|
When the TARDIS apparently collides with a planet and disintegrates,
Charley and C'rizz find themselves reunited with departed
loved ones. In reality, they are in the grip of the Doctor's
most dangerous rival. Meanwhile, washed up on a beach, the
Time Lord is rescued by a woman called Perfection...
This,
the final Paul McGann Doctor Who audio adventure to
be released as part of a "season" (because the launch of the
new television series starring Christopher Eccleston means
that McGann is no longer the current Doctor), is very much
a companion piece to the earlier Zagreus.
Like Zagreus, The Next Life is a three-disc
release with a running time in excess of three hours (though
still very reasonably priced). Whereas Zagreus kicked
off the "divergent universe" story arc, this tale rounds it
off.
Anneke Wills makes a welcome return to the role she played
in Zagreus, that of Charley's (India Fisher) mother,
Lady Louisa Pollard. Likewise, Don (Rising Damp) Warrington
returns as a decidedly shifty Rassilon.
Joining
the cast is Paul (Blake's 7, Kaldor City) Darrow
as a Eutermesan spiritual leader, Guidance, and Daphne Ashbrook
as Perfection. I didn't recognise Darrow at first, as he initially
adopts a more mystical tone of voice than usual, but before
long he has slipped back into the cynical, conniving type
of role that we know and love.
Ashbrook,
of course, played Dr Grace Holloway in the Doctor Who
TV movie. Writers Alan Barnes and Gary Russell cannot resist
the occasional in-joke about her former character's name.
However, since both Charley and C'rizz (Conrad Westmaas) are
visited by illusory people from their pasts, one wonders why
the production team didn't go the whole hog and cast Ashbrook
as Grace, a woman from the Doctor's past. It's possible this
idea was ruled out because Grace has already made a return
appearance in the Doctor Who Magazine comic strip.
I
don't think I'm giving anything away if I reveal that the
Doctor makes it back to "our" universe by the end of the story.
After all, we already know the status of his next life - that
is, Chris Eccleston's incarnation. However, the writers keep
us guessing as to what will become of Charley and C'rizz who,
after all, play no part whatsoever in the new television series.
The
resolution of the "alternate universe" arc is a little convoluted,
to say the least. Pay close attention, and be prepared to
skip back a few seconds to listen to certain bits again in
order to fully grasp what is said.
A
decent enough release, but I have higher hopes for the next
one.
Richard
McGinlay
Buy
this item online
We
compare prices online so you get the cheapest
deal! Click on the logo of the desired store
below to purchase this item.
|
|
|
£10.49
(Amazon.co.uk) |
| |
|
|
|
£11.54
(Limebooks.co.uk) |
| |
|
|
|
£11.54
(Studentbookworld.com) |
All prices correct at time of going to press.
|
|
