Jackie joins Rose on her next trip – to a very similar, but also very different Powell Estate.

The origins of Matt Fitton’s script for the final story of what I hope is just the first box set of Rose’s interdimensional adventures are more convoluted than usual – the central characters of Mook and Patrice were created for Russell T Davies’ novelisation of Rose, the opening episode of the 21st century series, fleshing out Rose and Mickey’s backstory. They were so clearly delineated that it seems like an obvious meta move to bring them into a story that’s all about alternate worlds!

Fitton’s story works off the same principle as elements of the 2009 Star Trek film – that there are certain things in the multiverse that are simply meant to be. (In that, it was used to explain Kirk and Spock’s meeting, despite the former’s very different background in the ‘Kelvinverse’.) Here Jackie and Rose see two people they know should be together but aren’t – and with the particular threat facing that universe, they feel it imperative to rectify the situation.

Each of the core cast has reacted differently to finding themselves on a new version of their own Earth, and Camille Coduri gets a chance to demonstrate the caring side of Jackie Tyler, particularly when she’s reunited with an old friend she never expected to see again. There are strong performances throughout particularly from guest cast Waleed Akhtar and Syrus Lowe as Mook and Patrice, as well as Elizabeth Uter as Odessa Smith.

Helen Goldwyn directs the story with the sensitivity it needs and the sound design from Josh Arakelian and Joe Kraemer brings the Powell Estate back to life. It’s a powerful conclusion to a strong series.

Verdict: Love can conquer so much – even at the end of the world. 9/10

Paul Simpson

Click here to order The Dimension Cannon volume 1 from Big Finish