This is part of a series of reviews of Doctor Who in chronological timeline order.

Previous Story: The Shroud

The first real disappointment of the series I'd say. It's not terribly bad but coming off the heels of The Shroud this story definitely looks quite weak. The first half is great, very mysterious and it develops Raven's character in quite a nice way. We also get more of "Paul" from the last story which is great. I love "Paul".

Then "Paul" dies and the story gets considerably worse. We do get some fun conversations between Raven and the Doctor and I love the way the Doctor explains why he does what he does but otherwise there just isn't much. It's revealed there are these beings called "kippers" but they're never really described or anything it's just this vague threat in the story.

The majority of this second half is just Raven and the Doctor arguing. While I love both Emma Noakes and Michael Troughton's performances even they can't really elevate, well, nothing. It's just a nothing story. I'm sure the rest of the set will get better but this is not a promising start.

Next Story: Catastrophe Theory

Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time! 

"Kippers: An Eerie, Puzzle-Like Start to Conspiracy of Raven"

Nicholas Briggs opens the third Second Doctor Adventures set with Kippers, delivering a story that begins with a wonderfully mysterious and eerie tone. The disappearance of Jamie sets the Doctor on a tense and atmospheric search, evoking the experimental spirit of late-1960s Doctor Who. The initial moments are steeped in a sense of unease, effectively drawing the listener into a puzzle-like mystery.

As the plot unfolds, the focus shifts to the Doctor reluctantly teaming up with Raven and Paul to investigate a strange, enigmatic space station in search of the missing Jamie. The story’s structure mirrors a jigsaw puzzle, with each new piece offering partial clarity while simultaneously introducing further complications. This constant layering of twists keeps the narrative intriguing but also muddled, making it a more challenging listen compared to traditional Second Doctor adventures.

Michael Troughton once again shines in his portrayal of the Second Doctor, adeptly capturing his father’s essence without resorting to mere imitation. His performance manages to balance the Doctor’s whimsical charm with the weight of the unsettling events surrounding him. Emma Noakes brings a compelling presence to Raven, whose enigmatic nature and tense dynamic with the Doctor add depth to the story. Mickey Knighton’s Paul, while less developed, serves as a solid addition to the ensemble.

Frazer Hines, as Jamie, is notably underused, making only brief appearances, though his contributions are impactful when they occur. The story compensates for Jamie’s limited role by creating a palpable sense of unease through the unseen threat looming over the characters. This unseen menace effectively heightens the suspense, and the cliffhanger at the end of Part 1 tightens the tension superbly, leaving listeners eager for resolution.

📝Verdict: 7/10

While Kippers succeeds in crafting an unsettling atmosphere and intricate narrative, its complexity and abstract approach may leave some longing for a more straightforward Second Doctor adventure. The story thrives on its experimental nature, but it risks alienating those seeking a more traditional tale.

I think this story is fine I loved the raven and doctor stuff just didn’t really feel invested

Its feels such a long time since the last adventure, and these days as soon as a series ends I seem to almost instantly forget and move on to the next. Then when they come back I'm struggling to remember how things ended.

To refresh: The Doctor and Jamie have been working for the Timelords and have tried to go their own way but its not quite worked out...

Here they find themselves on a Timelord space station, also there is Raven, their handler, and a Timelord weapon called Paul. Where are all the people? How did they get there? Its all a bit mysterious. Adding to the obsticles is the fact that The Doctor and Jamie are separated. So its one of those episodes where something has happened nobody knows whats going on.

This isn't a self contained 2 part story, just the first two episode of the Conspiracy of Raven story, so its a bit like reviewing the first two parts of Inferno.

The Kippers are some alien race, not much is revealed about them, perhaps we'll find out more about them later.

Raven is a nicely portrayed character, not quite fitting the era, but she interesting. No Zoe yet despite the cover, but Micheal Troughton and the limited cast are all good.

It is just the start, and we don't really know enough, so on to the next.