Category: Big Finish Reviews

Big Finish review-Torchwood: The Last Love Song of Suzie Costello

The Torchwood range from Big Finish is a triumphant return to the beloved sci-fi franchise.

Led by the talented Indira Varma in the role of Suzie Costello, “The Last Love Song of Suzie Costello” is a slow-burning romance that gradually builds to a satisfying conclusion.

Rafaella Marcus’s writing is sharp and insightful, bringing out a softer side of Suzie that we haven’t seen before. Director Steven Kavuma’s deliberate pacing allows the characters to breathe and shine, while the sound design by Shane O’Byrne and score by Blair Mowat add depth and dimension to the story.

Indira Varma’s performance as Suzie Costello in “The Last Love Song of Suzie Costello” is a true highlight of this Torchwood trilogy. Varma effortlessly captures the character’s complexities and nuances, delivering a layered and compelling portrayal that is a joy to listen to.

On audio, Varma’s voice carries a weight and richness that adds a new dimension to her character. She expertly navigates the emotional highs and lows of the story, conveying a sense of vulnerability and strength that makes Suzie all the more relatable and sympathetic. Varma’s chemistry with James Backway, who plays the captain of the crashed spaceship, is palpable. Their exchanges are charged with a simmering tension that makes their burgeoning romance all the more engaging and believable.

This is a must-listen for Torchwood fans, and a testament to the enduring appeal of the franchise.

The Last Love Song of Suzie Costello is available on CD or as a download from Big Finish.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Big Finish review-The Secret Diary of a Rhodian Prince

The Doctor Who spin-off, Class, returns in audio form with Big Finish’s latest release, Secret Diary of a Rhodian Prince. While there are limitations to the storytelling, due to licensing restrictions, writer Blair Mowat has managed to craft a compelling narrative that will thrill fans of the series.

The story is largely told through Charlie’s diary, with a focus on his relationship with Matteusz, as they navigate the dangerous world of Coal Hill Academy. While the scattered approach to retelling events from the series may be confusing for newcomers, Mowat’s script manages to balance the need for recap with the desire for new material. He adds depth and complexity to existing characters and concepts, while also introducing new twists and surprises that keep the story exciting and unpredictable.

Mowat’s ability to capture the essence of Class is what makes Secret Diary of a Rhodian Prince such a standout release. As a writer who has been involved with the world of Doctor Who in various capacities over the years, Mowat brings a unique perspective to the story of Class that feels both familiar and fresh. His focus on character development allows listeners to better understand the progression of Charlie and Matteusz’s relationship, and his use of Charlie’s diary as a framing device is particularly effective, as it allows for a personal and introspective look at the events of the series.

The final scenes of the play are particularly exciting and surprising, with twists and hidden secrets that cast everything that’s gone before in a whole new light. While reviewers have been requested not to reveal anything about these scenes, they are enough to get your heart beating faster at the sheer audacity of what’s happening.

It’s also worth noting the excellent production values of Secret Diary of a Rhodian Prince. The sound design and music are top-notch, immersing listeners in the world of Coal Hill Academy and adding to the overall sense of tension and drama.

The Secret Diary of a Rhodian Prince is an essential purchase for anyone invested in the goings-on at Coal Hill Academy. Mowat has set the stage for any future Class sets and promises a thrilling ride for fans.

Class: Secret Diary of a Rhodian Prince, written by the original TV series’ music composer, Blair Mowat, is now available to own for just £10.99 (CD + download) or £8.99 (download only) from www.bigfinish.com. The exclusive audio will be strictly limited to a pressing of 1,000 CDs.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Big Finish review-Torchwood: The Lincolnshire Poacher

Mysterious signals lead the Torchwood team to investigate the Moil, where they encounter a series of numbers that seem to hold a secret. The story follows the team as they try to unravel the mystery, with Greg, an antagonist played by David Shaw-Parker, at the center of the intrigue. Greg’s routine, which involves recording audio while working in the Moil and setting traps, adds to the eerie atmosphere created by the use of real-life number stations.

Meanwhile, Ianto is trapped in a boiler room, and the reality around the team appears to be collapsing. As the story unfolds, the tension builds, and the Lincolnshire Poacher waits in the wings, adding to the creepy atmosphere.

Gareth David-Lloyd gives a stirring performance as Ianto, and the direction by Lisa Bowerman and sound designs by Toby Hrycek-Robinson create an immersive experience. The use of atmospheric music adds to the overall effect.

