In Review: Big Finish: Torchwood: Dissected

Synopsis: Gwen Cooper turns up on Martha Jones’ doorstep with a dead body in tow. She needs to ask one final favor of her and to find out why they stopped being friends.

A lot’s happened to Torchwood since Martha left. A lot’s happened to Martha since she left Torchwood, and there’s something very odd about the dead body Gwen’s brought with her.

Tonight Gwen’s going to be getting more answers than she bargained for.

Review: I’m one of those fans who found Martha’s decision to go freelance with Mickey sudden and without context. Enter Big Finish with Torchwood: Dissected to address the issues Doctor Who didn’t make room for.

Story

Writer Tim Foley truly thought the story through. Martha’s psychology is perfectly realized, as is Gwen’s. I particularly appreciated how Foley shorthanded a more layered friendship between the two women than we saw on screen.

I also really liked the plot device Foley used to bring Gwen and Martha together. The side effects of a crashed spacecraft allowed for the deft juxtaposition of the otherworldly and the mundane, so their conversation could cover a variety of topics while remaining a cohesive whole.

Most of all, though, I love that Foley highlighted Martha’s competence — always her best trait.

Apart from the script, I have to also give kudos to Sound Designer Peter Doggart for superb audio effects throughout the story. The plot device and its impact on Gwen and Martha wouldn’t have been anywhere near as meaningful without his commitment to being utterly creepy.

Acting

Eve Myles and Freema Agyeman make a marvelous double act. This is due in large part to their real-life friendship — formed during Agyeman’s Torchwood tenure and strengthened during convention appearances and other acting stints together.

Overall

Thanks to Big Finish, Martha Jones’ Doctor Who send-off now makes sense. Furthermore, Big Finish can craft further adventures for Martha, which Freema Agyeman sounds very willing to record. Given Big Finish’s knack for adding depth to characters neglected in the modern era, I can’t wait to hear what they come up with.

• You can purchase Torchwood: Dissected here.