Brief Summary
The Sirens of Audio discuss recent Doctor Who audio releases from Big Finish, including audio novels, adventures with the First Doctor, and new monster box sets. They also discuss upcoming live events with Matthew Waterhouse in Australia. The hosts share their opinions on the stories, highlighting standout performances and plot elements, and interview Rob Valentine about his work on "The Fugitive Doctor" box set, exploring the character's unique place in Doctor Who lore.
- Matthew W house Australia tour in March 2025
- Big Finish audio releases from January reviewed
- Interview with Rob Valentine about "The Fugitive Doctor" box set
Intro
Matthew W house announces that he will be in Australia in March 2025, visiting Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide.
Show Intro and Janet Fielding's Visit to Canberra
Dwayne and Phillip open the show, mentioning Janet Fielding's recent visit to Canberra. They discuss her experiences and stories about a cyclone approaching Brisbane, including anecdotes from a past cyclone in 1976. Janet is currently safe. They also mention that Todd and Ash joined them in Canberra.
Upcoming Matthew Waterhouse Events
Matthew Waterhouse will be joining them in Melbourne on the 22nd (VIP) and 23rd, followed by Adelaide on Saturday and Sydney on Sunday the following weekend. Tickets are available at Sirens of audio.com. Dwayne is looking forward to Matthew's visit and contrasting his experiences with those of Janet Fielding, especially regarding working with Tom Baker, Peter Davison, and others during a turbulent time.
January Big Finish Releases and Guest Rob Valentine
The hosts will review January's Big Finish releases and interview Rob Valentine, the script editor and writer for the new "Fugitive Doctor" box set, "Most Wanted." Rob is a returning guest, and they hint at other projects he's involved in this month.
Jumping Down the Rabbit Hole: Doctor Who Trailers and Blu-ray Releases
Phillip and Dwane discuss the new Doctor Who season trailer. Phillip mentions a German trailer with a shot of the Doctor and companion being turned into cartoons. He is also anticipating the season seven Blu-ray release and the "Savages" animation. They speculate about the upcoming season, including potential Dalek stories and regenerations.
Audio Novel: The Lord of Misrule
Dwayne reviews "The Lord of Misrule," an audio novel featuring the Fourth Doctor, Romana 1, Jago, and Lightfoot, read by John khaw. He praises khaw's voice work, especially his Lightfoot impression. Dwayne notes the time commitment required for audio novels, which can be around 9 hours, split into episodic parts. Phillip hasn't listened yet due to the time commitment but loves John ker and the characters. He wants to listen to it with headphones to appreciate the sound design.
First Doctor Adventures: The Living Darkness
Phillip and Dwayne discuss "The Living Darkness," a First Doctor adventure featuring Stephen Nunan, Lauren Cornelius as Dodo, and Peter pervis. Phillip praises the performances, especially Peter pervis in the first episode and Stephen Nunan's portrayal of the First Doctor. He finds the story too long, preferring three one-hour stories instead of one extended six-part story. Dwayne agrees, noting the lack of the First Doctor in the first episode and scattered presence throughout.
Zygon Century: Infiltration
Phillip and Dwayne review "Zygon Century: Infiltration," a set of three Zygon stories set in different eras. Phillip found it bleak and has only listened to the first two stories, missing the third one featuring the Doctor. Dwayne is still working through the first episode, finding it disjointed and hoping it comes together by the end. They agree that the classic Zygons are better.
Torchwood: Yanto Inferno
Phillip highly recommends "Torchwood: Yanto Inferno," a character-driven story set in a never-ending stairwell with only three characters. He praises Gareth David Lloyd's performance as Yanto and the exploration of the character's development. Phillip considers it a return to form for Torchwood, inventive and character-focused.
Classic Doctors New Monsters: Faithful Friends
Dwayne and Phillip discuss "Classic Doctors New Monsters: Faithful Friends," a box set with four stories featuring the krillitane, lupari, and monks. Dwayne enjoyed the krillitane stories but was less enthusiastic about the lupari due to his dislike of "flux." Phillip also enjoyed the krillitane stories, especially the one with the Second Doctor, Jamie, and Zoe. He admits he still doesn't understand the monks.
