At the end of He Kills me, He Kills Me Not, the Daleks had turned up. The Doctor and the Daleks have a common desire - to understand what it is that’s changing the universe.

Its a minor spoiler, but it comes early on and defines the audio. The Doctor has to work with the Daleks. It does remind me of the Five Doctors where the Master is asked to rescue the Doctor. So for me it doesn’t quite have the impact it should, not to mention we’ve had this kind of thing before, subverting the expected dynamic.

Wrax is the setting for this audio, and its people shouldn’t exist. There is more to Wrax than at first meets the eye, as, though they’ve conquered many others, they seem to have no evidence of the ability to - other than a device that’s older than they are.

Having listened to The Eighth Doctor time was series, this comes across as more of the same. The Eighth Doctor, the Daleks, the Dalek Strategist, issues with time etc. And with so much time war stuff its hard to remember this isn’t it.

The planet Wrax and its people are interesting, they have secrets and its intriguing. You want to find out what’s going on, what’s behind the face of it. The Daleks are their usual untrustworthy selves and the Doctor is somewhere in the middle, dealing with both sides.

With the previous audio in this range not really seemingly doing much in way of the ‘Timelord Victorious’ arc, or doing much in general. This does up the ante somewhat. Moments of peril for the Doctor, an interesting race of people with a background more thought out and developed than you may usually get, and just enough info to keep you interested. This really does move things forward, and leaves me wanting to get on with the next part. (Again in retrospect, taking in the TLV arc, the series arrives like a jigsaw. You slowly put things together, so its more interesting as part of the whole).

On a remote alien planet, a couple are trying to escape from a father who is not happy about the marriage. Brian the Ood has been sent to get them, or rather one, of them back.

I’ve been wanting this for a while, even though I didn’t really know anything about it. All the Time Lord Victorious stuff passed me by. Like the more recent Doomsday multi media story; to be honest I’d rather something more self contained and accessible - but that’s just me. I gather you don’t need all the various elements to enjoy it though (however I will say, that to get the most out of the audios, you need to read the two novels).

The Doctor is out to see one the the wonders of the universe but what he finds is far from what should be. This aspect of the plot doesn’t get resolve here, its something that carries on the the next adventure, so its just sowing the seeds. The setting itself is something akin to a town in the wild west. We know this because of the American accents: Why the accents? I’ve no idea, its an alien planet, and it didn’t really make sense. All it achieved is to confuse things - its possible its part of the things not being right theme (it isn't).

I’m not familar with Brian the Ood, but he didn’t come across as an Ood, at least not judging by the ones encountered in the TV series and I kept forgetting that that’s what he was. Apart form a few mentions of the hindbrain it could have been anyone.

As for the plot, its much of a run around, really its just your standard Doctor Who story. There’s nothing particularly oustanding, unique about or different about it.

Overall I was somewhat unimpressed by this. I had expected something more epic, grander, but it felt more run of the mill. I’m not entirely blaming the story, I had listened to the start but when I came back to carry on I just wasn’t taking it in and had to go and re listen. So it is an audio that I need to give a proper go to another time.

Its Ok, an underwhelming start to the series - though even saying that I’m not entirely sure where to start. Aside from all the other media there were two Big Finish short trips that came before this. (In retrospect, and taking in as much of the TLV as I could, it isn't necessarily the best place to start. I suspect my opinion would change a little, knowing how it fits in in the bigger series).

This would have been the second story in Colin Bakers 'cancelled' season.

The Doctor and Peri take a holiday, but the planet they've choosen is being plagued by a hate ray.

It takes a long time before the Doctor and Peri get to the planet - over 30 minutes into the episode (one if the issues, when they went to 45 minute episodes).

One part of the story is where the armoury is left unguarded and Locas decides to enter with Peri, even though doing so is againt the law on pain of death - so its seems like a very strange thing to do, especially as they get caught and are sentenced as such. There are a couple of moments where the actions of characters don't quite make sense, but I can give leeway since this was written for TV and mabe they wanted to keep it as close as possible to what would have been.

It kind of has a comic book feel it it - the hate ray and the villain - Mordant cackling away, watching the events he's instigating from his hideaway. I always imagined this story had more significance to it 'The Ultimate Evil' it has a end of series feel to it, but maybe its title that is very similer to 'The Ultimate Foe'.

