1.4 - One Life

The boxset has a very good final episode that really draws on the events of the last three episodes, adds some surprises and some good quality drama.

Since Theseus, a number of characters has been working alongside the Doctor and it is now important to have been paying attention. We have been listening to some clever writing without knowing it and now I cannot congratulate it enough without spoiling the whole story.

The finale turns our understanding of the first three episodes completely on its head as we learn what the Dalkes and Time Lords really want and one character faces a heart breaking decision.

In many way, this is the typical John Dorney story, but it's more the typical middle or beginning John Dorney story than the end due to the intimate nature of the story. One Life manages to become far bigger in scope as time weapons are deployed and fleets clash, but also more intimate as our focus is drawn to one character and the decisions he must make. Overall, it's brilliant, and tragic, and makes for a superb end that shows the evils and heartbreak of the Time War.

With the finale of this first Series, the full force of the Time War finally comes crashing down. The timelines have been altered, both sides are prepared, and a desperate battle for survival begins. While the Doctor and his friends simply want to get out alive, Ollistra has her own agenda searching for a weapon that can end the War permanently and she will kill anyone who stands in her way. Surrounded on all sides by hatred and death and with the situation growing more desperate by the hour, it's all up to a man who will do everything to avoid a fight. 'One Life' is a brutal story with the Daleks slaughtering left and right and with plenty of juxtapositional flashbacks that tie everything back together. This time however, the Doctor's ego really gets the better of him and what's truly going on is so much bigger and more intriguing than a simple Doctor-Dalek / Time Lord conflict and chase. Two side characters suddenly become extremely important practically right out of the blue with a big twist about halfway through that changes what you think you knew about the set as a whole with one member of the side cast in particular holding the key to everything. It's an intriguing surprise and one that I'm sure will make this set warrant repeat listens in the future. I won't say too much more but in the end, it comes to a respectable (if a little bit confusing) conclusion that stumbles a bit but sees the status quo momentarily restored but the question remains: how much longer can the Doctor avoid the War? That will be what needs to be answered in Series 2 next year.