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Dark Eyes #3
Doctor Who: Dark Eyes 3
"Molly O'Sullivan? Hello you."
In his quest for universal domination, the Master plans to exploit the terrifying Infinite Warriors of the mysterious Eminence. The Doctor's friend, Molly, is key to that plan's execution, and now, aided by corrupted genius Sally Armstrong, the Master is close to success.
Paranoid and perplexed after his recent experience, the Doctor skirts the fringes of the fifty-year conflict between humanity and the Infinite Armies. Wary of changing the course of history, he fears that to fight the Eminence would be to do the Daleks' bidding. But when Time Lord CIA agent Narvin provides the impetus for the Doctor to act, Liv Chenka joins him in a desperate race to save their friend and stop the Master.
As the Doctor goes head to head with his oldest and deadliest rival, this war is about to get very personal indeed...
1: The Death of Hope
2: The Reviled
3: Masterplan
4: Rule of the Eminence
In his quest for universal domination, the Master plans to exploit the terrifying Infinite Warriors of the mysterious Eminence. The Doctor's friend, Molly, is key to that plan's execution, and now, aided by corrupted genius Sally Armstrong, the Master is close to success.
Paranoid and perplexed after his recent experience, the Doctor skirts the fringes of the fifty-year conflict between humanity and the Infinite Armies. Wary of changing the course of history, he fears that to fight the Eminence would be to do the Daleks' bidding. But when Time Lord CIA agent Narvin provides the impetus for the Doctor to act, Liv Chenka joins him in a desperate race to save their friend and stop the Master.
As the Doctor goes head to head with his oldest and deadliest rival, this war is about to get very personal indeed...
1: The Death of Hope
2: The Reviled
3: Masterplan
4: Rule of the Eminence
5 pages, Audio CD
First published November 1, 2014
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97 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 4, 2025
2025 52 Book Challenge - 46) Read In A "-ber" Month
3.1 The Death of Hope
This was a bit of a boring story, but necessary to understand the rest of the boxset, I believe.
You were basically listening to the Doctor and Narvin watching the events, and complaining about the Master. Molly honestly felt like an object being passed around rather than a character important to the plot, and she wasn’t really developed any further.
Rating - 3* / 5*
3.2 The Reviled
I really enjoyed this one! I loved the interactions between the Doctor and Liv, and the political background of the story, and the ending, holy heck yes, I loved it.
I really liked the Master interacting with his companion as well. I frequently struggle with the Master as a character because he’s just so over the top all the time, but I think having his companion in this boxset has been making him an easier character to listen to and appreciate.
Rating - 5* / 5*
3.3 Masterplan
This is one of this stories that you simultaneously love and hate - it was literally the Eighth Doctor and the Master standing in a room talking for 90% of it, and as much as I do like having the two characters interacting this way, I’ve always wanted to listen to something like this for the character development it would bring, but story wise, it was basically a story that brought the whole plot to a standstill because nothing happened until the end. It was such a skippable thing, like it feels like a waste of an hour with the rest of the Dark Eyes 3 plot.
However, I did like the Master and Sally bit at the end.
Rating - 2* / 5*
3.4 Rule of the Eminence
This story felt like such a waste of Molly. She was in the story, but sort of wasn’t used as a character until about halfway through. I’m not a great fan of Molly as a character, but I wish she’d been in it more.
I did really like the way that Liv was used in this story, as a parallel to how the Doctor met her again, working for the enemy.
For the fact that the last episode basically felt pointless, this one felt so rushed. Like, I wish that part of this story had been incorporated into the last one so that the two together could have been a two parter sort of thing, I think that would have helped with the pacing.
However, I did like the Eminence as a villain and I did really like this version of the Master.
Rating - 3* / 5*
Overall, there were some really cool parts of this boxset but that was counteracted by some really boring parts. It honestly feels like the author knew what he wanted to do, but struggled to fill the entire time frame and had to really push some parts to make it work.
Overall Rating - 3* / 5*
3.1 The Death of Hope
This was a bit of a boring story, but necessary to understand the rest of the boxset, I believe.
You were basically listening to the Doctor and Narvin watching the events, and complaining about the Master. Molly honestly felt like an object being passed around rather than a character important to the plot, and she wasn’t really developed any further.
Rating - 3* / 5*
3.2 The Reviled
I really enjoyed this one! I loved the interactions between the Doctor and Liv, and the political background of the story, and the ending, holy heck yes, I loved it.
I really liked the Master interacting with his companion as well. I frequently struggle with the Master as a character because he’s just so over the top all the time, but I think having his companion in this boxset has been making him an easier character to listen to and appreciate.
