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A review by mrcoldstream
Doctor Who: The Apocalypse Element by Stephen Cole
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
๐๐ผ66% = Fine! = Mildly recommended!
Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time! This time; Gallifrey has a new president, Evelyn meets the Daleks, and everything goes boom!
****
In this adventure, Stephen Cole continues the Dalek Empire arc, as Gallifreyan politics and Dalek galactic expansion projects entangle Six and Evelyn. Strange space elements, missing planets, and a missing Time Lady plunge us immediately into a dire situation. The Doctor is immediately interested, while Evelyn acts as something of a comedic but sympathetic presence, owing to her ignorance about everything future and space-related. She wanders off, looking for the Doctor, and gets into trouble. Meanwhile, Cole very effectively begins developing an uneasy atmosphere during the opening installment.
The story grows to big proportions early on, with Dalek attacks, explosions, and a swift pace; thereโs an air of a season finale over this story. At the same time, a lot is going on, and it is difficult to keep track of everything, particularly since the action scenes can turn a bit messy.
I like the gravity wells as a concept and find that they make them work surprisingly well on audio.
Colin Baker is more subdued here, but I like how careful he is every step of the way. Maggie Stables takes something of a backseat for a change, as she has to share the limelight with the Doctor's former companion.
This story marks the return of Lalla Ward as Romana II for the first time since her TV days, and what a powerful comeback this one is! Regrettably, most of the other guest characters, including the usually well-written Vansell and the new Lord President, blend into the background and don't make a significant impact.
The cliffhanger to Part 1, in which Dalek mutant creatures attack the Doctor and Trinket from all sides, is one of the more effective and memorable early BF cliffhangers.
The four individual parts are all closer to or over 30 minutes in length, and this extended runtime makes itself felt, particularly in the middle parts. Because of the story's scope, it would arguably benefit greatly from having a visual element. In this format, this one feels a bit overlong, even if it helps set up further storylines, such as the Gallifrey series and the larger Dalek Empire arc.
Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time! This time; Gallifrey has a new president, Evelyn meets the Daleks, and everything goes boom!
****
In this adventure, Stephen Cole continues the Dalek Empire arc, as Gallifreyan politics and Dalek galactic expansion projects entangle Six and Evelyn. Strange space elements, missing planets, and a missing Time Lady plunge us immediately into a dire situation. The Doctor is immediately interested, while Evelyn acts as something of a comedic but sympathetic presence, owing to her ignorance about everything future and space-related. She wanders off, looking for the Doctor, and gets into trouble. Meanwhile, Cole very effectively begins developing an uneasy atmosphere during the opening installment.
The story grows to big proportions early on, with Dalek attacks, explosions, and a swift pace; thereโs an air of a season finale over this story. At the same time, a lot is going on, and it is difficult to keep track of everything, particularly since the action scenes can turn a bit messy.
I like the gravity wells as a concept and find that they make them work surprisingly well on audio.
Colin Baker is more subdued here, but I like how careful he is every step of the way. Maggie Stables takes something of a backseat for a change, as she has to share the limelight with the Doctor's former companion.
This story marks the return of Lalla Ward as Romana II for the first time since her TV days, and what a powerful comeback this one is! Regrettably, most of the other guest characters, including the usually well-written Vansell and the new Lord President, blend into the background and don't make a significant impact.
The cliffhanger to Part 1, in which Dalek mutant creatures attack the Doctor and Trinket from all sides, is one of the more effective and memorable early BF cliffhangers.
The four individual parts are all closer to or over 30 minutes in length, and this extended runtime makes itself felt, particularly in the middle parts. Because of the story's scope, it would arguably benefit greatly from having a visual element. In this format, this one feels a bit overlong, even if it helps set up further storylines, such as the Gallifrey series and the larger Dalek Empire arc.