Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time! 

"Flip-Flop: A Clever Experiment That Struggles with Engagement"

Flip-Flop, written by Jonathan Morris, is one of the more experimental and daring entries in Big Finish's Main Range. Its unique narrative structure—a two-disc story where the discs can be listened to in any order—sets it apart. The black and white discs each present alternate versions of the same story, creating a circular narrative without a definitive conclusion. This gives the listener the freedom to decide which version of events they believe to be "correct," emphasizing a "timey-wimey" storytelling style characteristic of Doctor Who.

The story's premise revolves around the Seventh Doctor and Mel arriving on a human colony during Christmas in the future. The narrative mirrors The Ark, with one half of each disc exploring the past and its impact on the future, and the other showing the consequences of those actions. At the heart of the story is a slug-like alien race, the Slithergee, whose request to settle on the moon sparks political turmoil, a devastating war, and a cascade of time-traveling attempts to alter history.

Sylvester McCoy delivers a strong performance as the Doctor, perfectly capturing his disdain for those who meddle with time without considering the consequences. Bonnie Langford also shines as Mel, providing a warm and grounded presence amid the chaos.

The Slithergee are an intriguing addition, brought to life through evocative sound design and solid performances. Their blindness and reliance on sound lend them a unique flavor, though their role in the narrative feels underutilized.

Despite the ambitious format, Flip-Flop struggles with pacing and engagement. The bleak atmosphere is slightly oppressive but fails to generate the necessary tension to sustain interest over its two-hour runtime. The story’s core premise—a political and social conflict over the Slithergee—is not particularly compelling and feels overly drawn out.

One significant issue is the repetitive nature of the narrative. Both halves essentially tell the same story from slightly different perspectives, making the second disc less engaging once you’ve listened to the first. While the Black Disc offers a more nuanced and tense storytelling experience, the overall lack of variety undermines the cleverness of the format.

The references to Seven and Mel's unseen adventure defeating the Quarks provide a humorous touch but inadvertently highlight how much more exciting that story might have been compared to the one we’re given.

Ultimately, Flip-Flop is a fascinating experiment in nonlinear storytelling but struggles to maintain interest due to its repetitive structure and uninspired premise. For those who appreciate Doctor Who’s more experimental side, it’s worth a listen, but it may leave some longing for a more traditional, tightly written adventure.

📝Verdict: 5/10

Flip-Flop is ambitious and inventive but hampered by a lackluster narrative and pacing issues that detract from its unique structure.