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“CASTAWAYS: A TIMEY-WIMEY MYSTERY WITH A GHOSTLY TWIST”

Big Finish’s The Death and Life of River Song returns for a second volume, this time pairing River with two of the Doctor’s most iconic companions: Ace and Tegan. The box set kicks off with Castaways, a story that plunges the trio into a Victorian mystery laced with spectral apparitions, memory loss, and time-twisting intrigue.

A MYSTERIOUS REUNION IN VICTORIAN LONDON

Ace and Tegan find themselves stranded in 19th-century London, investigating eerie hauntings along the railway lines being dug for the Underground. They don’t remember how they got there or why, only that something strange is happening. Enter River Song, an enigmatic figure they don’t recognise—but who knows them all too well.

From the get-go, River exudes her signature femme fatale sass, making a grand entrance by stealing a highly advanced spaceship originally meant for a corrupt royal family—because why not? She’s less interested in the ghostly apparitions themselves and more in the puzzle of why Ace and Tegan are even here. While she takes a more direct problem-solving approach, Ace and Tegan handle the investigative work, each following separate threads before eventually converging.

What makes this premise particularly engaging is the timey-wimeyness of it all. River appears in Victorian London seemingly knowing the score, while Ace and Tegan are already embedded in the era, navigating the society under assumed identities. The story wastes no time getting into the mystery, establishing an effective hook—why are these two former companions here, and why can’t they remember? The apparitions, described as "ghost dragons" by terrified workers, add an eerie, supernatural flair that complements the setting perfectly.

FAKE IDENTITIES AND FAMILIAR DYNAMICS

Though this is technically River’s story, Castaways belongs just as much—if not more—to Ace and Tegan. These aren’t their younger selves fresh from their TARDIS adventures; these are their older, more experienced counterparts from modern-day Earth, with lives, histories, and memories outside of their time with the Doctor. Both Sophie Aldred and Janet Fielding deliver fantastic performances, capturing the essence of their characters while showcasing how time has shaped them.

The chemistry between the two is delightful, and they quickly fall into a natural rhythm despite their initial confusion. They assume undercover roles—Ace as “Professor McShane” and Tegan as “Lady Jovanka”—complete with fabricated backstories and posh accents. The playfulness of this setup adds a layer of fun, even as the story delves into darker territory. Honestly, the two work so well together that they could (and should) have their own spinoff series!

Meanwhile, River remains her usual cryptic self, weaving in and out of the narrative with her own agenda. There’s an intriguing tension between her and the others; while she clearly respects Ace and Tegan, she also keeps them at arm’s length, aware that their pasts (or rather, their futures) are tangled up in ways they don’t yet realise.

ATMOSPHERIC SOUNDSCAPES AND GHOSTLY VISIONS

One of Castaways’ strongest elements is its sound design, particularly when it comes to the "ghosts." Every time they manifest, there’s an eerie, otherworldly quality to the soundscape, creating a sense of unease. The blend of Victorian London’s grimy, industrial atmosphere with these strange, spectral disturbances makes for a compelling backdrop.

The pacing, however, is a bit uneven. Much of the story revolves around repetitive scenes—Ace and Tegan digging for information while suffering from inexplicable headaches and memory lapses, River doing her own thing, and the ghosts appearing periodically. The story takes its time unfolding, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does feel like it’s spinning its wheels at times.

A PUZZLE PIECE IN A LARGER MYSTERY

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Castaways is its place within the larger narrative. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Ace and Tegan’s predicament isn’t random—someone or something has pulled them here, their timelines collapsing in on themselves. And while they don’t remember it yet, they have met River before, during their travels with the Doctor. The story hints at these past encounters but leaves them unresolved, setting the stage for the rest of the box set to fill in the gaps.

In that sense, Castaways isn’t a standalone adventure so much as the first act of a bigger mystery. It raises questions but doesn’t offer many answers, with the real resolution seemingly reserved for the final story in the set. The ghostly apparitions, while a compelling concept, ultimately feel like an afterthought—a narrative hook that takes a backseat to the overarching time-travel puzzle.

📝VERDICT: 7/10

Castaways is an intriguing opener that sets up the dynamic between River, Ace, and Tegan while weaving a compelling mystery around their fragmented timelines. The Victorian ghost story premise is atmospheric, the performances are strong, and the timey-wimey elements add a layer of complexity that keeps things engaging. However, the story itself feels more like a prologue than a complete adventure, with a slow-burn plot that leaves many threads dangling for later resolution.

While the ghostly apparitions could have been explored more, the strength of Ace and Tegan’s dynamic—and their interactions with River—keeps things enjoyable. If nothing else, this story proves that Sophie Aldred and Janet Fielding absolutely deserve more Big Finish stories together. Now, onto the next piece of the puzzle!

Sat with this a bit defo a good start to this set excited where this will go

Three Doctor Who icons..... What more can I ask for?

This was a perfect introduction to yet another series of River's spin-off catalogue, which spans so many series at this point. This was really a fascinating opener, and thankfully its an arc!!! I'm so relieved. I hate the recent aimless nature of BF boxsets, I miss the 16 part epics. Quite a few interesting plot threads are put down in this story, and I can't wait to find out what they all mean..