The Blood Furnace review

A thought always seems to wander through the minds of Doctor Who fans at some stage.... what would the show have been like if it wasn't cancelled back in '89? What would season 27 and even 28 have been like?

I think this release tries to answer that. And if the show proper could have been like this.... OH, HOW GLORIOUS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN!!!

DOCTOR WHO MAIN RANGE REVIEW

228: THE BLOOD FURNACE

By Jack Ryan

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

SYNOPSIS:

The Doctor, Ace and Mel, fresh from their travels across time and space, land in the most unlikely of places.... Merseyside, 1991. Well, they can't all be fabulous... But as surrounding events will prove, it doesn't have to be, as a newly operating shipyard proves. The owners, The Dark Alloy Corporation, are looking to help make a ream of new jobs, not least for Stuart Dale, discoverer of Dark Alloy, and old college friend of Mel. But soon, disasters start occurring, all relating to the corporation's mysterious client, an alien assassin, and something called the Blood Furnace...

WRITING:

Eddie Robson certainly has a knack as a writer. And a very good knack at that; taking a regular fixture of a certain time and place, and presenting a dark and twisted take on it. Like Industrial Evolution and Fanfare for the Common Men before it, The Blood Furnace not only showcases Robson's well honed knack, but also proves itself as a highly engaging thriller tale, keeping the listener hooked for more...

CAST:

Ken Bentley return for directing duties and rounds our cast up into a performance truly worthy of his unfaltering skill. Sylvester, Sophie and Bonnie return once more and are as brilliant at they first were in Dragonfire. Alongside them are the brilliant efforts of Julie Graham, Jade Anouka, Todd Heppenstall, Clare Clabraith, Louis Tamone and Ignatius Anthony, all of whom give their all and help in making Robson's script the thriller it deserves to be.

SOUND WORK:

Martin Montague's talents in sound design grace this release and to say he has done a Mersey side shipyard justice, would possibly be an understatement. I only say that as I have no idea what a Merseyside shipyard sounds like, but I daresay Montague's effort is damn close, if not pinpoint perfect. And as for music, Andy Hardwick's stunning soundtrack helps the story cement it's thriller feeling, with a racing suite of music that would fit a Dan Brown novel...

CONCLUSION:

This trilogy, like many others, seems to be building itself up and up. From script, to cast, to sound, to everything else, it's an engaging thriller that'll be hard to top.... wait, what's this next one here?

Ooooooh......

VERDICT: 9/10 British working class Dan Brown thriller, with aliens. What's not to love? ;D

Doctor Who: The Blood Furnace is available to purchase on CD and Download from the Big Finish Website here, or from all good stockists.