Doctor Who: Terror Firma

Big Finish: Monthly Range #72

by Joseph Lidster, Paul McGann (Narrator), India Fisher (Narrator)

"Welcome back, Doctor..."

Centuries ago on the war-torn planet Skaro, a great scientist created the most evil creatures the Universe would ever know… Daleks. It was at their genesis that the scientist, Davros, first met and was defeated by the Doctor.

Over the years and throughout space, they fought, a fight that ended with the Doctor’s destruction of Skaro and the Daleks. Except…

Davros survived. Alone. In the dark. With only thoughts of revenge keeping him alive. The Doctor is back. Davros is waiting. Their destiny is now.

Chronological Placement
This story takes place after the 1996 Doctor Who TV Movie and after the Big Finish audio adventure Next Life

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

2 pages, Audio CD

First published August 1, 2005

About the author

Joseph Lidster is an English television writer best known for his work on the Doctor Who spin-off series Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

His debut work was the audio play The Rapture for Big Finish Productions in 2002. Numerous further audio plays and prose short stories followed for Big Finish, for their Doctor Who line, spin-offs and other series (Sapphire & Steel and The Tomorrow People).

In 2005, he started working for the BBC, writing tie-in material for the new Doctor Who television series. He made his television writing debut in 2008 on the second series of Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood and subsequently wrote three two-part stories for The Sarah Jane Adventures. He has written the two-part story "Rebel Magic" for the new CBBC series Wizards vs Aliens.

Lidster wrote the content for the tie-in websites relating to the fictional world of the television series, Sherlock. Alongside co-producer James Goss, he has produced Big Finish Productions' dramatic reading range of Dark Shadows audio dramas since 2011.

In 2012, he won the 'Audience Favourite Writer' award for his first play Nice Sally in the Off Cut Theatre Festival.

Reviews

[Emilija · Rating 2 out of 5]

2024 52 Book Challenge - Summer Olympics Mini Challenge - Individual - 1) Boxing: A Strong Opening Hook

I don't know how much stronger an opening hook can be than starting the book with the second part of a cliffhanger featuring Daleks.

Unfortunately, that was pretty much every thing great about this book. It was pretty much the same as every other Dalek story, and to be honest, I zoned out of a lot of it.

However, I did text my friend that the ending really cemented how much I hate C'rizz.

[Frank Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty winner! Here's yet another Davros story but this time he's not going for the starting-to-get-old ploy of trying to convince us that he has turned good. Thank goodness because it was never believable. Anyway in this one the writers lean heavily on the fact that Davros is becoming more and more like the Daleks he created - that's something I've thought and found fascinating for a long time and I'm pleased to see the concept explored.

[Danny Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

After enjoying The Harvest I decided to give this one a re-listen too!

This was a brilliant but complex and dark story with brilliant ideas and characterization. I loved seeing a weak but scary Davros absolutely destroying The Doctor in this, it was both terrifying and sad. Charley and C'rizz also go through a lot in this and it's interesting learning about the characters of Jemma and Samson. Joseph Lidster has written a truly wonderful but twisted story with excellent direction by Gary Russell and great performances from the cast! 10/10

[Sara Habein · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good audio with Davros. Some of the details here end up later retconned on the show, I think, but this was recorded in that grey area before the audios became canon.

oh man, I really am in deep, if this is just the beginning of the things I think about...

Anyway, this answers some questions from the previous audios and probably is setting up something yet to come.

[Belisarius Carstairs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terror Firma explores a post-Remembrance Davros in a very interesting way. They ramp up his madness to create this beautiful character drama with Davros torn between two distinctive walks of life. It's a bold and unique take on Davros which I'm kind of sad never got the chance to develop any further because it's just that good and that unique.

Besides that, was a bit luke-warm with what Davros and the Daleks had done in their time, partly because I couldn't buy into the Daleks causing so much damage to Earth, but it's nice not only to see what would happen to a universe without the Doctor but a story in which the Daleks won. Both grounds on which Big Finish had been treading better with the Dalek Empire series.

There's an ingenious twist that comes out of nowhere about halfway through the story, which I quite enjoy because it adds new depths to the adventures of the eighth Doctor while delivering some fascinating enlightenments for all parties involved. It’s always nice when the show references that the Doctor has adventures beyond the stories we can access and experience.

