The War Doctor realises the fate of a planet – and he’s not going to be allowed to do anything about it…

The second batch of tales featuring Jonathon Carley as the early version of the War Doctor throws us into the midst of the action, and throughout its running time, Timothy X. Atack constantly bombards us with further information about the world we’re on, the people who live there and the situation that the War Doctor finds himself in. It’s very carefully handled both in script and by director Louise Jameson so it never feels overwhelming, and by the time we reach the cliffhanger into episode 2, things are pretty clear. (Extra credit given that I heard the first half in mid-December, but didn’t get to the rest until mid-January – it’s what I was listening to when I had my heart attack, but that’s definitely not cause and effect! – and found the characters and performances threw me straight back into the heart of the story.)

I suspect there’ll be a lot more to say thematically about this one after the other parts, but Atack gives us a world that would herald a Warbringer (the title others seem determined to give to the Doctor) given the extreme pleasure that pretty much all involved seem to take in the pursuit of war (John Banks and Angela Bruce having a ball as sworn enemies that remind me of kids tormenting an ant hive). It’s intriguing to hear Veklin more discombobulated than usual and Ajjaz Awad’s Case is a fascinating character.

Jack Townley’s sound design and Howard Carter’s score give the story a rather different feel, and I don’t intend waiting another month to find out what happens next…

Verdict: An intriguing set up with Jonathon Carley’s Doctor strongly at its heart. 8/10

Paul Simpson

Click here to order from Big Finish