Trains turn out to be unlucky once more for the Fourth Doctor as he, Romana and K9 encounter the crew of a lost spaceship who have found a novel way of dealing with their situation.

There are certain Doctor Who stories – in whichever medium they’re told – that have a terrific sense of momentum, with events and problems building in a wild crescendo towards utter disaster. Jonathan Morris’ Chase the Night is one of the best of these that Big Finish have produced, helped by absolutely believable performances from all involved – regular actors and the guest cast led by Jane Asher. There must have been a temptation at some point to make a Terminator joke of the title – but Flee the Dawn would have been equally viable.

As with its predecessor this fits neatly into the preoccupations of Season 18, with discussions of entropy and the inevitable breakdown of everything, as well as some high concept SF ideas. Morris exploits both the strengths and weaknesses of this TARDIS crew – and gives Matthew Waterhouse some extra depth to play. Jamie Robertson’s sound design and music drive the story constantly forward, and director Nick Briggs gradually increases the speed to reflect the demands of the story.

Verdict: Another strong addition to season 18. 9/10

Paul Simpson

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