Bernice Summerfield

#1.04. Birthright ~ 7/10

◆ An Introduction

BigFinish were only allowed to make original Doctor Who adventures because high-ups at the BBC were impressed with this series, so it’s a little strange that two of the stories here are based on some of the Seventh Doctor novels (though I’ve heard that there is an in-universe reason for this whole first run being adaptations, and how they tie into events, but that wont be revealed to us for quite some time).

Luckily for us that ‘Birthright’ was a Doctor-lite adventure, so all that needs to be changed is switch out Ace for Jason. Now, have you heard of Springheel Jack?

◆ Publisher’s Summary

"If the human race were to die tomorrow, insect life would carry on regardless. Insects might even become the dominant species!"

Thrown off the Time Path, Professor Bernice Summerfield is trapped in early 20th Century London, with only one of the pair of time rings she needs to get home. At the other end of time, her ex-husband Jason Kane finds himself stranded on a dead world, where the queen of the Charrl demands his help to save her dying race. But all he wants to do is find Benny, and return to the 26th Century.

In the East End a series of grisly murders has been committed – is this the work of the legendary Springheel Jack or, as Benny suspects, something even more sinister? Allied with a Russian detective, she determines to find out. But the master of a grand order of sorcerers has other plans for her…

◆ Prof. Bernice Summerfield

‘Birthright’ featured a pretty good performance from Lisa Bowerman.

When asked if she’s a demon or something, Benny claims that she’s definitely “or something”. She may be trapped in completely the wrong time and place, but at least she managed to save Babylon. Of course, she would get mortal drunk after saving the Earth – this is why I adore Prof. Summerfield! The only person who may have ever been entitled to call her “love” got lost somewhere between here and Ancient Babylon. Benny isn’t some timid Edwardian female, and she’s proficient in six forms of unarmed combat. Khan describes the people he murdered as being “low lives and whores” – whether or not that’s true, Benny knows that they didn’t deserve to be killed.

◆ Jason Kane

Stephen Fewell delivered a good performance in this episode, but he sadly gets lumbered with the least interesting material.

Jason hurtles out of the temporal path, and straight into a race of mammal eating insectoids: clearly, he’s not having a very good day! He originally came from Earth in the 20th century, but has been living in the 26th for quite some time now. He doesn’t believe in fate – or rather he prefers not to – as he doesn’t want to think the universe could be so cruel. He gets quite the shock when he realises that Antýkhon is a far future version of Earth. Jason finally finds his ex-wife… and accidentally sucker punches her in the face (again, I can see why you two are totally and utterly divorced).

◆ Story Recap

After escaping from Ancient Babylon along the temporal path, our pair of star-crossed ex-lovers are hoping to be sent back to the 26th century… but nothing is ever that simple.

Benny finds herself in Edwardian London, assisting a Russian detective who’s investigating a strange murderer that he’s been tracking since his daughter became one of the victims.

Meanwhile, Jason finds himself on the strange and barren world of Antýkhon… and it’s here he meets a race of mammal eating insectoids, but the Charrl believe he could be their salvation. With his time ring, the entire species could be transported through the time vortex, through the Great Divide… to freedom and a hospitable new world.

More than two-hundred centuries apart, the situations our heroes deal with are linked in more ways than one.

◆ An Adventure of Two Parts

‘Birthright’ is an adventure that can be split into two distinct parts, and one of them is rather uninspired. The revelation that Antýkhon is actually a future version of Earth just didn’t really excite me, simply because it’s been done elsewhere on several occasions.

The whole plot surrounding Jason attempting to aid the Charrl also didn’t leave me particularly enamoured either, and it was almost expected that they were actually villains.

Luckily, the other half of this adventure – the one focusing on Benny and the Russian investigator, Popov – is absolutely magnificent. Their chemistry together is electric, making you genuinely wish that they could’ve been the whole adventure.

◆ Sound Design

Harvey Summers is once more taking the wheel, delivering a relatively gruesome soundscape. Though this adventure does seem to be inspired by Jack the Ripper, so that’s not surprising.

The clicking and scuttling of the Charrl as it tears the guts out of a prostitute. Benny comes crashing out of the temporal path, and onto a pile of rubbish in 1909. Contaminated water runs through the grounds of Antýkhon. The voice of the Charrl honestly reminds me of Sil’s, including the fact they keep stopping to suck drool back into their gobs!

◆ Conclusion

“Would you like to save another world, mammal?”

Prof. Summerfield finds herself assisting a Russian detective solving murders in Edwardian London, whilst also dealing with a total head-case who has a strong belief in the occult. Meanwhile, Jason finds himself trapped on a future version of Earth… and he’s forced to deal with a race of mammal eating giant insects!

‘Birthright’ spends the majority of its runtime bouncing between two separate plots. I’m genuinely interested in the scenes that focus on Benny and Popov’s investigations – and I would absolutely love Colin Baker to reprise his role as the Russian detective, because his chemistry with Bowerman is clear as day!

But the segments focused squarely on Jason are boring beyond belief. The minute the story expects you to care about Antýkhon, the pacing just comes to a grinding halt and all my interest drains away.

I would still recommend giving this story a listen, but the scenes focusing on the Springheel Jack plot are easily what saves it.