Torchwood: The Sins of Captain John

Big Finish Torchwood #Special 4

by David Llewellyn

From zombies in Restoration London, to Hell gatecrashing a funeral, rogue Time Agent Captain John Hart leads the universe to rack and ruin in four new adventures written by David Llewellyn.

1. The Restored
Captain John is in Restoration England looking for some gauntlets. There's intrigue in the Tower of London, the dead are walking the streets, and the severed head of Oliver Cromwell has a terrible warning.

2. Escape from Nebazz
Captain John is in a wooden space prison that's under attack by a strange and terrible life form. Also the catering is truly dreadful and Dr Magpie's latest discovery may have got a little out of hand.

3. Peach Blossom Heights
Captains John and Jack find themselves stranded on a world that may be actual paradise - the weather is pleasant, the people are friendly, and the giant stuffed animals only come out at night. There's only one thing the world is missing. No-one has ever explained to any of the population about the birds and the bees. Which is unfortunate.

4. Darker Purposes
Captain John arrives at the funeral of one of the galaxy's richest men. He died without making a will, and his heirs have some very creative ideas about how this can be put to rights involving murder, necromancy and seduction. Sadly, Captain John is only too happy to oblige.

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction, Audiobook

Audiobook

First published January 16, 2020

About the author

David Llewellyn is a Welsh novelist and script writer. He grew up in Pontypool and graduated from Dartington College of Arts in 2000. His first novel, Eleven, was published by Seren Press in 2006. His second, Trace Memory, a spin-off from the BBC drama series Torchwood, was published in March 2008. Everything Is Sinister was published by Seren in May 2008. He has written two novels for the Doctor Who New Series Adventures: The Taking of Chelsea 426, featuring the Tenth Doctor, and Night of the Humans, featuring the Eleventh Doctor and Amy Pond.

In addition to writing novels, Llewellyn wrote the Bernice Summerfield audio play Paradise Frost and the Dark Shadows audio drama The Last Stop for Big Finish Productions.

Llewellyn lives in Cardiff.

Reviews

[Taksya · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. The Restored
Siamo a Londra, metà 1600, Carlo II sta per essere incoronato e le strade sono piene di Zombie.
Il capitano John Hart inizia bene la sua missione...
2. Escape from Nebazz
Seguito diretto della prima storia. Una evasione in piena regola ma con risvolti non previsti.
3. Peach Blossom Heights
Seguito diretto del secondo capitolo, John e Jack si trovano dispersi su un pianeta che, stando ai resoconti, dovrebbe essere disabitato.
Dovrebbe...
4. Darker Purposes
Finale di stagione, con John coinvolto nella macchinazioni dei suoi datori di lavoro e con il rischio di essere quello più onesto di tutti.

Dopo la sua apparizione il Torchwood: The Death of Captain Jack, il Capitano John Hart ottienebun cofanetto tutto per lui. John Barrowman compare nei panni di Jack Harkness, ma i veri (anti)eroi della storia sono James Marsters e il suo John Hart.
Dissacrante, con continue rotture della quarta parete, ricco di humor (anche se nero), la storia di Torchwood: The Sins of Captain John è una delle più particolari e divertenti prodotte fino ad ora dalla Big Finish.

Non importa aver ascoltato o visto le prime apparizioni del Capitano, la storia si segue senza problemi.
Ci sono citazioni (la coppia di guanti d'arme che crea caos nella Londra post ristorazione sembrano essere quelli che ben conosciamo dalla serie tv di Torchwood e il Dr. Magpie porta alla mente l'onnipresente Magpie Electricals della serie madre del Dottore), ma niente che rovini l'ascolto se non si riconosce.
Come sempre, e visto il finale cliffhanger, si spera in una seconda parte... più che con altre serie.

[The Post Monument · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Restored - 3.5 stars
Escape from Nebazz - 2.5 stars
Peach Blossom Heights - 4 stars
Darker Purposes - 2.5 stars

Overall - 3 stars

[Jamie Revell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the episodes are individually titled, this is a single four-part story featuring Captain John Hart as the main protagonist and anti-hero. While his previous audio outing as part of the Torchwood audios didn’t work for me since the comedic elements clashed too much with the premise, this time we have a straight-up action comedy that works well due to some snappy dialogue and a smattering of fourth wall breaking, Deadpool style. And, yes, it also has a major role for Jack Harkness, here mostly as an antagonist, in what’s likely one of Barrowman’s last performances for Big Finish.

For those worried about such things, this is an adult release with swearing and rather a lot of (mostly ‘off-screen’) sex.

The story concerns John being hired to track down a pair of resurrection gauntlets (which are also seen in the Torchwood TV series). It is divided into four episodes, each with a distinct setting and set of supporting characters, but most of these are not standalone being clearly sections of the longer story. Since they share a single writer, they are not notably different in tone, either – although happily, it’s a humorous and raucous tone that makes use of John’s roguish nature in a way that a less adult release probably couldn’t.

Nonetheless, the episodes are clearly separate. In the first one, we’re in 17th-century England for a Restoration-era romp with a foppish King Charles II and a horde of zombies. Then it’s off to space for a prison escape story involving a mad scientist before the conclusion that wraps up the story arc. In between comes the one episode that is relatively standalone, a fun interlude that sees John temporarily stranded on a planet where the only inhabitants live in what appears to be a suburban utopia. It’s a subversion of a type of story sometimes seen on Doctor Who and not just because the actions of the central character are so different.

[David]

All four stories are written by David Llewellyn. Review pending...

1. The Restored


2. Escape from Nebazz


3. Peach Blossom Heights


4. Darker Purposes

[Kiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is ALWAYS a pleasure to hear James Marsters. In the first ep, his 4th wall snark and references (except the "if this was visual" stuff - cause that got old fast. ) are really fun. In further episodes Capt. Jack Harkness (another delight to hear, and all-around good fun person played by John Barrowman.. seriously he's a delight in person and great fun if memory serves.) joins Capt John Hart.

Each episode in this audio drama is good. Take a listen, although perhaps not while working where they will wonder why you are laughing and grinning..

[Diba Tano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Certainly one of my favorite Big Finish stories. The breakage of the fourth wall is done brilliantly, at first it might seem like it's being used as an exposition machine but soon it becomes clear that the story is simply too well-written to need one.
Captain John's character is done wonderfully, the unseriousness and the lack of a moral compass is written and acted out beautifully. His chemistry with Captain Jack is even better than it was on the show and utterly amusing to hear. The parallel of the two characters was the best thing about the third episode; the similarity of their thought process and their way of analyzing vs. their different approaches to their surroundings and people's well being is written masterfully. With Jack (the version of him that hasn't even met The Doctor yet) having the moral high ground and John nagging along the way, constantly asking if it is all worth the trouble of solving the problem instead of just running away/enjoying themselves or not.
The stories were told very smoothly, the connecting points between the episodes were perfect and the not-so-subtle references were all welcome and fun.
Overall 9.9/10, totally recommended.

[Rick · Rating 2 out of 5]

1. The Restored - Well, it was exactly I expected John Hart. Nothing more, nothing less. Completely silly, saucy, and pointless. Fan service, not much else. (2/5)

2. Escape from Nebazz - More silly shenanigans. Yawn. At least we get some John Hart / Jack Harkness interaction this time. Briefly, but at least they have a scene or two together. Hoping for more in episode 3. (2/5)

3. Peach Blossom Heights - Well, yeah, there it is. At least we got some John Barrowman in this one. That’s definitely the high point here. Otherwise this is just a bunch of silly, salacious, saucy, absurdity. (3/5)

4. Darker Purposes - Oh no. Another episode sans Captain Jack. I am sad. So now there’s another hour of John Hart being rude, annoying and heartless. Hey, if that’s your thing, good for you. I picked this up for Jack Harkness, so I was definitely disappointed. Overall this whole thing is silly, absurd, farcical and just a teeny tiny bit meta. (2/5)

[Yvonne Alf · Rating 4 out of 5]

The whole box is a lot of fun from start to finish. Breaking the 4th wall is a brilliant idea and enhances the story from start to finish. I would rate the stories like this:

1. The Restored - 4.5/5
2. Escape from Nebazz - 4/5
3. Peach Blossom Heights - 5/5
4. Darker Purposes - 4/5

I made the mistake to listen to The Restored first. Try to listen to the stories in order because they are all connected with a storyline that combines all of them, even that the stories are self-contained. My fav parts where when Jack popped in. I guess that's why Peach Blossom Heights is my favorite. It's such hilarious fun - I can't get enough of the two of them. I wish we could get another set with Jack and John, romping through the galaxy. <3

[Joseph S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure if they justified the meta, fourth-wall breaking.

[Debra Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Capt john hart continues his unscrupulus life of daubatery and trickery.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Restored: 4.5 stars
Escape from Nebazz: 4.5 stars
Peach Blossom Heights: 5 stars
Darker Purposes: 5 stars

I love Captain John & Captain Jack so much!!!