Rating - 5* / 5*
3.3 Masterplan
This is one of this stories that you simultaneously love and hate - it was literally the Eighth Doctor and the Master standing in a room talking for 90% of it, and as much as I do like having the two characters interacting this way, I’ve always wanted to listen to something like this for the character development it would bring, but story wise, it was basically a story that brought the whole plot to a standstill because nothing happened until the end. It was such a skippable thing, like it feels like a waste of an hour with the rest of the Dark Eyes 3 plot.
However, I did like the Master and Sally bit at the end.
Rating - 2* / 5*
3.4 Rule of the Eminence
This story felt like such a waste of Molly. She was in the story, but sort of wasn’t used as a character until about halfway through. I’m not a great fan of Molly as a character, but I wish she’d been in it more.
I did really like the way that Liv was used in this story, as a parallel to how the Doctor met her again, working for the enemy.
For the fact that the last episode basically felt pointless, this one felt so rushed. Like, I wish that part of this story had been incorporated into the last one so that the two together could have been a two parter sort of thing, I think that would have helped with the pacing.
However, I did like the Eminence as a villain and I did really like this version of the Master.
Rating - 3* / 5*
Overall, there were some really cool parts of this boxset but that was counteracted by some really boring parts. It honestly feels like the author knew what he wanted to do, but struggled to fill the entire time frame and had to really push some parts to make it work.
Overall Rating - 3* / 5*
March 8, 2019
First of the Dark Eyes stories with gender balance. :)
I really enjoyed the first adventure. So wonderful to hear Narvin again. And Narvin as Proper CIA scheming and not at all trustworthy. His interactions with the Doctor were brilliant. I also liked the story of the colonists and the Emminance, it was a good way to remind us of the bad guys, their weapons and also set up a mystery for the rest of the series and get the plot going. Excellent start!
The second adventure was also very enjoyable. This time the Doctor was at the centre of the action as was Liv Chenka. There was much politics and intrigue and the people were just pawns in a much bigger game. It was great to see Sally on her own, dealing with things directly rather than simply being the Master's Assistant. This series is coming across as wonderfully dark but with a much needed feeling of hope that the current BBC series was lacking. Am thoroughly enjoying it. Can't wait to hear the rest of the episodes.
Disc 3 was very interesting and personal. The Doctor and the Master and Liv and Sally verses each other and a mad scientist. It was all very intense and featured some really wonderful acting from the four main characters. It was a much smaller and claustrophobic story compared to the first two but just as dramatic.
The last disc was a really good conclusion to the series. It was an exciting story and lots of good character development. Liv remains totally brilliant and the Doctor and the Master are a fantastic combination.
All told I think this series was the best Doctor Who in any media all year. Fantastic acting, gripping plot, great characterization and wonderful roles for women. What with this and Charley Pollard Matt Fitton should win Big Finish writer of the year!
I really enjoyed the first adventure. So wonderful to hear Narvin again. And Narvin as Proper CIA scheming and not at all trustworthy. His interactions with the Doctor were brilliant. I also liked the story of the colonists and the Emminance, it was a good way to remind us of the bad guys, their weapons and also set up a mystery for the rest of the series and get the plot going. Excellent start!
The second adventure was also very enjoyable. This time the Doctor was at the centre of the action as was Liv Chenka. There was much politics and intrigue and the people were just pawns in a much bigger game. It was great to see Sally on her own, dealing with things directly rather than simply being the Master's Assistant. This series is coming across as wonderfully dark but with a much needed feeling of hope that the current BBC series was lacking. Am thoroughly enjoying it. Can't wait to hear the rest of the episodes.
Disc 3 was very interesting and personal. The Doctor and the Master and Liv and Sally verses each other and a mad scientist. It was all very intense and featured some really wonderful acting from the four main characters. It was a much smaller and claustrophobic story compared to the first two but just as dramatic.
The last disc was a really good conclusion to the series. It was an exciting story and lots of good character development. Liv remains totally brilliant and the Doctor and the Master are a fantastic combination.
All told I think this series was the best Doctor Who in any media all year. Fantastic acting, gripping plot, great characterization and wonderful roles for women. What with this and Charley Pollard Matt Fitton should win Big Finish writer of the year!
April 18, 2019
Gonna be a wee bit contrversial here - I didn't quite like this one as much as I loved the first two. Between the four separate stories that made up this arc, it felt much more choppy and disconnected and like it didn't really tie into what had come before. True, all the same characters are here - Liv, the Master, Sally, the Doctor (obviously), the Eminence, and Molly showed back up later. But somehow it all seemed muddled and hard to follow. In the end, it just became background noise for my commute to and from work.
Of course, this could come down to the fact that the Master's plot is just so... the Master. Obtuse, complicated, insane, stupid on more than one level. And, again, hard to follow. So in that respect, it's actually pretty true to form. This isn't the first time I've gone cross-eyed listening to the Master explain one of his discombobulated plots. I'm just a little miffed that the complexity of it overshadowed the rest of the story.
And maybe now that
Overall, kind of the wet blanket to the Dark Eyes series. I hope the fourth part picks up.
