Strange gravitational impulses are affecting space and time; but why does the third Doctor believe he has seen his predecessor?

The first of the new Third Doctor Adventures is set towards the end of season 7, when the relationship between the Doctor, Liz Shaw, and the Brigadier is settling down. The TARDIS console is still outside the ship, and the Doctor is to a large extent at the Brigadier’s beck and call. And that brings him to the north of England, where there is an unusually unhelpful member of the Constabulary…

Nicholas Briggs has created a story that both plays with the tropes of season 7 and sometimes undermines them. In common with that year’s tales, there is a story that sometimes feels as if it’s been extended slightly beyond its natural length, although that’s not for lack of content – particularly once we end up with a second Doctor involved. This is the season, remember, where we spent ages watching the Doctor actually being a scientist, and having another scientist as his assistant, giving this a more serious air than we would later get in the Pertwee era. It’s also a time when the Brigadier is not as potentially as much a figure of fun as he can sometimes become, and the military scenes are taken appropriately seriously. (Sergeant Benton is clearly on leave!)

Tim Treloar and Daisy Ashford are as strong as ever as the Doctor and Liz, with Jon Culshaw giving them great support as the Brigadier. Michael Troughton makes his debut as the Second Doctor for Big Finish, with Fraser Hines now able to concentrate on playing Jamie – although as the cover unfortunately gives away, this is perhaps not the Jamie were expecting (if we were expecting any incarnation of the Highlander in a season 7 story!). The reason for them being there is simply hinted at, as Briggs has no intention of stealing the thunder from the new Second Doctor range coming later in the year, and I will similarly reserve judgement on the creative decisions behind that until we get a lot more information. Suffice it to say, Troughton becomes increasingly more comfortable playing his father’s role, and some of the scenes between Treloar and Troughton (seriously, that’s not a spoiler – did you really think they wouldn’t meet up?) have all the fizz and energy of Pertwee and Troughton senior back in the day.

Verdict: If you’re looking for a well put together re-creation of that time in the show (including a role that would definitely have been played by Peter Miles!) then you will enjoy this, particularly with its hints as to where the Big Finish Doctor Who universe is going… 8/10

Paul Simpson

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