The Cyber Nomads continues the in-universe retelling of the history of the Cybermen. This volume is more of a pure retelling of events we have already seen in Classic Who, from the Second and Fourth Doctors adventures. The author, and narrator, David Banks does a good job of putting everything in a chronological order. He adds little details here and there to really fill out the history. I rather enjoyed the way that this was done. Mainly for completists, I would also recommend this for fans of the Cybermen.
My Reviews
ItsR0b0tNinja has submitted 57 reviews
Review of The Early Cybermen by ItsR0b0tNinja
The Early Cybermen is an in-universe retelling of the history of the Cybermen. This volume is more of a pure retelling of events we have already seen in Classic Who, from the First and Second Doctors adventures. The author, and narrator, David Banks does a good job of putting everything in a chronological order. He adds little details here and there to really fill out the history. I rather enjoyed the way that this was done. Mainly for completists, I would also recommend this for fans of the
Review of Origins of the Cybermen by ItsR0b0tNinja
Origins of the Cybermen is an in-universe book about the early history of the Cybermen, written, and read, by David Banks. The books cover from the beginning of the Solar System up to, just before, their first invasion of Earth. Banks has tries to put together in chronological order what we have learnt from Classic Who, with small details added to fill those gaps. While it can be a little dry, overall he does a good job. This is really only for completists of the Doctor Who 'cannon'.
Review of Slipback by ItsR0b0tNinja
Slipback is a boring, drawn out story, which is a feat at only 1 hour. The plot is an overlong drudge, that honestly could have been told in 20 minutes. There is no sense of actual characters, except for one 'person'. The quality of the recoding is good considering its age. Really, this is for completist only.
Review of Exploration Earth by ItsR0b0tNinja
Exploration earth is a fun little story, made as an educational piece to be played in schools. The plot is overly complicated, but it is fun to hear Tom Baker and Elizabeth Sladen work together again. An oddity that is worth checking out.
Review of Doctor Who and the Pescatons by ItsR0b0tNinja
Doctor Who and the Pescatons has a minimal cast, in the vein of the Big Finish Companion Chronicles. The story is a fairly simple, paint by numbers, alien invasion. While there wasn't much to it, it wasn't bad. It was nice hearing Elizabeth Sladen again, and Tom Baker sounds as smooth as ever. This is a quick and easy listen, and won't tax your time.
Review of The Spectre of Lanyon Moor by ItsR0b0tNinja
The Spectre of Lanyon Moor is a good story, with some superb acting, that sadly is a little too long. Unlike other stories that feel long, it's not because there are superfluous, 'nothing' scenes. It seems to be a little 'fat'. You could rearrange some scenes, and combine others, and it would feel a bit snappier. At over 2 hours, it could probably use with 20 minutes being cut out.
The plot is an interesting piece, with little twists and turns, that has a comforting feeling like a walk across a damp moor in October. The setting was a pleasant one, all the more because of the return of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, played by Nicholas Courtney. The Brig fits well within this story. He adds another familiar presence that carries a nice chunk of the story. The continued banter between The Doctor and Evelyn really feels like a couple of good friends teasing each other.
There are some good guest actors in this one, mainly the married couple of Susan Jameson and James Bolam, who add a nice energy in their performances.
While I have issues with this one, there is still enough in here to enjoy.
Review of Red Dawn by ItsR0b0tNinja
Red Dawn was a solid idea, let down by a combination of poor writing and an overdramatic acting choice. The basic premise has a decent amount of things going for it, and to start with everything was good, but about 1/3 of the way through there is a dramatic 'twist' that unfortunately makes the rest of the story almost unbearable. Mostly this is down to the way one character is written and, ultimately, portrayed. The overdramatic performance makes it so about 2/3 of the way through the story, there is little imaginary set left to chew on. There are little gems left here and there, but ultimately it doesn't save this story, which is a shame because the Ice Warriors are well realised in this story.
Review of The Genocide Machine by ItsR0b0tNinja
The Genocide Machine is a fine story, but it does drag on a little too long. That being said, there are quite a few things that I enjoy. The main concept is interesting, with a good twist, and made for an interesting element of the story. My MVP for this story was Sophie Aldred. She had a lot to work with, even if I don't think she managed to stick the landing on one main thing. Also interesting that we get to hear Nicolas Briggs as the Daleks for the first time in an official capacity, and the first appearance of the Daleks at all in Big Finish. Some of the voices he uses still appear in Doctor Who to this day, which is a nice piece of continuity. This is also the first part of a 'soft' prequel to what will be called Dalek Empire. It'll be interesting how this story impacts it. While not the best, this story has enough to keep you entertained for the most part.
