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The Fifth Doctor Adventures #10
Doctor Who: In the Night
1. Pursuit of the Nightjar by Tim Foley (4 parts) - The story of the Nightjar has been told for many years. A spaceship helmed by the legendary Captain Goben on a vital mission of mercy, delivering medical supplies to a distant colony in the middle of devastating war, an act of bravery that triggers the end of the conflict. At her heels throughout the journey, her pursuer, the spaceship Nemesis, helmed by the dogged Captain Eslo, never quite able to catch her target. The Doctor has always wanted to witness these historic events. And now, alongside Nyssa and Tegan, he's got his chance. But history might just have other ideas.
2. Resistor by Sarah Grochala (2 parts) - The TARDIS lands in a basement beneath a club in Warsaw in 1982 - which is a bit of a surprise as the Doctor was hoping to take Nyssa and Tegan to Yugoslavia. But a bigger surprise is yet to come - the band on stage are missing one of their musicians. And getting them through the gig is only the start of the TARDIS crew's troubles. Something strange is happening on the streets. Black cars glide through the city, picking off the unwary. Some are driven by the Secret Police... but others... by something very much not of this world.
2. Resistor by Sarah Grochala (2 parts) - The TARDIS lands in a basement beneath a club in Warsaw in 1982 - which is a bit of a surprise as the Doctor was hoping to take Nyssa and Tegan to Yugoslavia. But a bigger surprise is yet to come - the band on stage are missing one of their musicians. And getting them through the gig is only the start of the TARDIS crew's troubles. Something strange is happening on the streets. Black cars glide through the city, picking off the unwary. Some are driven by the Secret Police... but others... by something very much not of this world.
- GenresDoctor WhoAudiobook
Audio CD
Published September 1, 2023
3 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Tim Foley
177 books17 followersTim Foley is an artist and illustrator born in Flint, Michigan, in 1962. Over the past quarter century, his clients have included national and international magazines, book publishers, and advertising agencies such as the Wall Street Journal, Cricket Magazine, New York Newsday, LA Weekly, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. He currently lives and works in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 19, 2025
When I first started watching the classic series of Doctor Who, I basically watched one story of every classic doctor to see which doctor’s stories I should watch first. The first story I watched of the fifth doctor unfortunately didn’t impress me much, which is why I saved the stories of his era for last. But now that I’ve finally started watching some more stories with the fifth doctor, he and his companions have grown on me.
Pursuit of the Nightjar by Tim Foley – 4,5/5
The fifth doctor, Nyssa and Tegan arrive on the Nightjar. As the doctor explains it: this spaceship plays a vital role in a future war, carrying crucial medical supplies through a dangerous part of space to a colony, while being chased by the Nemesis. This tale of courage and bravery will have a huge impact on the war and the story of the Nightjar will become a symbol for peace in the future. The little bird that could, against all odds.
The doctor knows the famous story of the Nightjar by heart. So when something unexpected happens, he knows he needs to interfere and make sure history is written the way it’s supposed to.
The doctor visits a historical moment he can’t change. Here, we’re faced with a future part of history we as the audience don’t know anything about. This is a concept that I always find quite intriguing. And it’s the enthusiasm of the fifth doctor as he realizes he gets to be a part of this historic moment that makes this concept work so well.
Despite this story supposedly becoming a huge epic story in the future, it’s actually quite a simple story. It’s rather small, quiet and intimate. It focuses a lot more on the characters than on the plot, even though there are a few good twists. Perhaps not very action-packed or fast-paced, but it’s a strong and emotional character-driven story that has a very interesting theme at its core.
Resistor by Sarah Grochala – 2,5/5
The fifth doctor, Nyssa and Tegan land in a basement underneath a club in Warsaw in 1982. The band that’s playing next is in a panic as they’re missing their drummer, so the doctor steps in to save the band’s gig.
People are disappearing all over the place. The black cars patrolling the city clearly have something to do with it. But are all those black cars part of the secret police?
Quite a straight forward and solid story in the beginning, but then it gets quite messy once the alien part of the plot is introduced. Some good ideas in this one though.
Pursuit of the Nightjar by Tim Foley – 4,5/5
The fifth doctor, Nyssa and Tegan arrive on the Nightjar. As the doctor explains it: this spaceship plays a vital role in a future war, carrying crucial medical supplies through a dangerous part of space to a colony, while being chased by the Nemesis. This tale of courage and bravery will have a huge impact on the war and the story of the Nightjar will become a symbol for peace in the future. The little bird that could, against all odds.
