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Big Finish: Monthly Range #19
Doctor Who: Minuet in Hell
The twenty-first century has just begun, and Malebolgia is enjoying its status as the newest state in America. After his successful involvement with Scotland's devolution, Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart has been invited over to Malebolgia to offer some of his experiences and expertise.
There he encounters the charismatic Brigham Elisha Dashwood III, an evangelical statesman running for Governor who may not be quite as clean-cut and wholesome as he makes out. One of Dashwood's other roles in society is as patron of a new medical institute, concentrating on curing the ills of the human mind. One of the patients there interests the Brigadier - someone who claims he travels through space and time in something called a TARDIS.
Charley, however, has more than a few problems of her own. Amnesiac, she is working as a hostess at the local chapter of the Hell Fire Club, populated by local dignitaries who have summoned forth the demon Marchosias. And the leader of the Club? None other than Dashwood, who seems determined to achieve congressional power by the most malevolent means at his disposal...
Chronological Placement: This story takes place after the 1996 TV Movie, and after the Big Finish audio adventure The Stones of Venice.
There he encounters the charismatic Brigham Elisha Dashwood III, an evangelical statesman running for Governor who may not be quite as clean-cut and wholesome as he makes out. One of Dashwood's other roles in society is as patron of a new medical institute, concentrating on curing the ills of the human mind. One of the patients there interests the Brigadier - someone who claims he travels through space and time in something called a TARDIS.
Charley, however, has more than a few problems of her own. Amnesiac, she is working as a hostess at the local chapter of the Hell Fire Club, populated by local dignitaries who have summoned forth the demon Marchosias. And the leader of the Club? None other than Dashwood, who seems determined to achieve congressional power by the most malevolent means at his disposal...
Chronological Placement: This story takes place after the 1996 TV Movie, and after the Big Finish audio adventure The Stones of Venice.
Audio CD
First published April 17, 2001
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244 people want to read
About the author
Gary Russell
123 books171 followersGary Russell is a British freelance writer, producer and former child actor. As a writer, he is best known for his work in connection with the television series Doctor Who and its spin-offs in other media. As an actor, he is best known for playing Dick Kirrin in the British 1978 television series The Famous Five.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
August 1, 2020
The final story in McGann's first season of Big Finish Audios primary function is to allow Nicholas Courtney to have worked with all Eight Classic Series Doctor's.
It's frustratingly teased as this incarnation of the Time Lord is currently struggling to recall who he spends most of the story arguing with a fellow patient who also claims he is the Doctor.
These exchanges allow for much fanwank as numerous stories and companions are mentioned, most notably Sam from the EDAs!
It trys too hard to have an end of season feel about it, with Charley's arrival on the TARDIS in Storm Warning feeling even more significant.
While Ramsay the Vortisaurs feels like a pointless addition to these run of stories.
Both the American setting and The Doctor questioning his identity is a clear callback to McGann's only TV adventure.
The lack of screen time has definitely hindered Big Finish's approach compared to the other Doctor's, atleast they're able to build one these missteps and produce some brilliant stories for this TARDIS team.
It's frustratingly teased as this incarnation of the Time Lord is currently struggling to recall who he spends most of the story arguing with a fellow patient who also claims he is the Doctor.
These exchanges allow for much fanwank as numerous stories and companions are mentioned, most notably Sam from the EDAs!
It trys too hard to have an end of season feel about it, with Charley's arrival on the TARDIS in Storm Warning feeling even more significant.
While Ramsay the Vortisaurs feels like a pointless addition to these run of stories.
Both the American setting and The Doctor questioning his identity is a clear callback to McGann's only TV adventure.
The lack of screen time has definitely hindered Big Finish's approach compared to the other Doctor's, atleast they're able to build one these missteps and produce some brilliant stories for this TARDIS team.
February 6, 2024
"You're going to cut out my brain! That's not really for my own good, is it?"
February 10, 2017
Oh good grief! I want that two hours back!
There's the seed of an interesting tale here, but the execution backfired so badly that Ol' Screwtape had to be involved. The idea of using the historical Hellfire Clubs as a basis for the story is interesting enough. But why move it from the UK to the Southern United States? And then why engage in the worst of southern stereotyping in the process? Do the producers of this series think that everyone below the Mason-Dixon line sounds like a combination of Yosemite Sam and Foghorn Leghorn? Is everyone either a corrupt politician or a televangelist?
The squick factor is brought into play when Charley gets rounded up and sent to work in what is essentially a brothel, and it's pretty disturbing at points, but she's eventually rescued by Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
I'm not making that up.
Okay, her name is "Becky Lee," not Buffy, and according to her quickly glossed-over backstory, she's part of an ancient order trained to fight demons rather than vampires. But basically, she's Buffy.
Meanwhile, the head of the Hellfire Club is posing as a televangelist (naturally) trying to defeat another stereotypical southern character in a gubernatorial election -- the guy who sounds like Yosemite Sam and uses words like "tarnation!" and "varmint!" and other nonsense. Naturally, he's Becky Lee's "grandpoppy."
The Hellfire Televangelist calls up a demon (of course this being Doctor Who, it's really an alien) to possess his rival. Meanwhile, the Doctor himself has amnesia, and is sent to some kind of insane assylum where the crazy people's brains are being emptied out so more demon-aliens can possess them. Because of an accident with the brain-sucking machine, the Doctor's mind gets imprinted on another patient who immediately thinks he's the Doctor. This plot device was used to good method in "The Next Doctor" on television. Unfortunately, in this story the Doctor spends three of the four episodes with amnesia while Charley runs around with Buffy.
Ack! Ack! Ack! I can barely go on! The one bright spot in the entire story is the inclusion of Nicholas Courtney reprising his role as the Brigadier. He lifts up the entire story. You can tell because every time he's not part of the action you realize just how much the story sucks without him.
Also keeping you interested is that tantalizing expectation for the moment when the Brig meets this new regeneration of the Doctor. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen until the final episode.
In the final moments there's a bit of a reminder that there's sort of a series arc here involving time being messed up because Charley was supposed to die on the R101. And I'll just have to assume that the reason this story was so horrible was because it all took place in an alternate universe created by Charley's survival. Yeah, that's got to be it.
There's the seed of an interesting tale here, but the execution backfired so badly that Ol' Screwtape had to be involved. The idea of using the historical Hellfire Clubs as a basis for the story is interesting enough. But why move it from the UK to the Southern United States? And then why engage in the worst of southern stereotyping in the process? Do the producers of this series think that everyone below the Mason-Dixon line sounds like a combination of Yosemite Sam and Foghorn Leghorn? Is everyone either a corrupt politician or a televangelist?
The squick factor is brought into play when Charley gets rounded up and sent to work in what is essentially a brothel, and it's pretty disturbing at points, but she's eventually rescued by Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
I'm not making that up.
Okay, her name is "Becky Lee," not Buffy, and according to her quickly glossed-over backstory, she's part of an ancient order trained to fight demons rather than vampires. But basically, she's Buffy.
Meanwhile, the head of the Hellfire Club is posing as a televangelist (naturally) trying to defeat another stereotypical southern character in a gubernatorial election -- the guy who sounds like Yosemite Sam and uses words like "tarnation!" and "varmint!" and other nonsense. Naturally, he's Becky Lee's "grandpoppy."