Review of The Marian Conspiracy by ItsR0b0tNinja
The Marian Conspiracy feels like a classic Pure Historical adventure. While the plot isn't that complicate, it does provide a compelling story that will make the running time fly by. After all the intrigue, by the end of the story I was satisfied, if not a little sad for PLOT reasons. At first I wasn't sold on new companion Evelyn Smythe, her bossy and grating personality was a turn-off, but by the end of the story I was sold on her. Her temperament is a great match for the Sixth Doctor. The rest of the guest cast did an excellent job, with some of them being recurring names. Overall, this was a great flashback to early Doctor Who story telling.
Review of The Fearmonger by ItsR0b0tNinja
The Fearmonger is a very good Seven & Ace story. The plot moves along at a decent pace, but doesn't seem rushed. There are enough twists and turns to keep it interesting, including some surprising ones. I really like the main theme that was explored, and it was done with heaps of commentary, but it didn't let anyone off the hook. It was great to hear Sophie Aldred back behind the mic as Ace, and even having not played her for a decade, she still had the attitude and spunk that I love from her.
Review of Victory of the Doctor by ItsR0b0tNinja
Victory of the Doctor is an excellent finale to the Eleven & Valarie series. The last serial, The Last Stand of Miss Valarie Lockwood, tied up the dangling threads in the overall mystery for the series, while this serial tied up the threat from this box set. With my mind's eye, I was able to picture the plot very easily, and the epic spectacle didn't disappoint. It really played into the tropes of a series finale, and it lived up to them in an epic way that was above and beyond what had been presented here before. While I will miss the chemistry between Jacob Dudman, Safiyya Ingar and Mia Tomlinson, this story does send them out with a band. While I wish we could get more of this series, what we have is brilliant, and it wouldn't feel amiss in any marathon of the Eleventh Doctors run.
Review of The Last Stand of Miss Valarie Lockwood by ItsR0b0tNinja
The Last Stand of Miss Valarie Lockwood is the superb penultimate entry in the Doctor & Valarie series. This story is a great first part of a two part finale, and ties up a lot of loose ends to the series as a whole. As a story in its own right, it works very well, with enough twist and turns to keep you guessing. There were a lot of surprises that I didn't see coming, which is hard considering that the series so far has set a lot of pieces in place for this ending. Safiyya Ingar is the MVP of the cast, with a great performance which will wow most listeners. They embody a companion so well that Valarie Lockwood is now up there with my favourite companions from all of Doctor Who.
Review of Daleks Victorious by ItsR0b0tNinja
Another excellent entry in the final box set of the Doctor & Valarie series. This story picks right up from where the last story ended, and features a lot of elements from the previous entries in the series. The plot is simple, but with enough things going on to really keep you on the edge of your seat. Very little is predictable, and that leads to a generally fast-paced experience. The hour really flew by. The voice cast does a magnificent job all around, with the only problem being that the Dalek voices by Nicholas Briggs sometimes sound almost like his natural speaking voice. But overall this is a minor quibble. This, what appears to be a four part story, is shaping up to be one of the best in all of Doctor Who.
Review of Didn’t You Kill My Mother? by ItsR0b0tNinja
Didn't You Kill My Mother is an excellent story that starts the fourth and final Eleven & Valarie box set. Similar to All of Time and Space from the second set, this tale is an imaginative and different take on a Doctor Who story. It's a quirky and imaginative opening part of what seems to be a four part story. The twists and turns in interesting ways, and really starts to pay off the entire Eleven & Valarie series. The themes it explores are fascinating and a welcome expansion on what has been explored already in this run. The voice cast does a magnificent job, with guest actors Lara Lemon and Homer Todiwala giving amazing performances. If the rest of this box set stays at this level, it should be a perfect ending to an already exceptional series.