The doctor knows the famous story of the Nightjar by heart. So when something unexpected happens, he knows he needs to interfere and make sure history is written the way it’s supposed to.
The doctor visits a historical moment he can’t change. Here, we’re faced with a future part of history we as the audience don’t know anything about. This is a concept that I always find quite intriguing. And it’s the enthusiasm of the fifth doctor as he realizes he gets to be a part of this historic moment that makes this concept work so well.
Despite this story supposedly becoming a huge epic story in the future, it’s actually quite a simple story. It’s rather small, quiet and intimate. It focuses a lot more on the characters than on the plot, even though there are a few good twists. Perhaps not very action-packed or fast-paced, but it’s a strong and emotional character-driven story that has a very interesting theme at its core.
Resistor by Sarah Grochala – 2,5/5
The fifth doctor, Nyssa and Tegan land in a basement underneath a club in Warsaw in 1982. The band that’s playing next is in a panic as they’re missing their drummer, so the doctor steps in to save the band’s gig.
People are disappearing all over the place. The black cars patrolling the city clearly have something to do with it. But are all those black cars part of the secret police?
Quite a straight forward and solid story in the beginning, but then it gets quite messy once the alien part of the plot is introduced. Some good ideas in this one though.
September 7, 2023
I'll admit since the Monthly Range came to an end, I've had very mixed feelings on how Big Finish has been handling the Classic Doctors but I will say, I genuinely feel out of all The Doctors, 5 has benefitted from the change. It's nice to finally see some direction with this Doctor now and honestly, I'm loving every minute of it.
Pursuit of The Nightjar:
When The Tardis materializes on the Nightjar, The Doctor finds himself giddy with excitement. The Nightjar is incredibly important to ending a universal wide war, but not too far behind is The Nemesis hoping to prevent a mission that can't be stopped. However, with ghostly apparitions popping up, the tardis crew soon realizes that history might very well change for the worse.
Tim Foley has written an incredibly beautiful script about hope, It's a gorgeously atmospheric story with plenty of tension and amazing characterization. It's a really emotional story that almost brought me to tears. The actors and the sheer direction for this story are absolutely spectacular, and in my opinion, this will definitely go down as one of my all-time favorite 5th Doctor stories, truly brilliant stuff! 10/10
Resistor:
The Tardis crew arrive at a nightclub in Warsaw, in 1982. The Doctor finds himself having to take up a gig as a drummer, but when the place is raided by members of a communist regime, the crew is soon separated. But something more mysterious is going on, who's driving the mysterious vehicle that kidnaps people in broad daylight? The Doctor has a mystery to solve and it seems an alien might need his help.
Sarah Grochala has written a really fun story that tackles the complicated political system of Yugoslavia, whilst telling a character-based story surrounding a rock band. It's a very enjoyable story with a fantastic motorbike chase, driven by the 5th Doctor. It's nothing amazing, but after the very emotional story beforehand, it's in my opinion a welcome addition to the set! 8/10
Overall: 18/20
Pursuit of The Nightjar:
When The Tardis materializes on the Nightjar, The Doctor finds himself giddy with excitement. The Nightjar is incredibly important to ending a universal wide war, but not too far behind is The Nemesis hoping to prevent a mission that can't be stopped. However, with ghostly apparitions popping up, the tardis crew soon realizes that history might very well change for the worse.
Tim Foley has written an incredibly beautiful script about hope, It's a gorgeously atmospheric story with plenty of tension and amazing characterization. It's a really emotional story that almost brought me to tears. The actors and the sheer direction for this story are absolutely spectacular, and in my opinion, this will definitely go down as one of my all-time favorite 5th Doctor stories, truly brilliant stuff! 10/10
Resistor:
The Tardis crew arrive at a nightclub in Warsaw, in 1982. The Doctor finds himself having to take up a gig as a drummer, but when the place is raided by members of a communist regime, the crew is soon separated. But something more mysterious is going on, who's driving the mysterious vehicle that kidnaps people in broad daylight? The Doctor has a mystery to solve and it seems an alien might need his help.
Sarah Grochala has written a really fun story that tackles the complicated political system of Yugoslavia, whilst telling a character-based story surrounding a rock band. It's a very enjoyable story with a fantastic motorbike chase, driven by the 5th Doctor. It's nothing amazing, but after the very emotional story beforehand, it's in my opinion a welcome addition to the set! 8/10
Overall: 18/20
July 20, 2024
Decided to listen to this one to commemorate 25 years of Doctor Who at Big Finish. In the nightjar story, it’s fun seeing how enthusiastic The Doctor is about the story with which he’s familiar. “Resistor” is another case of music being utilized very well for a Doctor Who plot. Here it’s a punk rock band.