The Hellfire Televangelist calls up a demon (of course this being Doctor Who, it's really an alien) to possess his rival. Meanwhile, the Doctor himself has amnesia, and is sent to some kind of insane assylum where the crazy people's brains are being emptied out so more demon-aliens can possess them. Because of an accident with the brain-sucking machine, the Doctor's mind gets imprinted on another patient who immediately thinks he's the Doctor. This plot device was used to good method in "The Next Doctor" on television. Unfortunately, in this story the Doctor spends three of the four episodes with amnesia while Charley runs around with Buffy.
Ack! Ack! Ack! I can barely go on! The one bright spot in the entire story is the inclusion of Nicholas Courtney reprising his role as the Brigadier. He lifts up the entire story. You can tell because every time he's not part of the action you realize just how much the story sucks without him.
Also keeping you interested is that tantalizing expectation for the moment when the Brig meets this new regeneration of the Doctor. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen until the final episode.
In the final moments there's a bit of a reminder that there's sort of a series arc here involving time being messed up because Charley was supposed to die on the R101. And I'll just have to assume that the reason this story was so horrible was because it all took place in an alternate universe created by Charley's survival. Yeah, that's got to be it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2018
The Doctor is locked up in the local Loony Bin he as lost his memory the man in the next cell claims he is the Doctor & has all the Doctor's memories too.
The local Priest has a 8 foot demon in his pocket and the Hell Fire Club as his base.
Then We have mind drain machine that straight out of Mind of Evil & The Brig to add some spice we have giant 8 foot high Demons & a Buffy style girl this great fun
A cross between Daemons ,Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Boss from Green Death & Mind of Evil meets Mrs Peel in The Hell Fire Club.
The local Priest has a 8 foot demon in his pocket and the Hell Fire Club as his base.
Then We have mind drain machine that straight out of Mind of Evil & The Brig to add some spice we have giant 8 foot high Demons & a Buffy style girl this great fun
A cross between Daemons ,Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Boss from Green Death & Mind of Evil meets Mrs Peel in The Hell Fire Club.
January 1, 2021
2.5 stars
Wow. The accents in this were BAD. Don’t do South American accents if you can’t pull them off, folks. My ears bled.
This reminded me of the 1996 TV movie- the Doctor doesn’t remember who he is, they’re in America, there’s mention of Grace- but it’s not as irrational as that one plot-wise. It would be great if people didn’t scream and throw random “yeehaws” in my ear.
Wow. The accents in this were BAD. Don’t do South American accents if you can’t pull them off, folks. My ears bled.
This reminded me of the 1996 TV movie- the Doctor doesn’t remember who he is, they’re in America, there’s mention of Grace- but it’s not as irrational as that one plot-wise. It would be great if people didn’t scream and throw random “yeehaws” in my ear.
February 17, 2025
2020 52 Book Challenge - 43) Set In A Country You've Never Visited Before
This was a very hit and miss story. The Doctor spends most of the book not knowing who he is and arguing with somebody else who thinks that they are the Doctor, and while it was nice to hear they talk about previous companions and adventures, it also got a little bit tedious because it goes on for so long. It also felt like a clear callback to the 1996 Doctor Who film what with the amnesia and being set in America, and referencing Grace.
I did really enjoy seeing the Brigadier again. I personally feel like he would have caught on a little quicker than he did, but it was still a really good story in the sense of seeing him interact with the Doctor and with Charley.
I also kinda liked the running thread of Ramsey in this series of audiobooks.
This was a very hit and miss story. The Doctor spends most of the book not knowing who he is and arguing with somebody else who thinks that they are the Doctor, and while it was nice to hear they talk about previous companions and adventures, it also got a little bit tedious because it goes on for so long. It also felt like a clear callback to the 1996 Doctor Who film what with the amnesia and being set in America, and referencing Grace.
I did really enjoy seeing the Brigadier again. I personally feel like he would have caught on a little quicker than he did, but it was still a really good story in the sense of seeing him interact with the Doctor and with Charley.
I also kinda liked the running thread of Ramsey in this series of audiobooks.
February 27, 2015
Yikes. This is wretched. It's as if someone decided to find out how many tropes could be stuffed into a story that already involves a time traveling alien called The Doctor. In no particular order:
1) amnesia,
2) demons,
2.5) demons that feed off of negative feelings
3) a Holy order with magical powers,
4) science beyond the time,
5) an alternate reality with a 51st state coming into being in the US,
6) titillating misogyny were women are forced into being negligee-wearing "hostesses" with men who can "punish" them if "deemed necessary",
7) mad, ethically challenged scientists,
8) ethically challenged politicians,
8.5) ethically challenged psuedo-clergy
9) an 18th century style insane asylum in 20th century America,
10) homeless people being snagged off the street for the unethical science,
11) a secret agent of a foreign government,
12) poison,
13) secret romantic relationships,
14) female self-loathing,
15) hand-wavey explanation of part of the supernatural element, but not all of it.
Just to name a few. If they'd stuck with amnesia and one other element, that could have been interesting, but this was an absolute mess.
The only likable parts were with the secret agent attempting to work his email address (as it's a newish concept a la 2001), and hearing the old dial-up modem noise.
1) amnesia,
2) demons,
2.5) demons that feed off of negative feelings
3) a Holy order with magical powers,
4) science beyond the time,
5) an alternate reality with a 51st state coming into being in the US,
6) titillating misogyny were women are forced into being negligee-wearing "hostesses" with men who can "punish" them if "deemed necessary",
7) mad, ethically challenged scientists,
8) ethically challenged politicians,
8.5) ethically challenged psuedo-clergy
9) an 18th century style insane asylum in 20th century America,
10) homeless people being snagged off the street for the unethical science,
11) a secret agent of a foreign government,
12) poison,
13) secret romantic relationships,
14) female self-loathing,
15) hand-wavey explanation of part of the supernatural element, but not all of it.
Just to name a few. If they'd stuck with amnesia and one other element, that could have been interesting, but this was an absolute mess.
The only likable parts were with the secret agent attempting to work his email address (as it's a newish concept a la 2001), and hearing the old dial-up modem noise.
August 22, 2013
Oh dear, this just won't do. There is some great stuff about the identity and nature of the Doctor, occasioned by him being found in an amnesiac state, and a great moment when different aspects of his psyche are downloaded into multiple human minds, but not enough is made of this. Most of all, having Charlie and the Doc spend most of the story unable to recall who they are just doesn't work when neither character has been established for long enough, in these audio dramas or, in the eight Doc's case, anywhere.
Then there are the atrocious American accents - some of these make good old Peri sound like the real thing. If there was such a lack of suitable vocal talent, surely a rewrite would have helped? As is stands the absymal attempts at American accents and dialogue and the cartoon-ish demon voices make this a cringe-worthy experience, whatever its merits purely as a story.
Then there are the atrocious American accents - some of these make good old Peri sound like the real thing. If there was such a lack of suitable vocal talent, surely a rewrite would have helped? As is stands the absymal attempts at American accents and dialogue and the cartoon-ish demon voices make this a cringe-worthy experience, whatever its merits purely as a story.
September 2, 2022
I thought this audio was poorly performed, the doctor has lost him memory again, but the brigadier is back so that's a plus.
The south American accents in this are terrible and I just wanted to pull my eyes out.
Don't listen to this one in a hurry
The south American accents in this are terrible and I just wanted to pull my eyes out.
Don't listen to this one in a hurry
August 4, 2024
Terrible terrible terrible American accents with a truly horribly mixed demon voice. But we got to throw it up for Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart supremacy
Genuinely interesting moment at the end as it relates to what it means for the doctor to be different people while retaining the same memory.
