As the Syndicate shows its hand, the Doctor must face up to some hard facts…

This double-CD four part story from John Dorney wraps up the Ann Kelso mini-season in a way that allows the possibility of her return, yet doesn’t mean that you’re constantly expecting her to reappear. The Syndicate Masterplan has increasingly had echoes of a certain 12 part epic from the William Hartnell era, with the presence of Zephon (son of Zephon from the planet Zephon, in case you’ve forgotten) and across this tale, Dorney pays tribute to the Dalek Masterplan (as well as the occasional dig at some of the inconsistencies between it and its prequel, Mission to the Unknown!). You don’t need to know the ins and outs of that story, but it adds an extra level if you do.

Tom Baker and Jane Slavin are put through the wringer in this – the cliffhanger to part 2 explains a lot about what’s been going on, and also paves the way for the denouement. Slavin’s character follows in her family’s footsteps in her single-minded pursuit of what’s right, and also in her willingness to assist when it’s revealed she’s on the wrong path. The scene where the Doctor refuses to let Ann travel with him any further is heart(s)breaking and it prompts queries as to whether this affected his later decision to let Turlough on board the TARDIS…

The season has hung together very well, and kudos to the team behind it – producer David Richardson (whose creative contributions to Big Finish’s lines do sometimes get unfairly overlooked, particularly by those who don’t listen to the extras), director Nicholas Briggs and script editors John Dorney and Guy Adams, as well as the individual writers. Jamie Robertson’s sound design and music has switched as required by the stories and there’s a suitably epic feel to this finale. But special credit to Tom Baker, Jane Slavin and John Leeson who have made this feel as if it is a season we didn’t get – each has strong moments in the finale, and we have to hope that somewhere down the line, they will be reunited… even if only for a one-off tale.

Verdict: Funny, tragic and always dramatic – a great conclusion to this year’s Baker season. 9/10

Paul Simpson