August 4, 2025
Two unconnected stories featuring the Fifth Doctor, Tegan, and Nyssa.
Pursuit of the Nightjar – The Doctor arrives on a spaceship on a desperate mission of mercy to a remote planet. As the story progresses, he and his companions face increasing threats from a pursuing enemy ship, mysterious destructive intruders, and the ship’s own failing systems. With only two other speaking parts in the story, the focus is on the struggle to survive against increasingly desperate odds. The need for the ship to reach its destination prevents the Doctor from simply leaving, and the story does a good job of building up the significance of a mission that’s part of future history but not our own – something that also allows the writer to play with the ending.
Tegan and Nyssa both have significant parts to play in the story, the small cast allowing more emphasis on their personalities and giving them both the chance to step up when required. The device of replaying conversations between the ship’s pilot and his pursuer is a nice touch, adding a further human element and emphasising the loneliness of their isolation, even if the motivations of the pursuer are never fully explored. On the downside, the science is ropey, although how much this will bother a listener is going to vary. The ‘monsters’ are there to set up problems, rather than be a direct menace themselves, which might also disappoint some listeners. But, as a tense battle against the environment, this story worked for me. 4.5 stars.
Resistor – This story is set in 1980s Warsaw, as the communist regime is beginning to weaken, but still remains in control of the country. It’s a one-hour story, but even so, the plot feels somewhat simplistic. Neither is there much to the guest characters, whose opposition to the regime is obviously admirable, but is never really explored. There's clearly intended to be some emotional depth here, given the backstory of two of the characters in particular, but it never really impacts, leaving a shrug rather than the stronger reaction it was presumably going for.
Similarly, the SB (secret police) come across as bumbling, rather than threatening, so we don’t get a real sense of the atmosphere of the time. It’s not a bad story, fitting in well with the general ethos of the show and the Fifth Doctor’s optimistic and charitable outlook, but there’s no real depth. It’s just sort of there, and arguably a missed opportunity to explore a setting away from the usual. 3 stars.
Pursuit of the Nightjar – The Doctor arrives on a spaceship on a desperate mission of mercy to a remote planet. As the story progresses, he and his companions face increasing threats from a pursuing enemy ship, mysterious destructive intruders, and the ship’s own failing systems. With only two other speaking parts in the story, the focus is on the struggle to survive against increasingly desperate odds. The need for the ship to reach its destination prevents the Doctor from simply leaving, and the story does a good job of building up the significance of a mission that’s part of future history but not our own – something that also allows the writer to play with the ending.
Tegan and Nyssa both have significant parts to play in the story, the small cast allowing more emphasis on their personalities and giving them both the chance to step up when required. The device of replaying conversations between the ship’s pilot and his pursuer is a nice touch, adding a further human element and emphasising the loneliness of their isolation, even if the motivations of the pursuer are never fully explored. On the downside, the science is ropey, although how much this will bother a listener is going to vary. The ‘monsters’ are there to set up problems, rather than be a direct menace themselves, which might also disappoint some listeners. But, as a tense battle against the environment, this story worked for me. 4.5 stars.
Resistor – This story is set in 1980s Warsaw, as the communist regime is beginning to weaken, but still remains in control of the country. It’s a one-hour story, but even so, the plot feels somewhat simplistic. Neither is there much to the guest characters, whose opposition to the regime is obviously admirable, but is never really explored. There's clearly intended to be some emotional depth here, given the backstory of two of the characters in particular, but it never really impacts, leaving a shrug rather than the stronger reaction it was presumably going for.
Similarly, the SB (secret police) come across as bumbling, rather than threatening, so we don’t get a real sense of the atmosphere of the time. It’s not a bad story, fitting in well with the general ethos of the show and the Fifth Doctor’s optimistic and charitable outlook, but there’s no real depth. It’s just sort of there, and arguably a missed opportunity to explore a setting away from the usual. 3 stars.
November 9, 2023
Pursuit of the Nightjar.
Well, we had similar stories before, and the hook that the Doctor just happens to land at the time of the greatest achievement of one of his heroes is also nothing new.
The story could also be described as slow, however, this gives opportunity to show the character background and development, it sets the scene, creates the necessary atmosphere and lets the threat develop.
This however makes the pacing seem off, and parts are just not that exciting.
