When Zoe reattaches an old piece of equipment to the TARDIS console, she, Jamie and the Doctor are very lucky to avoid a collision.
But the place they find themselves in may be even more dangerous - because there they encounter another Doctor, a space pilot named Steven... and a young woman called Katarina who really shouldn’t be there....
Are you a Doctor Who fan and do you know who Katarina is? If the answer to both of those questions is yes, this story is so very easy to recommend.
When the first and second doctor literally crash into each other, they create an alternate timeline where the Daleks aren’t defeated as they were in The Daleks’ Master Plan. And Katarina isn’t dead. But for some reason, she thinks she is.
With two doctors and four companions to juggle about, this could have easily felt too crowded but it never does. I love the way the characters interact with each other. Katarina obviously shines in this one and it’s easy to say her character is treated better here than in the original series. This story is more about the characters than the plot. Though I will admit, the simplicity of the plot works like a charm here. It’s well thought out and brilliantly executed, allowing the character interactions to always feel connected to the story at hand.
A really good tribute to a character that left too soon but will not be forgotten.
This was really well done. With Hines stepping up and doing both Jamie & the second Doctor and Purves stepping up for two roles as Steven & the first Doctor, I was a bit apprehensive but the contributors pulled it off quite nicely. An interesting story which kind of becomes a “fifth anniversary special” of sorts. And it’s an interesting premise and a well done story. Nice job.
This is a brilliant chance to not only celebrate the first five years of Doctor Who but also the teams that bring us the Early Adventures. Peter Purves and Fraser Hines bring incredible depth and range to Stephen, Jamie both their respective Doctor's. It sets interesting moral quandaries as well as classic Dalek epicness. It's its great to hear how Nick Briggs varies the tones from the current TV show and I can't help raise a smile when I hear the 'David Graham' Dalek. The answers and resolution aren't easy ones and I'd love to hear more collaborations with these two teams as eather together or interlinking stories.
Every 'Whovian' loves multi-Doctor, team-up stories. Deprived of the plot itself, I would still have purchased this based solely on the premise of the First and Second Doctors featuring in one story. It is a special-event feel that is unique to 'Doctor Who', an opportunity for the same character to interact with earlier versions of himself and generally, that means in-jokes, banter and bickering that Whovians will delight in.
Sadly, this story is rather flat and lacklustre; despite the promise of the improbable return of an early TV companion who famously met a tragic end in the early years of 'Doctor Who' on TV, the execution of the concept relies on an awful lot of tropes.
I suppose it is inevitable that any story involving a character that is, according to series canon, deceased will mean that any adventure involving them will be revealed as an 'alternate universe': the Whovian equivalent of 'it was all a dream'. It is too common a trope within 'Doctor Who', a series concerned with the 'web of time' and ensuring history flows properly, to really be angered that the preceding 2 hours of audio adventuring the listener experienced is effectively waved off as not 'counting'. Still, it is always disappointing, because it is 'so' telegraphed in these special-event stories.
Peter Purves' rather over-the-top adoption of the First Doctor, which over-indulges in that Doctor's coughs, splutters and vocal tics, takes a bit to adjust to. In some stories it is fine but I found in this one he really hammed it up a bit much. Frazer Hines's Second Doctor is adequate if unremarkable.
As for the plot itself; Big Finish always give the companions much to do and generally include them in sub-plots and whatnot so that is all apparent in this story. While naturally possessing aged, weathered-sounding voices these days, if the listener stretches their incredulity a little then it is easy to imagine those playing Zoe, Jamie, and Steven are still the TV companions we all know and love.
The usage of Katarina is one of the selling features of this story beyond the dual-Doctor aspect. As a doomed companion, Katarina only has 'so' many storyline uses, a fact readily confessed to by the producers in the bonus commentary track. In my opinion, her usage was rather wasted here. She is 'resurrected' by virtue of the inadvertent creation of a new timeline, only to run about, fret endlessly, and generally bring no new dimensions to her character. Even the fate she willingly chooses in the end she does so out of the presence of the First Doctor, who to her is akin to a God..crucial dramatic scenes that could have explored her questioning the power and purpose of her 'God', The First Doctor, were lost as she meekly accepts the advice and shares those valuable dramatic moments instead with the SECOND Doctor.