The Moil, an archaic word for “to work hard, often in the mud,” creates a sense of mystery and ambiguity, and the writing partnership of Lauren Mooney and Stuart Pringle shines through in the unique story and experimental themes.

Overall, The Lincolnshire Poacher is a strong addition to the Torchwood monthly range, with its strange, dark, and mysterious story keeping listeners guessing throughout. It’s a must-listen for fans of the show and anyone who enjoys immersive audio experiences.

Please note that Torchwood contains adult material and may not be suitable for younger listeners.

Torchwood: The Lincolnshire Poacher is available to buy from Big Finish.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Big Finish review-Out of time 3: Wink

Colin Baker’s Sixth Doctor has found new life and renewed vitality in Big Finish’s audio dramas, where he’s been able to showcase his talent in ways that weren’t always possible during his time on television. In recent years, Baker has consistently delivered impressive performances in some of Big Finish’s best scripts, such as Doctor of War and Mind of the Hodiac. Fans have been eagerly anticipating his latest collaboration with David Tennant in Wink, the third installment of Big Finish’s Out of Time series, and thankfully, it does not disappoint.

McMullin’s cleverly crafted script highlights the distinct personalities and shared history of the Sixth and Tenth Doctors. Baker and Tennant play off each other effortlessly, creating an entertaining dynamic that’s both fun and occasionally tense. Tennant’s portrayal of the Tenth Doctor is as brilliant as ever, adding his own unique spin to the character and complementing Baker’s Sixth Doctor perfectly. Together, they face off against one of the Doctor’s most iconic foes, and McMullin masterfully builds suspense and tension throughout the story.

Big Finish has always been renowned for its ability to bring high-concept ideas to life through immersive sound design and music, and Wink is no exception. The talented cast, which includes returning favorites Ayesha Antoine and Clive Hayward, delivers superb performances, and the production values are top-notch. The result is an audio drama that is thrilling, entertaining, and engaging from start to finish.

If Wink does indeed mark the final installment of the Out of Time range, then it serves as a fitting conclusion. Once again, Big Finish has demonstrated their ability to bring a fresh and innovative approach to Doctor Who storytelling, while Colin Baker’s Sixth Doctor finally gets the chance to shine alongside the great David Tennant.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Big Finish review-Torchwood Sonny

In just a few short years, Lizzie Hopley has cemented herself as one of the most consistent writers on the Big Finish roster. Returning to the Torchwood range for the first time since 2017, she gives us an interesting morality tale about care homes, loneliness, the treatment of elderly people and, the existential crisis of an AI.

Torchwood: Sonny follows fan-favourite Rhys (Kai Owen) as he enlists his mum, Brenda (Nerys Hughes) into helping Torchwood investigate a new fleet of robots, in a care home. At first, Brenda isn’t too pleased about this. But as time goes on, she becomes more and more dependent on her robot, named Sonny.

I had almost expected this to be a tale of robots taking over and attempting to enslave humanity. But Lizzie Hopley is so much smarter than that. She knows we’ve seen that trope a thousand times before. Instead of making us fear what robots could do to us, she makes us fear what robots could reveal about us.

Kai Owen, Nerys Hughes, and Steven Kynman are all terrific, and their relationships are convincing from the start. We all know Hughes is a particularly talented actress, but she absolutely shines in this audio. She portrays Brenda with such a raw vulnerability, that feels like an emotional gut-punch at times. There’s a wonderful complexity to Brenda, that I hope we get more of in the future. The supporting cast is also exceptionally strong, with Amerjit Deu, in particular, doing a fantastic job as Prudeep.

Sonny is not only a brilliantly comedic script, it’s also a deep exploration of what it means to feel isolated. Hopley manages to convey the monotony of being in a care home, without the story being boring. Lisa Bowerman’s direction is flawless and keeps the story going at exactly the right pace, this is all beautifully accompanied by Steve Wright’s soundtrack.

I’ve said it before, but I think it bears repeating. Torchwood on Big Finish is Torchwood at its absolute best.

Torchwood: Sonny is available to buy from the Big Finish website.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review-The year of Martha Jones

The Master has emerged victorious, stealing humanity’s future and imprisoning his nemesis, the Doctor. With an army of deadly Toclafane, he now rules over Earth. But amidst the despair and destruction, there is still hope. Martha Jones has escaped and is wandering the planet, sharing stories of the Doctor to remind people of his heroism and give them a glimmer of hope.

