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mrcoldstream's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
🙏🏼51% = 224 points = Average!
I'm continuing my marathon through the 8th Doctor BF Adventures with his next story, featuring a plot no one understands, another amnesiac Doctor, and the return of the Brigadier. This is MINUET IN HELL, aka HOW I LOST MY MEMORY AGAIN!
We quickly learn that both the Doctor and Charley suffer from amnesia; they don't know who they are, where they've come from, or what they're doing. The Doctor is imprisoned in a mental institution, while Charley works for the mysterious Hell Fire Club.
This story follows the machinations of the senator of America's 51st state, Malebolgia, and the leader of the Hellfire Club. We soon learn that this is an alternative 21st century, one that has taken a much more sinister turn than what we know. The religious cult plot truly overshadows almost everything else here, and it's perfectly engaging to begin with, even if Part 1 establishes very little beyond building an unnerving atmosphere.
The rest of the story is a mix of confusing sound design, a pretty muddled political/religious plot, and a mystery surrounding the Doctor and Charley, their amnesias, and the reason behind them. Part 3 intensifies the demon play and puts Charley in a very precarious situation on the exciting cliffhanger.
Part 4 finally brings the plot threads to a close. It does explain what is happening, but it doesn't do so very satisfactorily, and the convoluted structure of the story drowns out the majority of the themes and ideas.
There are more shoddy American accents at play here.
This story doesn't give Paul McGann and India Fisher much to work with initially, but what they do is interesting. They are much more contained and unnerving, believably capturing someone who's lost their sense of identity. McGann then slowly turns more and more into the Doctor in his fascinating scenes with Nicholas Briggs.
Charley is stuck in the Hellfire Club and interacts with a strange demon creature, who sounds a bit overproduced.
It's a joy to hear Nicholas Courtney return to the role of the now-retired Brigadier again. He is in the story to oversee the creation of Malebolgia and soon gets entangled in the dark mysteries. It's also interesting how he meets the Doctor without knowing who he is and slowly deduces his identity.
Nicholas Briggs is back as well, in one of his more interesting voice roles. He's really good in Part 2 when he tries to convince the Doctor that his memories are false. That Part 2 cliffhanger is a classic!
I like how the story keeps up the mystery of Charley being supposed to be dead after the events of Storm Warning.
I'm continuing my marathon through the 8th Doctor BF Adventures with his next story, featuring a plot no one understands, another amnesiac Doctor, and the return of the Brigadier. This is MINUET IN HELL, aka HOW I LOST MY MEMORY AGAIN!
We quickly learn that both the Doctor and Charley suffer from amnesia; they don't know who they are, where they've come from, or what they're doing. The Doctor is imprisoned in a mental institution, while Charley works for the mysterious Hell Fire Club.
This story follows the machinations of the senator of America's 51st state, Malebolgia, and the leader of the Hellfire Club. We soon learn that this is an alternative 21st century, one that has taken a much more sinister turn than what we know. The religious cult plot truly overshadows almost everything else here, and it's perfectly engaging to begin with, even if Part 1 establishes very little beyond building an unnerving atmosphere.
The rest of the story is a mix of confusing sound design, a pretty muddled political/religious plot, and a mystery surrounding the Doctor and Charley, their amnesias, and the reason behind them. Part 3 intensifies the demon play and puts Charley in a very precarious situation on the exciting cliffhanger.
Part 4 finally brings the plot threads to a close. It does explain what is happening, but it doesn't do so very satisfactorily, and the convoluted structure of the story drowns out the majority of the themes and ideas.
There are more shoddy American accents at play here.
This story doesn't give Paul McGann and India Fisher much to work with initially, but what they do is interesting. They are much more contained and unnerving, believably capturing someone who's lost their sense of identity. McGann then slowly turns more and more into the Doctor in his fascinating scenes with Nicholas Briggs.
Charley is stuck in the Hellfire Club and interacts with a strange demon creature, who sounds a bit overproduced.
It's a joy to hear Nicholas Courtney return to the role of the now-retired Brigadier again. He is in the story to oversee the creation of Malebolgia and soon gets entangled in the dark mysteries. It's also interesting how he meets the Doctor without knowing who he is and slowly deduces his identity.
Nicholas Briggs is back as well, in one of his more interesting voice roles. He's really good in Part 2 when he tries to convince the Doctor that his memories are false. That Part 2 cliffhanger is a classic!
I like how the story keeps up the mystery of Charley being supposed to be dead after the events of Storm Warning.
ashs_doctorwho_library's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Kind of boring and separating Charley and the doctor was a bad idea. I couldn't tell some voices apart so that wasn't fun. At least there was the Birgadier
chocolatequeen's review
3.0
The only thing that bumped this up from a 2 star was the presence of the Brigadier.
rebelbelle13's review
2.0
It pains me to say this, but this audioplay just wasn't good. It's like someone was playing a party game to see how many cliches and stereotypes they could fit into one story. The Doctor has amnesia AGAIN (rather a running gag with this incarnation to be sure) and doesn't get his memory back until 2/3 of the way through the plot. Charley does a fine job of carrying the story with the help of Brigadeer Lethbridge-Stewart (played by Nicolas Courtney!) the only other bright spot in this rather forgettable installment. Private clubs for the wealthy, mind-experiments, demon fighters, corrupt politicians and summoned demons (sorry, ALIENS) all populate the play, mixed in with a heavy dose of uninspired dialogue, cringy villains and the cheesiest representation of the Southern US that Big Finish has to offer. Glad I listened to it for Courtney and the sake of continuity, but I won't be doing so again.
eleanorflovver's review
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Truly awful, I absolutely loved it. I love the Brig so much
mnstrmisha's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
- every time charley and eight get separated for the larger part of an episode a part of me dies
- all the characters were either boring or annoying (char and 8 - this never applies to you)
- take a shot every time eight gets hit with amnesia
- all the characters were either boring or annoying (char and 8 - this never applies to you)
- take a shot every time eight gets hit with amnesia
chucklebuck's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
dinnerandamovii's review
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-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