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Big Finish: Monthly Range #166
Doctor Who: The Acheron Pulse
The planet Cawdor. Deep in the heart of the Drashani Empire.
The Doctor lands thirty years after the Succession of Blood brought Empress Cheni to the throne. For most of her reign there has been peace and prosperity. The Empire flourished. But five years ago, the War came. And nothing was ever the same again. Now the Drashani are at war with the mysterious alien race known as the Wrath, led by the Warlord Tenebris. As more and more planets fall to their advance events are rushing to a head.
What exactly does Tenebris want? What is the secret of the Wrath's weapon, the terrifying Acheron Pulse? As the Doctor races to save an Empire, he may not like the answers he finds.
The Doctor lands thirty years after the Succession of Blood brought Empress Cheni to the throne. For most of her reign there has been peace and prosperity. The Empire flourished. But five years ago, the War came. And nothing was ever the same again. Now the Drashani are at war with the mysterious alien race known as the Wrath, led by the Warlord Tenebris. As more and more planets fall to their advance events are rushing to a head.
What exactly does Tenebris want? What is the secret of the Wrath's weapon, the terrifying Acheron Pulse? As the Doctor races to save an Empire, he may not like the answers he finds.
Audio CD
First published October 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 27, 2021
I must admit that Colin Baker isn’t my favorite variation of the Doctor, but this one was still quite good. While I didn’t enjoy it as much as the previous chapter in this Drashani Empire Trilogy (but Doctor Who: The Burning Prince really is a tough act to follow), it was still entertaining and allowed the actors a lot of freedom to really strut their talents.
July 27, 2017
The second part of a trilogy in which consecutive Doctors visit an interstellar empire at different points in its history. In this instalment, the Doctor arrives about thirty years after his initial visit, and gets to see the unintended consequences of his actions in that adventure.
The action is divided between a medieval world used as a mining resource by the Empire, and the space station placed in orbit around it. The Drashani Empire, it turns out, is now at war with a mysterious space fleet led by an individual who bears more than a passing resemblance to Darth Vader.
The explanation as to how we got here from the events of the first story does strain credulity a bit, but it's more the one-dimensional nature of the main villain that weakens things. Six himself is also at his most arrogant here, rather than the more nuanced character generally portrayed in the audios (though not, of course, in the TV series). There's a good chance you'll spot the surprise revelation coming way ahead of time, too, and, to be honest, it's not terribly interesting when it does come.
This is offset by a plot that at least has a reasonable amount going on, and where not everything is wholly black-and-white. Many of the supporting characters aren't bad - and there's quite a few of them - although they don't come across as well as those in the first episode, which at least had a decent "disaster movie" feel to it.
So it's far from a complete loss, but really doesn't have anything much special to it, either. Its strength is probably the links to the first part, and seeing how the best of intentions aren't always enough, but that doesn't raise it above the merely average.
The action is divided between a medieval world used as a mining resource by the Empire, and the space station placed in orbit around it. The Drashani Empire, it turns out, is now at war with a mysterious space fleet led by an individual who bears more than a passing resemblance to Darth Vader.
The explanation as to how we got here from the events of the first story does strain credulity a bit, but it's more the one-dimensional nature of the main villain that weakens things. Six himself is also at his most arrogant here, rather than the more nuanced character generally portrayed in the audios (though not, of course, in the TV series). There's a good chance you'll spot the surprise revelation coming way ahead of time, too, and, to be honest, it's not terribly interesting when it does come.
This is offset by a plot that at least has a reasonable amount going on, and where not everything is wholly black-and-white. Many of the supporting characters aren't bad - and there's quite a few of them - although they don't come across as well as those in the first episode, which at least had a decent "disaster movie" feel to it.
So it's far from a complete loss, but really doesn't have anything much special to it, either. Its strength is probably the links to the first part, and seeing how the best of intentions aren't always enough, but that doesn't raise it above the merely average.
June 14, 2023
After the excellent Burning Prince, the first in the Trilogy I was hoping for the same. What a mess this sequel was. Part of the blame here has to go to Big Finish, sound effects so intrusive in places you could hardly hear what people are saying. Long boring storyline that could easily be adapted to a single episode and would have been improved.
May 19, 2025
I liked the connective tissue from the Burning Prince, but overall, this story was about some alien worlds, boring politics, and monarchy nonsense that the Doctor finds himself stuck in the middle of.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2025
Five, Six, Seven, Eight!
I enjoyed the story but mostly because it was Six revisiting the previous Five story. It was a bit silly otherwise and someone forgot to normalise the audio, super loud --> super quiet --> super annoying. Nonetheless I had a good time.
Who do we appreciate? The Doctor!
I enjoyed the story but mostly because it was Six revisiting the previous Five story. It was a bit silly otherwise and someone forgot to normalise the audio, super loud --> super quiet --> super annoying. Nonetheless I had a good time.
Who do we appreciate? The Doctor!
February 21, 2023
A bit of a step down from the previous installment.
March 26, 2021
A very entertaining continuation of The Drashani Empire trilogy! So far this trilogy has had great performances, intriguing ideas, and a nice link between the first two stories, I'm looking forward to The Shadow Heart since it's written by one of my favorite writers Jonathan Morris, I hope it goes well, this story sure has set a high bar for the next! 8/10
September 20, 2015
This would have been better if its main surprise wasn't telegraphed so far ahead (like in the coda of the prior serial ahead), but still pretty nifty, because SIX! Six handheld all these imperial yobboes just as well as Five should have.
June 9, 2015
The Doctor returns to The Drashani Empire, which is now under attack from alien invaders known as The Wrath.
May 3, 2013
Very muddled storyline.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews