This did not live up to the hype. By this point, twists and turns are expected and therefore less impactful or can be guessed ahead of time. Darkel setting up her own assassination attempt was so obvious; it was a chore listening to all the characters catch up. After that, having Braxiatel come back was a welcome addition, but it would not make sense to have him return if he was in any real danger. And they delayed Romana’s pardon for “suspense” when it was obvious she would get pardoned along with Darkel. Still, it was nice that through him, Darkel could inadvertently kill herself off. So, after all this, it was no surprise that Braxiatel chose Matthias instead of Romana. Of course he would not choose her. Romana and Leela have been sidelined in their own audio series. At least we have Narvin.

My god was that good.

Everything, and I do mean everything, about this story was just spectacular from start to finish. Again, I love political stories so much, and this is just a perfect one.

We start right off the bat with a twist of expectations, Romana being taken out of the running immediately is a turn I at least didn't see coming at all, and just set the ground spectacularly. Then having the Darkel and Matthias conspiring together to remove any and all political power that Romana had at the end of her tenure. Darkel is a spectacular villain here, especially shown in this moment with her taking Matthias' plan and then twisting it for her own popularity (as far as she suspects).

The assassination attempt on Darkel is a brilliant subplot, one that you can see where it's going right off the bat, but are never quite 100% sure, and even when you are, what can our cast really do about it? It's a great way to give the rest of the cast something to do, even if they can't directly affect the vote. Also some people will be pleased to know that with the way that subplot goes, you can now officially consider me a Narvin lover.

Then Brax! His return alone is spectacular enough, but everything on top of it just makes it even moreso. The realisation of what Romana's anullment meant for Brax had me whooping for joy, the way Darkel twists his new presidency, letting her get away with everything she's done reminded me why I love to hate her, the twist of what actually happened with the Pandora entity had me in shock, and I love how Darkel's fate is entirely because of her schemes and cunning. A very literal pride coming before a fall.

All in all, I don't think there's a moment of this I disliked, and I'm not fully converted and on the gallifrey train.

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

"Mindbomb: A Political Thriller Packed with Twists and Turns”

Mindbomb picks up immediately after the dramatic events of Appropriation, diving headfirst into Gallifrey’s contentious presidential election. The narrative focuses on Romana, Darkel, and Matthias as they vie for power amidst schemes, debates, and rising tensions. Darkel’s underhanded tactics and populist rhetoric create an engaging, timely parallel to modern-day real-world political manoeuvring, while Romana’s resilience provides a compelling counterpoint.

The story thrives on its political thriller elements, with Darkel and Matthias plotting Romana’s downfall, while Leela and Narvin scramble to save her without shattering Gallifrey’s fragile peace. There’s a delightful irony in K9 and Leela acting as Romana’s legal counsels—a move that offers both levity and clever strategic planning. The debate between the candidates is a standout moment, tying together threads from all three seasons and highlighting the ideological divides shaping the drama.

The assassination subplot adds urgency but feels somewhat derivative of earlier plotlines and ultimately fizzles without a satisfying conclusion. However, the unexpected return of Braxiatel injects fresh energy into the narrative. His reappearance as High Chancellor-turned-President is a masterstroke, leveraging Gallifreyan law to outmanoeuvre Darkel in a twist that feels both earned and impactful. Braxiatel’s confrontation with Darkel, culminating in the poetic justice of Darkel’s defeat, is a thrilling high point that cements his cunning and influence.

Despite its strengths, Mindbomb struggles slightly with retreading familiar beats, particularly in its political and assassination arcs. Nevertheless, the intricate plotting, strong character dynamics, and the climactic resolution more than compensate. The final twist, the appointment of Lord Matthias as President, sets the stage for a precarious future, leaving Romana and Leela’s fates uncertain and listeners eager for the finale.

📝Verdict: 8/10

As the presidential race on Gallifrey reaches its climax, Romana faces betrayal, machinations, and an unexpected ally in this riveting penultimate chapter.

Mindbomb delivers a gripping blend of political drama and character-driven tension, elevated by Braxiatel’s triumphant return and a well-executed climax. While some narrative elements feel repetitive, the episode’s strengths make it a standout in Gallifrey Series 3.

I quite enjoyed this story. It definitely drops you in the middle of things without much explanation, but it is easy enough to follow if you have a sense of Romana, Leela, and the Gallifrey series.

It's fun to have a story that is pretty much entirely politicking and bickering, the exact climate the Doctor likely fled from decades ago and the exact sort of stagnation I feel could lead to the corruption we see by the time of the Last Great Time War. Darkel in particular really stands out here. Love the subtle shift of her from a sense of authority, power, and justice into one much more desperate, greedy, and dangerous. When we finally get around to the "Mindbomb" stuff, I feel it was well handled as a threatening prospect with some fun twists and turns along the way.

It's good fun and I would definitely recommend, but, like I suspect the bulk of this series, it really is only going to appeal to a fan already deep into Doctor Who lore and content.