Big Finish Discussion

[misterharry]

As an avid listener of Big Finish's Doctor Who audios, I was wondering whether they are many others on here who are fans of their output. If not, I guess this thread will quickly die a death, but let's see!

Feel free to post anything you want related to BF. What are you currently listening to? What are your favourites? What don't you like? What are you looking forward to? Anything you want.

The hot news this week is that BF are to release a series of box-sets featuring Kate Lethbridge-Stewart and UNIT. Is this a stepping stone towards Big Finish finally getting a full New Series licence? Myself, I'm not so sure.
Not that I wouldn't welcome New Series audios. I just wonder which of the Doctors they'd be able to use. Eccleston - probably not interested. Tennant - too busy/expensive (though he has some history with BF, so he might be tempted). Smith - too busy/probably too expensive. Capaldi - as a fan, he might want to give it a go, but would he be able to fit it between filming the TV series and other projects?

[Escher]

I’ve never listened to any Big Finish audio, and know almost nothing of them but this week, this caught my attention:

www.bigfinish.com/news/v/unit---extinction







I heard there's extended universe stuff out there that’s brilliant and might be ripe for harvesting scenario ideas from. I'm particularly interested in Pertwee / Master /UNIT 70's era stories. I also heard there are some 'origin' stories too (Davros etc).

Could anyone give me any pointers on what are the best stories to start with?

Thanks.

[Catsmate]

Feb 11, 2015 15:19:30 GMT misterharry said:

As an avid listener of Big Finish's Doctor Who audios, I was wondering whether they are many others on here who are fans of their output. If not, I guess this thread will quickly die a death, but let's see!

Feel free to post anything you want related to BF. What are you currently listening to? What are your favourites? What don't you like? What are you looking forward to? Anything you want.

I've tried a few of the BF audioplays and I was underwhelmed. Some are good (The One Doctor most of the Unbound series ), some are good but damn-all to do with Who (the Davros and Dalek Empire series) and some were mediocre at best (Trail of the White Worm). Rather like th EU novels.

Feb 11, 2015 15:19:30 GMT misterharry said:

The hot news this week is that BF are to release a series of box-sets featuring Kate Lethbridge-Stewart and UNIT. Is this a stepping stone towards Big Finish finally getting a full New Series licence? Myself, I'm not so sure.

Interesting. I'm not sure the BBC would be interested in such a deal though. The KLS plays would be more of an extension of their existing UNIT range.

Feb 11, 2015 15:19:30 GMT misterharry said:

Not that I wouldn't welcome New Series audios. I just wonder which of the Doctors they'd be able to use. Eccleston - probably not interested. Tennant - too busy/expensive (though he has some history with BF, so he might be tempted). Smith - too busy/probably too expensive. Capaldi - as a fan, he might want to give it a go, but would he be able to fit it between filming the TV series and other projects?

They could use other actors to voice the roles. As you say most of the principals would probably not be available.

[Catsmate]

Feb 11, 2015 15:34:14 GMT Escher said:

I’ve never listened to any Big Finish audio, and know almost nothing of them but this week, this caught my attention:

www.bigfinish.com/news/v/unit---extinction







I heard that there are extended universe stuff out there that’s brilliant and might be ripe for harvesting scenario ideas from. I'm particularly interested in Pertwee / Master /UNIT 70's era stories. I also heard there are some 'origin' stories too (Davros etc).

Could anyone give me any pointers on what are the best stories to start with?

Thanks.

Looks interesting. I see they're not hiding the appearance of the Autons.
I wonder will they feature the Zygons? Or will that bit of continuity be forgotten about.

[misterharry]

Feb 11, 2015 15:34:14 GMT Escher said:

I heard there's extended universe stuff out there that’s brilliant and might be ripe for harvesting scenario ideas from. I'm particularly interested in Pertwee / Master /UNIT 70's era stories. I also heard there are some 'origin' stories too (Davros etc).

Could anyone give me any pointers on what are the best stories to start with?

Thanks.

