Fourth Doctor Audio: The Devil’s Armada (Philip Hinchcliffe Presents Vol. 1)

Writers: Philip Hinchcliffe, adapted by Marc Platt

Director: Ken Bentley

Producer: David Richardson

Companion: Leela (Louise Jameson)

No. Of Episodes: 4

Summary: The Doctor and Leela travel to Sissenden Village, in 1588, prior to the invasion of the Spanish Armada. He happens upon a Catholic priest (Father D’Arcy) and a woman (Anne Harney) is being targeted by the Protestant church. While Fr. D’Arcy is being persecuted because of his faith, Harney is believed to be a witch. And a race of goat-footed aliens called the Vituperon may be influencing the events.

Review: This story was kind of predictable. Once I heard that the Vituperon were goat-footed, I figured out right away that these aliens were supposed to be the origin of our belief in Satan. I was reminded of the 10th Doctor’s encounter with the Beast in “The Impossible Planet” and “The Satan Pit”. That’s my main criticism of this story: it’s treading familiar ground.

Leela was a lot of fun in this story. She was a lot of help, and I always enjoy the chemistry between her and the Doctor.

Father D’Arcy was a good supporting character. Being a Catholic myself, I was pleased to see a story where we actually had a benevolent priest. I liked that the Doctor was respectful towards him.

While the story was predictable and had familiar elements, I still had fun with it. I recommend this boxed set, as both stories were entertaining.

Grade: B+

Fourth Doctor Audio: The Ghosts of Gralstead (Philip Hinchcliffe Presents Vol. 1)

Writers: Philip Hinchcliffe (adapted by Marc Platt)

Director: Ken Bentley

Producer: David Richardson

Companion: Leela (Louise Jameson)

No of Parts: 6

Summary: The Doctor and Leela return to Victorian London, and learn of an exhibition of Dr. McDivett’s Living Wonders and Curiosities. They learn of a woman who calls herself Mordrega the Dark, who needs human brains. She manipulates Dr. Edward Scrivener, a surgeon, into providing her with the bodies she needs to survive.

Note: This is the first of the two stories in Volume 1 of Philip Hinchcliffe Presents.

Review: This was a pretty creepy story, with some good atmosphere. I liked the background music throughout the story.

The Doctor’s usual skepticism was a good aspect of this story. It allowed him to focus on thwarting Mordrega. I thought Tom Baker did well with the Doctor’s methodology.

Carolyn Seymour was great as Mordrega. She had a frightening voice, and evoked monsters of Gothic horror well. She wasn’t a hammy villain, and was well acted.

Leela was in her element in this story. I loved how the story played to her reliance on the Doctor, and how the Doctor used this to his advantage.

I thought this story emulated Hinchcliffe’s signature of storytelling well. The story was very long, but it didn’t drag as much as six-parters tend to do.

Grade: A

Fourth Doctor Lost Story: The Valley of Death

Writer: Jonathan Morris (from a story by Phillip Hinchcliffe)

Director: Ken Bentley

Producer: David Richardson

Companion: Leela (Louise Jameson)

(Note: This is the second of two Lost Stories featuring the Fourth Doctor. It’s part of the Fourth Doctor Lost Stories Boxed Set. I reviewed each story separately.)

Summary: The Doctor and Leela meet Edward Perkins in the Amazon Rain Forest, where he is searching for details surrounding an expedition led by his great-grandfather. They join him on his quest in a plane. After a crash landing, they discover an abandoned spacecraft and tribesmen. The spacecraft belongs to an alien race called the Lurons, who can make copies of anyone they encounter. They’ve even made copies of the Doctor and Leela themselves!