Dark Gallifrey: Missy, Part 1

Dark Gallifrey #7

by Rochana Patel

On a remote and isolated planet, where technology cannot progress beyond steam-power, two thieves are on the run.
Hunted and trapped by automaton policemen, they look certain to hang for their crimes...
...until Missy drops into their world. Their lives are about to change forever, as is the fate of their entire planet...

Genres: Doctor Who, Audiobook

Audio CD

First published April 23, 2025

Reviews

[Ellen Schoener · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to all 3 releases of this mini-series back-to-back.
Loved the performances, Michelle Gomez is on fire!
Fun and entertaining mayhem and lots of timey-whimey-ness.
Missy even gets to kill the Doctor and then fight against herself!
The location of the steampunk-world, watched over by automatons powered by soul-crystals, is also an excellent idea.
This might be one of the better Missy releases out there.
Recommended, if you like totally bonkers and over-the-top characters and Missy mayhem.

[Emilija · Rating 4 out of 5]

2023 52 Book Challenge - October Mini Challenge - 1) Steampunk

I actually really enjoyed this audiobook. I thought Missy was really funny, and she got her own companions to cause havoc with, and it really felt like Michelle Gomez was having fun while she was recording the audio.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really delightful start for this 3-part adventure. It is a heist which goes just as wrong as anything involving Missy’s chaos could go, or maybe it’s not wrong at all.

This audio release also includes a recording of Doctor and The Malevolence as a downloadable bonus feature and the usual Big Finish interviews with select cast & crew.

[Aeryn Natalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it! My girlfriend was groaning when they referenced “the audience”, but I thought it was done well– though perhaps one more mention of it and it would have felt annoying to me too. But I love Michelle Gomez’s performance, and I love that she gets so many funny lines.

I do wish that Missy would stop being written so over the top, though. Doing an accent in one episode would be fun, but so many of her sets have her doing different voices and it’s getting a bit old. And getting a bit… well, they’re treating her like the Quirky Woman Master ™. And I do wish they’d stop doing that. Give her a proper storyline! She can do more than just be funny and try out accents.

Also, the fact that it was a “Dark Gallifrey” episode… really changed nothing. I thought it would be darker, have a bit more of a storyline, but it just feels like Another Missy Episode. There was no point in this being a different set, aside from that it seems each episode will be linked rather than Missy getting the usual “each episode is pretty much standalone” treatment. I’m glad she gets a slight overarching storyline, at least.

[Danny Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Gallifrey continues with its third trilogy, starring Missy. I'm excited about this trilogy because Rochana Patel's previous work has been a lot of fun.

Missy finds herself helping two criminals steal a crown belonging to a queen whose empire is on the brink of collapse. Technology beyond steampunk doesn't work and somehow Missy finds her way out of here with her vortex manipulator, which refuses to work. The Doctor has done a lot to save this world and now Missy is going to tear it down.

Rochana Patel's first script for this trilogy is a lot of fun, a fast-paced steam-punk adventure with robberies, a revolution and a meta sense of humor. A very colourful story with a lot of personality and charm to it. Very excited to see what happens next when the 7th Doctor shows up.

Overall: It's a terrific first episode that begins this trilogy brilliantly. 9/10

[Philip · Rating 1 out of 5]

I spent the whole hour trying to discern if there was any actual plot going on, or whether this was just a covert recording of Michelle Gomez's improv class.

[Joseph S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Missy is the only ”bad guy” I Stan. Michelle Gomez is a shining light.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit less of the comedic Missy here.