Years after the second Dalek Invasion of Earth, Susan Campbell finds her life plagued by unusual occurrences…

This is very much more what I was hoping for when the Short Trips’ tie-ins to the Time War were announced, as Carole Ann Ford finally answers some of the questions that fans have been posing about the Time War ever since it was first mentioned over a dozen years ago. No, it’s not the adventures of General Susan, bringing her finely honed anti-Dalek tactics to bear against Davros and his creations, interpolating her into the midst of some of the events we’ve heard mentioned up to now. Appropriately, Eddie Robson shows how Susan has come full circle in her life on Earth, taking up residence in a very familiar building – and eventually making some key decisions about her future.

The Doctor is central to the story, but it’s not a story about him, at least on the surface, but Robson gives us insight into how he still cares about his granddaughter, even though he’s not seen her through the vast majority of his lives. You suspect his involvement in events, but not either how or why.

Ford slips back into the role as easily as ever, with a nicely judged performance that makes clear where McGann’s Doctor is speaking without trying to do an imitation. Daniel Burnett’s sound design is never overbearing and supports the story well.

Verdict: I’d love for this to be setting something up for one of the later Time War box sets, but even without it, at least we now have some answers. 9/10

Paul Simpson