Day 9: The Spectre Of Lanyon Moor

THE YEAR OF BIG FINISH

Day 9: The Spectre Of Lanyon Moor

*Writing's On The Wall starts playing*

QUIETEN DOWN, SAM!!!! THERE'S NO NEED TO START SINGING THAT SONG EVERY TIME I SAY THE BLOODY WORD "SPECTRE"!!!! THE FILM WAS THREE YEARS AGO NOW!!!!

Hmm, what..... oh.... OH! Ah, right, sorry about that everyone! Uh, where were we? Oh yes, The Spectre of Lanyon Moor...

*Writing's On The Wall starts playing... again*

CIÚNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS!!!!!!

*stops*

Thank you. So.... THE BRIG'S BACK!!!!!

Lanyon Moor is a little area in the desolate Cornish landscape, not noted for really anything but a small settlement back in prehistoric times, and it's a dull bore. How? Because Former Brigadier Sir Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart thinks so. And he's seen some excitement in his time, he can tell you. But things are about to get a bit for exciting. There are rumours of imps on the moor, something more than a settlement said to be found at the site, and a Doctor appearing out of nowhere on the scene. In fact, two Doctors. One being Doctor Evelyn Smythe of Sheffield Halam University; the other, someone the Brigadier knows all too well...

Having proven themselves with Daleks and Ice Warriors, Big Finish were now given the chance to write for some of the Doctor's extended friends, and considering the late great Nicholas Courtney was already in their employ as an actor for the Bernice Summerfield range, bringing back the Brig looked to be the best option. And oh, how they were right. It's interesting the way that a cover of something can mislead you with regards to the content or tone of a story. It's the same with this. Nicholas Pegg's well crafted tale feels and sounds completely different to the image I had in my head when first looking at that foreboding cover. But once I threw that preconception out and listened to it for what it was, it's bloody brilliant! Pegg has successfully crafted a tale that gives us a new and fresh take on the "aliens creating local folklore" trope, hit a good balance of tense drama and lightly comedic character interaction, and a belter of a proper "I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!!!" plot twist, all wrapped up in a neat, Terror Of The Zygons feeling bow. Not bad for a first Doctor Who story, eh?!

And under Pegg's watchful directorial gaze, the cast and crew are extremely good in this. Added to the talents of Baker as the Sixth Doctor, the return of Maggie Stables as the now recurring Dr Smythe, and the late, great, exemplary, and much missed Nicholas Courtney easily slipping back into the Brigadier after a decade off screen, we are graced with truly a truly memorable performance from the future Mrs Wibbsey, Susan Jameson, plus Likely Lad James Bolam, and a number of present and future Big Finish regulars, Helen Goldwyn, Toby Longworth, Barnaby Edwards, and Pegg himself rounding off the cast, many with multiple characters to play, but successfully making each one sound unique and distinguishable. Throw into the mix some top notch sound design and an eerie soundtrack from Alistair Lock, and you've got yourself a hit!

The Spectre Of Lanyon Moor might not have been what I was expecting. But coming out of it, I love it for what it is. A pure romp of a story, that can make you properly tense in some areas, and a return to form of one of the series' most legendary characters and performers. Here's hoping I get to Courtney's next release soon.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE TO WAIT TEN DAYS?!?!

Doctor Who: The Spectre Of Lanyon Moor, is available on Download for £/$/€2.99 on the Big Finish Website, and on limited CD, Cassette and Download from other stockists. 

TOMORROW: The Author of the infamous Masterplan, Andrew Cartmel, gives us a blistery outing for the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa. And an early intro for a Big Finish legend...