Genuinely interesting moment at the end as it relates to what it means for the doctor to be different people while retaining the same memory.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2014
Ok the accents were AWFUL but I also kinda think that was the point. This was definitely not an audio to take seriously but was definitely a parody of American culture. Televangelists being secretly evil, politicians being secretly evil, medical researchers being secretly evil, satanic conspiracies, white sexual slavery and of course a Buffy parody there to save them all. The fact that the Americans had gotten the history WRONG and that their Hellfire club was actually trying to summon the devil and control the world. I loved all the scenes where Charley and the Doctor went, but this isn't what the real Hellfire club was like. (And then proceeded to give a great political history explanation). This combined with the most British of Brigadiers was pretty amusing. Not to mention the fabulous and ridiculous scenes of Charley in her red Bride of the Devil dress, with very amusing comments about leather corsets and spiked heels. Yes totally different to their other adventures but it was definitely worth the £1 I spent on it and the two hours listening to it.
October 1, 2021
It pains me to say this, but this audioplay just wasn't good. It's like someone was playing a party game to see how many cliches and stereotypes they could fit into one story. The Doctor has amnesia AGAIN (rather a running gag with this incarnation to be sure) and doesn't get his memory back until 2/3 of the way through the plot. Charley does a fine job of carrying the story with the help of Brigadeer Lethbridge-Stewart (played by Nicolas Courtney!) the only other bright spot in this rather forgettable installment. Private clubs for the wealthy, mind-experiments, demon fighters, corrupt politicians and summoned demons (sorry, ALIENS) all populate the play, mixed in with a heavy dose of uninspired dialogue, cringy villains and the cheesiest representation of the Southern US that Big Finish has to offer. Glad I listened to it for Courtney and the sake of continuity, but I won't be doing so again.
Read
March 26, 202226/03/2022-
I survived a relisten of Minuet in Hell.
This audio is a mess???
Treatment towards the women was yikes, especially poor old Charley. Though, loved her and Becky teaming up.
The concept was there...but poor deliverance.
-
DNF at 50%.
The Doctor mentions Sam who is a companion from the EDA novels which is !!
But last year, I was in gary Russel coffee session at Gallifrey one and he talked in great detail about this audio. The reason why it is so bad was Alan was seriously ill and was pushing himself to write the script for Gary. Gary took over and he could only make out half what he put.
But still...it's not one of big finish best ones.
Yikes.
I survived a relisten of Minuet in Hell.
This audio is a mess???
Treatment towards the women was yikes, especially poor old Charley. Though, loved her and Becky teaming up.
The concept was there...but poor deliverance.
-
DNF at 50%.
The Doctor mentions Sam who is a companion from the EDA novels which is !!
But last year, I was in gary Russel coffee session at Gallifrey one and he talked in great detail about this audio. The reason why it is so bad was Alan was seriously ill and was pushing himself to write the script for Gary. Gary took over and he could only make out half what he put.
But still...it's not one of big finish best ones.
Yikes.
Read
April 8, 2009Fandom seems fairly evenly divided between those who thought that the fantastic acting of McGann, Fisher and Nicholas Courtney made this a success, and those who could not get past the ludicrously bad American accents and absurd plot (a new American state is being inaugurated, but the governor has done a deal with some demons). I'm afraid I am firmly in the latter camp. The episodes are far too long as well, at 35 minutes each. Really one to avoid.
February 28, 2022
Bad 'American' accents, boring storytelling and weird decisions plague this story. This acts as a sort of finale to the first 'season' of eighth Doctor and Charley stories and it, unfortunately, is by far the worst of the bunch.
The story revolves around the eighth Doctor and Charley landing in a newly formed state in the USA, Malebolgia and becoming embroiled in different organisations that are run by Brigham Elisha Dashwood III. Dashwood runs both the Hellfire Club, in which Charley is forced to be involved and the psychiatric institution, which is where the Doctor has held at with no memories of who he is.
To start with, it decides to do another eighth Doctor 'loses' his memory stories. Just because he lost his memories in the 'Movie', doesn't mean he has to lose them every ten stories. It is a boring contrived reason to add pseudo-tension to the story. We as readers know he gets them back, instead of adding tension, it just leaves us waiting.
Charley's story is honestly horrible to listen to. To start, she wakes up at the 'hellfire club' and is forced to become a 'hostess' for the club, against her will. You piece together what that means. The hostesses are told that they might be punished by the gentlemen at the club. And ew... yuck... I never want the image of that (even if just implied) performed to a loveable doctor who companion. Sure, she escapes during part two, but she is only ‘recaptured’ and is dressed as the queen of hell in a red leather outfit, which is described in too much detail.
The only saving grace is the Brigadier’s storyline, it's quite fun just having him pretending to be a 'tourist' for the new state and seeing him question all the happening occurring. There are small, charming moments with the Brigadier such as his difficulty with logging his findings on the secret unit website.
The human antagonist of the story, Dashwood, is clearly a parody of American evangelists who abuse their follower's faith for their own goals. In Dashwood's case, he uses his power to gain support to become governor for Malebolgia. But secretly he runs the Hellfire club, which is full of sin and lust. It's trying to point at the hypocrisy of evangelists, but he comes off way, way too cartoonish to take seriously or use as an example to criticise real evangelists. He also runs the psychiatric institution, in which they extract memories and 'empty' the brain of the patients so they can perform surgery. If that sounds dumb and confusing.... well, it is and doesn't make any sense at all. Why is he doing this? ... what does he gain? ... it is implied that the doctor's brain is worth 'stealing', but it was only an accident that he arrives... why is he doing this, it makes no sense?
Dashwood also allies himself with a 'demon' called Marchosias, which feed off the fear, anxiety, and anger of people. Marchosias helps Dashwood with different tasks, for some reason. Honestly, the performance given for this character is cheesy and fun and does make some of his scenes fun. One interesting scene that occurs in part four with Marchosias is when Charley is dressed as the queen of hell. Charley is shot with a transmat gun and arrives on Marchosias' homeworld, surrounded by other 'demons'. However, they reject her as a sacrifice as she is already 'dead', which is interesting, connecting to 'Storm Warning' and the fracturing web of time. However, I feel that the 'demons' reaction should have been more severe like they could have reeled in fear from realised what Charley is.
An over-bloated story, with a boring villain with three different plans going on at the same time but only one real plan that makes sense. Charley is put in an incredibly uncomfortable situation and the doctor has nothing to do but act confuse for three parts, the Brigadier’s story is fun, but I wished had more substance to it and he had a better team up with the eighth Doctor, where they aren't together for only the last fifteen minutes. The performances are pretty good, a step down compared to the rest of the season. the music and sound effects are either too over the top or predictable and just become frustrating to have.
Not good, unless you are a completionist and have to listen to all the stories, I would highly recommend skipping this story.
1/10
The story revolves around the eighth Doctor and Charley landing in a newly formed state in the USA, Malebolgia and becoming embroiled in different organisations that are run by Brigham Elisha Dashwood III. Dashwood runs both the Hellfire Club, in which Charley is forced to be involved and the psychiatric institution, which is where the Doctor has held at with no memories of who he is.
To start with, it decides to do another eighth Doctor 'loses' his memory stories. Just because he lost his memories in the 'Movie', doesn't mean he has to lose them every ten stories. It is a boring contrived reason to add pseudo-tension to the story. We as readers know he gets them back, instead of adding tension, it just leaves us waiting.
Charley's story is honestly horrible to listen to. To start, she wakes up at the 'hellfire club' and is forced to become a 'hostess' for the club, against her will. You piece together what that means. The hostesses are told that they might be punished by the gentlemen at the club. And ew... yuck... I never want the image of that (even if just implied) performed to a loveable doctor who companion. Sure, she escapes during part two, but she is only ‘recaptured’ and is dressed as the queen of hell in a red leather outfit, which is described in too much detail.
