A pair of haunting tales for the Seventh Doctor, Ace and Hex…

There’s a slightly early Halloween chill in store for listeners to this new Seventh Doctor release, moved up the schedule as a result of the pandemic changes. The two tales are very different in mood, setting and tone, and slot in to that period in this TARDIS team’s travels when the companions are starting to get a little annoyed with the Doctor’s constant tests – and are not inclined to believe him when he says in one of these stories that that’s not the case.

Gemma Arrowsmith’s The Flying Dutchman is a historical story, with the crew of the Isabella being haunted by the spectral appearance of the titular legendary ship – glowing in the dark like something out of John Carpenter’s The Fog. Director Samuel Clemens and sound designer Howard Carter bring the period to life well – although I’m a little surprised at the sailors’ acceptance of a female on board, given how much this story is based around superstition. There are a couple of twists that really aren’t twists (it would have been more interesting had the story not gone down one particular path), but it’s a fun escapade.

Katharine Armitage’s Displaced is the spookier of the two stories, blending alien menace with something familiar being used unusually and human nature at its best and worst. As with the first story, there’s use made of Hex’s background – real life has caught up with what seemed like quite a distant future when Philip Olivier first appeared in the range – and some strong character work between the companions.

It’s always good to hear Olivier in the series – he and Sophie Aldred work well as a team, and their rapport with Sylvester McCoy’s Doctor is very different from Aldred on her own.

Verdict: Two spooky tales that work in very different ways. 8/10

Paul Simpson

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