Stories Audio Drama The Fourth Doctor Adventures The Auntie Matter 1 image Back to Story Reviews Add Review Edit Review Sort: Date (Newest First) Date (Oldest First) Likes (High-Low) Likes (Low-High) Rating (High-Low) Rating (Low-High) Word count (High-Low) Word count (Low-High) Username (A-Z) Username (Z-A) Spoilers First Spoilers Last 4 reviews 16 June 2025 · 442 words Review by Ryebean Spoilers This review contains spoilers! I've heard excellent things about Season 2 of the Fourth Doctor Adventures - let's hope it's not as disappointing as other seasons. So far, so good with a witty and action-packed historical matching the themes of the Williams era. The interviews behind this story shows how much care and love Tom Baker has for the show, trying to add those small lines that make the Fourth Doctor, such as "Put it on the table, Mable." However, I find it odd how Romana would allow him to be selfish and ungrateful to the kitchen staff, considering the point in their relationship that they've reached. I find it very amusing that the pair are stopping monsters together, yet have no idea that they're together. This allows for some great comedy as they both try to be the hero, even taking on companions, balancing the screentime out and giving the Season 16 TARDIS team some deserved love. It was very predictable, unfortunately, that Romana would be chosen by Reggie, but it was very humorous how she was oblivious to human flirting and is very fitting for her character to shoot him down as she holds herself and her species to a higher regard than humans. The tribute to Mary Tamm at the end was very sweet, and it's heartbreaking to hear how much the deaths of many of his companions in such a small time period has hurt him. Julia McKenzie is yet another fantastic guest star to join the cast of this famous show, and she isn't wasted in this story, as the Aunt - Normally, I'd criticise a hammy and over-the-top performance, but in a story as silly and wacky as this one, it's welcome and just adds to the fun. The alien reminded me of the Jalnix from Foe From the Future, but its plan was a very strange one indeed - the androids were a little bog standard, but just acted as henchmen to the Aunt's plan. Also, was there a cheeky reference to Time and the Rani? "Leave the man, it's the girl I want." Hmm... The historical setting of the Roaring 20s allows for, as writer Johnathan Morris says in the interview, a "satirical view of the aristocracy" perceiving them as aliens who have no concept of living in the working world. This is a great idea, and this story is clearly intended to poke fun and ridicule the upper class, especially as Reggie falls in love with Mabel and doesn't care for what his wealthy, rich friends say about that. A witty and clever script with a strong message - aside from a few minor problems, it's a great listen. Ryebean View profile Like Liked 0 31 May 2025 · 17 words Review by Rock_Angel 1 I love how this one ends like it audibly makes me chuckle when I listen to it Rock_Angel View profile Like Liked 1 15 January 2025 · 336 words Review by KnuppMello 2 Original (Brazilian Portuguese) Translation (English) Já começo dizendo que até o momento The Auntie Matter é o meu áudio favorito da BIG FINISH. Enquanto K9 está na TARDIS cuidando de problemas que envolvem o Black Guardian, o Doctor e a Romana estão desfrutando de um estilo de vida tranquilo como o Senhor e Senhora de uma casa em Londres. Eis que conhecemos uma "tia" alienígena que tem a capacidade de roubar/assumir os corpos das pessoas, ela usa seu guarda costas (seu sobrinho) chamado Reggie para capturar belas e inteligentes mulheres. Convencido por sua "tia" de que precisa de uma esposa, Reggie vai até a biblioteca e se depara com a belíssima Romana que está à procura de livros de Ciências – Sério...É muitooo engraçado essa cena kkkkk, o Reggie soltando os xavecos para cima da Time Lady do tipo "Ah eu também gosto de Ciências sabe". Já o Doctor acaba captando um sinal alienígena que o leva ao mesmo destino de sua Companion porem, sozinho, ele convida a doce e tímida empregada Mabel que acaba tendo um dia de Companion. Mary Tamm tem um desempenho fantástico em toda essa 2° Temporada do Fourth Doctor Adventures, parece até que sua despedida foi algo combinado, planejado para ser perfeita. O roteiro de Jonathan Morris é de uma fluidez muito leve e agradável com várias pitadas de humor sempre muito bem encaixadas na trama requintado com todo o charme de Londres dos anos 20, além disso o áudio conta com uma divisão narrativa genial onde vemos o Doctor e a Romana envolvidos na mesma aventura só que não cruzando seus caminhos, sem saber que ambos estavam envolvidos na mesma problemática, só no fim quando voltam a se encontrarem na TARDIS ao questionarem o que fizeram nesse meio tempo, os dois acabam descobrindo que estavam no mesmo lugar resolvendo a mesma situação, isso nos gera uma briga cômica muito hilária tendo um personagem querendo provar que foi mais eficiente que o outro. Enfim, resumindo em poucas palavras, eu AMO cada minuto, cada pedaço desse áudio! I'll start by saying that so far The Auntie Matter is my favourite BIG FINISH audio. While K9 is in the TARDIS dealing with problems involving the Black Guardian, the Doctor and Romana are enjoying a quiet lifestyle as the Lord and Lady of a house in London. Here we meet an alien "aunt" who has the ability to steal/assume people's bodies, she uses her bodyguard (her nephew) called Reggie to capture beautiful and intelligent women. Convinced by his "aunt" that he needs a wife, Reggie goes to the library and comes across the beautiful Romana who is looking for science books – Seriously... It's very funny this scene haha, Reggie dropping pick-up lines to the Time Lady like "Oh I also like Science you know". The Doctor ends up picking up an alien signal that leads him to the same destination as his Companion however, alone, he invites the sweet and shy maid Mabel who ends up having a day of Companion.Mary Tamm has a fantastic performance throughout this 2nd Season of the Fourth Doctor Adventures, it even seems like her farewell was something arranged, planned to be perfect. The script by Jonathan Morris is very smooth and pleasant with several dashes of humour always very well inserted in the plot refined with all the charm of London in the 20s, in addition, the audio features a brilliant narrative division where we see the Doctor and Romana involved in the same adventure but not crossing their paths, without knowing that both were involved in the same issue, only at the end when they return to meet in the TARDIS and ask each other what they did in the meantime, the two end up discovering that they were in the same place solving the same situation, this leads to a very hilarious comedic fight with one character wanting to prove they were more efficient than the other. Anyway, to sum up in a few words, I LOVE every minute, every piece of this audio! (Translation generated by AI, so mistakes are possible). KnuppMello View profile Like Liked 2 25 May 2024 · 132 words Review by thedefinitearticle63 Spoilers 3 This review contains spoilers! This is part of a series of reviews of Doctor Who in chronological timeline order. Previous Story: The Armageddon Factor This was a fun little start to the series, it was a bit silly but it took itself seriously when it needed to. It continues on directly after the Key to Time, with the Docto sending the Black Guardian on a wild goose chase. I liked the concept of the alien, it's not completely unique but it's given a novel spin in this story. The supporting cast are all stand out, especially Robert Portal as Reggie, who plays a lovable oaf. I liked the ending, with both the Doctor and Romana suddenly figuring out that they were both at the same place, unbeknownst to each other. Next Story: The Stealers from Saiph thedefinitearticle63 View profile Like Liked 3
