After the success of the first box set, Big Finish have recently announced further details of Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor: The Time War 2. Including the return of a very dangerous foe…
The Eighth Doctor: The Time War 1 was an excellent box set from Big Finish. All four stories allowed us to see equally different perspectives on the Time War. Also, after hearing him more fully involved in The War Doctor series, it was interesting hearing stories of his previous incarnation, who tried much harder to avoid the Time War completely.
So it was fantastic news when Big Finish confirmed that there would be more. Today, Big Finish revealed more details on what to expect from the second volume of the series.
Along with Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor, both Rakhee Thakrar and Jacqueline Pearce will be returning as Bliss and Ollistra, respectively. Bliss was an interesting companion in the first box set, and Ollistra is probably one of the best creations that Big Finish has ever given us. It’ll be fantastic to hear more of her scheming and her vicious wit.
The Twelve
But even more intriguing is getting to hear a new face of an old enemy. The Eighth Doctor: The Time War 2 will introduce us to the Twelve, previously known as the Eleven, now played by Julia McKenzie.
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For those of you who haven’t listened to Doom Coalition, the Eleven was a Time Lord who retained personalities of all of his previous incarnations. Unsurprisingly, he was completely insane. With an incredible performance by Mark Bonnar, he was also completely brilliant.
It’ll be exciting to hear McKenzie play a new incarnation of this unique character. Not to mention all the others previously established!
Other old villains we can expect to hear in this series are the Ogrons. First seen in Third Doctor story Day of the Daleks, they’re a very stupid race that are also very dangerous. This was mainly due to their strength and to their fierce loyalty to their employers. Considering their previous employers have included both the Daleks and the Master, they’re not likely to act nice anytime soon.
New writers
The previous Time War box set had been written solely by John Dorney and Matt Fitton. After establishing the series, however, they’ve handed over the reins to a whole new team of writers for this set. As listed in Big Finish’s announcement, the stories and writers will be as follows:
"Lords of Terror by Jonathan MorrisPlanet of the Ogrons by Guy AdamsIn the Garden of Death by Guy AdamsJonah by Timothy X Atack"
Considering that Dorney and Fitton have written many amazing Eighth Doctor stories, it would almost be worrying to see a new team. But all four writers are very capable, having written many great stories themselves.
Jonathan Morris is a veteran writer, and has written several great stories for the Eighth Doctor before. It’s been a while since his last one, the amazing The Resurrection of Mars, however, so it’ll be great to hear him write for the Eighth Doctor once more.
Guy Adams has written for many of Big Finish’s ranges before. But this will be his first story for the Eighth Doctor. However, he’s also a very strong writer who’s written a number of great stories. (The Great White Hurricane from The First Doctor Adventures certainly stands out.) It will be fantastic to hear his take on the Eighth Doctor.
Timothy X Atack is relatively new to Big Finish. However, his debut story, The Wreck of the World, is certainly a strong one. (Expect a review on that story very soon.) It’ll be interesting to hear a new voice writing for the Eighth Doctor.
Next: Review: Eighth Doctor Adventures: Wirrn Dawn (audio)
There’s a lot to be excited about for The Eighth Doctor: The Time War 2, when it arrives in July. There’s a fresh take on a brilliant villain. Also, there’s a new team of very strong writers for the series. And of course, there’s Paul McGann, who’s always incredible to hear as the Eighth Doctor. Overall, this looks set to be another strong entry in Big Finish’s Time War series.