Big Finish: Doctor Who - Perfect Between Series

This week I’ve spoken enough about Doctor Who I either don’t trust in liking or simply don’t like in the first place; I want to talk about what has (sort of) kept my faith in the entity. Doctor Who is too big to just call it a show anymore, it is beyond that. Books and spin-off series translated into several languages have been around for over half a century. They have featured actors and special guests from across the globe, a monthly comic, and most importantly, an audio drama series with hundreds and hundreds of episodes.

I was going to hold this off until our break later this month, but I didn’t like this week in the review or the news, so I need something to cheer me up. I’ve been somewhat vocal on the fact I find Chris Chibnall’s writing terribly exposition-heavy and dull, not to mention my current reviews marooned in Donna Noble’s territory. Yet I’ve not been bogged down in that hatred of crap writing and awful characters that make me hate life as it stands. In fact, I’ve fallen further in love with Who, more than I ever have. I said it several weeks ago now; I’ve fallen in love with Ace and Evelyn Smythe.

The Big Finish Productions are some of the best Doctor Who episodes I’ve ever come across and they keep getting better. Currently, Tennant is playing the Doctor more now than he did in the four-year run between 2005-2009. There is a series with Paul Cornell’s companion from the book series, Professor Bernice Summerfield. Paul McGann’s 8th Doctor actually gets a story to work with instead of the tripe that was the American film that didn’t understand Doctor Who. Eccleston, the man who swore off the role because he didn’t want to be pinned down to it, and the man who defined the role for the modern era, has come back to double-up the total number of episodes he’s been in.

As I’ve previously said, I love Doctor Who with every bit of my being. However, sometimes it is difficult to enjoy. I won’t lie, I find Peri as annoying as rubbing your nipples against a cheese grater would be, but that’s a personal issue. If I were to list those, I’d note that the 5th and 6th Doctors aren’t too dissimilar to listen to without a keen ear. Without exposition to tell which is which, it can be confusing. Then again, according to my editor Alexx, the fact The War Doctor isn’t numbered between 8 and 9 while the rest of them are, it’s all confusing.

Putting aside frivolous concerns such as that out the way, it is not only great Doctor Who; it is a fantastic way to explore the generation of Who I wasn’t around for in its original release. As much as Alexx and others believe I am 1237-years old, Eccleston was my first Doctor and we crossed paths at the perfect time. I and many others my age often don’t go back to what is termed Classic-Who, or when we have… It has been behind fingers as the TV’s quality has vastly exceeded some of the tripe. That’s not to say all Classic-Who is bad; there are just some bits that don’t age-well because of props and other pieces.

In this lengthy time between Series 12 and Series 13 of the show, and generally good Who, it is the perfect time to fall into the arms of the classic Doctors. It is time for a proper adventure between eras helmed by most living Doctors. Additionally, following John Hurt’s death in 2017, we have one spectacular Doctor that has sadly passed but will continue. Jumping from Doctor and companion to others, the often feature-length nature of the stories, and overall wealth of character, writing, and adventure, there is no better Who to dive head-first into.

I’d also advise jumping into the books, though that’s a whole other glee filled explosion of love for the darker themes set out by Cornell’s New Adventure books. I could also possibly recommend the TNG crossover in the comics. Maybe one day I’ll talk about Lockdown shorts and extras. Something tells me that I won’t stop talking about Doctor Who anytime soon.