The Eighth Doctor reluctantly helps the Daleks investigate a civilisation that should not exist.

The second in Big Finish’s main contribution to the Time Lord Victorious saga comes from the pen of newcomer Tracy Ann Baines – newcomer to Big Finish, that is; she’s a prize winning author who’s written for Humans among other series, and that experience shows in her deft juggling of the various threads in this story. Paul McGann’s Doctor has a face-off with assorted incarnations of Nicholas Briggs at the start, as both sides realise there’s something bigger than their enmity at stake, and they travel to Wrax. There Rachel Atkins’ Sarathin slowly reveals her true colours – and a degree of pragmatism.

The idea of Daleks with designated roles in Time Lord Victorious works particularly well for the audio adventures, with Briggs giving us very different (and in an odd way quite human) renditions. Setting aside that you wouldn’t want to be in a dark alley with a Dalek of any description, the bloodlust of the Executioner and the deviousness of the Strategist (not based on any political advisers by any chance, was he?!) are enough to make you feel very wary of them, and I doubt there’s anyone who really doesn’t expect things to play out as they do.

Verdict: A well constructed play that highlights the deviousness of the Daleks. 8/10

Paul Simpson

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