V: Visitation
Phillip and Dwayne review "V: Visitation." Phillip, a newcomer to the "V" series, found it the best release of the month, praising the storytelling, acting, and pacing. He was engaged by the characters and the story's relevance to modern society. Dwayne, familiar with the original series, was impressed with the modern retelling, the adaptation for audio, and the setting change to the UK.
The Fugitive Doctor: Most Wanted and Interview with Rob Valentine
Dwayne and Phillip discuss "The Fugitive Doctor: Most Wanted." Dwayne believes it's designed for fans of Joe Martin's Fugitive Doctor but may not appeal to everyone. Phillip enjoyed it and praises Joe Martin's performance. They transition to an interview with Rob Valentine, writer of the first story and script editor of the box set.
Interview with Rob Valentine: The Fugitive Doctor's Unique Place in Doctor Who Lore
Rob Valentine discusses the development of "The Fugitive Doctor" series, emphasizing the character's intentional incongruity within the Doctor Who timeline, drawing inspiration from "The Prisoner" and "Twin Peaks." He explains that the Fugitive Doctor is designed to be a mystery, an "nth Doctor" who doesn't fit neatly into established continuity. The series aims to capture the essence of Doctor Who—a time-traveling adventurer helping people—while maintaining the character's enigmatic nature.
Rob Valentine on Story Structure and Character Relationships
Valentine explains that the series structure complements the character's fugitive status, with a "Sam Gerard" figure (Cosmo) pursuing her, creating a dynamic similar to "The Fugitive" TV show. He emphasizes that the Fugitive Doctor's stories are about a mysterious time traveler helping people, and that the character is designed to be either fascinating or irritating, depending on the viewer's preferences.
Rob Valentine on Chris Chibnall's Vision and Fan Expectations
Valentine clarifies that Chris Chibnall created the Fugitive Doctor to be a character that doesn't fit in, designed to annoy those who seek to categorize and classify everything in Doctor Who. He compares her to Number Six from "The Prisoner," emphasizing that revealing too much about her origins would kill the concept. The goal is to create a character that is both fascinating and irritating, depending on the viewer's perspective.
Rob Valentine on Balancing Mystery and Character Development
Valentine discusses the balance between maintaining the Fugitive Doctor's mystery and developing her character. He notes that while some clues and hints will be provided, the ultimate mystery of her place in the timeline will remain unsolved. The focus is on the relationship between the Doctor and Cosmo, the Time Lord detective pursuing her, and the character's inherent desire to help people despite her fugitive status.
Rob Valentine on the Writing Process and Collaboration
Valentine describes the collaborative writing process, where he and David Richardson brainstorm ideas and select writers based on availability and suitability. He emphasizes the importance of the opening story in establishing the series' premise and introducing key characters. Valentine also praises the contributions of other writers, such as rash Patel and Lisa mcmullen, and their ability to create personal and engaging stories.
Rob Valentine on Joe Martin's Performance and the Fugitive Doctor's Future
Valentine praises Joe Martin's performance as the Fugitive Doctor, noting her immediate impact and ability to win over audiences. He expresses hope that the character will continue to evolve and become known simply as "the Doctor," rather than "the Fugitive Doctor." Valentine also discusses the challenges of writing for a character who is both part of and separate from the established Doctor Who universe, and the importance of maintaining a sense of mystery and intrigue.
Rob Valentine on the Essence of Doctor Who and the Fugitive Doctor's Appeal
Valentine concludes by emphasizing that the essence of Doctor Who is about an eccentric time-traveling adventurer and their friends traveling around doing good. He believes that the Fugitive Doctor series captures this essence by focusing on the character's inherent decency and desire to help people, despite her fugitive status. Valentine also suggests that the series' self-contained nature allows it to explore new and exciting possibilities within the Doctor Who universe.
Show Outro
The hosts thank Rob Valentine for his insights and discuss upcoming releases and events. They encourage listeners to check out the January releases and attend the Matthew Waterhouse events. They also thank listeners for their feedback and sign off for the episode.
