What's this? Via actually doing a review! I know right! Now, don't get used to it folks this is just a spur of the moment thing because I remembered I haven't actually reviewed this release yet.

Can I just kick off by saying how much I enjoyed this release. I never expected to be made to feel sympathy towards the Daleks but this release makes you feel it. I thought Alternate Bill's (henceforth to be referred to as Billternate) story was expertly done and really heartbreaking. Emancipation also includes what I think might be my favourite representation of an alternate universe Earth or at least a very close second behind Turn Left.

Secondly of all, Dan Starkey does a very good Capaldi impression which helped me get engrossed in the overall story and Jonathan Morris' writing of 12 lends itself very well to the audio novel format. Billternate is also a really good and fleshed out character, with (as already stated) a heartbreaking backstory without 12 to be there for her.

Overall, this is probably my favourite audio novel they've released and is rapidly becoming my fave 12 story in general

While the story is good plot-wise, I found that it seriously mischaracterized Moira as a loving and caring mum who can keep a boyfriend. It's clear in The Pilot that she has gone through a fair number of boyfriends (at least somewhat implied to be ill-advised, too) and I just don't believe that she would be better in a universe that was worse. I also thought that it was missing the spark of genius in Bill’s character. She’s definitely smarter in the series than this audio makes her, which can maybe be excused in the case of Alternate and Future Bill, but not for Our Bill. Bill is one of the smartest New Who companions and is always asking very, very smart questions, and I just felt like this audio had her not quite there. In my opinion, the alternate history was a little overly heavy-handed, too. The first and second parts were a bit difficult to get through because of those three things. All that said, the story wraps up VERY neatly even by DW standards — very clever and thoughtful plotting on the time travel stuff that brings my review back up to a 2.5. Plus, the addition of sound effects and having Nick Briggs voice the daleks was a very nice touch.

Emancipation of Daleks- a story that is much more in line with 1984 than Doctor Who. It's by far the most mature Big Finish story I've heard in such a long time. And it's a shame it's not a full cast audio drama with Pearl Mackie and Peter Capaldi. But this audio book is able to play into its niche audience and provide a really adult Doctor Who story. And I applaud it for that.