The only saving grace is the Brigadier’s storyline, it's quite fun just having him pretending to be a 'tourist' for the new state and seeing him question all the happening occurring. There are small, charming moments with the Brigadier such as his difficulty with logging his findings on the secret unit website.
The human antagonist of the story, Dashwood, is clearly a parody of American evangelists who abuse their follower's faith for their own goals. In Dashwood's case, he uses his power to gain support to become governor for Malebolgia. But secretly he runs the Hellfire club, which is full of sin and lust. It's trying to point at the hypocrisy of evangelists, but he comes off way, way too cartoonish to take seriously or use as an example to criticise real evangelists. He also runs the psychiatric institution, in which they extract memories and 'empty' the brain of the patients so they can perform surgery. If that sounds dumb and confusing.... well, it is and doesn't make any sense at all. Why is he doing this? ... what does he gain? ... it is implied that the doctor's brain is worth 'stealing', but it was only an accident that he arrives... why is he doing this, it makes no sense?
Dashwood also allies himself with a 'demon' called Marchosias, which feed off the fear, anxiety, and anger of people. Marchosias helps Dashwood with different tasks, for some reason. Honestly, the performance given for this character is cheesy and fun and does make some of his scenes fun. One interesting scene that occurs in part four with Marchosias is when Charley is dressed as the queen of hell. Charley is shot with a transmat gun and arrives on Marchosias' homeworld, surrounded by other 'demons'. However, they reject her as a sacrifice as she is already 'dead', which is interesting, connecting to 'Storm Warning' and the fracturing web of time. However, I feel that the 'demons' reaction should have been more severe like they could have reeled in fear from realised what Charley is.
An over-bloated story, with a boring villain with three different plans going on at the same time but only one real plan that makes sense. Charley is put in an incredibly uncomfortable situation and the doctor has nothing to do but act confuse for three parts, the Brigadier’s story is fun, but I wished had more substance to it and he had a better team up with the eighth Doctor, where they aren't together for only the last fifteen minutes. The performances are pretty good, a step down compared to the rest of the season. the music and sound effects are either too over the top or predictable and just become frustrating to have.
Not good, unless you are a completionist and have to listen to all the stories, I would highly recommend skipping this story.
1/10
January 17, 2021
Part1
21世紀初頭、アメリカでは51番目の州メルボジアが誕生していた。州知事に立候補しているのはワード・ピッカリングとブリガム・ダッシュウッドだがダッシュウッドは悪魔崇拝のヘルファィア・クラブの主宰とう一面もあった。そのダッシュウッドが画期的な治療方法を持つ新しい精神科施設を創立。PSI-859という機械で脳から全ての記憶を吸いあげ、デジタル信号に変換することでトラウマなどダメージの原因となっている要素を取り除き、再び当人に人格を損なうことなくインストールすることが可能だという。施設のオープニング・パーティにはブリゲディアも招かれていた。施設内見学でブリゲディアは2人のイギリス人入所者から声をかけられる。1人はギデオン・クレーンというジャーナリスト。昨夜施設に連れてこられたという。そして、もう一人は記憶を失ったドクターだった。ドクターはブリゲディアを見て懐かしさを感じるが、最後に会った時の姿からリジェネレーションしてしまっているドクターをブリゲディアは認識できず、施設を後にする。一方チャーリーも記憶を失っておりベルファイアのホストとして他に捕まってる女の子たちと共に働かされていた。ギデオンは協力的な態度でデール博士に取り入り、助手となってPSI-859の治療を受けさせるべくドクターを実験室につれていく。しかしPSI-859が作動するとオーバーロードを起こし爆発する。
Part2
爆発のどさくさに施設からさまよい出したドクターはブリゲディアに救われる。しかし、ドクターの顔を知らないブリゲディアはドクターを施設に送り届ける。チャーリーがベルファィアの客に鞭で打たれそうになった時、ベッキー・リーが不思議な力で男たちを跳ね飛ばし、2人はクラブから逃げ出す。ベッキー・リーは悪魔祓いの超能力を持ち、悪魔崇拝のベルファィアクラブが悪魔を呼び出さないか潜入し見張っていたのだ。施設に戻されたドクターは、少しづつ思い出せた記憶も全ては妄想でしかないと言いくるめられる。チャーリーはドクターのことを思い出し、ベッキー・リーに打ち明ける。ベッキー・リーは祖父であるピッカリングに最近現れたイギリス人について尋ね、ブリゲディアの話をきき、ブリゲディアがチャーリーの探しているドクターだと推測する。一方施設ではギデオンが自分こそがドクターだとドクターにいう。
Part3
ベッキー・リーはブリゲディアを訪ねドクターかと聞く。チャーリーは悪魔化したピッカーリングに襲われ、危ないところを逃げ出し、ターディスを探すことにする。ベッキー・リーからドクターを探していると聞いたブリゲディアは施設で出会ったギデオンがドクターではないかと考え、ベッキー・リーと施設に向かう。施設ではギデオンがドクターとして思い出せることをドクターに話していた。なぜこのトラブルに巻き込まれたかも話し出す。ターディスでヴォルテソウルのラムジーをヴォルテクスの中心に戻そうとした時、ラムジーがチャーリーを食べ物と認識して襲ってきた。ドクターはラムジーの気をそらせるために自分の血を餌にラムジーを扉の外に誘導。ラムジーをターディスの外に出すことには成功するが扉が閉められずターディスはバランスを崩し、この地に墜落したのだ。そのため記憶が混乱し、ターディスが墜落した時に側にいたため記憶が混濁したのだろうとギデオンはドクターを納得させようとする。ブリゲディアとベッキー・リーが施設に到着。ブリゲディアがデール博士の気をそらしている間にベッキー・リーが中に侵入。しかし、ギデオンのことをドクターと思い、施設から連れ出そうとする
Part4
再びPSI-985に繋がれるドクター。PSI-985が作動した時、ドクターは自分の記憶がコピーされ、他人にインストールされたのだとデール博士に説明しようとするが、デール博士はきかずマシンを作動させる。
感想
ブリゲディアとドクターがキャスティングされていればどうしても2人が中心で活躍するストーリーを期待していたのだが残念ながらそうはならなかった。悪魔祓いのベッキー・リーというやけに目立つキャラクターを投入したがためにチャーリーの存在感も薄く。ストーリーだけで判定すれば⭐️は３つが妥当というのが本音のところなのだが、ブリゲディアとドクターのシーンになるとやはりすごくよかったので、もっと2人を一緒のシーンに出して欲しかったという口惜しさもあるが、8thドクターとブリゲディアの共演が味わえる喜びの方が大きい。とにかく8thドクターとブリゲディアの相性がすごくいいのだ。まだお互い気がついていない時のやりとりもよかったし、全てが片付いて言葉を交わし合うシーンもすごくよかった。いちだんと若返ったドクターに幾ばくかの眩しさを感じながらも、昔と変わらず頼りになる味方であり友人のブリゲディア。ドクターのブリゲディアと再会できた喜びと気が許せる相手を前にほっとした感じがすごく素敵で印象的で、やはり聴いてよかったなと。2人のケミストリーがすごく良かっただけにどうせなら記憶を失って心細げなドクターとブリゲディアの珍道中的なシーンがもっとあればと思うし、ブリゲディアならどちらが本当のドクターか自力で見抜けただろうと思うし、その上でドクターに味方してくれる話でもよかったんじゃないかなぁと無い物ねだりせずにはいられないのだけれども。
