Davros has opened a portal to another dimension – four days ago… or was it three?

The latest set of adventures for Paul McGann’s Doctor and Rakhee Thakrar’s Bliss starts with a two-part story by John Dorney that focuses a lot more on its guest star than it does the Time Lord and his companion. Terry Molloy gives us a very different Davros from the one that we’re used to – whether from his own performances in the classic series, or Julian Bleach’s in the revived – a scientist on a Skaro where Kaleds and Thals live in peace. He’s opened a dimensional portal and it’s turned his life upside down.

The palindrome of the title starts to become clear as we reach the end of the episode and things count backwards to a key moment. Molloy delivers the necessary Groundhog Day element well and of course there’s a scene where he’s talking to himself – or rather a version of himself that he doesn’t recognise (but which we as the audience do). Isla Blair’s Charn (not to be confused with the scientist Sharn from the I, Davros series) is credible as Davros’s deepest love and we can understand why he comes to do what he has to do.

I’ll delay comment on other elements for the review of the second part to see how they resolve (the title is something of a clue) but director Helen Goldwyn ratchets up the pace as we approach the episode end.

Verdict: A clever idea executed well. 9/10

Paul Simpson

Click here to order Time War Volume 4 from Big Finish