Doctor Who: The Council of Nicaea

Big Finish: Monthly Range #71

by Caroline Symcox

The year is 325AD. In the city of Nicaea, the first great Church council, called by the Roman Emperor Constantine, is due to begin. Here theology, philosophy and politics will be brought together for millennia to come.

The Doctor, Peri and Erimem are there simply to watch events unfold. Gaps remain in the history books, and the Doctor has come to satisfy his curiosity. But none of them are ready for what greets them in Nicaea. Intrigue within the Imperial Palace has become violence on the streets. Mobs roam the alleyways and blood is spilt in the name of faith. Even in the face of murder and injustice though, the time travellers must force themselves to stay aloof. This is history, after all.

Yet what is history to one person is the future to another. Is it possible for history to be rewritten? And if it can, can the Doctor afford to let it?

Genres: Doctor Who, Audiobook, Science Fiction, Historical Fiction

Audio CD

First published July 1, 2005

About the author

Caroline Symcox is a curate at St Mary's Church, Amersham. She is the published author of several science fiction short stories, and is married to TV writer Paul Cornell.

Reviews

[Kelly McCubbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this story! First off, it's quite a solid historical with an interesting breakdown of this early, significant, attempt to unify the Christian church. It's also nice to see Erimem unleashed again as a character, allowed to be the strident, moral, warrior leader that she should be. It's both refreshing and unnerving as it is a rare example of The Doctor having a companion that will actively oppose him if she believes him wrong.
Also, we begin to see The Fifth Doctor in a new, almost traditionalist light. This Doctor is not a man trying to foment rebellion and being wary of authority figures. He is far more like the First Doctor, trying to observe and respect the time he's in. He is far gentler that those who came after.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this in the BF sale today to plug up the gaps in my Erimen stories. I have to say that I thought the Council of Nicaea was a very odd choice for a historical story! Debates about Christian Doctrine, as a fixed point in time, there just seemed a bit of a stretch as to what the heck the Doctor was doing there in the first place, and why he'd be dragging along Erimen and Peri. Having a great interest in the history of Christianity seemed to be taking his obsession with England a bit too far. Surely there are more interesting times in the history of Earth to visit? But it did earn points for being a pure historical story set during the reign of Constantine. It was a little disappointing that there was only one other woman, and that she wasn't in it much. But then I suppose as it was dealing with early Christianity that wasn't much of a surprise (even if the Doctor did end up quoting the one nice thing (or at least ok thing) Paul ever said about women). I liked that Erimen saw Christianity as a bad thing after her visit to Musketeer France (though the fact that everyone disagreed with her was disappointing). It was also a bit odd that she just seemed to accept the different ideas of Christianity point blank, and her own views on religion, which as a Pharaoh of Egypt should have been quite significant, and go beyond, helping the oppressed, also a little odd. Peri, as someone who had come from a Christian country seemed a little uninterested and underused. Glad I listened as it's always good to have pure historical stories. But not really one of their better adventures.

[Frank Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nope. I already thought Erimem was annoying and this story just drove that home. Here we have her so apparently morally compelled to help a particular sect of early christian cult that she actively opposes Five and Peri in favour of a stranger she has just met. The real issue at play is Erimem's desire to impose her own views on any situation she finds herself in and consequences to the timeline be damned as far as she is concerned. It really makes you wish that The Doctor would dump her ass there and be done with her, except that you now know she's going to cause havoc wherever he leaves her. She doesn't really get the dressing down that she deserves in the end either.

I'm done with this story, NEXT!

[Samael Kovacs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eremim, you're usually very likable and a great companion this was your worst story without a doubt. Horribly out of character to the point of parody.

I don't care what you believe but there is no way she would genuinely think that the Doctor and Peri have betrayed her and choose some random dudes over those two.

why.

Guess the basic plot is alright and I comment the actual historical aspect off it all but its such a huge mistake that I cant really look past it. just makes it a very annoying listening experience as a whole.

wouldn't recommend this.

[Andy Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent non-SF historical presenting alternate views by an author educated in the area and I didn't spot the inaccuracies referred to by other critics. Fairly well paced with only a little run-around, entertaining characters and deliveries.

