Doctor Who review: Circular Time presents a different look at the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa

We look back at Fifth Doctor and Nyssa story Circular Time, and why it continues to stand out as a Doctor Who anthology.

Recently, I decided it was time to look back on Fifth Doctor and Nyssa audio Circular Time. It’s a rather unusual Doctor Who audio, as each episode tells a different story based on the seasons of the year.

Spring is the closest to feeling like a traditional Doctor Who adventure. It’s also possibly the weakest. It’s not a bad story, particularly as it features a rather unusual take on regeneration. But it does pack in a lot in its roughly half-hour length, and there’s definitely a stronger emphasis on plot than emotion, unlike the other episodes in this set.

Summer keeps things simple, as the Doctor and Nyssa meet the legendary historical figure Sir Isaac Newton. However, it’s not exactly a fun meeting. Newton comes across as a rather ruthless man in his search for the truth. And when he takes a close look at the Doctor’s possessions, his dangerously high intelligence threatens to unravel history itself…

What’s really fantastic about Summer is David Warner’s performance as Newton. He gets some brilliant scenes to perform in this story. Some of these scenes are incredibly lengthy pieces of dialogue filled with strong emotion, and yet Warner performs these moments with ease. There are also some great moments of humor in this story, too.

Summer is a story that works because there’s less focus on plot and more on a simple situation with Newton. It’s a story that works very nicely, and showcases how less is more.

Autumn sees the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa spend some time in the village of Stockbridge – a village that would be explored further in 2009’s Stockbridge trilogy.

(Photo credit: Doctor Who/Big Finish Productions.

Image obtained from: Big Finish Productions.)

Autumn and Winter

Autumn is easily my favorite episode of Circular Time. Taking place in Stockbridge – originally introduced in the comics – there’s no major threat for the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa this time. No monster that they have to defeat. Instead, the story is the Doctor actually getting to play cricket while Nyssa discovers romance.

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This exactly the kind of story you should have when it’s only half an hour long. Like Summer, there isn’t much story, not in the usual Doctor Who sense, at least. The story is more focused on character and emotion, giving us something rather refreshing.

How Nyssa is explored is particularly satisfying. There’s almost a coming-of-age feel to her story, as she distinctly matures over the course of it. As a companion who’s used to seeing the universe in logical and scientific terms, it’s fantastic to explore the side to her that’s more romantic and emotional.

Winter is distinctly different to the other three stories. Without giving too much away, this presents a very different perspective on a key moment in the Fifth Doctor’s life. His relationship with Nyssa is explored in a fresh way, and the episode feels like a nostalgic look at his era. In many ways, it’s a fitting ending to Circular Time, and rounds off an overall satisfying and rather overlooked anthology.

Have you listened to Circular Time? What are your thoughts on the release? Do you enjoy the anthologies from Big Finish? Let us know in the comments below.