Doctor Who Review: ‘Doom Coalition 3’ (Eighth Doctor Audio)
By James Aggas
The Eighth Doctor and his companions find out the truth in ‘Doom Coalition 3’ (credit: Big Finish)
After recently reviewing the Eighth Doctor’s earliest adventures, it is time to jump ahead to his latest, as his current series Doom Coalition continues!
Wow. After the excellent buildup given to us in ‘Doom Coalition 1‘ and ‘Doom Coalition 2,’ it’s with this third box set that everything begins to pay off.
For a start, we finally find out exactly what the Doom Coalition actually is. When the series began last year, the main focus in the first box set was entirely on the Eleven. Which, quite honestly, didn’t seem to be much of a “coalition,” even with eleven personalities in his head. The second box set introduced another major enemy with the Sonomancer. But again, two enemies still didn’t seem to be much of a coalition.
When the series first started, I’ve got to be honest – I felt so sure that I knew where it was heading. Specifically, I knew that the Eleven would be the main enemy in the first box set. But I also felt sure that, with the later instalments, major classic enemies would be introduced to add some impact. It seemed to be the most logical direction. Especially after Dark Eyes, which heavily focused on the Daleks, the Master, and Big Finish recurring enemy, the Eminence.
I have never been so glad to be so wrong in all my life.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a major enemy team-up as much as any fan. Particularly when stories such as Dark Eyes had done it so right. But, without giving too much away, the coalition of the series is made up of entirely new enemies.
To be honest, it feels rather bold of Big Finish to have an event series like this not feature a single major enemy from the past. The stories and characters are written so well, however, that it works.
Not that there aren’t any twists and turns or major shocks along the way. In fact, those collective shocks are one of the highlights of the box set. After two box sets of build up, ‘Doom Coalition 3‘ explodes with a terrific pace, as we finally start getting some answers.
Having said that, ‘Absent Friends,’ the first episode in this box set, is a bit of a quiet one. It’s also the one most likely to win awards, and another amazing story from John Dorney.
Heavily focusing on companions Helen and Liv, ‘Absent Friends’ is an absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking episode. It focuses on many important themes, such as family, loss and consequences.
Perhaps the best episode of the box set, or even the whole of Doom Coalition, ‘Absent Friends’ is a fantastic installment that’s well worth the price of the whole box set.
River Song joins the Eighth Doctor and his friends in ‘The Eighth Piece’ (credit: Big Finish)
The remaining episodes are also brilliant, of course. ‘The Eighth Piece’ and ‘The Doomsday Chronometer’ bring events back up to an epic sense of scale. What’s interesting about these two episodes is that essentially they form a two-parter.
Considering Doom Coalition has focused on telling one epic story across its sixteen episodes, the words “two-parter” are strange to say. And while, usually, each episode of the series tends to have its own unique “flavour,” ‘The Eighth Piece’ and ‘The Doomsday Chronometer’ are so heavily linked that it feels better reviewing them as one.
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It makes sense that this particular story requires two episodes to tell. It really does have a huge sense of scale. The Doctor and his companions are searching for several pieces of something dangerous. Time is so short that they are not only separated in different locations, but also in different time zones. Featuring clockwork robots, Oliver Cromwell, and best of all, River Song in a nun’s outfit, it feels like something straight out of the revival of Doctor Who.
Ah yes, River. Initially appearing towards the end of ‘Doom Coalition 2,’ in this story, and indeed, this whole box set, she has a much bigger role. This is something of which I’m really glad about, as she works quite well with Liv and Helen. As for the Eighth Doctor, who it’s too early for her to meet? Spoilers.
A dangerous device is assembled in ‘The Doomsday Chronometer’ (credit: Big Finish)
The villain of the piece is also fantastic. Brilliantly performed by Nicholas Woodeson, the Clocksmith is a very frightening and very dangerous new foe. Not only is he a man with very grand and dangerous schemes, but he also places a great deal of importance in his “art.”
As the TARDIS crew are forced to face him, they also start getting some answers as to what exactly the coalition of the series have been planning, while having some thrills along the way. A timey wimey story with so much detail and so much going on, ‘The Eighth Piece’/’The Doomsday Chronometer’ is definitely a story that’s even more fun on the second listen.
As for the final story of the box set? ‘The Crucible of Souls’ is one I really can’t give too much away about. From the start, it really does have so many surprises that are really rewarding to listen to. I will say this: we get another great villain in this one. John Heffernan gives an absolutely brilliant performance as “the Imposter.” Oh, and it has, quite possibly, one of the best cliffhangers for the Eighth Doctor in years.
Beginning with an incredibly emotional and intimate episode that leads into a great and epic adventure, ‘Doom Coalition 3’ is more than just a brilliant listen. It’s essentially the key installment in the series. Previously, with the first and second box sets, it was a great story that showed promise for a lot more.
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