Of course, this could come down to the fact that the Master's plot is just so... the Master. Obtuse, complicated, insane, stupid on more than one level. And, again, hard to follow. So in that respect, it's actually pretty true to form. This isn't the first time I've gone cross-eyed listening to the Master explain one of his discombobulated plots. I'm just a little miffed that the complexity of it overshadowed the rest of the story.
And maybe now that
Overall, kind of the wet blanket to the Dark Eyes series. I hope the fourth part picks up.
February 11, 2015
I still really enjoyed the release. Individually the stories held my attention. But, I do think overall I enjoyed it a bit less than DE2. I haven't listened to the extras yet, but it's good to know that Molly's weird absence was caused by availability. The thing that disturbed me, on the whole, was that if this really is her swan song, then she ends up being little more than an object shuttled around too and fro during the story. She is, at least, given some room to shine and take some action at the end of the last story. But all in all it felt like a weak way to send a companion away. Especially a companion who I grew to like quite a bit, after her being slightly grating in DE1. I mean, the Doctor mentioned her as he was about to die! Poor Liv didn't even get a mention! Speaking of live, the throwing away of the plotline about her dying was weird. After so much being made of it... it was a bit jarring. Assuming, of course, the Master wasn't lying about it.
I will say, I enjoyed a break from the Daleks and the focus on the Master as an adversary.
1. The Death of Hope - Unlike some, I actually liked the framing device. Yes, at times it can be a bit distracting (wouldn't it be much more expedient for Narvin to just TELL the Doctor these things? There's nothing here that inherently needs SHOWING versus telling) but I was wiling to suspend my disbelief on that score and go along for the ride. Now, where it works a bit less is the fact that the Doctor doesn't need to take any action, really, based on what he's seen. The Timelords have done it for him. But, oh well. I'm not going to pick that nit! I enjoyed the story too much to worry about that too much. Having the Master and Sally play dark mirror versions of the Doctor and companion was a lot of fun.
2. The Reviled - This was an interesting set-up, with the displaced humans and a formerly oppressed people now guarding them. It made for a nicely complicated scenario that added some character interest to a story that was a bit of a run around.
3. Masterplan - I enjoyed the dual nature of the storyline with Sally and Liv facing off as the Master and the Doctor faced off on a crashing ship. I was sad to see Sally go, though. That being said, the Master's reaction to her death was so well judged and played. The contrast to the end of this with the ship crashing and what happened in Night of the Doctor was interesting!
4. Rule of the Eminence - I have to admit, I'm not fully sold on the Eminence as a concept. They are kind of interesting, but I think they were neater as some mysterious force that rules the end of time than a lab experiment gone wrong. The fact that they are this single mind that inhabits zombies also seems like a concept that doesn't have a lot of legs. I guess the fact that they are some kind of force just means their motivation is a bit boring. Add on the Master's usual motivation, and you just have two minds who want to rule the universe for no other reason than apparently they think that's the thing they should do. The fact that the Master's plan requires so much explanation in relation to them probably doesn't help, though. As soon as you lump having to infuse retrogenitor particles into exact volumes of Eminence gas with memetic copes of linked people... I don't know, it all gets a bit complex. Complexity isn't a bad thing, in and of itself, but there's a feeling that all this explaining is getting in the way of more good character bits. Thankfully, there's some of that, too. I really like Liv, and McQueen's Master is a good adversary for the 8th Doctor.
I'm excited for DE4, coming soon! And i'd still rate this as quite good. I think it's just a case where not quite everything totally comes together.
I will say, I enjoyed a break from the Daleks and the focus on the Master as an adversary.
1. The Death of Hope - Unlike some, I actually liked the framing device. Yes, at times it can be a bit distracting (wouldn't it be much more expedient for Narvin to just TELL the Doctor these things? There's nothing here that inherently needs SHOWING versus telling) but I was wiling to suspend my disbelief on that score and go along for the ride. Now, where it works a bit less is the fact that the Doctor doesn't need to take any action, really, based on what he's seen. The Timelords have done it for him. But, oh well. I'm not going to pick that nit! I enjoyed the story too much to worry about that too much. Having the Master and Sally play dark mirror versions of the Doctor and companion was a lot of fun.
2. The Reviled - This was an interesting set-up, with the displaced humans and a formerly oppressed people now guarding them. It made for a nicely complicated scenario that added some character interest to a story that was a bit of a run around.
3. Masterplan - I enjoyed the dual nature of the storyline with Sally and Liv facing off as the Master and the Doctor faced off on a crashing ship. I was sad to see Sally go, though. That being said, the Master's reaction to her death was so well judged and played. The contrast to the end of this with the ship crashing and what happened in Night of the Doctor was interesting!
