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The last couple of Big Finish audios have seen a steady improvement from the dire SIRENS OF TIME, so expectations for THE LAND OF THE DEAD were pretty high, especially since once again it features Peter Davison as the Doctor. Paired with Turlough in PHANTASMAGORIA, this time the Fifth Doctor is teamed with Nyssa for this story set between TIMEFLIGHT and ARC OF INFINITY. On the downside, Stephen Cole's sleeve notes say that he only had a week in which to write the scripts. Hmmm.... We start off with the TARDIS hovering above Alaska in 1964, where the Doctor and Nyssa narrowly avoid a light aircraft, before jumping thirty years in time but staying in exactly the same place. The majority of the action takes place in a bizarre house built by millionaire Shaun Brett (played by Christopher Scott). Also present are designer Monica Lewis (Lucy Campbell), the rather hostile Gaborik (Andrew Fettes) and the half-Inuit Tulung (Neil Roberts - Rex Buckland in CHARMED). It has to be said that THE LAND OF THE DEAD isn't startlingly original. The return of an ancient threat is something that's been done several times previously - THE SEA DEVILS and THE DAEMONS spring to immediate mind. However, the Alaskan setting does at least provide some variety. Performances are generally pretty good too. Peter Davison is superb as the Doctor, and Sarah Sutton turns is a good performance as Nyssa. Of the guest cast, Lucy Campbell puts in a great performance as Monica, who fulfills the companion role in the later episodes after the Doctor and Nyssa have been split up. On the downside, Gaborik seemed a bit stereotyped and Neil Roberts' accent seemed a bit variable - American Who fans are probably feeling the same way that some of us on this side of the Atlantic do over the English accents in BUFFY. Production is as excellent as ever, and there are some good cliffhangers here as well, although the last couple of lines seemed just plain ridiculous. Minor niggles apart, this is another highly enjoyable and atmospheric story from Big Finish. Let's hope they can maintain the standard. BACK TO THE TOP |
THE LAND OF THE DEAD |