[Stephen Theaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A departure from Big Finish tradition in having a female writer, this was an interesting, purely historical story. Although the writer is religious (an actual curate), it's not really about the details of Christian doctrine so much as Erimem wanting everyone to get a fair say.

[Gabriel Mero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great adventure with the 5th Doctor, Peri, and Erimem.

[Joseph S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Erimem is in sufferable in this.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I generally like Erimem, I found her acting more her age and being an annoying teenager in this one.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erimem really challenges The Doctor in this story that challenges Christianity and how it’s handled.

[Tabitha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Erimem was pretty irritating in this one

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of the various Doctor/Companion(s) combos that populate the Big Finish ranges, the series featuring the Fifth Doctor, Peri, and Erimem is probably my least favorite. Erimem hopped aboard the TARDIS at the end of The Eye of the Scorpion , and sticks with The Doctor and Peri for over a dozen adventures. And though the Big Finish audios have certainly gone a long way toward redeeming the much-maligned character of Peri Brown (who was only paired with the Fifth Doctor in two televised adventures), the writers don't quite seem to know what to do with Erimem. Her history alone makes it difficult to put her in the role of "just another companion," and yet when she starts acting like the Egyptian Pharoah she's supposed to be, she comes off a little too imperious.

The previous adventure, Three's a Crowd, put her in the role of "generic companion," and yet so far that's been my favorite of the 5/Peri/Erimem set.

The Council of Nicaea places her back in the leadership role, and this time it works, mostly. The plot finds the Doctor, Peri, and Erimem arriving in Nicaea just before the council of 325AD at which the church argued over Christ's origins and the doctrine of the Trinity. (I needed a quick history refresher before listening to this one.) The Doctor just wants to be a curious bystander, but before long all three are plunged into the thick of controversy.

While the Emperor Constantine struggles to keep violence in check, Peri and Erimem encounter Arias, who explains his conflict with Athanasius, and what all the hubbub is about. Peri has a good laugh over what she sees as a small point of doctrine, before admitting she's just a lapsed Baptist after all. (I know the Big Finish audios aren't officially canon, but there's something about Peri being raised Baptist that amuses me.) But Erimem is incensed that the council will be arguing Arias's views -- and therefore his fate -- without even allowing him to be present.

The Doctor insists that the three of them not involve themselves in history, particularly given that the future of the Christian church will be affected by whatever is decided at the council, but Erimem's earlier encounter with Cardinal Richelieu ( The Church and the Crown ) leaves her thinking that the church could use a few changes.

The Council of Nicaea is a pure historical Doctor Who adventure. There's no science fiction gimmicks here. And because of the unusual setting, I was really anticipating this one, wondering how Doctor Who would handle a story about the origins of church doctrine.

Erimem tells the Doctor early in the story that history is always written by the victors. So by allying Erimem with Arias, the story provides a neat viewpoint twist by inviting listeners to sympathize with the losing side. But this isn't really a story about the Council of Nicaea as much as it is about the conflict between the Doctor and Erimem, with Peri stuck in the middle.

Listeners expecting to hear theological discussions won't get them here. They will get a lot of Erimem shouting a lot, however. And that's probably why, in the end, I have to give this one average marks. It's still better than most of the 5/Peri/Erimem set so far, because it actually puts Erimem's character history to good use. But it doesn't take full advantage of its intriguing setting. Furthermore, an Egyptian Pharoah from 1000 years before Christ would seem to have her own theological issues, and her involvement in the Council of Nicaea seems more contrived than usual.

This story is preceded by Three's a Crowd and followed by The Kingmaker .

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Fifth Doctor, Erimem and Peri travel to the city of Nicaea in 325 AD, to witness the First Council of Nicaea. However, religious fervour is running high, and theological disputes threaten to spill over into actual violence. In the midst of this, the Doctor and Erimem find themselves on different sides.

[Debra Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Doctor. Peri and Erimin land in 325AD to attend a major discussion on Christanity. While there Ermiin gets to know the oppositions view on the debate and The Doctor tries to keep time on track before time is changed. Can he?

[Nicholas Whyte]

The Council of Nic

[Ritchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Five, Peri and Erimem visit Rome and the Council of Nicaea. I'd give this one 4 stars but Erimem has become so damned annoying and unlikable.