The Fourth Doctor Adventures - The Eternal Battle : Wright, Mark, Scott, Cavan, Briggs, Nicholas, Robertson, Jamie, Lamb, Anthony, Baker, Tom, Ward, Lalla: desertcart.ae: Books Review: I've only recently started buying and listening to these "new adventures" CD's, because the televised series is now Dr Who in name only and I miss the real thing. I started with the old classic "Wheel in Space", then moved on to "Escape the Daleks" and now Tom Baker and I wish that I'd started earlier. The Movellan Grave is very much in the vain of classic Dr Who adventures and so is great fun. When the Doctor and Romana see an interview with an archaeologist who has become a laughingstock after discovering an electronic device in Iron Age deposits, they recognize it as a Movellan power pack. What follows is as good as Dr Who stories used to be and I strongly recommend it to others who also miss when Dr Who used to be about entertainment. Review: Anyone coming to Big Finish's sixth series of "Fourth Doctor Adventures" audio dramas expecting a strict recreation of the classic "Doctor Who" series' 18th season, featuring a sober and subdued Fourth musing about entropy and decay in the universe, will be sorely disappointed. Rather, these audio stories-which I consider to have occurred prior to "The Leisure Hive" and the other 18th season adventures-emphasize the blend of fantasy and humor which distinguished the two prior televised seasons. Mark Wright and Cavan Scott's "The Eternal Battle" is a superb example of such a story. It finds Fourth, Romana and K-9 embroiled in a situation where their enemies the Sontarans are sick and tired of what they were bred for, and have always longed for-waging endless war. In a classic case of being careful what you wish for because you may get it, the deeply unhappy Sontarans the TARDIS crew meets have been fighting an enemy for so long that they've wearied of both battle and the constant slaughter. The co-authors establish their scenario by having the Sontarans waging World War I-style trench warfare in sheeting rain around the Lake District, which the travelers are visiting because Fourth wants to visit-I kid you not-a pencil museum, which Romana's anticipating with all the enthusiasm one might reserve for a tooth extraction. What follows is not the most original story-I found it similar in some respects to the "Star Trek: The Original Series" episode "Day of the Dove"-but it's a well-told consideration of the nature of incessant war, and they inject some classic horror flavor reminiscent of Fourth's early period into their tale in the form of zombies shambling about the battlefield. This story showcases effectively the comedic talents of Tom Baker and Lalla Ward, as their characters bring lightness to what would be an otherwise grim scenario. Baker's in his glory here, delivering another performance filled with the offbeat humor, whimsical charm and intellectual arrogance that are Fourth's distinguishing characteristics. He shines particularly in the story's climax, as Fourth engages in philosophical debate with an enemy whose technology has gone horribly wrong. Ward is equally effective as a really exasperated Romana whose patience is tested by both the Doctor and the situation in which she finds herself. There's none of the girlishness of her televised performances from decades ago. Her Time Lady once again proves herself Fourth's intellectual and heroic equal-and hence, a far more effective companion-to me, at least-than the standard companion who acts as an audience surrogate, asking questions and getting into trouble. Dan Starkey, who plays the Sontaran Strax in occasional episodes of the current "DW" series, is also effective as a battle-weary field commander, a character devoid of the comedic overtones which distinguish both the Sontarans' appearances in televised "Doctor Who" in general and his own appearances as Strax in particular. "The Eternal Battle" is a witty, thoughtful meditation on the nature of war-and a fine addition to the ongoing "Fourth Doctor Adventures" audio series.
| Customer reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (50) |
| Dimensions | 12.4 x 1 x 14.2 cm |
| ISBN-10 | 1781787115 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1781787113 |
| Item weight | 92 g |
| Language | English |
| Publication date | 31 March 2017 |
| Publisher | Big Finish Productions Ltd |
S**S
I've only recently started buying and listening to these "new adventures" CD's, because the televised series is now Dr Who in name only and I miss the real thing. I started with the old classic "Wheel in Space", then moved on to "Escape the Daleks" and now Tom Baker and I wish that I'd started earlier. The Movellan Grave is very much in the vain of classic Dr Who adventures and so is great fun. When the Doctor and Romana see an interview with an archaeologist who has become a laughingstock after discovering an electronic device in Iron Age deposits, they recognize it as a Movellan power pack. What follows is as good as Dr Who stories used to be and I strongly recommend it to others who also miss when Dr Who used to be about entertainment.
L**Y
Anyone coming to Big Finish's sixth series of "Fourth Doctor Adventures" audio dramas expecting a strict recreation of the classic "Doctor Who" series' 18th season, featuring a sober and subdued Fourth musing about entropy and decay in the universe, will be sorely disappointed. Rather, these audio stories-which I consider to have occurred prior to "The Leisure Hive" and the other 18th season adventures-emphasize the blend of fantasy and humor which distinguished the two prior televised seasons. Mark Wright and Cavan Scott's "The Eternal Battle" is a superb example of such a story. It finds Fourth, Romana and K-9 embroiled in a situation where their enemies the Sontarans are sick and tired of what they were bred for, and have always longed for-waging endless war. In a classic case of being careful what you wish for because you may get it, the deeply unhappy Sontarans the TARDIS crew meets have been fighting an enemy for so long that they've wearied of both battle and the constant slaughter. The co-authors establish their scenario by having the Sontarans waging World War I-style trench warfare in sheeting rain around the Lake District, which the travelers are visiting because Fourth wants to visit-I kid you not-a pencil museum, which Romana's anticipating with all the enthusiasm one might reserve for a tooth extraction. What follows is not the most original story-I found it similar in some respects to the "Star Trek: The Original Series" episode "Day of the Dove"-but it's a well-told consideration of the nature of incessant war, and they inject some classic horror flavor reminiscent of Fourth's early period into their tale in the form of zombies shambling about the battlefield. This story showcases effectively the comedic talents of Tom Baker and Lalla Ward, as their characters bring lightness to what would be an otherwise grim scenario. Baker's in his glory here, delivering another performance filled with the offbeat humor, whimsical charm and intellectual arrogance that are Fourth's distinguishing characteristics. He shines particularly in the story's climax, as Fourth engages in philosophical debate with an enemy whose technology has gone horribly wrong. Ward is equally effective as a really exasperated Romana whose patience is tested by both the Doctor and the situation in which she finds herself. There's none of the girlishness of her televised performances from decades ago. Her Time Lady once again proves herself Fourth's intellectual and heroic equal-and hence, a far more effective companion-to me, at least-than the standard companion who acts as an audience surrogate, asking questions and getting into trouble. Dan Starkey, who plays the Sontaran Strax in occasional episodes of the current "DW" series, is also effective as a battle-weary field commander, a character devoid of the comedic overtones which distinguish both the Sontarans' appearances in televised "Doctor Who" in general and his own appearances as Strax in particular. "The Eternal Battle" is a witty, thoughtful meditation on the nature of war-and a fine addition to the ongoing "Fourth Doctor Adventures" audio series.
S**D
One of the better Doctor Who audio adventures I have heard. Tom Baker is on great form and as well as the story being well told there is a lot of humour from Baker and a Sontaran. A lot happens and is fast paced. Brilliant music and sound effects. I think most Whovians would enjoy this.
M**Y
Item as described and quick delivery, happy with purchase.
H**O
The Fourth Doctor Adventures - The Movellan Grave (Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Adventures) It's amazing that at his age he was able to record so many new episodes and I am like a kid in a candy store enjoying a new one every month. This is most certainly one of the most enjoyable of recent releases as you can tell he is having fun and character is spot on.
Trustpilot
1 month ago
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