Doctor Who – Doctor of War: Genesis

#1.01. Dust Devil ~ 7/10

◆ An Introduction

2022 proved to be an excellent year for this franchise. The Sixth Doctor and Mel were reunited almost a decade after their last adventure, accompanied by Hebe Harrison; a quick-witted marine biologist from sunny old Sheffield. We were even treated to a deliciously authentic Season Seven style escapade with the Third Doctor and Liz.

Plans were also put in place to resurrect a range that hadn’t been active in years, and nobody saw this one coming. The ‘Unbound’ range has returned, and he is not the man you know. The Doctor has long since ceased to exist; only the Warrior remains now!

◆ Publisher’s Summary

The TARDIS crew are on the run, pursued by an unstoppable force. But who is hunting them? And why? Will they find the answers on Aridius? Or just more questions?

◆ The Warrior

Colin Baker is given a whole new incarnation to embody – though he also plays Ol’ Sixie in this episode too. He absolutely excels in this episode.

From the Warrior’s position, the war had started long before it began; nothing one second, raging for eternity the next. Even attempting to establish a chronology could be thought of as gauche. Ordinarily, he’d do everything in his power to save the people of Aridius, but he literally doesn’t have the time at present. The Warrior has come to expect the impossible in the Time War.

◆ Story Recap

Simply touch one wire against another and the Daleks cease to exist: the Fourth Doctor questioned if he had the right to do so. In our timeline, he decided that this act of genocide would make him no better than the Daleks… but things have changed.

In this new timeline, the Doctor exterminates the creatures during their genesis. After seeing Harry and Sarah gunned down by some of the prototype Daleks, he is taken out of time by CIA co-ordinator Narvin, who forces him to regenerate using the Elixir of Karn.

The Doctor is no more, and only the Warrior remains.

◆ “Time is beginning to run wild!”

The genocide of the Daleks caused a massive paradox which is spreading like a cancer. Put simply, time is unravelling around the Sixth Doctor and Peri.

John Dorney is one of the most beloved BigFinish writers, so it seems fitting that he should be the one to kick this mini-series off. I can only imagine how cathartic it must have been to take a sledgehammer to established continuity: within the first couple of minutes, arguably the show’s most beloved companion gets killed off!

The creation of the Daleks has already spawned an alternative scenario in one of my favourite spin-offs: I highly recommend checking out ‘Anti-Genesis’, because hearing the Master hijack the birth of the genocidal salt-shakers is a really neat idea.

◆ Sound Design

‘Dust Devil’ is one of the most visual stories that I’ve listened to, but Jack Townley saw this as an opportunity to let loose with his sound design. Clearly had lots of fun with the dimension warping, almost hallucinogenic, imagery.

Prototype Daleks detonate on Skaro, before time starts unravelling around the Fourth Doctor. Sandstorms rage across the surface of Aridius. Distorted voices rant and rave inside the Doctor’s mind, all threatening to kill him. The TARDIS console screaming as adjacent time zones are torn to shreds. The Assassin chucking grenades and firing a hail of bullets at the Warrior. The Mire Beast sounds horrific, as it devours dead Aridians… and an alternate version of Peri!

◆ Music

Time War stories are where Howard Carter really comes alive, making use of his cinematic flair. I really like his new rendition of the title theme: it’s reminiscent of the one used for the ‘Novel Adaptations’ featuring the Seventh Doctor. There’s this dramatic choral piece that is used when the Fourth Doctor is taken out of time by Narvin, which was really quite impressive too.

◆ Conclusion

“It begins with the end of the world…”

The genocide of the Daleks has caused irreparable damage to the timelines: reality is starting to unravel, and we’ve got a front row seat for the chaos.

‘Dust Devil’ is basically what happens when a writer takes a sledgehammer to continuity, and it’s glorious!

Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant are – unsurprisingly – on top form throughout the episode, and the sound design deserves special mention for being so mind-bendingly weird. A bit confusing at times, but a great start to the mini-series.