Doctor Who
Dark Eyes (4 part story)
8th Doctor Adventures
Big Finish (audio-plays)
This is a sprawling box set of four adventures of the Doctor, all directly connected to a woman named Molly and the Daleks that are pursuing her. The Doctor rescues Molly, only to find the Daleks on their trail regardless of where they travel in time & space. But the Daleks are not alone in their efforts, and the Time Lords have their own agenda to stop the Daleks' plan.
Nicholas Briggs (writer/director/producer) and Paul McGann (the Doctor) both have an interest in the history of the First World War, and details abound in the setting of the first adventure. Molly, for one, is not a nurse nor a sister of a religious order, she is a V.A.D. (First I'd learned the difference, myself.) The Doctor also has an appreciation for Sopwith Camels.
The next three adventures put the Doctor and Molly on a path through World War II, the 1970s and futuristic planets.
There's a lot here for Doctor Who fans - particularly if you enjoy the new series (2005-present) and the original series. Briggs, along with Moffatt, have both claimed they want to keep the Time War mythic and not delve into details. But, they can't help referencing it. In the case of the t.v. series, it is a major backstory. Here, in Dark Eyes, it's a bit of a tease though tastefully done. The machinations of the Time Lords, here in this story, certainly earn them no favors with the Daleks nor the Doctor.
Also, McGann gets a new costume (which, yes, might seem unnecessary for an audio line.) But, it allows the 8th Doctor to finally get away from the overused photoshopping of poses and costume that are 16 years old and redundant by this point. He also dresses a bit more casual and even opts for leather. Though it seems this was McGann's personal choice, one wonders if there wasn't some planned foreshadowing of the 9th Doctor's fashion sense.
Time, space, history, future, Daleks, Time Lords and the Doctor. And most importantly, well done. This story has it all.
This is about Who? :)
ReplyDeleteCharles, I appreciate your fortitude in sticking with me even when I post about Doctor Who which is largely becoming an exercise in talking (typing) to myself. ;)
ReplyDeleteI've consumed some other media, of late, and need to get back into a posting groove, along with all the other grooves I need to slide back into.