Kingdom of Silver/Keepsake - Finding out that this is a tie-in to a larger Cybermen series made a lot of sense; it felt a bit like watching the middle episode of a TV series. Couldn't connect to the characters or the political plot at all--extra unfortunate in a solo Seven story.
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Worldwide Web - Pretty lightweight season finale compared to the last two. I never cared much for the Headhunter, but dying because she couldn't say her own name was a poignant way to go out. Lucie moment: the ominous "Christmas in Blackpool" ending. I just know that'll go poorly...
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The Cannibalists - I got annoyed by the shouty robot voices in this one, but it turned out to be kind of a sweet story. That robot poet needs more practice, though. Lucie moment: accepting the nickname "Legendary Lucie." Yes, she is, and she *should* say it.
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Wirrn Dawn - The Wirrn were basically proto-xenomorphs, so I was curious how they'd be handled in a post-Alien world. Turns out: like a sentient species able to negotiate despite their disturbing life cycle. Rad! Lucie highlight: making fun of the macho soldier guy. #BigFinishDW
The Beast of Orlok - About time Eight had another gothic horror adventure. This one's got golems! Not the best use of their lore I've seen, but they're still cool. Lucie highlight: finding the LTD switch (despite the Doctor telling her it was a button). #BigFinishDW
Orbis - The Doctor's alive (natch) and has lost his memory (again). Easy to forget about a human companion you had for a week when you've had 600 years with jellyfish people. This one was a bit too depressing imo. Why do the non-humanoid aliens always have to die? 😔 #BigFinishDW
The Zygon Who Fell to Earth - A lovely tragedy that uses Zygons more interestingly than any other since their first appearance. Highlights: Zygon Lucy's "tell" being alien racism, and the Zygons' casual approach to gender. Finally, a short episode that makes the most of its runtime!
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Grand Theft Cosmos - I'm noticing a theme this season around the value of artificially-created life. Especially after re-listening to the Shearman stories over Christmas, these stories feel too short to dig into the idea the way I'd like, but it at least seems to be leading somewhere.
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Spider's Shadow - I like the time loop (time...figure 8?) and the clever way Seven solves it, but I could do without everything hinging on a woman wanting to feel beautiful. Definitely the lesser of the two packaged stories.
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Brave New Town - Did...did Stephen Moffat get the idea for Rory the Roman from this one? Anyway, it was an intriguing mystery and, like the Doctor, I ended up kicking myself for not identifying the alien involved sooner.
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Max Warp - Breezy little murder mystery (where no one actually gets murdered). Always love the Doctor in detective mode. And some nice jabs at Those Types of TV personalities, from back when they weren't running the entire world. Ah, nostalgia...
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Dead London - The faster pace of his new episodes makes Eight look like the smartest Doctor. I could imagine his predecessors taking an entire serial to work out the illusion here. A good time with an interesting new alien, who probably isn't gone for good.
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Assassin in the Limelight - Often I think Doctor Who should set more historicals outside of England--and then I remember what the historicals set in *my* country are like, and I reconsider.
Six and Evelyn are the only redeeming factors for this one. I wish Knox actually died in it.
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Spooky season's over, so it's back to Doctor Who!
No More Lies - A sweet love story buried inside a confusing timeloop story. This era of Eight has been very musical, and they've consistently hired musicians who can pull off the tunes! Can't wait to find out what Lucie's deal is.
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Nocturne - The Doctor visits his favourite artists' enclave (still in wartime, though, because Seven) and finds the artists are being killed off by a deadly tune. Breezily-paced and cute. Hex doesn't get tortured in this one! 🥳
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The Kingmaker - Shakespeare discovers time travel, and Richard III discovers his legacy. Feels like a glimpse of what could have been if Douglas Adams ever got to write for Five. Fun, witty, full of great Peri/Erimem moments. Much more Shakespearean than the show's brush with the Bard.
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Time Works - The Doctor meets evil clockwork droids in audio a couple months before he will on the show. I LOVE the sound design and music on this one. Originally written as part of the Divergence arc, and it shows, but at least in the regular universe, happy endings mean something.
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Night Thoughts - People on an island are getting killed by a hooded figure, there's a creepy child with a creepy doll, and many unpleasant things happen to eyes. Only reason this isn't a proper slasher is that two of the final survivors are boys. I ❤️ horror (and Hex), so I loved this.
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Pier Pressure - Bit weird to follow up an emotional farewell to Evelyn with...another Evelyn story, but alright. Six and Evelyn go to a haunted pier and meet a haunted magician. Bad comedy saves the day. An overly wordy, but cute, story (nice stealth cameo of William Hartnell).
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Singularity - Future humans go back in time to destroy their ancestors (inspiration for the Toclafane?), and Turlough weaponises his negativity for good! Always blows my mind how bleak the canon destiny of the human race is in Doctor Who. But hey, we love a good Turlough episode!
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Terror Firma - The Doctor's back in his universe, but so is Davros and his unusually long-term revenge scheme. Dunno if it's a coincidence that Eight's first post-TV revival story has him acting more like the type of guy who could end a Time War, but I like it. He had the right!
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The Council of Nicaea - rather an appropriate listen for the beginning of Holy Week, I thought! A fun and surprisingly balanced pure historical (although a bit too kind to Constantine). Great showcase for Erimem's leadership skills. Peri being raised Baptist explains so much.
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Dreamtime - A trippy little story. Would have been better if it took place in an entirely alien setting, since I'm assuming no Aboriginal Australians were consulted about the use of their mythology. I do like it, though, when the Doctor just admits that sometimes magic is real.
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A Natural History of Fear - Well, spin me round and call me a top, that was brilliant. Two things I love: an experimental audio with a plot twist, and one that could *only* work as an audio. Add in some excellent voice acting, and this might be my new favourite.
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"Creatures of Beauty"--I feel like this story is a response to complaints about Five not making enough of a difference in his stories. And if so--rude.
"That's your analogy for the universe, is it? A painting you don't want to look at too closely, for fear it won't mean anything?"
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