Doctor Who & Big Finish: Sixth Doctor on sale – what’s worth checking out?

The Sixth Doctor may not have been the most popular Doctor on television, but that’s far from the case with his highly successful Big Finish stories…

(Photo credit: Doctor Who/BBC.

Image obtained from: official Doctor Who website.)

It’s another week of Doctor Who audios on sale at Big Finish, this time focusing on the Sixth Doctor! What release do we recommend checking out the most?

On television, I think it’s fair to say that the Sixth Doctor wasn’t exactly the most popular Doctor. Following from Peter Davison’s nice gentleman Doctor, Colin Baker’s Doctor was loud, rude and had awful fashion sense. It also didn’t help that in his first Doctor Who story, he even strangled his companion due to post-regenerative trauma.

Of course, none of this was Colin’s fault, not even remotely. This was a combination of decisions from the writers and producers of the show. John Nathan-Turner deliberately wanted the Sixth Doctor’s costume to be awful, which probably wasn’t the best choice considering that millions are supposed to actually watch the show. A lack of support from script editor Eric Saward didn’t help, either.

So on television, Colin Baker’s Doctor had a rough time, to say the least. And sadly, after just a little over two seasons, his time on Doctor Who was cut brutally short.

Thankfully, that’s where the expanded universe comes in.

A considerably more fleshed-out Doctor

Outside of television, the Sixth Doctor has found a whole legion on fans. This is because that, through various media, his Doctor has been explored in a far more satisfying way than it ever was on the screen. In books, comics, and of course, audios.

This last example feels especially important, as it allows Colin Baker himself to continue playing the character. Listening to him perform in these stories has given his Doctor the development and depth that he so desperately needed on television. On television, the Sixth Doctor might not be one of the most popular, but on audio, he’s absolutely magnificent.

So I’m very happy to take a look at each of the stories that are currently on sale from Big Finish. What’s worth listening to? What’s worth recommending? And what’s the most essential purchase on sale?

Let’s take a look.

The Sixth Doctor and Peri meet Christopher Columbus in Trouble in Paradise.

(Image credit: Doctor Who/Big Finish Productions/AudioGO.

Image obtained from: Big Finish Productions.)

Destiny of the Doctor: Trouble in Paradise

The sixth story in the Destiny of the Doctor audio series, Trouble in Paradise features the Doctor and Peri meeting Christopher Columbus.

The Doctor is incredibly excited to meet such an important historical figure, but Peri’s not so happy. Far from it, in fact. She’s read her history on Columbus, and she’s far from in awe of him. But he’s still someone that they have to deal with while the Doctor is on a mission – one that involves his future self…

Nev Fountain can usually be relied on as a strong Doctor Who writer, and Trouble in Paradise is no different. He includes a lot of comedy in the story, particularly with Columbus himself, who is portrayed as rather egotistical, to say the least.

Fountain also understands what makes the Doctor’s and Peri’s relationship work really well. They bounce off each other brilliantly, and while the Doctor may be focused on saving worlds or exploring history’s major moments, Peri always helps to keep him grounded.

One thing that’s slightly disappointing is that Colin Baker himself doesn’t appear in this one. While none of the actors who’ve played the Doctor actually feature in Destiny of the Doctor, and Nicola Bryant does an excellent job narrating the story, Colin’s performance is always a joy to listen to.

Filled with some excellent humor and extremely clever ideas, Trouble in Paradise is another strong story in the Destiny of the Doctor series. Not recommended if you want to hear more of Colin Baker in the role specifically, but still an excellent listen.

The Sixth Doctor and Constance Clarke originally met at Bletchley Park in Criss-Cross.

(Image credit: Doctor Who/Big Finish Productions.

Image obtained from: Big Finish Productions.)

The Sixth Doctor and Constance Clarke – first trilogy

I need to make one thing immediately clear: I absolutely adore Constance Clarke. She’s a very strong companion from the 1940s. In fact, she was originally a WREN in the Second World War, working at Bletchley Park and helping those working there to crack vital codes in the war effort. That was, of course, until she met the Doctor.

This particular meeting gets covered in the rather excellent Criss-Cross. This is a story with a lot of gripping drama. There’s a lot of switching sides between different characters, and so much spy and war intrigue. And it’s a wonderful introduction to a great companion.

(Interestingly, this wasn’t Constance’s first appearance, at least not in terms of production order. But we’ll get to that later.)

Planet of the Rani

Planet of the Rani features the Doctor being reunited once more with fellow Time Lord renegade, the Rani. One who’s less obsessed with taking over the universe and more interested in experimenting on sentient life forms, the Rani is a particularly dangerous villain.

But we get a slightly different perspective on her character in this story, as the Doctor, Constance and the Rani visit planet Miasimia Goria, a world the Rani once had a strong influence over. How much has it changed since the last time she was there?

What’s particularly interesting about this story is that Miasimia Goria was originally mentioned in the Rani’s first TV appearance in The Mark of the Rani. So it’s great how the audios took that little piece of mythology and fleshed it out.

Shield of the Jötunn

The final story in their first trilogy together was Shield of the Jötunn. Set in Arizona in 2029, this one explores some really interesting characters, a great monster, and stories of Vikings. This is a really fun story, and brings the first trilogy of stories featuring the brilliant pairing of Six and Constance to a strong close.

All three stories are very enjoyable. However, if I had to pick just one, then it would have to be Criss-Cross. Not only do you get a great introduction to a very strong companion. It’s also a strong mix of very different genres, and as a result, it’s a very entertaining listen.

Of course, just as one story focuses on beginnings, another focuses on endings, too…

The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure

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Of course, it just had to be the Sixth Doctor’s true regeneration story, doesn’t it? Yes, we saw him regenerate at the beginning of Time and the Rani. But considering that happened with no explanation – without Colin Baker’s involvement, even – it was hardly the most satisfying of endings for a Doctor.

Which is why The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure – specifically, the anthology’s final episode, The Brink of Death – feels far closer and far more authentic as a regeneration story than what we got on TV.

Don’t worry, it doesn’t ignore what happened on-screen, far from it, in fact. But it leads into the Seventh Doctor’s first story while simultaneously giving the Sixth Doctor an excellent send-off very nicely.

A variety of stories

And it’s not just that final story that makes The Last Adventure worth listening to, either. There are three stories before it, focusing on different points throughout the Sixth Doctor’s life, but all subtly leading him to his death.

The End of the Line and The Red House are both worth a listen, particularly since the former was the first time we had ever heard Constance Clarke before Criss-Cross was released. The latter, meanwhile, is a nice appearance from Charlotte Pollard, trying hard to keep secret from Six that she’s already traveled with the Eighth Doctor.

But if I had to pick my favorite story from this box set, it would have to be Stage Fright. Not only does it feature Flip, another excellent yet rather more modern companion than Constance or Charley, but it also features Jago & Litefoot, too.

I’ve mentioned before how their spin-off series is one of the best in Doctor Who, so it’s always a joy when the titular characters are reunited with their old friend.

Michael Jayston is also fantastic as the Doctor’s darker side, the Valeyard. He carries a great deal of menace across all four stories, and when he finally puts his plan into action in The Brink of Death, the stakes have never felt higher for the Doctor.

Four hours long, with an hour’s worth of interviews, The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure is more than worth the price, especially with it on sale this week. An excellent tribute to a brilliant Doctor, and highly recommended.

Which is your favorite Sixth Doctor audio? Which story would you recommend to fans? And which stories are you curious about checking out? Let us know in the comments below.