8️⃣⏹️ = VERY GOOD!

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

“CHRISTIAN DINOSAURS!”

Another BBC Original set on a ship, this time the Blue Groper in the late 18th century, a ship filled with convicts and a professor on their way to uncover evidence of dinosaurs.

The first part of the story slowly but effectively sets the scene and builds the atmosphere onboard the Blue Groper during its voyage to Luna Puesta.

There's good time devoted to characterisation, both between Martha and the Doctor and between Martha and the crew. I also like the exploration of scientific research of the time and how it was deeply tied to faith.

On the other hand, the story slows down a lot in the middle and barely builds up to anything until the ship arrives at the island. It then arrives at a very minimalistic and slightly disappointing conclusion.

Martha is written and used well, with Russell utilising her education to make her useful in the story. I also like the passion shown by Professor Tomlinson.

Gary Russell easily could've gone for another Silurian or Sea Devil encounter here, but fortunately, he decides to make up a new aquatic reptile species instead, the Mantisaurs, which are friendly aliens. They aren't very fleshed out but feel like a breath of fresh (sea) air.

Seán Carlsen narrates with great energy, giving the characters distinct voices—his Captain Sadler is great, and his Professor Tomlinson sounds a bit like Stephen Noonan’s First Doctor. His Ten fluctuates between accurate and very flat, and his Martha is fine. It's occasionally hard to distinguish between the Doctor and Martha in scenes where they are talking to each other.

RANDOM OBSERVATIONS:

• So, the TARDIS stops bullets now. Seven could've used that when he was gunned downin front of the TARDIS in Doctor Who.