Adam seems to become irrationally jealous of Anne Reynolds’ relationship…

One of the elements that Big Finish brings so well to the series that it revives from the 20th century is an emotional attachment to the characters – it never devolves into soap opera, but we become far more invested in the leads, here meaning Adam Dean and Anne Reynolds, than perhaps we might have done in the original show. That’s not in any way to put down the ten episodes of The Omega Factor – Tom Crane, Roy Martindale and Anne Reynolds were deftly drawn and, at least for me, stayed people whose fates I wanted to know for a long time.

But I very much doubt that a story as powerful as this one could have been made back in the 1970s for the show. It’s a story about a woman who is pulled in many different directions at once, who sees a chance for happiness and maybe slightly blinkers herself even to those she trusts. And it’s a story with some real darkness at its heart – because we know what Anne Reynolds doesn’t about Anthony Archer and what he has planned for her. And Anthony’s not the only danger…

Elements from the past of The Omega Factor become increasingly important as this story develops – and some of the facets of this one are roots that you’ll be surprised when they’re revealed, but then realise fit perfectly with the format that’s been set up. I don’t want to spoil these revelations here (although the review of episode 4 will not be as spoiler-free!), but Louise Jameson, who writes as well as stars in the episode, sets everything up extremely well.

Verdict: Powerful and realistic – blending The Omega Factor’s supernatural themes with real-life concerns to great effect. 10/10

Paul Simpson