The Doctor, Liv, Helen and Tania arrive on Rarkellia where Divine Intervention is altering something fundamental…

It’s clear that this latest batch of adventures for the Eighth Doctor and friends is going to revolve around the theme of storytelling and there’s a lot to unpack in Lizzie Hopley’s script, which has echoes of Nineteen Eighty Four in its examination of how indoctrinating the next generation can lead to change – and in this case, a change that really isn’t beneficial. You may well find that you need a second listen – we’re dropped into the middle of events, and some of the bits of information that come in the early scenes might get overlooked as you work out what’s going on, and why our central characters are behaving as they are. Listening to this now (in March 2022) elements have taken on fresh relevance, given events in Europe and the way in which the truth has become a malleable quality in the hands of propagandists on both sides.

Our core quartet are kept separate for much of the time, giving each of the actors opportunities to show different sides of their characters, with Benji Clifford’s sound design and Jamie Robertson’s score melding well in the service of the story.

Verdict: A story that uses some familiar Doctor Who tropes differently. 8/10

Paul Simpson

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