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“THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MUSIC – A BITTERSWEET TUNE OF FREEDOM”

The Most Beautiful Music, from the Heroes and Monsters collection, offers a short but poignant tale featuring the Tenth Doctor and Donna. The premise is a melancholic sci-fi riff: the pair attend a concert hailed as the most beautiful music in the universe, only to discover that the old musician has been performing the same piece every ten years for centuries—bound to an alien creature hiding within his instrument, who won’t let him die.

The story treads familiar territory, but it's told with warmth and care. The central concept—a life trapped in endless repetition for the sake of beauty—leans into Doctor Who’s love of blending wonder with quiet tragedy.

TEN AND DONNA, AS WELL-TUNED AS EVER

Ten and Donna are wonderfully in character here. Their snappy banter adds levity, and there’s real heart in the way they respond to the musician’s plight. Donna, especially, reacts with righteous fury at the injustice, showing once again her innate empathy beneath all the sarcasm. The Doctor, meanwhile, is driven to do what he always does best—give people a choice.

A LITTLE ACTION, A LOT OF EMOTION

There’s some minor action as the Doctor and Donna break into the music hall to confront the alien and free the old man. As expected from these short stories, the solution involves a bit of sonic screwdriver waving to sever the psychic bond between alien and human—but it’s not the method that matters, it’s the intention. The climax is heartfelt, even if it leans into the slightly cheesy: the old man finally plays one last note and is allowed to die in peace.

THE SOUND OF FREEDOM (AND A HINT OF CHEESE)

The story ends on a poetic note, quite literally. The final line claims that “the most beautiful music in the universe is the sound of freedom.” It’s a little on-the-nose and sentimental, but it fits the tone of the piece. There's a quiet dignity in the way the tale reflects on mortality, creativity, and the cost of perfection.

📝THE BOTTOM LINE: 6/10

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MUSIC is a brief, bittersweet tale with a classic Doctor Who heart. While the plot is simple and the resolution predictable, it’s elevated by strong character writing and a touching central theme. Ten and Donna are perfectly pitched, and the story’s emotional resonance makes up for its narrative brevity.

Not quite a symphony, but a lovely little melody of mercy and release—just don’t mind the slightly sappy final note.

Another just fun and solid story. For how I was talking about the last one avoiding death being a kids book, I really didn't expect the next one to be all about someone wanting to die.

Characterisation is on point here, I especially enjoyed

> ‘Imagine it – a creature that can live for centuries, maybe thousands of years. And the one person it really cares about, won’t live nearly that long. It can’t bear the thought of outliving its friend. A bit like …’ His voice tailed off.
> ‘A bit like,’ Donna finished for him, ‘Puff the Magic Dragon.’
> The Doctor nodded. ‘Exactly what I was thinking,’ he lied.

Donna crying at the second half of the music as well really works, reminds me of Planet of the Ood, and generally this kind of short story works great for a short, it's been written with the format in mind, and it doesn't talk down to it's audience like some of the earlier stories in the collection felt like they did.