4. Rule of the Eminence - I have to admit, I'm not fully sold on the Eminence as a concept. They are kind of interesting, but I think they were neater as some mysterious force that rules the end of time than a lab experiment gone wrong. The fact that they are this single mind that inhabits zombies also seems like a concept that doesn't have a lot of legs. I guess the fact that they are some kind of force just means their motivation is a bit boring. Add on the Master's usual motivation, and you just have two minds who want to rule the universe for no other reason than apparently they think that's the thing they should do. The fact that the Master's plan requires so much explanation in relation to them probably doesn't help, though. As soon as you lump having to infuse retrogenitor particles into exact volumes of Eminence gas with memetic copes of linked people... I don't know, it all gets a bit complex. Complexity isn't a bad thing, in and of itself, but there's a feeling that all this explaining is getting in the way of more good character bits. Thankfully, there's some of that, too. I really like Liv, and McQueen's Master is a good adversary for the 8th Doctor.
I'm excited for DE4, coming soon! And i'd still rate this as quite good. I think it's just a case where not quite everything totally comes together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2021
The Death of Hope:
6/10
Verdict: Recommended
Very dull, but necessary going forward. Only really gets interesting at the very end, until then, you're stuck with 8 and a random time lord watching a bad base under siege story.
The Reviled:
6/10
Verdict: Recommended
Same deal as before, very dull 'doctor plays diplomat' that turns into a base under siege story with boring side characters that only gets interesting at the very end. Getting pretty tired of scared humans being racist against insect people, it's a weird repeating motif.
Masterplan:
6/10
Verdict: Recommended
God damn it this is so boring. Even though every character in this story is facing imminent death, there are no stakes whatsoever. Aside from some interesting dialogue between 8 and the master, and a mildly interesting plot with a deluded scientist, this is a snore fest throughout.
Rule of the Eminence:
6/10
Verdict: Recommended
Same thing again, horribly, painfully boring throughout. Some good ideas that have been stretched so thinly that it's hard to give them any credit at all. I know I've given all these stories recommended, but that's really only due to them affecting future stories. Much like the Morbius plot line, reading what happens on a wiki for this boxset might be a better use of your time. None of these stories are bad, but they are barely an 'eh'.
6/10
Verdict: Recommended
Very dull, but necessary going forward. Only really gets interesting at the very end, until then, you're stuck with 8 and a random time lord watching a bad base under siege story.
The Reviled:
6/10
Verdict: Recommended
Same deal as before, very dull 'doctor plays diplomat' that turns into a base under siege story with boring side characters that only gets interesting at the very end. Getting pretty tired of scared humans being racist against insect people, it's a weird repeating motif.
Masterplan:
6/10
Verdict: Recommended
God damn it this is so boring. Even though every character in this story is facing imminent death, there are no stakes whatsoever. Aside from some interesting dialogue between 8 and the master, and a mildly interesting plot with a deluded scientist, this is a snore fest throughout.
Rule of the Eminence:
6/10
Verdict: Recommended
Same thing again, horribly, painfully boring throughout. Some good ideas that have been stretched so thinly that it's hard to give them any credit at all. I know I've given all these stories recommended, but that's really only due to them affecting future stories. Much like the Morbius plot line, reading what happens on a wiki for this boxset might be a better use of your time. None of these stories are bad, but they are barely an 'eh'.
July 27, 2017
Dark Eyes 3 is probably my favorite box set of the series so far. It’s consistently well plotted, well paced, well directed, and well acted. It benefits greatly from having one writer write all of the episodes and Matt Fitton was a great choice to be the writer of them all. He wrote the two best episodes of Dark Eyes 2 so it was only to be expected that Dark Eyes 3 would be as good as it was. It’s the Eighth Doctor at his best; not too dark and not too light. You can tell he’s been through a lot, but he’s still trying to hold onto hope. The one downside is that the set ends with what feels like a final note for the Dark Eyes series except there’s another Dark Eyes box set after this and I fear that that set won’t be able to have an ending as good as this one did. But that’s a problem for a different review. I can’t recommend Dark Eyes 3 enough. It’s just superb.
(Full review at my website)
(Full review at my website)
March 9, 2024
Back again so soon with the Dark Eyes series! I’ve been needing this.
Tale One: The Death of Hope - 4/10
The Doctor and some random Time Lord watch a base under siege story which stars the Master and Molly? What is this format?
I want to listen to Paul McGann… Why is he so little in this story.
I don’t really care about this one per se, it’s just the format of this episode is so head scratching.
Yes, the Master is fun here but he’s doing the War Master, oh look at me I’m good, lol no I’m not, things stick gets a bit tired after a bit.
The ending of it was intriguing, wondering where this box goes next. But if I had to describe this one tale in one word it would be dull, quite dull.
Tale Two: The Reviled 8/10
So, it has been a couple of days since last I listened to the Dark Eyes series. All I really remember about Tale one of this boxset was how forgettable it was? Nothing really happened? The Master was up to some shenanigans and that was it I suppose.
