It's extremely rare that I've come out of a Doccy Who story thinking "what was even the point?"

And yet.

And yet.

When this set was announced, I recall being excited. The idea of the Time War being started early by 4, who'd regenerate into a more ruthless incarnation, sounded interesting and like it'd have a lot to explore.

Then I read reviews and thanked the lord I didn't buy this at the time.

Unfortunately, for NarvinQuest TM, I've had to listen to this. And I am genuinely baffled at the direction of this set.

Let's take the above premise. Now let's sit in on the pitch meeting for the first set of said premise. I imagine it went something like this:

"Hey Big Briggsy, what if we open our first set of our new exciting alternate universe Doctor who's more ruthless and started the time war early by not focusing on him at all, and instead on the 6th Doctor being erased by the timeline changes?"

"Wow that sounds great!"

"And for our second story, The Warrior - as he now calls himself - not knowing where he is, why he is or what's going on. With The Master telling him stuff and him denying it!"

"Oh so you mean our new interesting incarnation will have zero agency until the end of the story?"

"Yeah! And when he does have agency he does a bunch of nonsense that makes no sense!"

"Damn. You're a genius! Have a raise! We're gonna sell a gazillion copies!!!"

And that's what gets me most. I can forgive the lack of agency The Warrior has [lie], I can forgive the lack of focus both the previous story and especially this one have [lie], I can forgive the waste of Narvin (despite some good ideas with The Daleks conquering Gallifrey and being his boss, that ruled) [lie], but what I can't forgive is that absolutely nothing happens other than a couple cool ideas that come to nothing for the first 60 minutes of a 70 minute story, before tying up in a way that is incomprehensible and annoying.

This is boring art. This is frustrating art. This is a good concept completely and utterly wasted. Why should I even care about what's going on?

Urgh. I still have one more story left. What a waste of time.

P.S. Both Colin Baker and ESPECIALLY Geoffrey Beevers are great despite the material. Just not enough to elevate how much this both simultaneously bored and annoyed me.