Why You Need to be Listening to The Fifth Doctor Monthly Adventures
Big Finish are currently offering a number of stories free from their back catalogue to enjoy. So, over the next few weeks, I'll give you a review of the individual episode in question, as well as some reasons why you should be listening to the range or series the story hails from in full. We continue with - The Monthly Adventures of the Fifth Doctor...
The Monthly Adventures is Big Finish longest and most important range. Ever since July 1999, Big Finish have released one Doctor Who adventure a month, featuring either the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh or Eighth Doctors. The range now totals over 260 releases, and features Doctor Who stories of all shapes and sizes. This week, we're looking at the adventures of the Fifth Doctor, as played by Peter Davison. Peter was one of the first three Doctors to start recording Big Finish, joining with Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy in "The Sirens of Time". After that, Peter was reunited with Mark Strickson, Sarah Sutton, Nicola Bryant, Janet Fielding and Matthew Waterhouse for brand new adventures. While less arc-heavy than the other Monthly Adventure Doctors, there's still plenty of stories to enjoy on their own terms, including some of the strongest Doctor Who stories ever written.
This week's freebie is part 1 of "1001 Nights", which is an anthology release featuring the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa. Now, because this is simply a part 1, you don't get the complete story from just one episode. You do, however, get a complete story, because "1001 Nights" is based on the tale of the Arabian Nights, a legend I'm surprised Doctor Who hasn't done more takes off of. After all, the vast and varied landscape of Arabian mythology, and the varied and colourful settings and characters, should be perfect stomping ground for a series as vast, varied and colourful as Doctor Who. And, while I do think you should check out the Fifth Doctor Monthly Adventures, I would argue that "1001 Nights" maybe isn't the story to get new fans on board. Sure, it's perfectly decent, and there's a twist towards the end of episode 3 that puts a whole new spin on the framing narrative of Nyssa telling the Sultan stories of the Doctor, but, for the most part, it remains a fairly predictable, if solidly enjoyable, release. The three 'stories-within-stories' are pretty decent, and explore some ideas that, if in a longer format, wouldn't be able to sustain themselves. But even some of these go on a little longer than perhaps they need to, and, as such, leave the listener slightly unfulfilled. Now, all of this sounds very negative, so I would like to say that I don't dislike "1001 Nights". It's a great idea, just in a fair to middling story, and that initial concept deserved so much better. What I will say is that the ideas are great, some of the humour is really funny and the cast are exceptional, especially Star Trek: Deep Space Nine star Alexander Siddig as the villainous Sultan and Sarah Sutton, who not only has to narrate the tales, but also gets the chance to really let rip in part 2's story. But I shan't say anything about that for fear of spoilers. Overall, "1001 Nights" is a decent, one-off release that you'll probably have a lot of fun with if you like your Doctor Who stories to play fast and loose with 'reality' and a definitive narrative voice. However, it is a little too traditional, and, to be honest, two hours probably isn't enough room for a concept as rich as this. That being said, however, it is still pretty decent, and solidly enjoyable if you're new to Big Finish.
And if you enjoyed "1001 Nights", then here are a list of 5 reasons why you need to be listening to the rest of the Fifth Doctor Monthly Adventures:
1. Variety:
It often goes without saying with Doctor Who stories, but the vast range of the Fifth Doctor Adventures is absolutely staggering. From a German U-Boat in the First World War, to a world of insects that are attacked by Ice Warriors, and from ancient Egypt to a planet where everything must remain in balance or be destroyed, these stories cover every setting and possibility possible. The amount of stories we've had mean that there's definitely something for everyone in these adventures: whether you want very experimental stories like "Creatures of Beauty", which messes around with story structure, or whether you prefer more traditional stories like "The Star Men", which sounds like it was torn straight from the 1980's. If you like bleak and nihilistic historicals, than "The Peterloo Massacre" is perfect, but if you're more of a fan of light-hearted stories, then "The Kingmaker" is ideal. All these different types of stories show how flexible the format of the show is, and how, with a range that is this long-running, there will be something there for everyone.
