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“Caged: Experimentation, Empathy, and Alien Perspectives”

Caged opens with an intriguing setup, evoking shades of Carnival of Monsters, The War Games, and even Winner Takes All. The story places the Doctor and Ruby at the heart of a mysterious experiment involving two alien species: one conducting the research and the other unwittingly subjected to it.

This layered premise immediately sparks curiosity, blending the classic mystery-adventure vibes of Doctor Who with a modern focus on moral complexity.

Lore Over Momentum

The first third of the story takes its time, focusing on world-building and the gradual unfolding of the experiment rather than driving the plot forward. Una McCormack’s intricate plotting ensures that every revelation feels earned, but the slow pace may test the patience of some listeners.

The alien planet and its inhabitants are richly detailed, and the interplay between the octopus-like researchers and their "guinea pigs" adds a fascinating depth to the narrative.

Character Spotlights

The Doctor is wonderfully written here, fully embodying his inquisitive, empathetic, and proactive nature. He takes an active role in uncovering the truth and navigating the moral dilemmas presented by the experiment.

Ruby is equally well-realised, her characterisation aligning closely with her TV counterpart. Her empathy and sharp instincts shine, providing an effective foil to the Doctor’s more methodical approach.

Chirracharr, one of the guinea pig-like aliens, is a delightful addition. Their childlike curiosity and innocence make them a standout character, acting as a proto-companion and asking the questions that cut to the heart of the story’s themes. Their resemblance to a cuddly Pokémon only adds to their charm.

Themes of Coexistence and Understanding

The story’s octopus-like aliens are deeply devoted to their experiments, motivated by a fear of loneliness in the universe. This adds a poignant layer to their morally ambiguous actions, as their desire to create a world for others to inhabit clashes with their treatment of sentient beings as test subjects.

Themes of xenophobia, humanity, and mutual understanding are woven throughout the narrative. The exploration of how different intelligent life forms can learn to coexist, despite their differences and past wrongs, is both timely and timeless.

Family and Forgiveness

Season 1's recurring themes of family and connection are echoed here. The idea of extending empathy, even to those who have wronged you, resonates strongly. The resolution, which hinges on the aliens’ willingness to overcome their prejudices and work together, is a heartwarming conclusion to a story steeped in tension and moral quandaries.

The Verdict: A Thoughtful Slow Burn

Caged is a richly detailed and morally complex tale that showcases the best of Doctor Who’s ability to tackle weighty themes within a fantastical framework. While the pacing in the first third may feel sluggish, the payoff is a poignant and rewarding exploration of coexistence and empathy.

📝Verdict: 76/100

Overall, this was quite an engaging read with some compelling speculation about alien biology and psychology, and the tension between fearing the unknown and desiring not to be alone in the universe. Points off, however, for the really confusing naming conventions; I couldn't keep track of who all of the Ix were, and there were parts of the book that I found difficult to follow as a result.

The Fifteenth Doctor #04

'Caged' (2024) from BBC New Series Adventures.

Unfortunately I don't have much to say on this and it just didn't particularly interest me on many fronts. The whole first half feels purposefully vague and confusing in a frustrating way, and once everything narratively lines up it's all a bit whatever really. I get what it's doing and it's quite a typical Doctor Who plot, but I just found the main companion to be annoying - plus I kept picturing her like the red panda from Turning Red and that's never a good thing. Some okay stuff here and there: I like the idea of the octopus-type race although their names were infuriating, same with the panda people also really, and I like the general concept of a planet which is a laboratory for an alien race, but it just didn't interest me that much in execution.

Man oh man, what an enjoyable read.

When I saw the announcement of of new book in the New Series Adventures range, I was so excited. Especially considering the lack of novels for 13, which in my opinion are better than some of her episodes but that’s neither here nor there. Caged proves that the range can still provide really good books but is just a really good 15th Doctor story that’s perfectly fitting of the vibe of Season 1/Series 14.

Right off the bat, the characterizations of 15 and Ruby are pitch perfect. Una did an amazing job depicting the infectious rapport that Ncuti and Millie had on TV. She got the voices and the dialogue down pat.

The premise itself is very fun. A group of aliens called the Ixites have been observing and abducting another group of aliens (who don’t really go by any name in this story). It’s later revealed that the Ixites made the planet that the Unnamed aliens inhabited and plan to basically evict them and demolish their home to have the Ixites move in instead. The story follows Chirrachar who in the beginning gets abducted and sets out on a journey to find who abducted her and why. She’s a very cute and likable character who just wants to make friends with the aliens that abducted her.

The story is just really fun and whimsical with great themes of the question of other beings in the universe and what that means in the grand scheme of things. If you’re like me and want more than the 8 episodes we were given, check this book out.