels when they are near and I feel on audio it
works just as well as on television.</div>
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<strong>Rating this story: 8/10. </strong></div>
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<strong><br /></strong></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Judoon in Chains</h3>
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</div>
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A Judoon and a Weeping Angel get into a fight, who wins?
Surprisingly, the Judoon when it pairs the rhino policemen with the
Sixth Doctor. The box set goes strength to strength with a beautiful
character piece that will make you view the Judoon in a new light. <em>Judoon in Chains</em> and <em>Harvest of the Sycorax</em>
were my least anticipated stories, but I am very surprised by just how
much I loved this story, least not because I am a huge fan of <em>Smith and Jones</em>.<em> Judoon in Chains</em> also features the most bonkers setup of all the stories which caught me off-guard the first time I listened to it.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The star of the show oddly enough is not Colin Baker’s Sixth Doctor,
but while we’re on the subject, this story ranks amongst the best
outings Ol’ Sixie has had. If you’re not a Sixth Doctor fan and you
can’t understand why people are, you listen to this story. It’s as
simple as that.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But back to Captain Kybo, the Judoon that headlines this story. Big
congratulations to Nick Briggs for a truly breathtaking performance. And
a big kudos to Simon Barnard and Paul Morris for a utterly magnificent
script. Given their popularity, I knew besting the Weeping Angels with
the Judoon was going to be nigh-impossible, but you nailed it.</div>
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<strong>Rating this story: 9/10</strong></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Harvest of the Sycorax</h3>
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Perhaps the weakest story in the box set, some hype surrounding this
story included “McCoy’s greatest performance”. It’s not. And I don’t
mean he gives a bad one. Not at all. In fact the Seventh Doctor is one
of the things I adore about this story, but there are a lot of other
“better” Seventh Doctor tales. And you don’t even have to look very far…<em>The Two Masters</em> anyone? In my opinion stories like <em>The Fearmonger</em>, <em>Master</em>, <em>House of Blue Fire</em> and <em>The Architect of History</em> deserve that praise.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
But yes, this story saw the return of the Sycorax and while I believe
the Seventh Doctor got the short end of the stick when they were
dealing out monsters, McCoy definitely got the juiciest/funniest
material and some of the best lines come out of his mouth.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While every story in this box set contains enough elements to put you in the mind of either <em>Blink</em>, <em>Smith and Jones</em>, <em>The Christmas Invasion</em> or <em>The Sontaran Strategem</em>, <em>Harvest of the Sycorax</em>
does an exceptional job of being least “in-your-face” about it’s links
to New Who. Unfortunately, while having a lot of really creative and
funny ideas like the app which kept prescribing medicine every two
minutes, the story itself isn’t too memorable.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
However, the Doctor’s assistant, Zanzibar# (pronounced
Zanzibar-Hashtag), is one of the characters who receives the most
character development (but Kybo still takes first prize) and she didn’t
make much of an impression on me.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One thing I really did enjoy was how much “screen-time” the Sycorax received which is something I found lacking and jarring in <em>The Christmas Invasion</em>.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Rating this story: 7/10.</strong></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
The Sontaran Ordeal</h3>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Steven Moffat! Listen to this story! This story proves that Eight
could’ve fought in the Time War. It doesn’t go against his character. In
fact, it actually adds to it. Having a Doctor begin the story by
calling out the Time lords and begging them not to bring the Time War
into real time and devastate a particular segment of the galaxy
instantly establishes what sort of a ride we’re in for. It’s like Big
Finish took the magic of <em>The Night of the Doctor</em> and stretched
it from seven minutes to fifty-four. I am really looking forward to the
Time War Box Set next year if it means getting more of this Eighth
Doctor. I cannot praise Paul McGann enough for his performance here.
Kudos!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Sontarans aren’t technically new monsters, but I love the clone
batch New Who cooked up and I must say it feels nice to hear Christopher
Ryan as another sinister Sontaran. Please Big Finish! I love Dan
Starkey as a Sontaran, but give us more of Mr Ryan. He is just as out of
this world!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This last instalment feels the least like its New Who counterpart in
that we are presented with a very different kind of Sontaran story. It’s
also not much of a stretch to link why the Sontarans are even here. Big
Finish watched the Sontaran 2-parter, spotted one line of dialogue and
decided to build an entire story around it…and I’m okay with that. I
adored every Sontaran in this story; from their motivations to their
back stories. Plus it feels like I’m listening to the Sontaran 2-parter
and that sits right with me.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The “companion” for this story is Sarana Teel, played by Josette
Simon. The Time War ravaged her planet in a couple of minutes (centuries
in real time) and she joins the Doctor on his mission unaware that he
is a Time Lord. If you’ve ever wondered what it would’ve been like had
Cass not died and instead travelled with the Doctor, listen to <em>The Sontaran Ordeal</em> as it re-imagines such a relationship perfectly.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Unfortunately of all the stories this one ended up letting me down
the most. But not because of its beginning, middle or even the climax
which were all brilliant…but the last three minutes. It doesn’t feel
earned; it makes no sense and tries too hard to…spoilers!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I’d like to elaborate, but I’m afraid I might give something away.
All I will say is I believe the ending was aiming for bittersweet, but
unfortunately it ended up just bitter.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Rating this story: 8/10</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And now! We ask one very important question …well two actually. How
do these stories compare to their New Who counterparts? And more
importantly: Who wins? Let’s have a look:</div>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><em>Blink</em> vs <em>Fallen Angels</em><br />
I want to say <em>Blink</em> still takes it home but <em>Fallen Angels</em> is really really close. While <em>Blink</em>‘s prestige has had years to be dilated, <em>Fallen Angels</em> feels like a story which will manage to stay utterly consistent in entertainment for many years to come. <em></em></li>
<li><em>Smith and Jones</em> vs <em>Judoon in Chains<br />
</em>I really love <em>Smith and Jones</em>. I mean really love it. Series 3 is one of my favourites and Martha’s meeting with Ten in that hospital was fantastic, but <em>Judoon in Chains</em> takes it.</li>
<li><em>The Christmas Invasion</em> vs <em>Harvest of the Sycorax<br />
</em><em>Harvest of the Sycorax</em> may come across as ordinary, but at
least it doesn’t feature the Doctor unconscious for 2/3s of the story
and more importantly, unlike Rose Tyler, Zanzibar doesn’t break down and
cry THREE bloody times during the runtime.</li>
<li><em>The Sontaran Strategem</em> vs <em>The Sontaran Ordeal<br />
</em>This is a tough one. Ignoring the last three minutes of the latter, I’d say it’s a tie ladies and gentlemen. </li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I do recommend picking up this box set. It’s well worth a listen and
certain worth the price of admission. In a year without Doctor Who,
Classic Doctors, New Monsters is the closest you’re going to get to New
Who until Christmas rolls up. The series has already been green lit for a
second season and I’m going to end this review with a prediction of
sorts for what I’d like to see Big Finish tackle in box set 2:</div>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li>Fifth Doctor vs The Racnoss</li>
<li>Sixth Doctor vs Krillitanes</li>
<li>Seventh Doctor vs Vasta Nerada</li>
<li>Eighth Doctor vs The Silence</li>
</ul>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s1600/new.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s200/new.jpg" width="146" /></a><br />
<br />
Don't forget to pick up your copy of my new novel "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deathday-Clock-Anna-Zanozina-ebook/dp/B01K211XQ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470747294&sr=8-1&keywords=deathday+clock#nav-subnav">Deathday Clock</a>".<br />
<br />
Sebastian Strange comes under attack by a mysterious assailant with
resources both financial and temporal. The only thing keeping him alive
is a fob watch which can predict his time of death.<br />
<br />
Available now at
Amazon for $6,83.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-76339430325205125472016-08-17T10:52:00.000+02:002016-08-17T10:52:05.426+02:00REVIEW - UNIT: SHUTDOWN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.timelash.com/tardis/images/large/5556-Doctor-Who-UNIT-Shutdown-CD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.timelash.com/tardis/images/large/5556-Doctor-Who-UNIT-Shutdown-CD.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Strength to strength is perhaps the best way to describe this box
set. Big Finish continues their Doctor Who rollercoaster year with Kate
Stewart, Osgood and the new (more competent) UNIT team. From shop window
dummies to ninja aliens, UNIT continues the fight in <em>Shutdown</em>!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But let’s do away with the bad first…because there isn’t much of it. In fact, a lot of the things I mentioned in the last review
seem to have been mended this season. For instance, the “Kate Stewart
is related to the Brigadier” references are almost non-existent. It’s
almost like everybody understands that we get it now. Unfortunately Kate
as a character isn’t developed that much, but listeners are treated to
her struggles with higher-ups and the bureaucratic red tape she has to
contend with from time to time.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://redrocketrising.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/UNITNS0201_powercell_1417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://redrocketrising.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/UNITNS0201_powercell_1417.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For those interested, this series takes place after <em>The Day of the Doctor</em>,
though we aren’t clued in to which Osgood we’re dealing with here, but
that just doesn’t matter as she continues to impress me. Osgood is
constantly put in alien environments by the writers, either physically
or emotionally, and that does wonders for a character I once considered a
‘cardboard fangirl stereotype’. Her budding, steadily
will-they-won’t-they relationship with Josh Carter is some of the
series’ highlights. I am very much on the Josood bandwagon.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Speaking of, my absolute favourite character continues to be Josh
Carter. He may be the stereotypical action hero, but James Joyce is just
so entertaining and the material is just so rich that I don’t mind.
This series partners him more with Kate and through that dynamic
presents us with a very unique-ish Brigadier/Benton relationship that a
joy to hear.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Not necessarily a bad thing, but Sam Bishop still hasn’t made much of
an impression on me. So little in fact that I’m not saying anything
more about him. Moving on!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://redrocketrising.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/UNITNS0203_thebattleofthetower_1417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://redrocketrising.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/UNITNS0203_thebattleofthetower_1417.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The threat this time around is the Tengobushi, a race of ninja-like
aliens. Whereas the Autons were slow and uncoordinated, the Tengobushi
are lightning bruisers that, while not quite on the level of Weeping
Angels, still manage to give the UNIT team a run for their money. I
should mention that they only become entertaining at the halfway mark.
Before that, they kept reminding me of the Autons in that they didn’t
seem to do much except be minions for somebody else. Thankfully this
changes in episode 3.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you’ve listened to UNIT: Extinction, then you’ll have noticed that
a lot of the same plot formulas get recycled, albeit in more inventive
ways. Because of this, the box set does run the risk of alienating
listeners who want something completely new every season. But hey, if it
ain’t broke…</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So which set is stronger I hear you ask? Well unlike Doom Coalition
where S1 was excellent/S2 was meh and The War Doctor Adventures where S1
was meh/S2 was phenomenal, I can honestly say that UNIT: Shutdown
carries the same creativity and entertainment value that it’s
predecessor does. It is thoroughly entertaining, it is spellbindingly
fun to listen to and I highly recommend you pick it up. You won’t be
disappointed.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In November the UNIT folk get their ‘mind wiping’ comeuppances when
they take on the…the…sorry readers. It’s just that…I seem to have
forgotten the name of UNIT’s next adversary. Give me a moment of Silence to jog my memory…</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s1600/new.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s200/new.jpg" width="146" /></a><br />
<br />
Don't forget to pick up your copy of my new novel "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deathday-Clock-Anna-Zanozina-ebook/dp/B01K211XQ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470747294&sr=8-1&keywords=deathday+clock#nav-subnav">Deathday Clock</a>".<br />
<br />
Sebastian Strange comes under attack by a mysterious assailant with
resources both financial and temporal. The only thing keeping him alive
is a fob watch which can predict his time of death.<br />
<br />
Available now at
Amazon for $6,83.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-26754232924425308192016-08-15T10:51:00.000+02:002016-08-15T10:51:02.634+02:00REVIEW - TORCHWOOD: MOVING TARGET/BROKEN<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Moving Target</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/torchwood-big-finish-movie-target-suzie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="torchwood-big-finish-movie-target-suzie" border="0" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-80909" height="356" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/torchwood-big-finish-movie-target-suzie.jpg" width="570" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Episode 4 of Big Finish’s second season of Torchwood brings back Indira Varma’s Suzie Costello in <em>Moving Target</em>,
written by Guy Adams. It also features Alex, played by Naomi McDonald, a
human caught up in an extraterrestrial game hunt. Her only hope of
survival? You guessed it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I’m going to be brutally honest and say that choosing Suzie Costello
to return feels like scratching the bottom of the barrel. I never liked
the character on television. Suzie made so little impression on me that I
had to go look up who she was on Tardis Wikia when it was announced
she’d be returning. But Big Finish has turned redeeming nonredeemable
characters into an art form so I was willing to give <em>Moving Target</em> a shot. Suffice to say they missed.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This story’s biggest flaw is perhaps the fact that it makes a really
unlikable character the star and partners her with an equally annoying
co-star. But credit where it’s due. Naomi McDonald plays a really
realistic Alex. To the point where I wish she’d been a little more
animated. Alex at times made the story feel like a gritty reality show.
Nicholas Burns plays the Referee, really pompous, but tremendously
entertaining character who mocks and ridicules the cast in a very Dream
Lord-esque manner.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The plot is really creative I will grant you. Freezing time so a
bunch of alien game hunters can hunt down a human prey for sport feels
ordinary, but I can’t recall another Doctor Who story which featured
this as the main plot. Unfortunately, the story contradicts itself
really badly when Suzie questions the legality of killing people all
willy-nilly. The Referee answers that they are within their legal
rights, but the story ignores the THING which sent the Atraxi packing in
<em>The Eleventh Hour</em>: Earth is a level-5 world. Hunting for sport
should be illegal given this status and for some reason this stayed
with me throughout the episode.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The narrative itself is quite predictable. It doesn’t take a genius
to predict the climax, but I will toot my own horn and say I got to the
answer roughly thirty minutes before it actually happened. If you’ve
watched episode 1 of Torchwood, you should be able to as well.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The story itself drags in the middle, as though the writer wasn’t
sure how to move the narrative from its current point to the next. This
makes Moving Target feel like a much longer story than it actually is.
