Hi Folks,

If you have any questions or want to discuss Sisters of the Flame, this is the place to post.

Regards,
Paul

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Paul Wilson
Big Finish Online Manager
Address: PO Box 3787 Maidenhead Berkshire SL6 3TF
Email: paul.wilson@bigfinish.com
Web: www.bigfinish.com

Can you please make the centipede cop a regular character? He was brilliant!

I'm fairly new to Doctor Who fandom - I came in through the new series, and I'm working my way through the classics, in order (just finished The Krotons!). I've started listening to the 8th Doctor audios (alright, so I broke down and watched the TVM early!), particularly the New EDAs, and I'm aware that the last two stories/three episodes of the current series are sequels, of sorts, to two 4th Doctor serials. My question is, will the fact that I have yet to see these adventures curtail my enjoyment of the audios, or may I freely sample these bits of the Doctor's history out of order, like most sane fans?

Thanks muchly! And... how did you lose 74 points?

I really enjoyed Sisters of the Flame! After listening to Blood of the Daleks and Horror of Glam Rock I sort of fell of the wagon, as it were. But now I'm back and hoping to fill in some gaps!

I jumped in with the newest release and was not disappointed. Being a sequel to one of my favorite Who stories helps, of course (I'm also reading Time's Champion which has been interesting combined with this) and it really is told in such a way that knowledge of the past story doesn't seem necessary.

I enjoyed Rosto very much. It was nice to see Lucie's reaction. It was very human and, of course, very racist. I'm glad she was called out on it and apologized, to be sure. I can only imagine how I'd react if I was on the planet of the Earwigs, for instance. Eek.

My only complaint is that the wait for the next story seems like an eternity!

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That's my favourite line, too! Ken was fantastic to work with. I was so excited when he agreed to do it and I know Nick was over-the-moon with Ken's performance.

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Please note that the views expressed by Barnaby are his own opinions and do not reflect official Big Finish policy. They may also be daft.

Web site: http://www.barnaby-edwards.com/
Poetry podcast (direct): http://www.barnaby-edwards.com/poetrypodcasts/
Poetry podcast (iTunes): http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=312299797

Perhaps I shouldn't say this, but I have been disappointed with the McGann releases this year - Grand Theft Cosmos being the best so far, but that is only just above average.

However, Sisters of the Flame has knocked the socks of everything 8th Doctor since Human Resources and The Girl Who Never Was. Well done, Mr Briggs; I eagerly look forward to its conclusion.... :-)

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Ninth and Beyond

A very friendly Doctor Who forum

This is definitely Lucie’s story. As the doctor only appears in a limited way Lucie drives the narrative superbly with the help of a wonderfully charming performance by Alexander Siddig as a ten foot centipede.

This release forms the first part of the loosely coupled finale to season two. Although these last two stories have been described as standing separately but forming part of a single, two episode plot, I would have to say that this one doesn’t really stand alone as a plot without the following one. The reason for the events relies completely on what is going to happen next time and so it wouldn’t make any sense if it were listened to in isolation. But that aside, as a production it stands up extremely well in terms of the performances, characterisation and pace. Partly this is because we get to see Lucie relying on her own mettle like never before. Although she has been separated from the Doctor for comparatively brief periods previously, this time there is the possibility that she won’t see him again and so has to pick up the reins and do the Doctorish stuff herself. This makes the plot very personal even though the underlying circumstances are reported as being cataclysmic on a grand scale.

Sheridan Smith once again proves why she has made Lucie Miller such a successful companion. It is now something of a cliché to say that the female companions are “feisty”, but Lucie takes that a step further. She fights back with passion, ranging from anger to misery. But all along she keeps herself going with the thought that she will find the Doctor again. Resourceful though she is, she still recognises the Doctor’s experience and expertise in adventurous matters, wishing he could be there and sort things out. We also get to see that slightly disturbing side of most of us when put under pressure. As Lucie is faced with a large multi-legged alien she reacts rather badly at first. Since she equates the creature with the fate of the Doctor this is partly understandable. Yet it is clear that fear and helplessness leads Lucie to lash out in a way which she normally would not do. The reconciliation later is very touching and underlines that being resilient can mean admitting when you’re wrong.

As for Alexander Siddig, one can only marvel at the fortitude of an actor who can range from Doctor Bashir in Deep Space 9, through The Persian in “Phantom of the Opera” and take playing a ten foot centipede police officer in his stride. As Barnaby Edwards confirms in the CD extras, Siddig has a beautifully mellow voice which contrasts perfectly with the hard, exoskeletal appearance of Rosto. He also manages to imbue Rosto with a charm and compassion which makes the friendship that develops between Lucie and him very believable. He even adds to the humour in the bemused way he reacts to Lucie’s angry and apologetic outbursts, almost shrugging off her over-enthusiastic cry of, “Let’s go bug buddy!”

Villains, despite their popularity among actors as being a favoured part to play, can often be generic, uninspired and predictable. Kenneth Colley avoids all of these pitfalls in his remarkable portrayal of Zarodnix. He may have the same obsessive motivations of others before him, but his personality is in a league of its own. When he rails against the incompetence of his Trell minions it isn’t simply megalomaniacal rage but an almost weeping frustration. And his insanely sing-song delight at discovering that the Doctor has turned up is simply splendid. It has to be said that there is a rare talent in being able to make someone seem both amusing and chilling at the same instant and Colley appears to have it.

Musically the incidental score keeps up the dramatic scale of the whole season. If I could think of another word that meant the same as cinematic I’d use it. You can hear an uninterrupted snatch of it in the middle of the CD extras to get a true idea of how good it is. The sound design work also continues to impress with the realisation of difficult noises like Rosto’s walk and the varying space ship and planet-based locations.

“Sisters of the Flame” sets up the season ending very well. In the absence of a story arc as in the previous season it has little time in which to do this but manages it without becoming ponderous or insubstantial. Hopefully there’s more where this came from to delight and entertain.

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"No enemy but time. The war goes on."

David