Industrial Evolution (Doctor Who) [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Latest Doctor Who audio play. Featuring Colin Baker as the Doctor and Maggie Stables as his companion Evelyn Smythe.

Also featuring John Pickard as Thomas Brewster. One time companion of the Fifth Doctor in other audios, and this is the third part in a trilogy of stories featuring him crossing paths with the Sixth Doctor.

It follows on from The Feast of Axos (Doctor Who), but even so the parts of this trilogy are relatively self contained and casual listeners might be able to get into this one without having heard the others.

It runs for four episodes which are twenty five to twenty minutes long approx each, and are spread over two discs.

The story sees Brewster having returned to his home century, the nineteenth, and working a mill in 19th century Lancashire. A time where the industrial revolution is going on, workers fight for their rights, new technology is introduced, and some factory owners care more about their workers than others.

But as Brewster gets caught up in the middle of this, there's trouble coming from a different direction. As there are people with hidden agendas. And something very nasty lurking in the cellar.

The machines are taking over. Literally...

What in many ways is a fairly standard tale of history with alien technology causing problems does have a fair amount going for it. The period setting is highly convincing as are the characters and their various attitudes. The alien technology is a little different from the norm. A few surprise twists do await.

But strongest is the relationship between the Doctor and Brewster. As both still don't entirely get on. But have very believable reasons for that.

The story is strongest in the first two episodes when the threat is still lurking in the background, but parts three and four do have moments that grab.

And the ending of part four does bring closure to the Brewster trilogy. But leave the door open for him to reappear in future if possible. On the basis of this, I rather hope that happens.

Not a classic story, but one that does manage to be slightly above average.

There are eight minutes approx worth of music from the story on the final track on disc one.

And after episode four on disc two you can find a trailer for the next release in the ongoing big finish Doctor Who range, plus roughly fifteen minutes of entertaining interviews with cast and crew.

A bit disappointing for me really; too much going on (as the previous reviewer has mentioned) and too similar to 1985 TV story Doctor Who - The Mark Of The Rani [DVD] [1985] - not that this isn't a good serial but it smacks a little of BF running out of new ideas. I like the character of Thomas Brewster but he is getting increasingly peripheral to the action; I also thought that there wasn't really much for The Doctor or Evelyn to do here, while the idea of a stranded shape-changing alien manipulating events for their own ends is also a well-worn plot device.

This for me was a story that layered in too much - we have Thomas Brewster (this being the end of his second trilogy), alien technology, other aliens and even more aliens. Sadly I found this muddied the waters of a decent story about the machines taking over the factory with some tremendous casting and performances.

Judging from the ending there is also every chance Mr Brewster may return, so be warned!