I like this phycological thriller in the way it explores the audio drama’s characters, all of them, but the setting of Earth and the state it’s in just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This actually had some great revelations. We find out about pre-Storm Warning travels that The Doctor has forgotten. McGann’s reactions are well done, and I love his snarkiness when he treats Davros and the Daleks as old hat. With this adventure having been recorded weeks after the series with the Ninth Doctor, it works pretty well for the Eighth Doctor to feel tempted to unleash a virus unto Earth if it means getting rid of the Daleks. When he reveals these thoughts to Charley, they think about how it would go against what The Doctor stands for. He and Davros even have a discussion in which Davros says The Doctor would always have a world (Gallifrey) to go home to, which sounds harsh in hindsight given the Time War. C’Rizz goes through changes, and the ending leaves us in suspense, knowing that things are not quite as safe as they seem.

[Mikes Dw Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

After saving Charlie from an historical disaster causing timelines to go all over the place (including the Daleks creating/quoting Shakespeare), the Dr and Charlie managed to escape into the Divergent universe meeting Crizz an alien who now travels with them. Escaping the divergent universe the trio are now in alternative timeline universe. Here it's earth where the Daleks have taken over and Davros has an incredibly evil/pathetic plan to both get revenge and freedom on/from the Dr.

This story is quite a difficult one to review/praise. It's main story is very "same old Dalek invasion and secret group planning and a rebellion". However the story is full of twists, turns and reveals, it becomes entirely dependent upon it. But that's not to say the twists are incredibly good and make great drama between the Dr and Davros.

Davros here is incredibly interesting, creepy and so evil it genuinely makes you think you should always keep an eye on him and never cross him. His entire plan is horrific and all for just petty revenge and a pathetic excuse to get the Dr to bite back at him to kill him. I utterly loved seeing the two struggle to keep control of there feelings and the different look on Davros made him truly terrifying in a way not like we've seen before. After escaping the ship in "Remembrance" Davros was saved by a ship/race who kept him alive. Eventually Davros destroyed the ship and the Dr and 2 of his other companions come to check it out. Davros traps them and forces the tardis to change earth by releasing a virus upon it. Then making Daleks. Then tracking and bringing the Dr, charile and crizz here to see it all. So yes, to get back at the Dr davros changed time and made the Dr forget about two past companions he had, then killed thousands on earth, turned them into Daleks just to get back at him and get him so mad he'd kill him, releasing him from his pain as Emperor. It's incredibly horrific and evil and such a shocking reveal it feels so very different and yet something like what new who would try.

Theres so many clever layers to his pain/ego its brilliant to watch it unfold. Davros could of easily allowed another event or cause a suicide to kill him but instead chooses to go out with a bang to just get under the Drs skin. He reveals how Gallifrey was pointless and so went for earth as the Dr loves it so much, getting straight at his hearts. It's just Incredibly evil and brilliant to hear. all this to get him out of his own pain but hell never fix the Daleks. He's never going to be appreciated and he's always going to be used be them/have them turn on him.

This in turn gives the 8th dr some great stuff to play/act against. He's had his friends be used as a game and in a way to make him be more like Davros. But although Paul Mcgann plays this drs bite/eagerness to actually killing him beautifully, he doesn't. Because he's better than that, but the Dr does get a dark revenge in the end too. Davros has created a virus to kill everything. End it all. The Dr is given the chance. It's almost like a game of God here, especially to hear the Dr say he was very close to doing it. Foreshadowing the timewar. Because despite the big differences they do want the same. Peace. The Dr instead forced him to live and gives the human Daleks an emperor they crave. So apart from the many twists there are weak points here still, such as the invasion of the Daleks. We learn how there made from humans and so the Daleks are more in the background, however it is incredibly fun to see them be the rebellion group teaming up with the surviving humans to get revenge on Davros. It makes the slow set up of a standard Dalek story worth it in the end.

You could say it's alittle poor in its structure relying on the shocks and twist alone. The first two episodes are set ups/standard stuff while part 3 is nothing but info dump reveal. It's very enjoyable but it's nothing but an episode dedicated to explaining everything. Which considering when its done in new who were very lucky to ever get that I'd say here its a blessing. However although the story is mainly structed around this reveal I don't think it's a story that completely fails on relisting. It's been awhile since I listen to it and although I knew the reveal, it was still incredibly enjoyable to hear the plan Davros had. It is of course hard to get emotionally attached to this reveal when we don't know these new or old companions, however the story does allow some time to show us how they meet, but I do feel it need more time to show that's stuff, rather than an introduction and flashes of past monsters they've seen. I'd like more of learning about them and the drs relationship rather than alot of pointless mystery stuff in part 1 & 2. But what makes this work is Davros's evil plan and it's a great idea though, seeing new characters who was there all along but a big villain had changed that. It works very well for an idea that's hard to pull off. I think it's a shame we still haven't had these characters back for a small run of stories or a trilogy/boxset to make this impact get better.

Finally I really loved how this story through its characters and Davros's plan, sets up the 8th drs feelings on change/people moving on, especially companions. The character of the mother who's daughter traveled with the Dr (the one he forgot) is so ridiculously drunk and silly but her reason why becomes so tragic at the end as she believes her daughter died. She hasn't yet, Davros later killed her. So when crizz tells the Dr, the Dr Demands that she never finds out. Because the mother has tried to move on. And so has the Dr, what's interesting here is that the only emotions he shows is anger/disgust with Davros and not really any sadness for them. There is of course a moment when he explains how he took his hope of people though. What's absolutely brilliant about this and the way big finish set up there characters/series, is eventually in the end of this season *spoilers* the Dr will eventually lose both Crizz and Charile. Crizz is revealed to be a secret weapon, which is why he often kills something. He scarifies himself and the Dr simply goes what a shame and walks off. Charile is absolutely furious with him as he explains he's moved on with saying goodbyes, it hurts to much and it's happened so many times that now he just lets it happen and moves on. It's incredibly bleak and heartbreaking but excellent character development for this doctor. Because just as he gets a new companion he starts to learn to love and care more again. But who for? Lucie Bleedin Miller. So big finish brilliantly torture this Dr. But I sadly feel this is missing in his boxset years, he barely has any new developments built on top of each like they used too.

Overall it's a fun and horrific idea and one of the best plans/characteristic of Davros I've seen. Yes it relies on its on surprise but it's very good at it.
Rating 3/5 7/10

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started listening to this while was getting a migraine and I must admit I found it really confusing. Charlie and the new male companion and the two other young people sounded rather similarly (especially Gemma) and it was hard to keep track of all the time jumps and differences. But in the end it all made sense and was very interesting and enjoyable. I think it's one I will listen to again.

The second time this made much more sense. Having listened to lots more of Charlie and C'rizz's previous adventures having more of a context for them made things much easier to follow. The cuts echoing each other was still a bit confusing but it is a good audio.

[Devin Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites, very eerie and unsettling and a lot of really cool plot twists and surprises, and they all just worked together so well, when they could have easily turned out a mess. Big Finish has definately developed Davros a lot more than the show ever managed. Instead of just making him the cowardly baddie he was during the later years of his character (all the way to Journey's End) they have managed to make us somewhat sympathetic for him, and just develop him into just an utterly creepy and helpless villain. I totally recommend this audio to anyone (though it's best you have listened to C'rizz's other audios before this) and will definitely be buying asap!

[Nicholas Whyte]

In Terror Firma, Joe Lidster has delivered a fun piece of work. Eight and his team, newly emerged (in continuity terms) from C'rizz's native universe, are confronted with Davros and the Daleks; but the memorable bits are actually incidental characters Gemma and Samson, who turn out to have been previous travelling companions of Eight's whom he has forgotten, and their terribly posh mother, who turns out to be the leader of the Folkestone branch of the anti-Dalek resistance. Poor old C'rizz is asked to be the new Emperor Dalek, but I guess he is getting used to that kind of thing.

[Noah Soudrette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a strange bird this, and contradicts War of the Daleks, but has some very entertaining moments (the first episode in particular). Plus the ending involving C'rizz is a bit chilling.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Davros...

Davros survived. Alone. In the dark. With only thoughts of revenge keeping him alive. The Doctor is back. Davros is waiting. Their destiny is now.

[ani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of my favourite Doctor Who stories. Clever story-telling with sentences started in one scene completed in another. Brilliant and fun.

[Anne Barwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoying this TARDIS crew. Poor C'rizz never gets an easy time of it.

[Sativa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Davros rarely disappoints. Actually sort of horrifying in some parts, a bit dark.

[Reggie A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, somehow charming despite this, and a great episode for character work. This story fired on all cylinders and works as a fantastic re-entry to the Main Universe.

Davros is kind of Doctor Who’s funniest villain; every time I see this guy he’s like woaahuaaaaa I’m so sick and old and miserable Doctor🥺🥺🥺 will u commit an atrocity for me..? And the Doctor’s always like ummm no❤️ and it’s how we develop this out that things get interesting.

Terror Firma did it quite well. Davros and the Doctor have several moments of fantastic dialogue, and the secondary plots revolving around C’rizz (especially) and Charley pull their own weight. Nothing here feels like it’s overshadowing other parts, it’s all just working.

I want to keep this spoiler free, so I’ll be light on this subject but C’rizz was fantastic as a character in this. He seemed interesting enough if a bit bland for his first couple of stories, but by this point he’s honestly more interesting than Charley. I’m really excited to see where his plot goes.

