A
wonderful new beginning. Three episodes that have three individual stories with
three Doctors is a wonderful way to start off and all are tied together at the
end with a little Time Lord tom-foolery. Lovely interaction between the Doctors
in episode four rounds it all off well.
Originality:
7
Characterisation
& Acting:
7
Intrigue:
8
Score:
73%
Phantasmagoria
Talons
of Weng Chiang - Meets - Visitation
Pace
& Development:
6
A
rich story with strong characters and an evokative setting. Would have made an
excellent TV story, had the budget stretched to realising the final scenes.
Originality:
7
Characterisation
& Acting:
9
Intrigue:
6
Score:
70%
Whispers
of Terror
Robots
of Death - Meets - Space Museum
Pace
& Development:
5
A
dull story that doesnt really stick in the mind. Pedestrian fare involving the
Doctor being accused of something he didnt do.
Originality:
6
Characterisation
& Acting:
4
Intrigue:
5
Score:
50%
Land
of the Dead
Seeds
of Doom - Meets - The Silurians
Pace
& Development:
7
An
enjoyable adventure with depth and texture to both the characters and the setting.
A return to tradition involving good monsters that are both unusual and interesting.
Some very dubious science overshadows the proceedings but shouldnt be allowed
to spoil the fun.
Originality:
7
Characterisation
& Acting:
7
Intrigue:
8
Score:
73%
The
Fearmonger
Survival - Meets - Mind of Evil
Pace
& Development:
4
McCoy
simply reads his script through this dismal, political, smug tedium. There is
no sense of discovery as the Doctor and Ace are one up on everything before the
start leaving the listener excluded and lagging. Its aimless plot and preaching
tone worsen the experience.
Originality:
3
Characterisation
& Acting:
2
Intrigue:
2
Score:
27%
The
Marian Conspiracy
The
Massacre - Meets - The Romans
Pace
& Development:
6
An
amusing, charming and traditional historical story in which Evelyn steals the
show. Her remarks about the historical setting being 'wrong' incorrectly imply
this is an altered-history story, leading to confusion about the plot. But this
was the only detraction from a well-written romp.
Originality:
7
Characterisation
& Acting:
8
Intrigue:
6
Score:
68%
The
Genocide Machine
Planet
of Daleks - Meets - Space Museum
Pace
& Development:
6
A
strong return for the Daleks which work surprisingly well in the audio medium.
A great idea for a moral slant but probably lacking a little in depth and smelling
strongly of many a by-gone Dalek adventure set in a mysterious jungle.
Originality:
6
Characterisation
& Acting:
7
Intrigue:
7
Score:
65%
Red
Dawn
Pyramids
Mars - Meets - Tomb Cybermen
Pace
& Development:
3
Slow,
derivative and unengaging. Ignoring the false premise that the dawn on Mars is
Red (its blue), this story has very little to commend it. Over two hours it hardly
gets started and is a sad waste of an opportunity to do something special with
a popular monster.
Originality:
4
Characterisation
& Acting:
4
Intrigue:
2
Score:
33%
Spectre Lanyon Moore
The
Daemons- Meets - The Stones of Blood
Pace
& Development:
7
A
very "traditional" romp which would have fitted in as standard fare
as late Jon Pertwee. The Doctor and Evelyn are a great team and although other
characters are stereotypes, the Brig is a happy addition and the cast as a whole
makes it enjoyable, despite the rather weak 'twist'.
Originality:
6
Characterisation
& Acting:
8
Intrigue:
6
Score:
68%
Winter for the Adept
Abominable
Snowmen - Meets - Horror of Fang Rock
Pace
& Development:
3
A
trite, aimless story that lacks energy and flare. Despite some chilling moments
and a curious setting, the downbeat music and sombre narrative create apathy instead
of atmosphere. The disjointed ending fails to satisfy. Might have been an diverting
two-episoder.
Originality:
5
Characterisation
& Acting:
5
Intrigue:
4
Score:
43%
The
Apocalypse Element - Not yet reviewed
The
Fires of Vulcan
The
Romans - Meets - The Myth Makers
Pace
& Development:
4
A
very un-memorable story with no strong features. While trying to be a "traditional"
historical story with no science-fiction elements, it never really embraces the
setting and ends up falling between two stools.
Originality:
5
Characterisation
& Acting:
4
Intrigue:
3
Score:
40%
Shadow of the Scourge
Horns of Nimon - Meets - Kinda
Pace & Development:
8
Plusses
and minuses cancel each other out in this potentially good story. McCoy and Aldred's
lack of acting ability combined with some ill-conceived sentimentality spoil an
otherwise enticing idea. Powerful baddies and an interesting setting rescue this
adventure.
Originality:
7
Characterisation
& Acting:
3
Intrigue:
6
Score:
60%
The
Holy Terror
The
Romans - Meets - Battlefield
Pace
& Development:
6
An
inventive and funny script carries this off-the-wall story into new Who territory.
Comedy Science Fiction done well is pleasing but is perhaps lacking the final
something to make it extra-special.
Originality:
8
Characterisation
& Acting:
7
Intrigue:
6
Score:
68%
The
Mutant Phase
Evil
of the Daleks - Meets - Day of Daleks
Pace
& Development:
7
Nyssa's
final lines are apt: 'That doesnt make sense' and 'I suppose you think that's
clever?'. There's so much potential but it fails to explore any of the elements
it borrows from past Dalek stories. One-dimensional characters and prosaic dialogue
further diminish its impact.
Originality:
4
Characterisation
& Acting:
3
Intrigue:
7
Score:
53%
Storm
Warning
Robots of Death - Meets - Time Monster
Pace
& Development:
6
Like
Titanic, the interest of this story lies partly in the ultimate fate of the vehicle.
A compelling premise carries this slightly ambling tale along. Clearly defined
- if stereotypical - characters help move from a strong start through to a twisty
ending.
Originality:
7
Characterisation
& Acting:
6
Intrigue:
7
Score:
65%
The
Sword of Orion
Earthshock
- Meets - Revenge of Cybermen
Pace
& Development:
2
As
dismal and backward as one hopes the new Who gets. Unoriginal in its entirity,
this epitomises everything bad about reviving the series. Stale, plodding, overly-familiar
and with a twist so predictable you're screaming the solution in frustration long
before the end.
Originality:
3
Characterisation
& Acting:
4
Intrigue:
2
Score:
28%
The
Stones of Venice
Masque
of Madragora - Meets - Castrovalva
Pace
& Development:
5
Another
story squeezed from a familar formula once again relies on a good setting and
interesting peripheral characters to keep it going. A certain flippancy throughout
underlines the certainty of a happy ending and a lends the story a rather inconsequential
feeling.
Originality:
6
Characterisation
& Acting:
7
Intrigue:
5
Score:
58%
Minuet
In Hell
Mind
of Evil - Meets - The US TV Movie
Pace
& Development:
8
McGann delivers his finest performance to date in a story so brilliant weaved
together that every scene is engaging. The roles of the Brigadier and Charley
are well used and the strands of the plot drift in and out of each other in an
enjoyable adventure with a great deal of depth.
Originality:
9
Characterisation
& Acting:
9
Intrigue:
8
Score:
85%
Loups-Garoux
State of Decay - Meets - Curse of Fenric
Pace
& Development:
5
A
mature, brilliantly-written script with marvellous characters but sadly purely
mythological and supernatural stories seem inappropriate. It is also pretty slow-moving
particularly early on and, despite much quality and many positives, the end was
very welcome.
