Plum Pudding Reviews

Ship In A Bottle By John Dorney Ship in A Bottle is actually not that good, which is a rarity for two or three-hander audios. The stakes are as high as they can be, and Ship In The Bottle would be Fine- if it wasn’t for the fact that it feels irrelevant due to the fact that the stakes are so high. There is some pretty good character work in it, and Helen and Liv are getting really close for some glorious reason. But ultimately, ship in the Bottle is nothing to write home about.  Bring Me Knitting: I love this Doctor. He’s pretty much pitch perfect at this point. The Eighth Doctor is usually best at his rawest, and he’s pretty good here.  Liv is Perfect: The episodes best moment is Liv really going at the Doctor for him vamoosing during the Crucible Of Souls. It’s exactly what the audience was thinking.  For once, as the audience, we are the companions perspective. Why did eight leave? We don’t know, and it’s brilliant that we don’t. We have to guess at his c...

DOOM COALITION 3 Absent Friends by John Dorney Let’s just quote the booklet that comes with the CD of it here: “I don’t want to talk about Absent Friends.” It came together as the most deliciously perfect audio here, and it’s character work is stunning. But talking about it ruins it. Spoilers… 10/10: But Better Than The Red Lady. Yes, I mean that. No, really. Shut up!  The Eighth Piece/The Doomsday Chronometer By Matt Fitton  After The Exquisite Absent Friends did it's own Standalone story, (It’s beautiful standalone story) The Eighth Piece has a lot of catching up to do to get to the point where the Doomsday Chronometer really should be. Both are definitely two halves of the same story, and although both are entertaining, they feel very busy, and a few story elements (like Thomas Cromwell) feel like they’ve been given the gutter.  River shows up in a nun outfit to make things even more crowded, and to make it crazier, you could even call ...

Beachhead by Nicholas Briggs Beachhead is basically The Galileo Trap In all but name. This is the kind of story I can’t really talk about much as there’s so little to say. The Voord are decent. I really like this is a village from one of 3’s unseen UNIT adventures, and I adore this TARDIS team. Ultimately Unoriginal, I can’t give this much of a full review, but it’s far better than Satanic Mill, so an extra half point for that I guess. Most things are though. Overall: 7/10 Scenes From Her Life By John Dorney This is the stuff I love. Scenes From Her Life is ultimately, much worse than the Red Lady, but nigh everything is, and Scenes has its own riveting style and brilliance that makes it very much it’s own thing.  Bring Me Knitting: McGann is constantly good. I don’t even know why I give him a section, he’s just so darn consistent. It’s never him that’s bad, more the writing. And with Big Finish, that can be rare.  I’m Sorry About The Doctor: Peak Liv materia...

DOOM COALITION The Eleven by Matt Fitton Based on his works in the 10DA’s, and the River Song spinoff, I haven’t quite cared for Matt Fitton as a writer so far. But he can put out a heck of a script if he wants to, it seems. This is a fantastic renewal for the eighth doctor. I’m not sure if Dark Eyes renews him more, as I’ve not heard it, but still, Doom Coalition, am I right? I’ve been thinking...The Eleven May be the best concept for a time lord the show has ever had. He’s fantastically played here, and is instantly a compelling antagonist. More about him later.  This is the Eight I like. Having left Lucie, (with a lot of trauma involved) he’s now traveling with Liv, who he’s already with him at the start of the story. Paul McGann is revitalized. He’s been waiting for scripts this good for a while.  He’s gloriously irreverent about Gallifrey, and he’s convincing at all times. Welcome Back! Unlimited Rice Pudding: Mr. McCoy gets a cameo which gives weight to...