A suitably timey-wimey explanation for the goings on in the previous installments, and some lovely character work, I do just wish there were more inquiry in The Inquiry.

Firstly the acting for Leela is great and I love her interactions with the CIA agents after she uncovers what happened to Andred. Narvin is definitely starting to grow on me a bit, I'm not sure what I was expecting from him (I don't really remember his appearance in War Master all that well as I didnt' know the character at the time, but this almost-but-not-quite slimy character heading up the CIA wasn't it, and I think this is the release that's started to sell me on him. Romana is great as always, and I like the bit more character we get from Darkel here too, honestly just having her here again is great.

Generally I really like this combination of sci-fi, spy drama, and politics, the time travel element is confusing but explained well, and the explanation doesn't feel like exposition with the context of the scene.

I also really like what more we get of Braxiatel here, and I really am wishing I'd read some of the books or listened to some Bernice Summerfield audios to have even more of him. The idea of him knowing about the events that his future self will go on to do in the vaguest terms is really interesting and I especially like how it's used here, almost as a red herring. He didn't set the data bomb in the past but had the idea to, so maybe it's something he'll do in the future? Leading you away from figuring out that no, it is something he has done but didn't remember because of time stuff.

All in all, I really liked it, though I really do wish there were more courtroom drama in it. Those scenes are some of my favourites from Trial of a Timelord and I wish we got more here.

📝7/10 → GOOD!

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

GALLIFREY ON TRIAL: THE DRAMA OF THE INQUIRY

The Gallifrey saga continues with The Inquiry, placing President Romana in the hot seat as she faces a formal hearing for her controversial actions. Meanwhile, Leela embarks on a personal mission to uncover the truth about Andred’s mysterious fate.

A Tense Courtroom Drama:

If you enjoy a good courtroom drama, The Inquiry delivers in spades. The hearing becomes a battleground where key characters take the stand, either to defend or condemn Romana, ratcheting up the political tension on Gallifrey. The focus on the Timonic Fusion Device ties into the broader series narrative while keeping the story tightly contained.

Leela, meanwhile, breaks into the Matrix in her relentless search for answers about Andred. Her storyline adds an investigative edge to the episode, contrasting with the procedural atmosphere of Romana’s trial. Though the scale remains intimate, the plot moves forward in a satisfying and impactful way.

Strong Performances All Around:

Lalla Ward shines as Romana, particularly in her fiery exchanges with those seeking to undermine her. Louise Jameson’s portrayal of Leela continues to anchor the emotional core of the series, with her unyielding determination driving some of the episode’s best scenes.

The supporting cast is equally strong. Miles Richardson fleshes out Braxiatel further, adding layers to his enigmatic role, though his ultimate motives remain elusive. The revelation of Andred’s fate, shared between Braxiatel and Leela, is a standout moment, showcasing powerful performances from Jameson and Richardson.

Narvin’s scheming and Darkel’s increasingly manipulative presence are highlights, and it’s a treat to hear Lynda Bellingham’s commanding voice as the Inquisitor.

Balancing Complexity:

The third act attempts to untangle the threads of the series’ overarching mysteries, but the explanations come thick and fast. While this helps propel the narrative into intriguing new territory, it can feel overwhelming for those who prefer a slower drip of information.

Final Thoughts:

The Inquiry successfully blends courtroom drama with political intrigue, showcasing the strong character dynamics and layered storytelling that define Gallifrey. While some of the exposition may feel a bit dense, the episode’s emotional weight and impactful performances make it a good instalment.

An engaging mix of drama and intrigue, elevated by stellar performances and emotional depth.

Gallifrey; Chapter III  - “The Inquiry" by Justin Richards

After Square One, which felt like somewhat of a stop-gap entry, I was anxious to get back to the actual series plot (even though four episodes is really stretching the definition of “series”) and The Inquiry was pretty much exactly what I wanted. Justin Richards, a writer defined by his generic if solid writing style, gives us a spacey courtroom drama that fits in really well with the political antics of the series so far, and even includes some cool sci-fi concepts that eventually utterly derail the plot.

Called to answer for her response to the Gryben standoff, Romana finds herself desperately searching the Matrix for answers to the origins of the Timonic Fusion Device, only to discover a cover-up that transcends linear time itself.

(CONTAINS SPOILERS)

Every Gallifrey story I have listened to so far seems to be split into two parts: the mystery and the climax. There will be some underlying conundrum, like the plans of an insane terrorist cell or a murder mystery that keeps looping, and then eventually it will resolve in a quick, high-tension climax. All episodes so far seem to follow this structure and The Inquiry is no exception. The central mystery? Pretty great - the Matrix is at threat of being wiped by a “data bomb”, which is covering up a seemingly impossible test of the Timonic Fusion Device. This posits a nice number of questions: Who planted the data bomb? How did the device go off if the test was halted? How do we prevent the data bomb from going off? It does everything a mystery should do and drives a majority of the story. And boy does it drive it, the plot is quick, the plot is fast, the plot is tight. I love a story that chooses to set its narrative in real time, allowing for us to be put in the character’s shoes and feel the tension and haste they’re in; of course, there must be a balance and the script should need to breath, which luckily The Inquiry does by allowing the characters time to discuss and plan between revelations. It also allows time for some world class character building, which was something I felt was missing from the previous two entries, and pretty much everybody gets some time to shine, especially Leela who is gifted a magnificent performance from Louise Jameson.

However, The Inquiry starts to fall apart for me by the end. The conclusion to the mystery is nothing short of wildly unsatisfying. An interesting set up and the possibility of some fun time travel shenanigans resolves in the most convoluted way possible and Justin Richards clearly had little to no idea on how to present them. The story finally ends up in the closing statement of the titular inquiry and devolves into an exposition dump involving parallel timelines and somebody stealing the timonic fusion device. Even now, having read through the summary on TARDIS wiki a couple times, I'm a little foggy on the specifics because everything’s so clumsily put together. Also, I feel like the story could’ve done with a little more focus. Despite seeming like its a courtroom drama, only about 5% of the story is really in the court, we get no battles of wits, no word play or catch outs and we keep going on little side excursions like a raid on a Free Time hideout or Leela digging around the biodata archives. The story keeps switching up its subplots and in the end most of them feel underbaked.

The Inquiry was another story that failed to dazzle me as much as I wanted it to. A great opening conceit is underpinned by messy, poorly conveyed ideas and a litany of sidetracks. It’s fast and fun and genuinely does some great stuff with our cast but it feels like it even confuses itself by the end.

7/10

 Pros:

+ Really intriguing central mystery

+ Excellently paced throughout

+ Pretty much every character has some level of nice character development

Cons:

- Could’ve had a bit more focus on the trial aspect

- Third act is way too messy and confusing