This Tale started again with the Doctor watching some matrix video, loathed that…. Anyhow it does start to follow some sort of story soon after that.
Now this is what I’m talking about a proper story.
Doctor trying to play peace broker between two species while trying to figure what the true intentions of the CIA and the Master are? Lovely.
Such a great idea to give the Master a companion as well, nice to have a constant someone he can bounce off on. Reminds me of the fella from the War Master set, cannot recall the name, Paul something standard like that. The one that invents the Cyberman.
Ending this Tale with the Doctor saying he’s going to abort a timeline? Mad stuff, this is what I want to see, or well hear anyway.
Tale Three: Masterplan 7/10
I don’t know how to feel about this version of the Master just yet, it’s taking me a while to fully accept him.
Okay the Doctor and The Master being trapped on a spaceship and just talking is literally everything I want from their relationship. Did these fella’s read my mind or something?
The Doctor mentions Houdini again! Should really listen to that audio.
So far, I totally get the criticisms of this particular boxset being skippable. There is just not a whole lot that’s really happening. What is happening here is good, I like this version of the Eight Doctor, I like the world where he is.
Tale Four: Rule of the Eminence 4/10
Fucking finally Molly is back. It’s such a shame that she never really became a full-time companion like Charley or Lucie. I really like her a lot.
The Master curing Liv’s terminal illness because he wouldn’t want her to drop dead while keeping Molly in a coma, also he didn’t tell her she was cured, what a fucking asshole this fella is. Yeah, this is the Master alright.
This fell apart for me very quickly, first off, all the Master has made his empire, like he’s 90% there and like this is very last of the time lords but I can’t believe I’m even thinking of defending that episode a bit, that felt like the world was a bit more fleshed out.
Why was this last story not a two parter? Why does it feel so rushed? I don’t know how to describe it but it did not feel all there. Underbaked, undercooked just like half a draft was written or something.
I didn’t expect to say goodbye to Molly here. This is making me a bit sad. Said it before in the review I’m really bummed out that she never got to be a full-time companion really. And to end her story like this? Just leaves a bad after taste in my mind.
I’m not that upset about her ending with the Doctor not being a happy one per se, those endings never are particularly happy. More so how little time they spend together in series 3 here. Even this last part here they barely even interreact.
The question of why do things like this is on my mind a lot during this. It’s all very lovely to listen to in the moment, the character interactions which are there are really well done.
It’s just that after it’s all done, I’m left with a feeling of emptiness, a longing for something more? I don’t. know. I’m tired, I’m rambling It’s way to late and I’m a bit groggy.
I heard about the fact that Dark Eyes was not originally meant as a series of boxset, only really the one was written as one. The rest was just tagged on after as with most sequels.
You can really feel it with Dark Eyes 3, what are we doing here guys.
The Eminence were decent villains to me, don’t care much for the daleks but they felt a bit like reskins.
I just want to start Doom coalition Honestly.
Tale One: The Death of Hope - 4/10
The Doctor and some random Time Lord watch a base under siege story which stars the Master and Molly? What is this format?
I want to listen to Paul McGann… Why is he so little in this story.
I don’t really care about this one per se, it’s just the format of this episode is so head scratching.
Yes, the Master is fun here but he’s doing the War Master, oh look at me I’m good, lol no I’m not, things stick gets a bit tired after a bit.
The ending of it was intriguing, wondering where this box goes next. But if I had to describe this one tale in one word it would be dull, quite dull.
Tale Two: The Reviled 8/10
So, it has been a couple of days since last I listened to the Dark Eyes series. All I really remember about Tale one of this boxset was how forgettable it was? Nothing really happened? The Master was up to some shenanigans and that was it I suppose.
This Tale started again with the Doctor watching some matrix video, loathed that…. Anyhow it does start to follow some sort of story soon after that.
Now this is what I’m talking about a proper story.
Doctor trying to play peace broker between two species while trying to figure what the true intentions of the CIA and the Master are? Lovely.
Such a great idea to give the Master a companion as well, nice to have a constant someone he can bounce off on. Reminds me of the fella from the War Master set, cannot recall the name, Paul something standard like that. The one that invents the Cyberman.
Ending this Tale with the Doctor saying he’s going to abort a timeline? Mad stuff, this is what I want to see, or well hear anyway.
Tale Three: Masterplan 7/10
I don’t know how to feel about this version of the Master just yet, it’s taking me a while to fully accept him.
Okay the Doctor and The Master being trapped on a spaceship and just talking is literally everything I want from their relationship. Did these fella’s read my mind or something?
The Doctor mentions Houdini again! Should really listen to that audio.
So far, I totally get the criticisms of this particular boxset being skippable. There is just not a whole lot that’s really happening. What is happening here is good, I like this version of the Eight Doctor, I like the world where he is.
