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THE CHIMES
OF MIDNIGHT |
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Robert Shearman's first Big Finish audio, The Holy Terror, was one of the highlights of the range to date. Given the high standard of his earlier story, and the fact that he's writing for Paul McGann and India Fisher - one of the series' best ever Doctor/companion teams in my opinion - expectations were high. Fortunately, they were met, if not surpassed, as The Chimes of Midnight is one of the best audios so far. There are several similarities between The Chimes of Midnight and The Holy Terror, notably the fact that the action takes place in an isolated location - an Edwardian mansion, where the TARDIS lands in the servants' quarters on Christmas Eve. There's a small cast, even for a Big Finish audio, but before too long they're being killed off, and in a manner that reflects their jobs. So Edith the scullery maid (excellently played by Louise Rolfe) gets drowned in her own sink at the stroke of ten o'clock. Except, as the Doctor points out, it's impossible for her to have drowned standing up. However, as the Doctor and Charley are trying to solve Edith's murder, there's another one on the stroke of eleven. Except, as Charley points out, time is moving on faster than it should. Since the pattern of the murders indicates another one at midnight, this is a race against time in more than one sense. Yet despite the dark nature of the story, there are still some great comic lines (another similarity with The Holy Terror). A couple of elements in Chimes reminded me slightly of Sapphire & Steel (which is no bad thing of course) - the isolated setting and the mysterious threat, while the murders brought Adventure Five to mind. Like Sapphire & Steel, Chimes relies heavily on its atmosphere for its success, so it's just as well that the music and sound design are up to the usual BF standards. First-time director Barnaby Edwards also gets some strong performances from the cast, which adds to the atmosphere no end. Chimes is also notable for India Fisher's first appearance on the cover of a BF audio. It's both appropriate and deserved as despite the strong acting from the cast (McGann is as good as ever), she really does shine. The effect of the Doctor taking Charley out of time is explored, her scenes with Edith are excellent and her regression (after eating plum pudding!) is quite chilling. Invaders From Mars got "season 28" off to a cracking start, but The Chimes of Midnight manages to up the quality another notch. Robert Shearman is setting himself some high standards, so let's hope he lkeeps it up. BACK TO THE TOP |
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