The Diary of River Song: The Furies
by Matt Fitton (Big Finish, 2018)
Audially a bit chaotic and not much of a story in its own right, though sufficiently holistic to tie up the third series. Peter Davison has a small role but the true strength of this production lies in its otherwise all-female cast.
The Diary of River Song: My Dinner with Andrew
by John Dorney (Big Finish, 2018)
A diverting timey-wimey story spoilt only by the cod-French maître d’ (British actor Jonathan Coote). Given modern-day cognizance of ethnic and cultural representation, is this casting choice any less offensive than John Bennett’s playing Li H’Sen Chang in The Talons of Weng-Chiang?
The Diary of River Song: A Requiem for the Doctor
by Jacqueline Rayner (Big Finish, 2018)
A somewhat predictable story overlaid onto its historical setting (rather than using it to any intrinsic purpose). Alex Kingston and Peter Davison work well together but cannot mitigate the feeling of treading water. The Doctor’s new companion is presented without any explication.
The Diary of River Song: The Lady in the Lake
by Nev Fountain (Big Finish, 2018)
A story that is challenging in its complexity (intriguingly rather than dishearteningly so) and mischievous in its characterisation, with artful twists and generally just a very clever execution. Fountain brings a creativity that Big Finish would do well to embrace more often.
Dr. Eleventh
by Adam Hargreaves (BBC, 2017)
Hargreaves, in his usual clumsy way, has Matt Smith’s Doctor and River Song run a pointless gamut of monsters… but can only think of three (Zygons, Silurians, Weeping Angels) before resorting to snakes and spiders! The ending is as tiresome as ever.
River Song: The Eye of the Storm
by Matt Fitton (Big Finish, 2016)
In and of itself, this is a mess. As the conclusion to a four-part adventure it’s an even bigger mess. Big Finish again sacrifices coherent storytelling for clickbait casting. Yes, a ménage à trois! But the plot is forced and borderline nonsensical.
River Song: World Enough and Time
by James Goss (Big Finish, 2016)
A bit of a mess, sadly. Colin Baker can’t be faulted but his Doctor is out of character and has been shoehorned into the script merely for the gimmick of his being there. River Song would have been better on her own.
River Song: Five Twenty-Nine
by John Dorney (Big Finish, 2016)
One of the better Big Finish stories, not offering full closure but nonetheless presenting a global extinction event with sombre melancholy. Sans any of the Doctors, River Song is given space to make the programme her own. Alex Kingston does just that.
River Song: The Unknown
by Guy Adams (Big Finish, 2016)
A clever opening to the series, the time conflux allowing not only for River Song to meet the Seventh Doctor but also to assert herself as the primary protagonist, respectfully stealing his thunder. A base under siege story with strong female characters.
Doctor Who, Doom Coalition 2: The Sonomancer
by Matt Fitton (Big Finish, 2016)
Fitton manages some strong characterisation — Liv Chenka takes charge; Helen Sinclair bonds with River Song — but although Alex Kingston is quite the drawcard, the lack of interaction between her and Paul McGann is disappointing, as is the plot degeneration into runaround dénouement.