2. The Companions:
The Fifth Doctor Adventures also feature a vast variety of different character combinations, to suit the parts of the era you enjoy the most. All of the Fifth Doctor's TV companions; Adric (Matthew Waterhouse), Nyssa (Sarah Sutton), Tegan (Janet Fielding), Turlough (Mark Strickson) and Peri (Nicola Bryant) have returned for more adventures with Peter Davison. Even the robot Kamelion has featured in a trilogy of audio dramas, played by actor and impressionist Jon Culshaw (standing in for the late Gerald Flood). All of these companions are developed from their stint on the TV series (including examining Adric, Nyssa and Tegan after they all left the Doctor), and each get the chance to show just how great the initial concept behind their characters and how talented the actors who play them are. Big Finish have even created some brand new characters as well, including Erimem (Caroline Morris), Amy (Ciara Janson) and Hannah Bartholomew (Francesca Hunt), who have travelled with the Doctor on his own, or with pre-existing companions. These new characters have allowed the writers to push the Fifth Doctor in different directions, and develop different dynamics than those displayed on the TV show. It really expands the Fifth Doctor era beyond what was done at the time, and brings it to the same standard as the modern iteration of Doctor Who.
3. Returning Villains & Sequels:
The Fifth Doctor audios don't just push forward the Fifth Doctor era into new directions, but also builds upon elements of the Classic Series mythos. As well as a number of stories featuring classic antagonists like the Daleks and the Cybermen (including "Spare Parts", which depicts the official 'genesis of the Cybermen'), the Fifth Doctor Adventures feature a number of different returning foes from the Classic Series' run, and even a handful of direct sequels to TV adventures from the past. "The Butcher of Brisbane", for example, acts as a prequel to the 1977 Tom Baker story "The Talons of Weng-Chiang", and sees the Doctor, Tegan, Turlough and Nyssa end up in the 51st Century, just as Magnus Greel is rising to power. "The Bride of Peladon" is a sequel to the Peladon stories of the Pertwee era, and sees the Doctor, Peri and Erimem caught up in the repercussions of another Doctor Who story that I can't reveal for fear of spoilers."Mistfall", on the other hand, is not only a sequel to Fourth Doctor story "Full Circle", but is written by Andrew Smith, who wrote "Full Circle" back in 1980. Other stories such as "And You Will Obey Me", "Eldrad Must Die!", "The Cradle of the Snake" and "Omega" all feature returning villains like the Master, Eldrad, the Mara and Omega. There's even "The Secret History", which, as well as featuring a returning antagonist from the First Doctor's era (again, spoilers), ties into events in the Doctor's personal future, as well as two stories for the Sixth and Seventh Doctors. These all develop the universe the previous stories inhabited, and furthers the inter-connectivity between the different lifetimes of the Doctor.
4. New Arcs and Adventures:
Of course, if the Fifth Doctor Adventures had relied purely on nostalgia, then they would have run out of stories to tell a long time ago. The Fifth Doctor stories also feature a lot of brand new arcs and ideas, especially since the range changed its release pattern into trilogies of adventures in 2009. From the arc of stories featuring the character of Thomas Brewster, to a second quest for the Key to Time, and more recently a series of adventures featuring an older version of Nyssa, as she goes in search for a cure for a deadly virus in her own time, these arcs allow for involved storytelling across multiple stories, and deepen the Fifth Doctor's era incredibly well. There's lots of new creations as well: the Viyrans originated in the one-part audio story "Mission of the Viyrans", and would go on to become a major force in the Doctor Who audios after that, especially the Sixth Doctor and Charlotte Pollard adventures. A number of Fifth Doctor stories also introduce key elements of trilogies featuring all three Monthly Adventures Doctors: stories like "The Burning Prince", "And You Will Obey Me" and "The Helliax Rift" introduce big elements, worlds and characters vital to the arcs going forward. The Fifth Doctor's era on TV (certainly to start with, anyway) was forward thinking and innovative, and the audios continue that spirit to this day.
