Doctor Who review: The Grey Man of the Mountain is a highly atmospheric story
By James Aggas
The Seventh Doctor, Ace, and the Brigadier investigate a strange mystery in Scotland, in the highly atmospheric Doctor Who audio The Grey Man of the Mountain.
This month saw not one but two brand new stories released in Big Finish’s monthly range of Doctor Who audios. The first, Plight of the Pimpernel, was an extremely enjoyable mix of historical adventure and moral complexity. This month’s other release, The Grey Man of the Mountain, is a little more low-key.
Set in Scotland – specifically around the mountain Ben Macdui – The Grey Man of the Mountain sees the Seventh Doctor and Ace arriving in the area to celebrate the upcoming new year. And they’re not the only ones who are there – their old friend Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart is also visiting.
However, it’s not just because of the Brigadier’s Scottish roots that have brought him to Ben Macdui. People have been going missing on the mountain. Even worse is that those who do come back are badly affected by what they’ve seen. The Brigadier is confident that he doesn’t need the Doctor’s help this time. But is he right?
Sophie Aldred joins Sylvester McCoy and Jon Culshaw for this highly atmospheric story.
Image courtesy Big Finish Productions
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Friends old…
Lizbeth Myles has written a beautifully atmospheric story, one that really throws the listener into the most dangerous and coldest parts of Scotland. It’s nice for a Doctor Who story set on a mountain to avoid the obvious choice of the Himalayas and firmly set it in Scotland instead, giving it more than a hint of the country’s history as it unfolds.
It’s also great to hear Jon Culshaw once again as the Brigadier. He’s been playing the role for Big Finish since last year, mostly for The Third Doctor Adventures. It’s great to hear him play a slightly older take on the role, one that’s more used to dealing with aliens and strange phenomena, even taking a more scientific approach these days. Culshaw fits alongside the iconic team of Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred very nicely, helping to make the character feel like a natural part of the story.
…and new
Naturally, along with being reunited with old friends, the Doctor and Ace also make a few new ones in this story. One character that particularly stands out is the vlogger Kirsty, who’s taking on the mountain more because of her own personal problems than anything else. Her relationship with Ace is a key part of the story, and this is aided greatly by both Myles’s writing as well as the chemistry between Sophie Aldred and Lucy Goldie as Ace and Kirsty.
The story is definitely slower-paced than this month’s other release, but that doesn’t stop The Grey Man of the Mountain from being equally strong on its own terms. Rich in atmosphere and strong in character focus, The Grey Man of the Mountain is a great example of a slow-burning Doctor Who story, and a perfect fit for the cold winter months.
Do you enjoy Doctor Who stories that take a more deliberately slower pace? What are your favorite examples? Which are the best stories that take place in Scotland? Let us know in the comments below.