In Review: Big Finish: Doctor Who: Time War – Uncharted 1: Reflections

Synopsis: In Uncharted 1: Reflections, The Doctor and his great-grandson Alex have been reunited amid the Time War. Splintered timelines draw them ever closer to another fellow traveller. Does Cass’s destiny lie in the TARDIS?

As the Time War rages, the Doctor enters uncharted territory. Any friends they meet might not be what they seem.

Review: Doctor Who: Time War – Uncharted 1: Reflections was a darkly twisty start of a new arc. Moreover, the box set ended on an absolute doozy of a cliff-hanger.

Story

The four new tales were unrelentingly disorienting. By the closing story, plot threads years in unspooling were being paid off.

“Nowhere, Never” by Katharine Armitage gave neither the characters nor the listeners any context. The result was a sad and frightening patchwork quilt of developments that set what followed in motion.

“The Road Untravelled” by Tim Foley relied on world-building he carried through from Dark Gallifrey. Foley used that mythology to highlight unintended consequences of the Doctor’s life choices.

“Cass-cade” by James Moran showcased Cass’s competence and resiliency. I really appreciated how well she handled the situation and cherished her place on the TARDIS team throughout.

“Borrow or Rob” by Tim Foley built to the type of cliff-hanger listeners can only get in Time War stories. Along the way, we all got a meditation on pain, loss, and PTSD.

What’s more, dramatic irony seeped into every scene of these installments. Listeners were made to feel the weight of ultimate fates just as keenly as the characters themselves.

Acting

The entire cast was excellent. That said, this box set belonged to two actors.

Emma Campbell-Jones continued to play Cass on all cylinders. She showed range and depth that was only hinted at in her first appearance.

For his part, Sonny McGann proved how much he’d grown along with Alex Campbell. He cycled through every imaginable emotion — often in a single scene.

Overall

Big Finish has done it again. Doctor Who: Time War – Uncharted 1: Reflections left me wanting more.

You can purchase Doctor Who: Time War – Uncharted 1: Reflections here.