Tale Four: Rule of the Eminence 4/10
Fucking finally Molly is back. It’s such a shame that she never really became a full-time companion like Charley or Lucie. I really like her a lot.
The Master curing Liv’s terminal illness because he wouldn’t want her to drop dead while keeping Molly in a coma, also he didn’t tell her she was cured, what a fucking asshole this fella is. Yeah, this is the Master alright.
This fell apart for me very quickly, first off, all the Master has made his empire, like he’s 90% there and like this is very last of the time lords but I can’t believe I’m even thinking of defending that episode a bit, that felt like the world was a bit more fleshed out.
Why was this last story not a two parter? Why does it feel so rushed? I don’t know how to describe it but it did not feel all there. Underbaked, undercooked just like half a draft was written or something.
I didn’t expect to say goodbye to Molly here. This is making me a bit sad. Said it before in the review I’m really bummed out that she never got to be a full-time companion really. And to end her story like this? Just leaves a bad after taste in my mind.
I’m not that upset about her ending with the Doctor not being a happy one per se, those endings never are particularly happy. More so how little time they spend together in series 3 here. Even this last part here they barely even interreact.
The question of why do things like this is on my mind a lot during this. It’s all very lovely to listen to in the moment, the character interactions which are there are really well done.
It’s just that after it’s all done, I’m left with a feeling of emptiness, a longing for something more? I don’t. know. I’m tired, I’m rambling It’s way to late and I’m a bit groggy.
I heard about the fact that Dark Eyes was not originally meant as a series of boxset, only really the one was written as one. The rest was just tagged on after as with most sequels.
You can really feel it with Dark Eyes 3, what are we doing here guys.
The Eminence were decent villains to me, don’t care much for the daleks but they felt a bit like reskins.
I just want to start Doom coalition Honestly.
August 8, 2022
Dark Eyes 3 picks up a bit after the end of Dark Eyes 2. In that one, the Master had nabbed Molly O'Sullivan, though we did not know why. Here, we find out that he is planning to use her retrogenitor particles to infect the Eminence and take over all of humanity so that he can create his own destructive armada obedient only to him. We begin with "The Death of Hope." Narvin from the Gallifrey series steps in as CIA director to turn The Doctor into an agent so the CIA can undo the error of using The Master to stop The Eminence. To convince The Doctor, Narvin uses the Matrix to show The Doctor one of The Master's experiments in using the remainder of a destroyed human colony as a petrie dish to cultivate retrogenitor particles. Convinced, The Doctor then collects Liv and we head off to another colony for The Reviled. Here, human colonists who abused the local intelligent insect life have the tables turned. Now the humans are the prisoners, just waiting for The Master to use them. The Doctor tries to save everyone. Failures occur. The Doctor, now angry as a swarm of killer bees decides that he is going to change history and prevent The Eminence from ever happening. In Masterplan, The Doctor tries this and fails. The Doctor and The Master get locked together in a doomed spaceship. They trade insults. The Master escapes with an idea for a new plan to accomplish his goals. In Rule of the Eminence, it seems that The Master has won. A desperate Doctor desperately tries to undermine him.
The whole set has a greater coherence than Dark Eyes 2. There are still some problems with it. First, I must say it again that The Eminence is one of the most boring villains devised for Doctor Who. This is why The Master must be here. If it were just The Doctor vs. The Eminence, there would not be much story. Alex Macqueen is a great Master. He has a kind of campy effervescence that makes people think "I really dislike this guy, but I can't say why." Paul McGann is great as usual. Nicola Walker is outstanding, a great study in how a little goes a long way in acting. This really comes through in Masterplan, where we get the argument between The Doctor and The Master that seems to come down to two children arguing on the playground. There is much psychologizing. Meanwhile, Dr. Sally Armstrong is revealed as also childish, constantly seeking approval. Liv comes across as the adult, a person who has reconciled herself to the facts of the universe and that those facts are not always nice. The Rule of Eminence should get demerits for plagiarizing, with a heavy combination of the Master's plot for dominating humanity in both Last of the Timelords and The End of Time. The Doctor's working behind the scenes is also reminiscent of The End of Time. In the whole, for reasons we find out in the bonus disc, Molly O'Sullivan does not get much to do, and we get her sent off with a "you can never see her again" ending that's just a bit like Donna's ending, though Molly gets to keep her memories.
So, some good acting all around, good sound and production. The story is a little flat and has that deja vu just a little too often.