In fact, this story could’ve been condensed to thirty minutes. It
would’ve done wonders for the pacing.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<em>Moving Target</em> provides a lot of foreshadowing to Suzie’s eventual fate, to the point where you could say that the reason <em>They Keep Killing Suzie</em> happened is because of <em>Moving Target</em>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For the most part, this story is filler, but not one of my
favourites. It would be worth your time if you’re a fan of Suzie
Costello, but you don’t run the risk of missing any important
information regarding the Committee, who seem to be slowly transitioning
into a throwaway line as opposed to an actual character(s).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Broken</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/torchwood-broken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="torchwood-broken" border="0" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-80910" height="356" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/torchwood-broken.jpg" width="570" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Joseph Lidster presents…<em>Broken</em>! A better name for this story
would’ve been ‘Fixed’ as this is exactly the kind of story I needed to
hear to get those Torchwood juices flowing. <em>Broken</em> in many ways
embodies what Torchwood is about. It has heart. It has soul. Great
character dynamics, real world problems and a careful handling of
sensitive matters. I’ve never been that hardcore of a Jack/Ianto fan,
but I suspect had this story made it into Season One in 2006, I might
just have turned out to be one.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ever wondered how Ianto forgave Jack for killing his Cyber-girlfriend
in that ridiculously stupid Cyber(wo)man episode? How do the Torchwood
team cope with and adjust to the things they’ve seen? If a bunch of
cannibals almost cut you up, would you be able to brush it off and head
back into work the next morning with a huge smile on your face? Probably
not, but how long would it take? What would it take? <em>Broken</em> asks and answers most of these questions in an emotionally fragile, but sympatric story which did make me bawl at least once.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The majority of this story takes place in a pub with a glass of
alcohol in hand, but quickly takes the listener on a trip inside the
mind of one of the most messed up characters in Torchwood – Ianto Jones.
<em>Broken</em> highlights just how miserable, depressed and frustrated
he really is, as well as people like him. At times it may come across
as a grown man whining and complaining about stuff adults should be used
to, but aren’t we all like that? How many days end with us complaining
about our boss to our family and friends? Well Ianto doesn’t really have
much in the way of family (or does he), so he does what any other
person in his position has been known to do…complain to the girl who
serves you your drinks. And I must say that the conversations between
Gareth’s Ianto and Melanie Walters’ Mandy Aibiston were really good.
Real, proper, 3-dimensional discussions. It’s sort of the opposite of <em>Moving Target</em>
which somehow tried to be too realistic and gritty. Broken always feels
like a piece of fiction, but a really believable, ‘real’ piece of
fiction.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I didn’t listen to the trailer for <em>Broken</em> so I had no idea
what it would be about, but Lidster’s script succeeds in making you feel
so many different emotions, all at the right time. It really is one of
the best character stories we’ve had.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And that’s not even touching the plot twists. While not as plentiful
as some others, Lidster’s script did manage to throw me for a loop more
than once. The man has a way with a narrative curveball, but that’s no
surprise given his previous scripts such as <em>The Reaping</em> (darkest Cybermen story EVER), <em>Master</em> and <em>The Nightmare Man</em>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I highly recommend you pick up <em>Broken</em>, but be warned it’s even more completely standalone and filler than <em>Moving Target</em>. But at least the characters are more likable.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s1600/new.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s200/new.jpg" width="146" /></a><br />
<br />
Don't forget to pick up your copy of my new novel "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deathday-Clock-Anna-Zanozina-ebook/dp/B01K211XQ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470747294&sr=8-1&keywords=deathday+clock#nav-subnav">Deathday Clock</a>".<br />
<br />
Sebastian Strange comes under attack by a mysterious assailant with
resources both financial and temporal. The only thing keeping him alive
is a fob watch which can predict his time of death.<br />
<br />
Available now at
Amazon for $6,83.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-84886862132016801052016-08-14T10:41:00.002+02:002016-08-14T10:55:37.731+02:00REVIEW - GHOST MISSION<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/bfptwcd09_ghost_mission_cd_dps1_cover_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/bfptwcd09_ghost_mission_cd_dps1_cover_large.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Big Finish has made a career out
of redeeming characters who, in the audience's mind, don't even deserve a
second glance. This is evident in Mel Bush, Nyssa of Traken, Osgood and Kate
Stewart (in my ex-opinion) and most appropriately - the Sixth Doctor. They have
not only redeemed these characters, but have gone to tremendous lengths to make
audiences crave more of them. In my case, as an advent listener of Big Finish,
I proudly declare that the hits far outweigh the misses. But I also say: I knew
they'd slip up eventually.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghost Mission</i> takes Andy Davidson, Gwen's socially awkward
friend/half-comic relief/half-something else and puts him through the Torchwood
recruitment process. Thankfully this doesn't involve a written test, just your
run-of-the-mill highly dangerous field assignment. This involves teaming him up
with a semi-helpful, but always entertaining to listen to sidekick/supervisor Norton
Folgate, a ‘ghost’ from the Torchwood Institute in the 1950s. Seems a tad
extreme using ‘time travel’ just to supervise a test if you ask me. How about
predicting and preparing for the death and destruction of your institute? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghost Mission</i> at its core feels like that page-length mathematics
exam question which takes so long to complete, all for an answer you worked out
in your head after studying the question for a minute. To make another long
story short, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghost Mission</i> is a
contrived tale whose only purpose is to answer one very important question/Committee
tie-in near the end. That’s it. What could’ve been a simple throwaway line is
given a full hour of storytelling time.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Getting to the actual story, it's
not very memorable, but the manner in which various obstacles are solved do
have to be commended. I also praise the interaction between Andy and Norton.
Despite my reservations, they do make a good team, though Samuel Barnett’s
Norton steals the spotlight from Tom Price’s Andy in more scenes than I care to
count. Norton himself at times feels like a discount-Jack Harkness, though he
does possess his own unique quirk and charm which helps shrouds that
comparison.</div>
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The script does dive into Andy’s
motivation for joining Torchwood and sheds a little light on him as a person,
but not enough to win someone like me over to his side. While I admire the background
we’re privy too, Andy goes into the story one way and makes it out the other
side exactly the same. Does he pass the Torchwood exam? Spoilers people!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
If you were a fan of Andy on the
television series, chances are good that you’ll enjoy his performance here, but
this story doesn’t do a good enough job redeeming this character the same way
Big Finish has done for Colin Baker’s Doctor who is not considered the best
Doctor on audio or Osgood who many here know I used to dislike with extreme
prejudice before UNIT: Extinction was released. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Ghost Mission is good, clean,
popcorn eating fun. It’s not too serious and it’s not overly deep. It is what
it is. But it is definitely the poorest story in series two so far, but maybe
that will change next month when we visit whatshername…Suzie Costello! That
girl Gwen replaced in series one, episode one. As of right now, I don’t know
what to make of the news as like Andy, I don’t particularly care about Suzie,
but then again, I didn’t care about Osgood either…and look what happened. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s1600/new.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s200/new.jpg" width="146" /></a><br />
<br />
Don't forget to pick up your copy of my new novel "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deathday-Clock-Anna-Zanozina-ebook/dp/B01K211XQ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470747294&sr=8-1&keywords=deathday+clock#nav-subnav">Deathday Clock</a>".<br />
<br />
Sebastian Strange comes under attack by a mysterious assailant with
resources both financial and temporal. The only thing keeping him alive
is a fob watch which can predict his time of death.<br />
<br />
Available now at
Amazon for $6,83.<br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-87703883031926956892016-08-14T10:41:00.000+02:002016-08-14T10:41:04.270+02:00REVIEW - VAMPIRE OF THE MIND<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/bfpdwcd212_vampire_of_the_mind_cd_dps1_cover_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/bfpdwcd212_vampire_of_the_mind_cd_dps1_cover_large.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a><br />
It’s Colin Baker vs Alex MacQueen
in this second instalment of Big Finish’s Two Masters Trilogy and the only
thing that could’ve possibly made this series even cooler would’ve been to
throw in another Master, but for now, I’ll settle for two.<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vampire of the Mind </i>is very different from its predecessor, in both
tone and genre. Whereas <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And You Will Obey
Me </i>was more of an urban thriller with some eerie suspense, mystery and a
touch of nightmare fuel added to the mix, this story feels more like a Classic
Era episode of Doctor Who. It does feel as though it is deliberately trying to
do as many things differently than its predecessor, such as introducing the
Master fairly early on, using another type of Master plot (steal the Doctor’s
lives, kill him, take over the world) and these elements, coupled with
MacQueen’s portrayal, fits. I adore listening to Alex MacQueen. He is
fantastic. I don’t want him introduced halfway through the tale. It works for
Beevers’ Master because that fits that portrayal of the Time Lord. Beevers’
incarnation is creepy and nightmarish, but MacQueen’s is flippant and charming
and needs to have all the attention on him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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I can’t really say which of the
two stories is better as they feel as though they are on the same wavelength.
What does helps <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vampire of the Mind</i>
is the fact that the audience is maybe/maybe not (not a tease, I’m just not
entirely sure) given a tease about how this incarnation came to be. MacQueen’s
portrayal feels a few degrees off his usual trajectory, reflecting well on the
fact that this Master is recently regenerated and may not be fully developed.
This makes the story more interesting because we as the viewers haven’t really
ever seen post-regeneration trauma from the Master’s point of view. Simm’s
incarnation seemed to find his baring fairly quickly. Introducing the Master as
uncertain of himself provides a fascinating insight into his inner workings
without alienating him from what we’ve come to expect. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I actually prefer stories in
which the Doctor travels alone. I don’t want it to happen all the time, but
once or twice a season can’t hurt. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vampire
of the Mind</i> cheats this formula a bit by giving us a non-companion
companion in the form of Heather Threadstone, the daughter of one of the
Doctor’s friends and someone who unlike most of the Doctor’s companions, enters
the story fully aware of things like regeneration, time travel and that the
Doctor is an alien. This not only spares us so much exposition and recycled
dialogue, but also allows us to see a Companion/Doctor dynamic that already has
a foundation, even if we haven’t seen it develop yet. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Heather doesn’t have much of a
personality, but she is fun to listen to, if a bit generic, but the fact that
Kate Kennedy and Colin Baker have such great chemistry together certainly
helps. And this carries over into the script as while a bit generic, Heather is
given fantastic dialogue and banter with a very televisiony Sixth Doctor (my
favourite aspect of him). The Doctor is proud and egotistical, but the script
allows each and every one of his verbal punches to land on a truly comical note
that brought wide grins to this reviewer’s face. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Speaking of chemistry; Colin
Baker vs Alex MacQueen: A match made in heaven. MacQueen seems to be the go-to
incarnation for meeting Doctors out of order, even admitting he’d also like to
take on David Tennant’s incarnation (please make this happen Big Finish). Some
of you are asking: How can the Seventh Doctor not know who the Master is in
future stories if he met him in his sixth life? The answer should be obvious
and not much of a spoiler. The Doctor either gets amnesia, the Master disguises
himself or never interacts face-to-face with the Doctor. So which one is it you
ask?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Spoilers…</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vampire of the Mind</i> expands on the ongoing Master story. It seems
he was attacked in his past by some unknown forces, perhaps the forces that
were chasing him in the previous story, which seems odd as that Master was pre-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Keeper of Traken</i> while this Master is
post-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mastermind</i>. What’s going on?