Not much in the way of 3rd Doctor/Master/UNIT stuff from Big Finish, I'm afraid. With many of the actors involved now deceased, it's difficult for them to produce full-cast dramas in that era. Some of their Companion Chronicles releases are pretty good though (sort of souped up audiobooks, with a second narrator, sound effects and incidental music), though I can't think of any featuring the Master and UNIT off hand, at least not set in the Pertwee era. By their nature, focussing on the companion/main narrator, the Doctor generally plays second fiddle in the Companion Chronicles. But I'd recommend Old Soldiers (a story from the Brig's perspective) and Shadow of the Past (Liz Shaw). I particularly enjoy The Scorchies and Find and Replace (Jo Grant stories), but both are rather whimsical so might not be to everyone's tastes, and UNIT only has an "off-screen" role in the former and don't feature at all in the latter. Big Finish have also announced a 3rd Doctor box-set for later this year, apparently with a soundalike for Jon Pertwee.

If you want an excellent UNIT/Master story, I'd actually recommend a novel: Harvest of Time, by Alastair Reynolds (also available as an audiobook read by Geoffrey Beevers).

I, Davros is the Davros origin story you mentioned. It's a mini-series of 4 CDs, and it really very good, taking us from Davros's youth up to Genesis of the Daleks. But as Catsmate says, it doesn't feature the Doctor at all.

As for other "origin" stories, Master delves into the background of guess who. It's a 7th Doctor/Master (Geoffrey Beevers incarnation) story and is generally highly praised - it just doesn't do it for me though, not sure why. And Omega is great fun if you like a good helping of humour with your Who - again, guess who it's about!

[Escher]

Feb 11, 2015 17:19:39 GMT misterharry said:

But I'd recommend Old Soldiers (a story from the Brig's perspective) and Shadow of the Past (Liz Shaw). I particularly enjoy The Scorchies and Find and Replace (Jo Grant stories)

I, Davros is the Davros origin story you mentioned. It's a mini-series of 4 CDs, and it really very good, taking us from Davros's youth up to Genesis of the Daleks. But as Catsmate says, it doesn't feature the Doctor at all.

Thanks for this! They are on now my list.

I did read Harvest of Time and enjoyed it.

[Hedgewick]

I'm a regular Big Finish listener. I'm particularly fond of the Eighth Doctor audios, which I'm in the midst of listening through in order. Thanks to Big Finish, whole seasons of adventures starring Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor have unfolded before my mind's eye. The company has done some wonderful work. They're at their best when they make the most of the audio format, embracing storylines ideal for the medium. At the very least, it's wonderful to have a never-ending flow of new Doctor Who adventures and spinoffs. News of UNIT: Extinction's release is exciting for all of us who have been waiting patiently for word regarding the new series license. Here's hoping that all of the new series Doctors eventually find their way to audio!

[Catsmate]

Feb 11, 2015 19:22:16 GMT Hedgewick said:

I'm a regular Big Finish listener. I'm particularly fond of the Eighth Doctor audios, which I'm in the midst of listening through in order. Thanks to Big Finish, whole seasons of adventures starring Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor have unfolded before my mind's eye. The company has done some wonderful work. They're at their best when they make the most of the audio format, embracing storylines ideal for the medium. At the very least, it's wonderful to have a never-ending flow of new Doctor Who adventures and spinoffs. News of UNIT: Extinction's release is exciting for all of us who have been waiting patiently for word regarding the new series license. Here's hoping that all of the new series Doctors eventually find their way to audio!

This I agree with wholeheartedly. When they work to the audioplay format they can produce some damn good stuff. And their Eighth Doctor audios are amongst the best

[misterharry]

Feb 11, 2015 17:19:39 GMT misterharry said:

As for other "origin" stories, Master delves into the background of guess who. It's a 7th Doctor/Master (Geoffrey Beevers incarnation) story and is generally highly praised - it just doesn't do it for me though, not sure why. And Omega is great fun if you like a good helping of humour with your Who - again, guess who it's about!

