Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
`It's just a funny murderous stage we're going through', 14 Mar 2009
As this latest Big Finish audio adventure opens, we see the usually impervious and unstoppable Daleks succumbing to a new disease, known only as `the mutant phase'. Coming seemingly out of the blue, the disease strikes quickly and infects even more quickly, despite the Dalek's armoured casings.
However, the disease doesn't kill the Daleks, instead it liquefies the brain but leaves the body intact, turning the diseased Daleks into a mindless swarm that seeks its survival by eating everything of value on a planet - the animals, the vegetation, even the minerals. The swarm is devastating planets and destroying Daleks with a voracious and seemingly inexhaustible hunger. Even more terrifying is that the disease multiplies even as it decimates the Dalek fleets, one at a time.
Naturally, landing slap-bang into the middle of this, are The Fifth Doctor and his companion Nyssa. Quickly making contact with a small group of human survivors, the time travellers soon find themselves being asked to help the Time Lord's mortal enemies...
Although zombie Daleks are an interesting concept, Mutant Phase is really only of interest to Dalek fans and those already following the Dalek Empire spin-off series. And what's with the awful front cover, was Clayton Hickman having a day off?
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3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Daleks face an even more murderous foe..., 11 April 2006
"In the 22nd century, the Daleks have occupied planet Earth. By the 43rd century, only a handful of humans survive. Still further into the distant future, a Thal scientist must choose whether to betray his heritage, or see the universe destroyed.
"When the Doctor and Nyssa find themselves trapped in this deadly chain of events, they must decide who their real enemies are. What is certain, however, is that no matter where the Doctor turns... his arch enemies, the Daleks, will be waiting for him.
"What could possibly be worse than that? The Mutant Phase..."The Mutant Phase is the third Big Finish release (after The Genocide Machine and The Apocalypse Element) to fall under the Dalek Empire brand. However, it has as little to do with the other two stories as they have with each other.
In fact, The Mutant Phase has more to do with "The Dalek Invasion of Earth" than anything else. Part of the story is set in the same timeframe, and features saucers and Robomen. A nice bit of continuity. Having said that, Earth in 2158 AD is just one of the many locations in space-time that Nicholas Briggs' storyline visits.
There's an epic feel to the The Mutant Phase lent to it by its aeon-spanning storyline, but unfortunately at four episodes it's not long enough to explore the contexts fully. Individually they are well-constructed, but the story gets confusing to follow as it cuts between them.
The core of the story revolves around a time paradox, and it's an interesting concept. The script, which despite its tight schedule manages to pause for a few nice character-centric moments, is well constructed, and is backed up by enthusiastic performances from the cast. Peter Davison's Doctor is more on-target than he has been in any Big Finish adventure up to this point, and Sarah Sutton is given more to do as Nyssa and makes the most of it. The Daleks are right on target too - with choruses of "Exterminate!" and orders to "Move!". As things go from bad to worse, however, we almost sympathise with the metal meanies from time to time.
The only character that left me puzzled was a Thal by the name of Ganatus. Was he meant to be the same Ganatus that aided the Doctor and almost romanced Barbara in The Daleks? If so, no reference is made to the past adventure.
Overall, a well-scripted and performed story with nice continuity references, let down only by trying to cram a little too much into its four short episodes.
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3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Audio used as it should be, 18 Jan 2006
Part of the plot of this drama involves being placed in complete darkness. Several of the tension scenes are set in the skeleton-crew manned base on Cimmeria IV when all the power is out and vision is minimal. How better then to use audio to its best - because surely by closing your eyes / turning the lights out, you have achieved what the drama is presenting. The story is a nice and original take on what is probably a "standard" do who story - a mystery, monsters, scientific base - and because of its originality theres no problem with it. Sitting in the middle of a season who's prime concern is the strange time-arc involving Charley this is a stand alone - no ties to the arc, thankfully. The cliffhangers are top notch, make no mistake. Classic.
Paul McGann is once again excellent, as is his companion India Fisher as Charley. Some of the secondary characters probably could benefit from a little more character and less cliche, being as they are carbon copies of the supporters in Nicolas Brigg's Sword of Orion. However.
A nice little addition and not bad by any standards!
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