The two Doctors interact very little; barely more than they did in the 'Three Doctors' TV episode, despite not being hampered with the budget and personnel limitations of that TV episode! Once the Second Doctor takes charge of the unfolding situation, the First accepts that this timeline must be aborted, consigning Katarina to her 'canon' fate.
This is a decent but not great story. The usage of partial narration helps it move along and the Daleks retain their amusingly tinny and walkie-talkie style 1960's vocal depiction. The production is well up to Big Finish standards. It is that boasting two 'gimmicks' in one story, that of the return of Katarina AND a two-Doctor tale, gimmicks that on their own are intriguing as stories in their own right, it is too bad both were rather under-utilized and poorly executed.
DOCTOR WHO THE EARLY ADVENTURES - DAUGHTER OF THE GODS (6.2)
What I presume the finale of the Early Adventures range, 2019 surely was an interesting time Big Finish did many nods to The Daleks' Master Plan: Daughter of the Gods - playing an alternative what if, The Fourth Doctor Adventures Series 8, The Syndicate Master Plan - The sequel to The Daleks' Master Plan, and The 8th Doctor Series Ravenous - Having light connections to the 12 part epic 1st Doctor Adventure.
Daughter of the Gods is an awesome celebration story and epic multi doctor story. The Daleks have destroyed a planet to nothing but dust, nod nod, The Time Destructor. Yes, this story is an interesting what if scenario of what if The Daleks won and gained control of the super weapon. This story is referenced throughout because Katarina keeps saying she's dead, but she's not. Her death in the Traitors has changed, but this change created an even more worse event of the Daleks gaining the power of a super weapon. Time needs to be fixed.
The first half is awesome, fantastic build and piecing together the story. The second half focuses on character dynamics. This is very much a character driven story. The Daleks are incidental, not heavily featured in the story; very similar to how the Cybermen worked in 'The Girl Who Never Was'
First time Katarina has ever featured in extended media in this sort of manner, I for one am very happy for her to get more than she got in the original series, due to the direction the writers did for her. Performances and the character featured here was awesome.
Favourite moments The Doctor and companions exploring the Tardis halls in part 01 Zoe telling the first doctor the formula is easy and she's already solved it. The Daleks using the Time Destructor to completely destroy a planet and turn people to dust. The first Doctor and Second of course meeting! Jamie and Katarina get along very well. The second half is incredible. Performances at its best
The story is simple, but extremely enjoyable and some of the best dialogue and put together story Big Finish have done. Daughter of the Gods is more a character piece, but has its action packed goodness; more so, in the second half. I'd say both The Home Guard, the former release and Daughter of the Gods are big highs in The Early Adventures; especially Daughter of the Gods. I'd call it close to perfect. This release is so damn fun. One of the best (in terms of enjoyment and fun) Big Finish releases
9.5/10 awesome multi Doctor story. Highly recommend both installments from (presumably) the final series of the Early Adventures. It gets a 10 because what it achieves, it does to the best it could possibly be. first half is 9/10 and the second half is 10/10 solid perfection imo.
It would be best if you have context and understanding of the events of The Daleks' Master Plan, do give this more weight, but you don't have to. Finishing this story really makes you want to put on The Daleks' Master Plan.
Although this is part of the partially narrated "Early Adventures" series, it has the unusual feature of being a multi-Doctor story. Featuring both the First and Second Doctors, the narration is provided by Wendy Padbury and Peter Purves, with each taking over as the relevant Doctor takes centre stage.
The background plot for this - a planet facing evacuation in the face of a hostile invasion - is almost irrelevant, although it does provide for action scenes and an appropriate threat to be overcome. More important, however, is the time paradox that allows the events to unfold as they do, one enhanced by the fact, from the First Doctor's perspective, this takes place between two stories that explicitly don't have a gap between them. Which is where the title character comes in.
The shortest-lived companion in the classic series is Katarina, who is barely introduced in The Myth Makers before being killed off less than a third of the way through the following story. Here, however, her role is pivotal, in an adventure that, from what we saw on TV could not have happened. Played here by Ajjaz Awad (Adrienne Hill having died in 1997) we not only get a strong portrayal of her personality, but she also has the chance to do rather more, allowing us to see an alternate history where she still has a future.
The strength of the story is partly in allowing characters to team up who never met in the TV show, but still work well together - Steven and Zoe on the one hand, and Jamie and Katarina on the other. But it's also in that poignancy of knowing Katarina's fate, where the strength of her innocent faith will eventually lead her, and the Doctor facing the moral dilemma of only being able to save her at the expense of changing his own history.
