The Apocalypse Element


The Apocalypse Element by Stephen Cole

At last, An Excellent Dalek Story! I adore them when they’re used well. Unfortunately, seeing as so many stories are done with them, you can’t get much originality. Fortunately the Apocalypse Element knows what to do with them. As this was retconned into the first battle of the time war, you can see where Russell T Davies got his ideas. 
Entitled to Melodrama: Six is much more intense here than he is in other Big Finish stories, almost entering the Television Six Area. He bounces off Evelyn and Romana excellently, but he's under a lot of pressure, and it shows. This may be one of the most terrified doctor performances. He’s really freaked out here. It’s probably because the Daleks aren’t being idiots. 
Evil Evelyn, Pirate Queen: with so much happening, Evelyn could be forgotten by the script. Fact: You do not forget Evelyn. She stands up to the time lords, the Daleks, helps around with the retina scanners, and her chemistry with the cast is just… exquisite. She’s VITAL to the plot. and it’s great.
Fred: Romana is back! I love Romana, possibly my favorite classic series companion. Her being president is justified entirely. I adore her. It’s sad that she was locked up for twenty years but she has lost no spark, and she beats up the Daleks with HER MIND. More Six and Romana, please. 
The Monsters: Ah, Yes, the Daleks. They lose no threat any moment in the story, being as dangerous from the first appearance to the last. The sound design during the fight scenes is terrifying and amazing. Yes, Big Finish can do full scale invasions. They’re invading GALLIFREY. It’s astonishing how good they are here. 
Overall: Genuinely great, Evelyn stories never seem to fail. And here we have Daleks and Romana as well, yet it’s never garbage fan service. An Event: 9/10

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