There wasn’t anything particularly special about the audio side of this drama, but all the voice actors are on top form as usual.

[Richie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly complex and evocative story centred around the relationship between the Doctor and Davros. It really brings it home how much Davros regrets (but also enjoys) what he did to his people. The fact that he constantly fights his Darlek self throughout this audio, because he wants to appeal too (and also destroy) the Doctor, is twisted and also fascinating.

With the skeins of Charley and C'rizz story woven in around this and the stories of the Doctors previous companions (who he was made to forget about), it makes you really wonder and Davros and whether his regrets are real or whether they are really just complicated lies in order to back the Doctor into a corner and to finally get his long waited revenge!

Brilliant listen and highly recommended!

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

時間のない世界から元の世界にもどったドクターとチャーリーとケリス。しかし３人を出迎えたのはダーレクだった。ドクターはチャーリーとケリスの安全を保証する条件でダーレクが要求してきたダブロスとの会話に応じる。

ケリスとチャーリーはドクターと引き離され牢屋に閉じ込められるが、突如壁が爆破され、レジスタンスに助けられる。一方、ダブロスはドクターに自分がダーレクにならないよう助けて欲しいと持ちかけてくるが。



これがタイム・ウォーの怖さということになるのだろうか。いつの間にか自分の時間軸を書き換えられていたドクター。それにずっと気がつけなかったというのは....そもそもタイムロードはパラドックスがおこってもどっちも記憶としてもっているとかそういう、なんいうか干渉を受けないものだとばかり思っていた。

チャーリーと出会うまえに一緒に旅をしていたというサムソンとジェンマ、この二人の記憶が完全にドクターから消えていたというのは衝撃だ。 つまりチャーリーと出会ったのはダヴロスの干渉があってからの時間軸となるので時間のない世界での話はその時間軸上では起こったということで...。ええっと？？？

ドクターが思い出したというだけで、時間軸が修正されたとかではないので。あの世界でおこったことはおこったこととしてカウントしていいんだよな？？？

ケリスがなんか不気味！ あっちではラシロンの息子で、こっちではダーレクの皇帝候補。 ケリスはケリスのままだったけれど、最期に妙にダークな一面を....。



どうなるんだろう？？？

[Finlay O'Riordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of the Divergent Universe arc, this is a really good Dalek/Davros story and does something new with both of them. There's also fun scenes such as the hokey cokey and C'rizz's moral compass being tested in an environment familiar to us but not to him.

I feel the Gemma and Sam stuff was a bit unnecessary and was only hear to pad the story out, which it really did not need. In fairness, it does play into Eight's wider arc, but I don't believe it really fit into this story seeing as how we just got back from the Divergent Universe at this point in Eight's monthly adventures.

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

Damn this 8 guy can't catch a break huh.

This story was a nice return to form after some fun experimental stories. I really enjoyed the twists and turns this one had and Davros was really good in this one. The Daleks were a little same old same old but Davros was the real focus. 8, and stories like this is why I think I get a bit more out of expanded media than I do with the TV show nowadays.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to talk about the proper "Genesis of the Daleks" sequel - this is it. This is truly the morality exercise that the previous story created so well. The amount of side characters can overcomplicate the story a little but other than that this is a fantastic original angle to take the Daleks into. This is a solid 4.5 stars

[Kelly McCubbin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have you ever read or listened to a story that was so off-kilter that you just assumed it had soe sort of fascinating twist at the end to explain it all, only to discover that, no, it is just bad writing.
That's this.

[Alyce Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I don't appreciate how 8th is constantly hit with amnesia, but I'll just have to accept it as part of his personality lol. This was a fine return to form and a damn good story. You could really feel the Doctor struggling not to do Davros in once and for all.

[Plingsben · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can really feel the love in the writing and performances. Terror Firma is a mix of new Who and old Who. It is not the height of story telling that many Audio's from the Divergent Universe arc reach but for anyone who loves both Classic Doctor Who and Modern Doctor Who it is a wonderful joy ride.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

First audio story I've ever listened to. The Eighth Doctor with a dark, unsettling Davros.

[Kathryn Houghton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, great. More mind torturing with eight yelling, C’rizz feeling rightfully depressed, and Charley feeling concerned.

[Sidney McKidney · Rating 1 out of 5]

This had some interesting ideas, but all in all felt like it was trying too hard.

[Tabitha · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot going on here

[elise barber-wixtrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

"the guitars, they're coming to life"

[AccidentalStu]

I REMEMBER
!