Doctor Who: The Last

Big Finish: Monthly Range #62

by Gary Hopkins, Paul McGann (Narrator), India Fisher (Narrator)

Trapped on a dying world, the Doctor and Charley come face-to-face with those responsible for the war to end wars, while C'rizz tries to understand what has happened and learns the terrible truth.

Powerful forces are at work on Bortresoye that not even a nuclear holocaust can tame; natural forces that have excited the interest of Excelsior, the self-proclaimed saviour of her people.

With Charley immobilised and C'rizz left to battle against the elements with some of the victims of war, one final, desperate hope of escape presents itself to the travellers.

But who will be the last to leave the planet? Who will have to stay behind? And will the Doctor, Charley and C'rizz live long enough to find out?

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Time Travel

Audio Play

First published October 1, 2004

About the author

There is more than one author with this name

Reviews

[Danny Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only was this story as dark and bleak as I hoped it would be, but it really held my attention for 2 hours which is rare for an audio. Won't say anymore because I feel I will give away some details but it's utterly brilliant, 9.5/10. Highly recommended.

[Emilija · Rating 2 out of 5]

2024 52 Book Challenge - Summer Olympics Mini Challenge - Individual - 2) Wrestling: A Heavy Read

This book had such potential, as dark and bleak and depressing as it was, and the parts with Charley were really thought-provoking, if abelist.

Unfortunately, the ending makes the entire book pointless and a waste of time.

[Lady Nerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

After listening to The Invention of Death recently, this made for an interesting listen given the similar questions regarding life and death.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

あらすじ

Part1

ドクターはクロッカに死んだはずのカトリーヌやアドリックの幻覚を見せられた後、チャーリーとケリスと共に核爆弾で荒廃したボータソエーという惑星に送り込まれる。凍えるような寒さに避難場所をさがすが、建物が倒壊してきて、その下敷きとなったドクターとチャーリーは身動きがとれなくなる。2人を助けるためにケリスは手を貸してくれる人を探しにいく。その間にドクターとチャーリーはランドスカーの計らいでシェルターに収容されてるも、チャーリーが脊髄を損傷していることが判明する。ケリスはレクイエムという人物と出会い、チャーリーとドクターの元に戻るが、2人が姿を消していることに動揺する。

Part2

ドクターとチャーリーは大臣のヴォイスとトラフィニアルから取り調べを受けスパイかと疑われるが、ドクターはクロッカ送り込まれたと正直に話す。しかし、2人はクロッカの存在を知らなかった。ドクターとチャーリーはリーダーのエクセルシアにも会うが、2人はエクセルシアがシェルターの外の世界が核爆弾によって荒廃していることも生存者もいないことも認識しておらず困惑する。一方ケリスはレクイエムからこの星が核戦争によって滅びたときき、政府の生き残りがシェルターにいるという話にドクターとチャーリーもそこにいるに違いないとシェルターを目指す。途中で他の生存者にも出会ったケリスは、これなら復興するチャンスもあると喜ぶ。ようやくシェルターに辿り着き、ドクターとチャーリーに再会することができたケリー。しかし、2人の目にはケリー以外の姿は見えなかった。

Part3

ケリーが出会った生存者は幽霊だとドクターは説得しようとするがケリーはなかなか納得しない。ドクターは自分もクロッカにかつて失った親しい友人たちの幽霊を見せられたと打ち明ける。ランドスカーはドクターにロケットの操縦ができるかを尋ね、操縦者がいれば生存者をのせて他の惑星に避難できると持ちかける。ドクターとランドスカーがロケットを見に行っている間にチャーリーは動けない自分は足手まといにまるから殺してほしいとケリスに頼む。そんなことできるわけがないと動揺したケリスがチャーリーの側を離れると、その隙にエクセルシアがチャーリーを殺害する。

Part4

惑星がほどなく崩壊するためドクターはエクセルシアとケリスとともにロケットで脱出する。しかし、エクセルシアがチャーリーを殺したことを知ったケリスは憤り、エクセルシアを殺そうとするがエクセルシアが銃でケリスを殺す。チャーリーとケリスの死を目撃したドクターはエクセルシアを心から憎んでいることを認める。エクセルシアは生き延びたからには他の惑星も支配してみせると豪語するが、ロケットがコントロールを失い惑星に引き戻される。ランドスカーに出迎えられたドクターとエクセルシア。エクセルシアは群衆が自分のスピーチを待っていると信じ込んだまま、炎の中に身を投じる。ランドスカーはドクターがこの世界の最後の生き残りになったといい、このまま1人で生き延びるのか、全てを終わりにするのかの選択を促す。



感想

ドクターの忍耐を試されているようでもあり、ドクターに死と向き合わせたかったようなながれでもあり。でも全てを終わらせなければ次のサイクルをはじめることができないと言われれば、ドクターの性格からすれば悩まないのは明らかで。結局はクロッカの実験の１つだったのかなぁという感じなのだけど。

[Nicholas Whyte]

The Last was a real low point in a disappointing run of audios. The idea of a crazed dictator refusing to admit the war has been lost is potentially a good one, but why on earth do her advisors not simply remove her from power (in so far as power is still a meaningful concept in such straitened circumstances)? In the real world that is what happens. In any case, it turns out not to matter, as everyone who dies comes back to life at the end of the story; essentially it was all a dream. McGann sounds really bored here, especially when addressing the shades of Katarina and Adric, and I can't blame him.

