I always love when the show delves into myths and legends, especially when it comes to the Great Vampires. This also marks Big Finish’s more ambitious arcs spanning multiple episodes– and it’s a solid start!

It’s hard to argue that one of the most compelling elements of the Sixth Doctor’s early run of Big Finish is his vulnerability – How a character as loud-mouthed and arrogant as this incarnation is forced out of his depth, and he becomes a more genuine, kind-natured character as a result. This is on full display here as his childhood fears shine through – The hints towards the Zagreus nursery rhyme, as well as the ghost stories of the Dark Times and the cultural fear of the Vampires. The Doctor’s hostility is well-founded and has a narrative purpose rather than it did on television, and helps to further the conflict between himself and Evelyn. His prejudices drive his motivation, and Evelyn calls him out, taking great offence when he refuses to explain his trauma. It establishes so much about their attitudes towards the situation as well as what they mean to each other. As much as I love Evelyn, she feels surprisingly unaffected by the horrors occurring around her, especially being covered in someone else’s guts. She’s incredibly wilful and has a lot of agency in the plot, but I think that she would make more of a fuss when people around her are dying in such violent ways. Despite this, I really do enjoy her motherly instinct around characters like Cassie, as it adds an element of personal stakes into the adventure: She’s made herself responsible for this young girl, and when her life is threatened, it pushes Evelyn further into the heroic role. She’s settled very well on board the TARDIS by this point, and takes everything in her stride, standing up to Vampires and Time Lords alike without batting an eyelid – How many people can do that?!

There’s an interesting subversion of the typical vampire story, with the horror in a far more clinical sense than usual. There’s always been a connection in literature between vampirism and homosexuality through a religious perspective, acting as a metaphor for sin and contamination, and so this situation almost riffs off the terror of the AIDS crisis in a way. The Twilight virus spreads through the seedy underbelly of London – exploring the gritty, hidden parts of the city. While this makes for an interesting backdrop, I think this undermines the threat of vampires, the grotesque body horror and violence that they are associated with. Reggie and Amelia are so ruthless and unempathetic, and make an excellent foil for the Sixth Doctor, but their more scientific disposition don’t scream vampire to me. As well as this, Nimrod’s suave charm is compelling, and the steampunk Cyborg aesthetic fits the environment excellently. It’s a solid set up for the Forge arc, with plenty of mysteries left hanging, but it’s also the least interesting part of the story for me.

It's always odd when Big Finish does a “present-day” story for the Classic Doctors, who feel so intrinsically linked to the late 20th Century. The urban atmosphere of the London backstreets is built perfectly—the idea that these horrors are happening behind closed doors in our own world is far more unsettling than a far-off alien planet. The Twilight diner itself is rough, and uncomfortable, and a great way to build tension. There’s a real claustrophobic feel to the story, with narrow alleyways, locked doors, and dark basements reinforcing the threat of the Vampires hiding in the shadows.

Cassie is the emotional core of this story, and Rosie Cavaliero is easily the standout of the guest cast. She’s such an ordinary character, with her own flaws and ambitions, which are all stripped away as she descends into the nightmare of the Twilight Virus, and her fate genuinely stings. Her interactions with Reggie flesh out the story’s themes of coercive control, as this dark, abusive environment strips her of all agency, eventually becoming fixed in this violent mindset.

The music in Project: Twilight is subtle but effective. The lack of bombastic action cues is a real strength, reinforces a noir-like atmosphere.

The dialogue isn’t the most memorable –I do enjoy the interactions between the Doctor and Evelyn (when don’t I?), they inform so much about their moralities and love for each other, but aside from that, it just ends up feeling generic for the most part.

Favourite Line: “The next sunrise over this city will be dripping with blood.”

Favourite Cliffhanger: Part One

I do appreciate that this story is trying something new with the concept of vampires, but I don’t feel it always works. It’s at time a little convoluted, but where this story shines – as per usual – is through the character conflicts between the Doctor and Evelyn.