REVIEW: Doctor Who: The Yes Men (Audio)

By James Aggas | Sep 28, 2015

Last year’s first season of Big Finish‘s Doctor Who: The Early Adventures was a brilliant success. Full-cast audio stories set during the black and white years of the show, each of the stories in the first season felt right at home in the William Hartnell era. Not only did the stories have exactly the right tone and even the right music to give it that authentic 60s feel, but each of the first season’s mix of stories were incredibly well-written, and it was great to hear so many 60s companions together again. Could Season 2, this time focusing on Patrick Troughton’s Doctor and his companions, continue that level of success?

If all the stories are as strong as ‘The Yes Men’, then the answer is undoubtedly yes. ‘The Yes Men’ contains so many elements that I really enjoy about Doctor Who in general, and it blends them together remarkably well.

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One element I really liked was its strong sense of mystery. The Second Doctor has come to visit an old friend on the Earth colony New Houston, but something is clearly wrong. The Doctor’s friend is dead, but when he’s given an explanation why — several explanations, in fact — none of them seem to match. The streets are virtually empty, despite the population of the city being listed in the millions. And there’s something very strange going on with the city’s robots…

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What I like about mysteries in Doctor Who, particularly in the classic series format of serials, is that it’s a great way for a story to unfold over two hours and keep the audience hooked. The mystery presented here is wonderful to listen to as it develops across several different threads at once. Not only does it keep things interesting, but it’s also a great way at building up both the world and the characters.

I have to praise the world-building in this story because it presents a science-fiction world that you can truly believe in. One thing that helps is that Simon Guerrier’s writing doesn’t try too hard (or at least, doesn’t sound like it tries too hard): empty streets, robot children, underground cities — each of these present a clear and instant visual for the listener, something simple and yet vivid. For audio drama, that’s an incredibly important way to tell a story.

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Beyond the “visuals” however is the look we’re given at the civilization and the characters within it. The more the Doctor and his companions uncover the mystery at the heart of the story, the more we learn about the city of New Houston, particularly with its inhabitants, its robots and even its system of government. It really does help to add so much depth to the story and its world, especially when it really surprises you.

For example, there are moments when you have to wonder if the robots are treated as fairly as they should be, especially as they’re programmed to act like humans so easily. Later on, however, the story makes it very clear that, as nasty as some humans can be towards a machine that can clearly think for itself, there may be other layers to these characters, too.

I also have to mention how great the performances are, particularly as one of them is a brand new portrayal of a classic role. This is Elliot Chapman’s first story in the role of classic companion Ben Jackson, and it’s a worthy tribute to the late Michael Craze. With Anneke Wills as Polly and Frazer Hines in the dual role of both Jamie McCrimmon and his brilliant rendition of Troughton’s Doctor, it really does feel like the old team is back for brand new adventures.

With some great cliffhangers and filled with mystery, depth and shades of grey, ‘The Yes Men‘ is a wonderfully strong start to the new season of The Early Adventures.

Next: REVIEW: Doctor Who: 'The Witch's Familiar'

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