Doctor Who: Out of Time
by Matt Fitton; dir. Nicholas Briggs (Big Finish, 2020)
David Tennant and Tom Baker make for an arresting duo and are given time to interact, the story’s emotional depth further complemented by Kathryn Drysdale’s performance as Jora. A shame, then, that the threat had to come from blustering, blogging, self-opinionated Daleks.
Doctor Who: The Last Adventure, Part 3: Stage Fright
by Matt Fitton (Big Finish, 2015)
Fitton brings some intrigue to the Last Adventure. At the end of the day, however, the Valeyard’s evil scheme doesn’t make much sense. The Sixth Doctor’s modus operandi is once again to march up to the threat and demand its immediate cessation.
The Diary of River Song: The Furies
by Matt Fitton (Big Finish, 2018)
Audially a bit chaotic and not much of a story in its own right, though sufficiently holistic to tie up the third series. Peter Davison has a small role but the true strength of this production lies in its otherwise all-female cast.
Rose Tyler: The Dimension Cannon
(Big Finish, 2019)
Rose’s quest across the multiverse begins with two wonderfully melancholic stories before losing its way trying to force the intrinsic emotion of the doomsday scenario (particularly when relying on minor characters resurrected from Russell T Davies’ Rose novelisation). Nevertheless a welcome return.
★★★★☆ The Endless Night by Jonathan Morris
★★★★☆ The Flood by Lisa McMullin
★★★☆☆ Ghost Machines by AK Benedict
★★☆☆☆ The Last Party on Earth by Matt Fitton
Jenny: The Doctor’s Daughter – Stolen Goods
by Matt Fitton (Big Finish, 2018)
A light, slightly pantomimish story that (thankfully) entails a measure of misdirection. All told, a decent introduction to the Doctor’s daughter in audio form (although it’s hard not to do Big Finish an injustice and retrofit Georgia Tennant as channelling Jodie Whittaker).
River Song: The Eye of the Storm
by Matt Fitton (Big Finish, 2016)
In and of itself, this is a mess. As the conclusion to a four-part adventure it’s an even bigger mess. Big Finish again sacrifices coherent storytelling for clickbait casting. Yes, a ménage à trois! But the plot is forced and borderline nonsensical.
Doctor Who: Day of the Vashta Nerada
by Matt Fitton (Big Finish, 2017)
Conceptually, there’s a lot to like about bringing New Series monsters (and now even the Time War) to Classic Who. The story itself, however, is so bog-standard a rehash of earlier plotlines that it plays out like a badly degraded VHS transfer.
Doctor Who, Doom Coalition 2: The Sonomancer
by Matt Fitton (Big Finish, 2016)
Fitton manages some strong characterisation — Liv Chenka takes charge; Helen Sinclair bonds with River Song — but although Alex Kingston is quite the drawcard, the lack of interaction between her and Paul McGann is disappointing, as is the plot degeneration into runaround dénouement.