Short answer: yes it was!
UNIT: THE NEW SERIES REVIEW
SERIES 2: SHUTDOWN
By Jack Ryan
By Jack Ryan
BEWARE: THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK
Following on from two, very different, UNIT led miniseries, UNIT: The New Series has had the tough task of retaining their quality, whilst going into, back then, near uncharted territory with the nu-who UNIT Team.Not only that but building on from the critically acclaimed Zygon two-parter from Series 9 made their task more of a challenge. But it was not only a challenge they accepted, but delivered an end result so brilliant, that the hype for the next one was instantaneous. And after seven long months we have our follow up.
Time has moved by for Kate Stewart and UNIT since the latest invasion by the Nestene Consciousness. But the effects are still felt, with Coronal Shindi in recovery and Captain Josh Carter coming to terms with his newfound abilities. But soon, things begin to become chaotic. UNIT scientists have been dissapearing, along with a friend of Osgood's being plagued with stalking hallucinations. And Kate has discovered that the CEO of Lyme Industries has found her hands on alien technology. As connections are made, Kate, Osgood and the rest of UNIT are forced into lockdown as a determined and terrifying new foe makes their way to Earth. The Tengobushi want their honour regained. And the only way is death....
With writers Matt Fitton and Andrew Smith having proved themselves with the classic threat of the Autons and the Nestenes, they took the logical decision to take on a foe of their own imagining for this set, creating the Eastern-fused space warriors, The Tengobushi, who were an offshoot of the main race known as the Kamishi, who were featured in The Diary Of River Song. As well as creating a whole new race of caste-following space ninjas, Fitton and Smith do well with their respective episodes. Fitton's opener, Power Cell, is an intriguing opener, showcasing the near daily lives of UNIT's employees turn to pot as their new foes arrive on the scene. Smith's two episodes, Death In Geneva and The Battle Of The Tower show UNIT doing classic Doctor Who-esque base under siege as the Tengobushi and other Kamishi close in on the team. Finishing the set is Fitton's Ice Station Alpha where friends and foes must make pacts as the true threat, located in an Antarctic research base, makes itself known. All four stories are fantastically crafted by Fitton and Smith and expertly brought to life by the direction of Ken Bentley.
As for what he directs, the cast are on stellar form as always. With four of our five regulars returning, that being Jemma Redgrave, Ingrid Oliver, James Joyce and Warren Brown, the rest are a mix of obscure but good actors, including the likes of Nigel Carrington, Stephen Billington, Harry Ditson, Big Finish regular BETH RUDDY CHALMERS!!!, with Dan Li and Akira Koieyama as members of the Kamishi and Tengobushi and as Felicity Lyme, none other than the Borg Queen herself, Alice Krieg. Every actor here makes every word uttered believable and a pleasure to listen to, especially the scenes with Kate and Felicity as Krieg is just so devilishly devious to listen to. Add onto that another fantastic round of music scoring and sound design from Howard Carter and we've got our hands on another action packed hit!
Whilst Extinction saw everyone finding their feet and going onto familiar territory, Shutdown sees everyone hit the ground running into uncharted waters, but because of the previous experience, everyone knows what to do and how to do it to the best way they can. Simply, its UNIT, base under siege with futuristic space ninjas. What's not to like?
VERDICT: 5/5 Honour is still strong with this family of misfits! ;D
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