Review of Sins of the Flesh by ItsR0b0tNinja
This is an excellent, almost perfect, ending to the third Eleven & Valarie box set. The plot is exceptional, and different from what I've experienced before when it comes to Cybermen. The machinations are very different from what has been portrayed before. The world building, and how it is put across to the listener, is beyond exceptional. There is a well realised imaginative edge to this one. The voice acting is magnificent as usual, with a special shout out to guest actress Alexandra D'Sa who gives a stellar performance. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, this one spoke to me on so many levels. I would highly recommend this story, and box set as a whole.
Review of All’s Fair by ItsR0b0tNinja
A very good, middle entry, in the third Eleven & Valarie box set. The plot is a wibbly wobbly tale that has an interesting concept. The ideas expressed worked well for me, as well as the emotional beats. The only downside is that by the end I had to take a minute to sort it out in my head. This isn't an original concept, they even lamp shade that, but, for me, it has been done better elsewhere with less ambiguity. It makes sense, but it took me a minute to catch up. The voice acting is on point again, with everyone getting a chance to really show their range. This is a very good story that, by the sounds of it, sets up the rest of the series as a whole.
Review of Spirit of the Season by ItsR0b0tNinja
This is an excellent start to the third Eleven & Valarie box set. The plot is essentially a better version of The God Complex. The dangers and themes that are explored fit right in where the characters are, both within the Eleven & Valarie series, and the Eleventh Doctor series as a whole. The cast does a fantastic job all around, every actor has their own moment to shine. All the emotional beats are met, or exceeded. This release is another reason that this has become, for me, one of the best things Big Finish have released.
Review of Broken Hearts by ItsR0b0tNinja
A very good story to finish off the second Eleven & Valarie box set. The plot is essentially two separate two-handers. The story follows the fallout from the previous story, Curiosity Shop, and how that has effected Valarie, add to this an interesting situation, and we have a recipe for a great story. Safiyya Ingar is again the star of this piece. They have so much to work with here, but that isn't to say that Jacob Dudman doesn't get to show off his abilities. The atmospheric sound design is especially good for this release. These last two parts to the second box set have been more emotional than the rest of the series up to now. They have been good, but for me, this comes at the cost of enjoyability. Overall, this box set has been good, but not great like the first one.
Review of Curiosity Shop by ItsR0b0tNinja
A very good tale from the second Eleven & Valarie box set. This is the most serious story from the series so far. This story is written as a breakdown of who The Doctor is, and it leaves an impression. The butting heads of the Madman in a Box and The Lonely God plays out well in this one. Curiosity Shop is written for the audio format and takes advantage of it. Jacob Dudman is given the opportunity to show his ability to mimic other Doctor voices. The real standout though is Safiyya Ingar, who is give a lot to work with here, and doesn't disappoint. The pain and sadness they are able to portray just makes me love Valarie more. Both of them get a chance to show off their range as actors. The guest actor is great, and even sounds a little like Colin Baker. Overall, this is a great addition to the series.
Review of The Yearn by ItsR0b0tNinja
A well told story in the second Eleven & Valarie box set. While not as imaginative as the first, this story is very well done. While on the surface, this tale is a staple of Big Finish Doctor Who, this one has a few twists and turns that make it stand out on its own. The chemistry between Jacob Dudman and Safiyya Ingar is still here, and this story more than others really cements Safiyya Ingar's Valarie Lockwood as a great companion. The banter back and forth between Valarie and The Doctor is right out of the TV show. The guest cast is excellent, with a special note to Mia Tomlinson as Roanna. Overall, this is another cracker of a story in the ongoing series.
Review of All of Time and Space by ItsR0b0tNinja
An imaginative and well told first story in the second Eleven & Valarie box set. The plot is a different take on a Doctor Who story. While other stories like this have been told, they usually end up a garbled mess, that ends up not making much sense. This one does. The world and ultimate explanation is satisfying, with an emotionally satisfying ending. The cast does an excellent job, with the usual chemistry between Jacob Dudman and Safiyya Ingar, and great performances from the guest cast. The audio design work is exceptional as always. I can see a recurring theme in my reviews being that I wish this overall series was in live action. This story is one I definitely want to see.
Review of Echo by ItsR0b0tNinja
Echo is a quick and simple tale that takes place over a single issues. The plot is bare bones, with just enough to get you to the end of the story. This felt more like an outline to Revolutions of Terror than its own story. There really wasn't much substance here. The artwork was clean and pretty. Overall, a nothing story that didn't add much.