I found some of resolutions to be a little unsatisfactory, but otherwise it was Ok. It seems to have been poorly recieved, but given that I'm interested in how the lost series 23 would have been, then it does the job. To be honest I've heard far worse original Big Finish releases.

The Toymaker is back, and The Sixth Doctor finaly takes Peri to Blackpool, as he began to say at the end of Revelation of the Daleks.

I quite enjoyed the start, the Sixth and Peri having a laugh on the rides at the fair.

David Bailie makes a fine Toymaker and the character's backstory is expanded on. The conversations between him an the Doctor makes it sound as if they've met each other more often than we are aware of. And on a smliler note, there were a couple of times where I thought I'd missed something and went back to check, but it was more the way it was written.

The epsidoes are a bit uneven in length, I think the second is nearly 20 minutes longer the the first, not that it really matters.

The Doctor spends half the story in a cell. I think one of the issues when they tried the 45 minutes epsidoe during Colin Bakers time was that it took a lot longer to get going, and less happened. There was a lot more games and events in 'The Celestial Toymaker' than in this story.

Generally I enjoyed it, but felt the Toymaker wasn't used to his full potential.

I recently met Neve Macintosh at a convention and realised that I had’t actually heard many of her audios. In fact the only one as Madam Vastra was the Once and Future one she was in. This episode was a freebie that I downloaded nearly two years ago, and I think that the reason I held off from listening was that: its another audio series to keep up with.

There are a couple of audios prior to this: an episode of the Eighth Of March release and a short prelude. Though there aren’t necessary if you watched the TV series you know the characters and set up. I would have preferred a bit more of an introduction though, as you are thrown into the middle of it, and I didn’t wonder where in the timeline this was set.

Vastra, Jenny and Strax deal with the new electric cars, but they are a little ‘out of time’ and there’s a factory that can instantly tell if you’re  a worker or management.

I do feel that some characters don’t travel across to audio as well as others - I remember watching a Plant of The Apes documentary, and the actors had to record additional dialogue and as their makeup was being taken off an they asked for it to be left on as it helped with the characterisation.

There are some nice bits with Strax using Cockney rhyming slang (or trying to). Mentions that it will put people off electric cars and use oil.

I don’t know why but I just didn’t get into it. I think sometimes I get audio fatigue and really should get it a rest for a couple of weeks.

Its a pretty much run of the mill story, nothing outstanding, stuff that’s been done before. It doesn’t immediately impress you, the characters don’t really stand out and is there any reason why you should listen to this rather than the Jago and Litefoot series?

Its fine as a start but I’m not running back for more, maybe when its on sale…

I’m not the biggest fan of the Fourth Doctor, and I do feel that he’s lost something on audio, but with Tom Bakers age I can forgive that. I try to vary what I listen to and this came up on sale.

Its a murder mystery set on an asteroid that deals with justice, executions etc.

Aside from the recurring cast we have some familiar voices. Miranda Raison - now more known for playing Constance to the Sixth Doctor and Micheal Troughton, again better remembered for recreating the second Doctor.

There are things that happen at the start that seem to be a while ago when the Doctor and Romana arrive, though I didn’t get that at the time. It is possible I missed something.

It may be a little bit of a spoiller, but the Orgons turn up half way through, they are on the cover so its not all that surprising. Its quite nice to have them.

To be honest this audio didn’t do a lot for me, a fairly standard affair. I recently listened to the Doomsday Contract and as with that the humour was a little lost on me - I’m not sure why, though these days I tend to want something that makes me think.

I did listen to this on the train and was getting tired, so another listen sometime my make the difference, but for now, it was Ok.

When this came up as a deal/discount along with Operation Werewolf it was too hard to turn down. I’ve enjoyed Tim Treloars 3rd Doctor and likewise Micheal Troughton’s 2nd. These two Doctors work well with each other so its great to have more.

This was the idea that later evolved into the Three Doctors. With Frazer Hines unavailable and William Hartnell too ill to take part fully this is a chance to experience what could have been.

Each of the first three Doctors are facing their own problems, when they come together on Deathworld, the enemy? Death themself.

Katy Manning and Frazer Hines are the only original cast members playing Jo and Jamie. It is a little odd with the rest being played by new people. For me its Stephen Noonan who I’ve not really got to know. No-one has ever really ‘got’ the first Doctor, they seem to forget his nice side. Stephen’s version isn’t quite there, he does have some of the mannerisms, whether he’ll grow on me I’m not sure, though as with the three Doctors, the first Doctor isn’t as featured as much the 2nd and 3rd.