Oh, one other "origins" story that I should have mentioned is Space Parts, a 5th Doctor story set on Mondas. One of my absolute favourites - I really must give it a re-listen.

And yes, the 8th Doctor audios have been consistently good. Though the current Dark Eyes box-sets haven't grabbed me as much as the previous monthly Lucie Bleedin' Miller series. I think it's partly that I don't find the new version of the Master that convincing.

[bilbo]

My favorite doctor on audio is the 6th. BF really gave him a chance to shine and show what he coulda done with the part if given the chance. His boisterous performance is complimented by the audio format, he's given more of a chance to show his range as an actor (from bombastic to quieter and more compassionate), and you don't get distracted by the crazy outfit

Plus, he has one of my all time favorite companions, Evelyn (played by the wonderful Maggie Stables who I believed passed away recently). She's older than the usual companion (so probably would never appear on TV), but they had a great chemistry and a really touching story arc. I don't think there was a single Evelyn story that wasn't at least good, if not great - some I count as some of my favorite Who stories of all time.

I'm also a big fan of the 1st and 2nd on audio. Just listening to Frazier Hines do the 2nd doctor and Jamie and a narrator all in one story is incredible. It's like Patrick Troughton has come back to life.

Anyway, I could go on, but I just wanted to chime in with some BF love.

[Catsmate]

I agree that Colin Baker really works well in the BF audios, far better than he generally managed on screen. They're really well done.

[misterharry]

Feb 19, 2015 19:19:05 GMT bilbo said:

I'm also a big fan of the 1st and 2nd on audio. Just listening to Frazier Hines do the 2nd doctor and Jamie and a narrator all in one story is incredible. It's like Patrick Troughton has come back to life.

I love Frazer's version of the 2nd Doctor - it's uncanny. I'm looking forward to the 2nd Doctor Early Adventures due later this year, as they're virtually full-cast and with Frazer it'll seem as if Troughton was involved as well.

But in terms of stories, I think the 1st Doctor Companion Chronicles have the edge. There have been some absolute corkers, particularly some of those narrated by William Russell, Peter Purves or Jean Marsh - The Rocket Men, Return of the Rocket Men, the Oliver Harper trilogy, the Sara Kingdom trilogy, absolute classics all. There's a 1st Doctor Companion Chronicles box-set out in June, which should be fantastic:

[misterharry]

This news is a week or so old now, but for any of you you haven't heard yet - Big Finish have announced more New Series related releases for 2016:

More New Series Doctor Who from Big Finish

A box-set starring River Song (plus River will also be appearing in one of next year's 8th Doctor sets).
A box-set in which Winston Churchill relates adventures with the 9th, 10th and 11th Doctors.
And a box-set in which the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Doctors square off against Weeping Angels, Judoon, Sycorax and Time War-era Sontarans.

Sadly, no news of the return of any of the actors playing the New Series Doctors - I assume the Churchill stories will be told in the style of Companion Chronicles. Personally, I'm hoping for an announcement of a War Doctor box-set - if Big Finish could afford to hire John Hurt, of course!

[Catsmate]

Jul 6, 2015 12:44:30 GMT misterharry said:

This news is a week or so old now, but for any of you you haven't heard yet - Big Finish have announced more New Series related releases for 2016:

More New Series Doctor Who from Big Finish

A box-set starring River Song (plus River will also be appearing in one of next year's 8th Doctor sets).
A box-set in which Winston Churchill relates adventures with the 9th, 10th and 11th Doctors.
And a box-set in which the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Doctors square off against Weeping Angels, Judoon, Sycorax and Time War-era Sontarans.

Sadly, no news of the return of any of the actors playing the New Series Doctors - I assume the Churchill stories will be told in the style of Companion Chronicles. Personally, I'm hoping for an announcement of a War Doctor box-set - if Big Finish could afford to hire John Hurt, of course!

Excellent news. I wonder if The Churchill Years will mesh with the events of the PDA Players.

