The Monthly Adventures #005 - "The Fearmonger" by Jonathan Blum

Out of all the different Doctors seen in the Monthly Adventures, I’d call Seven my favourite. His stories always seem to be interesting, his run with Hex and Ace is some of my favourite Doctor Who material ever and consistently he is given new and interesting scripts, not to mention that he’s the most thematically complex of the Doctors featured in the Main Range. And yet, I always managed to skip his first proper outing: an explosive political thriller with some stellar performances and a genius antagonist that I’d call the first truly great story of The Monthly Adventures

It’s the early 21st century and Britain is in crisis. A new, radical right leaning party is stirring up hate in the streets, and the local radio shows are loving it. With an attempted assassination fueling the media, an abstract creature of thought is pushing buttons, making the pot boil over. But the Doctor can stop it of course, that is unless he’s taken in by the fear too.

(CONTAINS SPOILERS)

My main worry going into The Fearmonger, despite the glowing reviews, was that the last time McCoy had acted, in the absolute mess that was The Sirens of Time, he had the acting talents of a houseplant. I am very happy to say that my theory of somebody slipping sleeping pills into his coffee that day has been proven correct as he is magnificent here, along with the rest of the cast. Sophie Aldred begins her long audio career of flexing her acting talents by playing expertly off McCoy. In fact, it’s here where we get introduced to Big Finish’s take on Ace in general, who has, for a long time, been my favourite companion in the show’s history. A brilliant, mature well seasoned traveller who acts as the Doctor’s intellectual equal, one of the most well developed and interesting companions the show’s ever had. And what a story to introduce her. A fast paced, whip smart political shakedown that begins fast - in media res - and then doesn’t stop moving for almost two hours, keeping up a fast pace but not rushing its narrative, a feat that I’ve found to be somewhat rare in the Doctor Who. Blum also manages to avoid the common decline in pace towards the end of a story by introducing multiple incredible last act twists that keep the whole thing fresh and new. The Fearmonger itself is also just a fantastic enemy for such a biting script that acts as great symbolism for the hate fueled state of politics the script depicts; an incredibly smart way to integrate commentary into an already blindingly fun audio play.

On the political side of things, whilst I love the symbolism and mirroring of news still relevant today, I think a lot of the situations seen and political language brought up lacks the subtlety it deserves, with too many on the nose statements by politicians or talk show hosts present. I also think we could’ve done with more focus on Sherilyn Harper, as she’s our stand in for the real world politicians the audio’s referring to. She’s a big part of the story, no doubt, but I wish she had been the primary focus for the runtime as I feel more symbolism and comments could’ve been done surrounding her.

A good political story can really land for me and The Fearmonger is no exception. Brilliant, fast and biting, it could do with a bit more subtlety in places to really boost its message but it’s definitely the best audio thus far into the Monthly Adventures.

8/10

Pros:

+ Great performances all around, especially from McCoy and Aldred

+ Ace is utterly brilliant here and it’s the first showcase of the amazing things Big Finish will do with her character

+ The Fearmonger is a brilliantly symbolic and inventive antagonist

+ Fantastic part 4 twist that changes up the pace of the story

+ Moves fast and doesn’t stop, very fun to listen to

Cons:

- Harper was underexplored as a secondary antagonist and we didn’t get to see enough of her rise and fall

- The politics lack a little subtlety, although it’s tolerable

The Fearmonger is a very good Seven & Ace story. The plot moves along at a decent pace, but doesn't seem rushed. There are enough twists and turns to keep it interesting, including some surprising ones. I really like the main theme that was explored, and it was done with heaps of commentary, but it didn't let anyone off the hook. It was great to hear Sophie Aldred back behind the mic as Ace, and even having not played her for a decade, she still had the attitude and spunk that I love from her.

That was really fun, the view to a fascist future with The Doctor struggling against it is great, especially seeing how that sort of future makes monsters out of the good intentioned rebels, and how opportunistic it makes people as well with the rebels secretly siding with those in power.

Also the character stuff with Ace and The Doctor, especially that last part with Ace having the monster inside her, but believing it’s in The Doctor, just great. Also a perfect monster for this sort of story, and a story that’s ever relevant, some things mentioned just feel so real, you could tell me this was released 24 days ago and I’d believe you, but it’s somehow 24 years??

Actually as I’m writing this, I’m upping it to a 9, originally had it as an 8 but that fact of just how it’s more relevant now than ever, and it was written nearly a quarter of a century ago, yeah it has to be a 9.

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

"The Fearmonger: Politics, Paranoia, and a Monster Within"

The Fearmonger unfolds partially through a clever use of radio broadcasts and phone calls, immersing the listener in an alternate 2020 where the New Britannia Empire is under authoritarian rule. The narrative gradually shifts focus to Sherilyn Harper’s political campaign and the unsettling creature that resides within her, blending political intrigue with a haunting, otherworldly threat.

The story throws listeners straight into the action, with hints of the fear-feeding creature lurking in the background as the Doctor and Ace dive headfirst into another world-saving mission. True to his manipulative nature, the Seventh Doctor seems to have everything figured out, while Ace and the audience are left scrambling to piece it all together.

While this adds a layer of intrigue, it also makes the narrative occasionally hard to follow. The connections between scenes aren’t always clear, leading to moments of disorientation. Still, the eerie atmosphere and palpable tension more than make up for it.

The concept of a creature feeding on fear and negative emotions is compelling and fits the audio format perfectly, especially when paired with the Doctor’s clever tactic of chasing it through radio broadcasts. However, the creature’s presence feels understated until the climactic final act, where its menace becomes more pronounced.

Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred shine as the Doctor and Ace. McCoy leans into his most manipulative and enigmatic persona, while Aldred’s energetic and determined Ace brings vitality to every scene. Their chemistry remains a highlight, grounding the story amidst its complexities.

Jacqueline Pearce delivers a standout performance as Sherilyn Harper, portraying her as a charismatic and ambitious leader. Jonathan Clarkson’s panicky Paul, Hugh Walters’ composed Roderick, and Mark McDonnell’s fearful Walter all contribute to a strong supporting cast, enriching the story's political and emotional layers.

Of all the Main Range audios thus far, The Fearmonger stands out for its intense atmosphere and early excitement. The taut tension keeps listeners on edge, supported by engaging dialogue, well-drawn characters, and an unsettling backdrop of political turmoil.

The final act, while gripping, doesn’t reach the heights it promises, though it delivers some chilling moments—particularly when the Fearmonger takes root inside the Doctor. The climactic confrontation between him and Ace is genuinely thrilling, adding a powerful emotional punch to the conclusion.

📝Verdict: 9/10

The Fearmonger is an ambitious and atmospheric tale, blending political allegory with psychological horror, making for a memorable and tense listen.

The Fearmonger does not get enough attention in my opinion. Out of the early main range stories I’ve heard so far it’s easily my favourite 7th Doctor story. It could have easily been written in 2025 as it’s themes of xenophobia and politicians stoking hate in their voter base have only become more relevant in the 25 years since it was made. The alien threat is neatly conceived and only serves to enhance the message behind the story.