Otherwise, some really great performances here, from all of the main cast. Especially the Doctor and Tegan get some juicy emotional material to work with.
There are also a few fun moments, like putting on spacesuits in zero gravity „You put your leg through one of the arms“.
I also loved the cute robot bird.
This is no classic or a revelation, but nice well performed entertainment for the 2 hour runtime.
Resistor-
Second story starts good, with great atmosphere and setting.
I also liked the band gig and the Doctor playing the drums.
But the second half is a bit confusing and just not that thrilling.
Also, the side-plot about the gay semi-boyfriend.... it felt tagged on. They did "gays being threatened historials" before and they did them much better- just look at Albie's Angels. But here?
-"I am gay" -girlfriend: "Oh bummer, I thought we could have had something more." Where is the emotional impact?
Also, the ending. Would you just disappear without telling your family?
So, in short, the second story is not really a classic.
All in all not bad for 3 hour entertainment, but nothing new, original or mind-blowing.
Well, we had similar stories before, and the hook that the Doctor just happens to land at the time of the greatest achievement of one of his heroes is also nothing new.
The story could also be described as slow, however, this gives opportunity to show the character background and development, it sets the scene, creates the necessary atmosphere and lets the threat develop.
This however makes the pacing seem off, and parts are just not that exciting.
Otherwise, some really great performances here, from all of the main cast. Especially the Doctor and Tegan get some juicy emotional material to work with.
There are also a few fun moments, like putting on spacesuits in zero gravity „You put your leg through one of the arms“.
I also loved the cute robot bird.
This is no classic or a revelation, but nice well performed entertainment for the 2 hour runtime.
Resistor-
Second story starts good, with great atmosphere and setting.
I also liked the band gig and the Doctor playing the drums.
But the second half is a bit confusing and just not that thrilling.
Also, the side-plot about the gay semi-boyfriend.... it felt tagged on. They did "gays being threatened historials" before and they did them much better- just look at Albie's Angels. But here?
-"I am gay" -girlfriend: "Oh bummer, I thought we could have had something more." Where is the emotional impact?
Also, the ending. Would you just disappear without telling your family?
So, in short, the second story is not really a classic.
All in all not bad for 3 hour entertainment, but nothing new, original or mind-blowing.
October 16, 2023
Pretty good, actually. It's rare these days when a Doctor Who plot doesn't devolve into some weird techno-chrono-psycho nonsense that's difficult if not impossible to follow. So a couple good, solid stories here. Of course, it's also rare these days when a Big Finish release doesn't contrive some El-Jibbity content, and both episodes here feature it. It's not brave. It's boring.
And I'm not sure why this pair of episodes is given the umbrella title "In the Night." So random.
And I'm not sure why this pair of episodes is given the umbrella title "In the Night." So random.
March 16, 2024
1. Pursuit of the Nightjar by Tim Foley - 4/5 Stars
2. Resistor by Sarah Grochala - 3/5 Stars
2. Resistor by Sarah Grochala - 3/5 Stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2023
Happily, this duology continues this range’s move away from crossovers and continuity fests for more original storytelling.
Pursuit of the Nightjar is really good stuff. The “meeting the Doctor’s hero” material and it going awry really gives Davison something to sink his teeth into, and Nyssa and Tegan really get out through the ringer too. Rather like Conflicts of Interests’ duology earlier this year, there’s just a refreshing pacing to this. I have nothing against the 1 hour format, but it’s nice to have stories that can stretch their legs out a bit and take their time.
Resistor (which is in the 1 hour format) feels fresh and new and I found that enjoyable. However whilst it boasts a lot of good ideas, unfortunately the execution is a little odd at times. For example a motorcycle chase sequence has Nyssa describing things that both she and and the Doctor should be able to see, so it’s only us listeners she’s doing it for.
Pursuit of the Nightjar is really good stuff. The “meeting the Doctor’s hero” material and it going awry really gives Davison something to sink his teeth into, and Nyssa and Tegan really get out through the ringer too. Rather like Conflicts of Interests’ duology earlier this year, there’s just a refreshing pacing to this. I have nothing against the 1 hour format, but it’s nice to have stories that can stretch their legs out a bit and take their time.
Resistor (which is in the 1 hour format) feels fresh and new and I found that enjoyable. However whilst it boasts a lot of good ideas, unfortunately the execution is a little odd at times. For example a motorcycle chase sequence has Nyssa describing things that both she and and the Doctor should be able to see, so it’s only us listeners she’s doing it for.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews