Reviews – Page 15 – The Bad Wilf Network

Book review-Doctor Who: The Day of The Doctor

The Target Novelisations are a cherished medium in the world of Doctor Who fandom that have endured the test of time. In an era before VHS, DVDs or streaming, these novels offered fans a chance to experience missed episodes or relive their favorite moments. Although they may have been particularly popular among older fans, this is the first time newer enthusiasts are getting to enjoy these unique works of storytelling.

They offer an in-depth look into the Doctor Who universe with extended scenes, character development, and insights into the Doctor’s thought processes that might not have been possible to convey on screen. Moreover, they provide a nostalgic view into the show’s past and present a distinctive opportunity for fans to experience classic episodes in a fresh way.

Steven Moffat’s novelisation of The Day of the Doctor is a remarkable expansion of the source material. Created for the show’s fiftieth anniversary, Moffat takes advantage of the opportunity to add new scenes and a structural gimmick, which enhances the story and makes it even more enjoyable.

The narration in the novelisation smoothly switches between using “I and me” to “him and he,” emphasizing the Doctor as an idea, a significant theme throughout Moffat’s tenure as showrunner. However, Moffat’s inclination to show off his cleverness can be distracting.

The numbered chapters in a non-sequential order feel unnecessary, but the framing device between each chapter is a highlight. The narration shifts again, gradually revealing that the person whose voice we are reading is also the Doctor. The final reveal that it is the Curator, played by Tom Baker, is a satisfying conclusion to the novelisation.

Overall, Moffat’s novelisation of The Day of the Doctor is a valuable addition to the Doctor Who universe, expanding on the original episode in creative and innovative ways. the novelisation delves deeper into the Time War and the impact it had on the Doctor’s psyche, which was only briefly touched upon in the original episode.

Moffat also explores the relationship between the Doctor and his companions, particularly Clara, and how it evolves over the course of the story. These additional insights offer a more nuanced and complex view of the Doctor Who universe, making the novelisation a valuable addition to the canon.

Book review-Rose Target novelisation

Recently published are five new Target novels that include four adaptations of Doctor Who stories from the post-2005 era. These stories comprise Rose by Russell T Davies, Day of the Doctor by Steven Moffat, The Christmas Invasion by Jenny Colgan, and Twice Upon a Time by Paul Cornell. Additionally, a Target version of City of Death by James Goss is also available.

Doctor Who: Rose is a novel adaptation of the iconic first episode of the show’s revival in 2005. This book marks the first time that Russell T Davies has adapted his own work into a novel, making it a highly anticipated release for fans of the show. As an avid fan of the show myself, I can say that this novel did not disappoint.

Russell T Davies brings his trademark playfulness and wit to the novel, adding new colour and several new laughs to the story. The novel captures the excitement and energy of the original episode, transporting the reader back to the first time the Ninth Doctor takes hold of Rose’s hand and utters the immortal phrase – ‘Run!’

One of the highlights is the expanded backstory of Wilson, a character who was briefly mentioned in the original episode but never seen. The prologue of the novel provides insight into Wilson’s life and his involvement with the lottery pool, adding a new layer of depth to the plot. Davies expertly weaves in these new details, creating a more fully realised world that adds to the overall richness of the story. By expanding on the peripheral characters, Davies has created a novel that feels even more fleshed out than the original episode. Fans of Doctor Who are sure to appreciate these new details and the way they enhance the story as a whole.

The novel also includes several cameos that nod to the future of the show, post-Rose and even up to the present day. Davies also addresses Steven Moffat’s Pandorica and Crack in Time story arc, which explains the frequent Earth invasions in RTD’s era and why no one remembers them.

While there are a couple of areas where the added details don’t quite ring true, the novel is still a thrilling read that delivers on all fronts. The climax builds to an epic battle that could not have been achieved on a BBC TV budget, and the humour is firing on all cylinders.

Overall, Doctor Who: Rose is a delightful novel that will transport fans of the show back to the excitement of the first episode of the revival. Russell T Davies has once again proven himself to be a master storyteller, and fans of Doctor Who are sure to enjoy this adaptation. Highly recommended.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review-Torchwood: The Death of Captain Jack

Torchwood: The Death of Captain Jack is difficult to review, without spoiling. So, I won’t be discussing the storyline.

This is a very ambitious audio, from David Llewellyn who once again proves himself to be one of the greatest writers Torchwood has ever had. He perfectly manages to encapsulate the history of Jack and John and give the Torchwood franchise a fresh new spin, all within an hour-long adventure. It’s an absolute joy. James Marsters absolutely shines as Captain John Hart and, instantly reminds us why he was so popular amongst Torchwood fans. He’s the perfect foil to John Barrowman’s Captain Jack.

There’s also a slight dig at Torchwood: Miracle Day.

Director Scott Handcock and producer James Goss have their awesomely unique style all over this release. Torchwood on Big Finish is the best Torchwood has ever been. They just get it, it’s ambitious, it’s loud, it’s sexy and over the top. Which is just how it should be.

10/10.

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

Episode 189: The Justice Leauge of River Song

Back like a regrettable Tinder date, that won’t stop calling you.

It’s the first Bad Wilf Podcast of 2018, after 8 years of podcasting are we any better?

No, but here’s our spoiler-free review of The Diaries Of River Song and, our spoiler-filled review of Justice League.

The Diary of River Song is an audio play series from Big Finish Productions. Alex Kingston reprises her character River Song from the television series Doctor Who.

Justice League is a 2017 superhero film based on the DC Comics superhero team of the same name, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is the follow-up to 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and the fifth instalment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).

The film is directed by Zack Snyder, written by Chris Terrio and Joss Whedon, and features an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, and Ray Fisher as the title team, with Amy Adams, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Connie Nielsen, and J. K. Simmons in supporting roles.

In the film, Batman and Wonder Woman recruit The Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg after Superman‘s death to save the world from the catastrophic threat of Steppenwolf and his army of Parademons.

The podcast is available from all good podcast services, such as but not limited to Amazon Music, Podchaser, Player FM, Stitcher, and Apple Podcasts.

Check out our Youtube.

If you’d like to support the show, then please shop via our Amazon link. A small percentage goes our way, at no extra cost to you.

Socials:

Twitter:

Martyn – @BadWilf

Gerrod –@InGerrodsMind

Pete – @BeeblePete

Instagram:

Martyn-@BadWilf

<br />

Big Finish Review-Torchwood: Aliens Among Us-Part 2

Torchwood: Aliens Among Us 2 is a bold and gripping addition to the Torchwood series. Picking up where Miracle Day left off, the Torchwood team finds themselves in a Cardiff that’s darker and more dangerous than ever before. The four episodes included in this set explore complex storylines and pack an emotional punch, leaving the audience eagerly anticipating what comes next.

The first episode, “Love Rat” by Christopher Cooper, sets the tone for the rest of the set with a complex storyline that brings Captain Jack back from the dead with a surprising twist. The subsequent episodes, “A Kill to a View” by Mac Rogers, “Zero Hour” by Janine H Jones, and “The Empty Hand” by Tim Foley, continue to up the ante with a mix of action, drama, and suspense.

The addition of Yvonne Hartman to the mix adds a layer of intrigue and excitement, with the Torchwood team facing their toughest challenge yet. The writers skillfully weave together the various storylines, and the performances by the cast are top-notch.

The standout episodes of the set are “A Kill to a View” and “Zero Hour,” which delve into the mysterious rift and bring back fan-favourite character Bilis Manger. Murray Melvin’s performance as Manger is nothing short of exceptional, adding depth and complexity to the character and the story.

Overall, Torchwood: Aliens Among Us 2 is a must-listen for fans of the series and newcomers alike. With its intricate plotlines, strong performances, and cliffhanger ending, it leaves the audience eagerly anticipating the next instalment of the Torchwood saga.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Big Finish Review-Aliens among us: Part 1

Torchwood is back, and this time it is on audio with a brand new boxset, Aliens Among Us. The first volume of Aliens Among Us sets the stage for the new Torchwood, introducing us to new characters, and old favourites.

“Changes Everything” by James Goss “Changes Everything” opens up the new Torchwood, introducing us to the new team of Jack, Gwen, Mr Colchester, and Orr. Mr Colchester, played brilliantly by Paul Clayton, is a grumpy civil servant who has been tasked with managing the new Torchwood. Meanwhile, journalist Tyler Steele, played by Jonny Green, is questioning him. Tyler is a great new character, both likeable and unlikeable at the same time. Through his eyes, we meet the new Torchwood, and this is a really well-written story that sets up the future of Aliens Among Us while remaining self-contained.
“Aliens and Sex and Chips and Gravy” by James Goss This episode takes us on a funny, fast-paced romp that tackles murderous aliens who’ve invaded a hen night. It focuses on Gwen and Colchester and hints about where Gwen is headed in future box sets. What distinguishes this episode from TV Torchwood is that it has a more mature approach to mature subject matters. The title will no doubt remind you of the first series, but this episode deals with adult themes throughout. It is another really strong entry for Aliens Among Us.
“Orr” by Juno Dawson “Orr” introduces us to the titular character, an alien sexual psycho-morph. Similar to “Changes Everything”, this episode is focused almost entirely on Orr’s introduction. The character is played excellently by Samantha Béart, who manages to make the character feel believable. This episode also tackles an adult subject matter with a level of maturity that was unfortunately never seen on TV. This is another stellar episode.
“Superiority Complex” by A.K. Benedict The final episode of the first volume of Aliens Among Us gives the new Torchwood team a chance to shine. A new luxury hotel has appeared in Cardiff, with refugees right outside. The script highlights the problem with another script that, apart from the aliens, feels like it could be a true story. Every member of the team gets a chance to shine here, including Tyler, who keeps popping up. This is a brilliant way to end a brilliant box set, and it ends with an excellent cliffhanger for the second volume.

Overall, Aliens Among Us 1 is a great introduction to the new Torchwood. The boxset shows that Torchwood is at its best on audio. The stories are very politically charged, but each of the three writers on this set delivers amazing stories that feel natural and real. The characters are all well-written, and the new Torchwood team is a great mix of old favourites and new characters. With its compelling storytelling and excellent performances, Aliens Among Us is a must-listen for any Torchwood fan.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Big Finish review-Torchwood: The office of never was

Although Ianto Jones is a beloved character among the Torchwood fandom, most would agree that he was often relegated to the background despite his intriguing backstory and secret cyber-girlfriend. However, the audio revival of the show, with full-cast dramas that focus on individual characters. Has given him and others a chance to shine.

In “The Office of Never Was,” Ianto takes the lead as he investigates a haunted building, displaying impressive deduction skills and carrying the drama with ease.

This is an extremely well-crafted and engaging story. James Goss, the producer and scriptwriter, delivers a dark tale that cleverly addresses one of Torchwood’s central conceits and provides some hard-edged, real-world consequences. The limited cast is used to great effect, allowing for strong character development and building tension as the story progresses. Goss’s nods to “The Avengers” add an extra layer of entertainment value, while his use of humour helps to balance out the story’s darker moments. The script for is a testament to Goss’s talent as a writer and his understanding of Torchwood and its wider universe.

Gareth David-Lloyd, is a skilled voice actor and brings his A-game to this audio. He effortlessly carries the drama on his own for the first few minutes of “The Office of Never Was,” showcasing his talent for conveying Ianto’s internal struggles and thought processes. His performance is nuanced and engaging, capturing the character’s dry humor and emotional complexity.

Overall, “The Office of Never Was” is another smartly directed, strong and entertaining outing for Cardiff’s favourite member of Torchwood.

Review-Dying laughing

A stand-up comedian is mostly his or her own writer, director and star performer. Unlike any other art form, there is no safety net and no private rehearsal. In its singular realisation, stand-up comedy only works live on a stage – in front of often-hostile audiences. For most people baring their soul and being heckled would be a life-changing trauma, for stand-ups it’s a nightly hazard.

The very idea of standing on a stage in front of strangers and trying to make them laugh, fills me with utter dread. I imagine it’s the same for most people, and is most likely reason the subject stand-up comedy is so fascinating and rife for a documentary.

Dying laughing is a British produced documentarty, about the life of a stand-up comic and although it sometimes treads familar territory-the loneliness of the road, the anguish of your set dying etc, directors Paul Toogood & Lloyd Stanton achieve a startling level of intimacy in a series of riveting interviews with the masters of comedy. What follows is an in-depth discussion about the emotional and psychological highs and lows of life on the road.

Dying laughing is an emotional rollercoaster, which fully encapsulates the life of a performer. Chris Rock says comedians are “the last philosophers.” and, to a certain extent, he’s right. We follow this trend, with some of the most loved and respected comedians, whom speak candidly about their loves, their peevs and ultimately, their lust for being a stand-up comedian.

The film can feel a little self-indulgent at times, however that just adds to its charm. At no point do you want the interviews to stop. This is a great film, that gives an insight into the psyche of a wordsmith.

@Gerrod_Edward

[amazon_link asins=’B072N57N51′ template=’ProductAd’ store=’bawi-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’63d6266b-ac66-11e7-a73f-25dcdbe5950c’]

[amazon_link asins=’B01J9Q9Z0Q’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’bawi-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’2555284f-31f0-11e8-a682-ddc693530350′]

[amazon_link asins=’B017P2A474′ template=’ProductAd’ store=’bawi-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’9136588a-31f0-11e8-9611-b3a942aaf629′]

[amazon_link asins=’B01AYQW5QQ’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’bawi-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’3489d45e-31f0-11e8-bb30-1b5205dc7b53′]

Review-The lives of Captain Jack

One of the most interesting character’s in Doctor Who’s history is, Captain Jack Harkness. The con man-come immortal-time traveling adventurer, with a wink and a swagger.

