The Spectre Of Lanyon Moor


The Spectre Of Lanyon Moor by Nicholas Pegg

The Spectre Of Lanyon Moor is an above average classic Doctor Who story with little to write home about, or to be disappointed by. As an entertaining one off, it emulates stories like Stones Of Blood or the Daemons, and doesn’t do much out of the box. In the classic series, this is the story that fans love, but when compared to Big Finishes regular output, it’s distinctly… average.
Entitled to Melodrama: The Sixth Doctor is fun here, never disappearing into the background, but never really standing out either. The story is incredibly old fashioned, and tries to emulate an era more than anything, and I’m not sure if the Era is sixes. The story is more suited to four or three, which Big Finish didn’t have actors for at the time, and it sort of shows. Colin Baker never doesn’t give his all, but the script isn’t made for him.
Evil Evelyn, Pirate Queen: This is why Evelyn is Sixes best companion, (barring Frobisher) she elevates average material a great deal. The scenes where she confronts the villain and rescues herself with no need for the Doctor, are by far the best ones of the story. She’s adorable. There’s no one like her.
Five Rounds Rapid: Why the Brigadier is in this story is beyond me. He does exceedingly little. But I won’t ever say no to unnecessary Brigadier. Him commenting about solving the plot with bombs sort of adds to the nostalgia that the story aims for. 
He’s fun.
The Monsters: Sancreda is sort of pathetic. I don’t care for him at all. The human villains in this story though, are phenomenal. Ms. Moynihan is like an evil Ms. Marple, and her being attacked by dogs is the only moment where Sancreda seems remotely intimidating. His squeaky voice just isn’t for me. I love Sir Archibald Flint as well. He’s the perfect slimy human villain. 
Overall: Nothing more than what you were expecting, but Evelyn and the two human villains are great, and you just have to smile hearing Evelyn offer the Brig Cocoa. 
Enjoyable: 8/10

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