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TARDIS Guide

Overview

Released

Monday, June 12, 2000

Written by

Nicholas Pegg

Runtime

127 minutes

Time Travel

Present

Tropes (Potential Spoilers!)

Mind Control, Spaceship

Location (Potential Spoilers!)

Greece, Athens, Cornwall, Earth, England

Synopsis

In a desolate Cornish landscape littered with relics of prehistoric man, the Sixth Doctor and Evelyn uncover a catalogue of mysteries.

What is the secret of the fogou? Can the moor be haunted by a demonic host of imps? And what is Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart doing in Pengriffen?

Teaming up with his old friend, the Doctor realises that an ancient conflict is nearing its conclusion — and Lanyon Moor is set to be the final battleground.

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13 reviews

This is just a perfectly by-the-numbers story with fairly generic plot elements, a hammy cliche villain and a standard doomsday scenario. Colin Baker and Nicholas Courtney are working together and the chemistry is sublime. Another great part of this story is Evelyn. She's a lot of fun and also gets some really great moments by herself, investigating without the Doctor. However the story is overly long, especially in parts two and three and it's very difficult to take the alien threat seriously with it's utterly ridiculous performance.


Allowableman2

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Folk horror blending aliens and local mythology is always a plus for me - I love these themes and ideas presented here, and it builds to a fantastically atmospheric, creepy and unnerving audio.

The Sixth Doctor works fantastically here, continuing well with Evelyne, but also, he works so well with the Brigadier - and I am glad that Big Finish decided to show this new dynamic for a Brigadier introduction to Big Finish, opposed to seeing him with familiar Doctor's.

A lot to enjoy in this story, again a stronger entry in early Big Finish.


joeymapes21

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This review contains spoilers!

Depois de se envolverem com Maria I Rainha da Inglaterra em meados de 1555 no áudio anterior (The Marian Conspiracy), chegou a vez do lendário Brigadeiro Lethbridge-Stewart se deparar pela primeira vez com a sexta encarnação do Time Lord algo que não ocorre em seus episódios no formato de Série de TV - Aposentado, Brigadeiro se encontra no Instituto de Arqueologia Lanyon Moor envolvido a uma série de pesquisas feitas em uma área especifica na Cornualha. Logo o 6° Doctor e Evelyn se unem a expedição revelando a existência de uma ameaça alienígena. Entendo toda a proposta de Nicholas Pegg em entregar um enredo mais técnico que se dedica na maior parte do tempo desenvolver sua trama através diálogos, todo o trabalho detalhista que o escritor teve em seu texto cumpre perfeitamente o objetivo narrativo em deixar seu ouvinte ciente e cheio de informações relacionadas a situação e aos elementos envolvidos na história – Seu maior equívoco foi estender demais toda essa etapa prolongando até a Parte 4 a ponto de causar um desgaste significativo a experiência, basta observar que quando temos toda uma estrutura técnica completa e montada, no momento em que são colocadas na pratica (a chamada hora de entrar em ação) o escritor nos entrega um enredo fraco sem muita criatividade com uma conclusão bem água com açúcar ficando longe de ser algo memoriável. Tem muitos textos adicionais sem muita objetividade no enredo, parecem destinados a prolongar seus diálogos que em sua maioria pode até ter relação com a situação relatada ou com um determinado personagem, mas em praticamente todos os casos demonstraram ser adições nada relevantes no sentido de continuidade. Diferente de sua primeira história, infelizmente Evelyn se encontra sem muito proposito nesse evento, ela chega até ser capturada por Flint criando duas interessantes divisões no enredo, mas ao fugir a personagem fica flutuando na trama e volta ao status anterior. Já o Brigadeiro consegue se sair melhor apresentando uma ótima dinâmica com o 6° Doctor, sendo bem sincero - É mais uma por uma questão simbólica, não querendo ser insensível, mas se o personagem fosse substituído por um “NPC da BIG FINISH” haha, ele não teria um destaque. E por fim os vilões, Sancreda chega a ser interessante quando está usando seus poderes psíquico manipulando a senhora Moynihan, mas depois que é libertado se torna bem genérico com direito a aquele típico feito de voz de monstro da BIG FINISH, já Flint é patético com suas intenções ocultista e seu plano que lembra um pouco o arco “The Daemos” do 3° Doctor, ele mais parece ser uma desculpa para Evelyn ter o que fazer no enredo. Já que citei ela, quero destacar o fim HORROROSO e de grande mal gosto que deram a senhora Moynihan, uma cena muito desagradável e pesada de se ouvir, achei uma péssima decisão do escritor. Em resumo The Spectre Of Lanyon Moor é um áudio de muita pouca ação que facilmente se resulta em uma experiência pouco envolvente e dificilmente será algo memorável, mas por pouco não chega ao ponto de ser considerado como ruim.

