“Blood of the Daleks”, the opening two-part story of the new BBC7 eight-episode radio season of “Doctor Who”, begins a lot like “The Runaway Bride”. As Catherine Tate’s Donna in the television special, so too new companion Lucie Miller, played with such spark by “Two Pints” actress Sheridan Smith, when she finds herself foisted upon the Doctor. She’d rather be anywhere than on board the TARDIS with this “frock-coated ponce”! The similarity continues up to the point where the Doctor immediately tries to return his unwanted guest back from whence she came!! But that’s about all these two adventures have in common. “Blood” feels like good old-fashioned “Doctor Who”, despite being audio only and in the double-length format. It also boasts a traditional cliff-hanger, at the end of episode one, with Paul McGann’s passionate eighth Doctor in peril of extermination. The story has been likened to “Genesis of the Daleks” in that we witness the birth of a new breed of Daleks, here from the remnants of a crashed Dalek spaceship, at the hands of a wannabe Davros. But, I think “Blood of the Daleks” owes more to “Revelation of the Daleks” with its warring Dalek factions, farming of humans, and incubation chambers. Even the incidental music reminds me of the Colin Baker serial.I love it! Steve Lyons script is happy to draw on the best of all worlds, name checking the Mechonoids, from “The Planet of Decision”, the last episode of “The Chase”, as well as the Movellans, from “Destiny of the Daleks”, but avoiding the mention of Davros actually by name though referencing new series’ episode “Dalek” at the moment of flight. There’s even a nod to “The Dalek Invasion of Earth” with Kenneth Cranham’s character Tom Cardwell’s explosive batteries reminiscent of Dortmun’s homemade bombs in the Hartnell serial. The second episode is bursting at the seams with all manner of Dalek voices. Nick Briggs is in his element when barking “Dok-tor” at regular intervals and “E-le-vate” at the requisite moment. When the Skaro originals turn up and start ranting about ethnic cleansing, again reminding me of Davros in “Revelation”, these monsters scare the hell out of me. All they did on telly last year was pop up for a bit-of-a-bitch with the Cybermen, fly a bit, and then disappear down the proverbial plughole! And well before the end of the story. Here they are still going strong right up to the climax, leading into the first single-episode story “Horror of Glam Rock”, bizarrely featuring a race called the Only Ones (name of a Seventies’ punk band!), which sounds equally intriguing…
6 comments:
Another friend of mine is listening to this at the moment. He says it's okay, not brilliant. But I'd still like to hear it. Don't have digital radio unfortunately...
The last audio Who story I listened to and purchased was "The Gathering", the much-heralded Tegan comeback story and pretty good it was too. There's stacks of Dr Who and its associated spin-offs on audio now, too many to have the time to listen to!
I actually thought the Daleks were good in the Season Two finale, although as you say they weren't used that much. But then they had to share the limelight with a certain race of metal cyborgs didn't they? I loved the dialogue with the Cybermen though. As the pepper pots are the chief villains in next season's Manhattan story I'm sure they'll get to be centre stage without the imposition of any other scene-stealing monsters!!
Did you get the free CD serials with the Radio Times?
If you’d like to hear any of the remaining six episodes, Simon, and have a Freeview box, you can listen either on your telly, channel 708, or on your computer, as I do, on the listen again service for up to a week after transmission. I have to admit finding the time, and even remembering, to listen is another matter. I’ve never purchased any of the Big Finish stories but am tempted especially by the second half of “Blood of the Daleks” although I would probably start with “The Chimes of Midnight”.
I really hope the next television Dalek story is good. Last time a Dalek was in America we just had to take the writer’s word for it which is one thing that worries me about setting it in Manhattan. The other is if they kill Miranda Raison’s character in the first episode I know I shall be disappointed as she is the main reason I’m looking forward to it, being a fan of “Spooks”. And they almost always do this; The President in “Rise”, Scooti in “TIP”, Adeola in “Army”. I suppose somebody has to be exterminated! But, like Lynda in the season one finale, I want Miranda’s showgirl to at least make it into the second episode!!
I got the first disc only, free with the double issue. I used to get the Radio Times weekly, and it is still the best listings magazine on the market, but now only when “Doctor Who”, or any other major drama event such as “Bleak House”, features on the cover. I considered it, having for some reason collected the issues with the free stickers last year, but in the end didn’t get round to buying them. Did you collect all four? If so, have you had a chance to listen to them yet? And, if so, what do you think of them?
Hi,
I have an apology to make to you. I did get your email and I had every intention of answering it. Our computer then broke down on us for the last time. We are now onto our third computer. Becuase it was being built to specifications it took longer than normal to get replacements. In that time the email you sent disappeared and your email address along with it. I am really sorry. I honestly wasn't ignoring you.
No need to apologise, Karen. I understand that computers have a limited lifespan. We can just about fire up our last one, which has a lot of my music and pictures on it, and, because of its age, it's a very time-consuming process to retrieve all the data! C'est la vie!!
I hope you enjoy using your new, third, one. You suggest it is custom built? I don't know much about these things but isn't that rather costly?
Hi Time Warden - a belated response, old chap! I don't have a Freeview box so the best option would be for me to listen to the episodes via the computer. I must confess I haven't done that yet though! Like you, finding the time or remembering to listen is hard sometimes.
It's true they do have a habit of killing off some of the guest cast too early in certain stories. I liked Don Warrington's President in last Cyberman story and it was a shame he got bumped off so soon! Fingers crossed your fave Ms Raison will make it through to the last reel of Part Two!
I missed out on The Stone Rose CDs, having forgotten to buy the Radio Times. I did get the earlier ones, the name of which now eludes me (what is happening to my brain?!) but as yet I haven't listened to them. Again it is all a matter of time (as Count Scarloni himself said!) Or finding the time to be precise. I too bought the RT with the sticker album but never got round to collecting the stickers. However today I did buy a copy of "Doctor Who Adventures" magazine (the kiddie version of DWM)! I don't normally buy it as it's aimed at a very young readership, preferring DWM instead. However on this occasion the free K9 playing cards were a bit of a lure. Well, they're more interesting than plain, ordinary, boring old playing cards aren't they? (He said desperately trying to come up with an excuse).
I liked Don’s character too. Maybe because he represented that rarest of breeds, a decent politician! And, if Miranda makes it that far, through to the last reel of part two, who knows, the Doc might even invite her aboard the TARDIS! I know I would!!
With regard the K9 playing cards, no excuse needed! I collected “Thunderbirds” coins a while back and accumulated several sets!!
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