There are some ideas which seemed to have been reused for the Five Doctors - a castle, the feeling of doom when getting nearer. The Doctors' being paired up, and it does seem strange to pair the first up with the Brigadier, rather than a companion from his time.

I’m not sure if this would have worked in the seventies as a TV story. It has an epic feel about it, with two characters playing chess to decide on people lives. There’s also Death, death world, The four horsemen of the apocalypse, zombies. The bit with Medusa in the Mind Robber I imagine could be quite frightening for a younger audience, a lot of this feels a little much for family viewing.

It is a little slow to get going, I got to part four and thought I missed out an episode. There are some nice call backs to the past - Jamie‘s 'Look at the Size of that thing Doctor’

I really enjoyed it. I didn’t get to listen in one go, rather a few 10 minute pieces and I do think that another listen is in order.

The Doctor and Romana are enjoying a holiday when co ordinates are sent into the Doctors mind. A summons from the highest court in the Galaxy cannot be ignored.

This is very much on the comedy side of things. With Douglas Adams as script editor at the time this ‘lost story’ was commisisoned and written by John Lloyd, its no surprise. There are also one or two Hitchhiker references for those who can spot them.

You feel that with the Doctor being effectly summoned, an interesting court case is to be played out, yet it seems to go off subject more than once. He’s asked to speak on the defence of Earth, but then has to go into a micro universe for witness protection where he resides for most of the audio. Romana chasing up issues in the real world.

As much as I am of a fan of Douglas Adams and John Lloyd for that matter, this story isn’t up there with the greats. Its reasonable, enjoyable, but not that memorable. I am surprised to see how highly its been rated it certainly didn’t strike me as amazing. Its does send up sci fi concepts, bureaucracy, but some of it doesn’t reconcile with established Doctor who lore.

Worth a listen.

Set within the Daleks Masterplan story, this features The First Doctor, Steven and Sara. With Peter Purves and Jean Marsh as the cast.

A collision in the vortex strands the Tardis crew on an island somewhere on a planet. The other ship is an experimental time vessel, the two crews will have to work together to survive. So how do Steven and Sara end up in Berlin accused of being spies?

Its a nice beginning - the crash, waking up, stranded, the other ships crew. The fact that the other ship is also a time machine and the distrust between the two sets of people. There’s plenty to keep you interested, when they find the Tardis’s food dispenser in the middle of nowhere you do wonder whats happened to the Tardis and how they’re going to get out of it. The situation gets worse as both Steven and Sara get hurt and it does feel that this might be the end for them.

When I came back to listen to part 3 I felt I had missed something. Suddenly its Germany, Steven’s been shot and he and Sara are on the run. There are a couple of references to the last episode so you know that it is the same story, but you know thats there’s something not quite finished from before. The Doctor is missing from this episode (a nice hark back to the early series) and things get a little beak for Steven and Sara, held prisoner, escaping only to be caught again.

At 38 minutes, part four is long and for me its gets a bit draggy. You know that something isn't right about the circumstance our heroes are in and you’re waiting for the pay off. Whats happening feels that its getting in the way the plot.

Its very much a story of to two halves. It is something that deserves a second listen to fully appreciate it. I found I was more interested in the first half and wanted that to continue. The second half set in Germany with its second world war/nazi vibes felt a bit been there done that.

There is some character development for Steven and Sara - I’ve seemed to have heard a few of their adventures lately - An Ordinary Life being one of them, again where Steven an Sara get closer.

An interesting audio

You can’t really go wrong with a Jo Grant/Katy Manning audio.

Here Jo seems to go from criss to criss. Almost the last few climatic minutes of an adventure, before being somewhere else doing much the same.

It doesn’t take much to know that things aren’t what they seem, the audio itself makes it obvious that what is being experience by Jo isn’t real, and it does become a bit of a waiting game for the reveal.

The title is slightly misleading as it doesn’t quite live up to it. Its just a few versions with reference to others.

It is more on the lighter, easy listening side, so if you’ve just come off a boxset or complicated plot this serves as some light relief.

To be honest I said at the start you can’t go wrong with a Katy Manning story and though this isn’t the most memorable, it forefills the requirements of an entertaining outing.