The Behemoth

 The Behemoth by Marc Platt

Although I do think the pairing of Six, Flip and Connie has been incredibly worthwhile in reinvigorating both characters, perhaps the Behemoth isn't a story that fits them very well. The Behemoth is a dire tale, a dark and sad piece on the oppression of the minorities in history, and it really doesn't shy away from being sad and even brutal. As such, this is usually the kind of stuff that better fits, say, the team of 7 Ace and Hex rather than these characters. It's a sharp turn away from their usual bright and comfy. It is also a pure historical, which I do say is the right choice. The Behemoth is very much trying to be a story similar to season 11's Rosa, minus the historical grounding of that story in actual figures. The only actual historical figure we have in this one is a Rhinoceros. Anyway, right choice. Shoving in a character like Krasko or an alien in this would indeed be crass. For Flip and Connie's first journey in the TARDIS together, I would have appreciated a story other than this one, (it certainly doesn't feel like their actual first trip but still) because introducing them in this way sort of sets a precedent. Either way, The Behemoth just isn't fun. And it's not like it isn't good, but it does feel like it has it's hands in every bucket for the oppressed people of the time. Perhaps it would be more impactful if it stuck to one area, the women of the time, the slaves, the cruelty of the animal trade, not to say that these all aren't important issues, it just feels like the Behemoth is trying to sucker-punch you like other emotional audios, and for that, it never really lands as hard as it should. Still, though, our regulars are too dang fabulous for me to give it anything less than a good rating. Disappointing though. The Behemoth really could have been so much more than just good: 7/10