The story isn't perfect: the narrative sections can take away from the immediacy, and, as is often the case when they have so many lines to deliver, Hines and Purves are sometimes too identifiable as themselves when playing the Doctor. But, as a character study, both of the regulars and of one companion who had all too brief a tenure, it is high quality indeed.
Daughter of the Gods was the second release of Series 6 of The Early Adventures range and acts as a quasi-Fifth Anniversary multi-Doctor story revolving around the short-lived companion Katarina. Katarina was Trojan handmaiden who joined the First Doctor at the end of the TV Story "The Myth Makers" only to be killed off part-way through the next story "The Daleks' Master Plan". On TV Katarina was made too primitive and it was decided that her character just wouldn't work.
This story sees the Second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe collide with the First Doctor, Katarina and Steven in the Vortex creating a timeline where The Daleks' Master Plan succeeded and where Katerina never died. It's a really good story. The Daleks are central to the plot, but aren't the main focus. Peter Purves who plays Steven does a good job as the First Doctor and Frazer Hines who plays Jamie does excellent as the Second Doctor. Neither sound quite like their respective Doctors, with bits of their normal voices slipping through, but it's good enough to be passable.
The big draw of this though, is the character of Katarina. Recast here, the character is played by Ajjaz Awad, who does an excellent job. It's Katarina that the story really revolves around. Her character believes herself dead and that the Doctor is Zeus and the TARDIS his temple. Her death in Master Plan is a central theme as well. Everything said, this was a really good story and well worth the listen.
Daughter of the Gods fooled me with its premise as a multi-Doctor, timey-wimey, Dalek story. What I thought is gonna be a simple fun action-driven episode turned out to be something completely else: it's a character study.
It's not just about The Doctor's relation with his companions, or the notion of justifying a "correct" timeline, it's also a tiniest glimpse on how The Doctor handles his centuries-old guilts. One of the best scene I've ever listened is when The Second Doctor told Katarina what supposed to happen when they're in Planet Kembel, she meekly wonders why Second Doctor keep saying 'he'..
Oh the feel.
This episode is written amazingly and directed beautifully. Even though it doesn't actually got stuck into the clichéd territory of multi-Doctor episode — incarnations couldn't get along, confused companions, Contact! — there's still some witty lines and jokes coming from it, although my favourite would still be how the First Doctor is having party every nights while Steven has to get a double shift in his job.
I've been a fan of David K. Barnes even before I became a Who fan, thanks to his audio drama podcast, Wooden Overcoats (which is a total masterpiece, btw). This story is just another reminder on how great of an author he is.
After a near collision in The Tardis, The Doctor, Jamie and Zoe are lucky to be safe, but the damage has already been done, for two Tardis' are about to land on the planet Urbinia and another Doctor shall come out of the other box, The 1st Doctor with his companions Stephen and Katarina! And soon an invasion force will arrive, The Daleks. But the only way to stop them will end up in tragedy.
Wow, this was amazing! If you ever imagined what a Multi-Doctor story would be if they had done it for the fifth anniversary of the show, then look no further! David K. Barnes has written a compelling and emotional tale with the return of The Daleks, time paradoxes and finally some development for Katarina who unfortunately didn't get enough time on the show. The cast did a fantastic job and Lisa Bowerman did a marvellous job directing this magnificent story! One of the best Multi-Doctor stories I have listened to! 10/10
The conceit of this is that this is treated as if it could've been a 5th anniversary story featuring the First and Second Doctors back in 1968. Hines returns to voice the Second Doctor, and Peter Purves, who plays Steven Taylor, does an exceptional job voicing the First Doctor. It feels like Troughton and Hartnell arguing with each other. Taking place in an alternate timeline that diverges prior to The Daleks' Masterplan, it gives Katarina the spotlight. The Second Doctor even tells the First Doctor of her fate, and the First Doctor feels the weight of the revelation and refuses to let it happen. It feels very much like The Doctor. The ending is very emotional. Such a well-written and well-acted story.
This is a fairly standard Dalek story, at least on first glance. However. The Daleks are just the backdrop providing the canvas for a great team-up of two TARDIS teams. This features some absolute amazing performances by the cast. Also, the meeting of the two Doctors is not played for laughs but leads instead to some great character defining and emotional moments. Very well done and definitely recommended.
