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Big Finish: Monthly Range #161
Doctor Who: The Butcher of Brisbane
Adopting the alias of Weng-Chiang, the 51st century war criminal Magnus Greel will one day arrive in Victorian London by Time Cabinet – only to meet his doom, his plans undone by the Time Lord known as the Doctor.
The Doctor never believed he'd meet Greel again. But when a TARDIS trip to companion Tegan's home town goes wrong, the Doctor ends up in the younger Greel's heyday – in a world on the brink of all-out war.
With the Doctor at the mercy of Greel's alien associate Findecker and his army of mutations, Tegan is about to learn just why they called Greel 'The Butcher of Brisbane'...
The Doctor never believed he'd meet Greel again. But when a TARDIS trip to companion Tegan's home town goes wrong, the Doctor ends up in the younger Greel's heyday – in a world on the brink of all-out war.
With the Doctor at the mercy of Greel's alien associate Findecker and his army of mutations, Tegan is about to learn just why they called Greel 'The Butcher of Brisbane'...
Audio CD
First published June 30, 2012
76 people want to read
About the author
Marc Platt
111 books48 followersMarc Platt is a British writer. He is most known for his work with the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who.
After studying catering at a technical college, Platt worked first for Trust House Forte, and then in administration for the BBC. He wrote the Doctor Who serial Ghost Light based on two proposals, one of which later became the novel Lungbarrow. That novel was greatly anticipated by fans as it was the culmination of the so-called "Cartmel Masterplan", revealing details of the Doctor's background and family.
After the original series' cancellation Platt wrote the script for the audio Doctor Who drama Spare Parts. The script was the inspiration for the 2006 Doctor Who television story "Rise of the Cybermen"/"The Age of Steel", for which Platt received a screen credit and a fee.
He lives in London.
After studying catering at a technical college, Platt worked first for Trust House Forte, and then in administration for the BBC. He wrote the Doctor Who serial Ghost Light based on two proposals, one of which later became the novel Lungbarrow. That novel was greatly anticipated by fans as it was the culmination of the so-called "Cartmel Masterplan", revealing details of the Doctor's background and family.
After the original series' cancellation Platt wrote the script for the audio Doctor Who drama Spare Parts. The script was the inspiration for the 2006 Doctor Who television story "Rise of the Cybermen"/"The Age of Steel", for which Platt received a screen credit and a fee.
He lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 28, 2017
Among the many delights of the classic TV story The Talons of Weng-Chiang is writer Robert Holmes' conjuring of a radically altered future geopolitics, with phrases such as "I was with the Filipino army during the march on Reykjavik." And, of course, the title of this play, which, thanks to the vagaries of time travel, serves as both prequel and sequel to Talons.
The play deals with the final days of Magnus Greel's time in office, on the eve of the outbreak of World War VI at the dawn of the 51st century. It's quite a complex story, with a host of minor characters (sufficient at times to cause a little confusion about who is speaking) and Tegan and Nyssa getting involved in their own parts of the story, away from the Doctor. It weaves in all the necessary elements from the TV story, most obviously, perhaps, including the origin of Mr. Sin.
Unfortunately, good though it is, there are a couple of problems that stop it earning a full 5 stars. For one, Nyssa's naivity is overdone to the point of implausibility (and in exactly the same way that a previous play mishandled it, in my opinion) and Turlough's characterisation is a little weak - although he isn't given that much to do anyway.
A more serious issue, though, is that this just can't live up to the implied grandeur of future events in the original TV story. Technically, Greel doesn't even commit any war crimes (although he can certainly tick the box for 'ordering crimes against humanity'), and we're given the impression that WW VI is largely down to one vaguely insulting comment at a diplomatic reception. It all feels a bit minor and mundane.
Having said which, it is a good story, with a lot going on. But it's perhaps biting off more than it can chew, apparently feeling compelled, perhaps by the nature of the format, to limit the arena for the story beyond what's truly desirable. Big Finish have pulled it off before (for example, in To The Death and Cyberman 2), but it's a tough ask, and one that doesn't quite work here.
But, taken on its own merits, this is still worth a decent 4 stars.
The play deals with the final days of Magnus Greel's time in office, on the eve of the outbreak of World War VI at the dawn of the 51st century. It's quite a complex story, with a host of minor characters (sufficient at times to cause a little confusion about who is speaking) and Tegan and Nyssa getting involved in their own parts of the story, away from the Doctor. It weaves in all the necessary elements from the TV story, most obviously, perhaps, including the origin of Mr. Sin.
Unfortunately, good though it is, there are a couple of problems that stop it earning a full 5 stars. For one, Nyssa's naivity is overdone to the point of implausibility (and in exactly the same way that a previous play mishandled it, in my opinion) and Turlough's characterisation is a little weak - although he isn't given that much to do anyway.
A more serious issue, though, is that this just can't live up to the implied grandeur of future events in the original TV story. Technically, Greel doesn't even commit any war crimes (although he can certainly tick the box for 'ordering crimes against humanity'), and we're given the impression that WW VI is largely down to one vaguely insulting comment at a diplomatic reception. It all feels a bit minor and mundane.
Having said which, it is a good story, with a lot going on. But it's perhaps biting off more than it can chew, apparently feeling compelled, perhaps by the nature of the format, to limit the arena for the story beyond what's truly desirable. Big Finish have pulled it off before (for example, in To The Death and Cyberman 2), but it's a tough ask, and one that doesn't quite work here.
But, taken on its own merits, this is still worth a decent 4 stars.
May 10, 2019
This audio adventure is a prequel/ sequel to the 4th Doctor classic Gothic story, “the Talons of Weng Chiang.
In this story, the 5th Doctor meets Magnus Greel before the events in Talon. It helps to fill in some of the backstory alluded to in the classic story.
The only thing that did not translate well to audio was the character of Mr. Sin. He was a lot more menacing on television. But, he needed to be included.
This story’s end leads directly into Talons. This story presupposes that you have knowledge of the events in the 4th Doctor story.
In this story, the 5th Doctor meets Magnus Greel before the events in Talon. It helps to fill in some of the backstory alluded to in the classic story.
The only thing that did not translate well to audio was the character of Mr. Sin. He was a lot more menacing on television. But, he needed to be included.
This story’s end leads directly into Talons. This story presupposes that you have knowledge of the events in the 4th Doctor story.
May 3, 2023
This one was alright. I'm not the biggest The Talons of Weng-Chiang fan but the story here is a bit of a political thriller mixed with a messy time plot. Overall I found this one to really drag in the middle and the ending half of the last episode felt like it was really rushed, having a chase plot and showdown from Brisbane to Iceland.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2017
A TALONS OF WENG-CHIANG sequel/prequel that works...
....and for those who are concerned about continuity, don't be. There's a great explanation in the story (and I won't say anything to avoid spoiling).
Definitely one of check out after SPARE PARTS and JUBILEE.
....and for those who are concerned about continuity, don't be. There's a great explanation in the story (and I won't say anything to avoid spoiling).
Definitely one of check out after SPARE PARTS and JUBILEE.
August 15, 2018
Fabulous!
November 26, 2012
Loved this one. The TARDIS team is split up, with Nyssa and Turlogh being dragged three years back in time, thus having to fend for themselves without the Doctor. Naturally, they become embroiled in an undercover mission to defeat the bad guys ;)
Highly enjoyable.
Highly enjoyable.
March 21, 2016
The Doctor and companions land in 51st century Brisbane. Tegan and Nyssa are asked to help spy on an individual who wants to start WW6. Can the Doctor and companions stop the war and hideous experiments.
September 5, 2015
Interesting and gory story that unwinds across 4 millenia.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews