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The Fifth Doctor Adventures #12
Doctor Who: The Great Beyond
The Doctor has been sent to Beyond – for the rest of his natural lives.
In the years after a devastating intergalactic war, a prison facility was set up on a distant planet. To preserve the fragile peace, the most dangerous former combatants are sentenced to life in Beyond. Like the notorious Starclair sisters, whose involvement on both sides of the war is the stuff of legend – as well as a certain Time Lord with a reputation for interfering in things that don’t concern them.
But there’s something else on the planet too. Something that adds an infinite variety of agony to a life sentence on Beyond, and makes the inmates wish for the relative comfort of death. Because what’s coming to those that stay too long in Beyond is almost too hideous to contemplate. Alive and conscious, deprived of your senses and all movement. Just locked in, alone in a darkness that lasts forever.
In the years after a devastating intergalactic war, a prison facility was set up on a distant planet. To preserve the fragile peace, the most dangerous former combatants are sentenced to life in Beyond. Like the notorious Starclair sisters, whose involvement on both sides of the war is the stuff of legend – as well as a certain Time Lord with a reputation for interfering in things that don’t concern them.
But there’s something else on the planet too. Something that adds an infinite variety of agony to a life sentence on Beyond, and makes the inmates wish for the relative comfort of death. Because what’s coming to those that stay too long in Beyond is almost too hideous to contemplate. Alive and conscious, deprived of your senses and all movement. Just locked in, alone in a darkness that lasts forever.
Audio CD
Published September 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 11, 2026
The Beyond is a space prison that is impossible to escape from. It houses former leaders and war criminals from a huge war between the Scarlet Thread and the Universalists. And the fifth doctor, Nyssa and Adric now find themselves trapped in it too.
Meanwhile, Tegan’s somewhere else. She’s working with a new friend, trying to figure out how she can get into the prison and help her friends escape.
We’re thrown right into the middle of the story. We learn about the setting, the plot and the characters in bite-sized pieces throughout the story. Which is a good way to avoid any info dumping. Unfortunately, in the first half hour especially, you can feel quite lost to be honest. The ending is also a bit confusing if you’re not paying close enough attention, because it feels like the story is wrapped up a bit too quickly. Though this does allow me to say that this is a story better enjoyed when listening to it a second time. Because I ended up listening to it twice. Which I wouldn’t have done if I didn’t like the story.
We meet Ivan, the warden who runs the prison, and his two robots known as the princesses. His character is at the core of the story and he’s definitely one of the main reasons why this story works as well as it does. The other characters who stand out are the three sisters who were modeled on the real-life Mitford sisters. Let’s just say the sisters don’t always get along very well. I sometimes found it hard to recognize which sister was talking, but I like this idea very much. And the robot princesses play their roles well too.
The setting is quite interesting. The prison keeps changing and moving on the planet, to make sure the prisoners can’t escape. And we’re told at the start that death is the best possible outcome for the prisoners. No matter how brilliant the concept of the setting is though, it doesn’t quite seem to reach its full potential.
The pacing is sometimes a bit too slow. It definitely needs a bit more oomph at times. Like in the beginning, to get the story into second gear a bit quicker. I mean, this is an exciting prison break concept with high stakes, let us feel that excitement from the start. It is also quite a long story. If it had been a bit shorter, this could have helped the story as a whole.
Long story short: fantastic concept, pretty good execution. The cliffhanger twists for example are quite good and they are used well to spice up the story a bit. It just feels a tad too long and sometimes it can be a little bit confusing. But it’s still an enjoyable story, especially if you’re willing to listen to it more than once.
Meanwhile, Tegan’s somewhere else. She’s working with a new friend, trying to figure out how she can get into the prison and help her friends escape.
We’re thrown right into the middle of the story. We learn about the setting, the plot and the characters in bite-sized pieces throughout the story. Which is a good way to avoid any info dumping. Unfortunately, in the first half hour especially, you can feel quite lost to be honest. The ending is also a bit confusing if you’re not paying close enough attention, because it feels like the story is wrapped up a bit too quickly. Though this does allow me to say that this is a story better enjoyed when listening to it a second time. Because I ended up listening to it twice. Which I wouldn’t have done if I didn’t like the story.
We meet Ivan, the warden who runs the prison, and his two robots known as the princesses. His character is at the core of the story and he’s definitely one of the main reasons why this story works as well as it does. The other characters who stand out are the three sisters who were modeled on the real-life Mitford sisters. Let’s just say the sisters don’t always get along very well. I sometimes found it hard to recognize which sister was talking, but I like this idea very much. And the robot princesses play their roles well too.
The setting is quite interesting. The prison keeps changing and moving on the planet, to make sure the prisoners can’t escape. And we’re told at the start that death is the best possible outcome for the prisoners. No matter how brilliant the concept of the setting is though, it doesn’t quite seem to reach its full potential.
The pacing is sometimes a bit too slow. It definitely needs a bit more oomph at times. Like in the beginning, to get the story into second gear a bit quicker. I mean, this is an exciting prison break concept with high stakes, let us feel that excitement from the start. It is also quite a long story. If it had been a bit shorter, this could have helped the story as a whole.
