In Review: Big Finish: Missy, Series 01

Synopsis: Missy… alone, unleashed and unfettered. What does she get up to when the Doctor isn’t around?

Well, Missy has a plan. And to carry it out, she’s going to have to break some rules. And people. And planets. Look out universe, Missy is on a mission. And nobody is going to stop her…

Review: Derek Jacobi’s War Master is my favorite modern incarnation of The Doctor’s frenemy. As much as I love him, though, my appetite for Time War Tragedy has its limit. When I reach that limit, Michelle Gomez’s Missy is the perfect darkly humorous alternative. With Missy, Series 01, writers Roy Gill, John Dorney, Nev Fountain, and Jonathan Morris have constructed a gloriously hilarious evil romp in four parts.

In “A Spoonful of Mayhem” by Roy Gill, listeners get the Mary Poppins parody that internal logic demanded from the moment Missy first twirled her brolly. We also get a depressed sphinx and all of the science fantasy goodness fans crave from this universe.

In “Divorced, Beheaded, Regenerated” by John Dorney, listeners are treated to the incredible double act of Missy and The Monk. Michelle Gomez and Rufus Hound brilliantly eat all the scenery and go back for a large second breakfast in a send-up of Tudor England that only a British audio company could produce.

In “The Broken Clock” by Nev Fountain, we get a trippy True Crime pastiche that’s my favorite story in the set. Guy Paul puts in a wonderful performance as a detective with a very long, very strange night ahead of him.

Finally, “The Belly of the Beast” by Jonathan Morris ties the story together in surprising ways that make absolute sense in hindsight. I can’t wait to hear how Missy’s plans progress in the next volume.

• You can purchase Missy, Series 01 here. 

Written By: Roy Gill, John Dorney, Nev Fountain, Jonathan Morris

Directed By: Ken Bentley

Cast

Michelle Gomez (Missy), Rufus Hound (The Monk), Oliver Clement (Oliver Davis), Bonnie Kingston (Lucy Davis), Simon Slater (Montague Davis / Moses Walker / Coachman), Dan Starkey (Mr Cosmo / Park Keeper / Old Man / Sphinx), Beth Chalmers (Djinn / Housemaid), Maggie Service (Catherine Parr), Leighton Pugh (Sir Foxcroft / Gramoryan 1 / Priest), Graham Seed (Gramoryan 2 / Taverner / Squire), Kenneth Jay (Dick Zodiac), Guy Paul (Joe Lynwood), Ryan Forde Iosco (The Actor Playing Joe Lynwood), Daniel Goode (Mark / Roy), Rachel Verkuil (Frankie / The Actress Playing Missy), Abbie Andrew (Aleyna), John Scougall (Cort / Guards), Lucy Goldie (Sath / Mother), Jason Nwoga (Doctor Goodnight), Jamie Laird (Mr Bryce / Father). Other parts played by members of the cast.

Producer David Richardson 

Script Editor Matt Fitton 

Executive Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs