A delightful little christmas story that belongs more to the 'Last Christmas' line of them than the 'Christmas Invasion' one.

I'm realising with this story that this 'season' hasn't done a single 'true historical', The House of Masks tricks you into thinking it is, but isn't, and this features some historical settings and characters from history, but definitely isn't a true historical.

That aside though, I absolutely loved this story. The concept of an alien kidnapping people to harvest fear has been done before, but the sheer delight that 'Clara' takes in doing so, and the idea that it's not feeding on fear, but almost making a 'fear-art-piece' to sell make it stand out amongst its contemporaries.

Bringing back Valarie's mum is also a great choice, it's a great way of showing her fear, and a brilliant way to give her a single episode arc. Especially with the last story featuring multiple phone calls 'to her mum' (I think this is the most quotation marks I've ever used in a review), it ties nicely into the overall narrative of the season, leading on from that and (presumably) leading into next episode with her meeting back up with Roanna in the next story.

The side cast in this are also great, again, using these stories to bring in historical elements with one person from the 1500s, and another from 1995. I think it's also really interesting how they play with faith here. One character is a christian monk, the other mentions Diwali, implying they're Hindu. It's nice for a 'christmas special' to touch on other faiths, and I think the interplay between faith and fear that we see here is a really interesting one.

Also bonus points for bringing back the flying shark.

The first in the The Eleventh Doctor Chronicles: Volume 5: Everywhere and Anywhere

The Doctor and Valerie, arrive in a house and like the others who have found themselves there, are not quite sure how or why they are there. Clara a childlike entity has brought them there for their final Christmas.

This is my first time hearing Jacob Dudman as the Eleventh and he's not bad, as with Tim Trelor and John Culshaw its pretty close.

The house seems to be filled with things from the guests pasts, all of which are unpleasent, memories, events etc.

It is a bit been there done that. But its excuted well. It wasn’t the best place to start with the range as I had no idea of Valerie; I’m not familiar with her voice and background, so some of the stuff which dealt with her pain wasn’t as heightened as if I’d of known her better.

Its not the most Christmassy audio, I was in two minds as to writing a review, as I feel I need another listen or better still ,start from the beginning, which I might do.

This is an excellent start to the third Eleven & Valarie box set. The plot is essentially a better version of The God Complex. The dangers and themes that are explored fit right in where the characters are, both within the Eleven & Valarie series, and the Eleventh Doctor series as a whole. The cast does a fantastic job all around, every actor has their own moment to shine. All the emotional beats are met, or exceeded. This release is another reason that this has become, for me, one of the best things Big Finish have released.