Tag: UNIT

UNIT, Nemesis: Agents of the Vulpreen

UNIT, Nemesis: Agents of the Vulpreen

(Big Finish, 2022)

Audio box set cover: UNIT, Nemesis, Agents of the Vulpreen (Big Finish, 2022)

1. The Man From Gallifrey

by Andrew Smith

Hasper (Glen McCready) proves a worthwhile character, but otherwise this story serves primarily as set-up for subsequent instalments. Effectively worked, save that its sacrifice is followed by the almost totally irrelevant ‘Power of the Dominators’, which comes across as a broadcast error.

 

2. Power of the Dominators

by Kenneth Grant

The humour would work better if: the Dominators weren’t such derisory adversaries (their deadly plan built around unnecessary human interactions); the script didn’t pepper scenes with vlogging-type exposition; Harry Sullivan weren’t so caricatured; and/or UNIT made any use whatsoever of its mandate/manpower/weaponry.

 

3. The War Factory

by Lizzie Hopley

A strong female cast, which unfortunately is wasted somewhat by a story that skips about all over the place rather than focussing on one or two key elements. Yasmin Mwanza impresses as Private Lauren Huff. Angela Bruce/Brigadier Bambera makes a welcome return.

 

4. Ten Minutes in Hell

by John Dorney

The time dynamic and Kate Stewart’s relationship with her fellow prisoner lend a certain distinction to this otherwise straightforward action piece. It’s a perfectly respectable almost-standalone story, but doesn’t offer a lot in terms of concluding the box set as a whole.

Doctor Who: Shadow of the Past

Doctor Who: Shadow of the Past

by Simon Guerrier (Big Finish, 2010)

Guerrier_Shadow of the Past

Another clever script by Simon Guerrier, staying faithful to the spirit of early UNIT-era stories. Present-day Liz Shaw (Caroline John) tells of an earlier adventure and then picks up its threads. Unfortunately some ‘big moment’ plot contrivances detract from the emotional resonance.

 

 

Dr. Third

Dr. Third

by Adam Hargreaves (Penguin, 2018)

Hargreaves_Dr Third

Doctor Who rendered in the distinctive Mr. Men style and with the same careless writing. Pertwee’s Doctor is well captured, as are the lighter aspects of the UNIT era more generally, but the text in no way does justice to the pictures.

 

 

Doctor Who: Heralds of Destruction

Doctor Who: Heralds of Destruction

by Paul Cornell; ill. Christopher Jones (Titan Comics, 2017)

Cornell_Heralds of Destruction

The character of Jo Grant appears to have morphed with Liz Shaw, but this is the only off-note in an otherwise well-scripted and paced, beautifully drawn, and above all faithful depiction of Doctor Who in the Jon Pertwee dandified exile UNIT days.

 

 

Doctor Who: Terror of the Zygons

Doctor Who: Terror of the Zygons

by Robert Banks Stewart; dir. Douglas Camfield (BBC, 1975)

Doctor Who_Terror of the Zygons

The Zygons engineer a creature that can withstand nuclear weaponry, but themselves are one of the few aliens not impervious to UNIT bullets. Dynamically directed with plenty of location filming and lush, organic sets, Terror sadly peters out to become Sock Puppet.

 

 

Derelict Space Sheep