The Union (if adjusted, extended in some ways and unextended in others) is probably what the anniversary as a whole should have been for Big Finish. The cast they chose for this one is excellent. Paul McGann is the Big Finish Doctor, in a way, and so it makes sense for him to finish this off. Coupling him with the most famous Doctor, Tom Baker, is a smart move. Another smart move is having this story involve the Doctor's family, Susan and River Song. And yet another smart move is having the villain be played by another Doctor Who alumni, Maureen O'Brien, whose performance as the titular Union is the highlight of the release.

The story gets unwieldly though when they try to fit all eleven or twelve or whatever doctors into the narrative. Some of the appearances are quick and irrelevant, and others refuse to go away when they have nothing to do, including, weirdly, Jacob Dudman's Peter Capaldi impression, who takes center stage in a way that is a little embarrassing. I could not tell it was supposed to be Twelve for quite a few minutes.

Anyway, despite all that fandom rubbish, this was nearly good. Some sections are superb. If this was  focused more in the right places, this could have been one of the best anniversary specials. But Once and Future in general is a series of "oh, I wish they did that instead..."