The Jupiter Conjunction (Doctor Who) [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Peter Davison seems to slip back to The Doctor with ease. Sarah Sutton does the same as Nyssa. However I feel Mark and Janet have lost their way a bit

After a strong run of stories featuring the Sixth Doctor and then his immediate predecessor, this comes as a bit of a disappointment. It just seemed to lack originality and verve - apart from anything else it again employs the 'companion presumed dead' plot device; me surely things aren't this lacking in creativity around the Big Finish offices?!
Turlough is marginalised here, and perhaps to compensate for her barren years during the TV series, Nyssa gets the most to do in the story - it's a shame, as Mark Strickson's overgrown schoolboy is easily the most interesting of the trio early 80s companions represented during the period in which this is set.

A new Doctor Who audio play. Featuring Peter Davison as the Doctor. Plus Janet Fielding, Sarah Sutton and Mark Strickson as his companions Tegan, Nyssa and Turlough.

This is the second story in the latest run of three to feature this line up. There is an ongoing storyline to them involving Nyssa looking for a cure to a disease. But they are almost all pretty much stand alone so casual listeners could get into this one quite easily without having heard any of the earlier ones. There is a passing remark to something that happened to Nyssa in the previous tale The Emerald Tiger (Doctor Who) but that has no bearing on this one so it won't be a problem to anyone listening to this who hasn't heard that.

This story runs for four parts, each of just under twenty five minutes in length [approx] and is spread across two cd's.

It's set in the twenty fourth century and sees the TARDIS land inside a comet. Which has an orbit that takes it between Earth and Jupiter. Which makes it ideal for delvering things from planet to planet. And there's a whole lot of human living there.

But they are a community in turmoil, thanks to thefts and disappearances. The TARDIS crew are quickly caught up in all this and separated. Some mount an expedition of mercy that has consequences. And some end up on trial.

The secrets of the comet wait to be revealed. They could have deadly consequences. For all concerned. And for two planets...

The length of the episodes is just right and means the whole thing moves at a decent pace. The regulars are a superb team and all interact very well together. Each does get their moment to shine also.

The whole plot does take a couple of episodes to get going, but there are some decent twists and turns when it does.

There is some attempt at political comment also but that never gets the least bit heavy handed.

This doesn't really do anything exceptionally new or original storytelling wise. But it's strength is in the setting. A well realised bit of world building, and a place that is shown to have an effect on all those who live here.

There are as well some strong emotional moments in part four that you won't forget in a hurry.

It's not a classic relase. Nor is it particularly a standout one. But it does have enough in it to make it just a bit above average.

There's four minutes [approx] of music from the story on it's own on the final track of disc one.

A trailer for the next release in this run on the track after the end of part two on disc two.

And fourteen minutes [approx] of interviews with cast and crew on the two tracks after that.