What happened to the Master? What’s in store for Sylvester McCoy next month
when the Seventh Doctor has to stand his ground against not one, but two
Masters?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Rating this story: 9.5/10.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s1600/new.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s200/new.jpg" width="146" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Don't forget to pick up your copy of my new novel "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deathday-Clock-Anna-Zanozina-ebook/dp/B01K211XQ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470747294&sr=8-1&keywords=deathday+clock#nav-subnav">Deathday Clock</a>".<br />
<br />
Sebastian Strange comes under attack by a mysterious assailant with
resources both financial and temporal. The only thing keeping him alive
is a fob watch which can predict his time of death.<br />
<br />
Available now at
Amazon for $6,83.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-65085380286600082782016-08-09T15:04:00.001+02:002016-08-14T10:35:33.537+02:00NOW AVAILABLE: DEATHDAY CLOCK!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s1600/new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s640/new.jpg" width="470" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hey guys!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Just wanted to share the good news. My novel "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deathday-Clock-Anna-Zanozina-ebook/dp/B01K211XQ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470747294&sr=8-1&keywords=deathday+clock#nav-subnav">Deathday Clock</a>" is finally available on Amazon for $6.83. This Murder Mystery/Time Travel adventure revolves around Sebastian Strange who invents the Deathday Clock, an instrument which can predict his exact time of death. This is awesome as someone is stalking him in not just three, BUT four dimensions.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Official synopsis reads:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>"Fifty years ago, the Pride murders began. Men, women and children were brutally massacred in their homes and in the streets. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br />Twenty years ago, Sebastian Strange is born, signalling an end to the killings. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br />Five years ago, having survived numerous attempts on his life;
Sebastian develops the Deathday Clock: An instrument capable of
predicting his exact time of death.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i> </i><i><br />Now, Sebastian finds himself attacked by friend and foe alike. Matters turn dire when the Deathday
Clock keeps defaulting to the same ninety day period. Sebastian only has
three months to discover how and why this is happening or risk a final,
permanent end."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-37514067499057557052016-07-02T15:25:00.001+02:002016-08-14T10:38:51.165+02:00REVIEW: THE TWO MASTERS<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/bfpdwcd213_the_two_masters_cd_dps1_cover_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/bfpdwcd213_the_two_masters_cd_dps1_cover_large.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Ladies
and gentlemen, boys and girls. I present to you Big Finish’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blink</i>. Their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pandorica Opens</i>. Their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Impossible
Astronaut</i>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Doctor’s Wife</i> and
their answer to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heaven Sent</i>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Avengers</i> of audio dramas, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Breaking Bad</i> Season 5 of television. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Two Masters</i> rates so highly that
this will be less of a review and more or an entire article dedicated to me
fanboying over what might possibly be the greatest Big Finish story they have
every produced.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">If
it sounds like I’m exaggerating, I’m not. You know how you meet someone who
doesn’t know what Doctor Who is and you want them to watch it? You make them
watch one of the aforementioned. THIS IS THAT STORY! If you have a friend who
has never listened to Big Finish, you make them listen to this one. It’s that
good!</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">This
is partly due to the fact that in over fifty years of Doctor Who, nobody has
ever thought ‘hey, let’s do a story with multiple Masters’. This is a crying
shame. Thankfully can Big Finish not only claim to have beat the television
series to this particular storyline, they can proudly declare that they did
such a tremendous story a tremendous honour. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">The
Seventh Doctor goes up against two Masters in a story with more twists and turns
than a rollercoaster. It’s Doctor vs Master, Master vs Master, Master vs Doctor
vs Master! All the possible combinations exist and they are a delight to listen
to. If you thought the Doctors were dysfunctional when they meet up, you ain’t
seen nothing yet. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">There
is no imbalance or favouring of Masters here. Both incarnations get their fair
share of screen time, as well as interactions with both one another and the
Doctor. Alex MacQueen and Geoffrey Beevers play off each other as well as David
Tennant and Matt Smith. Truly a dream team!</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Getting
to the actual story, this is a pretty epic one as far as productions go. If
we’d gotten this multi-Master story with Michelle Gomez and John Simms instead
of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hell Bent</i>, my faith in the
television series would be unbreakable. Hire John Dorney to write for the
television series! <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Two Masters</i> is
a season finale level story. The stakes are there, the plot twists continue to
entertain and the whole thing just feels like it might be Big Finish’s final
ever story. It carries that gravitas.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">As
for the actual plot, let’s just say my speculations in my last articles were
promptly turned on their heads. I was so surprised by what we got in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Two Masters</i> and how that tied into
the previous entries that it managed to boost my overall enjoyment of those
titles. There are definitely a couple of ‘rewatch’ bonuses in this series.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">I’ll
continue to compare this story to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Day
of the Doctor</i> because not only does it feel like two stories in a class of
their own, but because this story also went out of its way to fix a couple of
continuity mysteries in the Master’s timeline. We are privy to a little overdue
back-story which comes in the form of a very unusual duel between two
not-gonna-name-them Time Lords. The scene is perhaps the highlight of the
entire series and also helps solidifies something I mentioned as only existing
before as headcanon in my Masterology series. This is just one fan-pleasing
moment on top of a series of fan-pleasing moments.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">I
can’t talk about this story without mentioning Sylvester McCoy. Likewise I
believe that this is the greatest performance he has ever given and I am very
much on cloud-9 over the fact that out of all the Doctors, manipulating old
Seven gets to dirty his hands when he goes up against the Old and New Masters.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">But
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Day of the Doctor</i> isn’t perfect,
and neither is one. From the moment I heard her in the trailer, I knew I wasn’t
going to like Jemima and hearing that she might become the Doctor’s new
companion dashed some of the hope I had for this episode. Unfortunately I was
not wrong. She is a terrible character. Good news though, she is barely in this
story at all. It’s as if the plot itself decided to exile her which sits just
right with me.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">This
is perhaps my only real complaint concerning this title. Like Sherlock and
Moriarty, Flash and Reverse-Flash, the conflict/admiration between the Doctor
and the Master have always been a <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">favorite</span> of mine. I am truly proud and <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">honored</span> to have listened to this story and to this series in general. It
serves as a constant reminder of the excellent quality that Big Finish puts out
again and again. It is one of the many reasons I prefer the audio series to the
television series at the moment.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Reading
this, you might have your personal preferences for a particular series or
Doctor, but this series is truly worthy of your time. It well worth the cost of
admission and there is little to no doubt that you will finish this series with
a wide grin on your face.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Rating
this story: Out of 10…11!</span></span></span><br />
</div>
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s1600/new.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s200/new.jpg" width="146" /></a><br />
Don't forget to pick up your copy of my new novel "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deathday-Clock-Anna-Zanozina-ebook/dp/B01K211XQ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470747294&sr=8-1&keywords=deathday+clock#nav-subnav">Deathday Clock</a>".<br />
<br />
Sebastian Strange comes under attack by a mysterious assailant with
resources both financial and temporal. The only thing keeping him alive
is a fob watch which can predict his time of death.<br />
<br />
Available now at
Amazon for $6,83.<br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-6662542966319212162016-04-16T11:51:00.002+02:002016-08-14T10:42:20.694+02:00REVIEW - AND YOU WILL OBEY ME<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/dwmr211_andyouwillobeyme_1417_cover_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/dwmr211_andyouwillobeyme_1417_cover_large.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">After half a century of traveling in space and
time, Doctor Who finally gives fans what we've all sought after for so long. <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">O</span>r
more specifically, Big Finish does. 2016 marks the return of not just one, but
TWO Masters - AT THE SAME TIME!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And because this is Big Finish and these guys love
their fanservice, we don't just get two Masters in one story event. Nope! We
get a trilogy of tales. If Big Finish can give us three interlinking stories
culminating in a Multi-Master face-off then my mind cannot work out why the
television series couldn't have managed it first. There are certainly more than
enough Masters to go around and the television series is the parent program for
all intents and purposes. But putting that aside, <i>And You Will Obey Me</i> kick-starts
the trilogy by pitting the Old Master (played by Geoffrey Beevers) against
Peter Davison's Fifth Doctor. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Master: wanted for crimes without number, across five galaxies.</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Master: escaped his pursuers. Last known location: rural Hexford, England,
Earth.</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Master: dead and buried in an unmourned grave, in a lonely churchyard.</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">...Apparently.</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Before we begin...really Big Finish? I understand
flipping photos to make the covers look different, but Peter's celery is on the
WRONG side! That's a big eyesore!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now that we have that out of the way, this story
doesn't pull any punches and features one of the eeriest opening episodes in
recent memory. I attribute this to the glorious soundtrack. It really helps
craft a dreary, almost deathly atmosphere which comes and goes depending on the
scene, but is instantly able to darken the mood whenever it needs to. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Master is dead and the whole universe is
gunning for his TARDIS. Alan Barnes' script is chalk full of interesting
characters and the scenes, coupled with a soundtrack which paints a very
macabre tale of death and desperation. This is a really intricate tale with
lots of balls in the air and lots of layers that are gradually peeled away,
just not in the right temporal order which gives it a very timey-wimey feel.
There is also actual timey-wimey involved (little bit) for the time travel
enthusiasts but unlike most stories, it can be a little hard to grasp at first.
Though once you do you feel like kicking yourself for taking so long to do so.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I didn't
care much for the bounty hunters, specifically the first ones that showed up in
episode one. It felt like another generic bug-alien monster which made so
little impact that even the story itself quickly locked them out of the plot,
only letting them back in when it was convenient. This I can forgive though because
as I mentioned, they are not that prominent and the overall strength of the
rest of the story more than makes up for it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One of
this story's strongest aspects is the characters. A lot of focus is given to
who these guest characters are and in a lot of ways; they feel just as
important as the Doctor without stealing his spotlight. I must admit that I
started out with my default "meh" when it comes to guest characters
(I really just care about the Doctor and his companions), but as the story
progressed, I discovered as I do sometimes that I really truly like and care
about these characters and the struggle the Master puts them through. As I
mentioned, their relationship with him feels just as important, if not more so
than the Doctor's.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The threat of the Master is always present in this
story, right from the get go, even if he isn't in the scene, but when Geoffrey
Beevers does appear, he steals the spotlight from right under Peter Davison's
nose. His incarnation was made for this story. No other Master could've pulled
this off like Beevers' delightfully devious interpretation. This is fact! While
other actors/actresses usually have to prove their evil with some
psychotic/evil deed, all Beevers has to do is open his mouth and let the evil
breathe. He is absolutely terrifying in this story. I can't wait for him to
meet his future incarnation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even after
listening to<i> And You Will Obey Me</i>, I still can’t work out what the
overarching plot for Multi-Master trilogy is going to be. Every Multi-Doctor
arc so far has done a fairly amicable job letting viewers know what to expect
from future installments, but with this installment, I can't see past the
perception filter Alan Barnes has placed on it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Time
placement for this story: For the Doctor, it takes place after <i>The Awakening</i>,
specifically when he leaves Little Hodcombe. For the Master, if you're counting
appearances in order of release, then it takes place after <i>Death Match</i>,
but sometime before <i>The Keeper of Traken</i>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Next
month sees Colin Baker's Doctor face off with Alex MacQueen's Master in Vampire
of the Mind, the second entry in this multi-Master trilogy. As for <i>And You Will
Obey Me</i>, I can sum up my final thoughts in one simple sentence: "I am the
reviewer and you...will buy this story."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rating
this story: 9.5/10</span></div>
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<br />
Don't forget to pick up your copy of my new novel "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deathday-Clock-Anna-Zanozina-ebook/dp/B01K211XQ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470747294&sr=8-1&keywords=deathday+clock#nav-subnav">Deathday Clock</a>".<br />
<br />
Sebastian Strange comes under attack by a mysterious assailant with
resources both financial and temporal. The only thing keeping him alive
is a fob watch which can predict his time of death.<br />
<br />
Available now at
Amazon for $6,83.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-53685064489946078332016-04-14T12:18:00.002+02:002016-08-14T10:42:31.518+02:00REVIEW - TORCHWOOD: VICTORIAN AGE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/news/twab0201_thevictorianage_1417_image_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/news/twab0201_thevictorianage_1417_image_large.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Like the Time War before <i>The Day of The Doctor</i>, Torchwood
before the 2000s could be compared to that dark legend you hear about
something and want to know more about, but at the same time you can’t
help but believe that like magic tricks, knowing what makes the legend
so daunting and dark in the first place will spoil the ‘magic’ so to
speak. Big Finish chooses to take a gamble on this philosophy and give
us a look into Torchwood in its early days with <i>The Victorian Age</i>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The first noticeable thing you’ll discover in this story is a more
toned down Jack Harkness. While he is still the same flirtatious ex-time
agent with shades of his famous charismatic charm and finesse, <i>The Victorian Age</i>
does make him feel more relatable in how careful he is when he speaks,
especially to people higher up in authority. This is important as he is
not in charge of Torchwood. He can’t afford to have that regular boss
attitude he had in the TV series. He is simply an <i>agent </i>of
Torchwood and in many ways he is just a drone or a simple employee. A
number on a page if you will. Though in this case, a number with quite
the reputation as Queen Victoria finds out.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While the beard is a little too on the nose, I do believe showing us
this side of Harkness was a good move. While the story doesn’t really
dive into his life simply being an agent of Torchwood, it does feel like
you’re listening to a different sort of Jack Harkness, but not one that
is so different that it alienates you from the character. Different in a
good way.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Tooth and Claw</i> was my first proper Doctor Who story. The only other thing I watched of Doctor Who was <i>The End of The World,</i>
which I thought was rubbish and didn’t finish, so I didn’t bother with
the series until I happened to tune in to Series Two. However, I have
never liked the portrayal of Queen Victoria in Doctor Who. I am not a
historian so I only know as much as I am shown, but I thought Victoria’s
behaviour in banishing the Doctor and setting him up as the enemy of
the crown was such a disgusting and disrespectful thing to do after he
helped save her life.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>The Victorian Age</i> unfortunately not only reminds me why I
dislike Victoria, it actually worsens my opinion of her as her behaviour
is so hypocritical here that I actually started to wonder if AK
Benedict has ever actually seen <i>Tooth and Claw </i>before writing
this story. She is so out of character and guilty beyond comprehension
of the very things she called once berated Ten and Rose that for her <i>NOT</i>
to lift the Doctor’s status as Public Enemy Number One severely
dampened my enjoyment of the story as it really felt like she was
evolving as a character in this.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The plot for this piece feels very reminiscent of <i>More Than This</i>,
except with a character switch and a different time period, but Jack
and Victoria’s conversations and cheeky snarks at one another feels much
more organic and enjoyable than Gwen and whatshisname.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are quite a few emotion moments, not only between Jack and
Victoria, but some of the side cast as well and several twists that only
make this episode stronger. The Victorian Age is easy to listen to and
like it or not, you can listen to this story without having to listen to
any of the first six stories. For the most part, its filler, but it is
still a great way to open series two of Big Finish Torchwood.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I highly recommend this title!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s1600/new.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s200/new.jpg" width="146" /></a><br />
<br />
Don't forget to pick up your copy of my new novel "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deathday-Clock-Anna-Zanozina-ebook/dp/B01K211XQ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470747294&sr=8-1&keywords=deathday+clock#nav-subnav">Deathday Clock</a>".<br />
<br />
Sebastian Strange comes under attack by a mysterious assailant with
resources both financial and temporal. The only thing keeping him alive
is a fob watch which can predict his time of death.<br />
<br />
Available now at
Amazon for $6,83.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
</div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-65718645355673466812016-03-12T00:42:00.003+02:002016-08-14T10:44:57.566+02:00REVIEW - DOOM COALITION 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;">
<img alt="river-mgcann-doom-big-finish" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-74458" height="370" src="https://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/river-mgcann-doom-big-finish.jpg" width="570" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Doom Coalition series one introduced us to one of the most if not <i>the</i>
most creative villains Doctor Who has ever produced in the Eleven, a
criminal Time Lord with a personality defect that allows all ten of his
other incarnations to live on inside his mind. Doom Coalition 2
continues the Eighth Doctor’s quest to capture the Eleven.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Beachhead</h3>
The first instalment took me by surprise by not being <i>The Impossible Astronaut</i>-esque
opener that we’re used to with these box sets. They usually tend to
drop a huge bomb on the listener to let us know that [insert curse word]
is about to go down. <i>Beachhead</i> doesn’t drop any jaws, save maybe mine…as I was not expecting a filler episode.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Doctor, Liv and Helen go on vacation in Stegmoor in 2017 where
they encounter the Voord. Remember them? From about 50 years ago in just
that one story with the guys in the diver’s outfits? Yes that’s the
one. I’ve never been a fan of <i>The Keys of Marinus</i>, but that’s
more down to it being harder for me to connect with stories that old
rather than the stupid design of the monster. As with Marinus, the Voord
are utterly forgettable and not even the remotest bit interesting.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Beachhead</i> involves a subplot regarding one of the supporting
characters and an encounter the Third Doctor had at Stegmoor during his
UNIT days, but the story dialogue makes it difficult for the listener
to tell if this is an off-screen adventure or an actual Classic story
you should already be familiar with. This constant “is it isn’t it”
completely took me out of the story at numerous points as I tried to
work out if I should have prior knowledge or not.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The story is also for the most part filler, save for maybe one piece
of dialogue that could’ve just as easily have been mentioned by
happenstance in the second episode. Helen Sinclair is also in this
story. She doesn’t do much, but she’s in it. Enough about that.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Liv is one of the story’s highlights, given that she seems to do the
most. The character has grown on me during these last couple of box
sets, but she still feels very bland as a companion and there doesn’t
seem to be the Eight/Charley, Eight/Lucie and especially Eight/Molly
chemistry between her and…oh yeah Eight!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Rating this story: 7/10</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Scenes From Her Life</h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/big-finish-doom-coalition-scenes-from-her-life-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Where
is the Eleven? Seriously, this box set is about an escaped criminal
called the Eleven. He is the breakout character so why hasn’t he shown
up yet? Oh he has? One short flashback scene doesn’t count.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The second story has the Doctor, Liv and Helen follow the one piece
of dialogue evidence mentioned in the last story and stumble into an
ancient TARDIS housing a couple of crazy people with accents so thick
and silly that half the time I had no idea what they were saying, but
they were at least interesting with a couple of cool twists that gave
this story that “slow-burn” feel.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Twitter hype surrounding John Dorney’s episode had me greatly
anticipating it, but I can’t help but be disappointed by the direction
it chose to go. Dorney introduces us to Kaleera, a powerful telepathic
Time Lady being tortured. He also uses flashback storytelling to give us
more insight into Kaleera and the circumstances that led to her present
predicament. Ironically though, she becomes less interesting as the
story progresses. She goes from being a tragic character you connect
with and sympathize with to a rather generic and flat one with no real
reason for doing what she does. She just does it because. She even ducks
the question in the next story when the Doctor calls her out on it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have finally managed to track down Helen’s purpose for being in the
TARDIS: She is there to make Liv look cool. That’s it. That’s Helen
Sinclair for you. She is Mickey Smith in <i>School Reunion </i>before
he broke everyone out of the school. She is the tin dog of this box set,
but not nearly as useful. She has the same problem in every single
story which is why I’m not going to repeat myself in every paragraph.
