The Tertiary Console Room: Review - Doctor Who

In the midst of Doctor Evelyn Smythe's lecture on Tudor England, the Doctor is at large, searching for a temporal nexus point which it appears that Evelyn is connected to in some way. It soon becomes apparent that the nexus point is growing and that Evelyn's family are being erased from history, and if something isn't done soon then Evelyn herself may soon cease to exist. The Doctor reluctantly agrees to take Evelyn with him to Elizabethan times in order to find out what is happening, but soon it appears that everything is not how it appears.

Jacqueline Rayner's The Marian Conspiracy is a triumphant success. Set sometime between the conclusion of The Trial Of A Time Lord and Time And The Rani, it uses this gap to introduce new companion Doctor Evelyn Smythe. The books have also given the Sixth Doctor new companions in Grant Markham (Time Of Your Life) and Frobisher (Mission:Impractical) but the introduction of Evelyn to the Big Finish range is due partly to Colin Baker wanting a different companion to accompany the Doctor apart from Peri, so as to allow a more developed version of the Doctor to emerge, who is free from the constant arguing of the Doctor/Peri relationship.

Something rarely attempted in Doctor Who since the times of Hartnell and Troughton are historical stories. Even with the ranges of Doctor Who books, very few of them have been purely historical. The Marian Conspiracy is a historical, and as such it is refreshing to hear the Sixth Doctor in the past, rather than one of the earlier Doctors.

Colin Baker's time as the Doctor was a particularly troubled one, and as a result he wasn't able to develop his Doctor in the way that he would have liked to have. The books have taken the opportunity to develop the character of the Sixth Doctor, and the Big Finish audios have also chosen to use a more developed character for the Sixth Doctor too. This makes the character far more likeable than he ever was on television, and allows Colin Baker to excel as the Doctor, as he gets to play him in the way that he always wanted to as an explorer who isn't arrogant or bombastic, but just has a few eccentricities. Baker's performance here is simply magnificent. His presence is imposing, and yet restrained.

Maggie Stables is simply wonderful as Evelyn Smythe. She brings the character to life in such a way that she leaps out of the speakers at you. Her reaction when she finds the Doctor has pursued her to her home is excellent. "Oh, it's you. The lunatic." There is another superb scene in episode one where the Doctor has questioned something about Tudor England, which Evelyn disagrees with and in her explanation of what's wrong with the Doctor's statement she refuses to let him get a word in edgeways which is something totally unexpected. By having the Doctor accompanied by an older companion makes another interesting change as certainly in the context of the television series, most of them have been young and by having an elder companion, it puts Evelyn on a more level platform with the Doctor.

The supporting characters are good here too. The comedic duo of George Crow and William Leaf work well together and their interaction with Evelyn in the early episodes are marvellous. The other members of the cast are good too. Those plotting against the Queen because of her religious beliefs fears about her are portrayed well. The standout performance comes from Anah Ruddin who plays the Queen exceptionally well and the scenes which she interacts with the Doctor are some of the highlights.

One of the things that I liked best about this story was the cliffhanger to episode one. The Doctor and Evelyn have arrived in what they assume to be the time of Elizabeth the First, and whilst under this misconception as to what the year is, Evelyn ends up being accused of being a traitor.

Rayner's writing is superb throughout the script. It is very witty, funny and this all contributes to making this the best audio drama that Big Finish have produced. The introduction of Evelyn contributes to this success greatly. Evelyn's introduction is possibly one of the best in all Doctor Who as it brings her into the story in a way which makes her instantly likeable and she forms an instant repartee with the Doctor. Rayner's attention to historical detail helps to bring the Marian part of the Tudor years to life in a fascinating way. With a script as good as this, a superb performance from Colin Baker and a great introductory story for Maggie Stables as Evelyn, The Marian Conspiracy is almost faultless. Without a doubt it is one of the best pieces of Doctor Who drama that Big Finish have produced, and one that is an undoubted classic.