Susan’s first mission for the Time Lords involves old friends…

The Doctor’s granddaughter’s entry to the Time War was set out in Eddie Robson’s Companion Chronicle All Hands on Deck a few years back and while you can never take things for granted, it seemed a sure bet that Big Finish would continue that strand at some point. Robson pens the first of this box set, which picks up where that story finished with Susan entering a TARDIS and leaving Earth. She’s thrown straight into her first mission, sending her back to the Sense-Sphere, and encountering the Sensorites.

But she’s not alone – she’s accompanied by Beth Chalmers’ Veklin, a stalwart of the Big Finish Time War range, and by Ian Chesterton, reprised once more by William Russell. There’s a certain aptness to this – Russell was the first companion to reprise the role after the classic era ended (with his in character material for The Crusade VHS release) and while it’s been lovely to have Jamie Glover for the First Doctor Adventures, it does feel good to hear those very familiar tones. Sure, he’s slower than he was in delivery – but that’s all part of the character now, and Lisa Bowerman directs the story sympathetically.

Robson has gone back to Peter R. Newman’s original TV story, heading for 60 years old now, and evokes the atmosphere well, extrapolating how such a race would deal with the arrival of Daleks and Time Lords in their midst. There are plenty of twists and turns that make logical sense on reflection, and strong performances from Claire Vousden, Hugh Fraser and Ian Brooker as the Sensorites. Howard Carter handles the varying sound design milieus well, with an appropriate score.

Verdict: A strong start to this new series. 9/10

Paul Simpson

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