Review: Doctor Who: Whispers of Terror

The third release in the Big Finish release, Whispers of Terror, plays with the audio format from the start as the setting is a museum of sound samples.  Cue lots of tweaks, stretches, pitch shifts and sampling as well as technical explanations of sound manipulation.  From the perspective of nearly twenty years, it feels slightly dated, self-serving and rather quaint at times.

The mystery is an interesting one but I sometimes became confused by the lack of distinctness of some of the male voices.  Baker's Doctor is always clear though.  His incarnation is as bombastic as ever - and takes every opportunity to berate Peri to the point where it feels uncomfortable at times.  Bryant's Peri also gets very little to do, although she's not above making the odd barbed quip.

Lastly, the music really does transport you to back to the 80s with synths a plenty.

Verdict: A characteristic outing for number six. 

Review: Doctor Who: Phantasmagoria

Even if his name hadn't been attached to this second Big Finish Doctor Who release, it's easy to identify this as a Gatiss tale as it has the usual hallmarks.  Namely, it is a decently executed pastiche which combines elements of the supernatural and period detail while folding in an unremarkable central mcguffin.

In many ways, it feels like a sequel to the Visitation, but the more obvious influence is Talons of Weng Chiang.

Davison's capturing of the fifth Doctor is solid, while Turlough's character has had some of the edges knocked off it. It's a welcome evolution, although Strickson takes a little while to settle back into it.

Verdict: Good second album.

Review: Doctor Who: Sirens of Time

The first release of Big Finish's Doctor Who audiobook range, Sirens of Time is a bit of a 90s wish fulfilment fantasy - a multi-Doctor story with the fifth, sixth and seventh incarnation who never managed to meet each other on-screen.

As is normal for multi-Doctor stories, Gallifrey is under threat from some unknown malevolence - and each Doctor has a mini-adventure on their own before coming together for a face off with the big bad.

Each Doctor sounds and acts distinct from the others providing a good showcase for their characters.

Of the separate adventures though, Davison's Doctor probably comes off best with a first World War historical which unusually isn't set in the trenches.  The final episode is a tad confusing with various reveals that don't quite work.

The sound design is already good, but the dialogue and effects is a bit cliched at times. Lastly, a word of warning: there is a pantomime witch character that feels like she's wandered in from an episode of Rentaghost.

Verdict: Early promise.