Synopsis: Two two-part adventures follow from Doctor Who: Tartarus. The Doctor, Nyssa, and Tegan welcome a new companion on board the Tardis.
Review: Doctor Who: Interstitial / Feast of Fear gives listeners the first two adventures of Cicero’s former slave, Marc, as a full-fledged companion. Martyn Waites and Carl Rowens have written for a character who is a smarter, more worldly version of Katarina. Then, they’ve tossed him into the deep end where all companions must swim.
“Interstitial” by Carl Rowens is the latest tale of mad science and even madder scientists. Marc beholds the stars and the god complex that would shape them. Throughout, George Watkins does an excellent job conveying what it’s like for Marc to swallow this Doctor Who chestnut whole.
“Feast of Fear” by Martyn Waites is my favorite of the two tales, as I have an especial fondness for Doctor Who historicals. Marc comes face to face with the Irish Famine. In the process, he learns that a former Roman slave can have a better lot in life than those who have ostensibly always been free.
Throughout the two stories, the writers do an excellent job of pairing Marc off with different characters so that no one is underutilized and all perspectives are explored. The regular actors also get opportunities to shine as their bonds are put to the test and new ones are formed.
All of this sets up next month’s Doctor Who: Warzone / Conversion. I’ve gotten attached to Marc, and I hope he fares better than Katarina did at the end of her arc.
- You can purchase Doctor Who: Interstitial / Feast of Fear here.
Cast
Peter Davison (The Doctor), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Janet Fielding (Tegan Jovanka)
George Watkins (Marc), Jeremy Ang Jones (Jennings), Melissa Dean (Brianna)
Peter Heenan (Armstrong), Niamh McGrady (Shannon), Deirdre Mullins (The Spae Wife)
Anna-Maria Nabirye (Kalu), Michael Yare (Lorcan)
Production Credits
Written by Martyn Waites, Carl Rowens
Cover Artist Simon Holub
Director Scott Handcock
Executive Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery, Nicholas Briggs
Music Ioan Morris
Producer Scott Handcock
Script Editor Guy Adams
Sound Design Lee Adams
Senior Producer David Richardson
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- Story8.5
- Performances10
- Audio Production10
Interstitial / Feast of Fear was so bad I am rethinking buying a single 5th doctor audio drama in the future for a few reasons. I am confounded that anyone would disagree. I think political/cultural driven agenda is ruining DW as a brand. I love sci fi. I do not want these cheesy relationships constantly the thorn in an otherwise good story. It’s not that I cannot handle a lesbian relationship….I am kind of sick of the DW brand being more and more about such things however. I do not need cheap novels that have flowing haired, bare chested men on the cover thrusted into nearly every single story. Can we get back to sci fi please? if a relationship IS the story, fine…..but I would hate it if the other political side ruined art for their politics as well. It’s now a DW obsession and also Tegan (SP?) has to go…please, she must go. She is horrible in every episode without exception and I find nobody that disagrees in my circle. Sorry but while there has been some unusually good dramas from the DW lines of Jago and Litefoot and 1rst doctor and war master and Bernice Summerfield , there is an over all decline. I really believe it is because of the freakish push of culture over good story. I am not a hater and do not need everyone to agree with my beliefs at all. There is obviously a line however where you sacrifice agenda for good story. BF passed that line and needs to get back on the side of good stories. I mean would they ever allow a counter political narrative? no….which proves my point……I want neither political agenda…..I stopped watching, and I fear I will stop listening soon. It’s become a waste of money and very annoying. If I want to pay to be annoyed for a political agenda ill buy a FOX news app or something. Well I would not obviously, but you get my point.
Personally, I don’t mind, but I get why others do. As bad as you think Doctor Who has become, it’s nothing compared to the CW super hero shows, which make me want to put my head through a wall sometimes. I tolerate it, because the overall universe is more interesting than the stories that justify that universe.
Basically, we need holodecks and to be left alone. As pushing for holodecks would destabilize the economy and unemploy a ton of people allowing for knock on effects, we have to make due right now
As for Tegan, she is annoying. In terms of Fifth Doctor companions, I prefer Nyssa and Erimem