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Big Finish: Monthly Range #191
Doctor Who: Signs and Wonders
The end of the world is nigh. That’s what everybody is seeing in their nightmares. That’s why they are congregating in Liverpool for the party to end all parties, hosted by Rufus Stone, a celebrity turned doomsday prophet. He claims he’s the only one who can save them when the day of judgement comes. Because he’s on the side of the angels.
The Doctor, Ace and Hector arrive to find the city in the grip of apocalypse fever. There are lights in the sky, earthquakes and power cuts. The Doctor is determined to investigate, while Ace is more concerned about finding a way of restoring Hector’s lost memories.
Meanwhile, in the river Mersey, hideous, slug-like creatures are stirring...
The Doctor, Ace and Hector arrive to find the city in the grip of apocalypse fever. There are lights in the sky, earthquakes and power cuts. The Doctor is determined to investigate, while Ace is more concerned about finding a way of restoring Hector’s lost memories.
Meanwhile, in the river Mersey, hideous, slug-like creatures are stirring...
Audio CD
First published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 19, 2025
a strangely muted end, although mostly fitting, to hex’s travels with the doctor, his arc certainly being one of the longest running ones out of all big finish - spanning by this point 13 years!
I would have liked some more time for this last storyline within the larger arc though, a trilogy was not enough to cover all the emotional complexity they introduced. (especially in terms of how it affected ace) and fitton does not do much to wrap or tie up a lot of the emotional and narrative beats, like the ace/hector storyline or even ace and the doctor’s fallout from the story after life. even some of the farewell scenes towards the end, feel oddly cut short and dismissive, leaving a rather unsatisfying taste, even though the story at large comes to an apt conclusion for all the characters. it’s been such long a time with this particular trio, I feel like they deserved a better send off than what was in this episode.
I would have liked some more time for this last storyline within the larger arc though, a trilogy was not enough to cover all the emotional complexity they introduced. (especially in terms of how it affected ace) and fitton does not do much to wrap or tie up a lot of the emotional and narrative beats, like the ace/hector storyline or even ace and the doctor’s fallout from the story after life. even some of the farewell scenes towards the end, feel oddly cut short and dismissive, leaving a rather unsatisfying taste, even though the story at large comes to an apt conclusion for all the characters. it’s been such long a time with this particular trio, I feel like they deserved a better send off than what was in this episode.
December 10, 2019
A great story set in North of England and a fitting ending for Hex Schofield and Sally Jackson.
September 15, 2018
The final part of the "Hector Schofield" trilogy is by far the strongest of the three, and also brings to an end what could be regarded as an even longer story arc that started way back in 2004 with The Harvest. And, arguably, another, more intermittent, one that dates all the way back to the TV series.
Here, the TARDIS crew travel back to the Liverpool of the near future, as Hector, unable to remember his previous bonding experiences with the Doctor and Ace, asks to be taken back home to try and lead a normal life. Instead, of course, the TARDIS arrives just as an apocalyptic prophet claims - seemingly with good evidence - that the world is going to end.
The story makes good use of the Liverpool setting, with plenty of references to local landmarks, as well as a few digs into aliens always seeming to invade southern England, rather than the north. It's real strength, however, is two-fold. Firstly, there's a decent plot, with a number of twists and turns that change the listener's perception as to what the real threat is, as consecutive layers of the onion are peeled back. While there's a fairly dull military officer involved at one point, the rest of the guest cast do a great job with some well-realised characters.
And then, secondly, we have the resolution to the trilogy's arc, with Ace desperate to recover Hex's memories, and the latter less sure that he even wants them. The characterisation is particularly strong here, with Fitton following up on his earlier Afterlife with a story that further explores the relationship between the main characters, and how far they are willing to go for one another.
Which naturally brings us to the fact that (and BF didn't keep this as a secret at the time), after ten years with the audio plays, this is the last story to feature Hex. This is doubly tricky, since he was seemingly written out once before, so that a clearer sense of finality was needed this time around. But it's this section that edges the story into five-star territory for me, with a wonderfully fitting - and, yes, very final - send off for the long-running character.
Here, the TARDIS crew travel back to the Liverpool of the near future, as Hector, unable to remember his previous bonding experiences with the Doctor and Ace, asks to be taken back home to try and lead a normal life. Instead, of course, the TARDIS arrives just as an apocalyptic prophet claims - seemingly with good evidence - that the world is going to end.
The story makes good use of the Liverpool setting, with plenty of references to local landmarks, as well as a few digs into aliens always seeming to invade southern England, rather than the north. It's real strength, however, is two-fold. Firstly, there's a decent plot, with a number of twists and turns that change the listener's perception as to what the real threat is, as consecutive layers of the onion are peeled back. While there's a fairly dull military officer involved at one point, the rest of the guest cast do a great job with some well-realised characters.
And then, secondly, we have the resolution to the trilogy's arc, with Ace desperate to recover Hex's memories, and the latter less sure that he even wants them. The characterisation is particularly strong here, with Fitton following up on his earlier Afterlife with a story that further explores the relationship between the main characters, and how far they are willing to go for one another.
Which naturally brings us to the fact that (and BF didn't keep this as a secret at the time), after ten years with the audio plays, this is the last story to feature Hex. This is doubly tricky, since he was seemingly written out once before, so that a clearer sense of finality was needed this time around. But it's this section that edges the story into five-star territory for me, with a wonderfully fitting - and, yes, very final - send off for the long-running character.
February 13, 2021
So this is it, the final Seven/Ace/Hex story. At least it is chronologically. This sees the Doctor and Ace return Hector to Liverpool. We discover that it's the End of Days as a reality TV star turned prophet named Rufus Stone is holding raves in the streets and people are seeing their own deaths in their dreams. On top of this, we have an alien race that look like Eagles, who are using the psychic power of the crowds to summon interdimensional alien leeches.
This is a loud, noisy audio. The first half is a bit confusing as the pieces are laid. That said, the second half where everything comes together and Hex's story is wrapped up is very well done. It was enjoyable with a good ending, but it wasn't as good as it could be. On the bright side, I'm glad to finally be done with Hex's arc.
This is a loud, noisy audio. The first half is a bit confusing as the pieces are laid. That said, the second half where everything comes together and Hex's story is wrapped up is very well done. It was enjoyable with a good ending, but it wasn't as good as it could be. On the bright side, I'm glad to finally be done with Hex's arc.
August 10, 2018
In a dystopic future Liverpool, Hector's past and present finally meet in an explosion of Scouse accents, buried gods, and barely repressed emotions. A fitting send-off for the lad, but not the greatest adventure on Earth.
September 13, 2024
I thought this was a good conclusion to the decade-long Hex arc, if you wanna call it that. The write-out felt right.
October 10, 2024
Sylvester McCoy. 👍
May 22, 2025
Hex gets a happy ending! Love that. Love that Earth in the 2020s is just kinda awful, they predicted that right.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2025
I have mixed feelings about the Hex/Hector storyline. Good drama, but the strain between the Doctor and Ace is uncomfortable (which probably means it was well done to elicit an emotional response).
September 28, 2014
Not usually a fan of Sylvester McCoy and Ace, but this was an epic Dr. Who adventure.
June 21, 2015
Another great Ace and 7th Doctor story with Sylvester McCoy on fine form. And (another) good end for Philip Olivier and the Elder Gods storyline from the past 25 years or so
September 11, 2016
Fantastic audio drama, another cracker by Fitton. A tremendous wrap on the Old Gods storyline and also the Hex storyline. This is Doctor Who and Big Finish at its most cinematic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews