After three fantastic series worth of stories, battles and invasions galore, the new UNIT team have proven their worth in the Worlds of Big Finish. After starting off as the first proper BF series to use new series IP, it has laid the foundation for not only the returns of both David Tennant and the late and legendary Sir John Freaking Hurt, and further blurring of the line between classic and new eras, not least with the stellar crossover between Jago and Litefoot, and Strax the Sontaran. And it is something like that amazing blend of old and new that is what we are treated to today with the fourth UNIT New Series Boxset…
I AM SO HAPPY THIS NOW EXISTS!!!!
I AM SO HAPPY THIS NOW EXISTS!!!!
UNIT: THE NEW SERIES REVIEW
SERIES 4: ASSEMBLED
By Jack Ryan
By Jack Ryan
BEWARE: THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK
Since being announced last November in the pages of Doctor Who Magazine, this has turned into one of the most anticipated releases in Big Finish’s catalogue. Not only were we having the continuing adventures of Kate Stewart, Osgood and the new UNIT team, but we are now having them cross paths with not only two classic foes of the original UNIT era, but also some friends from the original UNIT era. The only question is, would this gamble work, or would it turn into another game of continuity bingo?
Kate Stewart, and her team at UNIT, were having the most peaceful of days. That was, until a faction of extremist Silurians decided to wake up and try to take back the Earth. And that is only the beginning. Trying to survive the wrath of Grand Marshal Jastrok, Kate and Osgood come across the assistance of UNIT legends John Benton, Mike Yates and Jo Jones. Soon, the new classic UNIT team are thrown into the thick of it, with underwater Sea Devil cities, mind-melting devices in Greece, and some prehistoric dinosaur weapons thrown in for good measure. Then when Jastrok takes control of Great Britain, it will take all the skills of UNIT, new and old, to stop the new age of the Silurians…
Writers Guy Adams and Matt Fitton showcase with these four stories that not only are they in their element with these characters, but that from the word go, they’re ready to give you an action-packed epic that you won’t forget in a hurry. Fitton’s Call To Arms starts off the set and from the first five minutes, the team are thrown into the thick of it when John Benton and Mike Yates are back in action, thanks to Kate and Osgood escaping the extremist Silurian Jastrok. Then, in Adams’ Tidal Wave, Osgood meets a hero of hers in Jo Jones, who takes on some newly woken Sea Devils. But are they the real enemy, or are they but pawns in Jastrok’s game? Adams continues with Retrieval, when the UNIT team discover a Silurian Base near Greece. Only Jastrok and his loyal soldiers have followed them and don’t plan on them leaving alive. Finally, Fitton’s grand finale, United, (get it?!?!) sees UNIT old and new join once more to stop Jastrok’s takeover of Earth. This set cleverly builds up to the big reunion finale by giving us a good healthy dose of old and new across the first three stellar episodes and then goes all out for the finale, which works especially well in this case. It’s safe to say that director Ken Bently has truly outdone himself with this one.
As for the cast, it’s hard not to find a recognisable name in this cast list, but what’s good about that is that every last one of them are brilliant! Returning regulars Jenna Redgrave, Ingrid Oliver, James Joyce and Warren Brown, are joined by returning legends Katy Manning, Richard Franklin and the great John Levine as Jo, Mike and Benton respectively. Not only that, but we have Richard Hope and Neve McIntosh returning as Silurians, with Hope giving a brilliantly chilling evil performance, and audio supremo Nicholas Ruddy Briggs as the Sea Devils, who just nails the authentic voice for them and helps add more depth to a criminally underused Who monster. Rounded off with performances from Nicholas Asbury, Annette Holland and Alex Tregar and you have a casting so perfect, the only thing that could beat it is if you threw in Corporal Bell and Brigadier Bambera!
As for music and sound design, Howard Carter and his amazing (and sneakily well crafted) theme tune have returned to make everything feel and sound epic. I’m literally running out of things to say about Carter at this point. It’s like Jamie Robertson all over again!
