a somewhat mediocre story from a cyberman perspective, but an excellent story from a new companion intro perspective

The Monthly Adventures #058 - “The Harvest" by Dan Abnett

The Monthly Adventures are famous for a lot of things; they’re famous for introducing some of the best stories, for redeeming some of Who’s most hated characters and for debuting a number of all time great writers for the show. But I think the thing they’re most famous for may be their companions. From fan favourite history tutor Evelyn Smythe to foundational edwardian adventuress Charley Pollard, there is no shortage of incredible companions introduced by the Main Range. But I think that, for me, they’ve never done better than one Thomas Hector Schofield. Maybe it’s just my bias towards Seven and Ace as a TARDIS team, but Hex has grown to be one my absolute favourite companions with a consistently stellar performance from Philip Olivier and an endlessly endearing personality boosting him up my ranks. Now, an all time great companion should have an all time great introduction, so how does Hex’s debut fare?

Something strange is going on in St. Gart’s Hospital. People disappear and whole floors are closed to the public. When a friend of staff nurse Hex dies on the operating table, he decides to look further into the mysteries surrounding his work, and discovers the terrible and deadly world of the Doctor.

(CONTAINS SPOILERS)

First things first, Hex is amazing. Olivier is effortlessly charismatic and likeable, instantly making sweet staff nurse Hex one of the most endearing characters Big Finish has come up with. Not only that, but his chemistry with Sophie Aldred immediately makes itself known and they pretty much become an unflappable duo in their very first scene together. Hex is easily my favourite part of this story but that’s not to say the rest isn’t some good quality Doctor Who. For one, I loved the hospital setting and all the shady backroom experiments happening there. Plus, the subtle introduction of high tech sci-fi appliances was a nice way to establish the near-future time period. The story itself is incredibly fast and fun, moving at a million miles an hour but never feeling rushed. It’s a pretty gritty story that has the cadence of a light action flick, with explosions and chase sequences, all incredibly dynamically put together by excellent sound design. This feels a lot like a spy movie in how it’s set up, with tons of espionage and sneaking around deserted government facilities, all tinged with some light political commentary. It’s not the greatest story ever told but it’s very Doctor Who and is certainly a good time. As for our cast, besides our main trio, there are very few named characters but I did really like Mark’s presence as a much needed comic relief who still felt incredibly genuine in his portrayal; like, this is the epitome of a work buddy you go for 5 O’clock drinks with. Also, although I usually gloss over a story’s score, this is easily one of David Darlington’s best; Darlington is a very omnipresent force in these early stories, with a very distinctive, computerised musical style that I think really works here. The themes of technology and sacrifices for science are reflected in the very techno bleeps and bloops of the soundtrack, which also greatly improve a good number of the action sequences.

However, I don’t believe The Harvest to be a particularly memorable story. Sure, it introduces Hex but beyond there isn’t much that’s particularly unique or stand-out. For one, I keep going back and forth on the inclusion of the Cybermen. As for the twist revealing their involvement, I have no opinion because I think at this point everybody (including me) goes into The Harvest knowing they’re the main antagonists; other than Hex, it’s what this story is known for. I love the idea of linking medical horror with the Cybermen because in the end, that’s just what they are - originally thought up by a doctor fearing advances in biomechanical surgery - but this is not a particularly great execution of the idea. All conversions are done off screen and never do we really see the Cybermen before their turn into mindless drones. I find this a lot less impactful than it could’ve been and in the end, World Enough and Time has done the concept a thousand times better since. As for our other antagonists, neither feel particularly special. There’s some novelty in the spineless Dr. Farrer who’s willing to cut up surgery patients but not living people for his experiments but he kind of takes the back bench towards the end and hasn’t much impact on the plot. As for callous security officer Garnier, he just feels to me like a dull and generic tough guy without much depth who is easily and predictably overcome by rampaging cybermen in a somewhat rushed third act. In fact, that whole section is a let down from what came before, the pace falling apart slightly and once again downplaying its impact by having none of the action front and centre. Plus, the day is saved with a convenient kill switch that Dr. Farrer implemented for some reason.

Overall, The Harvest was a thoroughly fine affair with the significant advantage of introducing one of Big Finish’s best characters. It’s another addition to the ever growing pile of disappointing cyberman stories that just so happens to have a sleek and action-packed air to it. The chemistry between our three leads is immediately apparent but, though it is certainly not boring, the story could use some work here and there.

7/10

Pros:

+ Fantastic introduction to Hex

+ Really interesting and unique setting

+ Great, brisk and action-packed pace

+ Mark was some much needed comic relief

+ One of David Darlington’s best scores

Cons:

- The secondary antagonists were nothing special

- The cybermen felt underused

- The third act was underwhelming

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

“THE HARVEST: WHEN MEDICINE MET THE CYBERMEN”

The Harvest kicks off a loose trilogy in which the Doctor foils yet another attempted Cyberman invasion of Earth. This time, the action unfolds in a London hospital, where shady medical experiments with alien nanotechnology spiral out of control. More notably, this story introduces Philip Olivier as Thomas ‘Hex’ Schofield, a nurse who finds himself drawn into the Doctor’s world of time travel and monsters. Joining Seven and Ace in the TARDIS, Hex makes an immediate impact as a companion, offering a fresh perspective on their adventures.

