Stories Audio Drama The Paternoster Gang Episode: 1 2 3 Dining with Death 1 image Overview Characters How to Listen Reviews 1 Statistics Quotes 1 Overview Released Wednesday, October 16, 2019 Written by Dan Starkey Publisher Big Finish Productions Runtime 60 minutes Time Travel Past Location (Potential Spoilers!) Earth, England, London Synopsis When negotiations between two warring alien races are sabotaged, Madame Vastra offers Paternoster Row as neutral ground upon which to continue their diplomacy – and to celebrate the treaty with a feast. While Strax frets about hosting two species with very different dietary needs, Jenny investigates the dissenters who want to halt the peace process. But a deadly plot is brewing, and the diners may not survive the cheese course... Listen Listened Favourite Favourited Add Review Edit Review Log a repeat Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Owned Save to my list Saved Edit date completed Custom Date Release Date Archive (no date) Save Characters Madame Vastra Jenny Flint Strax Show All Characters (3) How to listen to Dining with Death: Big Finish Audio The Paternoster Gang: Heritage 2 Reviews Add Review Edit Review Sort: Date (Newest First) Date (Oldest First) Likes (High-Low) Likes (Low-High) Rating (High-Low) Rating (Low-High) Word count (High-Low) Word count (Low-High) Username (A-Z) Username (Z-A) Spoilers First Spoilers Last 1 review 2 April 2025 · 193 words Review by No311 I'm honestly a bit torn on what to think of this one. First, on the good side: the premise is excellent, the aliens are decent, Strax got some good jokes in and Vastra got to use the fact that she wasn't human. On the other side, however, the threat was basically an enemy ex machina, with only the barest hints to the enemy before the last 10 minutes. Additionally, this story isn't anchored to the series. There is nothing tying the story to Victorian London, or even the Paternoster Gang specifically, and neither does the atmosphere really distinguish it much from a standard Who story. I may just be a bit harsh on this series but I'd have liked some more involvement of the era. Perhaps they could have involved the groups living in Victorian London more or made it a point that maybe Victorian London does not cater to the tastes of the ambassador well, leading to problems. They could have left out the enemy they currently have in my opinion in favour for more series-specific problems. So while it was entertaining, I'm still waiting for something that only this series can do. No311 View profile Like Liked 0 Open in new window Statistics AVG. Rating34 members 3.47 / 5 Member Statistics Listened 76 Favourited 7 Reviewed 1 Saved 1 Skipped 1 Quotes Add Quote Link to Quote Favourite Tags: Funny Sad STRAX: This is Commander Strax at Kitchen Sink Base to Robot Reconnaissance Crab Leader. Do you read? Over. ROBOT RECONNAISSANCE CRAB LEADER: We read you. Over. STRAX: How goes your mission? Have you identified the source of the blockage? Over. ROBOT RECONNAISSANCE CRAB LEADER: We have encountered low-level calcification and metal fatigue in the pipe system. Additional blockage due to wax, hard fat, and other lipid deposits. We have replaced all affected areas with tinclavic alloy and re-engineered flow. Over. STRAX: Excellent work! Are domestic hydraulic systems back online? Over. ROBOT RECONNAISSANCE CRAB LEADER: Testing... Report status. Over. (Strax opens the tap and a steady stream of water comes out, disappearing down the drain) STRAX: Test successful! Make safe and return to base. Mission completed. Over. ROBOT RECONNAISSANCE CRAB LEADER: Copy. Returning to base. Mis---------- (The robot reconnaissance crab leader's words cut out and static fills the channel) STRAX: Crab leader? Crab leader?? Can you read me? Over. (More static fills the channel) STRAX: Robot crab platoon, can you hear me?? (A loud noise gushing noise is heard, before the signal goes dead) STRAX: No! My crabs! — Dining with Death
