Doctor Who: Upstairs Review

Released in September 2013, Upstairs was the third Doctor Who audio in the eighth season of Big Finish's Companion Chronicles. It stars Maureen O'Brien as Vicki and Peter Purves as Steven. It is written by Mat Coward and directed by Lisa Bowerman.

Big Finish's synopsis:

"When the TARDIS lands in a dilapidated attic, the Doctor, Vicki and Steven discover they are on Earth, in London… in Number 10 Downing Street.
However alien forces are at play here, affecting the very fabric of the building… and adjusting the very essence of history itself."

Believe it or not, this is the first Companion Chronicle I've listened to, seeing as I've always spent a good chunk of my money on main range and Eighth Doctor Adventure audios. Naturally, I became curious about this little range of audio drama-like audiobooks after hearing so many good things about it and I thought that, since Steven is my favourite Hartnell era companion, pre-ordering this release might be a good way to see what all the hype is about. Well, it certainly didn't disappoint me!

Like most Companion Chronicles, the cast is made up of just two actors. A lot of the time, it's one companion and one random actor but this time, it's two companions and no one else. Maureen O'Brien sounds a lot older, but of course, she was (and obviously still is) a little bit younger than Peter. She does a legitimately great job with some of the voices, and I really do like her Hartnell impression. Peter Purves doesn't sound a day older than he did in The Savages - I certainly wouldn't have guessed he was in his 70's now! Excellent performances from both actors!

The setting of 10 Downing Street in 1900 is great, and the more you learn, the creepier it gets. Not the Chimes of Midnight or The Holy Terror kind of creepy, but still, creepy. I bet conspiracy theorists are going to love the setting and the storyline.

I think the villain in Upstairs is one of the most interesting villains of all time although, to some people, it's name is probably a huge spoiler so I won't mention it. It's very wibbly wobbly timey wimey near the start of the story and actually makes you think "How are they going to get out of this one!?" near the end of the story.

My favourite line is "NUMBER 10 DOWNING STREET, AHA!" - it doesn't make an amazing quote, but Maureen O'Brien's eccentricity while saying that line was amazing.

There are some good funny moments, such as The Doctor, Steven and Vicki walking in on someone in the washroom. Even if it's not very much, I always appreciate a little humour in sci-fi!

It's nice to hear something about the TARDIS food machine for the first time in a long while. Something I really like is how the story gives us some insight on what was going on in Vicki's head during her travels with The Doctor.

Mat Coward is just one of many new Big Finish writers in recent months, and if his future scripts can live up to this standard, then I know they will all be a joy to hear. Looking forward to more from him.

I highly recommend giving this a listen. Full of great ideas, great characters and great music / sound effects. Excellent stuff.

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

You can buy Upstairs for £7.99 download or £8.99 CD here.

The Dark Planet & Upstairs Are Out Now!

Following the releases of Daleks Among Us and 1963: Fanfare for the Common Men, Big Finish have released Lost Story The Dark Planet written by Brian Hayles and adapted by Matt Fitton along with Companion Chronicle Upstairs written Mat Coward.

The Dark Planet Synopsis:

"Somewhere far back in the early days of the universe the TARDIS lands on a world lit by a dying sun. Missing from the Doctor's star maps and dotted with strange crystalline statues, it is a world ripe for exploration. But it is also a world of destruction.
Venturing out onto its surface, the time travellers find themselves drawn into an age-old conflict between the two species residing on the planet - people of Light and Shadow. Proving a catalyst for the escalation of the conflict, the Doctor and his friends need either to create a peace or to pick a side.
Because in times of war, nothing is ever black and white."

Upstairs Synopsis:

"When the TARDIS lands in a dilapidated attic, the Doctor, Vicki and Steven discover they are on Earth, in London… in Number 10 Downing Street.
However alien forces are at play here, affecting the very fabric of the building… and adjusting the very essence of history itself."

You can buy The Dark Planet for £14.99 download or £16.99 CD here.
You can buy Upstairs for £7.99 download or £8.99 CD here.

Two New Big Finish Audios Out Now

Seventh Doctor audio Daleks Among Us written by Alan Barnes and Fifth Doctor audio 1963: Fanfare for the Common Men written by Eddie Robson are both available now!

Daleks Among Us Synopsis:

"AZIMUTH DEPARTMENT OF RE-EDUCATION
REMINDER: TO ALL CITIZENS
There are no Daleks on Azimuth. There have never been Daleks on Azimuth.
Twenty years ago, the Daleks did not invade Azimuth. There was no war. There were no death camps. A man named ‘the Doctor’ did not help liberate Azimuth.
There are no such things as Daleks. They do not exist. There are no Daleks among us.
UPDATE: TO ALL CITIZENS
A strange blue box has not appeared in Monument Plaza. Off-worlders named ‘the Doctor’, ‘Elizabeth Klein’ and ‘Will Arrowsmith’ are not at large in the city. For your own safety, should you not see any of the above, report at once to the Department of Re-education, Azimuth Central.
NEVER REMEMBER"

Fanfare for the Common Men Synopsis:

"If you remember the Sixties, they say, then you can’t have been there.
The Doctor remembers the Sixties. That’s why he’s taking Nyssa on a trip back to November 1963. Back to where it all began. Back to the birth of the biggest band in the history of British music. Back to see those cheeky lads from Liverpool...
Mark, James and Korky. The Common Men. The boys who made the Sixties swing with songs like Oh, Won’t You Please Love Me?, Just Count To Three and Who Is That Man.
The Doctor remembers the Sixties. And there’s something very wrong with the Sixties, if the Beatles no longer exist…"

You can buy Daleks Among Us for £12.99 download or £14.99 CD here.
You can buy 1963: Fanfare for the Common Men for £12.99 download or £14.99 CD here.
Companion Chronicle Upstairs starring Maureen O'Brien and Peter Purves will be released later this month.