‘Doctor Who: Audacity’ Review – A Blazing Introduction To A New Era For The Eighth Doctor

Long before the Time War, before Liv Chenka and Helen Sinclair, before Lucie Miller, before Dark Eyes and Doom Coalition, lies an unexplored area of the Eighth Doctor’s (Paul McGann) life. In Doctor Who: Audacity, Big Finish Productions ushers in a new era for the Eighth Doctor. Joined by a new companion, Lady Audacity Montague (Jaye Griffiths), the Eighth Doctor goes from Regency England to the end of the Great Cyber-War in a trilogy of action-packed stories that straddle the line between comedy, horror, and sci-fi camp. It offers a blazing introduction for Griffiths’ Audacity, a trilogy of Eighth Doctor stories that rival some of his most iconic, and a perfect jumping-on point for listeners new and old alike. What more could you ask for?

The Devouring by Lisa McMullin

For all her life, Lady Audacity Montague (Jaye Griffiths) has gazed at the stars, wishing for a life unlike her own. But what happens when the stars gaze back? What happens when Audacity gets everything she’s ever wanted? As the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for. A lesson Audacity learns the hard way as the Devouring (Richard Reed) invades her home in Regency England. And right on their tail is the Doctor (Paul McGann). But can the Doctor save Audacity before it’s too late? Or will the Devouring wipe out Audacity and everyone she’s ever loved? Lisa McMullin’s The Devouring offers a very classic Eighth Doctor tale. It’s got a dash of swashbuckling action, a bit of horror, and a whole lot of humor. It’s nothing groundbreaking, per se, but it’s a solid story in its own right.

The Devouring’s big draw, of course, is the introduction of Audacity as the Eighth Doctor’s latest companion. Audacity is a woman from a different time, wholly unlike the rest of Regency England nobility. A woman with an eye toward the future. A fighter for the helpless, a warrior for the defenseless. She pairs exceedingly well with McGann’s Eighth Doctor, a Doctor who always wears his heart plainly on his sleeve. Griffiths delivers a stellar performance, equal parts vulnerable and wholly independent—a companion with tons of room to grow. McGann is typically great, but Griffiths easily steals the show. The story itself, however, is a bit pedestrian. The Devouring has all the potential to be a classic Doctor Who baddie, but the story doesn’t do much with them. It’s very much a story about Audacity—about how she ends up traveling with the Doctor, and why. And in that respect, it works exceedingly well.

With shades of Storm Warning (the Eighth Doctor’s very first Big Finish story), a horrific villain, and a healthy dose of humor, The Devouring delivers a joyride from start to finish. A perfect jumping-on point for listeners new and old alike. (8.5 out of 10)

The Great Cyber-War (Part 1) by Tim Foley

Audacity’s first trip on the TARDIS takes her to the space station Aurum. A station full of decadence, covered in gold and packed with partygoers. But underneath the glitz and the glamor lies a deadly secret. The Aurum orbits the planet Voga, a planet of strategic importance in the ongoing Great Cyber-War. And the Cybermen are just itching to find it. When the Doctor and Audacity thwart an assassination attempt on the Vogan scientist, Oberon Fix (Keith Drinkel), the pair is drawn into a conflict bigger than either of them could have possibly imagined. As the Great Cyber-War nears its conclusion, Oberon Fix believes he, alone, holds the key to its victory—but at what cost? The Great Cyber-War (Part 1) offers a textbook “calm before the storm” kind of story.

Foley deftly places all of the pieces on the chessboard, arranging them perfectly for what’s sure to be a barnstormer of a climactic battle. It offers a lot of exposition, a lot of political intrigue, and another great opportunity for Griffiths’ Audacity to shine. Once again, she finds herself in the middle of a society with its values in the wrong place. Oberon and the rest of the Vogan elite all focus too much on maintaining their power—to the chagrin of the lower classes. And so, naturally, a resistance has built up—led by would-be assassin, Dellatine (Diana Yekinni). Most of this first part focuses on the clash between the Vogan elite and the resistance forces; a people whose allegiances are tested at the absolute worst time. Political intrigue at its finest, and very Classic Doctor Who in the best way possible.

The Great Cyber-War (Part 1) is difficult to judge on its own as it’s very clearly the first part of a larger story. But as the opening salvo of this larger war, it’s full of intrigue, political machinations, and meaty character moments. (8.5 out of 10)

The Great Cyber-War (Part 2) by Tim Foley

The Cybermen have found Voga and are fast approaching. But it’s not the Vogans they’re after. No, the Cyber-Leader (Nicholas Briggs) is gunning for the Doctor. But what of Oberon Fix and his mythical weapon? And what of the rest of the Vogans on the Aurum? Can the Doctor, Audacity, Vrull (Karen Archer), Nelvin (James MacCallum), and Oberon stop the Cybermen before it’s too late? Or is the Cyber-War about to come to a blistering end? With shades of Revenge of the Cybermen, Ascension of the Cybermen, and The Chimes of Midnight, The Great Cyber-War (Part 2) delves deep into an oft-referenced part of Doctor Who canon. But, perhaps more surprisingly, it always prioritizes the meatier character drama over the bombastic warfare of the Cyber-War. At its heart, The Great Cyber-War (Part 2) is a story about desperate people making desperate choices.

You’ve got Oberon Fix and his famed weapon. But there’s a whole lot more to this war-ending weapon than meets the eye. Then you’ve got Nelvin and the remains of the resistance, trying to hold Oberon and the Vogan elite accountable for their crimes while still resisting the influence of the Cybermen. And lastly, you’ve got Audacity and the Doctor, desperately trying to keep these people safe while stopping the Cybermen once and for all. Foley delivers an immensely satisfying, emotionally climactic conclusion to this two-part epic. But it’s those quieter character moments that seal the deal. The way Griffiths’ Audacity reacts to such a dangerous situation, rising to the task of saving the day and holding the Doctor’s feet to the ground. And the way the Doctor tries so painfully hard to just hold everything together and keep everyone safe.

The Great Cyber-War (Part 2) brings this trilogy of stories to a climactic end. Filled with brilliant character moments, a lot of action, and some surprisingly emotional Cybermen, it’s a story you’ll want to revisit time and time again. (9 out of 10)

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, Doctor Who: Audacity ushers in an exciting new era for the Eighth Doctor. Freed from the confines of a decade’s worth of box sets, Audacity is the perfect jumping-on point for listeners eager to dip their toes into Big Finish’s Eight Doctor range. Featuring immediately captivating and endlessly endearing performances from Jaye Griffiths and Paul McGann, a trilogy of exciting, top-notch Doctor Who tales, and a mixture of horror, humor, and sci-fi camp, it offers a perfect showcase of the Eighth Doctor’s range. Plus, there are plenty of treats for longtime listeners, too. Especially in the final moments of The Great Cyber-War. No spoilers, but let’s just say next month’s follow-up, Doctor Who: The Bleak Midwinter, is looking even more exciting.

If you’re new to the range, Doctor Who: Audacity is the perfect starting point. And if you’re a longtime fan of the Eighth Doctor, it offers an exciting look into a previously unexplored time of the Eighth Doctor’s life. Though we may miss the ongoing adventures of Eight, Liv Chenka, and Helen Sinclair, Lady Audacity offers a breath of fresh air in the best way possible. Long may she reign.

Doctor Who: Audacity is available now from Big Finish Productions.