Doctor Who review: The Paternoster Gang: A Photograph to Remember
By James Aggas
In the second episode of Doctor Who audio spin-off The Paternoster Gang, the trio encounters a group similar to their own. But are they similar enough to get along?
In just its second episode, Doctor Who audio spin-off The Paternoster Gang introduces us to a new set of recurring characters. The trio of Stonn, Vella, and Tom Foster form “the Bloomsbury Bunch”. As you can probably guess, they’re in some ways a counterpart to our three protagonists. The Bunch is even formed of a Sontaran, a Silurian, and a human. But do they follow the same goals as the Gang?
What’s particularly appealing about the idea of the Bloomsbury Bunch is that, in some ways, it’s one that you’d have expected Steven Moffat himself to have thought of. And for something like a spin-off based on a group of characters he created, that’s definitely a strong point.
Even better is that the Bunch isn’t simply an “evil” version of the Gang, but they aren’t a carbon copy, either. Along with having a very different dynamic (particularly since with this trio, it’s the Sontaran who’s the leader), they’re also less interested in keeping London safe. They’re out to achieve their own goals, but the problem is that they don’t entirely know what they’re doing. As a result, not only do they inadvertently create a clear threat for the gang. But they also add plenty of humor, too.
Arthur Hughes and Christopher Ryan feature as two members of The Bloomsbury Bunch. Are they as successful a group as The Paternoster Gang?
Image Courtesy Big Finish Productions
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An unusual little Bunch
So what is the threat presented in A Photograph to Remember? I’d rather not spoil too much, but it’s a classic horror staple. Like The Cars That Ate London!, the second episode of The Paternoster Gang presents us with a fresh and distinctly Victorian twist on a classic idea.
The Bunch is an enjoyable group to listen to. But one member that really stands out is Christopher Ryan as Stonn. This was a decent bit of casting, especially since, like Dan Starkey, he’s played the Sontarans on television. Starkey often plays the Sontarans on audio, and he’s very good at making the many voices distinctive, but it’s nice to have Ryan return and remind us how great he is. Not just at playing Sontarans, but also for his handling of comedy, too. (Ryan is perhaps best known to UK viewers as Mike in Eighties sitcom The Young Ones.)
With a neat twist on some classic horror ideas, plus a rather interesting counterpart to the Gang, A Photograph to Remember is another fun and enjoyable episode of The Paternoster Gang.
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Do you think a counterpart to the gang should have been introduced on television? Or do you think it’s an idea best left to their own spin-off series? Let us know in the comments below.