Altough we got to see more of the character in Torchwood, I’d always wanted a Captain Jack spin-off. I wanted to know what happened after The Doctor and Rose left him. Finally, Big Finish have answered that question.

The Year After I Died by Guy Adams.

As the title suggests, this story takes place a year after ‘The Parting of the Ways’. We’re presented with a very different Jack, he’s tortued, trying to lead a quiet life, he’s living alone and has shun human contact. He’s also trying to figure out how he survived the Dalek attack and why The Doctor and Rose abandoned him.

His quiet life is turned upside down when a young reporter named Silo Crook (Shvorne Marks) comes investigating, he again finds himself tasked with saving humanity.

‘The Year After I Died’works extremely well as a direct sequel to ‘The Parting of Ways’. It builds on the story told in the series 1 finale, but doesn’t fall into to the sequel trap of telling the same story. As far as opening stories go, this is a great installment. John Barrowman shins in this, delivering the most subjude/reluctant version of captain Jack we’ve ever seen. This is a very well-written story, with great performances. I would like to see more set in this timeline.

9/10

Wednesday’s for Beginners by James Goss.

After reprising her role as Jackie Tyler for ‘The Ninth Doctor Chronicles’, Camille Codouri returns as everyone’s favourie mum.

The first 15 minutes focus on Jackie Tyler, as she pushes the story forward with monologue. We learn what happens when Rose is away and we experience the true pain and lonliness she feels, it’s heart breaking.

Soon after, she meets her “handsome American stalker” (Captain Jack) and the story really kicks into gear.

Jackie and Jack make a great duo, Barrowman and Coduri have chemistry to spare and clearly had a blast recording this. Fun and flirtacious inuendo are a bounded around and it’s an absolute joy to listen to.

Jackie’s feeling of isolation and loneliness really resonates and is perfectally juxtaposed with the adventure angle.

Deep down, this is a fun adventure that will have you howling with laughter.

8/10

One Enchanted Evening by James Goss.

This story takes place mere minutes after the Doctor leaves Jack in the bar in ‘The End of Time’.

It turns out the Tenth Doctor wasn’t just trying to get the pair laid, he had an ulterior motive.

Jack and Alonso are both in dark places, Jack had just murdered his grandson, Steven, to save man kind and obviously feels a lot of guilt. Alonso had just walked off the Titanic, a broken man. Feeling he should have been braver, more like The Doctor.

The pair bond over the course of an hour, as they work to save a spaceship from being destroyed. The villain is voiced by Katy Manning, whois camping it up no end and clearly having the time of her life.

Although the villain feels very generic, character wise this is the best in the box set. Captain Jack and Midshipman Frame both help each other exorcise their demons.

This is a character driven story, that allows both characters the redemption they feel they need.

8/10.

Month 25 by Guy Adams.

This is the story we’ve spent 12 years waiting for. When we were first introduced to Captain Jack (12 years ago!) we learned he was a former time agent, with two years of his memory missing. Now, we’re finally getting some answers. We even learn his real name..

I’m a long time fan of Guy Adam’s work with Big Finish, but this could well be his best story. It’s gripping spy/conspiracy drama, that some how manages to be laugh out loud funny. This is well-written and well acted. Barrowman perfectly manages to speak the way we imagine a twenty-something Captain Jack would speak.

9/10.

‘The Lives of Captain Jack’ is a remarkable set, which I highly recommend. John Barrowman delivers some absolutely stunning performances.

James Goss and Guy Adams have managed to take such a well-known character and find new ways to make him to grow and mature, as well as answering questions fans have had for well over a decade.

It’s a must have box set, let’s hope this becomes an annual release. Maybe Jack could even meet a certain Professor Song…

Episode 172:Doctor Who-Smile

Martyn and Gerrod are back with another episode of the podcast, this time to share their thoughts on episode 2 of Doctor Who’s 10th series.

The episode sees the Doctor, played by Peter Capaldi, and his companion, Bill Potts, portrayed by Pearl Mackie, embark on a mission to an off-Earth colony. However, they discover that the colony is devoid of any life, except for robots that communicate via emojis.

We provide insights on the episode’s intriguing plot, the development of the main characters, and the portrayal of the robotic inhabitants. As avid fans of the Doctor Who franchise, we offer a unique and informed perspective on the latest instalment. Tune in to the podcast for an entertaining and thought-provoking discussion.

The podcast can be accessed via different places, including Audioboom, Player fm and Itunes.

Follow the Bad Wilf team:
Pete – @BeeblePete
Martyn – @BadWilf
Gerrod – @Gerrod_Edward

Also check out the official Bad Wilf Vlog.

<br />