Experimental,a bit confusing,but its a pretty good story but i did like the multiple mcganns - 8/10

This one is probably the most fun one from this whole Arc. It's creative, it's bizarre at times, it's funny, it's something that I have been missing from this arc. Despite the Core of the Story sounding pretty simple (Having 8 split in three versions of himself, all pumped up to 11 with a certain Mood), it still executes its Ideas in such a brilliant enjoyable Way! If anything, this is all thanks to McGann's great Voice Performance that just shows off how good of an Actor he is! And even Charley & C'rizz get plenty of great Moments in this Story, I think this is easily one of their very best Outings.
If I had to find a negative, I would say the Pacing is at times a bit off, but besides that, absolutely love it!

The Monthly Adventures #063 - “Caerdroia" by Lloyd Rose

I think pretty much everybody agrees that the Divergence Arc was wasted. Not only was the base concept of “a universe without time” thrown away in favour of “nobody knows what the word for time is” but every entry bar Scherzo seemed to have nothing in the way of experimentation like the series once promised, a whole, new universe relegated to some, if tolerable, by-the-numbers episodes with really only a couple exceptions: Scherzo in every way, The Natural History of Fear in formula and now, Caerdroia in setting. A pick and mix of various companions’ home mythologies, what is that sets the creatively prolific Caerdroia above its fellow entries of the Divergence Saga?

Finally on the track of the TARDIS, the Doctor forces the group’s omniscient warden - The Kro’ka - to tell them the location of his lost time ship. It’s answer? The mythical world of Caerdroia.

(CONTAINS SPOILERS)

This type of story is exactly what the Divergence Saga needed. Tonally and narratively unique with a brilliant cast and a plethora of fantastic ideas all working together in a new and unseen way, this is the closest we get to what was promised after Scherzo. It’s a real shame Lloyd Rose hasn’t written more because she’s fantastic here. There is such an interesting voice to this story that manages to feel both realistic and endlessly witty, most reflected in the absolutely fantastic whip-smart dialogue that blazes along the story at a hundred miles an hour, nailing every character. I don’t think I’ve commented on it yet but I love the dynamic between Charley and C’rizz, I think Fisher and Westmaas’ chemistry is often understated and Rose breathes life into them like no other.

As for our other characters, we have McGann giving the performance of a lifetime as three different versions of the Doctor, split apart into separate facets of his identity: the logical, the ruthless and the whimsical. Not only is it a nice exploration of the character highlighted by Rose writing each to suitably feel like the Doctor whilst still being different, but McGann goes from one of his worst performances to one of his absolute best. He was clearly having so much fun with this and masterfully acted out each version of himself in a way where I was never confused as to who was speaking despite them all being voiced by the same person, an astounding feat I’m still struggling to wrap my head around. I had a smile from ear to ear the whole time he was speaking and mostly because I’m sure he did too.

As for plot, it spends a good amount of time exploring the location of Caerdroia and a good thing too because this is a magnificent world we’ve been dropped into. An amalgam of elements drawn from our travellers’ heads sitting atop a winding labyrinth, exploring the quirks and oddities of this realm, like a town hall with a million departments for every little inconvenience, to a cuckoo clock with no hands that plunges into the earth, it’s joyous listening to everything Rose has got to give us. As for conflict, our main antagonist this time around is the Kro’ka, who’s been lurking in the background of the Divergence Arc up until now, finally coming to the forefront as a wonderfully hateable bagman for our mysterious puppet masters, going from smug godlike being to snivelling and petty in a wonderful turning of the tables.

However, for as much fun as this audio is, it’s not without its flaws. For one, the second half is a lot worse than the first for me. We leave behind the exploration for instead, a pretty straight forward plot that leaves the characters running in circles until it eventually meanders towards the end. The pacing, notably, is a lot worse here, Part Three being strangely short and consisting of mostly talking whilst Part Four is nearly double its length. Characters get introduced and dropped, meaningless realisations are made and the final confrontation - of the cold, calculating side of the Doctor confronting the Kro'ka - wasn’t all that exciting. Especially when it ends with the Doctor very easily finding the TARDIS after searching for it the last six episodes, this final moment done in a way that really did not justify all the build up. It’s not terrible, but it's enough to put a damper on the story.

Despite struggling towards the end, Caerdroia is an amazing audio that I never hear enough about. With an electric script and a cast giving some of their best performances, this is a riot that absolutely lives up to everything the Divergence Arc should’ve been. And now, with one unnecessarily long audio to go, we are moments away from finishing the Divergence and moving onto admittedly bigger and better things.

9/10

Pros:

+ Absolute creative wildfire

+ Easily one of McGann’s best performances

+ Incredible and witty dialogue

+ A stand out setting

+ The Kro’ka in an antagonistic role works wonderfully

Cons:

- Loses pacing in the second half

- Somewhat anticlimactic

Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time!

“CAERDROIA: A MAZE OF MINDS AND MULTIPLE DOCTORS”

Caerdroia is a standout entry in the Divergent Universe arc, finally pushing the Doctor closer to the answers he’s been chasing. With a surreal setting, a labyrinthine plot, and Paul McGann delivering a multi-layered performance, this adventure is as mind-bending as it is entertaining.

The long-awaited confrontation between the Doctor and the Kro’ka delivers immediate tension. After spending multiple stories as a cryptic manipulator, the Kro’ka is now backed into a corner, pressured by his masters and struggling to maintain control. The battle of wits between McGann’s Doctor and Stephen Perring’s Kro’ka is electric, with sharp dialogue and superb performances. There’s something deeply satisfying about watching the Doctor finally put his adversary on edge.

THE THREE DOCTORS – A BIZARRE BUT BRILLIANT TWIST

Once the narrative shifts to Caerdroia, the adventure takes a turn for the bizarre—in the best possible way. The Doctor is split into three distinct versions of himself: his usual self, an irritable and impatient incarnation, and a playful, childlike persona. This allows McGann to showcase his versatility, making each version of the Doctor distinct while still feeling like facets of the same man.

The splitting of the Doctor creates fresh dynamics with Charley and C’rizz. The Fun Doctor is erratic and unfocused, forcing C’rizz into the unusual role of being the responsible one. Meanwhile, the Irritable Doctor and Charley are at constant odds, making for a more tense and unpredictable pairing than usual. These altered dynamics add energy to the story, ensuring that the companion roles feel just as crucial as the Doctor’s.

A LABYRINTH OF STRANGE SETTINGS

The setting of Caerdroia itself is as varied as its versions of the Doctor. Each storyline unfolds in a different surreal location:

The Normal Doctor finds himself trapped in an endless, bureaucratic nightmare, navigating an office filled with pointless sections and unhelpful secretaries—a biting satire of corporate culture.

Charley and the Irritable Doctor struggle through a deadly cuckoo clock environment, where their lack of teamwork puts them in constant danger.

C’rizz and the Fun Doctor explore a bizarre park filled with the flora and fauna of their home worlds while being pursued by a Minotaur.

This constant variety keeps the story engaging, shifting tones and challenges while still driving toward the same central mystery. The maze-like nature of the planet is brought to life through creative sound design and imaginative concepts, making it feel like a true puzzle box of a world.

A FINAL SHOWDOWN AND A PLAYFUL FINALE

As the Doctors converge in Part 3, the pieces start to fall into place. The reveal that they’re inside a circular pyramid adds another layer to the mystery, and the looming presence of the Minotaur keeps the stakes high.

Part 4, however, wobbles slightly as the focus shifts to a lengthy “door game” sequence—reminiscent of the Fourteenth Doctor and Donna’s puzzle in The Giggle. While this slows the pacing, it allows for some much-needed character moments. The banter between the reunited characters feels more natural than ever, and there’s a genuine sense that Charley and C’rizz have finally bonded as true friends.

Ultimately, the episode’s greatest strengths lie in its strong character dynamics and inventive storytelling. The final confrontation between the Doctor and the Kro’ka bookends the adventure with the same intensity that it began with, providing one of the best exchanges between these two characters in the arc so far.

📝VERDICT: 8/10

Caerdroia is a clever, layered adventure that takes full advantage of the Doctor Who format’s ability to be surreal, comedic, and unsettling all at once. Paul McGann delivers a phenomenal performance across three versions of the Doctor, and the shifting dynamics between the characters keep the story fresh throughout.

A mind-bending maze, a Minotaur on the hunt, and three Doctors for the price of one—this is Big Finish at its most experimental and entertaining.

I'm once again very impressed with the writer’s ability to explore ideas that they would not dare to in the normal, non-divergent universe.

This one starts well. The Doctor cleverly traps croaker in his mind. We then end up with the Doctor split into three - different representations/ sides of his persona, which is initially very effective. Just before the halfway point though it becomes a comedy runaround which most the time falls flat. It picks back up again when the doctor starts taunting croaker who is doing everything he can to keep the doctor from the TARDIS.

The Doctor is annoyingly flippant in this one. The post-modern noting of all the cliches in the story just made me wonder why so many cliches had been written into the story.

The ending didn't feel rushed as some have said, but didn't feel satisfying either. Regardless - the divergent universe has been an excellent detour and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next.