Really good! I always love when the Mara gets psychedelic stories with unsettling dream sequences and this had that!

All performances were great, but India Fisher especially. She was outstanding!

I also especially love the political commentary as well. I do wish Dekkar didn't get away scott free but Charley's take down of him was pretty grand at least.

Had a lot of fun with this one falling on Christmas in my Doctor Who watch! This TARDIS team is really shaping into its own with all three characters getting great opportunity to shine. The Mara is such an insidious foe, and hearing it possessing Charlie was unnerving. Audacity also gets properly horrified when she learns the truth of why everyone is on the Gloaming. I hope we get this crew for a couple years yet.

an amazing audio! psychological horror esque but still had very classic big finish campness. Really interesting choice for it to be a new mara but i liked that cause it didnt feel like "an enemy of the doctor" but what it is, a force from within. would have loved for audacity to have had a mara run in due to her canon sapphicness in previous audios (would have been a nice nod to lesbian tegan. Really loved the focus on charley and the doctors relationship and history. Also noticed some slight foreshadowing from the mara, predicting charleys fate. my only criticism is that i wish it was longer / we saw more of the after effect of charley being possessed by the mara but that may occur in future audios!!

📝9/10

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

"Nightmares in the Gloaming"

The Gloaming closes the Deadly Strangers set with the Eighth Doctor, Charley, and Audacity battling the Mara, the mind-controlling serpent alien, in a tense and atmospheric adventure. Set aboard a luxurious sleep clinic orbiting a lifeless planet, the story blends psychological horror with sharp social commentary.

The clinic, catering to the wealthy elite in hypersleep to escape their troubles, serves as a biting critique of privilege and modern escapism. The rich guests, pampered by futuristic technology and an android butler, are quickly shown to be far from immune to the nightmares induced by the Mara. This setting is evocative and immersive, seamlessly blending sci-fi with real-world parallels.

Charley’s descent into a nightmare-filled sleep, orchestrated by the Mara, provides the story’s most compelling sequences. These dreams effectively explore her relationship with the Doctor and her inner fears, culminating in a gripping confrontation when the Mara takes control of Charley’s body. The showdown between the Doctor and a Mara-possessed Charley is undoubtedly the highlight—intense, emotional, and superbly performed.

This episode also gives Audacity a chance to shine. Working closely with the Doctor to save Charley, she proves herself to be resourceful and courageous, with Jaye Griffiths delivering a standout performance. The supporting characters, particularly the android and the clinic's clientele, are well-utilised, adding layers to the narrative.

The Gloaming is a fittingly dramatic and thought-provoking finale. Its mix of social critique, psychological tension, and strong character dynamics makes it a memorable closer to the set.

I loved this story too such a banger set overall wow

the Charley n Mara scenes felt so unique yet similar to the one in kinda with Tegan it’s such a good version of it

the only issue is I wish it was audacity instead of Charley but at the same time it works so well for Charley