Long story short: fantastic concept, pretty good execution. The cliffhanger twists for example are quite good and they are used well to spice up the story a bit. It just feels a tad too long and sometimes it can be a little bit confusing. But it’s still an enjoyable story, especially if you’re willing to listen to it more than once.
January 15, 2025
The Great Beyond was one of my most anticipated releases from Big Finish in 2024 and at last I'm finally giving it a listen!
Years after an intergalactic war, they set up a prison facility on an unknown planet. Nobody leaves Beyond and those who stay eventually find themselves lost to the darkness of forever. The Doctor, Adric and Nyssa are to spend the rest of their lives in this prison, a facility that constantly moves and reshapes itself. Tegan is on her way to rescue them, but with an unstable prison warden and two ignorant robots, that's easier said than done.
I'll confess I was expecting something more in the likes of The Blazing Hour, another story written by James Kettle. But I'm glad we didn't get that as the early 5th Doctor era isn't nearly as dark or serious as it is towards the end, so it's nice to have a slightly darker story than usual that's not as bleak or hopeless as an apocalyptic nightmare.
It's a very atmospheric and creative tale filled with twists and turns. The imagery in this story is very unsettling and disturbing. Despite its darker themes, it has a healthy amount of black comedy and some very well-written emotional scenes. Nyssa and Adric didn't get to do much in this story. The narrative would have benefited if it was just a story with Tegan and Nyssa, then having the entire season 19 Tardis crew.
It's a well-written story with great sound design and performances. I'm glad it wasn't a really dark or terrifying audio as it instead focuses on telling a story about our very own mortality. Despite my opinion though, it's clear to me why opinions on this story differ. I don't agree with people that it's too long. I believe removing Adric would have improved the story; his contribution was ultimately insignificant.
Overall: It's a great story that unfortunately struggles with the fact that it needed to have more than 2 companions. 9/10
Years after an intergalactic war, they set up a prison facility on an unknown planet. Nobody leaves Beyond and those who stay eventually find themselves lost to the darkness of forever. The Doctor, Adric and Nyssa are to spend the rest of their lives in this prison, a facility that constantly moves and reshapes itself. Tegan is on her way to rescue them, but with an unstable prison warden and two ignorant robots, that's easier said than done.
I'll confess I was expecting something more in the likes of The Blazing Hour, another story written by James Kettle. But I'm glad we didn't get that as the early 5th Doctor era isn't nearly as dark or serious as it is towards the end, so it's nice to have a slightly darker story than usual that's not as bleak or hopeless as an apocalyptic nightmare.
It's a very atmospheric and creative tale filled with twists and turns. The imagery in this story is very unsettling and disturbing. Despite its darker themes, it has a healthy amount of black comedy and some very well-written emotional scenes. Nyssa and Adric didn't get to do much in this story. The narrative would have benefited if it was just a story with Tegan and Nyssa, then having the entire season 19 Tardis crew.
It's a well-written story with great sound design and performances. I'm glad it wasn't a really dark or terrifying audio as it instead focuses on telling a story about our very own mortality. Despite my opinion though, it's clear to me why opinions on this story differ. I don't agree with people that it's too long. I believe removing Adric would have improved the story; his contribution was ultimately insignificant.
Overall: It's a great story that unfortunately struggles with the fact that it needed to have more than 2 companions. 9/10
June 25, 2025
Oh well, maybe I was not in the mood for it?
On first listen, I just thought this was okay.
The performances were great.
The darker tone also did not scare me off- there are a few really creepy 5th Doctor stories which I love. This was trying to go along these lines.
However, the story did not really grip me, and I did not really click with the side characters.
Don't get me wrong, I thought the first half of this play was great and I liked it (since it reminded me of these previous great creepy 5th Doctor stories), but as soon as the mystery was solved and the lost memories were back, the story left me behind and I found it less engaging and interesting. The horror aspect also did nothing for me.
Maybe I need to listen to this again one day.
On first listen, I just thought this was okay.
The performances were great.
The darker tone also did not scare me off- there are a few really creepy 5th Doctor stories which I love. This was trying to go along these lines.
However, the story did not really grip me, and I did not really click with the side characters.
Don't get me wrong, I thought the first half of this play was great and I liked it (since it reminded me of these previous great creepy 5th Doctor stories), but as soon as the mystery was solved and the lost memories were back, the story left me behind and I found it less engaging and interesting. The horror aspect also did nothing for me.
Maybe I need to listen to this again one day.
January 27, 2025
I absolutely love the audios from Big Finish Productions and The Great Beyond is the best yet. The Doctor and co are a great dynamic. However the six parts were a tad too long and could have been condensed but love the pacing of it.
October 20, 2025
A six-parter structured around a proper SF idea. While the plot follows recognisable patterns and the support characters play to standard, unnuanced types, Kettle lands a poignant denouement allowing the Doctor to live through and grow from the consequences of his actions.
3.5★
3.5★
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews