11. The Apocalypse Element

The New Doctor Who’s first show runner Russell T Davis declared this story to be the first shots in the Great Time War that has dominated so much of the returning TV series first Decade. The Apocalypse Element was penned by Stephen Cole returning after the less than stella Land of the Dead.
It does have an epic quality but finds itself at time weighed down by the scale. The sixth Doctor and a newish companion, the return of Romana (Lalla Ward), the return of the Daleks, the return of Vansell, and the return to Gallifrey. All these have to be rushed through to get on with plot which is wide in scope but scant in character.
Nicholas Brigg directs at a breathless pace and the cast go at it with Gusto, The result is a thoroughly enjoyable romp which is great fun. Of course, you can pick apart the plot and there are a few silly moments which stand out, especially on a second listen. However, the tale is such good fun you that your unlikely to care.
Baker is excellent as ever, and hearing Lalla Ward is a great wad of nostalgia. Maggie Stables is less well used, understandably side-lined in a Gallifrey versus the Daleks battle heavy storyline.
This is advertised as the second story in the Dalek Empire trilogy, but it is a stand alone story who’s only link the Genocide Machine is the appearance of the Daleks.
The plot involves the Doctor and Evelyn getting caught up in a Dalek plot to invade Gallifrey. However, the usual slow paced Gallifreyan politic based stories the features the Doctors home world, is set aside for a full scale shooting war story of resistance and heroism. Central to the Daleks invasions plans is the need for Gallifreyan technology to control an element with potential to destroy the universe.
This gives plenty of scope for the supporting cast to cry havoc and the duly do so. The soundscape and music are also high points.
The Apocalypse Element is an epic feeling tale which hits many high points and although lacking depth will put a smile on your face.

If the Fourth Doctor story 'Genesis of the Daleks' is considered to be the start of the Time War, this Sixth Doctor Dalek story could be considered to be one of its earliest if not the earliest battle. When a peace treaty on the planet of Archetryx goes awry, the Sixth Doctor and audio-only companion Evelyn become embroiled in a mystery involving something secret in the vast mines of the planet, an ancient element unseen for hundreds of years, and the Time Lords / Gallifrey itself. While the plot may be a little bit over the top with too many links to make it easy for new fans to get in to, it's worth to get an amazing war time Dalek story with not only Six but also the return of Romana II played once again flawlessly by Lalla Ward. It's dramatic, exciting, and powerful in the vein of a good space opera with everything turned up to 11 especially by the end and was unknowingly the first real taste of the Time War that we got before the Time War even existed. Thus, it remains a strong favorite of mine especially with the Sixth Doctor.

While I appreciate what Stephen Cole was trying to do here, I feel that The Apocalypse Element can most charitably be described as an ambitious failure. There's certainly nothing wrong with trying to take advantage of the audio medium to tell a story with a scope and scale far larger than anything that could have been accomplished on television. However, size isn't everything. It started off well enough in Part One, but the pace and intensity ramp up very quickly. Then we're in non-stop crisis-mode for the remaining three episodes, and it's exhausting to the point of becoming tedious. The story has some really good ideas at the heart of it, but they tend to get lost in the muddle. So do the characters, for that matter.

The Apocalypse Element represented Big Finish’s most ambitious production at the time as we’re given a massive tale of a Dalek plan to invade Gallifrey and take over the Universe.

This time of thing has been tried since, but the Apocalypse Element works exceptionally well because it manages to really create the feeling of a true space epic where the galaxies burn and the Universe itself is at stake. Lalla Ward’s return as Romana makes this story a standout, particularly her brilliant monologue in Episode 2.

While there are some slow moments in the first part and the soundscape could probably stand being remastered, this is a very well done space epic, and listened to in light of the new series, this story can also be seen as a prelude to the Time War.