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"WOMEN’S DAY OFF: WHEN HISTORY AND ALIENS COLLIDE IN ICELAND"

The Eighth Doctor, Charley, and Audacity (or “Dassie,” as Charley affectionately calls her) land in Iceland, 1975, to witness two breathtaking events: the northern lights and a pivotal moment in women’s history—the Women’s Strike for Equality. What starts as a trip to observe history soon turns into something far more personal, as the Doctor’s companions throw themselves into the movement while an unexpected alien presence threatens to disrupt the day’s significance.

Rooted in real-life events, this socially conscious and politically charged tale makes full use of its historical backdrop. The Women’s Strike, where Icelandic women demanded equal pay and rights, remains a momentous event that still resonates today. It’s an inspired choice for a Doctor Who story, allowing history and science fiction to merge in compelling ways.

CHARLEY AND AUDACITY TAKE CHARGE

This is very much Charley and Audacity’s story, and both shine as they embrace the strike with determination and wit. The duo work together brilliantly, charming and cajoling the Doctor into taking their side—even enlisting the TARDIS itself into their cause. Their infectious enthusiasm and proactive approach make for a delightful dynamic, enhanced by the fantastic chemistry between India Fisher and Jaye Griffiths.

The Doctor, while still central, takes more of a backseat here, letting his companions lead the charge. It’s refreshing to see Charley and Audacity so involved in history, driving events rather than simply reacting to them.

A SCHOOLGIRL WITH DANGEROUS POWER

While the real antagonists are the everyday figures—husbands, fathers, and employers resistant to progress—there’s also an alien element that adds a fascinating layer to the narrative. Molly Harris is compelling as Kayla, a schoolgirl with destructive powers tied to her emotions. Her fear and isolation make her both a threat and a victim, leading to some of the story’s most emotional moments. Watching her struggle for control—and ultimately find acceptance—is one of the highlights of the drama.

Jefred, the chameleonic alien stranded on Earth, is a less compelling addition. His presence serves to spark Kayla’s turmoil, but beyond that, he feels somewhat underdeveloped. Fortunately, the strength of the main historical narrative keeps the story engaging.

A BEAUTIFUL, ATMOSPHERIC ICELAND

The wintry landscapes of Iceland provide a striking backdrop, vividly realised through immersive sound design. The contrast between the cold environment and the warmth of collective action makes for an effective setting, grounding the sci-fi elements in a very real, very human struggle.

The chemistry between Charley, Audacity, and the Doctor infuses the story with warmth and humour, balancing the more serious themes with moments of levity.

📝VERDICT: 9/10

A thoughtful and heartfelt exploration of social progress, personal growth, and the power of collective action. Women’s Day Off blends historical significance with sci-fi intrigue, placing Charley and Audacity at the heart of the story in a way that feels both timely and inspiring. While the alien subplot isn’t the strongest, the emotional depth and real-world resonance make this a memorable and meaningful adventure.

The story flows awkwardly but is still a fine listen with the three leads on top form. The Doctor showing up during a woman's strike is a fun idea to get him a little more out of his comfort zone. Ended up with an extra half star from me because of the emotional ending, but ultimately not a necessary listen.

i love lisa mcmullin but this was not my cup of tea. the setting/title of the story made me think we'd be in for a historical but alas it's literally barely at the forefront of the story. the doctor chases around a schoolgirl for what feels like an eternity and there's plot threads set up that go nowhere like the alien being from the planet the doctor wanted to go to? like the coincidence was just that? and the beginning of the story had some awfully jarring flashforward scenes with the girl and her teacher that really took me out of it.

Probably a bit controversial, but I really didn’t like this one. I hate to judge a Story on the based of What could have been and I certainly won’t do it with this one, but I can’t hide some Disappointment here. The Historic Setting is used fairly well at the beginning but feels so unimportant later down the line in the Story. What we get instead is a Story that can remind you of ‘Carrie’, which is a solid Idea, sadly its Execution just annoys me. It feels super repetitive, with the Doctor running around trying to calm this Girl for most of the Runtime. And while I REALLY liked the ending, as well as the Banter between Audacity & Charley, this one just leaves a lot to desired for me.

Day On

Prerequisites: None needed.

Women's Day Off is pretty half-baked. I fully agree with some other reviewers here in that the two separate plot lines feel entirely disconnected and unrelated to each other in the slightest. There's definitely an interesting historical story to be written following the women's march in Iceland, but this story doesn't even attempt that. Instead, despite being the literal title, the titular "Day Off" is barely set dressing. This is doubly disappointing considering that this is a rare Tardis team with just the Doctor and two women; there's definitely character work to be done here! McMullen chooses to focus instead on some random alien's spaceship troubles, which seemingly only exists to give the companions something to do in the plot. Plus, it's frankly silly that this is only 45 minutes. This could've been a great story if one story thread was focused on, and it had a full hour to develop its themes. Instead, this is a profoundly mediocre audio.