21世紀初頭、アメリカでは51番目の州メルボジアが誕生していた。州知事に立候補しているのはワード・ピッカリングとブリガム・ダッシュウッドだがダッシュウッドは悪魔崇拝のヘルファィア・クラブの主宰とう一面もあった。そのダッシュウッドが画期的な治療方法を持つ新しい精神科施設を創立。PSI-859という機械で脳から全ての記憶を吸いあげ、デジタル信号に変換することでトラウマなどダメージの原因となっている要素を取り除き、再び当人に人格を損なうことなくインストールすることが可能だという。施設のオープニング・パーティにはブリゲディアも招かれていた。施設内見学でブリゲディアは2人のイギリス人入所者から声をかけられる。1人はギデオン・クレーンというジャーナリスト。昨夜施設に連れてこられたという。そして、もう一人は記憶を失ったドクターだった。ドクターはブリゲディアを見て懐かしさを感じるが、最後に会った時の姿からリジェネレーションしてしまっているドクターをブリゲディアは認識できず、施設を後にする。一方チャーリーも記憶を失っておりベルファイアのホストとして他に捕まってる女の子たちと共に働かされていた。ギデオンは協力的な態度でデール博士に取り入り、助手となってPSI-859の治療を受けさせるべくドクターを実験室につれていく。しかしPSI-859が作動するとオーバーロードを起こし爆発する。
Part2
爆発のどさくさに施設からさまよい出したドクターはブリゲディアに救われる。しかし、ドクターの顔を知らないブリゲディアはドクターを施設に送り届ける。チャーリーがベルファィアの客に鞭で打たれそうになった時、ベッキー・リーが不思議な力で男たちを跳ね飛ばし、2人はクラブから逃げ出す。ベッキー・リーは悪魔祓いの超能力を持ち、悪魔崇拝のベルファィアクラブが悪魔を呼び出さないか潜入し見張っていたのだ。施設に戻されたドクターは、少しづつ思い出せた記憶も全ては妄想でしかないと言いくるめられる。チャーリーはドクターのことを思い出し、ベッキー・リーに打ち明ける。ベッキー・リーは祖父であるピッカリングに最近現れたイギリス人について尋ね、ブリゲディアの話をきき、ブリゲディアがチャーリーの探しているドクターだと推測する。一方施設ではギデオンが自分こそがドクターだとドクターにいう。
Part3
ベッキー・リーはブリゲディアを訪ねドクターかと聞く。チャーリーは悪魔化したピッカーリングに襲われ、危ないところを逃げ出し、ターディスを探すことにする。ベッキー・リーからドクターを探していると聞いたブリゲディアは施設で出会ったギデオンがドクターではないかと考え、ベッキー・リーと施設に向かう。施設ではギデオンがドクターとして思い出せることをドクターに話していた。なぜこのトラブルに巻き込まれたかも話し出す。ターディスでヴォルテソウルのラムジーをヴォルテクスの中心に戻そうとした時、ラムジーがチャーリーを食べ物と認識して襲ってきた。ドクターはラムジーの気をそらせるために自分の血を餌にラムジーを扉の外に誘導。ラムジーをターディスの外に出すことには成功するが扉が閉められずターディスはバランスを崩し、この地に墜落したのだ。そのため記憶が混乱し、ターディスが墜落した時に側にいたため記憶が混濁したのだろうとギデオンはドクターを納得させようとする。ブリゲディアとベッキー・リーが施設に到着。ブリゲディアがデール博士の気をそらしている間にベッキー・リーが中に侵入。しかし、ギデオンのことをドクターと思い、施設から連れ出そうとする
Part4
再びPSI-985に繋がれるドクター。PSI-985が作動した時、ドクターは自分の記憶がコピーされ、他人にインストールされたのだとデール博士に説明しようとするが、デール博士はきかずマシンを作動させる。
感想
ブリゲディアとドクターがキャスティングされていればどうしても2人が中心で活躍するストーリーを期待していたのだが残念ながらそうはならなかった。悪魔祓いのベッキー・リーというやけに目立つキャラクターを投入したがためにチャーリーの存在感も薄く。ストーリーだけで判定すれば⭐️は３つが妥当というのが本音のところなのだが、ブリゲディアとドクターのシーンになるとやはりすごくよかったので、もっと2人を一緒のシーンに出して欲しかったという口惜しさもあるが、8thドクターとブリゲディアの共演が味わえる喜びの方が大きい。とにかく8thドクターとブリゲディアの相性がすごくいいのだ。まだお互い気がついていない時のやりとりもよかったし、全てが片付いて言葉を交わし合うシーンもすごくよかった。いちだんと若返ったドクターに幾ばくかの眩しさを感じながらも、昔と変わらず頼りになる味方であり友人のブリゲディア。ドクターのブリゲディアと再会できた喜びと気が許せる相手を前にほっとした感じがすごく素敵で印象的で、やはり聴いてよかったなと。2人のケミストリーがすごく良かっただけにどうせなら記憶を失って心細げなドクターとブリゲディアの珍道中的なシーンがもっとあればと思うし、ブリゲディアならどちらが本当のドクターか自力で見抜けただろうと思うし、その上でドクターに味方してくれる話でもよかったんじゃないかなぁと無い物ねだりせずにはいられないのだけれども。
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2020
I almost gave this one four stars - it's definitely a three-and-a-half offering, especially once the story gets rolling a few chapters in. I really got a kick out of the tone, which more or less drops the Doctor and Charley into an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (if moved in location from Sunnydale, California to a fictitious 51st state).
It is a bit ... stuffed. It's a weird amalgam commentary of cults and corrupt politics and corrupt mental health institutions and demons and fear -- there's a lot going on, here. Furthermore, the Doctor has amnesia and so spends much of the first half of the story essentially sidelined - an odd choice for only his fourth audioplay and fifth outing overall.
And yet I got such enjoyment out of the thing -- especially once things get rolling and the Doctor becomes more active. McGann is so good in the role that he's electric to listen to even when his Doctor is suffering an identity crisis. And I actually thought the Doctor's overall arc is a good continuation of his on-screen movie appearance - he spends much of his screen time there trying to remember who he is and choosing an identity for himself, and that theme is somewhat doubled down on here.
I also enjoyed Charley - and her exasperation with the nonsense craziness the baddies keep dragging her into - and the "Demon" was rather hilarious, with some excellent lines.
And, of course: the return of the Brigadier!! I only know Lethbridge-Stewart from a handful of serials, but I really enjoyed him here. Marvelously dry humor, and the weight of his friendship with the Doctor is touched on lightly but effectively. I got a bit misty-eyed at the end. ("I always feel safer with you, Brigadier.")
So, yes: this one was a bit over-the-top. But I rather enjoyed it anyway.
It is a bit ... stuffed. It's a weird amalgam commentary of cults and corrupt politics and corrupt mental health institutions and demons and fear -- there's a lot going on, here. Furthermore, the Doctor has amnesia and so spends much of the first half of the story essentially sidelined - an odd choice for only his fourth audioplay and fifth outing overall.
And yet I got such enjoyment out of the thing -- especially once things get rolling and the Doctor becomes more active. McGann is so good in the role that he's electric to listen to even when his Doctor is suffering an identity crisis. And I actually thought the Doctor's overall arc is a good continuation of his on-screen movie appearance - he spends much of his screen time there trying to remember who he is and choosing an identity for himself, and that theme is somewhat doubled down on here.
I also enjoyed Charley - and her exasperation with the nonsense craziness the baddies keep dragging her into - and the "Demon" was rather hilarious, with some excellent lines.
