"COME ON DORI! LET'S DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN!!!!"

Sorry for that title, I've had Rocky Horror stuck in my head for the last few days. Any-who on to more important things. If it hasn't been immensely obvious for the past couple of weeks....

I LOVE THIS SHOW, I LOVE THIS SHOW, I FREAKIN' LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!!!!

So around this time last year, after binging my way the first three series, the Classics adaptation, the Worlds episodes, and the minisodes, I finally joined my like minded collective in anticipation for the new series. Especially after hearing it would go back to the original form for this release. Interesting....

THE CONFESSIONS OF DORIAN GRAY REVIEW

THE COMPLETE FOURTH SERIES

By Jack Ryan

BEWARE: THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK

Let me make it clear that I don't hate the structure of Series 3. I actually think that the series story arc structure suited it for showing how Dorian copes with modern times. But at heart, the series is about how one man's greed has cursed him to live forever, and showing us how he goes about doing that, across the century and a half of his life. So when it was announced that for this series that it would be returning to proper form with eight episodes spread across Dorian's history, how could I not be immediately drawn in? Especially, since I now had caught up with everyone, I'd be going in with everyone else...

It's astounding how, when time is fleeting, it's easy for madness to take control, especially when you've lived for over 150 years. But that's just a day in the life of Dorian Gray, the immortal hedonist of Oscar Wilde's infamous novel. Across his long life, he has faced many strange and horrifying bizzarities, from intelligent machines to Norse folklore, from demonic monsters to vengeful spirits and screeching banshees, from gigantic krakens to beastly lycanthropes. And then Dorian finds himself learning what it means to be both himself and someone else, when he meets Jonathan Moore, who looks suspiciously familiar....

When a series like this makes its way to the fourth series, one does consider at one point, if there is anything else that can be done with the characters. But the thing about Dorian is that tis a bit like that Doctor show; although slightly more restricted, it still has a huge range of story ideas, history and locations to draw inspiration from. And this set provided some of the best in both ideas and authors. Starting us off is Roy Gill's The Enigma Of Dorian Gray, set in 60's London, where Dorian attend the 'funeral' of BEAUTY, a computer created by an old friend. But BEAUTY wants one last talk with his master's friend. Following is Freya, by Sam Stone, where Dorian finds out that Norse mythology has a bit more grounds in reality. Human Remains, by James Goss, sees Gray end up in hospital to have his appendix removed.... again. But something old and dangerous is roaming the hospital. His Dying Breath, by the legendary George Mann, shows a sinister spectre roaming around the streets of London, looking for those who have done wrong. And Dorian Gray has walked into town... Following is Xanna Eve Chown's Banshee where Dorian's friend has inherited an old house in the middle of the Emerald Isle. A house haunted by a terrifying scream.... David Llewellyn's The Abysmal Sea has Dorian enter Greece on his 1974 world tour with his new muse Alyssa Symes. But something is waiting under the water. Then is Mark B. Oliver's Inner Darkness, where on a trip to Iceland, Dorian finds himself saved by a bizarre visitor. But then he reveals that something wrong is up in the snow covered forest. Finally, we finish with Matt Fitton's The Living Image, where Dorian discovers Johnathan Moore, his doppelganger. As the two exchange their lives, things soon begin to spiral completely out of control. The writing shown here is in my view some of the greatest seen in the series so far, with the writers and director supreme, Scott Handcock, showcasing all their talents at bringing each episode's story to life. In fact, all of them are on an amazing level of brilliance, I'm unable to pick a favourite. I enjoy listening to each as much as the next, and knowing that every episode you listen to in this set is of an equal and high calibre is one of the best feelings to experience when undertaking a series like this.

You'd think after three brilliant series and a novel adaptation, that we'd have run out of good actors to appear in this series. You could think that, but you'd be utterly and entirely wrong. But it's a good feeling to be wrong this time as the cast list for this is a sight to behold. Some familliar names to Big Finish fans, and even British TV fans, include The End Of The World's Yasmin Bannerman, Coronation Street and Doctor Who's Bruno Langley, Bernice Summerfield's Aeysha Antoine, Big Finish's 'Dr Keel' Anthony Howell, Iris Wildthyme's David Benson, Survival's Sakuntala Ramanee, Class' Aaron Neil, Dracula's Deirdre Mullins, EastEnders' Raj Ghatak, Sylvia Noble herself Jacqueline King and the legendary John Sessions. Joining the cast alongside are some brand new and upcoming talents including Wolf Hall's Jacob-Fortune Lloyd, Goodnight Sweetheart's Tim Preston, Katherine Pearce, Ross Foley, Laura Riseborough and George Naylor, and also included is a cheeky little cameo from James Goss. Every last cast member here, old and young, emerging or veteran, is just an absolute pleasure to hear, with each an every one of them just easily slipping into their assigned roles. But as always, how can I not talk about....

ALEXANDER BLOODY VLAHOS!!!!

(I'm enjoying saying that a bit too much I think...)

Can Alex do no wrong when it comes to his talents? Evidently not, as his return to the titular role is as awe inspiring and as haunting as ever. Alex manages to take everyone's expectations and, along with the rest of this stellar cast, knock them straight out of the park. Especially with Alex dual role in the final episode. Nearly so sublime that if they didn't tell you outright in the story, you'd swear it was two different actors.

Speaking of knocking it right out of the park, Neil Gardner and James Dunlop have returned for sound and music duties, and once again, not only succeed in making every step and every stab sound real, but Dunlop's music here represents some of his greatest work for Big Finish, let alone the series, with every tune, every melody, every motif matching the words and sounds we hear. And his music in the final minutes of the last episode is perhaps the most emotionally heartbreaking stuff I've heard since Elicien's Song in Robophobia. It is just beautifully sad....

By taking the decision to go back in time rather than stay in the present day, this series has given us the chance to look at Dorian Gray's exploits and how he has grown from an immoral hedonist, to a man who might not have a soul, but he does have a heart and uses it to care for those dear to him. And this series defines that element of him, as well as delivering some cracking stories as always. And his heart is ready to share even more care, as December is fast approaching....

VERDICT: 5/5 "It's just a jump to the past,
And yet they do it so right,
Not a single one slips,
At being pure delight,
So I offer my trust,
They will not drive you insa-ya-ya-a-ane,
LET'S DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN!!!"

DAMN YOU, RICHARD O'BRIEN!!!!