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“Red Dawn: A Cool Reception for the Ice Warriors' Big Finish Debut”

Red Dawn brings the Ice Warriors to Big Finish for the first time, but unfortunately, the adventure struggles to breathe life into these iconic creatures, offering little development beyond what fans already know from their TV appearances. While the story includes some interesting elements, it ultimately fails to rise above mediocrity.

The opening episode is underwhelming, with the Doctor and Peri preoccupied with opening doors while astronauts undergo an elaborate landing process that doesn’t translate well to audio. Much of the story mirrors the format of the Ice Warriors’ classic Doctor Who outings from the '60s and '70s: noble Ice Warriors contrasted with villainous humans, space exploration as a backdrop, and the Ice Warriors’ questionable prowess as actual warriors.

One slightly engaging aspect is the exploration of the Ice Warriors' origins, but this potential is diluted by the lack of substantial plot progression in the first three episodes. The cliffhangers—aside from the first, which is spoiled by the cover—fail to inject any real tension. The narrative plods along, focusing too heavily on space flight, which feels flat in an audio format.

Episode 4 delivers a small twist that makes sense and adds an emotional touch, particularly with Zzaal’s ultimate fate, which highlights the Ice Warriors’ honourable nature. However, the twist lacks the impact it should have had, given the underwhelming buildup.

The characters also leave much to be desired. The astronaut crew are largely forgettable, hampered further by unconvincing American accents. Georgia Tennant’s performance is serviceable but unremarkable, a far cry from her later standout work in Doctor Who. Matthew Brenher, as Zzaal, fares better, capturing the gravitas of an Ice Lord without falling into excessive theatricality.

The Fifth Doctor feels oddly passive, often relegated to shouting instructions without much direct involvement in the story's resolution. Peri is more dynamic, proving useful as she pilots an unfamiliar spaceship under Ice Warrior pressure, but even she can’t salvage the thin plot.

Paul Webster, the main human antagonist, is a cookie-cutter villain with generic motivations, offering little depth or intrigue. While the Ice Warriors aren’t the primary villains, their portrayal suffers from the same issues as in their TV appearances: their hissing voices and over-the-top dialogue can be grating. Still, the story does retain their honourable and multifaceted nature, reminiscent of their portrayal in The Curse of Peladon.

On a technical level, Red Dawn makes effective use of familiar Ice Warrior sound effects, such as their weapons and vocalisations, which add authenticity. The editing also features a few clever moments, particularly during transitions between parallel conversations. However, the pace, while brisk in parts, fails to disguise the lack of meaningful tension or resolution.

📝Verdict: 3/10

In the end, Red Dawn suffers from a lot of noise with little substance. Despite flashes of potential, the story feels stagnant, bogged down by a thin plot, unremarkable characters, and a lack of innovation in handling its titular monsters. While it demonstrates the Ice Warriors’ complexity, it also underscores the limitations of their traditional portrayal, resulting in a disappointing first Big Finish outing for these classic adversaries.