And, of course: the return of the Brigadier!! I only know Lethbridge-Stewart from a handful of serials, but I really enjoyed him here. Marvelously dry humor, and the weight of his friendship with the Doctor is touched on lightly but effectively. I got a bit misty-eyed at the end. ("I always feel safer with you, Brigadier.")
So, yes: this one was a bit over-the-top. But I rather enjoyed it anyway.
August 9, 2021
This audiobook adventure starts in a suitable startling manner - both the Doctor and his companion Charlie appear to have lost their memories and have been separate from one another. Charley has been forcibly added to the escorts of the Hellfire Club, while the Doctor is essentially in an asylum.
And our setting is an unusual one where there is a new Amerian state of Malebolgia with the unusual guest in the form of Brigadier Alistair Gorden Lethbridge-Stewart - the very same Brigadier who worked alongside the Doctor back in Unit. But how all this ties together with supposed demons being summoned in the town as well and there's a lot more going on than meets the eye.
I liked the setup of the story as it really shook things up and had everyone off their game. It actually takes a while before we get to the Doctor even sounding like himself as we first follow Charley and other supporting characters as they try to establish what exactly is going on. But both our protagonists are pretty strong personalities and not even something like a memory wipe will get in the way of that. And they manage to get through things and potentially get help from the Brigadier even though he has never encountered this version of the Doctor just yet.
It took a while for the story to build up but in the end it was very true to form to what we expect from the Doctor and without quite following a rigid "formula" for such an adventure. Fun for everyone.
And our setting is an unusual one where there is a new Amerian state of Malebolgia with the unusual guest in the form of Brigadier Alistair Gorden Lethbridge-Stewart - the very same Brigadier who worked alongside the Doctor back in Unit. But how all this ties together with supposed demons being summoned in the town as well and there's a lot more going on than meets the eye.
I liked the setup of the story as it really shook things up and had everyone off their game. It actually takes a while before we get to the Doctor even sounding like himself as we first follow Charley and other supporting characters as they try to establish what exactly is going on. But both our protagonists are pretty strong personalities and not even something like a memory wipe will get in the way of that. And they manage to get through things and potentially get help from the Brigadier even though he has never encountered this version of the Doctor just yet.
It took a while for the story to build up but in the end it was very true to form to what we expect from the Doctor and without quite following a rigid "formula" for such an adventure. Fun for everyone.
January 11, 2024
This story nearly got a 3-star rating for some very silly plot points but on the other hand it almost got an automatic 5-stars for featuring the ever wonderful, Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart.
Charly and Eight wake up separated and both suffering varying degrees of memory loss. It takes most of the story for them to start to piece together was has happened but the whole time they are both separately working on the current problem.
This is the second story in a row to feature Charly being earmarked as someone's bride-to-be and I'm hoping that's a trend which is over now.
Meanwhile, the Doctor has been put into a mental health ward so when he finally bumps into the Brigadier and starts saying "hang on, I know you" it is easily laughed off. The scene where they finally meet in full recognition of each other is totally sweet and when the Doctor says to Charly: "Meet my best friend" - I was all smiles.
The author adds a sneaky little bit of lore in which I suspect won't ever see any use outside of this story. The Doctor calls it, "an old Gallifreyan trick" and (like a Jedi mind trick crossed with a Vulcan mind meld) it was used to unscramble an idea in someone's brain 🧠 🎩 🪄
The ending was super obvious, I thought and once the story was done with the mysterious aspects it just got a bit pedestrian. But it's still a heap of fun, made especially so by the presence of the Brigadier.
Charly and Eight wake up separated and both suffering varying degrees of memory loss. It takes most of the story for them to start to piece together was has happened but the whole time they are both separately working on the current problem.
This is the second story in a row to feature Charly being earmarked as someone's bride-to-be and I'm hoping that's a trend which is over now.
Meanwhile, the Doctor has been put into a mental health ward so when he finally bumps into the Brigadier and starts saying "hang on, I know you" it is easily laughed off. The scene where they finally meet in full recognition of each other is totally sweet and when the Doctor says to Charly: "Meet my best friend" - I was all smiles.
The author adds a sneaky little bit of lore in which I suspect won't ever see any use outside of this story. The Doctor calls it, "an old Gallifreyan trick" and (like a Jedi mind trick crossed with a Vulcan mind meld) it was used to unscramble an idea in someone's brain 🧠 🎩 🪄
The ending was super obvious, I thought and once the story was done with the mysterious aspects it just got a bit pedestrian. But it's still a heap of fun, made especially so by the presence of the Brigadier.
October 31, 2022
Would be 2 stars except for the brilliant Nicholas Courtney who brings it up a full star. Having the Brigadier as always is a great treat, I always like him meeting the Doctors, it is unfortunate that the story beats means there is a lot less interaction than I would like.
I really dislike the trope here of not only the Doctor losing his memory, but no one really knowing who he is, so that people including the Brigadier mistake someone else for the Doctor, and the Doctor himself is very passive up until the last few scenes, pretty much invisible for the first 3 episodes.
On flip side, the Brigadier does feature quite heavily in here, and his scenes are always great.
The one off characters are an interesting bunch, certainly I think some good characterisation for them, but the accents put me off somewhat, making me think this is some 19th century or early 1900s piece, rather than more modern day. Charlie is pretty good in this set, but doesn't get much interaction with the Brigadier or the Doctor due to the story.
The Doctor pretty quickly solves things once has his memory and freedom back, but really could probably have been a good 2 episode story, rather than a painful 4 episode story.
I really dislike the trope here of not only the Doctor losing his memory, but no one really knowing who he is, so that people including the Brigadier mistake someone else for the Doctor, and the Doctor himself is very passive up until the last few scenes, pretty much invisible for the first 3 episodes.
On flip side, the Brigadier does feature quite heavily in here, and his scenes are always great.
The one off characters are an interesting bunch, certainly I think some good characterisation for them, but the accents put me off somewhat, making me think this is some 19th century or early 1900s piece, rather than more modern day. Charlie is pretty good in this set, but doesn't get much interaction with the Brigadier or the Doctor due to the story.
The Doctor pretty quickly solves things once has his memory and freedom back, but really could probably have been a good 2 episode story, rather than a painful 4 episode story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2022
This is the 19th Big Finish Doctor Who audio. It's the 2nd one featuring Nicholas Courtney as the Brigadier. The first one being The Spectre of Lanyon Moor with Colin Baker. This audio marks the Brigadier meeting Paul McGann's 8th Doctor for the first time. I first listened to the audio on a CD over 29 years ago and could not remember a thing about it.
The only way I can describe the plot to this on my 2nd listen in 21 years is that it was stupid. The audio will hold your attention but the plot makes no sense. It never explained why an evangelist would be in cahoots with a "demon".
The audio takes place in America in the future. As an American I felt insulted by the fake accents. It seemed as though it was taking place in the old west because almost every American male character had an old west or southern accent. One character sounded just like the cartoon Looney Tunes rooster, Foghorn Leghorn. The only accent that sounded right was the "demon" Marchosias. In fact he was the only entertaining character in the whole audio. Shame the actor who portrayed him is not listed in the cast. He had excellent one liners.
The only way I can describe the plot to this on my 2nd listen in 21 years is that it was stupid. The audio will hold your attention but the plot makes no sense. It never explained why an evangelist would be in cahoots with a "demon".