The whole set has a greater coherence than Dark Eyes 2. There are still some problems with it. First, I must say it again that The Eminence is one of the most boring villains devised for Doctor Who. This is why The Master must be here. If it were just The Doctor vs. The Eminence, there would not be much story. Alex Macqueen is a great Master. He has a kind of campy effervescence that makes people think "I really dislike this guy, but I can't say why." Paul McGann is great as usual. Nicola Walker is outstanding, a great study in how a little goes a long way in acting. This really comes through in Masterplan, where we get the argument between The Doctor and The Master that seems to come down to two children arguing on the playground. There is much psychologizing. Meanwhile, Dr. Sally Armstrong is revealed as also childish, constantly seeking approval. Liv comes across as the adult, a person who has reconciled herself to the facts of the universe and that those facts are not always nice. The Rule of Eminence should get demerits for plagiarizing, with a heavy combination of the Master's plot for dominating humanity in both Last of the Timelords and The End of Time. The Doctor's working behind the scenes is also reminiscent of The End of Time. In the whole, for reasons we find out in the bonus disc, Molly O'Sullivan does not get much to do, and we get her sent off with a "you can never see her again" ending that's just a bit like Donna's ending, though Molly gets to keep her memories.
So, some good acting all around, good sound and production. The story is a little flat and has that deja vu just a little too often.
November 26, 2018
The second instalment in this series was somewhat weakened by having the four episodes written by different authors, but here, we return to the original format - still four hour-long 'episodes', but all written as a single story with a single writer.
This starts a little after the cliffhanger ending of the previous volume, and it's worth noting that, while it leaves things open for the fourth and final instalment, it does not itself finish with a true cliffhanger. The focus this time is on the machinations of the Master, and his attempts to manipulate the Eminence - the main villain of the previous volume - for his own ends. This it does very ably.
In fact, the first segment is largely a Master story, with the Doctor reduced to a passive bystander watching his longtime foe setting up his plans for the rest of the narrative. The joy here is largely trying to work out what he's really up to, followed, of course, by the Doctor and new assistant Liv Chenka trying to track him down and foil his scheme. We also learn rather more about the Eminence, although its true origins are seemingly being left open for the final volume.
Prior Dark Eyes companion Molly O'Sullivan, while crucial to the plot, is more of a maguffin here than previously - the Doctor is trying to save her, but she's not present for most of the story. On the other hand, we do have the appearance of Coordinator Narvin, one of the main characters in the Gallifrey series, who meets the Doctor for the first time here, and is understandably met with some initial suspicion.
But the real strength is in the overall story, and the performance of Alex MacQueen as the Master. Perhaps the best sequence is one in which he and the Doctor are trapped on a doomed starship with no means of escape, forcing them to interact with one another and explore their differing motivations and morals. A number of the minor characters also add weight and humanity to the story, putting the galactic conflict into context, while Sally Armstrong, as the Master's companion, also has quite a bit of agency of her own.
But there's plenty of action too, from a Magnificent Seven style defence of an isolated colony to a race of subjugated aliens turning on their former masters. It's consistently well paced, and interesting throughout, and a particularly good evocation of the Master and the kind of schemes he comes up with.
This starts a little after the cliffhanger ending of the previous volume, and it's worth noting that, while it leaves things open for the fourth and final instalment, it does not itself finish with a true cliffhanger. The focus this time is on the machinations of the Master, and his attempts to manipulate the Eminence - the main villain of the previous volume - for his own ends. This it does very ably.
In fact, the first segment is largely a Master story, with the Doctor reduced to a passive bystander watching his longtime foe setting up his plans for the rest of the narrative. The joy here is largely trying to work out what he's really up to, followed, of course, by the Doctor and new assistant Liv Chenka trying to track him down and foil his scheme. We also learn rather more about the Eminence, although its true origins are seemingly being left open for the final volume.
Prior Dark Eyes companion Molly O'Sullivan, while crucial to the plot, is more of a maguffin here than previously - the Doctor is trying to save her, but she's not present for most of the story. On the other hand, we do have the appearance of Coordinator Narvin, one of the main characters in the Gallifrey series, who meets the Doctor for the first time here, and is understandably met with some initial suspicion.
But the real strength is in the overall story, and the performance of Alex MacQueen as the Master. Perhaps the best sequence is one in which he and the Doctor are trapped on a doomed starship with no means of escape, forcing them to interact with one another and explore their differing motivations and morals. A number of the minor characters also add weight and humanity to the story, putting the galactic conflict into context, while Sally Armstrong, as the Master's companion, also has quite a bit of agency of her own.
But there's plenty of action too, from a Magnificent Seven style defence of an isolated colony to a race of subjugated aliens turning on their former masters. It's consistently well paced, and interesting throughout, and a particularly good evocation of the Master and the kind of schemes he comes up with.
