A pleasant enough distraction for fans of the series
The mayor of Cardiff, Margaret Blaine, seems unusually interested in what appears to be a fallen spacecraft. For that matter so does Suzie Costello. Both of them are hiding secrets from each other. One is a member of Torchwood and the other is actually an alien from a race known as the Slitheen. These two unlikely people will form a literal bond through some alien technology and through a desire to save Cardiff from destruction, courtesy of missiles aimed directly at them.
The third release from the current monthly series of Torchwood releases is set in the early days of the modern Doctor Who universe and prior to the first television season of Torchwood. Listeners familiar with those eras will recognise the two characters, both of whom had fleeting appearances on their respective shows. Indira Varma and Annette Badland reprise their roles as Costello and Blaine easily. Badlands in particular, never seems to tire of portraying her character and finding new ways to sound delightfully evil every time. They are joined by Raj Ghatak who plays a number of small supporting roles throughout.
The script by Lisa McMullin is strong on humour but thin on plot and character development. It hits predictable beats at the right times and does not provide the listener with too many surprises or shocks. Unlike other releases from this series, this is relatively mild in the themes explored and the language chosen.
Director Scott Handcock continues his excellent work behind the desk, keeping his small ensemble ticking along nicely and making sure the energy never abates too much. As usual, the music and sound mix by Blair Mowatt and Richard Fox is excellent and helps compliment the story well.
Included in the release are previews for upcoming Torchwood dramas, as well as an interview with the cast.
This may not be the best story from the monthly range, but it is a pleasant enough distraction for fans of the series who will not be too upset over the treatment of either of the main characters. And, of course, it is always good to bring back the Slitheen whenever possible!
Reviewed by Rodney Hrvatin
Twitter: @Wagnerfan74
Distributed by: Big Finish Productions
Released: May 2019
Approx RRP: $18 CD, $8 Digital Download
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