Doctor Who review: The Same Face offers a fresh take on Time Lord mythology
By James Aggas
In this month’s short Doctor Who story The Same Face, a popular minister has been assassinated. For the ninth time. What is her secret, and why is the Doctor so worried?
This month’s Short Trip is Third Doctor story The Same Face. Written by Julian Richards, the Doctor Who audio story focuses on a minister on the alien world of Samael who keeps being assassinated. And somehow always survives. Because she has a secret. One that will shock the Doctor to his core…
The Same Face is a rather difficult story to review. Not because of its quality, which I’ll get to in a minute, but more that it’s a story that’s better to go into without having any idea of the story. It has one or two little surprises. One you might be able to guess, but…well, that’s worth saving for the actual listen.
What I can say is that the story provides an interesting take on a key aspect of Doctor Who mythology. Julian Richards explores what it means to be a Time Lord with this little story. What makes a Time Lord what, or rather who they are? Is it the body they wear, their personality, or something deeper? How this is explored is not only interesting, but we get a decent little story out of it, too.
Excellent narration
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Katy Manning narrates this one. Like many (but not all) Short Trips, the story is told in the third person.
Manning is excellent when it comes to character voices. It’s clear that she always loves throwing herself into every character, and that’s what you need from a great narrator. She really pulls you into the story, and gives every character their own distinctive voice. It’s no wonder that, along with reprising her old role of Jo Grant, she also regularly voices Time Lady Iris Wildthyme on a regular basis, too. (Sometimes, in the same story!)
The Same Face is an easy Short Trip to recommend. It’s got a strong story, some great exploration on a key idea in Doctor Who, and Katy Manning is as excellent a narrator as ever. Plus, you’re going to love the surprises this story features!
Next. How Big Finish helped to make the Eighth Doctor my Doctor. dark
Have you listened to The Same Face? What were your thoughts on it? Did you see any of the surprises coming? Let us know in the comments below.