The first half of the story is all about mystery and suspense. The Doctor and Ace are investigating illicit experiments involving alien technology—technology the audience immediately recognises as something that can only mean trouble. Meanwhile, we get to know Hex, who takes centre stage in the opening episode. Working at the hospital, he struggles with the loss of a colleague while forming a friendship with Ace, who has gone undercover as an employee. As strange things happen behind the scenes, the story slowly builds its tension, weaving in an atmosphere of paranoia and dread.

MEDICINE, MACHINES, AND A CYBER TWIST

At its core, The Harvest is about human ambition crossing dangerous lines. The twist here is that the experiments aren’t being conducted by Cybermen themselves but by medical professionals playing with technology they don’t fully understand. Naturally, we know exactly where that leads—the Cybermen are never far from those who try to use their power for themselves.

From the outset, the story has a serious, almost bleak tone, with a palpable sense of unease. The first episode delivers an excellent chase scene that comes alive with sharp direction and a strong musical score. There’s an almost heist-like feel to the investigation, as Ace and Hex sneak into the hospital through the staff entrance while the Doctor finds his own way in.

The second half pulls back the curtain, revealing the full scale of the horrifying operation—human bodies are being harvested to fuel the Cybermen’s plans. Yet, surprisingly, the Cybermen themselves remain mostly in the shadows until the final act. Their presence is felt throughout, but it’s only in the last part that they fully emerge, led by the Cyber Controller.

A NEW BREED OF CYBERMEN

When the Cybermen do finally arrive, they bring with them a disturbing new twist. These aren’t just the Cybermen we know—they are Cyberhumans, supposedly an improved model that has evolved beyond their usual logical constraints. These upgraded Cybermen claim to have eliminated their greatest weakness, making them capable of conquering Earth in just six weeks. Their late reveal adds weight to their presence, making their sudden emergence all the more impactful.

The pacing of their introduction mirrors that of the Doctor himself. The Seventh Doctor doesn’t truly appear until the end of Part 1—at the exact moment Hex walks into the TARDIS for the first time. The exchange between them is an instant classic:

Hex: “Oh my God.”

The Doctor: “No, I’m the Doctor.”

Likewise, the Cybermen aren’t fully unveiled until Part 2, after the story has carefully danced around their presence. The restraint in their reveal is commendable, making the eventual confrontation all the more chilling.

A FUTURE THAT NEVER WAS

Set in what was then the near-future of 2021, The Harvest presents a highly technological society—one that, while advanced, doesn’t quite align with the world we ended up with. Given its hospital setting, it’s a little strange in hindsight that there’s no mention of COVID-19. Still, its vision of a tech-driven world feels eerily accurate in some respects, even if its predictions outpaced reality.

A STRONG CAST AND A PROMISING NEW COMPANION

Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred are as strong as ever, with Seven and Ace slipping seamlessly into their investigative roles. But the real standout is Philip Olivier’s Hex. He is proactive, capable, and above all, human—reacting with genuine emotion and curiosity to the madness unfolding around him. His contrast with Ace is particularly effective; where she is seasoned and confident, Hex is still coming to terms with everything, making for a compelling dynamic.

He also adjusts to the idea of the Doctor and the TARDIS surprisingly quickly, placing his trust in what he sees and hears. By the end of the story, he has more than proven himself as a worthy addition to the TARDIS team.

📝VERDICT: 7/10

The Harvest is a gripping and atmospheric thriller, blending medical horror with the ever-looming menace of the Cybermen. It takes its time building tension, keeping the monsters in the shadows for as long as possible before hitting hard in the final act. The Cyberhumans offer an intriguing new variation on the classic foes, while Hex’s introduction is handled with care, giving him a compelling personal arc.

With a strong sense of mystery, an unsettlingly realistic setting, and a confident debut for its new companion, The Harvest is a standout entry in the Seventh Doctor’s audio adventures.

This story has a gritty, real world feel without being overly angsty or po faced. It has a vintage "end of the wilderness years" feel.

Hex is a marvellous creation. They do a great job of building his slightly futuristic version of London (2021) and the hospital he works in. The fact Ace has a partner to flirt with is very satisfying. Hex adds a new dimension to her character. She is his mentor during the satisfyingly Doctor lite part 1. I got a proper thrill from hearing Hex enter the TARDIS for the first time and encountering a dismissive Doctor.

Like all the best Cybermen stories it has an unexpected reveal at the end of part two! The fact that the enemies were Cybermen was not something that ever struck me as a possibility, given the only monstrosities we had met before the reveal were stoic, introspective patients who indulged in sensation and feeling.

It is rare that the regularly used plot device of a human teaming up with the cybermen (or daleks, etc.) feels believable. But they nail it here - you can see why they feel justified in their approach.

This one is a real game changer.

I dove into The Harvest expecting a fun story and a nice introduction to the companion Hex. I feel I got a serviceable audio that largely delivers on both counts, but the end result hardly felt exceptional to me, either. The Cyberman content didn't really stand out and I don't think I was given a lot for Hex's character that left much of an impression on me. Everyone does a pretty good job in the cast, but I think the writing lacks those essential memorable moments that would have made The Harvest a little more special for me. Compared to Evelyn Smythe's introduction, it felt like I have a much weaker sense of Hex's character and am not really left feeling excited about future adventures with him. I normally like Dan Abnett more than this (currently reading a Warhammer 40k novel by him I'm enjoying quite a bit) but he struggles with endings and it shows here a bit. I do like this take on the "near future" of 2021 - now, of course, our past - that's always pretty neat to see in fiction. Really the whole story has some cool ideas, I'm just not sure it comes together into something I found all that satisfying, and more just average in comparison.