Review of The Weeping Angels of Mons by ItsR0b0tNinja
A poignant and hard hitting third arc in the Tenth Doctor series. This arc doesn't really pull any punches about the darkness of war, while keeping it relatively age appropriate. With a quick pace, but enough room to breath, this story gives you a sense what Angels could reap in a battlefield. The art is beautiful and well done, other than The Doctor, who looks nearly nothing like Tennent. Overall, a well crafted piece that tells a gripping story.
Review of Meanwhile in the TARDIS (2) by ItsR0b0tNinja
A fun minisode set between Flesh and Stone and The Vampires of Venice that explores Amy's obsession and infatuation with The Doctor. The to be expected excellent acting and chemistry between Matt Smith and Karen Gillan is here and fits right in with where they would be with each other. Well worth tracking down as it adds more dimensions to the characters.
Review of Meanwhile in the TARDIS (1) by ItsR0b0tNinja
A fun minisode set between The Eleventh Hour and The Beast Below that explores Amy's first reaction to being in the TARDIS. The to be expected excellent acting and chemistry between Matt Smith and Karen Gillan is here and fits right in with where they would be with each other. Well worth tracking down as it adds more dimensions to the characters.
Review of Time Crash by ItsR0b0tNinja
An excellent Children in Need sketch featuring the Tenth and Fifth Doctor. The plot is simple but fun, but really that's not relevant. The Chemistry between David Tennant and Peter Davison is superb and really what this piece is about. A standout sketch well worth watching.
This review contains spoilers
Review of Born Again / Pudsey Cutaway by ItsR0b0tNinja
A great little piece that is essentially a deleted scene/prequel to The Christmas Invasion. While short, it does give more weight to the effect of The Parting of the Ways on Rose. This is a great addition to any rewatch.
Review of A Fix with Sontarans by ItsR0b0tNinja
Essentially a sketch for the Children's show [REDACTED]. While there is a cast of familiar faces, in retrospect that isn't a good thing. While overall, the sketch isn't terrible, the shadow of [REDACTED] presenter leaves me with a sour taste in my mouth. For completists only, really.
Review of Merry Christmas Doctor Who by ItsR0b0tNinja
A silly little improv piece not meant for the public. Nothing much to say other than it's short and easy to find.
Review of The Curse of Fatal Death by ItsR0b0tNinja
A fun Comic Relief sketch that isn't without its flaws. The plot is a comedic take on the stereotype of a Doctor Who story, which pokes loving fun to common tropes. While the jokes are funny, sometimes they go on too long or are repeated too much. The acting is good, but that is to be expected with the cast that was assembled. I've found that this story looses its charm the more times I have seen it, but for a first time viewer that is familiar with classic Who, then this should be a fun watch.
Review of Dimensions in Time by ItsR0b0tNinja
A fairly bad Children in Need special that tries to distract you with a tidal wave of faces, while really being badly acted. For the most part, there are no redeeming qualities. This episode completists only.
Review of Dreamland by ItsR0b0tNinja
An animated episode that is generally not that good. The story is forgettable, with long bouts of boredom. The CG is fairly simple that, while they get the look of certain people correct, overall is rather rudimentary. The voice acting is great with a lot of familiar names featuring. While not terrible, this episode is for completists only.
Review of The Infinite Quest by ItsR0b0tNinja
A fun little animated episode that has its positives and negatives. The story is serviceable, with a sprawling array of locations. There is enough variety of locations that the story doesn't get bogged down. With the use of animation you get to see things that normally would be out of reach of live action and that adds to the different feeling that this episode brings. The voice acting is top-notch with familiar names attached. Overall, this is an easy watch that doesn't outstay its welcome.
Review of K9 and the Missing Planet by ItsR0b0tNinja
A simple children's story that tells a quick adventure with K9. While not complex, it is a good way to introduce the Doctor Who universe to a younger audience. The artwork that is included is rather good and is enjoyable to look at, even for more mature audiences.
Review of K9 and the Zeta Rescue by ItsR0b0tNinja
A simple children's story that tells a quick adventure with K9. While not complex, it is a good way to introduce the Doctor Who universe to a younger audience. The artwork that is included is rather good and is enjoyable to look at, even for more mature audiences.