Until recently, and by recently I mean a good half a year ago, this seemed to be the last UNIT boxset. Even though we all knew it wasn’t, if it had to be, they couldn’t have picked a better set of stories to go out on a high on! With superb stories from two brilliant writers, a stellar cast of classic and new “old” favourites, top notch sound design and frankly epic presentation, if you only listen to one set of UNIT The New Series, A) YOU’RE MAD! GO LISTEN TO THEM ALL!! And B) if so, let it be this one. I doubt you’ll be disappointed!
VERDICT: 10/10 UNIT – STAND BY FOR ACTION, ADVENTURE AND PURE BLOODY AWESOMENESS!!! ;D
UNIT: The New Series: Assembled is available to purchase on CD and download from the Big Finish website here, or from all good stockists.
Covers © Tom Webster and Big Finish
Kate Stewart, and her team at UNIT, were having the most peaceful of days. That was, until a faction of extremist Silurians decided to wake up and try to take back the Earth. And that is only the beginning. Trying to survive the wrath of Grand Marshal Jastrok, Kate and Osgood come across the assistance of UNIT legends John Benton, Mike Yates and Jo Jones. Soon, the new classic UNIT team are thrown into the thick of it, with underwater Sea Devil cities, mind-melting devices in Greece, and some prehistoric dinosaur weapons thrown in for good measure. Then when Jastrok takes control of Great Britain, it will take all the skills of UNIT, new and old, to stop the new age of the Silurians…
Writers Guy Adams and Matt Fitton showcase with these four stories that not only are they in their element with these characters, but that from the word go, they’re ready to give you an action-packed epic that you won’t forget in a hurry. Fitton’s Call To Arms starts off the set and from the first five minutes, the team are thrown into the thick of it when John Benton and Mike Yates are back in action, thanks to Kate and Osgood escaping the extremist Silurian Jastrok. Then, in Adams’ Tidal Wave, Osgood meets a hero of hers in Jo Jones, who takes on some newly woken Sea Devils. But are they the real enemy, or are they but pawns in Jastrok’s game? Adams continues with Retrieval, when the UNIT team discover a Silurian Base near Greece. Only Jastrok and his loyal soldiers have followed them and don’t plan on them leaving alive. Finally, Fitton’s grand finale, United, (get it?!?!) sees UNIT old and new join once more to stop Jastrok’s takeover of Earth. This set cleverly builds up to the big reunion finale by giving us a good healthy dose of old and new across the first three stellar episodes and then goes all out for the finale, which works especially well in this case. It’s safe to say that director Ken Bently has truly outdone himself with this one.
As for the cast, it’s hard not to find a recognisable name in this cast list, but what’s good about that is that every last one of them are brilliant! Returning regulars Jenna Redgrave, Ingrid Oliver, James Joyce and Warren Brown, are joined by returning legends Katy Manning, Richard Franklin and the great John Levine as Jo, Mike and Benton respectively. Not only that, but we have Richard Hope and Neve McIntosh returning as Silurians, with Hope giving a brilliantly chilling evil performance, and audio supremo Nicholas Ruddy Briggs as the Sea Devils, who just nails the authentic voice for them and helps add more depth to a criminally underused Who monster. Rounded off with performances from Nicholas Asbury, Annette Holland and Alex Tregar and you have a casting so perfect, the only thing that could beat it is if you threw in Corporal Bell and Brigadier Bambera!
As for music and sound design, Howard Carter and his amazing (and sneakily well crafted) theme tune have returned to make everything feel and sound epic. I’m literally running out of things to say about Carter at this point. It’s like Jamie Robertson all over again!
Until recently, and by recently I mean a good half a year ago, this seemed to be the last UNIT boxset. Even though we all knew it wasn’t, if it had to be, they couldn’t have picked a better set of stories to go out on a high on! With superb stories from two brilliant writers, a stellar cast of classic and new “old” favourites, top notch sound design and frankly epic presentation, if you only listen to one set of UNIT The New Series, A) YOU’RE MAD! GO LISTEN TO THEM ALL!! And B) if so, let it be this one. I doubt you’ll be disappointed!
VERDICT: 10/10 UNIT – STAND BY FOR ACTION, ADVENTURE AND PURE BLOODY AWESOMENESS!!! ;D
UNIT: The New Series: Assembled is available to purchase on CD and download from the Big Finish website here, or from all good stockists.
Covers © Tom Webster and Big Finish
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