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"Nekromanteia: A Bewitching Mess of Space, Sorcery, and Shock Value"

Nekromanteia ambitiously juggles space wars, occult rituals, and corporate intrigue. While these elements might sound thrilling on paper, their execution is uneven. The story flits between a shadowy witch cult, a scheming space corporation, and a war-driven backdrop, but these disparate parts never quite coalesce into a cohesive narrative.

The witch cult, with shades of the Carrionites from The Shakespeare Code, is brimming with potential but remains frustratingly underdeveloped. Instead, much of the focus is placed on the corporate scheming of Marr, Harlon, and Tallis, whose plotting lacks the intrigue or depth needed to sustain interest. The result is a disjointed tale that fails to capitalise on its more compelling elements.

Character Highlights and Lowlights

The regular cast faces a challenging script, and their performances are a mixed bag.

Peter Davison’s Doctor is placed in some bizarre and unsettling situations, none more infamous than the witches’ decapitation and cannibalistic feast. The sequence is intended to shock but feels gratuitous and jarring. Davison handles the surreal limbo scenes in Part 3 with his usual charm, though they feel detached from the main narrative.

Nicola Bryant’s Peri suffers greatly in this story, spending much of it under the witches’ control as a mindless puppet. While her eventual rescue is satisfying, her sidelined role diminishes her impact on the story.

Caroline Morris delivers a standout performance as Erimem. Her journey as she navigates an alien world and faces personal trauma is one of the few highlights. However, the implied assault by the Commander is a deeply uncomfortable moment that feels unnecessary and exploitative. Erimem’s injuries and subsequent sidelining are disappointing given her initial prominence.

A refreshing presence amidst the chaos, Yal Rom gradually grows into a likable adventurer. Meanwhile, Glyn Owen imbues the Commander with menace, but his descent into irredeemable villainy feels overly telegraphed, leaving no room for nuance.

Uneven Pacing and Over-the-Top Moments

The pacing of Nekromanteia is one of its greatest weaknesses. Part 1 establishes the premise well enough, but Part 2 drags with corporate scheming and insufficient focus on the witches. While the darker turn in Part 2 adds tension, it also introduces deeply uncomfortable scenes, including the infamous cliffhanger involving the Doctor’s decapitation—a moment that overshadows the narrative without adding meaningful stakes.

Part 3 attempts to explore the Doctor’s psyche through surreal limbo scenes, but these moments feel disconnected and fail to add depth to the story. Meanwhile, the final act ramps up the action with space battles and chaotic sequences but devolves into a convoluted mess, with little emotional resonance.

Missed Opportunities

Despite its flaws, Nekromanteia has glimmers of promise. The exploration of Erimem’s perspective offers insight into her character, and the Cornelius witches’ shapeshifting and flesh-eating tendencies could have made for a chilling adversary if better integrated. Unfortunately, the story leans too heavily on shock value and sensationalism, undermining its potential.

Even the darker elements—such as the witches’ rituals and the corrupted space fleet—lack the necessary depth to make them truly compelling. The result is a story that feels both overstuffed and undercooked.

The Verdict: A Bewitching Misfire

Nekromanteia attempts to blend spacefaring adventure with gothic horror but fails to weave its disparate elements into a satisfying whole. While the performances of Peter Davison and Caroline Morris provide some highlights, the story’s uneven pacing, unsettling shock moments, and lack of narrative cohesion make it a challenging listen.

📝20/100