Review of K9 and the Beasts of Vega by ItsR0b0tNinja
A simple children's story that tells a quick adventure with K9. While not complex, it is a good way to introduce the Doctor Who universe to a younger audience. The artwork that is included is rather good and is enjoyable to look at, even for more mature audiences.
Review of K9 and the Time Trap by ItsR0b0tNinja
A simple children's story that tells a quick adventure with K9. While not complex, it is a good way to introduce the Doctor Who universe to a younger audience. The artwork that is included is rather good and is enjoyable to look at, even for more mature audiences.
Review of The End by ItsR0b0tNinja
An excellent, imaginative, fast-paced finale of the first box set. The plot imaginative and well paced, with twists that really kept me on the edge of my seat. The overall concept is well done, and doesn't turn into white noise that plots like this can. The voice acting is excellent, with actors that really know their characters. Jacob Dudman and Safiyya Ingar still have great chemistry, to the point that it's a shame we can't see this play out in live action. Valarie Lockwood is quickly becoming my favourite Eleventh Doctor companion. The sound design is still top-notch. The music on this release really was exceptional, to the point I wish there was a soundtrack released. This finale really put a great cap on this excellent box set.
Review of The House of Masks by ItsR0b0tNinja
A very good second episode that doesn't quite live up to the first. The plot is good, if not a little saggy in the middle. The threat is interesting and well played by the guest cast. The voice acting is great all around, with the chemistry between Jacob Dudman and Safiyya Ingar a highlight. Sound design is top-notch, for the most part, as usual. My only issue with this release was the sound mixing in some areas made some voices slightly too quiet to hear fully. This only happened in a couple of areas, and it may be my own setup, so it won't go against the rating. Overall, this was a great addition to the overall Eleven & Valarie series.
Review of The Inheritance by ItsR0b0tNinja
This is an excellent episode that starts the series proper. The plot is imaginative and well thought out. The introduction of Valarie works, while the banter back and forth feels like Eleventh Doctor and his companion. The voice acting is top-notch, with Jacob Dudman giving at great Eleven performance and Safiyya Ingar really stretching their acting as Valarie Lockwood. The overall sound design is what you would expect from Big Finish with a special mention to the music. This release really feels like it would fit in post The Snowman and before The Bells of Saint John.
Review of Prologue – Clara by ItsR0b0tNinja
A nice series of vignettes, very much in the style of the cold opens from this era of Doctor Who. Jacob Dudman does an excellent job of performing the Eleventh Doctor with the occasional slip that reminds you it isn't Matt Smith. He even has the low, talking to himself voice down. The writing really feels on point for this era. This was very enjoyable.
Review of The Daleks (Mini Album) by ItsR0b0tNinja
A great little story that doesn't require having seen The Chase. The use of narration to ground you in the story is excellent and really moves you along in the story. Well worth the 22 minutes to listen to.
This review contains spoilers
Review of The Land of the Dead by ItsR0b0tNinja
The first dud of the Big Finish Doctor Who releases. The plot is a dull thudding of nothingness that just keeps going with a drudging game of hide and seek that leaves you lost in a void of generic rooms, to the point that the CD release has a floor plan. The characterisation is either annoying and whiney, or baffling to the point of me audible say WTF or groaning. The sound design is OK with the caveat that generic_monster_sound_24_MASTER is supposed to do some heavy lifting, along with, even more generic, verbal descriptions. This was a struggle to get through. I actually stopped about halfway through for a full day and just couldn't bare getting back to it. I think only sleep deprivation allowed me to finish it. All-in-all, a very disappointing and never-to-be-listened-to-again release.
Review of Whispers of Terror by ItsR0b0tNinja
A solid outing from the Sixth Doctor in his first solo outing. The plot is a fairly simple who-done-it and find-the-monster, with plenty of classic Six and Peri banter. The plot can drag a little, but overall it is solid and well executed. The voice acting is top-notch with a great sound design. Not a perfect release but solid anyway.
Review of Phantasmagoria by ItsR0b0tNinja
A great outing from the Fifth Doctor in his first solo release. The plot is fairly simple, but with enough going on for the entire cast to get a good scene or two. It is paced fairly well, with no real lull. The voice cast is stacked, with a few familiar voices, and they all perform great. The audio work is solid, with the music and effects done very well. Overall and solid release by Big Finish.