She is not interesting. She is not explored in any way. There is no
character development for her at all. She is quite literally the
definition of a generic companion. The box set tries to team her up with
Liv, but Helen falls into every trap, trick and pitfall laid out for
her. She has some clever lines, but it’s mainly banter as well as a
means so that Liv has someone to tell her ideas and suggestions to. The
Liv/Helen chemistry fails miserably when compared to the Nyssa/Tegan,
Peri/Erimem and Ace/Raine dynamic that has come before.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Paul McGann however is especially delightful to listen to. He anchors
the series whenever it feels like I’m being pulled too far out. He
truly is a great Doctor and his interactions with the TARDIS crew (not
his, the other one) are fun to listen to.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Rating this story: 7/10</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
The Gift</h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Arguably my favourite story of the box set. What <i>The Gift</i> lacks in the Eleven, it makes up for with creativity which is something when it comes to this third instalment.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is also the Eighth Doctor’s best story of the lot. He is mad, he
is passionate, he is everything that makes this Doctor so wonderful to
listen to and more. He truly feels at home in this story. The setting is
San Francisco almost a century before this incarnation was born and we
are treated to the most colourful cast of characters yet. Not the most
interesting, but colourful. With such a variety of American accents as
well. They still all sound like Brits trying really hard to sound
American, but it’s easily forgiven given what transpires.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Doctor and Liv are at the top of their game here; Liv naturally
taking things more seriously than the Doctor who spends half the episode
looking for a barber, but standing next to Helen, it’s clear that the
latter’s presence on-board the TARDIS has done wonders for Liv’s
character in regards to leadership and strategic thinking. Liv is the
companion while Helen is the companion’s companion. Barely.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As I mentioned, this story also somehow feels both connected and
disconnected from the box set. There are clear plot elements carried
over and introduced for the finale, but the lack of the Eleven severely
disappoints this listener. Dark Eyes had Daleks in every other episode
and we will probably never hear from the Eleven again after Doom
Coalition 4 so I have a hard time working out why the box set chooses to
build up another villain when that villain lacks the charisma, the
intrigue or even the creativity of the former.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Rating this story: 8/10</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
The Sonomancer</h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/big-finish-doom-coalition-the-sonomancer-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>It’s
about bloody time! The Eleven finally shows up, along with River Song,
but the main dilemma this reviewer has is which one of them is more
underused in this piece.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Doom Coalition 1’s <i>The Satanic Mill</i> wasn’t the best finale Big Finish has ever produced, but it feels like <i>Heaven Sent</i>
compared to this box set’s finale. I blame none of the writers for
this. Something else went wrong somewhere else because this is not what I
expected from the box set finale and it’s not at all what I wanted
either.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Note that this isn’t a bad story. None of the stories are bad stories on their own or even viewed together as <i>The Sonomancer</i>
ties the box set together, but this series feels as though it was
forced onto the Eighth Doctor and his quest to stop the Eleven. Take out
the Eleven and this could easily have been a main range series for
another Doctor. That’s how little Doom Coalition 2 has to do with the
Eleven. He shows up yes, but he is simply a lacky for the Sonomancer
when he is supposed to be the Master, the Morbius or even the Rassilon
of this series. The Sonomancer (the character) is about as interesting
and developed as the Kandyman which makes the fact that the Eleven is
their assistant even more horrendous.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When it was reported that River Song was going to meet the Eighth
Doctor in her own spin-off, I was ecstatic. She is my favourite
companion of ALL TIME and while not perfect, her scenes together with
Eight in <i>Rules of the Universe</i> made me super excited to hear
her pop up in Doom Coalition 2. But as it turns out this was simply a
clever lie on the part of Big Finish and not something I’m okay with.
River Song steals all her scenes as per the norm, but she doesn’t
interact with the Doctor at all. Yes the Doctor/River chemistry that
fuelled the hype for this crossover is non-existent.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is especially disappointing because Eight is the perfect Doctor
for River to have secret adventures with. He gets amnesia all the time
so Big Finish can just use that to avoid continuity errors.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I do hope River is used more sparingly in the future. I can
understand the pull of the character in Big Finish. She is currently the
only character who has carte blanche to meet all the past Doctors and
Song’s chemistry with the Doctor (in all of his incarnations) is one of
her greatest attractions (not counting her physical attractions of
course), but this whole thing with her being in the story and meeting
the Doctor but not really being in the story and meeting him is an issue
that Big Finish needs to address in future stories.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As I mentioned Eight has had numerous bouts of amnesia, as have Five –
and Seven! And Six for that matter! So ‘River Song’ meeting the Doctor
can easily be explained away by them forgetting they’ve met when one of
these laser-guided amnesia bolts strike.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Speaking of which, River makes mention of ‘the magician’, ‘the spiv’
and ‘the geography teacher’, referencing the Twelfth, the Tenth and the
Eleventh Doctor so this box set takes place after <i>The Husbands of River Song</i> (for her at least).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Rating this story: 7/10</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It’s clear this box set tried to go into a different direction by
removing focus from the Eleven, but in a series where he is the most
interesting player, benching the character feels like asking to lose the
game. If you don’t feel as strongly about the character as I do (if you
couldn’t tell), then you’ll enjoy this box set. Otherwise…<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s1600/new.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s200/new.jpg" width="146" /></a><br />
<br />
Don't forget to pick up your copy of my new novel "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deathday-Clock-Anna-Zanozina-ebook/dp/B01K211XQ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470747294&sr=8-1&keywords=deathday+clock#nav-subnav">Deathday Clock</a>".<br />
<br />
Sebastian Strange comes under attack by a mysterious assailant with
resources both financial and temporal. The only thing keeping him alive
is a fob watch which can predict his time of death.<br />
<br />
Available now at
Amazon for $6,83.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-76844845563783863212016-03-03T06:05:00.001+02:002016-08-14T10:58:46.078+02:00THE WAR DOCTOR BOX SET: VOLUME 2 REVIEW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/war-doctor-box-set-2-infernal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="war-doctor-box-set-2-infernal" border="0" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-80168" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/war-doctor-box-set-2-infernal.jpg" height="320" width="570" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now this feels more like a Time War boys and girls! The second War
Doctor Box Set sees John Hurt’s non-Doctor battling the Daleks across
three stories in a trilogy that feels very much like a war in which time
is the most prominent weapon available.</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Legion of the Lost</h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/war-doctor-big-finish-legion-of-the-lost-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="war-doctor-big-finish-legion-of-the-lost" border="0" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-80164" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/war-doctor-big-finish-legion-of-the-lost-300x300.jpg" height="300" width="300" /></a>John
Dorney knocks it out of the park with this first installment,
shattering any reservations I had about box set two following in the
footsteps of its predecessor. It does a fantastic job of diving into one
of the first key pieces of Time War mythos and presenting us with a
story covering the ethics of life and death. <i>Legion of the Lost</i>
is a classic. From start to finish, there is not a moment of lag. We’re
introduced to Collis – a Time Lady who meets the War Doctor on another
one of those pre-story sequences before whisking us off to the planet of
the Technomancers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You read that correctly. Techno…Magicians. If it sounds too fantasy
to be Doctor Who, fear not. I won’t spoil things, but this unique
species of aliens definitely ranks high on this author’s list of aliens
that need to be revisited.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While I had trouble connecting to Rejoice (the girl with the ironic name) from <i>Only The Monstrous</i>,
Collis and I clicked instantly. This may be due to how much development
and evolution she gets in the span of just one story. She is also a
very different kind of pseudo-companion than what we’re used to which
adds a spark of originality to the character.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
David Warner has featured in a lot of Big Finish titles these last
couple of months and he never stops being a highlight. Here he plays
Shadovar, a Technomancer and he is simply delightful in the role. Such a
waste he only sticks around for one story, but it’s a still a killer.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Overall, a perfect story if not for the discount De-Mat gun that
serves as the titular Infernal Device for this story. While not a bad
thing in of itself, to anyone who knows what a De-Mat gun is in Doctor
Who, this plot device might come off as regurgitating plot ideas.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Rating this story: 9/10. Simply spectacular.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
A Thing of Guile</h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/war-doctor-big-finish-a-thing-of-guile-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="war-doctor-big-finish-a-thing-of-guile" border="0" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-80165" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/war-doctor-big-finish-a-thing-of-guile-300x300.jpg" height="300" width="300" /></a>Continuing
on from the last story, Big Finish throws us a curveball in flipping
the War Doctor’s affiliation and overall status as a Time Lord on its
head. This also gives us a unique opportunity to learn more about the
bizarre, almost antagonistic relationship between the War Doctor and
Cardinal Ollistra.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is long overdue in my opinion as the character of Ollistra is a
deeply interesting one: a Time Lady with the thought process of the
Sixth Doctor, the cunning of the Seventh and the pragmatism of the
Twelfth. She features heavily in <i>A Thing of Guile</i>, but the plot
also does a good job of showcasing that the Doctor isn’t the Alpha and
Omega when it comes to morality and sacrifices. It’s always been
something that on occasion vexed me whilst watching Doctor Who. On the
one hand, thank whichever god you believe in that this impossible man
fell out of the sky to solve all your problems, but on the other hand,
what gives this weirdo with the bad dress sense the authority to tell me
what’s right or wrong?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The aforementioned is a big plot point moving forward in the trilogy
and both sides get to make their case which does blur the argument of
who’s right and wrong. And deep down, that’s great storytelling.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Whilst the character interaction stands at the heart of this story, the actual plot for this installment is rather forgettable.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Rating this story: 7/10.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
The Neverwhen</h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/The-War-Doctor-big-finish-the-neverwhen-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The-War-Doctor-big-finish-the-neverwhen" border="0" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-80166" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/The-War-Doctor-big-finish-the-neverwhen-300x300.jpg" height="300" width="300" /></a>Matt Fitton takes us home with <i>The Neverwhen</i>, a story whose creativity rivals that of The Eleven (the character, not the story). <i>The Neverwhen</i>
is by far the closest Doctor Who has come to showing us what a true
Time War would look and feel like and this story is one of those that is
absolutely wasted as just an audio drama. Watching this on television
would be epic. Believe it!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>The Neverwhen</i> also ties together the trilogy in a great big
red bow by drawing on several of the aforementioned “Infernal Devices”
that the box set is named after. I can’t fault the execution and the
various plot twists leading up to, as well as those following the
climax. <i>The Neverwhen</i> is the best story in the series by far.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Even the Daleks feel fresh here and keep in mind that Dalek stories
are the most susceptible to what I like to call “Dalek Decay Syndrome”.
Given that the entire War Doctor Series is basically just one long Dalek
story, it is impressive how Big Finish has managed to make them a
threat, but also use them sparingly so as not to wear us out. This
continues here and if I’m honest, <i>The Neverwhen</i> is probably one of their best outings in years.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you’re waiting for me to point out what I didn’t like about this
story, keep on waiting because I genuinely can’t. I listened to this box
set three times already and I’m still enthralled. Infernal Devices is
rich in characters, plot ideas – references! Oh my the references make
this series feel so affluent without wearing out its welcome.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Rating this story: 10/10.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This volume is a substantial improvement over the last and one I feel
disproves Russell T Davies’ words that a Time War could never be done
justice if explored. I highly recommend this series to anyone who is
iffy about or hasn’t heard it yet. It is worth every penny!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s1600/new.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s200/new.jpg" width="146" /></a><br />
<br />
Don't forget to pick up your copy of my new novel "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deathday-Clock-Anna-Zanozina-ebook/dp/B01K211XQ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470747294&sr=8-1&keywords=deathday+clock#nav-subnav">Deathday Clock</a>".<br />
<br />
Sebastian Strange comes under attack by a mysterious assailant with
resources both financial and temporal. The only thing keeping him alive
is a fob watch which can predict his time of death.<br />
<br />
Available now at
Amazon for $6,83.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-37766518240510692342016-03-02T12:46:00.000+02:002016-03-02T12:46:08.892+02:00TENTH DOCTOR ADVENTURES FIRST TRAILER RELEASED!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/the_tenth_doctor_cover_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/the_tenth_doctor_cover_large.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
David Tennant will return as the Tenth Doctor alongside
Catherine Tate as his companion Donna Noble in three Doctor Who Audio
Dramas!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And now the first trailer for the box set has been released. Check it out below:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G6K5lx4D3xE" width="420"></iframe></div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-62214118718846217482016-02-21T09:21:00.000+02:002016-08-14T10:58:25.281+02:00REVIEW - TORCHWOOD: MORE THAN THIS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/bfptwcd06_torchwood_more_than_this_cover_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/bfptwcd06_torchwood_more_than_this_cover_large.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Torchwood’s first audio series by Big Finish comes to a close with <i>More Than This</i>,
a story which sees Gwen Cooper take Roger Pugh for a
Day-In-The-Life-of-a-Torchwood-Agent ride along so that she can get the
necessary building permits approved for the new Torchwood base. She’s
resurrecting the Institute from the ground up and she isn’t letting
anyone get in her way…not even boring storytelling. </div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If I had to rank
them, I’d either tie <i>More Than This</i> with <i>Forgotten Lives,</i> or put it lower seeing as it falls flat on just about every level there is.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We’ll get the positives out of the way first as there isn’t much to praise this story for, but <i>More Than This</i>
features a couple of armor piercing arguments from Gwen over whether
goodness invites evil and vice-versa. Those scenes were my highlights
listening to the story, but they aren’t plentiful as some of the other
elements in Guy Adams’ script.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And now we get to the bad bits. If I didn’t consider it bad review
form, I’d just one-sentence bullet-point them for you, but as I do
consider bad form, let’s get to this story’s main problem: It has ZERO
tension!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
None whatever. There is never even the slightest inkling that any
character is truly in danger and this is because of another writing
issue introduced in <i>More Than This</i>: Flash-forward storytelling.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While <i>Arrow</i> is doing a good job keeping fans guessing this season about who’s going to die, <i>More Than This</i>
tells us within the first five minutes that everything is going to be
alright. These continuous back and forths also suck whatever interest
the listener accumulates and takes them completely out of the conflict.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The plot itself is uninteresting, almost like it’s parodying itself without the actual humor needed. It inverts <i>One Rule</i>
by maybe one or two degrees, but features a supporting character that
just fails to gain the audience’s sympathy. More often than not, Roger
comes across as flat and someone you wish would be killed off, if only
to add some excitement. <i>More Than This</i> feels like it’s trying
too hard to be deep and philosophical, resulting in boring character
interactions. It also doesn’t help that the season finale story feels
like an introductory tale into what Torchwood is which actually belongs
at the start of a season, not the end.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And this is a season finale for crying out loud! So why is it 100%
filler? Why do I feel as though this release and last month’s <i>Uncanny Valley</i>
should’ve swapped release dates? Maybe because last month felt like
things were reaching their climax while this month it feels like nothing
is going on.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Just because an actor provides the voice for their character doesn’t
mean they are now in-character. This is something a lot of fans can’t
recognize, but I take serious offense to Gwen’s characterization in this
story. It’s Eve Myles alright, but for half the story, including its
opening, it doesn’t feel like it. There are so many gaps in her
character’s logic, not to mention the story’s logic that I just switched
off my brain, deciding it would be better to not think AT ALL about
what I was listening to.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Lastly (thankfully), given everything that happens in this story, I
can’t help but wonder why Jack isn’t helping Gwen. They are clearly in
contact, but the story will have you believe that Gwen can be a one
woman army when the real reason is that John Barrowman is in America.
