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cecesloth's review against another edition
3.0
A step up from the first episode.
While I love the story itself, there is a vast disconnect between the sombre and reflective tone of the script with the bombastic music and quick cuts of the post-production. The frequent tonal whiplash really took me out of the exploration of what it means to be The Doctor, but I suppose it shouldn't matter as much given that these are anniversary romps and nothing too serious (at least I hope that's what Big Finish are going for here!)
Rounded up from 2.5 stars
While I love the story itself, there is a vast disconnect between the sombre and reflective tone of the script with the bombastic music and quick cuts of the post-production. The frequent tonal whiplash really took me out of the exploration of what it means to be The Doctor, but I suppose it shouldn't matter as much given that these are anniversary romps and nothing too serious (at least I hope that's what Big Finish are going for here!)
Rounded up from 2.5 stars
romanjones's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely loved this release. The standout for me was Colin Baker as the Curator, but it was also a joy to hear Peter Davison and Georgia Tennant act together for the first time. Highly recommend for diehard Whovians.
zimb0's review against another edition
4.0
Still not sure what the connective tissue is. If it’s a future doctor falling through their previous regenerations, why is their personality that of the body they’re in?
noonanjohnc's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
2.0
I am struggling with this series.
drewmay97's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
berniemcbear's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kryten4k's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
thoroughlymodernreviewer's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
In Doctor Who: Once and Future - The Artist at the End of Time, the Doctor’s (Peter Davison) journey to figure out what’s causing his rapid degeneration takes him straight to the end of time. There, he uncovers a mysterious gallery filled with paintings from an unknown artist. An artist whose work spells the destruction of its subject. It’s a race against time as the Doctor joins forces with his daughter, Jenny (Georgia Tennant), and the mysterious Curator (Colin Baker) to uncover the Artist’s identity before it’s too late.
On the whole, it’s a pretty standard Doctor Who romp - but in the best way possible. You’ve got your Partners in Crime-style dual investigation, with the Doctor and Jenny both individually investigating the origins of this artist until their investigations lead them to each other - and straight to the artist. But when the duo finally comes face-to-face with the titular Artist at the End of the Universe, things get a lot more interesting.
The Artist at the End of Time is a surprisingly quiet story. A tale about an artist just trying to make sure his favorite planets are remembered as the universe comes to an end. But in creating his art, he realizes he might be doing more damage than good. There’s this lovely commentary around the idea of creating art for the sake of art vs corporations and the wealthy exploiting that art for their own gain. Naturally, it’s given a very Doctor Who kind of treatment, with futuristic galleries manned by creepy robots and whatnot. But it still makes for a genuinely intriguing listen. For a story celebrating such a big anniversary, it’s nice that it doesn’t have the kind of shameless glee for giant heaps of nostalgia that the previous entry, Past Lives, had.
That being said, I wouldn’t go so far as saying The Artist at the End of Time is particularly stellar as far as Doctor Who audio dramas go. And in the context of it being part of this big, bombastic 60th-anniversary celebration, it still feels like a bit of a letdown. Less so than the previous entry, to be fair. Two episodes in, it feels like Big Finish is wasting this idea of the Doctor degenerating on otherwise standard Doctor Who romps. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, it leaves these stories feeling very same old, same old. When the only real gimmick you have isn’t really being explored, what separates these stories from any other Big Finish audio over the last five years, all of which are filled with the same kind of random mashups of characters and ideas?
At the end of the day, however, The Artist at the End of Time is perfectly enjoyable as is. It’s a fun romp, filled with a solid, introspective plot and some great performances. Georgia Tennant and Colin Baker, in particular, really steal the show here, especially when they’re paired together. And it’s genuinely nice hearing Peter Davison act opposite his real-life daughter, Georgia. That little slice of reality gives the Doctor and Jenny’s relationship a very lived-in quality, and I’d love to hear more stories featuring the two of them. As an individual story, The Artist at the End of Time works quite well. But as the second part of an eight-part 60th-anniversary celebration, it continues to feel a bit lacking. We’ve still got six parts to go, however, so maybe things will pick up from here.
On the whole, it’s a pretty standard Doctor Who romp - but in the best way possible. You’ve got your Partners in Crime-style dual investigation, with the Doctor and Jenny both individually investigating the origins of this artist until their investigations lead them to each other - and straight to the artist. But when the duo finally comes face-to-face with the titular Artist at the End of the Universe, things get a lot more interesting.
The Artist at the End of Time is a surprisingly quiet story. A tale about an artist just trying to make sure his favorite planets are remembered as the universe comes to an end. But in creating his art, he realizes he might be doing more damage than good. There’s this lovely commentary around the idea of creating art for the sake of art vs corporations and the wealthy exploiting that art for their own gain. Naturally, it’s given a very Doctor Who kind of treatment, with futuristic galleries manned by creepy robots and whatnot. But it still makes for a genuinely intriguing listen. For a story celebrating such a big anniversary, it’s nice that it doesn’t have the kind of shameless glee for giant heaps of nostalgia that the previous entry, Past Lives, had.
That being said, I wouldn’t go so far as saying The Artist at the End of Time is particularly stellar as far as Doctor Who audio dramas go. And in the context of it being part of this big, bombastic 60th-anniversary celebration, it still feels like a bit of a letdown. Less so than the previous entry, to be fair. Two episodes in, it feels like Big Finish is wasting this idea of the Doctor degenerating on otherwise standard Doctor Who romps. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, it leaves these stories feeling very same old, same old. When the only real gimmick you have isn’t really being explored, what separates these stories from any other Big Finish audio over the last five years, all of which are filled with the same kind of random mashups of characters and ideas?
At the end of the day, however, The Artist at the End of Time is perfectly enjoyable as is. It’s a fun romp, filled with a solid, introspective plot and some great performances. Georgia Tennant and Colin Baker, in particular, really steal the show here, especially when they’re paired together. And it’s genuinely nice hearing Peter Davison act opposite his real-life daughter, Georgia. That little slice of reality gives the Doctor and Jenny’s relationship a very lived-in quality, and I’d love to hear more stories featuring the two of them. As an individual story, The Artist at the End of Time works quite well. But as the second part of an eight-part 60th-anniversary celebration, it continues to feel a bit lacking. We’ve still got six parts to go, however, so maybe things will pick up from here.
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