5. The Cast:
Of course, it wouldn't be a Big Finish list without mentioning the actors in these productions. The Fifth Doctor stories have seen some huge name guest stars step aboard the TARDIS for an adventure or two, including (but not limited to) Mark Gatiss, David Walliams, Georgia Tennant, Peter Jurasik, India Fisher, Eleanor Bron, Nicky Henson, Burt Kwouk, Stephen Greif, Susan Penhaligon, Sally Knyvette, Derren Nesbitt, Simon Williams, Caroline Munro, Edward de Souza, Jonathan Pearce, William Russell, Deborah Watling, Stephen Beckett, Jon Culshaw, Arthur Smith, Hugh Fraser, David Warner, Isla Blair, James Purefoy, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Rebecca Front, Owen Teale, Jenny Agutter, Phyllida Law, John Pickard, Leslie Ash, Andrew Sachs, Adrian Scarborough, Raquel Cassidy, Jess Robinson, David Troughton, Jason Watkins, Lalla Ward, Joe Thomas, Pam Ferris, Mark Williams, Keith Barron, Liza Tarbuck, Hayley Atwell, Harry Melling, Vernon Dobtcheff, Terry Molloy, Cherie Lunghi, Angus Wright, Alexander Siddig, Brian Protheroe, Anthony Howell, Mitch Benn, Ryan Sampson, Timothy Bentinck, Jemma Redgrave, Annette Badland, Nickolas Grace, Graeme Garden, Sue Holderness, Clive Merrison, Rebecca Root, Patsy Kensit, Sacha Dhawan, Carolyn Seymour, Fenella Woolgar, Samuel West, Sophie Winkleman, Blake Harrison, Samuel Barnett, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Angela Bruce and Silas Carson! And that's not to mention all the other great talent that's not quite as well known that has been involved with the Fifth Doctor Adventures. And then there's the regulars who are all as amazing as you would expect, especially Sarah Sutton, who gets the chance to really expand on Nyssa's character from the TV series. But the real hero has to be Peter Davison, who is given the chance to be proactive in the stories, much more so than he ever was in the TV show. He's given the chance to really show his range in the role, and how far he can go. Stories like "Spare Parts", "The Eternal Summer" and "The Peterloo Massacre" give him the chance to show how skilled an actor he actually is, and build the Fifth Doctor into more of a character than he ever was in the early 1980's.
The Fifth Doctor Adventures are easily the most accessible for new fans of Big Finish entering the Monthly Adventures. There's many different types of stories here, with many different TARDIS teams to chose from. While this week's freebie may not be the obvious choice for new fans, if you like what you hear, you should definitely check out the rest of the range. There's plenty to enjoy, and, if you were a fan of the Fifth Doctor's TV era, this builds on what came before, while still honouring the era in question. And, really, who can ask for more than that?
Until the 4th of May 2020, you can get part 1 of "1001 Nights", from the Monthly Adventures range, from Big Finish completely free. You can find it here:
https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/doctor-who-1001-nights-part-1-2278
You can also save up to 50% on "1001 Nights" until the 4th of May 2020 too. You can find a full list of the titles here:
https://www.bigfinish.com/collections/v/weekly-deals
Happy listening! And I'll see you next week for another look at a free Big Finish title!
All pictures copyright to the BBC/Big Finish Productions. Thank you very much for reading.
 |
| The cover for "1001 Nights", designed by Alex Mallinson. |
The Monthly Adventures is Big Finish longest and most important range. Ever since July 1999, Big Finish have released one Doctor Who adventure a month, featuring either the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh or Eighth Doctors. The range now totals over 260 releases, and features Doctor Who stories of all shapes and sizes. This week, we're looking at the adventures of the Fifth Doctor, as played by Peter Davison. Peter was one of the first three Doctors to start recording Big Finish, joining with Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy in "The Sirens of Time". After that, Peter was reunited with Mark Strickson, Sarah Sutton, Nicola Bryant, Janet Fielding and Matthew Waterhouse for brand new adventures. While less arc-heavy than the other Monthly Adventure Doctors, there's still plenty of stories to enjoy on their own terms, including some of the strongest Doctor Who stories ever written.
 |
| The cover for "Spare Parts", the fabled 'Genesis of the Cybermen', designed by Clayton Hickman. |
 |
| The cover for "The Peterloo Massacre", designed by Anthony Lamb. |
1. Variety:
It often goes without saying with Doctor Who stories, but the vast range of the Fifth Doctor Adventures is absolutely staggering. From a German U-Boat in the First World War, to a world of insects that are attacked by Ice Warriors, and from ancient Egypt to a planet where everything must remain in balance or be destroyed, these stories cover every setting and possibility possible. The amount of stories we've had mean that there's definitely something for everyone in these adventures: whether you want very experimental stories like "Creatures of Beauty", which messes around with story structure, or whether you prefer more traditional stories like "The Star Men", which sounds like it was torn straight from the 1980's. If you like bleak and nihilistic historicals, than "The Peterloo Massacre" is perfect, but if you're more of a fan of light-hearted stories, then "The Kingmaker" is ideal. All these different types of stories show how flexible the format of the show is, and how, with a range that is this long-running, there will be something there for everyone.
 |
| The cover for "The Bride of Peladon", designed by Alex Mallinson. |
The Fifth Doctor Adventures also feature a vast variety of different character combinations, to suit the parts of the era you enjoy the most. All of the Fifth Doctor's TV companions; Adric (Matthew Waterhouse), Nyssa (Sarah Sutton), Tegan (Janet Fielding), Turlough (Mark Strickson) and Peri (Nicola Bryant) have returned for more adventures with Peter Davison. Even the robot Kamelion has featured in a trilogy of audio dramas, played by actor and impressionist Jon Culshaw (standing in for the late Gerald Flood). All of these companions are developed from their stint on the TV series (including examining Adric, Nyssa and Tegan after they all left the Doctor), and each get the chance to show just how great the initial concept behind their characters and how talented the actors who play them are. Big Finish have even created some brand new characters as well, including Erimem (Caroline Morris), Amy (Ciara Janson) and Hannah Bartholomew (Francesca Hunt), who have travelled with the Doctor on his own, or with pre-existing companions. These new characters have allowed the writers to push the Fifth Doctor in different directions, and develop different dynamics than those displayed on the TV show. It really expands the Fifth Doctor era beyond what was done at the time, and brings it to the same standard as the modern iteration of Doctor Who.
3. Returning Villains & Sequels:
 |
| The cover for "Mistfall", a sequel to TV story "Full Circle", designed by Will Brooks. |
The Fifth Doctor audios don't just push forward the Fifth Doctor era into new directions, but also builds upon elements of the Classic Series mythos. As well as a number of stories featuring classic antagonists like the Daleks and the Cybermen (including "Spare Parts", which depicts the official 'genesis of the Cybermen'), the Fifth Doctor Adventures feature a number of different returning foes from the Classic Series' run, and even a handful of direct sequels to TV adventures from the past. "The Butcher of Brisbane", for example, acts as a prequel to the 1977 Tom Baker story "The Talons of Weng-Chiang", and sees the Doctor, Tegan, Turlough and Nyssa end up in the 51st Century, just as Magnus Greel is rising to power. "The Bride of Peladon" is a sequel to the Peladon stories of the Pertwee era, and sees the Doctor, Peri and Erimem caught up in the repercussions of another Doctor Who story that I can't reveal for fear of spoilers."Mistfall", on the other hand, is not only a sequel to Fourth Doctor story "Full Circle", but is written by Andrew Smith, who wrote "Full Circle" back in 1980. Other stories such as "And You Will Obey Me", "Eldrad Must Die!", "The Cradle of the Snake" and "Omega" all feature returning villains like the Master, Eldrad, the Mara and Omega. There's even "The Secret History", which, as well as featuring a returning antagonist from the First Doctor's era (again, spoilers), ties into events in the Doctor's personal future, as well as two stories for the Sixth and Seventh Doctors. These all develop the universe the previous stories inhabited, and furthers the inter-connectivity between the different lifetimes of the Doctor.
