In Review: Big Finish: The Paternoster Gang: Trespassers 1: Rogues Gallery

Synopsis: Victorian England is home to the Great Detective, Madame Vastra, her resourceful spouse, Jenny Flint, and their loyal valet, Strax. Solving conundrums, fighting injustice and capturing criminals are all in a day’s work for the Gang. 

Unfortunately, the most dangerous threat is one that takes up residence undetected. There are trespassers in London, and they are coming to Paternoster Row.

Review: The Paternoster Gang: Trespassers 1: Rogues Gallery was an excellent start to a new story arc. The tales were heartfelt, hilarious, and horrifying. Added to that, the cliff-hanger was particularly twisty, even by Big Finish’s usual standards.

Story

Big Finish’s flair for adapting Victorian tropes was on full display. Moreover, the love necessary to adapt those tropes properly was also evident in every syllable of the scripts. As a result, the Paternoster Gang and the world they inhabit continues to be vibrantly real.

“The Ghost and the Potato Man” by Barnaby Kay was a full embrace of the dance hall. The patter and plot merged for a perfect Halloween treat. 

Strax had me in stitches throughout. I also enjoyed the world-building. To top it off, listeners got a delightful mini-crossover.

“Symmetry of Death” by Dan Starkey was the difficult middle story. He had to foreshadow certain elements without overpowering the stand-alone tale.

Starkey found a successful balance through his intrinsic understanding of the characters. He also had a firm grasp of his chosen tropes, which allowed for inventive deconstruction.

“Till Death Us Do Part” by Lisa McMullin was the main event. I absolutely adored the literary send-ups. I also appreciated the bait and switch leading into the cliff-hanger.

Acting

Neve McIntosh, Catrin Stewart, and Dan Starkey were like peanut butter, chocolate, and more chocolate. For his part, Paul McGann played off them like he’d been part of the Paternoster cast for years.

That said, I have to single out two performers. First, Lisa Bowerman was as marvelous as ever. Second, Beth Chalmers was an absolute hoot in a full-tilt performance.

Overall

Big Finish did it again! The Paternoster Gang: Trespassers 1: Rogues Gallery was everything the first set in a new arc needed to be. I’ll be on the edge of my seat until the second volume comes out.

You can purchase The Paternoster Gang: Trespassers 1: Rogues Gallery here. 

You can check out more of our Big Finish Audio Reviews here.