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The Companion Chronicles #7.04
Doctor Who: The Last Post
People are dying. Just a few, over a period of months... but the strange thing is that each person received a letter predicting the date and time of their death.
Throughout her time as the Doctor’s assistant, Liz Shaw has been documenting these passings.
Her investigation ultimately uncovers a threat that could lead to the end of the world, but this time Liz has someone to help her.
Her mother...
Throughout her time as the Doctor’s assistant, Liz Shaw has been documenting these passings.
Her investigation ultimately uncovers a threat that could lead to the end of the world, but this time Liz has someone to help her.
Her mother...
Audio CD
First published October 1, 2012
76 people want to read
About the author
James Goss
231 books181 followersJames Goss has written two Torchwood novels and a radio play, as well as a Being Human book. His Doctor Who audiobook Dead Air won Best Audiobook 2010. James also spent seven years working on the BBC's official Doctor Who website and co-wrote the website for Torchwood Series One. In 2007, he won the Best Adaptation category in the annual LA Weekly Theatre Awards for his version of Douglas Adams' novel Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 3, 2013
Caroline John's companion chronicle Blue Tooth is quite possibly my favourite cyberman story. So when I saw she'd done another one that was recently released I had to get it. This was just lovely. The format was letters between Liz and her mother and they were both such wonderful characters and had such an interesting relationship. It really fitted the format of the companion chronicles very well. The two were superb together. The plot was a little convoluted, but had lots of references back to classic who adventures. Also the fact that it was about knowing you were going to die, when it came out after Caroline did die, was at times quite tragic. For me though this was all about the characters. It was lovely to get more background for Liz making her more well rounded. There was a lovely interview with them all at the end which was also terribly sad as they all said how much they enjoyed it and how much they wanted to do more together.
December 31, 2019
To be completely honest - I listened to this audio in October or early November sometime, but I did listen to it twice, still, I've probably already forgotten a few details. The Last Post is part of Big Finish's The Companion Chronicles which tell stories from the companion's point of view and fill in gaps from previous eras of the series. Set in the Third Doctor's first season, The Last Post features Dr. Liz Shaw and her mother, Dr. Emily Shaw, as well as mentions of other members of Liz's family. The story opens with Liz and her mum meeting for a long-overdue meal. Her mother presses Liz for details on her new hush-hush job, and when Liz is hesitant to reveal any secrets, her mother points out she's signed the Offical Secret Act multiple times. Liz decides she can mention where she works, only to have her mother answer, "Oh, you work for UNIT!" Liz is flabbergasted to learn her mother knows about UNIT, but she responds that she is on "a lot of committees".
The rest of the story is told mostly through exchanges of letters and phone calls. In between updating her mum on her adventures with the Doctor, Liz tells her mum that she seems to have uncovered a conspiracy or at least something strange. People are dying, strangely, but they also are being warned of precisely when their life will expire. The Doctor ignores Liz's findings and her mother suggests the deaths are coincidences at first.
However, eventually, the Doctor joins Liz in her investigation, only to be stung by some weird metal scorpion. Liz's mum also seems to know more than she initially stated. When she starts to feel that one of her committees is going too far, Dr. Emily Shaw tells her daughter about the precise nature of her committee's work. Dr. Shaw tells he daughter that in the wake of World War II, the government began to collect and analyze data, chiefly concerning life expectancy. The more data was collected, the more addicted to data collection the government became. Eventually, computers were used to collate and analyze the data. A computer was developed with the intent to predict life expectancy. But it instead predicted the end of the world - earning the computer the nickname, "The Apocalypse Clock". This Clock predicted, precisely the deaths of individuals - but with their deaths, the end of the world was pushed back - granting them more time. When Dr. Emily Shaw receives a letter warning her of her death, only for her to be rescued by the Doctor, it's the catalyst for Liz, Dr. Shaw, and UNIT to put an end to the "The Apocalypse Clock".
The exchange of letters and phone calls is a wonderful framing device for this story and Dr. Emily Shaw is a great character. The Apocalypse Clock is spooky and would have been a better title for the story than, "The Last Post" (which refers to the elder Dr. Shaw's "last" letter to her daughter). The story is also bittersweet since it's the last story Caroline John recorded for Big Finish before passing away. Still, with all of that - it's an excellent story and I recommend it.
