🤩(9.13) = NEAR PERFECT!

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

Justin Richards drops us straight into World War I trenches during the Battle of the Somme as we follow British soldiers living through the horrors of war through nasty weather, blood, sweat, tears, and mud.

This story takes place during The Daleks' Master Plan, with One, Steven, and Sara Kingdom joining Captain Steadman to investigate a string of disappearances that seem to be part of something or someone trying to alter the course of history. There are a couple of references to the overall narrative in Master Plan, which means that Men of War slots nicely into a Master Plan marathon.

Peter Purves’ narration can be a bit sloppy at times, but his voice for One is impeccable, and he obviously knows Steven, so he’s mostly a delight to listen to. He also puts his heart into the story, giving it the strength it needs to bring the wartime atmosphere to life.

The music and sound effects greatly enhance the experience, making it much more palpable.

The Doctor and Steven are very well-written here, but Kingdom feels somewhat forgotten. They do, however, accurately capture the chemistry of this TARDIS team.

Steadman's point of view, which emphasises the anachronistic qualities of the three TARDIS travellers while highlighting the politics, customs, and rules of the era, tells the entire story from a slightly more humane perspective.

I appreciate how the story explores loss, trauma, and PTSD, with Kingdom reflecting on the loss of her brother, Bret Vyon.

The second half explores the battlefields of the war, and we get graphic descriptions of dead bodies. Men of War proves to be a very effective display of just how terrifying a battlefield can be.

We slowly learn about the nature of the alien threat, which makes the mud sentient and feeds on temporal energy. The way it reanimates the mud and dead bodies effectively creates a terrifying atmosphere.