Review of The Sirens of Time by ItsR0b0tNinja
Great first proper Doctor Who release by Big Finish. The plot is great. Split evenly between the 5th, 6th and 7th incarnation with a team up for the last quarter gives you enough of each Doctor to not get bored, and enough clues for the overall plot to bring you into the final part with questions. The voice acting is brilliant, and the sound design is top-notch. You can tell they learnt a lot from Bernice Summerfield Season 1. Overall this was very satisfying and a great way to bring you into this new audio world of Doctor Who.
Review of Buried Treasures: Closure by ItsR0b0tNinja
A very well done 2-hander. Be warned, it is gruesome.
Review of Buried Treasures: Making Myths by ItsR0b0tNinja
For the benefit of the listeners, don't bother. The plot is OK, but the dialogue is repetitive and not funny.
Review of Dragons’ Wrath by ItsR0b0tNinja
While the idea for this plot is half interesting, sadly, it just doesn't get explored enough. It really feels like you are listening to an abridged version of the story. Because of this, the story is sometimes hard to follow, and the plot seems to be rushed in some places and slow in others. The voice acting is great, but the recording quality is all over the place. The sound design is jarring with no room to breathe on some effects. This was a disappointing end to Season 1.
Review of Just War by ItsR0b0tNinja
Just Wars' plot is great. A little slow to get started as it has to set all the new characters up, but about 1/3 of the way through it picks up pace. This story was a lot more 'adult' than previous ones, but the sense of tension was kept for a good hour. The sound design was great again, and the score was very well done. Really played the emotions. The voice acting was superb and really showed off the skills of the performers. This little trilogy overall has been great.
Review of Birthright by ItsR0b0tNinja
While not as good as Walking to Babylon, Birthright is another good instalment of Bernice Summerfield. The plot really sets you up in London and brings the world to life. While not being the quickest, and some added scenes to pad out the story, the plot is easy to follow and moves along at a decent pace. The acting is top-notch, and the audio work is the best it has been so far in Season 1.
Review of Walking to Babylon by ItsR0b0tNinja
The plot was great. The world of Babylon is really well fleshed out and, based on the sound work, feels alive. While a little slow, the overall plot development is worth it. The sound design work is still a little iffy in a few places but, again, it is a vast improvement over the previous two releases. For me, this sets up the next two parts of this trilogy excellently.
Review of Beyond the Sun by ItsR0b0tNinja
The plot is meandering and can be a slog to get through. At some points things are just rushed through while hoping you remember what was said, and other times there are scenes where the plot doesn't seem to happen. The looming threat is talked about, but as a listener, you have no connection to them. The audio design is better than Oh No It Isn't, but without a character 'narrating' what is happening, it just sounds like noise. While an improvement in one way, the plot is very lacking and leaves one wanting more.
Review of Oh No It Isn’t! by ItsR0b0tNinja
The plot was interesting, if not a little bit too long. It could have been cut down by about 30 minutes, and it would have flowed better. You can tell this is the first recording by Big Finish as the quality of some of the voices are a bit off. The lack of music and minimal special effects are jarring if you are familiar with later releases. Overall it's not terrible, but it is a little rough around the edges.
Review of The Arts in Space by ItsR0b0tNinja
While not as good as the first part, Revolutions in Terror, this arc was imaginative. The plot is simple with, again, a quick set up and resolution. If this story was in live action it would need to be expanded a lot, but for a comic it uses the medium to its advantage. Some of the lines from the 'diary' section were genuinely laugh-out-loud funny. The art was good and the contrast between the two styles worked well. My only real issue was that the 'handwritten' narration was sometimes hard to read. Overall a solid quick read.
Review of Revolutions of Terror by ItsR0b0tNinja
What a great start to the Tenth Doctor series. The plot was relatively simple but imaginative. The ideas explored are something that could fit easily into the show. It didn't feel out of place within established Doctor Who lore, with a quick setup, decent pace and satisfying resolution. The characters felt right. The Tenth Doctor seemed to fit with what we know, and Gabriella 'Gabby' Gonzalez seem like she could work well as a companion. The art was solid, even if sometimes Tenth looked a little off model where usually he looked like Tennent. Quick and worthy addition to the lore of Ten.