[Sara Habein · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending is... not great. The story is just okay leading up to it, but this feels like the weird bits of filler that were used in The Daleks' Masterplan. So not bad, but not great. 3 stars might be generous,

[Plingsben · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent story about the effects of war, power lust, narcissism and lack of Diplomacy. The characters are extreme in a way that is more symbolic then comic like and shows how many people in places of close proximity to tyrannical leaders are too afraid to tell them something truthful that could loose them their life. A good example of this is the guards outside of Joseph Stalin bedroom where he died. Google that one. Many might argue that the ending where it was all a dream is a cheap was from writers to bring back the cast after killing them all. But you could also make the point that it highlight how easily we can elect people who will happily provoke conflict or war in their pursuit for power.

[Kelly McCubbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully tense and jet black take on a post-apocalypse story. It borders on being comedic, but holds the listener right at the edge of crossing that line.
Only let down by a weak resolution to an almost impossible plot problem at the end.

[Áine Ní Néill · Rating 4 out of 5]

listen i really enjoyed this one, but am struggling to star rate it because the abelism really popped off.

on another note,
minister of peace x minister of war, enemies to lovers 50k slow burn, when? would enjoy

[SuperPiggy5000 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent story in the Divergent Universe arc. Not particularly interesting, but some good acting from Paul McGann and India Fisher.  Not sure if this one is crucial to the plot or not? Haven't listened to The Creed of the Kormon yet, so not sure.

[Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars - close to a 4 star but the ending is just ok. Really good build up but that last 10 minutes will be the make or break for you. Definitely good at building tension for the first 3/4 of the story.

[Gabriel Mero · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid installment

[Alyce Caswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's some very interesting social and political commentary in this audiodrama, but I am always put off by character deaths that obviously won't stick.

[Finn Chamberlain-Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10

Actually quite good this one, really picked up in the second half and especially the last episode.

[Tabitha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had promise, but the ending felt like cheating

[Frank Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok. Nothing terrible about it.

[Michael Botterill · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, it was a bit of a mess and I am not sure what the plan was here, it was dark, bleak and depressing, but it didn't hold my attention.

There was a good concept in it, but that was basically ignored in favour of a more metaphysical storyline.

[Reggie A · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of these Divergent Universe stories have played on ideas of cyclicality, and this one has done it the best so far. I can’t believe I haven’t seen much buzz online about this thing, I was enthralled from the moment it started to the moment it ended.

This story was extremely impressive, effective, and utterly fascinating to listen to with the context of NuWho and the Doctor’s choice to end the Time War. The ideas of nuclear war and the Doctor’s thoughts on death are typical of Classic Who and haunting with the modern context.

The musical soundscape of this story was so memorable and weird; it communicated desolation in a way that perfectly fit the dismal tone.

Carolyn Jones deserves mad props for her role as the Excelsior; she brought exactly the sort of vibe needed to make such a character effective.

I will say part of the story deals with a disability, and there’s some major ableism on display in the reckoning of that injury which could be a major turn off for some. If you’re sensitive to those issues, it’s worth knowing that going in.

I highly recommend this. This is the first non-Shearman episode I’ve ranked this high but it’s honestly that good in my opinion.

[Devin Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a sucker for Post-Apocalyptic Sci-fi, so this instantly caught my attention as I started the first part. The setting is eerie and the sound effects really caught the feeling of an apocalyptic, empty planet, or what I imagine it would be like. The main characters (other than the doctor and co.) were very strange and interesting and Excelsior (Carolyn John) was played the corrupt and freaky ruler amazingly, one of my favorite "villains" (not sure if I should call her that or not) of Big Finish so far. The whole Divergent Universe arc has been amazing, with a few exceptions, and I would definitely recommend checking out this audio, especially if you like fast paced post-apocalyptic storylines.

[Anne Barwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed this and the idea of the society and the whole dying/reset thing was interesting, I still couldn't help but feel that the reset at the end was a bit of a copout.

Poor C'rizz. He does seem to get into a lot of strife. I like the character a lot - he's not afraid to speak his mind - and am enjoying his character arc.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10
Verdict: Optional

I found this story to be pretty iffy. It feels like it's going for a typical apocalypse story that gets flipped on it's head, but the big twist is convoluted and feels out of nowhere.

Now I love a dark story, but this story is too dark for me to believe that it will have any lasting effects going forward. It has some promise, but loses itself in the end.

[Noah Soudrette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly solid story that is only hurt by a rather boring episode three. The stuff with ghosts and the cyclical nature of the world are thought provoking, even if the Doctor seems a little out of character at times.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trapped on a dying world, the Eighth Doctor, Charley and C'rizz come face-to-face with the people responsible for the war to end wars. Will anybody, however, survive to get off the planet before the war comes to an end at last?

[Debra Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Doctor, Charley and C'rizz land on a planet that is in the middle of a nuclear winter with a crazy leader who keeps killing her ministers. Can they survive on a planet that wants them all to die so it can be reborn. Find out.

[Sativa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good, a little preachy on social messages, but DW does that pretty frequently. Very 'anti-war' and given the original publication date, matches up to current events quite well.

They're still in the crucible universe and it's still weird. I like it.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

Not enjoying this series.