Cameron Mason's Reviews - Big Finish Audio Reviews Condensed

Big Finish Productions - Doctor Who Unbound

Auld Mortality
The Doctor and Susan
What if... the Doctor never left Gallifrey, and instead became a reclusive author; researching Earth's past and spurning his family's wishes... A limited range of stories begin here, with the Unbound range exploring "What if" questions, and it's appropriate that the first one goes right back to the beginning. Also appropriately, we get a new interpretation of the theme by Alistair Lock. We get a villain in the form of Quences, always concerned about the family gaining the highest position in Gallifrey and allied by Badger, the Doctor's "servant". Within the Possibility Generator, the Doctor gets caught up with Hannibal's crossing of the Alps, interfering when he only planned to be observing. Carole Anne Ford returns as Susan, a very different Susan, now facing the Presidency. It's Geoffrey Bayldon's Doctor that is the highlight of this release, re-interpreting Hartnell's Doctor with a twist. There are layers within in layers, stories within stories in Auld Mortality and it is an excellent start to the Unbound range, for which the possibilities are endless...
Preliminary Rating: 9 - 10/10

Sympathy for the Devil
The Doctor and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart
What if... The Doctor had never been UNIT's scientific advisor, but instead arrived to begin his exile in 1997... The second Unbound gives us another version of the theme, this time by Lee Mansfield; different to Alistiar Lock's interpretation, and just as good. It's the eve of the Hong Kong handover, when David Warner's Doctor finally arrives and runs into his old friend, the Brigadier. Nicholas Courtney gives us a very bitter man who had no real allies during his time running UNIT, and now running a pub and regarded as a bit of joke by his replacement; Colonel Brimmicombe-Wood, a rather abrasive man. A plane crash ties all the characters in the story together, which brings along a new version of an old enemy of the Doctor - The Master, played brilliantly by Mark Gatiss. It's interesting to find out how the Brigadier coped without the Doctor, without the Doctor's influence the Brigadier went for the more extreme solution to problems, and what has happened to the world as whole. Sympathy for the Devil also serves as a 'sequel' to a UNIT story, building on some of the details in that story. Another excellent Unbound release that plays around with familiar characters and times.
Preliminary Rating: 8.5 - 9.5/10

Full Fathom Five
The Doctor
What if... the ends jutified the means... The Doctor and his companion Ruth travel to DEEP 27 years after it was apparently destroyed in order to discover what really happened on the base... The third Unbound audio takes a step away from continuity type "What if's", and instead moves more into character "What if's". David Collings is excellent as the Doctor; playing him as a calm, curious individual until the time comes to do what's right. Siri O'Neal is impressive as Ruth, Professor Vollmer's daughter - raised by the Doctor and determined to find out what really happened to her father. General Flint, the military man sent to check on the progress of the work done at DEEP, is a very single-minded person, well acted by Ed Bishop. David Bishop's script is well paced; with the shifts between 2039 and 2066 not at all jarring after the first one is heard. As the Doctor and Ruth explore DEEP, and the flashbacks to 2039 play out; the revelations about DEEP and the Doctor are very disturbing. The end of Full Fathom Five is very shocking, with the story leading up to it an excellent means to an unforgettable end.
Preliminary Rating: 8 - 9/10

He Jests at Scars...
The Valeyard, Mel and Ellie
What if... The Valeyard had won... Having taken the Doctor's remaining lives, the Valeyard sets out to do things the Doctor would never do; but his actions have consequences... Gary Russell can be accused of many things, but not knowing continuity isn't one of them; with He Jests at Scars filled with references to the TV series, books and comics. As events unfold, the Valeyard a) has some fun, b) tries to improve the universe and c) then attempts to correct his errors. Michael Jayston is superb as the Valeyard who finally has all he wants, and Bonnie Langford is excellent as an older, bitter Mel who has been sent to find Valeyard and either kill him or bring back the Doctor. The end of He Jests at Scars is very appropriate, as the Valeyard takes responsibility for his actions...
Preliminary Rating: 7.5 - 8.5/10

Deadline
The Doctor?
What if... The Doctor never existed... Forty years ago Martin Bannister was a promising writer, until he was introduced to the Doctor. Now the Doctor's coming back... Rob Shearman has once more delivered an excellent story, one that will provoke much discussion of its themes. Sir Derek Jacobi is superb as Martin Bannister, giving the character an arrogant, yet weary tone to his voice. Deadline takes us through the final tragedies of Bannister's life - a magazine interview in which he gives the interviewer hell, an uneasy reunion with his son, a disasterous misinterpretation of a relationship with a nurse and a futile attempt to connect with his grandson. The final moments of the play are very thought-provoking as Martin faces a life changing decision. Unmissable.
Preliminary Rating: 10/10

Exile
The Doctor
What if... the Doctor escaped the Time Lords... The Doctor is now a woman, living on Earth, trying to lead a 'normal' life; but things from her past are just waiting to catch up with her... From the witty disclaimer voice-over preceeding the story I knew I was going to enjoy this one. Arabella Weir does an excellent job as the Doctor, giving her Doctor a sense of fun as well as an air of weary responsibility towards the end as the Doctor realises that she cannot hide from her own people and who she is. Nick Briggs is hilarious as the Quark-obsessed previous incarnation of the Doctor; and most of the jokes in his script really hit the mark. The drinking, burping and vomiting may put some people off, but the climax of Exile is as powerful and thought-provoking as every other Unbound release.
Preliminary Rating: 8 - 9/10

A Storm of Angels
The Doctor and Susan
What if... the Doctor had altered history... About to be captured by the Time Lords, the Doctor does something rash, stranding the TARDIS in a very changed 1588 where humanity has space travel... A Storm of Angels is a direct sequel to Auld Mortality, following up on its wonderful conclusion. Geoffrey Bayldon's Doctor is just as strong in this release, with Carol Anne Ford giving a superb performance as Susan. The guest cast also put in excellent performances, in particular Kate Brown as Queen Elisabeth and Cameron Stewart as Francis Drake. Marc Platt's script brings to life a fascinating alternative history, where Elisabethan England rules space, rivalled by the Mayan Alliance (created by the Doctor's unintentional interference in history). The sound design by ERS is superb, the best I've ever heard in any audio production. Simply unmissable.
Preliminary Rating: 10/10

The Dark Palace
The Doctor and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart

Preliminary Rating: