Dead Media

At recording it is Thursday, the twenty-first of November, twenty-twenty-four, and you’re listening to the Doctor Who short reviews podcast.

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Aaaand well, welcome to the Doctor Who short reviews podcast, I am Owen, the presenter, and today we’re reviewing: Doctor Who: Dead Media, by John Richards, performed by Jacob Dudman. Let’s get into the short review.

So, well, what do I think of Dead Media? Well, okay, so like, first off, I liked it quite some, let’s get that out of the way first. So we don’t have to worry about that. Now what did I like about it? Well, I think first, I really appreciate its format. Because like the story is formatted- Okay no, first off, the story isn’t read. Like it is of course, but it isn’t like an audiobook. Okay well it kinda is, but it isn’t like the short trips usually are, which is an actor reading a Doctor Who story from like, an out of universe perspective. Because this story has Jacob Dudman playing, in like, actually acting, as the twelfth Doctor. It’s the twelfth Doctor, like actually doing a podcast, that’s what the story is about. Well, now I say the story is about the podcast, but it isn’t really, but the podcast is an important part of it, you get me? But yeah, I think that’s- that that’s quite fun yeah. It’s something that really takes advantage if its audio medium you know. Actually, now that I think of it, it kind of reminds me of some of the companion chronicles, where they always had some kind of, from the ones that I’ve heard at least, really quite daft reason for the characters to be telling a story. Because like, they’re pretty much just doing an audiobook, but it’s the actors in character, and they need a kind of justification for the characters to be telling that. They kind of do the same here. I don’t think that’s something that happens often in this range. I can think of Erasure doing this with Narvin but for the rest I think it’s pretty unique. Plus comes the whole framing of the podcast which, like might be a bit biased, but I do really love. I think it’s utterly delightful and pulled off really well. Apparently the writer has a podcast himself, which he does with a friend whose name is actually used for the other main character in this story so, you know, that’s kinda cool. And I do really think you can see, or hear, Richards’ love for podcasting here. Which obviously I, as a big totally long time for real podcaster meticulously appreciate of course. He makes the Doctor podcasting very fun and silly, and puts in some satire about it, but like, it still feels like something that’d happen, thanks to the pretty emotional ending too. Because man, that ending. It was unexpected and it hits pretty hard I think. I just went from the start to the end in one go, don’t worry guys, it’s fine, this is the time travel show, we can do things in the wrong order. But we of course don’t want to talk too much about it, spoilers and all. I’ll just say that it goes pretty crazy, like, dramatic Marvel movie third act crazy. But it still manages to be about the personal things for the characters, regardless of the blockbuster action. That’s the other thing I think it does well. That it’s a great personal story for this newly introduced character that the writer named after his mate. Which I think is as much as I can say without giving too much away. That’s not an excuse for me to not give reasoning by the way, if you were thinking that, dearest listener. I could come up with reasonings for as much as I could come with reasons why I started this podcast like…

Anyways, something I also like about this story is the references put in it. They are maybe cheesy, but I had fun with them okay? Let me have fun. Oh, yeah talking about fun. The adventure itself. I do think that is a little bare bones. It follows through the motions of an adventure, they figure things out, walk around and do stuff, but it’s not super mega exciting I find. That is also the part of the story which is just Jacob doing an audiobook but with a bad Scottish accent and lowered voice. And that part is fine, I think the quote unquote monster is interesting. It’s an interesting idea. It could be done more with I think, because I like abstract ideas like those and think they can have a lot of potential, but at some point you are left thinking and what do I do now, because you don’t want to keep doing the same thing again with small differences and the idea is too abstract to come up with something new entirely and just, it’s difficult, I do get that. So that’s the only part of the story I wouldn’t give a full score to.

But in the end, I do really think that the podcasting gimmick adds a lot, the story is overall pretty fun and the ending is very well done, so my The Doctor Who short reviews podcast score is a…

*a drumroll sound effect plays*

Four out of five stars, story recommended, Doctor Who podcast short reviews approval.

Well, that was my short review slash rambling of today. Do check out Dead Media on the Big Finish website, not sponsored by the way, I am obligated to say. And now, for me only remains to say one thing. That this was the Doctor Who short reviews podcast, presented by me, Owen, who thanks you for listening. Have a wonderful day, and I hope to see, or hear you next episode.

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This transcript was made with DNMbarrowlungscriptum™. For all free transcriptions, please refer to the official tutorial on our YouTube channel. https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ?si=UVqpSunBAm_cwv3A Barrowlung, it’s written down before it even begun.

For posterity’s sake: my old, boring review here below. In case someone thinks HEY this used to be different?!

—————— old review dated 9-10-2024 (according to TARDIS Guide):

A very good short trip that makes excellent use of its medium. While the adventure being told might not be one of the greatest, hearing Twelve podcasting is a delight that adds a lot, plus the beautifully sad and unexpected ending.
The references were cheesy, but tons of fun.