The audio takes place in America in the future. As an American I felt insulted by the fake accents. It seemed as though it was taking place in the old west because almost every American male character had an old west or southern accent. One character sounded just like the cartoon Looney Tunes rooster, Foghorn Leghorn. The only accent that sounded right was the "demon" Marchosias. In fact he was the only entertaining character in the whole audio. Shame the actor who portrayed him is not listed in the cast. He had excellent one liners.
June 28, 2022
The final story of the first Charley arc. It was a pretty underwhelming ending I have to say. The plot was interesting and clever, but annoying. The whole "who's the Doctor?" misunderstanding subplot went on for too long. Plus the revelation of how that plot started was super dumb. The plot in general was a bit dragged out. The side-characters were mostly okay, but the villain was great. And Marchosias was surprisingly funny. There are some aspects of the plot which are just not well explained, and quite weird as a result. The bit that tied into the main story arc was very nicely done though. It was lovely to hear from the Brigadier again and he does well in this. The ending is really clever and fun and it bumps the story up slightly. There was also some quite awful voice acting - some very bad American accents. It's a shame that this sequence of stories which started so strong had to end with a finale so mediocre.
June 19, 2023
Haters just don’t get it: this is camp.
Is this story widely panned? It sure is. Are the accents egregious? They’re pretty bad, yeah. Is it wildly unrealistic for cristo-fascist America to name a new state Malebolgia? You bet your yeehaw ass it is.
But my god. I had fun.
This story is bordering on so bad it’s good territory, but it’s not even that bad to me. Sorry to the haters. Brigadier is here and he’s great. The situations Charley and the Doctor find themselves in are interesting. This story’s crime is trying to do to much, and that will always be better than not doing enough.
If this review has not yet sold you: one of the main characters is a woman named Becky Lee with a southern accent born and raised in Los Angeles. It’s incredible. This whole story is a bit of a mess but damn if it ain’t on my relisten list!
Is this story widely panned? It sure is. Are the accents egregious? They’re pretty bad, yeah. Is it wildly unrealistic for cristo-fascist America to name a new state Malebolgia? You bet your yeehaw ass it is.
But my god. I had fun.
This story is bordering on so bad it’s good territory, but it’s not even that bad to me. Sorry to the haters. Brigadier is here and he’s great. The situations Charley and the Doctor find themselves in are interesting. This story’s crime is trying to do to much, and that will always be better than not doing enough.
If this review has not yet sold you: one of the main characters is a woman named Becky Lee with a southern accent born and raised in Los Angeles. It’s incredible. This whole story is a bit of a mess but damn if it ain’t on my relisten list!
March 6, 2024
Minuet in Hell throws in too many plot strands into the same story. The resulting mix is an overambitious and not fully focused adventure.
Story: 4
The story starts with a confusing premise, very heavy in exposition, so it takes time before things start to become clearer. Even though some parts are frustratingly confusing, the script keeps the listener interested by revealing small fragments of the plot all the time, while building up tension.
The script throws in just enough twists and turns and small new details to keep from becoming stale. The ending to Part 2 is pretty shocking. That being said, it does feel like Gary Russell is trying too hard to stuff the script with too many plots and subplots from amnesia and Satanistic rites to love affairs and political scheming. And then we have some kind of alternate future as well. The amnesia thing seems to be the main plot though, so most of the other stuff could have been cut down to a minimum or left out completely.
I like the nonlinear storytelling, which shows the capabilities of Big Finish audios. Despite the nonlinearity and the constant twists and sudden reveals, the overall plot is fairly well put together. The ending is disappointing, however.
Acting: 5
Nicholas Courtney is never bad in anything, and the same goes for Minuet in Hell. The Brig feels somewhat out of place in this story, but its not Courtney's fault. He isn't needed for this story, either, and I believe he in it just to allow a meeting between him and Eight.
Goddammit, some of the American accents are annoying and terrible. Some actors overdo the accents to such an extent that it becomes difficult to enjoy the story. Worst of the lot is most likely Morgan Deare (Delta and the Bannermen, 1987; Rosa, 2018), who plays Waldo or Helen Goldwyn (who previously appeared as Chev in Sword of Orion and Triskele in Storm Warning, both from 2001) as Becky Lee.
The Doctor: 5
The Doctor barely appears in the first part of the story, but his appearance is fascinating and very well performed by McGann. The story places the Doctor in a new and unfamiliar position, making him a part of the central mystery here.
For most of the story, it's somewhat unclear who exactly is the Doctor since the script throws the listener off track with several possible answers.
The Companions: 4
Charley also doesn't appear very much initially and isn't up to much interesting. Her part in the story remains mostly superfluous other than connecting the Brigadier with the Doctor. And of course, she gets into proper trouble again.
The Monster/Villain: 4
Marchosias sounds and seems like just another dimension-devouring Satan incarnation. His voice is both hilarious and too mich to take in at the same time. I don't know whether I should find him scary or laughable. He sounds like a cartoon monster.
The sad thing is that a monster feeding of the negative emotions of people is a fascinating concept that could have made for a completely separate adventure. Attached to this story, it kind of gets lost in the mix. The Fearmonger (2000) comes pretty close but is not the same thing.
Production: 5
The editing and soundscapes make many sequences very messy and difficult to follow. I also would have liked to hear some eerie music to support the atmosphere.
In the last episode, things turn pretty messy again, so it's difficult to keep up. Then the story needs to rush to tie all loose ends together, so it's all a hit jumbled up at the climax.
Pacing: 5
Despite the story progressing slowly, revealing small snippets slowly but steadily, its pretty well-paced. But since several parts of the story are messy and convoluted that also affects the pace at times. The most frustrating thing is that the story seems to pick up speed several times only to suddenly halt again. The longer-than-usual length of the episodes is a problem as well. And then the script keeps treading water on the same plot details for too long so they turn stale.
Atmosphere: 4
Things start slightly confusing but oddly interesting since the Brig is in the US and the Doctor and Charley have lost their memories. From there, the excitement and tension as to what has happened feel stronger than the supposed suspense from the rise if Satan (or something along those lines).
It feels like this story never goes off properly. It doesn't feel scary and barely feels tense and there are so many things to keep track of that you hardly have time to take everything in.
Impact: 2
A bit like Sirens of Time (1999) before it, Minuet in Hell sometimes feel like its a bit too ambitious for its good. There are plenty of good ideas at play here, but too many of them are thrown into the same mix at the same time, so none of them is given the attention they deserve.
Replay Value: 3
I could imagine listening to this again sometime, but only when I feel fully focused because otherwise, I will find myself lost.
Random Observations:
Crane: "You're a Time Master from the planet Chardonnay". That's one of the funniest lines in BFDW so far.
The Brigadier once again gets involved in some demonic action, after The Dæmons (1971) and The Spectre of Lanyon Moor (2000).
I don't know how many times Doctor Who can do variations of Satanistic stories. The aforementioned The Dæmons was the first one and another famous example is The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit (2006).
Dr Grace Holloway, the Doctor's companion from the 1996 TV movie, is namedropped here. The same goes for many companions of previous incarnations.
Score: 41/120
Story: 4
The story starts with a confusing premise, very heavy in exposition, so it takes time before things start to become clearer. Even though some parts are frustratingly confusing, the script keeps the listener interested by revealing small fragments of the plot all the time, while building up tension.
The script throws in just enough twists and turns and small new details to keep from becoming stale. The ending to Part 2 is pretty shocking. That being said, it does feel like Gary Russell is trying too hard to stuff the script with too many plots and subplots from amnesia and Satanistic rites to love affairs and political scheming. And then we have some kind of alternate future as well. The amnesia thing seems to be the main plot though, so most of the other stuff could have been cut down to a minimum or left out completely.
I like the nonlinear storytelling, which shows the capabilities of Big Finish audios. Despite the nonlinearity and the constant twists and sudden reveals, the overall plot is fairly well put together. The ending is disappointing, however.
Acting: 5
Nicholas Courtney is never bad in anything, and the same goes for Minuet in Hell. The Brig feels somewhat out of place in this story, but its not Courtney's fault. He isn't needed for this story, either, and I believe he in it just to allow a meeting between him and Eight.
Goddammit, some of the American accents are annoying and terrible. Some actors overdo the accents to such an extent that it becomes difficult to enjoy the story. Worst of the lot is most likely Morgan Deare (Delta and the Bannermen, 1987; Rosa, 2018), who plays Waldo or Helen Goldwyn (who previously appeared as Chev in Sword of Orion and Triskele in Storm Warning, both from 2001) as Becky Lee.
The Doctor: 5
The Doctor barely appears in the first part of the story, but his appearance is fascinating and very well performed by McGann. The story places the Doctor in a new and unfamiliar position, making him a part of the central mystery here.
For most of the story, it's somewhat unclear who exactly is the Doctor since the script throws the listener off track with several possible answers.
The Companions: 4
Charley also doesn't appear very much initially and isn't up to much interesting. Her part in the story remains mostly superfluous other than connecting the Brigadier with the Doctor. And of course, she gets into proper trouble again.
The Monster/Villain: 4
Marchosias sounds and seems like just another dimension-devouring Satan incarnation. His voice is both hilarious and too mich to take in at the same time. I don't know whether I should find him scary or laughable. He sounds like a cartoon monster.
The sad thing is that a monster feeding of the negative emotions of people is a fascinating concept that could have made for a completely separate adventure. Attached to this story, it kind of gets lost in the mix. The Fearmonger (2000) comes pretty close but is not the same thing.
Production: 5
The editing and soundscapes make many sequences very messy and difficult to follow. I also would have liked to hear some eerie music to support the atmosphere.
In the last episode, things turn pretty messy again, so it's difficult to keep up. Then the story needs to rush to tie all loose ends together, so it's all a hit jumbled up at the climax.
Pacing: 5
Despite the story progressing slowly, revealing small snippets slowly but steadily, its pretty well-paced. But since several parts of the story are messy and convoluted that also affects the pace at times. The most frustrating thing is that the story seems to pick up speed several times only to suddenly halt again. The longer-than-usual length of the episodes is a problem as well. And then the script keeps treading water on the same plot details for too long so they turn stale.
Atmosphere: 4
Things start slightly confusing but oddly interesting since the Brig is in the US and the Doctor and Charley have lost their memories. From there, the excitement and tension as to what has happened feel stronger than the supposed suspense from the rise if Satan (or something along those lines).
It feels like this story never goes off properly. It doesn't feel scary and barely feels tense and there are so many things to keep track of that you hardly have time to take everything in.
Impact: 2
A bit like Sirens of Time (1999) before it, Minuet in Hell sometimes feel like its a bit too ambitious for its good. There are plenty of good ideas at play here, but too many of them are thrown into the same mix at the same time, so none of them is given the attention they deserve.
Replay Value: 3
I could imagine listening to this again sometime, but only when I feel fully focused because otherwise, I will find myself lost.
Random Observations:
Crane: "You're a Time Master from the planet Chardonnay". That's one of the funniest lines in BFDW so far.
The Brigadier once again gets involved in some demonic action, after The Dæmons (1971) and The Spectre of Lanyon Moor (2000).
I don't know how many times Doctor Who can do variations of Satanistic stories. The aforementioned The Dæmons was the first one and another famous example is The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit (2006).
Dr Grace Holloway, the Doctor's companion from the 1996 TV movie, is namedropped here. The same goes for many companions of previous incarnations.
Score: 41/120
April 30, 2020
For an Eighth Doctor audio that brings back Nicholas Courtney to play the Brigadier, this should have been better. Apparently this is the first of various Eighth Doctor audios where he loses his memory and identity. The words between the Brig and The Doctor at the end were good, and it's interesting that the Brig tells him to see if he can keep this face longer than the others. I can't help but wonder whether this may be a reference to Paul McGann having the least screentime, and it's funny when you take into account that he would portray The Doctor in the most stories. Another funny line that someone said was "a marshmallow short of a Count Chocula."
November 19, 2022
I like the combination of Charlie (India Fisher) and the 8th Doctor (Paul McGann). However, this story downplays the Doctor's role and throws in the Brigadier (Nicholas Courtney) and Becky Lee Kowalczyck (Helen Goldwyn). The problem is that McGann is always low-key, while Courtney is always stellar. Add in Goldwyn (who really steals the show) and this doesn't feel much like a Doctor Who adventure. The script which involves devil worshippers, politicians, treatments for the mentally ill, and aliens was okay but overly complex. The latter is probably the result of the extended two-hour format of the monthly Doctor Who series.
December 10, 2024
Charley, the Brigadier, the Doctor, and Becky Lee were all great. I had no problems with the demon-summoning villain or Marchosias the Psionivore pretending to be a demon. My biggest issues were the terrible Southern American (and Becky Lee's New York/New Jersey accent when she is supposed to be from LA) accents and the complete disregard for research before this story was written. Malebolgia, a terrible name even though I understand it is named after a circle of Hell from Dante's Inferno, could not have been created out of another state as it goes against Article IV, Section 3 of the United States Constitution. This story was also way too long.
November 21, 2023
1.5
Boring, complicated, stretched out for no particular reason. Sometimes it feels like it has a breakneck pacing and other times like nothing at all is happening. the idea of the Doctor being split across two people is interesting but not used very well, and the treatment of Charley in this one is kinda disgusting. The only redeeming factor is that you can tell everyone is having fun with their characters and lines, especially whoever it is playing the demon. some genuine chuckles were earned.
R.I.P. Ramsay the Vortisaur
Boring, complicated, stretched out for no particular reason. Sometimes it feels like it has a breakneck pacing and other times like nothing at all is happening. the idea of the Doctor being split across two people is interesting but not used very well, and the treatment of Charley in this one is kinda disgusting. The only redeeming factor is that you can tell everyone is having fun with their characters and lines, especially whoever it is playing the demon. some genuine chuckles were earned.
R.I.P. Ramsay the Vortisaur
December 28, 2023
Oof, this was a rare occasion where I wanted to give something zero stars. A truly dreadful story only made worse by its meandering pace, poor acting, and even worse accents. Any of the ten or so ideas presented here could stand on their own, but instead they are all crammed into one overstuffed story that also somehow cannot justify its two and a half hour runtime. Of the four Big Finish audio dramas I have listened to so far, Minuet in Hell highlights all the faults I have had with the series so far and cranks them up to eleven while adding new ones.
June 7, 2020
I loved this because of the Brigadier.
The plot of an evil televangelist has been done before but this story is surprisingly racy for Doctor Who and there’s a lot of humor.
My southern husband was amused by all the southerners sounding “like Foghorn Leghorn.” They’re also actively horrible people so you’re not too worried about the demon eating them.
Brigadier fans will want to listen to this. His interactions with the Doctor are brief but memorable and moving.
The plot of an evil televangelist has been done before but this story is surprisingly racy for Doctor Who and there’s a lot of humor.
My southern husband was amused by all the southerners sounding “like Foghorn Leghorn.” They’re also actively horrible people so you’re not too worried about the demon eating them.
Brigadier fans will want to listen to this. His interactions with the Doctor are brief but memorable and moving.
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