The first story of the formal “First Doctor Adventures”. It is quite a good one. It combines modern sensibilities with the old form storytelling, which works wonders.

This is particularly noteworthy for being the first story where the doctor feels like a hero instead of a observer. This is a risky take, considering interfering is something this doctor is vehemently against. However, it is done well by making it necessary through the plot of the master.

Introducing the master before his later appearance is a risky choice, but a worthwhile one. It allows, as mentioned, for the doctor to take a clearer stance against an oppressing force. The dialogue makes sure this never feels out of place, as all characters are written well and act like they would’ve on TV.

This early master is also performed very well (f**k transphobes, but that is out of the bounds of this story). It might come across as a bit generic, but he is menacing in a way that feels at home in this era. I was hoping to see more of him, but well….

This story also gives me a clearer outline of Susan, which has been building throughout the different stories. She’s a sociable optimist, which gets along with people easily and trusts easily. This help suppress the otherwise negative tone the adventures may have had with a grumpy lead and 2 kidnapped teachers.

As for the actual plot, the doctor enters a city controlled by the master, who speeds up time in waves, so he can control their progress. It is a simple concept, which fits. The town is established well before being ruined, with several interesting side-characters and locations. The actual consequences of the masters action are pretty lacking, however. The war is shown only shortly, the manipulations he has done are at times ridiculously simple, and while playing 2 sides against each other, we only truly see how it works on one. Also, the doctor and Susan are eventually abandoned for 2 years, and everything is fixed, which was a bit too minimal for my liking.

Still, the overall story is coherent and the characters are great. It’s a great way to tell the doctors beginnings as a hero and doesn’t overstay its welcome. It’s a good time.