While the one main character per story has been an interesting detour
this season, I believe it’s time to get the band back together. It’s
starting to feel like the Marvel Cinematic Universe: It’s great and all,
but what are the other superheroes doing that they’re too busy to help
whoever’s movie we’re watching? They can’t all be busy right? While
season two doesn’t look as though Big Finish will change the current
format, I do hope they eventually.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s1600/new.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s200/new.jpg" width="146" /></a><br />
<br />
Don't forget to pick up your copy of my new novel "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deathday-Clock-Anna-Zanozina-ebook/dp/B01K211XQ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470747294&sr=8-1&keywords=deathday+clock#nav-subnav">Deathday Clock</a>".<br />
<br />
Sebastian Strange comes under attack by a mysterious assailant with
resources both financial and temporal. The only thing keeping him alive
is a fob watch which can predict his time of death.<br />
<br />
Available now at
Amazon for $6,83.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-78604997207818677102016-02-18T19:09:00.001+02:002016-08-14T10:58:35.710+02:00REVIEW – AQUATAINE<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/bfpdwcd209_aquitaine-1_cover_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/bfpdwcd209_aquitaine-1_cover_large.jpg" /></a></div>
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</xml><![endif]--><span lang="EN-US">The Fifth Doctor
trilogy kicks it into high gear with the second installment, delivering a very
different wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey tale.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">But an enjoyable
timey-wimey story mind though! While the genre has been almost used to death in
the Steven Moffat era, often just the same scenario with a couple of tweaks
here and there, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Aquitaine</i> manages to
dive into the same pool, but from a different angle and spends most of its time
relaxing in a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>different part of the
pool.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Near a black
hole, the Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan quickly meet robot butler Hargreaves, a very
enjoyable character as the plot begins. Before I continue, let me just say that
like Sarah Sutton and Janet Fielding, I adore Hargreaves and wouldn’t mind him
returning one day. Matthew Cottle does a spectacular job bringing him to life
and his interactions with all of the characters are fun to listen to.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Unfortunately,
other than Harry Myers’ Dr. Sergei Akunin (or Sergei Kravenhoff as I like to
call him), nobody really stands out. I’m not going to name the character in
question (let’s call them X), but Akunin feels very discount X in a lot of
scenes, but that’s alright because Myers puts in a strong performance. It also
helps (in Akunin’s case) that the plot doesn’t spend too much time on him This
works against the other characters though as you kind of want to know more
about them, if only so you can sympathize with their plight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">But real brilliance
is the plot. Aquitaine definitely feels like an improvement from <i>The Waters of
Amsterdam</i>, which in of itself was a great trilogy opener. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Aquitaine</i> though, while sounding like a really silly title for a
story, stands out as one of the best Fifth Doctor stories Big Finish has ever
produced. This is because Peter Davison stories are normally very
back-to-basics in style whilst Sylvester McCoy is the timey-wimey Doctor with
his complicated plots and overarching arcs. But <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Aquitaine</i>, like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Creatures of</i>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Beauty</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Eternal Summer</i> proves that adding timey-wimey to a Fifth Doctor
story can prove to be an enormous success and that’s what happened here.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">I can’t fault
any of the main cast, but I will say I enjoyed how Simon Barnard & Paul
Morris managed to give all three characters something important and interesting
to do. One of the problems Fifth Doctor stories occasionally run into is having
too many characters and not knowing what to do with them. Aquitaine expertly
sidesteps this issue, choosing to integrate the Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan into
different parts of the plot and allowing the audience to play connect-the-dots.
It’s a strategy that works well with this story and I can easily picture Big
Finish reusing this format in the future.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Rating this
story: 9/10. Next month’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Peterloo
Massacre</i> could go one of two ways: It could either destroy a powerful <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Aquitaine</i> in terms of storytelling, or
it can end up being massacred by its predecessor. Time will tell.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Doctor Who:<i> Aquitaine</i> is available on Big Finish's website <a href="https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/aquitaine-1048">HERE</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Note: If you liked this review, please like and share
it. If you’re interested in getting into Big Finish or want suggestions on
which stories are great, check out my ranking of them <a href="http://enigmaticblogs.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_46.html">HERE</a></span></i> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s1600/new.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAsoT5B1SarZVpoZfal0tBtDdQylRLtlDxyO7sD4tYrTcMmG8tHVIuiQgghjBSELA_7YMADKGfAm7yZgh5X0rRVKCcAMQ9YVWZfnAlL3MWFDmjz-0RAUvY6q0oQf4Zk6W0d9epwwj95v-/s200/new.jpg" width="146" /></a><br />
<br />
Don't forget to pick up your copy of my new novel "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deathday-Clock-Anna-Zanozina-ebook/dp/B01K211XQ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470747294&sr=8-1&keywords=deathday+clock#nav-subnav">Deathday Clock</a>".<br />
<br />
Sebastian Strange comes under attack by a mysterious assailant with
resources both financial and temporal. The only thing keeping him alive
is a fob watch which can predict his time of death.<br />
<br />
Available now at
Amazon for $6,83.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-1417404852946518332016-02-15T19:40:00.000+02:002016-02-15T19:40:10.089+02:00FIRST IMPRESSIONS - DAGASHI KASHI<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9me_5TnRtv6FSRuosYzUgKLhVJ9IZClJul6UlYXHLAdFHXgeemm0G33YseQbsLQQkH4W2Mt84GztToN9pNn07n2I0OEa6upj7yfCAXxtCGztX0N9AddbYwTloukfN09pHgCmKzLAig_0/s1600/CYIqYGvVAAAxAS4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9me_5TnRtv6FSRuosYzUgKLhVJ9IZClJul6UlYXHLAdFHXgeemm0G33YseQbsLQQkH4W2Mt84GztToN9pNn07n2I0OEa6upj7yfCAXxtCGztX0N9AddbYwTloukfN09pHgCmKzLAig_0/s640/CYIqYGvVAAAxAS4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">This year’s
Broadcast Dub features no less than 6 shows that I’m planning to follow
religiously. Yes, for someone as picky about their anime as I am, I was
pleasantly surprised at not just the differing content this season, but also
the voice choices.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Of the new shows
debuting on FUNImation this season, Dagashi Kashi was my first and even after
finishing all the other episode 1s, it still remains one of the weirdest anime
I’ve ever watched. It’s about a really ditzy, but comical girl called Hotaru
Shidare who visits a sweet shop out in the boonies and makes it her mission to
convince the store’s owner to join up with her father’s sweets company. The
problem is the store’s owner wants to hand over the business to his son Kokonotsu
Shikada, but the youngster is only interested in becoming a manga artist.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The show’s plot?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Well if Hotaru
can convince Kokonotsu Shikada to take over the shop, his father agrees to
Hotaru’s proposal. And so begins the hilarious hijinks of a strange
purple-haired maiden who usually misses the point comical and is completely
unaware of social norms.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">As I mentioned,
the show is quite strange. While it is incredibly funny, some of the Japanese sweet
terms and customs exhibited in this show confused me as I’m not really clued up
on them. This aspect I feel is the episode’s most damaging, especially to
viewers who aren’t die-hard Okatus. My advice to you guys, just nod and go with
it. The scene doesn’t dominate the episode. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nrIpjw05bFgQXwwIJhO4VLTY6TclNGbFUSDmvOzKpjg2efHwR4zsHdofIYsWlxSw1XGBtWSH8DlSMFByJm-OtAkIK99jO5vLzJB_vLPxngNP3489v2m-WlmizxG0yAlZj8ek4XLMaeut/s1600/CXfQAcKUEAAbSUy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nrIpjw05bFgQXwwIJhO4VLTY6TclNGbFUSDmvOzKpjg2efHwR4zsHdofIYsWlxSw1XGBtWSH8DlSMFByJm-OtAkIK99jO5vLzJB_vLPxngNP3489v2m-WlmizxG0yAlZj8ek4XLMaeut/s400/CXfQAcKUEAAbSUy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"></span><i><span lang="EN-US">"Maybe I should dye my hair lighter and move to a different show."</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">And is it just
me, or does Hotaru bear an almost plagiarist-worthy resemblance to Nene Odagiri
from Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches. I mean take a look, if not for that
perverted/obsessed expression Hotaru chooses to call her default look, anyone
would be forgiven for thinking Odagiri left one show, developed a candy
obsession and joined the cast of this one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9UCI1EwYjLRam6kfC-Yh7BCr48lpprAE4TmdFgJ-3xLMuBHMQa8hzoVrDB0yFW1fV3Ks1RmIpzmSZjeDOrLAIyMIhqFpM1oLab39hHtU-lQ_ml6a5BOIlZIBHy5cRSUsq_McJC6gJkpj/s1600/vlcsnap_2016_01_11_13h40m59s973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9UCI1EwYjLRam6kfC-Yh7BCr48lpprAE4TmdFgJ-3xLMuBHMQa8hzoVrDB0yFW1fV3Ks1RmIpzmSZjeDOrLAIyMIhqFpM1oLab39hHtU-lQ_ml6a5BOIlZIBHy5cRSUsq_McJC6gJkpj/s400/vlcsnap_2016_01_11_13h40m59s973.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>"Look closer. My hair's lighter an I have this axe-crazy look in my eye." </i></div>
<br />
Not that this is
a problem, but I did wonder whilst following the promotional previews and news
prior to the first episode’s airing.<br />
<span lang="EN-US"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Can I just say
that it sounds awesome hearing Todd Haberkorn in a FUNImation Broadcast Dub? I
don’t mean as a supporting or side character, but as the freaking MC! Such a
joy. I’d like to say his name alone was enough to hook me, but I’ve been interested
in seeing Dagashi Kashi for a while now. BUT! If I wasn’t and I heard Mr.
Haberkorn was going to voice the MC, I could claim the above.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Hotaru is voiced
by Tabitha Ray. Other than being Lucy’s doll Michelle in Fairy Tail, I can’t
remember hearing her in anything else. I believe Hotaru is her first main
character role and she is simply fantastic as the crazy purple head. Her voice
fits and she has Hotaru’s wacky, ditty personality down to a ‘T’. As much as I
like hearing my favorite VAs all the time (a complaint some fans have), I love
the idea of giving someone with not as much experience a chance to shine and
that’s what Tabitha does here, imbuing new life in this character and hopefully
this dub opens up a lot of doors for her in the future. She really stole the
show.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDWjRTdZaB_5BRsC8wROpnhu0egzQaXroioFPKmJxzWKbrRCCzLEFipuQNW1EjZoBRL0_IJ8rXRS99GGzAEidBCzPehyYgU1ScvvyfaoTQ8idhf2K3HdkPIGQrQOxsrT8jeRkSixhcusF/s1600/Saya_Endo_Stitched_Cap_%2528Dagashi_Kashi_Ep_1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDWjRTdZaB_5BRsC8wROpnhu0egzQaXroioFPKmJxzWKbrRCCzLEFipuQNW1EjZoBRL0_IJ8rXRS99GGzAEidBCzPehyYgU1ScvvyfaoTQ8idhf2K3HdkPIGQrQOxsrT8jeRkSixhcusF/s640/Saya_Endo_Stitched_Cap_%2528Dagashi_Kashi_Ep_1%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-US">"What do you mean I spilled some of it?"</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The supporting
cast fail to leave a good impression, but this is mostly down to Hotaru
highlighting every scene she’s in. Sara Ragsdale voices Saya Endo, the co-owner
of a coffee shop which Kokonotsu visits frequently. She harbors a crush on him
which true to anime cliches, Kokonotsu fails to see. As much as I adore Hotaru,
I’ve decided to ship Kokonotsu/Saya which even feels like it could happen as
Hotaru only seems to love sweets.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Justin Pale
voices Saya’s brother To Endo who also serves as Kokonotsu Shikada’s best
friend. Jeremy Innman rounds off the cast so far as Yo Shikada, Kokonotsu’s
father.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">First
impressions: 8/10. This show is going to be good for my sweet tooth and bad for
my waistline.</span></div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-45822441174243426652016-02-02T19:36:00.001+02:002016-02-02T19:36:50.829+02:00WATCH:YAMADA-KUN AND THE SEVEN WITCHES EPISODE ONE FANDUB!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://comicbastards.com/wp-content/uploads/Yamada-kun-and-the-Seven-Witches-Banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://comicbastards.com/wp-content/uploads/Yamada-kun-and-the-Seven-Witches-Banner.png" height="364" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's done! It's finally done!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
As some of you know, I've been part of a fandubbing project. I serve as the series writer/translator and I've been working for months and months on 12 scripts which will eventually be dubbed into English by my colleges.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Episode One of Yamada-Kun and the Seven Witches is now finished and you can watch it on Youtube by following here:<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BQLWaLl9lWU" width="420"></iframe>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you've never heard of this anime before, here's what it's all about:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span itemprop="description">"Ryuu Yamada is known as a delinquent in his
high school; he has been bored of classes after one year of attending
school. One day, he accidentally falls from a flight of stairs onto
Urara Shiraishi, the ace student of the school. Yamada wakes up to find
that he has swapped bodies with her! The two try to reverse the change
and discover that kissing triggers the body swap. On the suggestion of
student council vice-president Toranosuke Miyamura, they revive the
Supernatural Studies Club. The club encounters other "witches" with
different powers that are activated with a kiss!"</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Episode Two I hear is close to completion as well and will be released in the very near future. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you like the dub, please leave a comment (on the YouTube page) , like and share to as many fans so as to support these young and upcoming voice over artists. A lot or hard work went into making this dub.</div>
</div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-10395527100704160982016-01-22T06:25:00.004+02:002016-01-22T06:25:47.840+02:00REVIEW - TORCHWOOD: UNCANNY VALLEY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/twab0105_uncannyvalley_1417_cover_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/twab0105_uncannyvalley_1417_cover_large.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>Torchwood starts 2016 with a story that if summed up correctly, is a mix between <em>Random Shoes </em>and <em>Out of Time</em> with a little bit of <em>Countrycide</em>. Talk about an odd duck eh? <em>Uncanny Valley</em> proves itself to be the most unusual episode so far. But is it a success? Read on!<br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I’m going to start this review by admitting that this title was so
unusual that initially I didn’t know how to approach this review. In
many ways, despite its rare approach, <em>Uncanny Valley </em>feels, at
its core, like a classic Torchwood story from Series One which was
famous for exploring existentialism, homosexuality, bisexuality, as well
as human corruptibility. If you are a fan of these themes, you will
most certainly enjoy this title.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For the most part, this episode is a character piece and if it not
for Steven Cree’s brilliant portrayal of Neil Redmond, then this story
would’ve fallen flat on its face as Neil is the Eugene Jones of <em>Uncanny Valley</em>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Unfortunately, while this aspect of the episode is its strongest, it
is also its greatest weakness. Let me also clarify that this weakness
can be easily ignored or even made to not exist at all depending on
whether you as the listener connects with Neil Redmond and his plight.
