The great tragedy is he was never given stories like this to do, words like this to say and scenes like this to play in the TV series. Colin and Maggie play off each other brilliantly and every scene they do together is a joy.Ĭolin continues to shine and is really the perfect Doctor.

Although its hard for her to be running down corridors she won’t be ignored, is given important work to do and can do a good smash and escape when needed. In only her second appearance you can see what a perfect foil for the Doctor Evelyn is. Maggie Stables is once again superb as Doctor Evelyn Smythe. His connection with Evelyn is also charming. His nonchalant approach to the Doctor throws the Doctor slightly which is so charming to hear. Like putting on a pair of comfortable shoes, Courtney is in straight back into the role and grabbing all the best lines. Nicholas Courtney returns for the first time as the Brigadier for Big Finish and he falls into the role immediately. It is such a natural meeting with open trust from the beginning that it would be easy to forget that this is a new partnership.

Although this in part should have been a momentous thing it is actually played right down and the two of them just get on easily from the beginning. One of joys of the story is the first proper meeting between the sixth Doctor and the Brigadier. And every character except the Doctor and companions dead by the final scene like Pyramid of Mars, Horror of Rock and others.

And even an ending that crosses between Battlefield hero moment and the final scenes from Death to the Daleks. Alien menace in the dark from Image of the Fendahl. Creepy aristocracy member with library from Terror of the Zygons. Strange goings on at an ancient burial site from Daemons. Alien creature trapped on earth in opening minutes from City of Death. It is clear that Nicholas Pegg is a fan of the show and he dips into so many moments from the past but combines them in such a way that you can’t but smile. The Spectre of Lanyon Moor pulls out every trick in the Doctor Who book but does it so well you can hardly notice its homage to many, many previous Doctor Who shows. There is something quintessentially Doctor Who when it comes to creepy English villages, mystical powers and dark forces from the dawn of time.

Doctor Who by Eugenie Pusenjak