Image Credit: Big Finish (Fair Use)

Image Description: The cover of The Seventh Doctor: The New Adventures Volume One

By James Ashworth

Some 30 years ago, Doctor Who set off into realms of realms of space and time “too broad and too deep” for the screen through the publication of the Virgin New Adventures. Over six years, the novels continued the TV programme in prose, and much like the show itself, their quality could vary. However, the series gained a significant following, with some novels now commanding extraordinary prices as supply of the books, many of which have never been reprinted, significantly outweighs demand. Though they ended in 1997, Big Finish stepped into the breach in 2018, releasing four new audio tales  for the era in ‘The New Adventures: Volume One.

The TARDIS team of the Seventh Doctor, Chris Cwej and Roz Forrester step back into action with The Trial of a Time Machine, penned by VNA author Andy Lane. Having created companions Chris and Roz back in Original Sin, it’s clear that all this time later he still remembers what makes these Adjudicators tick. The pair are plunged straight into an investigation, allowing for commentary on the nature of the law and their own work as police officers. Meanwhile, Sylvester McCoy gets plenty of opportunity to shine in the morally conflicted world of the New Adventures, while showing off the character’s more vulnerable side. The story does a great job of representing some of the more ‘out-there’ concepts that would likely never have made it to screen, living up to their promise of broader and deeper adventures.

After a strong start, our heroes then find themselves on the eponymous planet of Vanguard, which represents another type of adventure found in the VNAs – the slightly naff one. Wars featuring bioweapons and robots have been seen before in Doctor Who, and while they can still work, Vanguard adds nothing to the formula. The plot never elevates itself above the level of ‘fine’, something which isn’t helped by a guest cast who aren’t able to sell it. Meanwhile, Sylvester McCoy’s overacting becomes distracting in a script that is otherwise played very straight.

However, the boxset immediately redeems itself with The Jabari Countdown, set with a group of codebreakers in WW2. It’s the standout of the set, and there is a lot of fun to be had while also being dark where appropriate. Unlike Vanguard, the TARDIS team are firing on all cylinders in this adventure, ably assisted by a group of well-rounded supporting characters. The audio also continues the VNAs’ work in LGBTQ representation, following in the footsteps of Aaronovitch, Davies et al..

Last but not least, Dread of Night is an atmospheric piece that leans into one of the series’ major arcs. Suitably moody, the story has fun while also exploring the darker side of the novels. It’s also very creepy, using the classic horror trope of sing-song voices much more effectively than other Big Finish audios like Scaredy Cat while delivering a good twist when the need arises.

Though things may have been toned down from the novels, which is both a blessing and a curse, the New Adventures Volume One is a worthy successor to its prose counterpart. With Big Finish now spinning the Doctors off into their own ranges, and with a pleasingly bombastic new theme arrangement just waiting to be used again, there’s no better time for the firm to make more New Adventures for a new decade.

Print copies of Tides 49 are, at time of publication, available to buy through this link