The Companion Chronicles
Well I finally got arouund to listening to the fourth doctor Companion Chronicle, so now will let you know my thoughts; though I will try to give nothing away.
In order of overall enjoyment I place them in the following order (most enjoyed first):
Placing the Dalek story last shouldn't be too great a shock, especially considering my opinion of their use - the Daleks themselves I have nothing against.
Having the cybermen story first should surprise people as I have never classified any of the cybermen tv serials in my would watch regularly for enjoyment; but this story seemed a very refreshing use of them.
Having Caroline John's character, Liz, explain what lead her to leave the Doctor was a very interesting premise for the story; which was then expanded on into a very clever and engrossing story in its own right - this would have made an excellent 2 or 3 part serial on tv in my opinion; though it would probably lose a lot of the emotion by being a ensemble rather than lone voice. If you get the chance listen to this story in one sitting - I planned to listen to it in two sessions; but ended up staying up to listen to it in one.
Frostfire would also have transfered to the TV well; and would have allowed for some wonderful effects no doubt. Vicki's character is one I know very little of and hence cannot really comment on whether it developed her character very much; but from the feel of it, the ending certainly added a bit more mystery to her post-Doctor existence. I would recommend this story, gtiving it a rating of about 7-8 / 10.
The Beutiful People was a very different story to the other three in the series, partly because it was coming from a character that has a very similar understanding of the universe to the Doctor - nnamely Romana (II). I found the story very contrived; though I certainly sympathised with the patients/inmates being badgered all the time into losing weight and exercising - very reminiscentof my CPN. Writing K9 out of most of the story was a good move; although I do like K9 greatly, he would have eliminated most of the danger too easily I think. I'd rate this at about 5 / 10 - you're not missing much if you don't listen to it straiught away; but it makes a nice change to watching DVDs, TV, studying and so on.
The Fear of the Daleks story was awful in my opinion; i think it could have been far better structured and developed - the premise of Zoe's memories coming back is a good one and a non-Dalek story could have been very much developed into a 10/10 story if it used a more fantastical enemy - probably one we haven't seen before. I give this about 2/10 - I wouldn't bother with it personally.
Whilst I'm doing a mini-opinions on Doctor Who audio stories I'll do one for the Fires of Vulcan - the first half sets the scene - i think this could have been done in the first quarter. It does seem to drag on. The third quarter is excellent, with plot twists, a 'defeatist' Doctor and a horrified Mel (at the attitudes of the locals). The final quarter contues the good work of the previous one until it feels the writers realised they were running out of story time and solve the situation in minutes - don't you hate it when they do that. Oh and the precious laws of time weren't broken in the end.
In order of overall enjoyment I place them in the following order (most enjoyed first):
- The Blue Tooth
- Frostfire
- The Beautiful People
- Fear of the Daleks
Placing the Dalek story last shouldn't be too great a shock, especially considering my opinion of their use - the Daleks themselves I have nothing against.
Having the cybermen story first should surprise people as I have never classified any of the cybermen tv serials in my would watch regularly for enjoyment; but this story seemed a very refreshing use of them.
Having Caroline John's character, Liz, explain what lead her to leave the Doctor was a very interesting premise for the story; which was then expanded on into a very clever and engrossing story in its own right - this would have made an excellent 2 or 3 part serial on tv in my opinion; though it would probably lose a lot of the emotion by being a ensemble rather than lone voice. If you get the chance listen to this story in one sitting - I planned to listen to it in two sessions; but ended up staying up to listen to it in one.
Frostfire would also have transfered to the TV well; and would have allowed for some wonderful effects no doubt. Vicki's character is one I know very little of and hence cannot really comment on whether it developed her character very much; but from the feel of it, the ending certainly added a bit more mystery to her post-Doctor existence. I would recommend this story, gtiving it a rating of about 7-8 / 10.
The Beutiful People was a very different story to the other three in the series, partly because it was coming from a character that has a very similar understanding of the universe to the Doctor - nnamely Romana (II). I found the story very contrived; though I certainly sympathised with the patients/inmates being badgered all the time into losing weight and exercising - very reminiscentof my CPN. Writing K9 out of most of the story was a good move; although I do like K9 greatly, he would have eliminated most of the danger too easily I think. I'd rate this at about 5 / 10 - you're not missing much if you don't listen to it straiught away; but it makes a nice change to watching DVDs, TV, studying and so on.
The Fear of the Daleks story was awful in my opinion; i think it could have been far better structured and developed - the premise of Zoe's memories coming back is a good one and a non-Dalek story could have been very much developed into a 10/10 story if it used a more fantastical enemy - probably one we haven't seen before. I give this about 2/10 - I wouldn't bother with it personally.
Whilst I'm doing a mini-opinions on Doctor Who audio stories I'll do one for the Fires of Vulcan - the first half sets the scene - i think this could have been done in the first quarter. It does seem to drag on. The third quarter is excellent, with plot twists, a 'defeatist' Doctor and a horrified Mel (at the attitudes of the locals). The final quarter contues the good work of the previous one until it feels the writers realised they were running out of story time and solve the situation in minutes - don't you hate it when they do that. Oh and the precious laws of time weren't broken in the end.