Doctor Who review: Black Thursday / Power Game gives us two very different Fifth Doctor stories
By James Aggas
It’s a double dose of the Fifth Doctor, Tegan, Turlough and Kamelion this month, with the latest Doctor Who audio Black Thursday / Power Game.
Back in 2017, Big Finish did something a little experimental with their main range of Doctor Who audios. For just three releases, instead of telling two hour stories spread across four episodes, they released a double bill of two entirely separate stories told in just one hour each.
It was an interesting experiment that gave us something just a little bit different from the main range. And it’s something they’ve done again for this month’s release, Black Thursday / Power Game, giving us two very different stories with the Fifth Doctor and his crew.
Black Thursday
Following on directly from last month’s Devil in the Mist, Black Thursday is a story that’s surprisingly close to a pure historical. It focuses on a mining village in 1902, and the TARDIS crew arrive just as there’s a horrific disaster. There are no monsters for them to fight in this one, at least not the ones they usually expect. But one of their own is unusually affected by the power of a mother’s grief…
There are three things that really stand out about Black Thursday. For one thing, there’s the strong emotional content of the story. As well as exploring the history and the danger that these coal mines brought, the story is also an excellent exploration of both grief and death, and how we learn to face huge tragedies in our lives.
Another thing that stands out is how well Kamelion is used in Black Thursday. A major part of the story is caused directly by his presence, and that’s exactly what you want when you’ve got stories focusing on the character. For example, I can’t imagine Jamie, Rose or even K9 working in Kamelion’s place in Black Thursday. And that’s when you know that a particular companion has been used really well.
Lastly, this is a nicely paced Doctor Who story. It has just enough plot to keep things flowing, while not cramming in too much that there’s no room to breathe. Overall, this is a rather excellent script by Jamie Anderson, one that plays to both the characters’ and the historical format’s strengths.
Power Game
We get a more contemporary story with Power Game. Well, I say “contemporary”. This one is firmly set in 1984, and as such, really plays with a key aspect of the era. In this particular case: classic 80s game shows. But this one has a twist: in this particular show, there’s no guarantee that contestants will survive!
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It’s definitely something we’ve seen before, most notably with Bad Wolf. But it’s interesting hearing a distinctly more 80s take on it, especially as it’s difficult to imagine the show actually making this story at the time.
It’s also intriguing finding out exactly what’s going on, and why the games are happening. There’s a real sense of mystery to this story, and it’s enjoyable listening to it unfold. Especially when a couple of fans of the show tag along with the Doctor and find more than they bargained for.
Power Game isn’t as emotional as Black Thursday, but it’s certainly a fun and enjoyable story. Especially perfect for anyone wanting a bit of Eighties nostalgia (well, even more so than usual, anyway).
Overall, Black Thursday / Power Game is an enjoyable release. Both stories are well-written and well paced, told with just the right amount of story to make it work.
They also highlight exactly why Kamelion was left behind on the TARDIS for most of his TV stories. But they also make the character more endearing, too. The more I listen to his development and his adventures, the more tragic his ending in Planet of Fire seems. This season has been an enjoyable one for the past couple of months, and I can’t wait for the last story of the trilogy with The Kamelion Empire.
Next. Why Patrick Troughton’s Doctor is hugely underrated. dark
Have you listened to Black Thursday / Power Game? Which story did you prefer? Do you think more releases should take on this format? Let us know in the comments below.