If you’re used to seeing your protagonists at the heart of the story,
you might not take too well to this story as Jack is really only there
to listen to Neil’s story. The first 2/3s of this episode is basically
dialogue with various flashbacks (featuring more dialogue) to link you
to the emotional turmoil.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While there is action in this story, a good deal of time passes
before we get to it. While I had no trouble connecting with Neil and
didn’t mind Jack being there just for the sake of it (he could’ve been
replaced by anyone really), if it had been a less entertaining
character, I would’ve disliked this story. Basically, bias for Jack
Harkness and John Barrowman is strong in this reviewer.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
However, one of the elements that were missing in last month’s <em>One Rule</em> was the link to the Committee… or rather, the shoehorned in connection which didn’t really mean much. <em>Uncanny Valley</em>
not only reveals the ‘what’, but also the ‘how’ and David Llewellyn
manages to link it to the conflict in the story in such a remarkably
organic fashion, that my expectations for next month’s release has been
exponentially raised.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I also applaud David Llewellyn for coming up with a truly cadaverous
tale, choosing to incorporate some rather vehement, grim and sometimes
repulsive ideas which casts my mind back to <em>Countrycide</em> in Series One. This episode is definitely the most “not-for-kids” one of the lot.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Lastly…and this is not a criticism directed towards the episode in
any way, but I do find myself wondering why Gwen Cooper was selected to
end the series and not Jack Harkness in next month’s <em>More Than This.</em>
Even if Gwen is the audience surrogate, it makes more sense to have her
in this story and allow Jack to bookend the Committee story arc in the
finale (it is technically his show after all).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Unless of course this isn’t the end of the Committee…</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With the announcement of Series Two, Big Finish could very well
decide to make the Committee the recurring arch nemesis of Torchwood.
That would open up quite a few story ideas down the lines. Perhaps the
Doctor Who’s equivalent of S.H.I.E.L.D. vs Hydra?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But what do you think? More importantly, which do you prefer? Do you
want to see the Miracle Day/Committee storyline come to a final close
with loose ends neatly tied up and a new threat explored in Series Two
or do you think the Committee should stick around a little longer?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Torchwood: Uncanny Valley is available on Big Finish's website <a href="http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/uncanny-valley-1298">HERE</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Note: If you liked this review, please like and share
it. If you’re interested in getting into Big Finish or want suggestions on
which stories are great, check out my ranking of them <a href="http://enigmaticblogs.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_46.html">HERE</a></span></i><br />
<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Also, a few of us are considering starting a Youtube channel dedicated to allowing random fans who've listened to various audios sharing their thoughts together if anyone is interested. Considering that few people have recording equipment, these will be audio-only reviews (see what I did there?) so having listened to a story and having some kind of audio recording device that doesn't produce unwanted background noise are the only requirements if you want to take part. You can email me at <u>imhappygoluckytoo@yahoo.com</u> if you are interested and please tell me ahead of time which audios you'll definitely be getting this year. </span></i> </div>
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Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-11169330157230034772016-01-19T06:04:00.002+02:002016-01-19T06:04:47.995+02:00REVIEW - THE CHURCHILL YEARS VOLUME 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/big-finish-churchill-years-doctors-570x370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="big-finish-churchill-years-doctors" border="0" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-74459" height="370" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/big-finish-churchill-years-doctors-570x370.jpg" width="570" /></a></div>
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</div>
<a name='more'></a>Originally scheduled to be released after <em>The Diary of River Song</em>, <em>The Churchill Years</em>
ends up batting first in Big Finish’s New Who line-up. When news broke
that Big Finish was producing New Who content, I will admit that my
first thoughts reading the synopsis for The Churchill Years were: A
spin-off too far. While I try to keep an open mind, like UNIT: The New
Series, I didn’t have that much faith in this particular series.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Analyzing the structure of the box set, these are full cast audio
dramas, but the format borrows a little from The Confessions of Dorian
Gray, not only featuring narration by the main character to the audience
(think <em>Torchwood: The Conspiracy</em>), but also taking place in
different times in Winston’s life. There is no overarching plot, instead
standalone episodes. And I know there are a select few who hoped that
Chris, David and Matt would be providing the voices for the Doctor since
Big Finish acquired the rights and surprising fans by withholding their
involvement feels right up their alley… sadly I must inform you that
Ian McNeice in fact provides the voices for the Doctors. Better luck
next time.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
The Oncoming Storm</h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Arguably
the greatest highlight in not just this story, but the whole box set,
is Ian McNeice’s narration. Every word feels as if the man has dug it up
from deep within his soul and his delivery on even the most mundane
line sounds utterly fantastic. Like John Hurt, he is one of those actors
you can listen to all day even if they are reading out loud the most
humdrum thing under the sun.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/churchill-years-oncoming-storm-big-finish-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="churchill-years-oncoming-storm-big-finish" border="0" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-79514" height="300" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/churchill-years-oncoming-storm-big-finish-300x300.jpg" width="300" /></a><em>The Oncoming Storm</em> at its heart is a simple story. It’s not
too complicated, but also not too simple. It is a fun. This three letter
word is the best way I know how to describe it to you. It’s just fun to
listen to. It’s engaging and it feels like one of those stories you can
just listen to at any time of the day, in any mood and as many times as
you want without getting bored with it. Stories like these are in my
opinion the best kind of Doctor Who tales and because I don’t want to
repeat myself, almost every story in the box set feels like this.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Praise has to go to the unique characterization of the Ninth Doctor.
From the very first lines of dialogue, it’s clear when in his timeline
this episode is set. This is a Doctor fresh out of the Time War. He is
constantly angry and insulting. You can feel the self-loathing and
desperate desire to lash out at the closest somebody dripping from his
words. It’s similar to his no-nonsense, sardonic portrayal in <em>Rose</em>, but exaggerated to an acceptable degree.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While the villain isn’t a particularly new Doctor Who creation (to be
honest it feels somewhat lazy), it does attempt to recreate itself,
thereby making the audience feel as though they are listening to
something new-ish. The villain is fun/funny to listen to and the script
juggles that expertly by making them necessarily threatening when the
scene calls for it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This story isn’t without its flaws though, the degree of which
varies. There isn’t enough of the Ninth Doctor for my taste, which is
perhaps a good thing as McNeice’s impersonation of Christopher
Eccleston’s Doctor is dreadful. The supporting cast is also somewhat
forgettable.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Rating this story: 8/10</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Hounded</h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Following strongly from <em>The Oncoming Storm</em>, <em>Hounded</em>
not only features the Tenth Doctor, but it also provides us with a
unique insight into the psyche of Winston Churchill, specifically the
manic mood-swings he was known for. As with other stories featuring
Churchill, <em>Hounded</em> manages to add to his friendship with the Doctor, but approaches it from a different angle.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/churchill-years-hounded-big-finish-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="churchill-years-hounded-big-finish" border="0" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-79516" height="300" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/churchill-years-hounded-big-finish-300x300.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The mystery surrounding the shadowy black hound that is plaguing Churchill is well-developed and as with <em>The Oncoming Storm</em>,
the pacing feels just right. A particular highlight was the traditional
capture and interrogation scene Doctor Who is known for, though I must
admit that I principally enjoyed this one tremendously more as it felt
like one of the most realistic ones we’ve ever had.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<em>Hounded</em> also fixes the issue I had with Hetty Warner
(Winston’s secretary) in the previous story by giving her much needed
focus and also doing so without diminishing the role of either the
Doctor or Winston. She feels more 3-Dimensional here even if the plot
doesn’t dig into her past too much.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Special mentions also go out to the Tenth Doctor giving a very Seventh Doctor-like speech that is emotionally super charged. <em>The Curse of Fenric</em> is strong in this one. The resolution in this tale also feels the most satisfying and organic in the whole box set.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While <em>Hounded’s</em> supporting cast is better than its
predecessor, they are still pretty forgettable. Ian McNeice’s
impersonation of the Tenth Doctor is also just as bad as his
impersonation of the Ninth Doctor. Seriously, I can understand not being
able to get Christopher Eccleston in, but not being able to get David
in when he’s due to make his return later this year? Disappointing.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Rating this story: 9/10</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Living History</h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Winston Churchill, in the TARDIS, with the Doctor and Kazran Sardick, meeting Julius Caesar…what could possible go wrong?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Another strong installment as the box set finally breaks away from
World War II, deciding to instead adopt a more traditional Doctor Who
tone. Unfortunately, the Eleventh Doctor’s role is reduced to that of
taxi driver as he is quickly locked out of the plot, but his absence
allows for a very Laurel & Hardy feel adventure that I feel would’ve
been ruined had he stuck around.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/churchill-years-living-history-big-finish-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="churchill-years-living-history-big-finish" border="0" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-79517" height="300" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/churchill-years-living-history-big-finish-300x300.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is so welcoming having Kazran back and Justin Richards nails his
characterization perfectly, even managing to give us a little something
extra. Danny Horn has fantastic chemistry with McNeice and their scenes
together, as well as apart are highlights in my opinion. The brief
scenes with the Doctor and Kazran have also convinced me beyond a shadow
of a doubt that Big Finish needs to make a whole box set featuring the
adventures of the Eleventh Doctor and Kazran. I wouldn’t mind a
Churchill/Kazran spin-off either. If any character deserves to come back
its Kazran!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One criticism I have is that the resolution is quite predictable, but
given everything that precedes it, this can be forgiven I believe.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Rating this story: 9/10</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
The Chartwell Metamorphosis</h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After three utterly brilliant and fantastic installments, <em>The Churchill Years</em> draws to a close with <em>The Chartwell Metamorphosis</em>,
a story so incredibly frail and unfortunate that it escapes this
author’s imagination how this story ever made it into the recording
booth.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/churchill-years-the-chartwell-metamorphosis-big-finish-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="churchill-years-the-chartwell-metamorphosis-big-finish" border="0" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-79515" height="300" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/churchill-years-the-chartwell-metamorphosis-big-finish-300x300.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Whereas Kazran’s return and chemistry with Winston in the previous
installment resulted in many entertaining scenes and an overwhelming
desire for me to see Danny Horn and Ian McNeice paired up again, Holly
Earl’s return as Lily Arwell adds nothing to the plot and falls flat
even at the best of times, which isn’t very often as it is. Her
personality can be summed up as “scared girl trying to act brave”, but
most of the time, Lily just feels annoying and there doesn’t seem to be
any chemistry between her and Churchill at all. This is a case of
bringing a character back just for the sake of it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Worse than Lily, Winston’s characterization is absolutely butchered
in this final installment. I can accept the senile old grump persona as
this is Winston near the end of his life, but his actions and overall
behavior completely betrays the character of the man we’ve been
listening to for three hours.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The plot starts off engagingly enough, but soon devolves into a
convoluted mess that continuously reminds the listener of what it did to
Winston’s characterization. If it not for the fact that I had to review
and provide my thoughts on this story, I would not have bothered
listening to the whole thing, instead giving into my desire to abandon
this story halfway through.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By the fourth story, I’m convinced McNeice isn’t even trying to
impersonate the Doctor, regardless of incarnation and to be honest, it’s
about the only thing about this story I can forgive. After three
episodes, I’ve grown to accept this element, but if Big Finish chooses
to renew <em>The Churchill Years</em> for a second season – and I hope
they do – then it’s imperative that they use either the older Doctor Who
actors (4-8), or make it a point to kidnap and force Chris and the
newer actors to provide the Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Doctor voices.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Rating this story: 3/10</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Final Thoughts</h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Every season has its <em>Sleep No More</em>’s. As Doctor Who fans,
we’re used to one or two duds in our favorite seasons, and even if the
final story I feel ranks as low, if not lower than <em>Sleep No More</em>,
the three-quarters preceding it I feel more than makes up for it. I
said I wasn’t going to repeat myself, but here I am doing it twice over:
These Winston Churchill stories are pure fun. Imagine you’re favorite
Doctor Who episode which isn’t arch heavy and doesn’t take itself too
seriously. It might even be that one guilty pleasure episode…well this
entire box set feels like watching one of those episodes. I for one do
look forward to a second box set exploring the life of Winston Churchill
as he fights to protect the world not only against the Nazi menace, but
whatever else comes knocking at planet Earth’s door.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Doctor Who: <i>The Churchill Years</i> is available on Big Finish's website <a href="http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-churchill-years-volume-01-1314">HERE</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Note: If you liked this review, please like and share
it. If you’re interested in getting into Big Finish or want suggestions on
which stories are great, check out my ranking of them <a href="http://enigmaticblogs.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_46.html">HERE</a></span></i> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-48812198440043524792016-01-15T07:00:00.000+02:002016-01-15T07:00:17.621+02:00HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BE A DOCTOR WHO FAN?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/doctor-who-tardis-money-bank-570x486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="doctor-who-tardis-money-bank" border="0" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-79430" height="486" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/doctor-who-tardis-money-bank-570x486.jpg" width="570" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a>Have you ever stopped to ponder the following: How much does it cost
me to be a Doctor Who fan? How much of my hard earned money goes into
Doctor Who? How much money do I borrow from my parents to sustain this
habit? How much money does Doctor Who take off me? Well today we’ll be
looking into just how much Doctor Who there is in the world and just how
much bigger on the inside our wallets need to be to sustain this cruel
time and space mistress.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ladies and gentlemen, meet Fred! Fred is a new Doctor Who fan. He’s
recently discovered Doctor Who and after watching the whole of Series 9
with Peter Capaldi, he’s decided to embrace the world of Doctor Who. He
wants to go forwards in time with Series 10, backwards with the Classic
Series. He wants to go sideways with Big Finish, up with reading comics
books and back down again with novels. He wants his own Sonic
Screwdriver and he wants some toys (which he’ll just put up on his shelf
to gather dust and not do much with). He wants all of these things, but
