A crucial point in a planet’s history – do the Time Lords have the right to interfere?

In an odd way, the Gallifrey strand of the Time War history as laid out by Big Finish is coming closest to a more traditional combat narrative. There’s more than a few hints of the sort of tale of derring-do that Alastair MacLean was expert at weaving in this story of double-dealing, intelligence and counter-intelligence, as well as evocations of more recent nastier civil conflict in Europe.

That’s the strand that Narvin gets caught up in (in an attempt to prove to Romana – and himself – that he’s still capable of everything that he could earlier in this regeneration). Romana has to deal with the resurgence of Rassilon, and the games that he and his followers are playing, games that will have potentially lethal consequences for the whole universe. (That sort of line would normally be seen as overly melodramatic, but this is the Time War we’re talking about, a conflict that we knew right from its earliest mention was catastrophic in the extreme.)

Una McCormack’s script juggles the various elements skilfully with none of the surprises feeling unbelievable, and director Scott Handcock gains strong performances from regulars and guest cast alike that ensure that you’re gripped.

Verdict: Some of my favourite Star Trek: Deep Space 9 stories were those that got down and dirty in the war, and this reminds me of those in a very good way. 9/10

Paul Simpson