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Gallifrey #2.2
Gallifrey: Spirit
Leela is tired. Tired of the backbiting politics and intrigues in the sterile society of Time Lords. With the fate of her husband now known, she feels lonely and out of place on Gallifrey.
Romana is tired. Tired of justifying herself and her policies to a hostile council. With the line between allies and enemies beginning to blur, she persuades Leela to go with her to the presidential retreat of Davidia, a protected paradise.
Then an anomalous time ship arrives, carrying a single passenger. His hands are crushed, his tongue torn out, his mind destroyed. Is this broken man a victim of some terrible crime or part of a trap now primed and ready to spring? After this strange encounter, Romana and Leela may never be the same again.
Romana is tired. Tired of justifying herself and her policies to a hostile council. With the line between allies and enemies beginning to blur, she persuades Leela to go with her to the presidential retreat of Davidia, a protected paradise.
Then an anomalous time ship arrives, carrying a single passenger. His hands are crushed, his tongue torn out, his mind destroyed. Is this broken man a victim of some terrible crime or part of a trap now primed and ready to spring? After this strange encounter, Romana and Leela may never be the same again.
Audio CD
First published May 1, 2005
About the author
Stephen Cole
230 books148 followersSee also: Steve Cole.
Stephen Cole (born 1971) is an English author of children's books and science fiction. He was also in charge of BBC Worldwide's merchandising of the BBC Television series Doctor Who between 1997 and 1999: this was a role which found him deciding on which stories should be released on video, commissioning and editing a range of fiction and non-fiction titles, producing audiobooks and acting as executive producer on the Big Finish Productions range of Doctor Who audio dramas.
Stephen Cole (born 1971) is an English author of children's books and science fiction. He was also in charge of BBC Worldwide's merchandising of the BBC Television series Doctor Who between 1997 and 1999: this was a role which found him deciding on which stories should be released on video, commissioning and editing a range of fiction and non-fiction titles, producing audiobooks and acting as executive producer on the Big Finish Productions range of Doctor Who audio dramas.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 30, 2025
Never forget the time Romana actually burped loudly whilst she and Leela sat by the campfire under the stars eating meat and just being wonderful.
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Gallifrey listen.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE SPIRIT SO MUCH.
Romana and Leela body swap and the addition of Melyvin is wonderful. Absolutely love relistening to this one as you rediscover new things every time.
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Gallifrey listen.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE SPIRIT SO MUCH.
Romana and Leela body swap and the addition of Melyvin is wonderful. Absolutely love relistening to this one as you rediscover new things every time.
July 21, 2021
It is kinda refreshing to hear Leela's getting excited when she saw the wilderness again. Listening to her and Romana, it's the closest thing we got if Romana II is The Doctor.
The cast's performance is great as always. Even the supporting characters is nicely written and woven into the plot. Commander Hallan might sounds like a one-note douche bag, but because it's the Gallifrey's series, I'm pretty sure he's not all that.
My only down note is the part where Leela and Romana debate about science and nature's creation. It drags the plot, not to mention it sounds like a ramrod writing. It is also unnecessary since even with their opposite personalities, I feel like close-minded is not on either of them. Who is this scene for? It sounds callous and I gladly will try to erase it from my memory.
As for the rest of the plot: Mindswap is a fun thing to try for a character study, I guess. It's also interesting to hear Lalla Ward and Louise Jameson each tried to be in the other character's shoes. Lalla Ward might sounds over-the-top in the beginning, but considering it's a Time Lord's mind being drowned with instinct, it's easy to understand why. I think Leela's huntress instinct handles the tactical and logical mind much better.
The second plot about the broken man at first sounds like a common addition — it won't be a Doctor Who story if your vacation doesn't get disrupted by a disaster — but turned out it's the bridge to the next part, as well as part of the plot point for the entire series' arc.
All in all, Spirit seems like a weird jump of tone after Lies. I think I'm so used of long story arc by this point, so finding a (partially) stand alone episode is a bit confusing. However, if you think about it, it is a necessary story, mostly for Leela and Romana's relationship. We kept seeing their contrasted standpoints, and even more so as the situation in Gallifrey (as well as situation with Andred) is just getting worse.
Now, the writer could just get along with this trope and continue focusing on Gallifreyan political drama. I mean, why not? it's basically Fourth Doctor and Leela's basic formula, particularly in the earlier stories. Yet, we have this Leela and Romana's mini adventure, and even if it's not perfect, it is so much better than listening to Romana desperately trying to stop Leela from killing someone every five nanospans.
The cast's performance is great as always. Even the supporting characters is nicely written and woven into the plot. Commander Hallan might sounds like a one-note douche bag, but because it's the Gallifrey's series, I'm pretty sure he's not all that.
My only down note is the part where Leela and Romana debate about science and nature's creation. It drags the plot, not to mention it sounds like a ramrod writing. It is also unnecessary since even with their opposite personalities, I feel like close-minded is not on either of them. Who is this scene for? It sounds callous and I gladly will try to erase it from my memory.