he doesn’t quite have the…what do you call it? Oh yes! Money!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Fear not readers, you see Fred is a kind individual. Last week he
helped an undercover billionaire who’d been pretending to be homeless by
giving him his last sticky bread. Afterwards, the billionaire wrote him
a big fat cheque with lots of zeroes so now Fred can dive into Doctor
Who without a care in the world.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/complete-series-1-7-box-dvd-300x212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="complete-series-1-7-box-dvd" border="0" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-79431" height="212" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/complete-series-1-7-box-dvd-300x212.jpg" width="300" /></a>Fred
starts where all new fans start. He wants to go back and take a look at
how Doctor Who came back in 2005 which means, including Series 9 which
he will definitely get; Fred needs 9 seasons of complete box sets which
costs on average $65.00. That’s $585.00 in total for Chris, David, Matt,
John and Peter.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Being a Who fan costs <em>at least </em><strong>$585.00</strong> if you buy all nine New Who seasons of Doctor Who.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And after watching nine seasons of Doctor Who, barely sleeping,
bathing or eating, Fred craves more. He needs to see how Doctor Who
started all the way back in 1963. He also has to see the celery Doctor,
the scarf Doctor, the pullover one and all the other past Doctors he’s
heard so much about. He knows there are 156 classic stories of Doctor
Who which range between $13.99 and $16.99 so we’ll budget for $15.49 as a
rough average. That’s $2416.44 for the whole of the Classic Era of
Doctor Who.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Being a Who fan costs <em>at least </em><strong>$3001.44</strong> if you want to have the entire television collection of Doctor Who from William Hartnell all the way up to Peter Capaldi.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Build-Ultimate-Sonic-Screwdriver-Set-300x233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Build-Ultimate-Sonic-Screwdriver-Set" border="0" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-21905" height="233" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Build-Ultimate-Sonic-Screwdriver-Set-300x233.jpg" width="300" /></a>After
holding a complete Doctor Who series marathon and not eating, sleeping,
bathing or going to school, Fred still craves more. He still has so
many zeroes left on the cheque that he might as well accessorize his
room and his wardrobe a little.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Every Doctor Who fan needs a Sonic Screwdriver and the average cost of one of those is $16.50.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But which Sonic Screwdriver?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Might as well grab all three used in the new series and maybe two
different ones from the classic series. That’s $49.50, but Fred’s not
done. T-Shirts aren’t too expensive at $15, might as well buy four. And
we can’t forget the pièce de résistance: Cosplaying as the Doctor! These
outfits are way more expensive at $375.00 so for now one Tenth Doctor
coat is enough.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Fred’s walls are bare given the lack of Doctor Who stuff. He needs
some cheap posters that usually range from $4.00 all the way up to
$46.50. He’ll grab 7 cheap posters and one expensive, officially
signed/limited addition one and call it a day. That’s $74.50 plus the
coat plus the t-shirts plus the Sonic Screwdrivers which gives us a
total of $592.00 in merchandise.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/pandorica-action-figures-300x238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="pandorica-action-figures" border="0" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-12640" height="238" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/pandorica-action-figures-300x238.jpg" width="300" /></a>But
Fred needs something for his bare shelves. An action figure of the
Doctor will suffice. On average, they usually go for $7.50 each. He’ll
need a model of all thirteen Doctors (13) at least one companion for
each (12), plus about thirty monster action figures (30), a TARDIS (1)
and of course he needs all of the Masters for the Doctors to face (7).
With $472.50 worth of shelf-stocking action figures, Fred can rest easy
knowing that his shelf will no longer be alone gathering dust.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Being a Doctor Who fan costs <em>at least </em>$3001.44 (DVDs) plus $1064.50 (merchandise), equalling <strong>$4065.94</strong>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/12th-doctor-novels-2014-300x170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="12th-doctor-novels-2014" border="0" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-70525" height="170" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/12th-doctor-novels-2014-300x170.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Fred
is also something of a reader so if Doctor Who has comic books and
novels, he’ll be up for buying as much as he can since his bank account
balance still looks quite healthy. And as it happens, Doctor Who does
have novels, at least 60 covering the exploits of the Ninth Doctor up to
the Twelfth. On average they only cost about $15.49 so he grabs all of
them. He’ll also buy the audio versions of the novels which are even
cheaper at $9.95. There are like 20 Titan Comics out now featuring the
Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctor averaging at $12.74 per issue, so
he’ll add them to the cart as well. That’s $1616.20 for the lot.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Being a Doctor Who fan costs <em>at least </em>$3001.44 (DVDs) plus $1064.50 (merchandise), plus $1616.20 (Books, comics, audiobooks) equalling <strong>$5682.15</strong>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/big-finish-new-who-monsters-300x266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="big-finish-new-who-monsters" border="0" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-74421" height="266" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/big-finish-new-who-monsters-300x266.jpg" width="300" /></a>After
not eating, sleeping, bathing, going to school, not doing chores and
not leaving his bed in what feels like 900 years, Fred stumbles upon
this obscure article by some weirdo preaching that Big Finish is a
company which produces full cast audio dramas featuring old Doctors and
that they’ve been doing it since 1999. After speaking to his bank
manager and receiving several compliments about his account, Fred
decides to tackle this mammoth.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But where to start? He notices that the Fourth Doctor, Eighth Doctor
and companion chronicle stories which are one hour long each goes for
$8.99 if he downloads them off their website directly. There are more
than 149 stories to listen to so that’s $1339.51.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But he also wants to listen to the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Doctors
so he scrolls over to the main range, discovering that the first fifty
titles, plus 50 additional short stories each go for $2.99. The other
207 stories which make up the main range go for $12.99 so that’s
$2987.93 for the lot. It’s steep, but Fred can afford it. He’s also a
fan of Torchwood so he orders the six new titles at $7.99 each and even
puts in an order for all eight of the New Who titles Big Finish
announced earlier this year at $20.00 on average each. That makes
$207.94.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But
apparently the other box sets Big Finish releases are very good and in
just a few days, Fred will have nothing to listen to so he might as well
grab the 18 box sets including Dark Eyes and Doom Coalition at an
average price of $30.00 each. That is $5235.38 for everything. That
should be enough to lull him over for the weekend.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Being a Doctor Who fan costs <em>at least </em>$3001.44 (DVDs) plus $1064.50 (merchandise), plus $1615.20 (Books, comics, audiobooks), plus $5235.38 (Big Finish) equalling <strong>$10,757.52</strong>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
All seems right in the world until…</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/big-finish-doom-coalition-2-300x265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="big-finish-doom-coalition-2" border="0" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-74419" height="265" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/big-finish-doom-coalition-2-300x265.jpg" width="300" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A few days later when there are a lot of outraged voices and angry
knocks at Fred’s door, just as he is about to go back to Big Finish to
buy all their other Doctor Who spin-off box sets, having finished the
audio range over the weekend. The angry people outside are debt
collectors and apparently the undercover billionaire Fred helped the
other day wasn’t really a billionaire, or a millionaire, or even held a
job for that matter.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Oops!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So yeah guys, this article was just to give you an idea of how much
we actually spend on Doctor Who, be it in a year or over several. While
it is extraordinarily unlikely you’re as big a fan as Fred, it is
interesting to note just how much Doctor Who merchandise costs and how
much we give to this show we love.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I, myself only stick to audio dramas and DVDs, but there are a lot of
combinations out there. Are you someone who prefers DVDs and
merchandise, DVDs and books, just comics and books for some reason or do
you just watch Doctor Who whilst still accessorizing from time to time?
Feel free to use the averages I’ve provided (calculated from official
sources) and calculate just how much your collection is worth in Doctor
Who terms.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
* Note: If you bought all the Big Finish CDs instead of the downloads, being a Doctor Who fan would cost you about <strong>$14,737.89!!!</strong></div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-65629357716036203602016-01-14T17:43:00.000+02:002016-01-14T17:43:47.664+02:00REVIEW – WAVE OF DESTRUCTION<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -14.4pt 10pt 7.2pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/dw4d0501_waveofdestruction_1417_cover_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/dw4d0501_waveofdestruction_1417_cover_large.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-US"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -14.4pt 10pt 7.2pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Big Finish’s
January line-up continues with Tom Baker, Lalla War and John Leeson!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 7.2pt; margin-right: -14.4pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The Doctor Who
dream team if you ask me. The Fourth Doctor, Romana II and K9 probably set the
bar for great chemistry in Doctor Who and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Wave of Destruction</i> goes out of its way to showcase it within the very
first scene! It also features a pretty hilarious time travel gag which is right
up this Doctor’s alley.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 7.2pt; margin-right: -14.4pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">One of the
criticisms I had about Romana II (one of my favs) last year in the Fourth
Doctor box set was the fact that the story didn’t really need her and she
didn’t really do much. Granted, those stories were adaptations of novels so
it’s not really Big Finish’s fault. I cannot raise that criticism here though
as the scenes with deadpan snarking Romana are fantastic to listen to. She
really gets to do and experience quite a bit in this story and while it isn’t
always terribly intricate or exciting, it is still placing a character in an
alien situation. I mean the Doctor asking Romana to go shopping? Just take a
moment and imagine how those scenes went.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 7.2pt; margin-right: -14.4pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Then forget about
it because it was much cooler!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 7.2pt; margin-right: -14.4pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">I’m not going to
give away the returning monsters for this story, but I will admit that the
title of the story should raise a couple of flags, though I didn’t see it
coming until the reveal. Regardless, they are utilized quite effectively. Sound
scheme. Evil characters. All quite fun.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 7.2pt; margin-right: -14.4pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">If I’m honest,
this story’s strongest element is how it manages to give every character
something to do. This is always a potential issue with a Doctor Who story. We
accept of course that one of the roles in a story is just being around the
Doctor to ask him questions, but sometimes stories contain characters that are
truly forgettable and really contribute nothing to the plot really. I admire
stories which can dodge this bullet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 7.2pt; margin-right: -14.4pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">If I had to
identify a negative with <i>Wave of Destruction</i>, I’d say it’s too short.
Usually these episodes are thirty minutes each, but <i>Wave of Destruction</i>
barely reaches the forty minute mark I think. It also seems to continual point
to this being a two-part story which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I do
believe that this is one of those stories which could’ve been split into 2
parts even though there is nothing wrong with the pacing as it is now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 7.2pt; margin-right: -14.4pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">What I’m trying
to say: I enjoyed this story enough to want it to be longer. There! I said it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 7.2pt; margin-right: -14.4pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A definite negative for me though was the
ridiculous overconfidence of the villains which undercut the tension the story
was trying to build up on numerous occasions, indirectly assuring us that the
Doctor and company were in no real narrative danger. This is sinful as it’s
pretty clear from the acting that we’re actually supposed to be fearful for the
Doctor’s safety.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 7.2pt; margin-right: -14.4pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Rating this
story: 4/5. The Fourth Doctor and Romana get off to a good start. Let’s hope
they can keep the momentum going next month in <a href="http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-labyrinth-of-buda-castle-994"><i>The Labyrinth of Buda Castle</i></a>.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Doctor Who: <i>Wave of Destruction</i> is available on Big Finish's website <a href="http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/wave-of-destruction-993">HERE</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Note: If you liked this review, please like and share
it. If you’re interested in getting into Big Finish or want suggestions on
which stories are great, check out my ranking of them <a href="http://enigmaticblogs.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_46.html">HERE</a></span></i> </div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-75055858525955262472016-01-12T20:16:00.003+02:002016-01-12T20:16:38.140+02:00REVIEW – THE WATERS OF AMSTERDAM<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/dwmr208_thewatersofamsterdam_1417_cover_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/dwmr208_thewatersofamsterdam_1417_cover_large.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Big Finish kicks
off 2016 with the Fifth Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan!</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">The Waters of Amsterdam</span></i><span lang="EN-US">
has quite a lot going for it which makes it a great story to start off the New
Year. Taking place seconds after <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Arc of
Infinity</i>, the TARDIS team face off with the Nix, aliens made up of sentient
water. Sounds familiar right? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Well abandon any
“knock-off’ notions you made have as the Nix are not a discount-Flood. That won't stop you from undoubtedly drawing comparisons between this story and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Waters of Mars</i> because of the unique alien presence, but <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Waters of Amsterdam</i> is a completely
different story for you to sink your teeth into.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">One of the
absolute highlights of this story is Richard James’ Rembrandt (yes, that
Rembrandt). Doctor Who has a long standing tradition of really biting into the
background of their historical guest stars and Rembrandt is no different. His
characterization and especially his scenes with Nyssa will open the flood
gates. The Feels are real!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">I praise the
sound engineer for doing a smashing job rendering this story. It’s so easy to
visualize the setting and the goings-on, so much so that this story (as with
many of peter Davison’s) falls into that special category of stories I wish we
could’ve seen on television. Unfortunately, I’m not so sure how remarkable
these visuals would’ve been in 1983, but if this story was made in 2016, it
would be one of the best cinematographically speaking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Save for a bump
I’ll get into later, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Waters of
Amsterdam</i> has fantastic pacing. It also has enough plot twists and turns to
keep the story engaging from start to finish. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">This story has a
double-edged sword element though. Episode one spends almost the whole episode
setting up/explaining what Tegan was up during the time she spent away from the
Doctor and Nyssa and while these scenes are dealt with quite realistically, it
does have the potential to put people off. Don’t misunderstand: These scenes
are important, they just happen to feel like they’re delaying the plot. This is
especially true for Tegan-haters. I mean I love the Aussie Motor Mouth, but
even I felt like it was a little too much by the fifteen minute mark. I did
grow to appreciate these scenes though as the story progressed and showed us how these
plot strands from before tie together, but I still believe episode one to be the weakest of the
four and will be pretty decisive among fans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Onto the ending!
