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TARDIS Guide

Review of The Zero Imperative by DanTheMan2150AD

1 July 2025

Bloody Northern Line. I could have flown to Spain and back in the time it took me to get here.

The Zero Imperative is the first in the PROBE series and makes a major departure from BBV's previous works on The Stranger and The Airzone Solution by being a direct instalment into the Whoniverse rather than an almost canon work of the show. Written by Mark Gatiss, The Zero Imperative certainly has strength in its writing and its devoted performances of the cast.

Former UNIT luminary Liz Shaw and her assistant Louise Bayliss are investigating a series of bizarre murders, all committed near a soon-to-be-closed psychiatric hospital. When the hospital is unexpectedly reprieved by rich industrialist Peter Russell, events seem to move out of Liz's control. Are the incumbent director of the clinic, Doctor Dove and his predecessor, Doctor O'Kane, harbouring the killer? What is the centuries-old horror hidden in the grounds? And what exactly is the secret of room zero?

The Zero Imperative doesn't exactly get the series off to the best of starts but isn't at all bad. Mark Gatiss is positively stuffed with ideas but I think what let this film down, in the end, was the rather rushed nature of it, another 10 or so minutes would have allowed those ideas to fully flourish to the surface and make the ending have much more of dramatic weight. The direction isn't all that but Mark Ayres' musical score more than caries it through its weaker moments alongside the stellar performances from the cast of Who actors. Caroline John as a returning Liz Shaw is simply excellent and Sylvester McCoy really shines as the villainous Dr Dove with Mark Gatiss even getting a few decent moments to shine as Dr Bruffin, showcasing his proficiency for acting as well as writing. Jon Pertwee is just kind of here but is a warm and pleasant presence.

Overall, while not perfect, The Zero Imperative presents an intriguing study of psychology and philosophy with themes of abuse, the occult and even pure obsession.

This is a hospital Ms Shaw... not Scooby-Doo!


DanTheMan2150AD

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