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mrcoldstream's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
🙏🏼66% = Fine! = Mildly recommended!
Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time! This time; Gallifrey has a new president, Evelyn meets the Daleks, and everything goes boom!
****
In this adventure, Stephen Cole continues the Dalek Empire arc, as Gallifreyan politics and Dalek galactic expansion projects entangle Six and Evelyn. Strange space elements, missing planets, and a missing Time Lady plunge us immediately into a dire situation. The Doctor is immediately interested, while Evelyn acts as something of a comedic but sympathetic presence, owing to her ignorance about everything future and space-related. She wanders off, looking for the Doctor, and gets into trouble. Meanwhile, Cole very effectively begins developing an uneasy atmosphere during the opening installment.
The story grows to big proportions early on, with Dalek attacks, explosions, and a swift pace; there’s an air of a season finale over this story. At the same time, a lot is going on, and it is difficult to keep track of everything, particularly since the action scenes can turn a bit messy.
I like the gravity wells as a concept and find that they make them work surprisingly well on audio.
Colin Baker is more subdued here, but I like how careful he is every step of the way. Maggie Stables takes something of a backseat for a change, as she has to share the limelight with the Doctor's former companion.
This story marks the return of Lalla Ward as Romana II for the first time since her TV days, and what a powerful comeback this one is! Regrettably, most of the other guest characters, including the usually well-written Vansell and the new Lord President, blend into the background and don't make a significant impact.
The cliffhanger to Part 1, in which Dalek mutant creatures attack the Doctor and Trinket from all sides, is one of the more effective and memorable early BF cliffhangers.
The four individual parts are all closer to or over 30 minutes in length, and this extended runtime makes itself felt, particularly in the middle parts. Because of the story's scope, it would arguably benefit greatly from having a visual element. In this format, this one feels a bit overlong, even if it helps set up further storylines, such as the Gallifrey series and the larger Dalek Empire arc.
Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time! This time; Gallifrey has a new president, Evelyn meets the Daleks, and everything goes boom!
****
In this adventure, Stephen Cole continues the Dalek Empire arc, as Gallifreyan politics and Dalek galactic expansion projects entangle Six and Evelyn. Strange space elements, missing planets, and a missing Time Lady plunge us immediately into a dire situation. The Doctor is immediately interested, while Evelyn acts as something of a comedic but sympathetic presence, owing to her ignorance about everything future and space-related. She wanders off, looking for the Doctor, and gets into trouble. Meanwhile, Cole very effectively begins developing an uneasy atmosphere during the opening installment.
The story grows to big proportions early on, with Dalek attacks, explosions, and a swift pace; there’s an air of a season finale over this story. At the same time, a lot is going on, and it is difficult to keep track of everything, particularly since the action scenes can turn a bit messy.
I like the gravity wells as a concept and find that they make them work surprisingly well on audio.
Colin Baker is more subdued here, but I like how careful he is every step of the way. Maggie Stables takes something of a backseat for a change, as she has to share the limelight with the Doctor's former companion.
This story marks the return of Lalla Ward as Romana II for the first time since her TV days, and what a powerful comeback this one is! Regrettably, most of the other guest characters, including the usually well-written Vansell and the new Lord President, blend into the background and don't make a significant impact.
The cliffhanger to Part 1, in which Dalek mutant creatures attack the Doctor and Trinket from all sides, is one of the more effective and memorable early BF cliffhangers.
The four individual parts are all closer to or over 30 minutes in length, and this extended runtime makes itself felt, particularly in the middle parts. Because of the story's scope, it would arguably benefit greatly from having a visual element. In this format, this one feels a bit overlong, even if it helps set up further storylines, such as the Gallifrey series and the larger Dalek Empire arc.
timelordash92's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
nerdy_elle's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
diewachen's review
4.0
Let me just say, I'm a sucker for a Gallifrey story. The Infinity Doctors is one of my favorite Doctor Who books of all time, and War Games and Deadly Assassin are two television stories that never get old for me. Add in to that the beginning of the Last Great Time War, retroactive explanations for things that occurred in the TV Movie, Romana as President of Gallifrey and the 6th Doctor with Evelyn.... What isn't to like about the Apocalypse Element?
Okay, there are a couple of things: The story moves too fast at times and, if you haven't heard it before, you might get lost. The resolution of a human retinal scan opening the Eye of Harmony is great for the Doctor Who metastory, but it means Evelyn ends up acting like a snarky talking key for most of the story.
That being said, Colin Baker and Maggie Stables are a match made in heaven. They are apart far too often in this story, but when they're together, they're on fire. The story continues the Dalek Empire storyline (which is fantastic) and introduces the Gallifrey storyline (which I haven't listened to yet, but... Gallifrey!). This is one story I recommend taking episode by episode; pause when the end-credit music plays to digest the plot before moving on. If you can keep up with the pace of the plot, the rewards are well worth the patience.
Okay, there are a couple of things: The story moves too fast at times and, if you haven't heard it before, you might get lost. The resolution of a human retinal scan opening the Eye of Harmony is great for the Doctor Who metastory, but it means Evelyn ends up acting like a snarky talking key for most of the story.
That being said, Colin Baker and Maggie Stables are a match made in heaven. They are apart far too often in this story, but when they're together, they're on fire. The story continues the Dalek Empire storyline (which is fantastic) and introduces the Gallifrey storyline (which I haven't listened to yet, but... Gallifrey!). This is one story I recommend taking episode by episode; pause when the end-credit music plays to digest the plot before moving on. If you can keep up with the pace of the plot, the rewards are well worth the patience.
chucklebuck's review
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
djryan's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
faiazalam's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
smorancie's review
3.0
Doctor Who audiobooks are always a good way to pass the time. This one is no exception.
nwhyte's review
brings the Sixth Doctor and Evelyn - clearly one of the great pairings of Doctor Who - to the back-story of the Gallifrey audios (and a sequel of sorts to The Genocide Machine). Negotiations on a Time Treaty between Gallifrey and the other time-travelling powers are at a climax, Romana as President has been missing for twenty years, and of course it turns out that the Daleks are behind it all. OK, poor old Gallifrey has been under siege so many times now that it is surprising the place is still standing, but I really enjoyed this one - everyone seems to be on top form, and I begin to believe those who say that Colin Baker's performance in the audios shows what a great Doctor he could have been on TV, if he had given better material to work with.