The Sirens of Time Review & The Origins of Big Finish // The Sirens of Audio Episode 1

Brief Summary

In the inaugural episode of "The Sirens of Audio," Duane introduces the podcast's focus on Big Finish Doctor Who audio dramas, starting with a review of the first release, "The Sirens of Time." He shares his personal journey into Doctor Who fandom, influenced by podcasts like "Proctor Who" and "Flight Through Entirety," and discusses the history of Big Finish, tracing its roots back to the amateur audio productions of Audio Visuals. Duane then reviews "The Sirens of Time," providing insights into its production, the performances of the Doctors, and the story's strengths and weaknesses, ultimately recommending it as a starting point for new listeners.

• Podcast focuses on Big Finish Doctor Who audio dramas.
• Reviews the first Big Finish release, "The Sirens of Time."
• Discusses the history of Big Finish and its origins.
• Recommends "The Sirens of Time" as a starting point for new listeners.

Introduction to The Sirens of Audio

Duane introduces "The Sirens of Audio," a podcast dedicated to exploring the Big Finish Doctor Who audio range and the broader Doctor Who audio universe. As an avid fan of audio dramas, Duane, located in Tasmania, Australia, will host the podcast and will be joined by a co-host in future episodes. The podcast's name is derived from the first Big Finish audio release, "The Sirens of Time" released in 1999, which will be the focus of this inaugural episode.

Inspiration and Personal Journey into Doctor Who Fandom

Duane shares his inspiration for starting the podcast, citing "Proctor Who" and "Flight Through Entirety" as key influences. He recounts his early experiences with Doctor Who, starting in the mid-70s with episodes like "Spearhead from Space" and "The Time Warrior," and his later immersion through Target novelizations. His passion for the show intensified in the mid-80s with Colin Baker's season 22, particularly "Revelation of the Daleks," leading him to join the Doctor Who fan club and amass a collection of off-air recordings.

The History of Big Finish Productions

Duane discusses the history of Big Finish Productions, highlighting that their first audio dramas were adaptations of the Virgin range of new adventures of Professor Bernice Summerfield. The origins of Big Finish can be traced back to Audio Visuals, an amateur company founded in the early 80s by Gary Russell and Bill Baggs, which produced high-quality audio-visual stories. After Bill Baggs left to start BBV, which created Doctor Who-related but unlicensed video and audio adventures, Gary Russell eventually approached the BBC for a license to produce official Doctor Who audio dramas, leading to the formation of Big Finish.

Production Details and Initial Impressions of "The Sirens of Time"

Duane provides production details for "The Sirens of Time," noting the artwork by James Arnot and the significant involvement of Nick Briggs as director, writer, and sound designer. He mentions that the first 50 Big Finish Doctor Who monthly audios are available for free on Spotify. The story is a multi-doctor adventure featuring Sylvester McCoy, Colin Baker, and Peter Davison, each with their own episode before uniting in the finale. Duane admits that his initial impressions were not overly positive due to listening conditions, but revisiting the audio with headphones revealed its high-quality sound design.

Review of Episode One: The Seventh Doctor

Duane reviews the first episode featuring the Seventh Doctor, addressing criticisms about Sylvester McCoy's performance. He argues that McCoy and Colin Baker translated their television personas effectively to audio, while Peter Davison's voice had aged noticeably. The episode begins on Gallifrey, introducing Coordinator Vansell and the President, before shifting to a jungle planet where the Doctor encounters the grating character Ruthley, played by Maggie Stables. Despite initial reservations about Ruthley, Duane notes Stables' later success as the beloved companion Evelyn Smythe.

Review of Episodes Two, Three, and Four

Duane discusses the remaining episodes, highlighting Mark Gatiss's portrayal of Captain Schweiger in the Fifth Doctor's story as a standout. He finds the Sixth Doctor's episode the least memorable story-wise but praises Colin Baker's performance. The final episode brings all the Doctors together to confront the Knights of Volisha, resolving the cliffhangers and revealing Sarah Mowat's character as Night Commander Lyena. Duane commends Nicholas Briggs for the well-thought-out, timey-wimey plot.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Duane wholeheartedly endorses "The Sirens of Time" as a starting point for new listeners, emphasizing its accessibility on Spotify. He praises the story's timey-wimey elements and Nicholas Briggs' writing. Despite Briggs' contributions to Big Finish, Duane questions why he has never written for the television series. Duane gives "The Sirens of Time" a rating of 3.5 out of 5 headphones, recommending listeners use headphones for an optimal experience.

Future Episodes and Listener Engagement

Duane encourages listeners to provide feedback via Twitter, email, or voice messages on Anchor.fm. He announces the next four audio dramas to be reviewed: "Times at Midnight," "The Psychic Circus," "Eldrad Must Die," and "The Reaping." He invites listeners to share their thoughts on these episodes and teases the reveal of his co-host in future episodes.