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“THE GAME – STICKS, STRATEGY, AND STALLED DIPLOMACY”

The Game has all the ingredients of a compelling sci-fi allegory: a planet obsessed with a hyper-violent sport that doubles as a state-sanctioned war, a diplomatic mission to end the bloodshed, and the Doctor unwittingly thrown into the action. Written by one-time scribe Darin Henry, this Fifth Doctor and Nyssa audio from Big Finish’s Main Range kicks off with promise—but sadly squanders much of its potential.

It opens with energy: a society built around “the Game,” a brutal, televised gladiatorial contest fought with sticks between two divided races. Everyone’s obsessed. Anyone can play. Death is permanent, but it’s all cheerfully disguised as entertainment. It’s a clever if familiar set-up—Running Man and The Hunger Games spring to mind—and it’s intriguing to watch the Doctor gradually realise that this “game” is nothing more than a formalised, broadcasted war.

THE DOCTOR PLAYS WHILE NYSSA NEGOTIATES

One of the strengths of the first half is its commitment to the concept. The Doctor is immediately caught up in the game’s dangerous mechanics, forced to survive in the arena while trying to inject some sanity into the madness. Meanwhile, Nyssa is sidelined to the Earth delegation, which sounds dull—but she at least gets something to do, trying to navigate diplomatic solutions and uncover the rules of this warped society.

The production leans into the arena atmosphere with in-universe sports commentary, which adds flair and authenticity to the fictional sport. It’s a nice touch that helps immerse listeners in the world. Unfortunately, once negotiations begin, the story grinds to a halt—descending into an endless cycle of bureaucratic bickering and turgid conversations that lack urgency or dynamism. It desperately wants to be Gallifrey but doesn't have the layered politics or compelling characters to pull it off.

CARLISLE, TIMEY-WIMEY PLOTS, AND THE CURSE OF PREDICTABILITY

William Russell returns to the Whoniverse here as Lord Darzil Carlisle, an old friend of the Doctor's. It’s a lovely bit of casting—he still sounds great, even if he’s recognisably older and slightly Ian-esque—but the character himself is underwhelming. He’s introduced as a respected negotiator who has apparently met a future Doctor, giving things a mildly timey-wimey flavour, but his character ends up more functional than compelling.

A side plot involving the Doctor being doomed within the game and Nyssa teaming up with Carlisle to save him is the closest the story gets to real stakes, but even this loses steam. The solution feels inevitable, and the time-travel angle is never explored with any real imagination.

And then there’s the inevitable twist: the Americans are the villains. Morian and Faye linger in the wings, only to step forward with moustache-twirling intentions in the final third. Their plan is detailed in exhaustive monologue form by Morian, robbing the climax of tension and leaving the story dragging its feet to a predictable, flat resolution.

SIX PARTS THAT DON’T ADD UP

Though structured as a six-parter, The Game is only the length of a traditional four-parter thanks to shorter episodes—but it still feels far too long. Once the action leaves the arena and enters the negotiation chamber, the pacing crawls. It’s a textbook example of a story that can't quite extend its central premise into a full-length drama. The Doctor himself feels oddly flat throughout, and Nyssa—already a character who struggles for material in audio—is again underused.

The supporting characters (apart from Russell’s Carlisle) are largely forgettable, and the central conflict—while conceptually rich—never evolves beyond its initial hook.

📝 VERDICT: 53/100

The Game sets itself up as a brutal satire of war as sport, but despite a promising first third and a welcome return from William Russell, it ultimately fizzles out. The story lacks the character depth, political sophistication, or narrative momentum needed to turn its clever premise into something memorable. A decent arena concept gives way to dry, drawn-out diplomacy and a naff villain twist, making this one of the more forgettable Fifth Doctor and Nyssa outings. It's not unlistenable, but it's hard to care about the final score.