The Doctor and Peri discover a planet under Dalek occupation where history has been wiped clean…

By coincidence I’ve been on a bit of a Colin Baker-era binge over the past few weeks, enjoying reading Finn Clark’s Time Mosaic volume (an analysis of the TV stories, books and comic strips from this era), and it’s reminded me of both the high and low points of Baker’s time at the TARDIS controls. Andrew Smith’s new audio fits perfectly into the era, while still reflecting the broadening of the characterisation of both the Doctor and Peri through their time at Big Finish, with Peri a more proactive character (and one more happy to be on their travels) than she sometimes appeared on screen, and the Doctor definitely more restrained, while still retaining his larger than life presence.

It’s one of those stories that manage to still make you wonder about the fate of characters that you know full well are going to survive – otherwise how could they be in the stories that follow chronologically? – and Smith has become an old hand at using the strengths of audio to guide the listener exactly the way he wants them to go. The tension only lets up for the shortest necessary amount of time for both characters and listeners to catch their breath.

Director John Ainsworth and sound designer Simon Power have worked together on various releases for BBC Audio, if I remember correctly, and Power brings a slightly different feel to proceedings, particularly in the connections between scenes. Ainsworth has, as ever, brought together a strong cast – Saskia Reeves and William Ellis in particular, as the two key Omnians. There’s a moment at the start of the extras where Nicholas Briggs adlibs a line as the Dalek Supreme suggesting it’s got a grudge against the Doctor, an impression I’d got throughout the performance – this is a Supreme who’s distinctly annoyed at the presence of the Time Lord, and very much a character is its own right.

Verdict: With plenty of swerves in the script, strong performances and direction, and very effective sound design, this is in my top three Colin Baker stories of recent years. 10/10

Paul Simpson

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