I won’t spoil anything – though we all know Tegan rejoins the TARDIS since
we’ve seen <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Snakedance</i> – no - what I’m
talking about is Big Finish almost breaking their own continuity which is
always off-putting. Longtime fans of Big Finish will know that there is a
collection of solo-Fifth Doctor Stories set after <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Arc of Infinity</i> (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Omega</i>,
plus any other solo story). While listening to this story and realizing that it
takes places minutes after <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Arc of
Infinity</i>, I was worried Big Finish might’ve forgotten this little
continuity detail, BUT THEY DIDN’T!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">I won’t tell you
what, why or how, but if you’re worried about continuity then don’t be. It all
fits together nicely!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Rating this
story: 4/5. 2016 is off to a good start<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Doctor Who: The Waters of Amsterdam is available on Big Finish's website <a href="http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-waters-of-amsterdam-1047">HERE</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Note: If you liked this review, please like and share
it. If you’re interested in getting into Big Finish or want suggestions on
which stories are great, check out my ranking of them <a href="http://enigmaticblogs.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_46.html">HERE</a></span></i> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-17504071358394399472016-01-01T04:02:00.001+02:002016-01-01T04:02:12.655+02:00HAPPY 2016 EVERYONE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.azhappynewyear2016hdwallpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/happy-new-year-3d-wallpaper-photos-2016-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.azhappynewyear2016hdwallpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/happy-new-year-3d-wallpaper-photos-2016-3.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Another year has come and gone so to finish 2015 off properly, I'd like to thank everyone for joining me here on Enigmania and I hope that you'll spend 2016 with me as well. Happy New Year and may you have an even better 2016!</div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-15768783192805614242015-12-29T21:04:00.000+02:002015-12-31T17:33:47.111+02:00REVIEW - YOU ARE THE DOCTOR AND OTHER STORIES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/bfpdwcd207_you_are_the_doctor_cover_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://www.bigfinish.com/img/release/bfpdwcd207_you_are_the_doctor_cover_large.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">2015 ends with the Seventh Doctor and Ace</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">One of the
things I look forward to most each year is the Big Finish anthology December
release. The last couple of years have really gone that extra mile and as has
often proven to be the case, this four-episode title is a great way of
introducing new writers to the world of Big Finish. It’s the Seventh Doctor and
Ace’s turn in 2015. Let’s see what they’ve been up to…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Note: Every
anthology release sees a hidden plot point linking every story in the series.
You Are The Doctor and Other Stories uses the Doctor teaching Ace to finally
pilot the TARDIS as its link.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US">You Are The
Doctor</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">I’ll admit I had
a sneaking suspicion this story would somehow be in the style of those old
2000s “Choose your own adventure”. I’m delighted I was right as this is such a
fun episode with each track acting as a page in a book and the story asking the
audience to make a choice and affect what happens to the Doctor and Ace next. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">But this isn’t
just a creative gimmick Big Finish chose to add to their story. The strange
“you choose what happens to the Doctor” thing actually has bearing on the story
and even listening to the story from track 1 to 24 does kind of make sense even
if there are several choices that lead to your death. This is a really
exceptionally writing story in my opinion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">It also makes
great use of the Porcians, the most incompetent invaders in the Doctor Who
universe. Last seen in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Fourth Wall</i>
in 2012, You Are The Doctor manages to paint them in a most threatening light
without changing their nature: Very ineffectual at EVERYTHING!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Rating this
story: 9/10 </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US">Come Die With Me</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Billed as a
murder mystery, the second episode doesn’t manage to best it’s predecessor, but
still manages to be enjoyable, giving the Doctor and Ace a rather unusual
murder mystery to solve. While Ace doesn’t really do much in this story – or
the Doctor for that matter – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Come Die
With Me</i> is still a romp and something you can listen to in whatever mood
and enjoy it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Rating this
story: 8/10 </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US">The Grand
Betelgeuse Hotel</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Big Finish falls
into the same trap twice in a month: Using the “Doctor is dead/dying” trope.
Series 9 used it to death (no pun intended), so hearing it from the horse’s
mouth (Ace) as she recounts a pseudo-Time heist style story explaining why the
Doctor isn’t on trial with her feels jaded. Thankfully scenes in the trial room
do not take up much of the plot and the plot itself is like its immediate
predecessors great fun to listen to. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">One of the
things that makes Big Finish’s stories so popular is that unlike the TV Series
where every other episode can only create tension by threatening some large
portion of the universe, Big Finish is content with isolated threats over an
immediate, but often times smaller areas. It doesn’t hype itself up to black
hole prepositions so it’s easier to come away satisfied. Every story in this
anthology is like that. Save for the first installment, they are all pretty
straight forward. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Rating this
story: 7.5/10 </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US">Dead to the
World</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The final story
features my favorite baddie of the lot. It’s also pretty obvious who they are
as the plot doesn’t even bother disguising them. No redeemable qualities, just
a pathetic, cruel and evil SOB. And yet they are effective…to a degree. They
are effective as a villain to the degree the plot needs them to be. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Though, the
fourth story does feel like the weakest of the lot, but as I keep saying, it’s
just great listening to it. The expectation for it to be great is almost
non-existent which is a plus because there is no pressure on it to do good. It
just does. While <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dead to the World</i>
pales in comparison to last year’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Curious Incident with The Doctor in the Night-Time</i>, it still manages to
close the 2015 anthology on a high note.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Rating this
story: 8/10 </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You Are
the Doctor and Other Stories</i>, like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Breaking
Bubbles and Other Stories</i> from last year, is a satisfying way to close
2015. The quality of product Big Finish has put out, especially this year, is
extraordinary. It has been a pleasure listening to their titles and I look
forward to doing so in 2016.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578464595342503125.post-23824825438635210912015-12-27T20:11:00.002+02:002015-12-27T20:11:57.342+02:00REVIEW - THE DIARY OF RIVER SONG: SERIES ONE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/the-diary-of-river-song-main-570x332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="the-diary-of-river-song-main" border="0" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-79262" height="332" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/the-diary-of-river-song-main-570x332.jpg" width="570" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I spent most of my Boxing Day in the company of the enigmatic and
always flirtatious River Song. Immediately following the delightful <em>The Husbands of River Song</em>,
I popped in series one of Big Finish’s latest New Who title and man,
what a day that was. But first let me tell you something: There is
nothing quite like nursing a River Song hangover.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
The Boundless Sea</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/diary-of-river-big-finish-the-boundless-sea-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="diary-of-river-big-finish-the-boundless-sea" border="0" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-79266" height="300" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/diary-of-river-big-finish-the-boundless-sea-300x300.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Following the traditional style of box sets, <em>The Boundless Sea</em>
has the job of setting up the four episode arc and does so in a very
satisfying way. Most of the credit goes to the casting for this story.
Alexander Vlahos (Big Finish’s <em>The Confessions of Dorian Gray</em>)
is utterly spectacular as Bertie Potts, River’s companion. We also have
Oliver Dimsdale as Archie Ferrers and the legendary John Banks lending
his wide range to yet another Big Finish story.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Story wise, <em>The Boundless Sea</em> feels very space-Indiana
Jones… or Indiana Jane, if you like. In spite of being a lot of fun,
this tale hits many potent emotional targets towards the end, courtesy
of River Song.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Those of you who are huge Benny fans (like myself) and feel as though
River is stepping on some archaeological shoes, the style of her
stories couldn’t be more different to Miss Summerfield’s. This series
sounds very much like the spin-off fans want to watch on television. The
sound and music is beautiful and convincing and the plot, while nothing
too extraordinary, does manage to put all the pieces on the board and
even disguise some of them as other pieces to surprise you with later.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The story even tries to give the antagonist some back story and while
it’s a nice sentiment to have, it doesn’t quite hit all the right
marks, but it doesn’t detract too much from the main story either. Do
not worry about continuity new listeners, the first episode goes easy on
those.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Oh and guys, there is definitely communication (and presumably enough
of it) between Steven Moffat and the folks at Big Finish. River Song
has her Sonic Trowel with her!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Rating this story: 9/10. A story which focuses more on introducing
its characters and plot rather than hyping up how good the next
instalments are going to be.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
I Went to A Marvellous Party</h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/diary-of-river-big-finish-marvellous-party-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="diary-of-river-big-finish-marvellous-party" border="0" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-79263" height="300" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/diary-of-river-big-finish-marvellous-party-300x300.jpg" width="300" /></a>Carrying
on directly after the last tale, the second story switches gears,
taking us from an Indiana Jones movie to a classical murder mystery at a
fancy party. Alex Kingston and Alexander Vlahos continue to have
wonderful chemistry. They are really magnificent. It is a delight
listening to Vlahos, whose voice recently seduced me into diving into <em>The Confessions of Dorian Gray</em> audio range.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Back to the review, there is more than one mystery to solve here. For
instance what is River Song’s husband doing at the party and why hasn’t
the bow tie wearing Doctor shown himself to his wife yet?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
At its heart though, while it is still quite an enjoyable listen,
this story feels very filler compared to the rest of the box set. It’s
only real narrative purpose seems to be a way of introducing the third
episode and its plot points.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Rating this story: 7.5/10. Not quite <em>The Husbands of River Song</em>, but still a fun romp if you like murder at the dinner table!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Signs</h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Perhaps
the most experimental, if not unusually structured story in the box
set. Big Finish’s reply to Steven Moffat’s acclaimed <em>Heaven Sent </em>I’m
thinking. The line between fantasy and reality is thinner than ever as
we finally meet River Song’s husband Mr Song, or as the rest of the
universe knows him…the Doctor!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/diary-of-river-big-finish-signs-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="diary-of-river-big-finish-signs" border="0" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-79265" height="300" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/diary-of-river-big-finish-signs-300x300.jpg" width="300" /></a>I can’t really go into anything because this story is the most
susceptible to spoilers. The plot is also very difficult to track down
initially, making sure to leave the viewer as stumped as poor Professor
Song. This makes the episode innumerably cleverer and again draws a lot
of parallels to <em>Heaven Sent</em> without feeling like you have to compare the two.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are also some genuine soft and sweet moments between Mr and Ms
Song and some rather cruel twists as well! What this story does
fantastically well is turn one of the most important plot devices in the
Steven Moffat era and horribly pervert it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If I had to find fault, I’d have to say that this story features the
poorest written – poorly preformed line in the history of Doctor Who –
for me, at least. Even Alex Kingston can’t save this grating piece of
dialogue. It’s one line, but boy it is awful.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This episode also jumps back and forth a lot, making it one of those
stories where you have to maintain constant focus or risk getting lost.
This element makes me feel as though such a story would’ve worked a lot
better as a television episode.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Rating this story: 9/10. Disturbing, humorous, touching and shattering.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
The Rulers of the Universe</h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/diary-of-river-big-finish-rulers-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="diary-of-river-big-finish-rulers" border="0" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-79264" height="300" src="http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/diary-of-river-big-finish-rulers-300x300.jpg" width="300" /></a>It
took every bit of restraint I had not to skip ahead to this story and
listen to Paul McGann’s Doctor interacting with River Song. It was
torture and sometimes made the other stories feel like chores because I
knew this story was the one everyone was really after. Naturally Big
Finish went ahead and put it last! [Insert curse word]</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As with most box sets this year, <em>The Rulers of the Universe</em>
ties the arc of series one together in satisfying fashion. River Song
meets the Eighth Doctor at a point when the Time War is starting to
reach its peak. The Doctor is trying to pick up the pieces and stop
bullets where he can, but he is drawn into a moral trap and forced to
rely on River Song’s help. There are some genuinely good bits from the
pre-War incarnation here. McGann proves he could have been the Time War
Doctor. He could easily have.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The stakes are rather high as well. The Doctor is in danger of dying
prematurely while River Song is in danger of destroying her own past if
the Doctor learns who she is. Oh and we have pre-Time Lord-esque natives
hell bent on universal destruction.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A lot happens in this final story, but it’s the scenes between the
Doctor and River that people will enjoy the most. Unfortunately, like <em>The Husbands of River Song</em>
where the Twelve/River moments only really start after River realizes
she’s with the Doctor, the Eight/River scenes aren’t as plentiful, but
they are entertaining and makes you even more hungry for Doom Coalition
2.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am also happy to say that the plot comes to a satisfying
conclusion, though this story suffers from pacing problems in the
middle. It does however showcase what a fantastic temporal tactician
River Song is. It is one of the strongest reasons why I love River Song
so much. Unlike 99% of the Doctor’s companions, she actually understands
time travel – the rules and methods one can utilize – and can use it as
a weapon when she needs to. And this is just classic River Song in
action. Textbook enigmatic! If the Eight/River scenes are the number one
thing to look out for, then this is a close number two. Matt Fitton is a
genius and really needs to write for the television series. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Rating this story: 8/10. Bring on Doom Coalition 2!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And lastly, since this is my last Big Finish review for 2015, let’s rank the box sets.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Why? Well why not?</div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li>UNIT: Extinction – 5/5</li>
<li>Jago & Litefoot & Strax – 5/5</li>
<li>The Diary of River Song – 5/5</li>
<li>Doom Coalition: Volume One – 4/5</li>
<li>Dark Eyes: Volume Four – 4/5</li>
<li>The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure – 4/5</li>
<li>The Fourth Doctor Box Set: Volume 1 – 4/5</li>
<li>The War Doctor: Only The Monstrous – 3/5</li>
<li>The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield: Volume Two – 2/5</li>
</ol>
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2015 has been one of the highlight years in Big Finish’s illustrious
career, delivering on so many levels: The Sixth Doctor’s last story,
UNIT’s redemption, The Eleven, David Tennant and Catherine Tate joining
Big Finish. These are just a few of presumably many things Big Finish
has lined up deep within their non-irritable bowels. If this is what
2015 looked like, then 2016 can’t get here fast enough!</div>
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The Diary of River Song is available on Big Finish's website <a href="http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-diary-of-river-song-series-01-1313">HERE</a>.</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Note: If you liked this review, please like and share
it. If you’re interested in getting into Big Finish or want suggestions on
which stories are great, check out my ranking of them <a href="http://enigmaticblogs.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_46.html">HERE</a></span></i> </div>
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Lucien's Lifelong Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15898827431117222648noreply@blogger.com0