Vienna Salvatori is on a mission…

The second episode of this new set to feature Eric Roberts’ incarnation of the Master brings in one of the other regular Americans on Big Finish’s books – former Star Trek: Deep Space 9 actor, Chase Masterson, in the role of bounty hunter Vienna Salvatori, created in a Seventh Doctor story, and spun off into her own series. We normally hear Vienna alongside her business partner, but this time she’s on her own, save for a sassy robot by the nickname of Artie.

The Master – now established as the reclusive Magnus Drake – is in trouble after he and Laura Aickman’s Lila Kreeg find themselves in the worst part of London. Robert Whitelock establishes Notting Hill as a New York equivalent (as in Escape from New York), as seen through a 2000AD lens. They’re brought before Andrew James Spooner’s King Muggy and the Master, as ever with his eye on the main chance, starts to negotiate… but he hasn’t reckoned with Vienna’s arrival.

Jamie Anderson’s direction emphasises the over the top elements of Whitelock’s script, and while that fits to a degree with the more abandoned parts of the Master’s persona (and Roberts’ performance in the TV Movie), it’s less appropriate here, diminishing the threats to a certain extent. The story also sort of stops at a relevant point rather than feeling like a cliffhanger into the conclusion.

Verdict: Always good to hear Chase Masterson back in Big Finish action, but overall this feels a little too simplistic. 6/10

Paul Simpson

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