Doctor Who review: Art, poetry and pandas feature in Muse of Fire

The Seventh Doctor bumps into a very old friend acquaintance when he’s reunited with Iris Wildthyme in this month’s Doctor Who audio, Muse of Fire. But this time, has Iris gone too far?

Paul Magrs is a very peculiar writer when it comes to Doctor Who. There’s just no other way to describe him. He has a very distinctive style, one that’s incredibly eccentric and bold.

Sometimes, it doesn’t quite hit the mark, or is a little too bold for its own good. (The Boy That Time Forgot is definitely a major example. I can see what Magrs tried to do in that one, but it definitely wasn’t for me.)

However, other times, his stories can be magnificent. Either it’s because he’s scaled back and focuses on some very human drama, such as in The Zygon Who Fell to Earth. Or, it’s because he really goes for the epic romp, including many genres and eccentric characters in just one story. And Muse of Fire is definitely an example of the latter.

One character in particular that gives Muse of Fire such a great flavor is the magnificent Time Lady Iris Wildthyme. She’s been a very, very colorful character who’s appeared in a great deal of Magrs’s stories for years. And she’s always a joy to hear, especially with Katy Manning in the role. It’s so incredibly different to her role as Jo Grant, and it’s all the better for it.

Iris is someone who tends to cause a lot of trouble. Not intentionally, but she usually finds herself caught up in the strangest adventures somehow. And when the Doctor is once again reunited with her, he’s not happy. This time, has Iris gone too far?

Art versus life

There are a lot of interesting themes explored in Muse of Fire. Particularly the conflict between the need to the need to be “important” and the need to be loved. Magrs has always come across as a romantic through his writing, and this story is no different.

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Particularly with the character of Kevin, who dreams of being one of the greats. Does he have what it takes to be as great as Picasso or Salvador Dali? Or is something else going to put the greatness in him?

Nineteen-twenties Paris is also gorgeous to listen to. Muse of Fire is a story that is rich in a huge sense of style, and the sound design definitely helps at capturing that distinct Twenties feel.

It’s also a sheer delight to hear Hex again. While his regular adventures stopped back in 2014, it’s nice to see the Seventh Doctor era occasionally dip back from time to time, like in last year’s Shadow Planet/World Apart. Hex’s reaction to meeting someone as unique as Iris is fantastic to hear, and once again, he continues to find himself in the middle.

Overall, Muse of Fire is a really enjoyable story. It’s stylish and fun, but it also has a great cast of characters. Definitely a major hit for Paul Magrs, and up there with The Stones of Venice and The Zygon Who Fell to Earth as one of my favorites of his.

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Have you listened to or read any stories of Iris Wildthyme and her bonkers travels in time and space? Are you glad she’s finally made another appearance in the Doctor Who range? Or are you more excited about the return of Hex? Let us know in the comments below.

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