What’s often overlooked in Martha’s companion narrative is the year she spent alone, battling the Master’s tyranny and trying to maintain her sanity in a world turned upside down. Although we know she succeeded in her mission, we never saw how she did it.

“The Year of Martha Jones” is a unique blend of humour, action, and great storytelling that explores Martha’s journey in detail. She becomes a mythological figure, admired by some as a beacon of hope, while others doubt her intentions and wonder if she has the plan to assassinate the Master.

But at her core, Martha is just a human being struggling to survive in a world gone mad. She’s witnessed unimaginable horrors, and her constant loneliness and paranoia make it hard to trust anyone. Yet she remains steadfast in her hope that the Doctor will return and save humanity.

The audio production is elevated by the outstanding performances of Freema Agyeman and Adjoa Andoh, who play mother and daughter in the story. They have a natural chemistry that makes their scenes together feel authentic and emotionally resonant. The supporting cast also shines, with standout performances from Ewart James Walters and Serin Ibrahim.

“The Year of Martha Jones” is a poignant and reflective story that explores human resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. It’s a testament to Freema Agyeman’s growth as an actress and her ability to bring depth and nuance to a beloved character. It’s a must-listen for any Doctor Who fan, and I hope we get to hear more from Martha in the future.

The Year of Martha Jones is available to buy from Big finish.

⭐⭐⭐⭐




Big Finish review-Torchwood: The Red List

The pandemic may have halted plans for the official seventh series of Torchwood, but producers James Goss and Scott Handcock have been anything but idle. In the past 12 months, they have delivered Torchwood tales ranging from mould to coffee shops, featuring the return of Yvonne Hartman, Zachary Cross, Billis Manger, and Adam Smith. While most of us have struggled to take out the trash, these two have continued to give us the best version of Torchwood on any medium.

Their latest release features Mr Colchester teaming up with a modern-day version of Ace, aka Dorothy McShane, for an adventure set in South America. Both are there to investigate a revolution but are stuck in a hotel under quarantine.

The story begins with a brilliant monologue from Paul Clayton, who plays Mr Colchester, conveying information to the audience without feeling forced or unrealistic. Clayton clearly enjoys reprising his role as the fan-favourite Colchester, and Sophie Aldred’s portrayal of an older Ace is great to hear, demonstrating the amount of effort she puts into her performance as a younger version of the character on the main range.

The chemistry between the two leads is great, and their portrayal of the mundanity that comes with lockdown is relatable. They are supported by Manuel Pacific, who plays Xavier, a hotel technician, and does a tremendous job despite having a small role.

Scott Handcock’s direction is fantastic, eliciting genuine and believable performances from the cast members. The sound design by Steve Foxon perfectly captures the Latin ambience and complements Blair Mowat’s music incredibly well.

While it is difficult to provide a complete review without spoilers, the audio is a lot of fun and features the best-written characters from both Torchwood and Doctor Who. The cliffhanger ending leaves listeners wanting more, and I hope this isn’t the last we hear from Colchester and Ace.

Torchwood: The Red List is available to purchase from the Big Finish site and goes on general release on the 31st January 2022.


⭐⭐⭐⭐

Out of Time 2 – The Gates of Hell: Doctor Who-Big Finish review

Out of Time 2 – The Gates of Hell is the second in a trilogy of specials, that sees David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor on a farewell tour before he regenerates. In the first audio, he bumped into Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor. This time around, he’s paired up Peter Davison’s Fifth.

The story kicks off with The Fifth Doctor in Paris in 1809, he’s travelling sans-companion and decides to take a tour of the catacombs. It’s here that he bumps into a Time Agent Tina Drake (Shelley Conn), who for a very brief moment. I thought was Peri. Was that just me? Anyway, Tina is on the trail of a temporal paradox. Whilst in the catacombs, the duo trigger a trap, that sees the Doctor frozen in time.
In 1944, the Tenth Doctor is evading Nazis, in occupied Paris. Looking for a hiding spot, he finds himself in the catacombs, where he encounters his former self. When they return to the surface, they find Paris is overrun with Cybermen.

I was a huge fan of Out of Time and I think it’s safe to say, that this was my most anticipated release of the year. Not only are we getting a multi-Doctor story, but we’re also getting a Time Crash reunion and we’re getting an outstanding script from David Llewellyn.