[misterharry]

Big Finish have just announced another classic series/new series crossover in the form of Jago & Litefoot & Strax, a 2-disc special due out in November.

It had to happen really, fan-favourite Victorian sleuths from the classic series meeting a fan-favourite Victorian sleuth() from the new series. It should be a blast!

[Catsmate]

I like that mix! I wonder how it'll work out.

BTW I just listened to the two Robert Knox audioplays, Medicinal Purposes and Assassin in the Limelight. I found then generally good but let down by some sloppiness in the details (regarding Christaan Barnard and the error of a nickel tip in 1865) and the rather weird personality the Doctor displays when meeting Burke.

[misterharry]

Wow! Just read Big Finish's announcement this morning that they are producing a series of box-sets starring John Hurt as the War Doctor:

Doctor Who: The War Doctor

There will be four box-sets, each containing three linked hour-long stories, starting with Only the Monstrous in December this year and Infernal Devices in February 2016.

There will also be a prequel box-set starring Paul McGann's 8th Doctor, titled The Time War and due out in November 2017.

Can't wait!

[Catsmate]

Oooo, Jacqueline Pearce again. I was just listening to her in The Fearmonger.

[Stormcrow]

I'm surprised they managed to get licensed to do the Time War and War Doctor stuff.

[misterharry]

Agreed. I hope that by hearing more of the Time War, it doesn't diminish its mythic status.

Incidentally, there have also been some very strong rumours recently that Big Finish are about to announce a 10th Doctor & Donna series.

[Hedgewick]

Oct 5, 2015 13:48:21 GMT misterharry said:

Agreed. I hope that by hearing more of the Time War, it doesn't diminish its mythic status.

Incidentally, there have also been some very strong rumours recently that Big Finish are about to announce a 10th Doctor & Donna series.

I wasn't so sure about those rumors. After this morning's announcement regarding John Hurt, I'm inclined to believe they're true! Wait and see...

[bilbo]

I just pre-ordered the first War Doctor boxed set! Can't wait! I hadn't heard the rumor about 10 & Donna, but more and more characters from the new series are creeping in to Big Finish, so fingers crossed...

[misterharry]

Oct 5, 2015 13:48:21 GMT misterharry said:

Incidentally, there have also been some very strong rumours recently that Big Finish are about to announce a 10th Doctor & Donna series.

Turns out the rumours were correct: Big Finish have just announced a set of three adventures starring David Tennant and Catherine Tate to be released in May 2016, available individually and as part of The Tenth Doctor Adventures Volume 1 - Limited Edition:

The Tenth Doctor Adventures!

[Catsmate]

No news of anything with Christopher Eccleston?

[misterharry]

Oct 26, 2015 11:47:20 GMT Catsmate said:

No news of anything with Christopher Eccleston?

It would be nice. But no, nothing at present.

There were hints a few years ago that BF were discussing a non-Who project with him. But even that hasn't materialised yet.

[misterharry]

The Tenth Doctor Adventures box-set has been released today and such is the level of interest that the Big Finish site seems unable to cope with the volume of traffic - I've not been able to get onto it since first thing this morning. I'd hazard a guess that this is good news for Big Finish in terms of sales!

[bilbo]

Its working now, just downloaded my MP3. Can't wait to listen to it after work!!

[starkllr]

My favorite doctor on audio is the 6th. BF really gave him a chance to shine and show what he coulda done with the part if given the chance. His boisterous performance is complimented by the audio format, he's given more of a chance to show his range as an actor (from bombastic to quieter and more compassionate), and you don't get distracted by the crazy outfit

Doctor Who and the Pirates. A musical episode. Colin Baker sings!

That's all I have to say.

[bilbo]

That's one of my favorites!

[Catsmate]

I've picked up Technophobia, Time Reaver and Death and the Queen to keep myself entertained on my travels. Technophobia is good so far. And no Rose.

ETA [MON23MAY2016]
Technophobia is good, Time Reaver is poor-to-mediocre and I've only started Death and the Queen.