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KnuppMello

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This review contains spoilers!

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

“The Spectre of Lanyon Moor: A Sinister Slice of Cornish Folklore”

The Spectre of Lanyon Moor delivers a gripping blend of local mythology, small-town intrigue, and science fiction, making it one of the stronger early Big Finish adventures. Its moody atmosphere, richly realised setting, and strong character dynamics make it a standout for fans of the Sixth Doctor and Evelyn Smythe.

The story opens with a dramatic and tragic scene of an alien being abandoned by its kin, setting the tone for the eerie events to follow. Six and Evelyn’s arrival at the idyllic yet mysterious Cornish village of Lanyon Moor immerses listeners in a world steeped in folklore. The meticulous attention to local mythology enriches the narrative, much like the approach taken in The Daemons.

The cliffhangers are well-executed, particularly the Part 1 revelation of the deadly threat and the Part 3 scene reminiscent of Azaal's summoning, which heightens tension and sets the stage for a gripping finale.

Evelyn shines throughout, with Maggie Stables showcasing her wit, intelligence, and independence. Her dynamic with the Sixth Doctor continues to be a joy, particularly as she tempers his more brusque tendencies, such as when she forces him to apologise to other characters. Evelyn’s rapport with Barnaby Edwards' Philip is also a highlight, making his betrayal all the more impactful.

The story is also notable for the return of Nicholas Courtney as the Brigadier. His reunion with the Doctor is handled with understated charm, allowing him to slot seamlessly into the narrative. Courtney plays the Brigadier as older and wiser, and his pivotal role in the climax is a satisfying moment for fans of the character.

The supporting cast is strong, with James Bolam delivering a delightfully nasty performance as Sir Archibald Flint, even if his character is a somewhat generic power-hungry aristocrat. Susan Jameson adds depth and menace as Mrs. Moynihan, while Toby Longworth makes Sancreda a compelling and sinister presence in the final part.

The creatures, brought to life through evocative sound design, maintain an air of ambiguity that adds to their creepiness. However, their limited presence in the middle of the story diminishes some of the tension built earlier on.

Despite some clunky moments in the writing typical of early Big Finish, the story flows well, even with its longer-than-average episode lengths. The climax, while talk-heavy, provides a satisfying resolution that balances the Brigadier’s heroism with the Doctor’s sharp intellect.

📝Verdict: 8/10

The Spectre of Lanyon Moor combines a strong sense of place, engaging performances, and a sinister atmosphere to deliver a memorable audio drama. It stands out as a testament to the potential of Big Finish’s early efforts, successfully weaving folklore and science fiction into a compelling tale.


MrColdStream

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It’s been a while since I listen to that Audio.
This one in many ways could feel from the first glance as a checkbox story (having 6 and the Brigadier properly meet) but I have to say while it’s quite standard, it’s a VERY solid standard who Story.

Colin and Maggie as Evelyn and 6 are a blast dream team as always, with Courtney, they are such a lovely trio.

The Setting is lovely and used well throughout here!
While if I were to give it a rating, which would be a high 7/10, it’s a good sign how many of the interactions I still remember it quite well. Always a good sign for the very early BF MR Stories, easily one of the best I heard as yet.


RandomJoke

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Quotes

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DOCTOR: Still, I rather like the look of it here.

EVELYN: Oh, yes, terrific. It's cold, it's wet, it's foggy, and it definitely isn't the Galapagos Islands. We're probably in the middle of post apocalypse Bromsgrove in the ninety fifth century. If this is Earth at all.

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