Over Liv and Helen’s objections, the Doctor goes to the aid of the Eleven…

It’s a little odd catching up with these stories in the aftermath of the recent releases of both The Legacy of Time where we get a glimpse of the Doctor (apparently) not too long before the incident on Karn that takes his eighth life, and the Further Adventures of Lucie Miller’s much less world-weary version. As with the Sixth Doctor, those responsible for plotting the Doctor’s lives have widely expanded our understanding of the “George Lazenby” of Doctors, and full credit to Paul McGann for switching between the various versions he’s been presented with.

The Ravenous themselves haven’t overly featured in this box set, so some focus on them is due, and from the reactions of all who are encountering them, they’re a foe to fear. Ken Bentley and sound designer Benji Clifford do a good job creating the claustrophobic atmosphere encountered by the visitors in Guy Adams’ script, with Pippa Haywood’s character suitably ambiguous. Mark Bonnar’s Eleven is put in some unusual positions, and it’s always intriguing hearing them be true to all the different parts of their nature.

Verdict: Ramping up the threat, a good conclusion to this set. 8/10

Paul Simpson