The First Doctor Adventures Volume One

Hmm?

(CONTEXT RANT INCOMING) I adore our new cast for the First Doctor TARDIS team, and believe it is a brilliant modernization of a team of which really has not aged well. I don't give a crap what you say about 60s Who, because the truth is, minus a few specks of gold, it was made in entirely a different time, and the aesthetic of the show, as well as the characterization was very different. Susan would scream "Grandfather" at the slightest provocation and that was her character.

The First Doctor, who we now see as our main character, was in fact, auxiliary to the plight of our main characters of the time, Ian and Barbara, as One's defining characteristic was old curmudgeon.

Yep, I know I'm spitting straight fire with these hot takes, but my entire point is that, I don't care what you think about the time, and the quality of the stories were original, and brilliant for the time, all very good, but it. did. not. age. well. Certain stories would drone on for six, eight or thirteen episodes, while others were done in one or two. Pacing is a problem in this era, just look at the opening story, Unearthly Child which has one episode that is some of the best television ever made, and three where nothing happens. In modern days we are used to quickness in our entertainment. Watching 25 minutes of a 13 part story and then having to wait 7 days for another will tax us. Look at me, droning on trying to prove a point. I hope I haven't alienated you, because here's my next hot take. David Bradley is one of the best actors to ever play the Doctor, and that's some stiff competition. I never cared for Hartnell's verbal tics. Bradley modernizes this character, and makes him new. Makes him fun to be around for me. And although a lot of old classic who fans will cry blasphemy, I, as a relatively new member to Who (2015) have been hit by exactly what Big Finish have aimed to do. Modernize characters that were 60s caricatures. That's why I love David Bradley. That's why I love the 1DAs. And although it's my fault for not caring for flimsy B&W television, I, the target audience, am proof that this series has worked, and that's the highest praise I can give it.

The Destination Wars by Matt Fitton

Putting that aside, let's talk about the story. The Destination Wars has a brilliant idea for a Master story, a civilization that has been influenced for generations by The Master, with a Time Travelling dome in the center of the city, edging them on through scientific discovery. It takes the 60s aesthetic of the future, and puts it front and center, the raygun gothic, as TVtropes will call it. 

This is all very good and very brilliant. The setting is by far the best part of the tale, a very fleshed out environment, and on the whole, very well acted. It takes a while to appreciate the new actors for Barbara, Ian and Susan, but I found them to be very enjoyable and with a clear love and respect for the part and original actors. It’s a very enjoyable Master runaround, (even if they act like it’s a total surprise that he’s the Master, despite being credited everywhere) and even if James Dreyfus is a terrible twat, his performance is pretty good as long as you can look past it. It’s definitely a Talons Of Wheng Chiang scenario, in that the story is good if you can look past the blatant problem (be it Chinese Stereotypes or Dreyfus, I don’t know, probably a bad comparison.)

All in all, the sound design was gorgeous here, and I don’t know how to describe what Time Travel through a stasis dome sounds like other than they nail it here. I have a real love for this story, despite it’s blatant problem, and unlike many classic who story types, it never feels sedate, while still being an excellent example of the format, hitting all the beats it usually does. Very strong, and some of Mister Fitton’s best work. 9/10

The Great White Hurricane By Guy Adams

Pure Historicals are tough to do. Four person TARDIS teams are hard to do. Hitting the highs of an incredibly strong Master Story without relying on a gorgeous sci Fi setting is hard to do.

This is how you do it. 

The Great White Hurricane, although very different from The Destination Wars has the same mood, and correct characterization of the original TARDIS team, utilizing Susan particularly well without screaming about broken ankles. Funny how much more dignity It gives the character. 

The Great White Hurricane is fascinating in that it’s a not really well known historical event that is a natural disaster. The story focuses on the Human Conflict or how people react in that way, be it the man with the ladder refusing to save people on the crashed train or the gangsters working to help people for once on the ice flows. I kind of love this. Too many historicals deal with them showing up next to some Queen who screams off with their heads and the Doctor and the rest of the team runs away, but the only goal the Doctor has here is to help people and survive. He’s surprisingly noble for the Susan era. There’s a lot to appreciate here, and although the cliffhangers aren’t very strong (It’s especially similar to Destination Wars in that regard) it’s still very enjoyable.

The best one is the end of part one where you just know everything’s going to go to hell. As a matter of fact, part one is at its best, setting the scene for the conflict up deftly and without unneeded exposition and having just enough happen in Part One other than THE DOCTOR ARRIVES AND INFURIATES PEOPLE as usual. All in all, two expert stories and one of my favorite boxsets. Who’d have thought? 9/10