The rest of the story is told mostly through exchanges of letters and phone calls. In between updating her mum on her adventures with the Doctor, Liz tells her mum that she seems to have uncovered a conspiracy or at least something strange. People are dying, strangely, but they also are being warned of precisely when their life will expire. The Doctor ignores Liz's findings and her mother suggests the deaths are coincidences at first.
However, eventually, the Doctor joins Liz in her investigation, only to be stung by some weird metal scorpion. Liz's mum also seems to know more than she initially stated. When she starts to feel that one of her committees is going too far, Dr. Emily Shaw tells her daughter about the precise nature of her committee's work. Dr. Shaw tells he daughter that in the wake of World War II, the government began to collect and analyze data, chiefly concerning life expectancy. The more data was collected, the more addicted to data collection the government became. Eventually, computers were used to collate and analyze the data. A computer was developed with the intent to predict life expectancy. But it instead predicted the end of the world - earning the computer the nickname, "The Apocalypse Clock". This Clock predicted, precisely the deaths of individuals - but with their deaths, the end of the world was pushed back - granting them more time. When Dr. Emily Shaw receives a letter warning her of her death, only for her to be rescued by the Doctor, it's the catalyst for Liz, Dr. Shaw, and UNIT to put an end to the "The Apocalypse Clock".
The exchange of letters and phone calls is a wonderful framing device for this story and Dr. Emily Shaw is a great character. The Apocalypse Clock is spooky and would have been a better title for the story than, "The Last Post" (which refers to the elder Dr. Shaw's "last" letter to her daughter). The story is also bittersweet since it's the last story Caroline John recorded for Big Finish before passing away. Still, with all of that - it's an excellent story and I recommend it.
July 25, 2017
A Third Doctor story told from the perspective of Liz Shaw. Poignantly, especially given the subject matter, this was the last audio play to star Caroline John, who passed away a few months before its release. However, it's chronologically the earliest, being set during
Doctor Who
's 7th series, rather than in it's aftermath, as has been more common.
The story is largely told in epistolary format, as a number of letters exchanged between Liz and her mother, although, in the second half, this is really just a straight re-telling of events. The story concerns various important people receiving letters accurately predicting their exact time of death (of natural causes). However, it's perhaps more notable for being tightly woven in with the episodes of the TV show, making numerous references to events and characters in Shaw's four TV stories - and to some from before her time.
The limitations of the Companion Chronicles format are apparent here, with the rendition of the main villain's voice being particularly grating. And it does require a knowledge of the era to get the most out of, although that's a fairly safe bet among its target audience. But, those points aside, it does a great job of building on established continuity, and of bringing Liz to life, expanding on her family life, and seeing her perspective on the stories she featured in. Plus, the half-way cliffhanger is really quite a good one.
I've not, on the whole, been highly enamoured of the Third Doctor audios to this point, but this one does stand above the crowd.
The story is largely told in epistolary format, as a number of letters exchanged between Liz and her mother, although, in the second half, this is really just a straight re-telling of events. The story concerns various important people receiving letters accurately predicting their exact time of death (of natural causes). However, it's perhaps more notable for being tightly woven in with the episodes of the TV show, making numerous references to events and characters in Shaw's four TV stories - and to some from before her time.
The limitations of the Companion Chronicles format are apparent here, with the rendition of the main villain's voice being particularly grating. And it does require a knowledge of the era to get the most out of, although that's a fairly safe bet among its target audience. But, those points aside, it does a great job of building on established continuity, and of bringing Liz to life, expanding on her family life, and seeing her perspective on the stories she featured in. Plus, the half-way cliffhanger is really quite a good one.
I've not, on the whole, been highly enamoured of the Third Doctor audios to this point, but this one does stand above the crowd.
June 5, 2020
This may be the best of the Companion Chronicles I've listened to thus far. This was the last one that Caroline John recorded, and yet it takes Liz Shaw from her first story The Spearhead in Space to the rest of season 7, shedding light on certain deaths depicted onscreen. The reveal of what's causing the deaths made for a nice throwback. I thought this story overall was a fun and clever idea. Liz's mother is a very lively character, and having her be more into the supernatural and less into science made for a nice contrast. This turned out to be a nice tribute to Caroline John and her character Liz Shaw.
September 17, 2024
“Best of luck with your space thing dear.”
Absolutely brilliant Doctor-lite episode that helps to add dimension to the character of Liz Shaw, and add a lot of meat to the universe of the third Doctor era. Sadly this was Caroline John’s last performance as the character. But what a story to go out on.
Also, making this a sequel to “The War Machines”? Brilliant.
Absolutely brilliant Doctor-lite episode that helps to add dimension to the character of Liz Shaw, and add a lot of meat to the universe of the third Doctor era. Sadly this was Caroline John’s last performance as the character. But what a story to go out on.
Also, making this a sequel to “The War Machines”? Brilliant.
October 22, 2017
Caroline John recorded this Companion Chronicle not long before she passed away. She sounds wonderful.
July 7, 2024
A Beautiful Masterpiece of a story which perfect fits among Season 7 of TV Classic Who while also being a sequel to a 60s doctor who story I love. Caroline John and Rowena Cooper act as Daughter and Mother which helps to flesh out the criminally underrated character of Liz Shaw. This is also the final performance from Caroline John before her sad passing in 2012 and what a story to end on. It's a must listen as well as being a perfect tribute to one of the very best companions from Doctor Who, rest in peace Caroline John (1940-2012)
August 16, 2020
4
I love Liz Shaw, and it’s one of Doctor Who’s biggest mistakes that she was only around for one short season, so it was wonderful to hear her in action again, full of Pertwee era references and with a suitably mysterious 70s-esque villain to battle against. The format of this story - through letters and phone calls - is probably one of the best ways to get around the limitations of the Companion Chronicles, but it still remains a range I struggle to fully love.
I love Liz Shaw, and it’s one of Doctor Who’s biggest mistakes that she was only around for one short season, so it was wonderful to hear her in action again, full of Pertwee era references and with a suitably mysterious 70s-esque villain to battle against. The format of this story - through letters and phone calls - is probably one of the best ways to get around the limitations of the Companion Chronicles, but it still remains a range I struggle to fully love.
December 16, 2020
Excellent performance by the late Caroline John as Liz Shaw, who gets to add to the character who sadly only lasted one season on the show.
April 20, 2023
I enjoyed this one. Liz and her mother have great chemistry and the cliffhanger was genuinely shocking. The ending is the only bit that kind of lets this down as it just fizzles out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2016
5/5
As this was Caroline John ever last performance as Liz Shaw, it was also irony it took place between Liz Shaw first appearance as the companion to the Doctor which made it all the more heartbreaking.
What a delight this audio was! both Caroline and Rowena who played Emily Shaw (Liz's mum) had a fantastic relationship on and off audio and it was lovely to have a bit of background into the personal life of Liz. We did see her friend Jane in blue tooth with an unfortunate ending but it was lovely to have a positive ending for once for Liz.
James Goss is a master at writing scripts for two people on screen-time and I have not been disappointed by any of them. He has a great understanding for the characters he writers and gives us a bit of background to them, making them more personal and human rather to what we see them on screen and make them out to be. He did a wonderful job with Liz being in charge and solving the case and it was also nice little reference to Grover and the underground base like in the Invasion of the Dinosaurs and Spearhead from Space with the autons.
I also love the extras on this and seeing the cast just practically fangirling about each other and it was such a joy to have on the extra disc.
Caroline John will always be remembered for her work as an actress. A true delight!
As this was Caroline John ever last performance as Liz Shaw, it was also irony it took place between Liz Shaw first appearance as the companion to the Doctor which made it all the more heartbreaking.
What a delight this audio was! both Caroline and Rowena who played Emily Shaw (Liz's mum) had a fantastic relationship on and off audio and it was lovely to have a bit of background into the personal life of Liz. We did see her friend Jane in blue tooth with an unfortunate ending but it was lovely to have a positive ending for once for Liz.
James Goss is a master at writing scripts for two people on screen-time and I have not been disappointed by any of them. He has a great understanding for the characters he writers and gives us a bit of background to them, making them more personal and human rather to what we see them on screen and make them out to be. He did a wonderful job with Liz being in charge and solving the case and it was also nice little reference to Grover and the underground base like in the Invasion of the Dinosaurs and Spearhead from Space with the autons.
I also love the extras on this and seeing the cast just practically fangirling about each other and it was such a joy to have on the extra disc.
Caroline John will always be remembered for her work as an actress. A true delight!
July 19, 2014
There's a conspiracy throughout Liz's time with UNIT that is killing high ranking people on a schedule. It's told to Liz's mother through letters, and meetings in coffee shops. It is a really enjoyable story and explains some of the odder deaths in the early 3rd Doctor era. The 2 main leads really sparkle off each other, and you really get to know why Liz is like she is. A really good listen.
April 13, 2016
Liz tries to help her mother investigate a committee where everyone is dying off.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews