What could possibly be interesting about a synthetic version of your own reality? After all, you’re just wallowing in your own history… aren’t you?

Doris V. Sutherland’s tale for Bernice and the Unbound Doctor takes the concept of a computer-generated world where the inhabitants have left their physical bodies behind and runs with it. It doesn’t really get into the logistics too much of how that would work in terms of the society outside the construct – although that’s something that really only crosses your mind once you’ve finished the story – and it’s almost jarring when someone points out that they could escape the problems they’re facing simply by the in-story equivalent of “end program” for Star Trek’s holodeck.

In a sense we’re in an updated version of The Mind Robber, with a character whose function is to assist and has a certain way of behaving within set parameters, and reality rather… fluid, shall we say! Sutherland has interesting things to say about memories and how they work (and there’s an interesting memory recall by the Doctor – who’s a variant of the third Doctor, remember – that is sort of challenged by Benny).

Lisa Bowerman and David Warner’s TARDIS team continues to delight and Josie White, Gavin Swift and Heider Ali give enjoyable performances. Steve Foxon’s music and sound design very much help to sell the ‘alienness’ of the environment, while Scott Handcock’s direction never lets the story get too out of control, notably in the final confrontation which could easily have felt over the top.

Verdict: Some interesting ideas brought to life well. 8/10

Paul Simpson

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