As for the rest of the plot: Mindswap is a fun thing to try for a character study, I guess. It's also interesting to hear Lalla Ward and Louise Jameson each tried to be in the other character's shoes. Lalla Ward might sounds over-the-top in the beginning, but considering it's a Time Lord's mind being drowned with instinct, it's easy to understand why. I think Leela's huntress instinct handles the tactical and logical mind much better.
The second plot about the broken man at first sounds like a common addition — it won't be a Doctor Who story if your vacation doesn't get disrupted by a disaster — but turned out it's the bridge to the next part, as well as part of the plot point for the entire series' arc.
All in all, Spirit seems like a weird jump of tone after Lies. I think I'm so used of long story arc by this point, so finding a (partially) stand alone episode is a bit confusing. However, if you think about it, it is a necessary story, mostly for Leela and Romana's relationship. We kept seeing their contrasted standpoints, and even more so as the situation in Gallifrey (as well as situation with Andred) is just getting worse.
Now, the writer could just get along with this trope and continue focusing on Gallifreyan political drama. I mean, why not? it's basically Fourth Doctor and Leela's basic formula, particularly in the earlier stories. Yet, we have this Leela and Romana's mini adventure, and even if it's not perfect, it is so much better than listening to Romana desperately trying to stop Leela from killing someone every five nanospans.
June 5, 2023
Gallifrey is arguably Big Finish's most popular spinoff in their massive Doctor Who catalog and not going to lie it's easy to see why because even from its very beginnings, the range is very consistent in terms of writing, tone, and quality making for a very exciting and comfortable series of stories. I really enjoyed the start of Series 2 with Lies, so I couldn't wait to continue.
Leela after Andred's betrayal and feeling like she can't trust other Timelord's wants to leave. Romana however wants to go on holiday and talk with her. Meanwhile back on Gallifrey, Narvin, Braxiatel, and The Inquisitor discuss the threat Pandora presents for The Timelords, and in the absence of Romana, they become angrier still at her presidency. When a mysterious disfigured Timelord arrives on Davidia, it soon turns out that Romana and Leela's vacation may take a turn for the nightmarish.
Stephen Cole has written a really solid character piece where we get to see Romana and Leela finally understand and accept one another for who they are and their individual beliefs. It begins an intriguing mystery of a deformed Timelord who refuses to regenerate and has a terrifically atmospheric and nightmarish scene in a dream realm that's meant to relax its occupants, not terrify or swap the minds between the individuals within.
It's a really fun story, I will say though the stuff with Hallan having a romantic affair (sort of?) with a staff member on Davida felt terribly unneeded and was just kind of there to pad the story out to make its one-hour mark I feel.
Overall: Another really intriguing and exciting story that whilst it does take a step away from the overall story of the series a little, it does make up for being a fantastic character piece. 8/10
Leela after Andred's betrayal and feeling like she can't trust other Timelord's wants to leave. Romana however wants to go on holiday and talk with her. Meanwhile back on Gallifrey, Narvin, Braxiatel, and The Inquisitor discuss the threat Pandora presents for The Timelords, and in the absence of Romana, they become angrier still at her presidency. When a mysterious disfigured Timelord arrives on Davidia, it soon turns out that Romana and Leela's vacation may take a turn for the nightmarish.
Stephen Cole has written a really solid character piece where we get to see Romana and Leela finally understand and accept one another for who they are and their individual beliefs. It begins an intriguing mystery of a deformed Timelord who refuses to regenerate and has a terrifically atmospheric and nightmarish scene in a dream realm that's meant to relax its occupants, not terrify or swap the minds between the individuals within.
It's a really fun story, I will say though the stuff with Hallan having a romantic affair (sort of?) with a staff member on Davida felt terribly unneeded and was just kind of there to pad the story out to make its one-hour mark I feel.
Overall: Another really intriguing and exciting story that whilst it does take a step away from the overall story of the series a little, it does make up for being a fantastic character piece. 8/10
July 29, 2019
WHen I first listened to this, I was intrigued by the interplay between Romana and Leela and found their personality switching trick a little contrived, but effective. The rest of the story just felt like a tangled "too clever for it's own good" time paradox mess.
I was wrong. Cole's script is far more cleverly laid out than that and he seems to have actually predicted my complaints and dealt with them deftly. This is a smart and wonderful story with two fine actors really killing it.
I was wrong. Cole's script is far more cleverly laid out than that and he seems to have actually predicted my complaints and dealt with them deftly. This is a smart and wonderful story with two fine actors really killing it.
January 23, 2020
When Leela decides she's fed up with everything she tells Romana that she wants to leave Gallifrey. Romana decides that before they make any rash decisions, they should go on a retreat together to have time to unwind and decompress. Along the way, the two start to merge and gain a better understanding of the other. I liked that we got to see some good bonding between our heroines in this story.
