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“The Living Darkness: A Reflective Reunion Overshadowed by Bleakness”

The Living Darkness offers an introspective, character-driven tale centred on Steven Taylor, decades after his departure from the TARDIS. Reunited with the Doctor and a post-The War Machines Dodo, this six-part story blends a reflective tone with a classic 60s-style narrative but falters under its bleak atmosphere and sluggish pacing.

Steven Takes the Lead

The story belongs to Steven, with Peter Purves delivering an excellent performance that explores the character’s emotional scars, particularly the loss of his daughter, Dodo. The decision to focus entirely on Steven in the first part is bold and effective, allowing listeners to connect with his journey as he befriends a group of strangers (and a charming space dog) aboard a mysterious spaceship.

The Doctor’s delayed entrance at the end of Part 1 is an unconventional but clever cliffhanger, setting up an intriguing dynamic as Steven takes centre stage. However, while Purves shines, the supporting characters feel underdeveloped, failing to leave a lasting impression.

A Familiar Yet Uneven Story

The spaceship setting and telepathic computer evoke classic Doctor Who tropes, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the show’s 60s era. The narrative shift in Part 3 to the barren prison planet Desperus, and later on, to Tigus—both briefly seen in The Daleks’ Master Plan—adds welcome variety. However, despite these changes, the story struggles with pacing. While the dialogue-heavy approach is faithful to the era, it often feels meandering, making the six-part runtime feel unnecessarily stretched.

Mixed Performances and Missed Opportunities

Stephen Noonan’s take on the First Doctor continues to divide opinion. While he captures Hartnell’s cadence and mannerisms well, something intangible feels off in his portrayal, which can distract from the story. Similarly, Lauren Cornelius gives a solid performance as Dodo, but her characterisation doesn’t quite resonate as the Dodo fans remember.

The story also underuses Dodo, who only appears properly in the final part. Her inclusion feels more like an attempt to retroactively provide her with a farewell after The War Machines than an integral part of the narrative.

Steven’s mistaken belief that Dodo is his deceased daughter provides a powerful but unsettling moment in Part 5. While emotionally charged, the scene feels unnecessarily bleak and detracts from the overall tone.

A Bleak and Reflective Tone

The Living Darkness leans heavily on a sombre, reflective atmosphere, exploring themes of loss and regret. While this adds depth to Steven’s character, it weighs down the back half of the story, leaving little room for the adventurous spirit Doctor Who is known for. The numerous callbacks to The Daleks’ Master Plan—including the SSS and the prison planet—lend a sense of continuity but also highlight the story’s reliance on nostalgia rather than forging its own identity.

📝53/100

Living Darkness is an ambitious attempt to explore Steven’s character in greater depth while incorporating classic Doctor Who elements. While Peter Purves carries the story admirably, the bleak tone, uneven pacing, and underuse of Dodo hinder its overall impact. Fans of 60s-era Doctor Who may appreciate its thematic nods, but it lacks the excitement and energy needed to fully engage the listener.

Random Observations:

• The spaceship robot speaking to the characters with the voice of a loved one is named Nanny, which is coincidentally the same name given to the robotic voice who takes care of the space babies in Baby Station Beta in Space Babies (2024).