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"The Broken Clock: Missy Meets Noir"

The Broken Clock is a bold, genre-bending entry that pays homage to classic crime noir. Written and performed with a meticulous eye for style, it draws listeners into a dark, mysterious murder mystery narrated by a grizzled American private detective. The narration, dripping with classic noir tropes, creates an atmospheric and intriguing setup.

What makes this story stand out is its clever exploration of the blurred lines between reality and fiction. As the characters themselves begin to question their existence, the narrative takes on a metatextual quality that keeps the listener engaged and guessing.

Missy initially stays in the background, popping up in hilariously exaggerated disguises that let Michelle Gomez showcase her incredible range. Her variety of over-the-top voices and personas injects a delightful absurdity into the otherwise moody noir atmosphere. When Missy takes the lead in the second half, the focus shifts to her own bizarre investigation into the titular broken clock.

The supporting cast is equally compelling, embodying archetypal 1950s-style police characters with a playful energy, complete with thick American accents. The music and sound design perfectly evoke the era, reinforcing the noir aesthetic.

The story falters slightly in its final act, with the pace slowing down and the twists becoming a bit muddled. While the early parts of the tale thrive on sharp hooks and tension, the latter sections struggle to maintain the same level of clarity and intrigue.

📝 Verdict: 8/10

The Broken Clock is a creative and stylish addition to the Missy series, packed with wit and charm. While it stumbles slightly in its conclusion, the strong performances, inventive narrative, and noir homage make it a standout.

This is single-handedly one of the best Big Finish stories I have ever listened to, there are too many twists than you can shake a stick at. I love the concept of Dick Zodiac narrating them and Mark is played incredibly well by Daniel Goode.

This is the penultimate episode in the Missy box set, and like the previous two it has a wickedly dark sense of humour. I chuckled a lot at the narrative's satirical take on crime documentaries, and Missy's takedown of some of this genre's clichés is hilarious to witness. It's all rounded off nicely with the reveal concerning the Master's Grandfather Clock TARDIS, which provides a neat callback to Classic Who.