We’re now halfway through Big Finish Productions’ ongoing celebration of Doctor Who‘s 60th anniversary, and things are still a bit of a mixed bag. Their big, multi-month series, Once and Future, has been as enjoyable as it’s been confounding. An exceedingly intriguing premise – an unknown incarnation of the Doctor suffering some kind of degeneration crisis that forces them to continuously, and randomly, shift between previous faces – is exactly the kind of celebratory premise an anniversary special should have. And yet, the previous three installments have felt very pedestrian, hardly making use of such a barnstormer of a premise and, instead, choosing to tell very standard Doctor Who stories with a random assortment of fan-favorite characters.
And the latest entry, Lisa McMullin’s Doctor Who: Once and Future: Two’s Company does little to buck that trend. On the one hand, it’s the quintessential example of everything that’s not been working about the Once and Future series. There’s a general lack of forward momentum when it comes to the overarching storyline. There’s very little character development for any of the featured Doctors or companions. And there’s just a general sense of randomness to the stories, almost as though various elements were chosen merely by chance. But on the other hand, it makes great use of its random assortment of characters, delivering a romp that lovingly explores Doctor Who‘s past while still telling an enjoyable, (mostly) standalone story. It’s not gonna win over any doubters, but it’s a great example of how much fun the Once and Future series can be.
A Light, Fluffy Romp
In Doctor Who: Two’s Company, the Doctor (Colin Baker) continues his search for clues about his ongoing degeneration crisis, following a note that leads him straight to 2006. There, he finds his old companion, Harry Sullivan (Christopher Naylor), working with a future Doctor (Michael Maloney) on a mysterious alien element. Meanwhile, Jackie Tyler (Camille Coduri) gets a job from the jewel thief, Lady Christina de Souza (Michelle Ryan). But when Lady Christina convinces Jackie to sell her unusual and valuable necklace, their paths cross with the Doctor in a rather explosive way. It’s up to the trio to find the missing necklace, uncover the secret behind the Doctor’s degeneration, and save the world from almost certain destruction. Basically, another day in the TARDIS.
Two’s Company‘s an interesting beast. It’s got all the same problems as the rest of the Once and Future series. But at the same time, it’s an undeniably fun ride. One-part heist, one-part comedy of errors, and one-part deep-dive into obscure Doctor Who lore, Two’s Company is the very definition of a light and fluffy romp. The less said about the specifics of the plot, the better. Half the fun of the story is simply listening to it unfold in all its silly, delightful glory. But between the strengths of McMullin’s script and the delightful performances of the cast, Two’s Company easily overcomes all of its weaknesses and ends up being quite delightful. Sure, it’s got very low stakes and it’s full of harmless fluff. But it’s endearingly enjoyable, well-paced, and exceedingly fun. And sometimes that’s exactly what an anniversary special needs.
A Seemingly Random, Yet Surprisingly Enjoyable Combination of Characters
On the surface, Two’s Company seems like the biggest example of Once and Future‘s habit of randomly throwing together Doctor Who characters to date. After all, there’s little connection between Jackie Tyler, Harry Sullivan, Lady Christina, and the Sixth Doctor. None of them ever shared a story together; none of them are even from the same era of the show. And yet, somehow, this combination works wonderfully. It’s the kind of combination that seems exceedingly silly in theory, yet remarkably coherent in execution.
It’s Jackie and Lady Christina who shine the brightest, though. Coduri and Ryan are simply electric together. The way they bounce off of each other is just so endearing. Full of wit, charm, and humor, their interactions easily carry the story to its highest heights. That’s not to say the rest of the cast doesn’t do a great job, either. Colin Baker’s a delight, as always, especially when paired with Coduri and Ryan. The Sixth Doctor’s inherent sassiness makes for a perfect match with Jackie Tyler’s no-nonsense attitude and Lady Christina’s playful chaos. It’s worth the price of entry just to hear the three of them interact – so, it’s a bit of a shame that they only share a few scenes.
The Weaker Parts
Mostly, the Sixth Doctor spends time with Harry and the mysterious Renegade Time Lord. It’s here that the bulk of Two’s Company‘s contribution to the series’ grander arc happens. And while it’s nice to finally make a little bit of progress, it comes at the cost of giving Harry anything meaty to do. Harry’s just kind of there for the whole story, given very little reason to be here. In all honesty, McMullin could’ve used any UNIT-adjacent companion, and it would’ve hardly made a difference. Naylor delivers a solid performance as Harry, but he doesn’t really sound like the character’s original actor. And Harry’s inclusion, overall, is a bit of a missed opportunity.
The other big downside is the lack of time given to exploring Two’s Company‘s most intriguing aspect – the history of this mysterious Renegade Time Lord. The character’s someone longtime fans will immediately recognize (no spoilers!), but there’s just not a whole lot of room in the story to do anything particularly interesting with the character. McMullin offers the start of a captivating backstory, but the final act doesn’t quite bring it to a wholly satisfying conclusion. The character’s inclusion adds a fun element to the story, though anyone new to Big Finish will likely feel hopelessly confused. Maloney’s performance is quite captivating, but Two’s Company‘s rushed final act undercuts his character’s effectiveness.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Doctor Who: Once and Future: Two’s Company is a pretty enjoyable romp, all things considered. While its actual story isn’t quite as engaging as last month’s installment, A Genius for War, Two’s Company still makes great use of its cast and delivers an enjoyably light and fluffy romp. And after all, what more could you hope for when combining such chaotic forces as the Sixth Doctor, Jackie Tyler, and Lady Christina? It’s not gonna convert any Once and Future holdouts or anything. But for what it’s going for, it’s an all-around fun listen. Next month sees the combination of David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor and Michelle Gomez’s Missy, so it looks like the chaos might only be beginning.
Doctor Who: Once and Future: Two’s Company is available now on the Big Finish website.
The latest installment in Big Finish Production's Doctor Who: Once and Future,"Two's Company", is an enjoyable, light-hearted romp. It doesn't do a ton to push the series' overarching storyline further, but its light and breezy script and delightful performances are worth the price of entry alone.
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