DOCTOR WHO

Big Finish's "season 28" means that it's been a long time since the last Fifth Doctor and Peri story, THE EYE OF THE SCORPION.

That story saw the arrival of Erimem, played by Caroline Morris, rescued from Egypt at the end of that story. However, it looks as if her stay in the TARDIS will be a short one as the Doctor prepares to drop her off at the Braxiatel Collection. Fortunately, the TARDIS has other ideas...

THE CHURCH AND THE CROWN is the sort of historical story that Innes Lloyd and Gerry Davis might have come up with, had they not abandoned the genre after THE HIGHLANDERS. It's got a recongisable setting - 17th century France - and taps into a known piece of fiction - in this case, THE THREE MUSKETEERS.

As the title suggests, the Doctor, Peri and Erimem are caught up in the battle between Cardinal Richelieu and King Louis. Adding to their problems is the fact that one of the Doctor's companions bears more than a passing resemblance to Queen Anne.

Right from the start, this is a cracking story. It's a long way removed from PROJECT: TWILIGHT, the authors' previous story for Big Finish and easily surpasses it - the pacing is good and the script has plenty of wit about it.

It also has some great characters. Richelieu isn't the villain you might expect him to be, rather he comes across as a principled man who believes strongly in France, and who clashes with the vain King Louis. Both are well played by Michael Shallard and Andrew Mackay respectively.

As previously mentioned, Louis' wife Queen Anne closely resembles one of the Doctor's companions. The doppelganger idea might be one that DOCTOR WHO has used several times in the past, but it works better than usual here. Nicola Bryant gets a chance to play someone other than Peri, and clearly relishes her dual role.

Peri also seems to benefit from Erimem's arrival. She and the Fifth Doctor have always worked well together, but Erimem makes the regular team even stronger.

Caroline Morris is excellent in the role, conveying a sense of delight and awe at 17th century Paris as well as the forceful personality that you'd expect from a Pharoah. She's independent, resourceful and able to take charge of a situation (the scene where she and the Doctor first meet Louis is superb).

Neither have her origins been forgotten by the authors. She might be posing as Princess Erimem of Carthok, but she's still able to command soldiers and her suggestion that the story's villain be tortured is perfectly in keeping with the character's background.

Naturally this shocks the Doctor, but even so he's warmed to the character by the end of the story that he's happy to welcome her aboard the TARDIS.

After a short run of stories that were average at best, THE CHURCH AND THE CROWN sees Big Finish back to their best. BACK TO THE TOP

THE CHURCH AND THE CROWN

Written by CAVAN SCOTT & MARK WRIGHT

Directed by GARY RUSSELL

Starring PETER DAVISON,
with NICOLA BRYANT as Peri
and CAROLINE MORRIS as Erimem

BIG FINISH PRODUCTIONS

£13.99 CD

RATING: 10/10

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