sff: Big Finish audios - Companion Chronicles + River Song
I'm splitting these in two, so the Torchwood ones can faff about with themselves.
There's only one Companion Chronicle that I listed to, and it was
The Many Deaths of Jo Grant - while at the heart, this is a common SF trope, it still managed to be interesting, if only because of Jo's sheer perseverance in the face of adversity. I sometimes forget how very courageous and brave she is, and this one really encapsulates that. Not to mention her penchant for self-sacrifice. This one just made me love Jo more than I already did, which I was surprised by.
Diary of River Song, series 6 (Series 1-4 are smashing, 5 is the Masters one and also smashing) is a series with ties to four Classic Who episodes--some are closer than others, and except for one, all are prequels of a sort.
An Unearthly Woman (revisiting Coal Hill, but before Unearthly Child kicks off) - I had trouble matching the voices of Barbara, Susan, & Ian (though One was easy), so that kept throwing me out. But aside from that, I really liked this one. River pulling a Seven, and embedding herself, faking credentials (St. TRINIAN'S. River claims to have taught there), investigating and lying. ALSO. She claims to have stolen the uniform from her mother (Amy does not have your hips, dear, you did not).
The Web of Time (revisiting the Web of Fear) - Fuck, John Dorney's personal mission is to depress everyone, isn't it. That said, while I liked the River bits (particularly her moral dubiousness, and the backstory drop), I really didn't enjoy the other characters much (Knight and Erin were just frustrating).
Peepshow (revisiting Carnival of Monsters; the only one set during the actual episode) - OMG, Clive Wood sounds like he had a blast even in character. Dibbsworth is hilarious and I wish he'd show up again. I liked the link to Carnival (an episode I do love so), and the Drashiigs, eek. ALSO ALSO, the Sontaren commander! OMG. Basically, this one was a blast, and I think it's the best of the four.
The Talents of Greel (revisiting Talons of Weng-Chiang)- River visiting Jago is great, I love the idea of them sparring off each other! She's adorable in her fannishness. And says she gets multiple things from her Mum. Cackling, Amy would be so proud. Not so fond of how this episode spends so much time with the dudes.
And unfortunately, this one just sort of dragged (maybe if I were in a less impatient mood?) - I actually ended up skipping to the end about halfway through.
I also don't really understand why you'd revisit such a sexist, racist episode. And Talents didn't really do much to raise it above what it came from (tbh, I think it made it even worse. River may know that women will be saved, but, like, there are still several who die before Four and Leela stop them). The whole thing would, maybe, have been saved if River and Leela got to team up. But River leaves before they even arrive!
The missed opportunities of River mucking about in Four's past and teaming up with Leela was disappointing.
Talents was the worst of the lot, with Web not far in front of it. Peepshow was the best, and Unearthly Woman was just behind it (only marks off was for the voice actors not matching to the original series, which isn't their fault!)
If you're looking for Classic Who stuff, this is a decent one to grab. Although, if you want better, Diary 5 is absolutely wonderful, even if some of it is not Classic.
I've honestly really liked what BF have done with River, giving more expansion to her backstory and letting her interact here, there, and everywhere. It's refreshing to see (hear) her having so many adventures while still being River. Cross-posted from Dreamwidth. (comment wherever)
There's only one Companion Chronicle that I listed to, and it was
The Many Deaths of Jo Grant - while at the heart, this is a common SF trope, it still managed to be interesting, if only because of Jo's sheer perseverance in the face of adversity. I sometimes forget how very courageous and brave she is, and this one really encapsulates that. Not to mention her penchant for self-sacrifice. This one just made me love Jo more than I already did, which I was surprised by.
Diary of River Song, series 6 (Series 1-4 are smashing, 5 is the Masters one and also smashing) is a series with ties to four Classic Who episodes--some are closer than others, and except for one, all are prequels of a sort.
An Unearthly Woman (revisiting Coal Hill, but before Unearthly Child kicks off) - I had trouble matching the voices of Barbara, Susan, & Ian (though One was easy), so that kept throwing me out. But aside from that, I really liked this one. River pulling a Seven, and embedding herself, faking credentials (St. TRINIAN'S. River claims to have taught there), investigating and lying. ALSO. She claims to have stolen the uniform from her mother (Amy does not have your hips, dear, you did not).
The Web of Time (revisiting the Web of Fear) - Fuck, John Dorney's personal mission is to depress everyone, isn't it. That said, while I liked the River bits (particularly her moral dubiousness, and the backstory drop), I really didn't enjoy the other characters much (Knight and Erin were just frustrating).
Peepshow (revisiting Carnival of Monsters; the only one set during the actual episode) - OMG, Clive Wood sounds like he had a blast even in character. Dibbsworth is hilarious and I wish he'd show up again. I liked the link to Carnival (an episode I do love so), and the Drashiigs, eek. ALSO ALSO, the Sontaren commander! OMG. Basically, this one was a blast, and I think it's the best of the four.
The Talents of Greel (revisiting Talons of Weng-Chiang)- River visiting Jago is great, I love the idea of them sparring off each other! She's adorable in her fannishness. And says she gets multiple things from her Mum. Cackling, Amy would be so proud. Not so fond of how this episode spends so much time with the dudes.
And unfortunately, this one just sort of dragged (maybe if I were in a less impatient mood?) - I actually ended up skipping to the end about halfway through.
I also don't really understand why you'd revisit such a sexist, racist episode. And Talents didn't really do much to raise it above what it came from (tbh, I think it made it even worse. River may know that women will be saved, but, like, there are still several who die before Four and Leela stop them). The whole thing would, maybe, have been saved if River and Leela got to team up. But River leaves before they even arrive!
The missed opportunities of River mucking about in Four's past and teaming up with Leela was disappointing.
Talents was the worst of the lot, with Web not far in front of it. Peepshow was the best, and Unearthly Woman was just behind it (only marks off was for the voice actors not matching to the original series, which isn't their fault!)
If you're looking for Classic Who stuff, this is a decent one to grab. Although, if you want better, Diary 5 is absolutely wonderful, even if some of it is not Classic.
I've honestly really liked what BF have done with River, giving more expansion to her backstory and letting her interact here, there, and everywhere. It's refreshing to see (hear) her having so many adventures while still being River. Cross-posted from Dreamwidth. (comment wherever)