What do you think?
Rate this book
Big Finish: Monthly Range #122
Doctor Who: The Angel of Scutari
October 1854: As the British Army charges into catastrophe in the Crimea, the Minister for War sends Miss Florence Nightingale to take charge of the field hospital at Scutari.
But there's already an angel of mercy working with the sounded at Scutari. A first-rate felow who's turned up out of the blue. Goes by the name of Schofield; Thomas Hector Schofield...
With the Doctor and Ace lost in the siege of Sebastopol, Hex has rediscovered his calling. But there's cannon to the left of him, cannon to the right of him - and a deranged spycatcher-in-chief on his case.
But there's already an angel of mercy working with the sounded at Scutari. A first-rate felow who's turned up out of the blue. Goes by the name of Schofield; Thomas Hector Schofield...
With the Doctor and Ace lost in the siege of Sebastopol, Hex has rediscovered his calling. But there's cannon to the left of him, cannon to the right of him - and a deranged spycatcher-in-chief on his case.
Audio CD
First published June 30, 2009
About the author
Paul Sutton
73 books5 followersPaul Sutton is a writer who has written for Big Finish Productions audio and collected novella range. He has written for the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Doctors in Big Finish's audio story range and also a novella part of A Life in Pieces a Big Finish's Bernice Summerfield series.
Sutton also wrote two linked audio stories Arrangements for War and Thicker than Water which introduced the planet Világ and were part of the exit stories for Evelyn Smythe.
Sutton also wrote two linked audio stories Arrangements for War and Thicker than Water which introduced the planet Világ and were part of the exit stories for Evelyn Smythe.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 19, 2023
The Angel of Scutari - And … here we go again. I originally purchased this one because I was working my way through all the stories with Thomas Brewster listed in the credits. And this is the third one that doesn’t include the character at all in the story. Infuriating and pointlessly misleading. So I was rather disappointed with the previous two stories that fell under this pall: Doctor Who: The Magic Mousetrap & Doctor Who: Enemy of the Daleks. And I feared this one would be more of the same. But once again, a story format from the first four (or so) seasons of the classic series saves the day. This is a narrative that falls into that wonderful, and huge favorite of mine, historical category. And I got completely caught up in the enthralling story set during the Crimean War (hello, Ukraine!) and didn’t even mind that Brewster was, again, not showing up. The overlap with the new series episode from this era featuring the (Thirteenth) Doctor didn’t even bother me. I do so love a good historical!
The Three Companions: The Gathernaut - And here’s the missing Brewster. This release, like the previous two, includes a bonus short Companion Chronicles tale. While it is, like the previous two, incomplete and ends on a cliffhanger, it does include a brief appearance by Brewster. Sigh. Oh well. I guess I’ll be dealing with this for awhile yet. Chronologically the next released listed with Brewster is Doctor Who: The Company of Friends, which seems to have a plethora of chronological issue baggage. What’s a Whovian to do?
Update: I’ve since learned that this short, is another chapter of a serial featuring Polly, the Brigadier and Thomas Brewster that ran month-by-month for about a year, threading through the Doctor Who Monthly range.
The Three Companions: The Gathernaut - And here’s the missing Brewster. This release, like the previous two, includes a bonus short Companion Chronicles tale. While it is, like the previous two, incomplete and ends on a cliffhanger, it does include a brief appearance by Brewster. Sigh. Oh well. I guess I’ll be dealing with this for awhile yet. Chronologically the next released listed with Brewster is Doctor Who: The Company of Friends, which seems to have a plethora of chronological issue baggage. What’s a Whovian to do?
Update: I’ve since learned that this short, is another chapter of a serial featuring Polly, the Brigadier and Thomas Brewster that ran month-by-month for about a year, threading through the Doctor Who Monthly range.
June 29, 2017
The Doctor and companions arrive in the middle of the Crimean War, in a story that follows on directly from Enemy of the Daleks. There are no aliens or monsters here, although the plot involves too much time travel for it be truly a straight historical, either. Indeed, it's worth mentioning that the story isn't told in chronological order from the perspective of anyone within it, although it's deftly handled enough that I was never confused about what was going on.
Apart from one slightly mad general who forms an integral part of the story, all of the major guest characters are real historical figures. Hugh Bonneville, is, admittedly, somewhat wasted as Czar Nicholas I, appearing in just one scene that isn't really all that important, but the others are rather better used. Ace gets chatted up by Leo Tolstoy and Hex hero-worships (and tries to pretend he isn't also lusting after) Florence Nightingale.
In fact, while the Doctor struggles to prevent a time paradox, and Ace gets a few action scenes, in many ways this is Hex's story. In a theme harking back to the last season of the classic TV series, the Doctor is trying to get him over the trauma of events in the previous story, and we really get to see Hex doing his thing. Nightingale is also well played, coming across as the very determined and dedicated young woman that she presumably was at this point in her life.
Surprisingly, given that the 7th Doctor won't be back until #130, this ends on a cliffhanger. Which, combined with the repercussions of the previous story still being felt within it, makes this one of the less standalone stories in the line. But if you don't mind that, and don't find non-linear storytelling too confusing, this is a good use of the historical format.
The CD rounds out with the third segment of the "Three Companions" story, in which plotness finally happens. That ends on a major cliffhanger, too, possibly because we're now at the 30-minute mark, and it still feels too short on its own.
Apart from one slightly mad general who forms an integral part of the story, all of the major guest characters are real historical figures. Hugh Bonneville, is, admittedly, somewhat wasted as Czar Nicholas I, appearing in just one scene that isn't really all that important, but the others are rather better used. Ace gets chatted up by Leo Tolstoy and Hex hero-worships (and tries to pretend he isn't also lusting after) Florence Nightingale.
In fact, while the Doctor struggles to prevent a time paradox, and Ace gets a few action scenes, in many ways this is Hex's story. In a theme harking back to the last season of the classic TV series, the Doctor is trying to get him over the trauma of events in the previous story, and we really get to see Hex doing his thing. Nightingale is also well played, coming across as the very determined and dedicated young woman that she presumably was at this point in her life.
Surprisingly, given that the 7th Doctor won't be back until #130, this ends on a cliffhanger. Which, combined with the repercussions of the previous story still being felt within it, makes this one of the less standalone stories in the line. But if you don't mind that, and don't find non-linear storytelling too confusing, this is a good use of the historical format.
The CD rounds out with the third segment of the "Three Companions" story, in which plotness finally happens. That ends on a major cliffhanger, too, possibly because we're now at the 30-minute mark, and it still feels too short on its own.
March 17, 2022
This particular audiodrama for the Doctor seemed especially appealing with the obvious Florence Nightingale, local celebrity and nursing pioneer connection. I can't really say that war in the Crimea was appealing but it was sadly topical.
I wasn't so sure about the story - I loved that a male companion was the nurse star, but was bemused by his obsession with cleaning floors with not enough mention of the other aspects of care. I am very familiar with the Nightingale Model of Nursing, which I think has stood the test of time (all that fresh air, very on the Covid money) Florence herself didn't feature as much as hoped either although she was accurately portrayed as an organiser.
I wasn't so sure about the story - I loved that a male companion was the nurse star, but was bemused by his obsession with cleaning floors with not enough mention of the other aspects of care. I am very familiar with the Nightingale Model of Nursing, which I think has stood the test of time (all that fresh air, very on the Covid money) Florence herself didn't feature as much as hoped either although she was accurately portrayed as an organiser.
August 29, 2020
This was...I don't really know how to describe it. It was kind of interesting, I guess? Or it felt like it should have been interesting.
March 19, 2020
This was a great historical story that was nearly perfect, except for one thing: All of those stupid time-jumps and flashbacks! At one point I thought my copy was defective because the tracks weren’t in order. Only after doing some research on this story did I find out that was supposed to be a thing.
Except the story itself gives you no indication that is the case. One minute Ace is on her own looking for the Doctor and Hex, but in the next scene she is leaving the TARDIS with Hex and the Doctor as if they just landed. It’s confusing and took me out of an otherwise great story.
It’s a pure historical story about Florence Nightingale, Leo Tolstoy, and the Crimean War. Surely that is enough to create something compelling for the audience without resorting to gimmicky crap. The fact that it’s a Seventh Doctor pure historical should have been unique enough to recommend it.
As it is, I want to try rearranging the tracks and see if I can get the linear story straightened out, but I don’t know if I’ll be successful. It’s just disappointing because without the sudden jumping around, it would have been a joy to listen to. Easily 4.5, maybe 5 stars. I’m still giving it 3 because it did like it, once I knew to expect the jumps. But I shouldn’t have to go through a mental Olympic gymnastics trial to enjoy a story. At least give some clue or indication in-story that there will be some non-traditional storytelling.
Except the story itself gives you no indication that is the case. One minute Ace is on her own looking for the Doctor and Hex, but in the next scene she is leaving the TARDIS with Hex and the Doctor as if they just landed. It’s confusing and took me out of an otherwise great story.
It’s a pure historical story about Florence Nightingale, Leo Tolstoy, and the Crimean War. Surely that is enough to create something compelling for the audience without resorting to gimmicky crap. The fact that it’s a Seventh Doctor pure historical should have been unique enough to recommend it.
As it is, I want to try rearranging the tracks and see if I can get the linear story straightened out, but I don’t know if I’ll be successful. It’s just disappointing because without the sudden jumping around, it would have been a joy to listen to. Easily 4.5, maybe 5 stars. I’m still giving it 3 because it did like it, once I knew to expect the jumps. But I shouldn’t have to go through a mental Olympic gymnastics trial to enjoy a story. At least give some clue or indication in-story that there will be some non-traditional storytelling.
November 11, 2025
A straight historical adventure, engagingly scripted and giving Ace and Hex some room to breathe. On the downside, Sutton resorts to the usual, lazy trope of a mentally unhinged human adversary, while needlessly dredging up famous personages (Florence Nightingale, perhaps, but Tolstoy?!).
April 16, 2022
A historical story that wasn't quite as fun of a listen.
December 13, 2022
Please.... someone shoot Hex
March 9, 2025
Although I liked it overall, the jumping around made it very difficult to keep track of things.
April 27, 2026
Missing the context for prior stories this feels like an interesting and layered story that I will need to revisit.
January 18, 2026
This was one of the most disappointing Big Finish audios I've listened to. I was looking forward to listening to a pure-historical about Florence Nightingale but this one felt like a mess to me.
For some reason outside of my plain of thought, they decided to tell this in a none linier fashion, and I think that's where it fell apart for me. I couldn't follow it very well and I felt kind of lost. If this had been told in a normal fashion, then I might have liked it more. But I didn't really get why we had to see everything in this way.
There is some good bits with original companion Hex as he tries to become part of the hospital and care for the patients there. There was also a part where the Tardis gets hit by a cannon ball and turns white for some reason, which continues into the other audios, for some reason.
I was looking forward to seeing the Seventh Doctor in a William Hartnell style pure-historical like the Reign of Terror or the Massacre. But this just felt overly complicated for no reason and slightly pretentious.
For some reason outside of my plain of thought, they decided to tell this in a none linier fashion, and I think that's where it fell apart for me. I couldn't follow it very well and I felt kind of lost. If this had been told in a normal fashion, then I might have liked it more. But I didn't really get why we had to see everything in this way.
There is some good bits with original companion Hex as he tries to become part of the hospital and care for the patients there. There was also a part where the Tardis gets hit by a cannon ball and turns white for some reason, which continues into the other audios, for some reason.
I was looking forward to seeing the Seventh Doctor in a William Hartnell style pure-historical like the Reign of Terror or the Massacre. But this just felt overly complicated for no reason and slightly pretentious.
Read
December 23, 2009"Paul Sutton sometimes bites off a bit more than he can chew, and I think this happened in The Angel of Scutari: it's a nice idea to have a fragmented plot, presented out of order, but Big Finish has done this before and better (most successfully with Creatures of Beauty). It seems also like an attempt to give Hex some character development, presumably in order to get rid of him some time next year, but ends up with Philip Olivier doing a one-note nursing whine while waiting for Florence Nightingale, while the Doctor and Ace shift rather confusingly between British and Russian captivity. The cast admit to their bafflement in the CD extras, and one can sympathise.[return][return]In the third episode of The Three Companions, the Something we have been waiting for actually Happens and it all seems to come together well."
July 12, 2009
A good, suspenseful historical set during the Crimean War. The story is told in a non-linear sequence and involves a bit of time travel shenanigans. Some of the time jumps seem a bit gimmicky, and I suspect that the whole thing won't hold up as well on a second listen. But on the first listen it's enthralling. Plus, Ace gets to snog Tolstoy, and Hex tells Florence Nightingale that she's hot (it doesn't go over well).
August 30, 2014
The Angel of Scutari gets off on exactly the right foot for a gripping historical. You realise with some horror that Hex has disobeyed the Doctor and taken anachronistic medical equipment from the TARDIS and nothing good can come of that.
It’s a story that expects an intelligent audience, needs you to keep up with its developments and cope with a non linear narrative. If that describes you then you will be rewarded.
It’s a story that expects an intelligent audience, needs you to keep up with its developments and cope with a non linear narrative. If that describes you then you will be rewarded.
May 10, 2014
Well written historical with a bit of timey-wimey thrown in for good measure with The Doctor going back to do what he's aready done. Very dramatic, edge of seat in several places with a cliffhanger ending. As with the previous story, loved seeing Hex's reaction as a nurse to the filth etc of the time period, and his trying to make a difference. Nice touch with Tolstoy and Florence Nightingale as characters/part of the plot.
August 27, 2015
Seven, Ace and Hex find themselves embroiled in the Crimean War. With The Doctor and Ace on the run, Hex devotes his hands and medical training to helping the wounded. He eventually meets inspiration, Florence Nightingale. The TARDIS is chopped up for kindling. The TARDIS is also white. Something happens at the end. Uh oh.
November 6, 2015
A nifty historical, though the portrayals of the historical figures felt a bit off (I did enjoy the Tolstoy crushing on Ace bit, though. Tee and also hee). The bootstrap paradox flavor was appreciated as well. And now I know how the black/white TARDIS stuff got started. Not sure how eager I am to get into that but we'll see...
January 21, 2016
The Doctor, Ace and Hex get involved in the Crimean War. Will they change history and see each other again? Will Hex finally meet Florence Nightingale?
October 7, 2024
Pretty classic scenario. Enjoyabubble.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews