198. The Defectors

The story starts off decently. Katie Manning and Sylvester McCoy have good chemistry together and both turn in good performances. The plot starts off well, but ultimately gets bogged down in the final episode and a half. The alien threat in this one is irritating and too much of the Fourth Episode is spent dithering about philosophizing. In addition, the final two cliffhangers are a bit weak. Overall, not horrible, but also a bit of a weak start to the trilogy.

Personally, I really enjoyed this story. I loved Jo and the 7th dr. I think it's long overdue for Big Finish to give the 7th Dr. a variety of companions like they have with the 6th & 8th Drs. And I thought Katy Manning was superb with Slyvester McCoy. I really do hope we get to have plenty more stories with Jo as a companion, as the 3rd Doctor was truly my absolute favourite as far as classic doctor who TV went and Jo's character was such s big part of it. Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable story with hints of rememberance to Jo's era of doctor who.

Upon landing on the island the sound goes rather muffled for some reason, but normal service is resumed in the pub. I absolutely adore Katy Manning so I won't tell you what I think she sounds like. You get used to it but then again you don't have much choice. Katy and Sylvester both come across as rather outgoing in their public appearances so I can understand why they would team Jo and Seven up but I think they lack some rapport. After having heard some of Sylvester's earlier Big Finish appearances I have to say he is miles better here. I have to say I was disappointed they didn't get to have a jaunt in the Tardis. The Brigadier seems to be permanently in Geneva. The beginning of part 2 is hilarious; they find the whole pub dead in the sea. Come on that's black humour isn't it? Not one body but 15? Lots of filler but comedies are always plot light. Still it was very funny. It was a comedy wasn't it? Well it was funnier than 'Bang-Bang-Aboom!' at any rate, and 'Invaders from Mars'. The music and sound effects are of the usual high standard, but the alien voices area again heavily modulated. I doubt it's going to rock anyone's world. 7

This is a nice turn and change for the companions, what Big Finish have done here is allow the companions to run out sequence with respective Doctor's. For this first outing we have Doctor No.7 the old umbrella man accompanied with Jo Grant. The story is based around a bunch of alien's stranded on Earth having been able to enlist the services of the British Army, and moreover, UNIT, due a NLP style fluid that makes what ever is dunked in it their telepathic prisoner, with this style of power the fake UNIT have convienced the Doctor and Jo that there is something to deal with on a distant United Kingdom isle some three hours off the British coast. Once they are safety delivered to the Isle of Delphin, they realise that their so called friends from UNIT who have abducted them are far from whom they seem, and are under the influence of aliens, and have been for some considerable time. The other thing that causes most concern is why is the man who is calling himself the Doctor, not Jo Grant's Doctor, and why have they swapped places...

Well, well, what we have here is a sort of mix of old and new, best from both worlds, the idea of pitting a newer with older companion I especially enjoyed the interaction of Jo with Doctor No.7. They play off one another wonderfully well. I think this is actually quite a good pairing. The story is not the strongest vehicle I think and a stronger story would have been better vehicle for this concept, and perhaps the use of more established alien enemy. However that aside the story bounces along and to be fair by the end you feel, you have gone on a journey in a sort of retro Who mixed with retro Who.
Hope there are more to come, this is a wonderful idea with what I think as massive potential.