September 18, 2023
リジェネしたアンドレの変貌の衝撃を引きずっているリーラ。ガリフレイに居場所はないと感じるとロマーナにつげる。ロマーナはある場所に一緒にいって過ごしてそれでも去りたいのなら止めないと約束し2人で休暇をすごす。
リーラはロマーナのものの見方の感覚をロマーナはリーラの直感的感覚を擬似的に体験しお互い理解を深める。ガリフレイ滅亡の兆しを予感させつつリーラとロマーナがしっかりと絆を深めたのはよかったなと:
にしてもリジェネしたらそれまでと同じように善人とは限らないし悪人とも限らないし思想や考え方も変わったりする上に過去にも未来にもいっちゃうわけだからタイムロードってややこしいしどえげつない。
リーラはロマーナのものの見方の感覚をロマーナはリーラの直感的感覚を擬似的に体験しお互い理解を深める。ガリフレイ滅亡の兆しを予感させつつリーラとロマーナがしっかりと絆を深めたのはよかったなと:
にしてもリジェネしたらそれまでと同じように善人とは限らないし悪人とも限らないし思想や考え方も変わったりする上に過去にも未来にもいっちゃうわけだからタイムロードってややこしいしどえげつない。
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2020
Ooooh I do have a soft spot for the good ol' body swap trope. I blame the Scooby Doo movie.
June 16, 2021
Here thanks to a good friend. This is fantastic! It’s a wonderful character moment for Romana & Leela ( they body swap!) and a very intriguing world.
August 27, 2022
I really enjoyed Leela and Romania’s discussion of whether a person is really the same after regenerating. The tree comparison is pretty apt.
January 6, 2024
There are lovely character moments and wonderful interactions between Leela and Romana in this one.
June 26, 2024
The only thing more annoying than characters being patronizing towards Leela is characters trying to imitate her.
February 18, 2009
Romana and Leela go on holiday. (By mistake?) And encounter a temporal paradox in the form a stranger with a warning about Gallifrey's future. A sequence in which Romana and Leela's personalities get a bit mixed up provides some laughs, as well as demonstrating how good an actress Louise Jameson is, as typical Leela dialogue sounds utterly ludicrous coming out of Lalla Ward's mouth. (Not to criticize Lalla Ward, as the silliness of her delivering Leela-style dialogue is part of the point. But it does illustrate how much Jameson's conviction in playing Leela is key to making a potentially ridiculous character real.)
The first half of the play is a bit slow. I also found the Nature vs. Science/Faith vs. Reason debates between Leela and Romana to be a bit heavy-handed, and, I think, missing the point. (It's one thing to portray Leela as a character who relies on intuition and physical prowess rather than scientific or technical knowledge, but it's quite another thing to show her as a character who consistently rejects science. I don't think that latter is really consistent with her portrayal on Doctor Who or her potrayal in Big Finish's more recent Companion Chronicles stories featuring Leela.) Still, there's no denying that by the end of the play, I was ready to hear more.
The first half of the play is a bit slow. I also found the Nature vs. Science/Faith vs. Reason debates between Leela and Romana to be a bit heavy-handed, and, I think, missing the point. (It's one thing to portray Leela as a character who relies on intuition and physical prowess rather than scientific or technical knowledge, but it's quite another thing to show her as a character who consistently rejects science. I don't think that latter is really consistent with her portrayal on Doctor Who or her potrayal in Big Finish's more recent Companion Chronicles stories featuring Leela.) Still, there's no denying that by the end of the play, I was ready to hear more.
February 21, 2018
This one is always my favourite. I could listen to Romana and Leela bicker and then make up for hours and hours. If the whole series was like this I would be happy. I love how Romana tries to do nice things for Leela and nearly always gets them wrong. How she so desperately needs her to be her friend but is afraid to let her properly in. How she still holds to her, I know better than the savage viewpoint. This is so much fun to listen to in a subtext way. Clearly these women belong together. Their holiday is a joy to listen to and the nightmare in the tanks in the second half is truly scary and horrific. The two actresses do such an amazing job as muddling up each other's personalities. It's just an absoulte joy.
November 26, 2024
The second episode of Gallifrey Series 2 is probably my least favorite. It does continue the series arc (by introducing the broken man), but it is much more a character piece that works to heal the rift between Leela and Romana. We even get a personality swap in the second half that while a little silly helps the two understand each other better. The plot focuses on Romana and Leela going on holiday while Brax and the K-9s work to protect Romana from Pandora. It's still really good and really well acted, giving both Lalla and Louise something different to play, it's just not a favorite of mine.
April 8, 2009
most of this was just not-quite-sapphic bonding between Leela and Romana, with the actual plot, such as it was, a bit confusing and distracting; but I loved it. I think this would be the play to get Old School fans hooked on the series.[return][return][return]http://nhw.livejournal.com/976063.html#cutid2
November 1, 2012
The Leela-Romana dynamic has been my favourite thing about this series so far, and this episode is nothing but.
July 3, 2020
This was supposed to be a vacation for the President and Leela but a disfigured mute Time Lord shows up and drags them into the story of his torture.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews