Doctor Who review: Lucie Miller (Eighth Doctor audio)

When the Daleks invade the Earth once more, the Doctor is nowhere to be seen. Will his former companion Lucie Miller be able to stop them?

When Doctor Who returned in 2005, it came back with an episode called Rose. It was a fun, light-hearted way of giving the series a fresh start.

It’s a little strange that Lucie Miller is the name given to the first part of the finale to the Eighth Doctor Adventures. But it also makes sense, in some ways. Naturally, it’s not an introduction story. But it is an episode focused on the Eighth Doctor’s companion. More than that: it’s an episode showing her at her very, very best.

More from Winter is Coming

And she needs to be. Because this is the beginning of her darkest story yet. If Rose was a light-hearted and fun opener, then Lucie Miller is the exact opposite. A dark and grim story designed to end the Eighth Doctor Adventures in a big way.

From the very beginning, terrible things happen to Lucie. Travelling with Alex across the Earth, she gets infected by a plague. With the plague spreading all over the globe and killing millions, she survives it, but only just. And it comes at a great physical cost.

But there’s worse to come, much worse. The plague was just the first stage, and Susan knows it. She’s seen it exactly before. And before long, the Daleks invade, once again…

The Second Dalek Invasion of Earth

Nicholas Briggs used a lot of clear influence from The Dalek Invasion of Earth when he wrote this story. It’s a bold choice, but it works very well. Because so many had already lived through one invasion, you get the fear and the buildup towards their arrival. Particularly with Susan, a survivor of the original Dalek occupation.

You also get to experience the story on a much wider scale this time. With the original Dalek invasion story, we only got the perspective of what happened in England, which is unsurprising. However, thanks to audio, you get to hear it on a far greater scale. The story takes place all over the world, first in Thailand, England, and then finally, America.

You also get to hear exactly how this invasion begins. In the original story, it was only through other people that you heard about the plague wiping out so much of humanity, as well as when the Daleks originally arrived. In Lucie Miller, you get to experience it from the start, directly from the perspective of a much-loved character.

Old companions face old enemies, as Lucie, Susan and Alex face the Daleks in Lucie Miller.

(Photo credit: Big Finish Productions. Image obtained from: Big Finish Productions.)

Lucie’s darkest hour

However, as fantastic as it is to hear this story told on such an epic scale, it’s the title character herself that really makes it brilliant. Sheridan Smith has always given an amazing performance in the role of Lucie. This story might just be her very best.

Nicholas Briggs makes her go through hell, as she struggles constantly to survive. Circumstances are even more desperate than they would normally be, as the Doctor isn’t there to save them. She sent him a message, but as the plague ravages humanity and the Daleks attack once more, he’s nowhere to be seen. When he finally does return, is it too late to save the day this time?

Lucie Miller is an incredibly dark and grim story, and makes for rather difficult listening, at times. But it’s also one of the very best Eighth Doctor episodes. In fact, it’s even more satisfying on re-listen.

On the first listen, it’s very easy to expect some kind of total reset by the end. That when the Doctor finally showed up, things would be ok, and everyone would get the happy ending they deserved. After all, there’s no way that Nicholas Briggs would do the worst to such a popular companion. Would he?

Next: Doctor Who: Whatever happened to Jenny?

Are you a fan of the original Dalek Invasion of Earth? Do you enjoy Doctor-lite stories like Lucie Miller that focus more on a companion than on the Doctor? Have you listened to Lucie Miller, and what were your thoughts on the story? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

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