A well directed, scripted, and acted audio-play. My only nitpick is at the start of parts, they'd frame it from the other Doctor's perspective but the device did not feel consistent.
Nevertheless, a fabulous toast to 20 years of Big Finish!
Possibly my favorite multi-Doctor story. Having two Doctors to juggle in a story like this just functions well. The storylines don't splinter too much and keeps a great focus like the 60's era episodes were structured. Brilliant story for those who are die hard 60's Who fans.
This was another multi-Doctor story with a team up I’ve been interested in for years now and that most people probably didn’t know they wanted, being the 1st and 2nd Doctors. Naturally, they couldn’t get the real William Hartnell and Patrick Trounten back, so we have former companions Peter Purves and Frazer Hines doing the voices of their respective Doctors. And the set up for this one was a really good idea and seems like the natural choice for a crossover like this. So, this one should be great, and depending on who you are, it might be perfect. But if you wanted the best of the best of the best, then this will just disappoint you.
The story is simple but perfect, the Second Doctor knocks his First incarnation out of the time stream and creates an alternate reality where the Doctor never arrived on Kembel in Dalek’s Master Plan, and the Daleks are using the Time Destructor to take over the universe. So, you would think that “this” would be the main focused right, wrong. Not only does the Dalek’s Master Plan plotline barely factor into the plot itself but the Daleks in this story are a no show and feel like an afterthought. You practically forget that this has anything to do with the Dalek’s Master Plan after a while as they only use the Time Destructor once in this whole story. As a result, this just becomes another Dalek invasion story that doesn’t justify its premise and is lazy even by its own standards. And it wouldn’t be that hard to make them a credible threat in the narrative so how did David K. Barnes mess this up so bad. And with it being an alternate take on the Dalek’s Master Plan, you’d think they’d have characters like Mavic Chen and Sara Kingdom show up, but no. You could take out any connection to the Dalek’s Master Plan and this story works just as well without them.
If your only here to see the 1st and 2nd Doctors interacting and seeing companions like Zoe and Steven meet for the first time, then you’ll love this one. But if your looking for an earth-shattering event that brings the best of bother eras to the four front like an Infinity War of 60s Doctor Who, then you’ll just past this one off as pandering. This might have worked a lot better as a six-part story rather than four part one as we don’t really get much outside of the characters themselves. The first two parts are there to introduce us to the respective eras of the show and its characters. This is something we never get in multi-Doctor stories, and it was a nice welcome for this one. But when we get to meet the First Doctor and “his” friends, they have to get lives of there own which, I can understand in having a time jump, but I just felt was a bit too odd. And overall, all the meetings and interactions felt haphazard. Also, this audio features Katarina which is part of the drama in this story as by changing history, the Doctor has accidentally saved her from her doom in Dalek’s Master Plan. I didn’t know that the actress playing her wasn’t the original actress who played her on screen but then I didn’t really know her that well to begin with. And to be honest, she was my least favourite character in this, I grew weary of her thinking that she was dead and that the Doctor was some kind of god, very quickly. And as for the drama about having the Doctor know of her fate, it was interesting to see and proves anyone who thinks that the First Doctor was a cold hearted battered, wrong. It seemed to show up and despaired to quickly for us to really feel for it. And it makes the Second Doctor a bit of an idiot for telling his past incarnation something that might effect the outcome of the story.
As for the performances, well there mixed as usual. I’ve never liked Peter Purves and Frazer Hines’ performances as the 1st and 2nd Doctors but given they are the closest were going to get to seeing the two interact, they did fine. When the 1st and 2nd Doctors met for the first time, I could feel William Hartnell and Patrick Trounten’s processes in the same room, talking to each other. And for what little interactions we got between them, it was well written and exactly what you would want it to do be. And I did like the Larul and Hardy reference that the Second Doctor makes.
Overall, this one was very mixed in its execution. On one half, it feel like a 60s Doctor Who fanfiction writers’ dreams come true, one the other half, it felt like the most bord and uninterested Dalek story you could think of. It did one thing pretty well but did the other thing really badly which made it hard to critique in the end. I still loved it for what if did right, but it didn’t do enough of it. I would like to see someone do a fanfic rewrite of this audio which stretches the story out and adds in more elements from Dalek’s Master Plan. But as is, I felt a bit underwhelmed which is a shame as this was my first Early Adventures audio.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.