Doctor Who review: Ruler of the Universe offers a different but brilliant take on the Doctor

What happens when you put the Doctor in charge of the universe? As it turns out, a huge disaster – but one that us listeners can certainly enjoy, as the excellent Doctor Who box set Ruler of the Universe proves.

Doctor Who: The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield: Ruler of the Universe is a rather special box set from Big Finish. Continuing where the previous volume The Unbound Universe left off, it focuses on what happens when the Doctor is put in the unenviable position of ruling the universe.

It’s not a Doctor we’re too familiar with, as this Doctor is from another universe – one that’s dying. To make matters worse, he’s dragged Bernice Summerfield to his universe with him. But he’s promised to get her back, at least.

That’s how the previous volume ended. The Unbound Universe was a rather fun release, essentially featuring new adventures for Benny and a Doctor she’s never met before.

But Ruler of the Universe is rather different. It’s a little darker, and less focused on adventure and more on character, particularly on the Doctor himself. Having the Doctor as the ruler of the entire universe – a position he doesn’t want – isn’t something that you can explore in regular Doctor Who stories, so exploring it with an alternative Doctor is a brilliant idea. But does this box set live up to it?

David Warner plays a version of the Doctor with power and responsibility absolutely perfectly in Ruler of the Universe.

(Photo: Actor David Warner.. Image Courtesy Big Finish Productions )

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A strong set of episodes

The answer is a definitive yes. Guy Adams and James Goss write four strong episodes for this box set, episodes that really explore what happens when the Doctor’s in charge. In particular, it explores how it affects his friendship with Bernice, how he tries to have adventures, and how difficult the job is for him.

All the episodes in Ruler of the Universe are fantastic, but the one that stands out the best is definitely Asking for a Friend. Exploring what happens when the Doctor goes to therapy, Asking for a Friend is a beautiful three-hander that really gets inside the Doctor’s head and lets us know exactly how he thinks. It really is one of the best Doctor Who stories that Big Finish has ever made.

Of course, as I mentioned, the other stories are also fantastic in their own right. Opening episode The City and the Clock is great at examining Bernice in her field of archaeology, while gradually breaking down her friendship with the Doctor. Truant brilliantly subverts the usual Doctor Who story in an interesting way, while The True Saviour of the Universe wraps up the box set – and indeed, the whole arc that began with The Unbound Universe – very nicely.

Ruler of the Universe isn’t as accessible as the previous volume. In fact, unlike previous volumes of The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield which worked very well as standalone epics, The Unbound Universe is definitely required listening for Ruler. But at the same time, Ruler is also the stronger box set. It’s a mature and excellent character study, while still giving us great stories. An absolutely essential box set for Doctor Who fans, even without a canon Doctor.

Do you think the Doctor could do a good job of running the universe? Or do you think they would automatically be a terrible fit for it? Have you listened to Ruler of the Universe, and if so, what did you think? Let us know in the comments below.