4. New Arcs and Adventures:
 |
| The cover for "The Haunting of Thomas Brewster", designed by Alex Mallinson. |
Of course, if the Fifth Doctor Adventures had relied purely on nostalgia, then they would have run out of stories to tell a long time ago. The Fifth Doctor stories also feature a lot of brand new arcs and ideas, especially since the range changed its release pattern into trilogies of adventures in 2009. From the arc of stories featuring the character of Thomas Brewster, to a second quest for the Key to Time, and more recently a series of adventures featuring an older version of Nyssa, as she goes in search for a cure for a deadly virus in her own time, these arcs allow for involved storytelling across multiple stories, and deepen the Fifth Doctor's era incredibly well. There's lots of new creations as well: the Viyrans originated in the one-part audio story "Mission of the Viyrans", and would go on to become a major force in the Doctor Who audios after that, especially the Sixth Doctor and Charlotte Pollard adventures. A number of Fifth Doctor stories also introduce key elements of trilogies featuring all three Monthly Adventures Doctors: stories like "The Burning Prince", "And You Will Obey Me" and "The Helliax Rift" introduce big elements, worlds and characters vital to the arcs going forward. The Fifth Doctor's era on TV (certainly to start with, anyway) was forward thinking and innovative, and the audios continue that spirit to this day.
5. The Cast:
 |
| The cover for "The Kingmaker", designed by Stuart Manning. |
Of course, it wouldn't be a Big Finish list without mentioning the actors in these productions. The Fifth Doctor stories have seen some huge name guest stars step aboard the TARDIS for an adventure or two, including (but not limited to) Mark Gatiss, David Walliams, Georgia Tennant, Peter Jurasik, India Fisher, Eleanor Bron, Nicky Henson, Burt Kwouk, Stephen Greif, Susan Penhaligon, Sally Knyvette, Derren Nesbitt, Simon Williams, Caroline Munro, Edward de Souza, Jonathan Pearce, William Russell, Deborah Watling, Stephen Beckett, Jon Culshaw, Arthur Smith, Hugh Fraser, David Warner, Isla Blair, James Purefoy, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Rebecca Front, Owen Teale, Jenny Agutter, Phyllida Law, John Pickard, Leslie Ash, Andrew Sachs, Adrian Scarborough, Raquel Cassidy, Jess Robinson, David Troughton, Jason Watkins, Lalla Ward, Joe Thomas, Pam Ferris, Mark Williams, Keith Barron, Liza Tarbuck, Hayley Atwell, Harry Melling, Vernon Dobtcheff, Terry Molloy, Cherie Lunghi, Angus Wright, Alexander Siddig, Brian Protheroe, Anthony Howell, Mitch Benn, Ryan Sampson, Timothy Bentinck, Jemma Redgrave, Annette Badland, Nickolas Grace, Graeme Garden, Sue Holderness, Clive Merrison, Rebecca Root, Patsy Kensit, Sacha Dhawan, Carolyn Seymour, Fenella Woolgar, Samuel West, Sophie Winkleman, Blake Harrison, Samuel Barnett, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Angela Bruce and Silas Carson! And that's not to mention all the other great talent that's not quite as well known that has been involved with the Fifth Doctor Adventures. And then there's the regulars who are all as amazing as you would expect, especially Sarah Sutton, who gets the chance to really expand on Nyssa's character from the TV series. But the real hero has to be Peter Davison, who is given the chance to be proactive in the stories, much more so than he ever was in the TV show. He's given the chance to really show his range in the role, and how far he can go. Stories like "Spare Parts", "The Eternal Summer" and "The Peterloo Massacre" give him the chance to show how skilled an actor he actually is, and build the Fifth Doctor into more of a character than he ever was in the early 1980's.
 |
| The cover for "Alien Heart/Dalek Soul", designed by Simon Holub. |
The Fifth Doctor Adventures are easily the most accessible for new fans of Big Finish entering the Monthly Adventures. There's many different types of stories here, with many different TARDIS teams to chose from. While this week's freebie may not be the obvious choice for new fans, if you like what you hear, you should definitely check out the rest of the range. There's plenty to enjoy, and, if you were a fan of the Fifth Doctor's TV era, this builds on what came before, while still honouring the era in question. And, really, who can ask for more than that?
Until the 4th of May 2020, you can get part 1 of "1001 Nights", from the Monthly Adventures range, from Big Finish completely free. You can find it here:
https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/doctor-who-1001-nights-part-1-2278
You can also save up to 50% on "1001 Nights" until the 4th of May 2020 too. You can find a full list of the titles here:
https://www.bigfinish.com/collections/v/weekly-deals
Happy listening! And I'll see you next week for another look at a free Big Finish title!
All pictures copyright to the BBC/Big Finish Productions. Thank you very much for reading.
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