The story is structured brilliantly and moves along at a swift pace. Whilst Llewellyn’s love for the Fifth Doctor shines through, this feels very much like a David Tennant era adventure. Ken Bently’s direction is smooth and matches the pacing beat for beat. Whist Howard Carter’s music and sound design help elevate the adventure even more.

The two leads have natural chemistry and bounce off each other well, there’s a lot of fun interplay between them.
I had a smile on my face the whole way through this, Lewellyn’s script is peppered with humour, call-backs and historical facts. This is quintessential Doctor Who.

Doctor Who: Out of Time 2 – The Gates of Hell is available on CD and download from Big Finish.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review-Doctor Who – The Ninth Doctor Adventures Vol 1: Ravagers


It’s hard to deny that the announcement of Christopher Eccleston’s return to the Doctor Who franchise took fans by surprise. After all, it had been sixteen years since his thirteen-episode run reignited the show and brought it to a new generation. But here we are, with The Ninth Doctor Adventures – Ravagers, the first in a four-volume set of audio adventures written and directed by Nicholas Briggs.

On the one hand, Ravagers is an impressive and ambitious set. Eccleston’s return is a significant accomplishment for Big Finish, and it’s evident that he hasn’t lost his touch as the Doctor. The supporting cast, including Camilla Beeput and Jayne McKenna as Nova and Audrey, put in outstanding performances, and Dan Starky’s turn as Marcus Aurelius Gallius is thoroughly enjoyable. The music and sound design match the pace of Briggs’ excellent direction, and his passion for this era of Doctor Who is palpable.

However, the set’s most significant flaw is its plot. The 45-minute episode is stretched over 2 hours and 30 minutes, making the pacing drag at times. While Briggs’ love for the series shines through, the plot feels like an amalgamation of various stories he couldn’t get off the ground. We join the Ninth Doctor in the middle of an adventure and work backwards, a risky move for newcomers to the world of Doctor Who on audio.

Nonetheless, Ravagers is an enjoyable set overall, and fans of the Ninth Doctor will relish the chance to hear him once again. While a more straightforward structure would have been preferable, the set’s future promises exciting possibilities for the range.

⭐⭐

Big Finish review-Torchwood: The Crown

Are you a fan of the eerie, atmospheric and immersive world of Torchwood? If so, then you are in for a real treat with the latest release, The Crown. This gripping audio adventure takes us back to the early and darker days of Torchwood and its founder and is set against the backdrop of Victorian England.

On Christmas Eve, Dr Gideon Parr is summoned to an asylum to check on a patient, who claims to be none other than Queen Victoria herself. This patient is haunted by a terrible curse, and it is up to the young doctor to diagnose her condition and help her find peace.

Written by Johnathan Barnes, The Crown is a morality tale that explores the darker side of Torchwood and its founder. This audio adventure is an incredible piece of storytelling that combines a Victorian setting with expertly crafted characters, outstanding performances, flawless sound design and a haunting musical score.

At the heart of this audio adventure is Rowena Cooper’s performance as Queen Victoria. Cooper delivers a mesmerising and chilling performance that perfectly captures the Queen’s complex and troubled state of mind. Her portrayal of the character is so convincing that you almost believe that she really is the Queen herself.

The supporting cast is equally impressive, with each member delivering a memorable and nuanced performance. Derek Riddell, in particular, shines as Dr Gideon Parr, bringing depth and humanity to the character that makes him instantly relatable.

Joe Meiners’ sound design is another highlight of this audio adventure, creating a claustrophobic and immersive soundscape that perfectly captures the mood and atmosphere of Victorian England. Blair Mowat’s musical score is equally haunting, perfectly complementing the story and adding an extra layer of depth and emotion to the audio adventure.

The Crown is a strong character piece that allows the listener to explore the early days of Torchwood and its founder. It is a morality tale that explores the consequences of disobeying the crown, and the terrible curse that comes with it.

Overall, The Crown is an outstanding audio adventure that is highly recommended to fans of Torchwood and anyone who loves a good spooky story. It is the perfect stocking filler for the festive season and will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

So, if you’re looking for a gripping audio adventure that combines expert storytelling, outstanding performances, flawless sound design, and a haunting musical score, then look no further than The Crown. It is a Torchwood adventure that you won’t forget anytime soon.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Check out our other Big Finish reviews.

Torchwood contains adult material and may not be suitable for younger listeners.

Torchwood: The Crown is avalible to purchase directly from Big Finish.