April 7, 2024
1、The Death of Hope
ナーヴィンからマスターを始末するよう依頼され自分はアサシンになった覚えはないと激昂するドクター。ナーヴィンはモリー・サリヴァンを救いたいのでは？と問い彼女に何が起こっているかを見せる。モリーはマスターとサリー・アームストロングとともにエミネンスの支配する植民地にいて人々を救っていた。マスターはモリーに暗示をかけて記憶操作しており、モリーは自覚しないままにマスターとサリーの行っているエミネンスに関する実験を手伝っていた。マスターに煽られ蜂起した結果ホープとレオたちが虐殺される未来を防ぐためドクターはナーヴィンに不本意ながら協力することにする。
ナーヴィンはCSIとして歴史介入の許可をとってるからナーヴィンの元で動いた方がドクターが後に罪に問われることがないということならナーヴィンと協力した方がいいよね。ナーヴィンに捨て駒にされたり罪をなすりつけられたりってことがなければ。でもナーヴィンはわかりにくいけれど根っこは法を愛するだけのいい人っぽいのでドクターとこれでいい関係を築けるといいなと期待。にしても毎度のことながらマスターは碌でもない。時々本当にすごく受け付けられない....
2. the Reviled
ナーヴィンの情報でRamosaに向かったドクター。ニンゲンとエミネンスの戦争の巻き添えになりたくないとRamosa人はコロニーのニンゲンを星から追い出そうとしていた。一ヶ所に隔離されそこから出ることを許されない扱いにニンゲンたちは不満を募らせていた。ドクターはRamosaの長と話し合いどうにかコロニーの地球人たちと共生の道を探ってくれないかと説得にかかっていた。しかしエミネンスが攻撃を仕掛けてきたことでRamosaは炎に包まれ殲滅。コロニーの地球人たちはマスターに連れ去られてしまう。
CIAのやり方に不信感を抱いたドクターは荒れるがリヴァが自分の命を救ってほしいと病について打ち明けたことで落ち着きを取り戻す。
モリーへの干渉もなくなるよう最初から時間を書き換えるとキレたドクター。大丈夫なのかな？
Pt. 3 Master Plan
過去に戻りトランスマットを発明したマーカス教授に研究を全て止めるようにいうドクター。カラシニコフのように後悔したくなければ止めるべきと警告を残し、モリーを救うべく宇宙船の爆発を止めにターディスで飛ぶ。
ドクターとマスターが対峙している間、リヴ・チャンカはマーカスの説得を続ける。
相変わらず誤算だらけのマスター。リヴ・チェンカとサリー・アームストロングの会話をきいて心を決めたマーカス教授が作業を止め、全ての記録をデータバンクの中から消去したおかげでエミネンスをこちらに呼びこむための機械も作動せず。
サリーは命を落としリヴ・チェンカはマスターに助けられる。ナーヴィンも2人の行方はわからないという。
pt4 Rule of the eminence
よもやドクター、自分にエミネンスをとりつかせるとは！加えてマスターを殺すんじゃなくて自分を殺せってなんかもうびっくりしたけどモリーに自分を撃てるはずがないという確信とマスターを殺したら人を癒す看護師であるモリーが後々苦しむことになることがわかって止めたんだろうな。そんな価値はないってことだと思う。ナーヴィンがマスターに捕まった時は焦った。ドクターの味方ってナーヴィン言ってたけどつまり最悪を回避するために歴史改変を行ってしまったということになるのか、それともクリティカルポイントは巧妙に避けたとかそういうことなのかな？ナーヴィンとドクターのコンビはすごくよかった。ナーヴィン、またドクターと絡んで欲しい。
ナーヴィンからマスターを始末するよう依頼され自分はアサシンになった覚えはないと激昂するドクター。ナーヴィンはモリー・サリヴァンを救いたいのでは？と問い彼女に何が起こっているかを見せる。モリーはマスターとサリー・アームストロングとともにエミネンスの支配する植民地にいて人々を救っていた。マスターはモリーに暗示をかけて記憶操作しており、モリーは自覚しないままにマスターとサリーの行っているエミネンスに関する実験を手伝っていた。マスターに煽られ蜂起した結果ホープとレオたちが虐殺される未来を防ぐためドクターはナーヴィンに不本意ながら協力することにする。
ナーヴィンはCSIとして歴史介入の許可をとってるからナーヴィンの元で動いた方がドクターが後に罪に問われることがないということならナーヴィンと協力した方がいいよね。ナーヴィンに捨て駒にされたり罪をなすりつけられたりってことがなければ。でもナーヴィンはわかりにくいけれど根っこは法を愛するだけのいい人っぽいのでドクターとこれでいい関係を築けるといいなと期待。にしても毎度のことながらマスターは碌でもない。時々本当にすごく受け付けられない....
2. the Reviled
ナーヴィンの情報でRamosaに向かったドクター。ニンゲンとエミネンスの戦争の巻き添えになりたくないとRamosa人はコロニーのニンゲンを星から追い出そうとしていた。一ヶ所に隔離されそこから出ることを許されない扱いにニンゲンたちは不満を募らせていた。ドクターはRamosaの長と話し合いどうにかコロニーの地球人たちと共生の道を探ってくれないかと説得にかかっていた。しかしエミネンスが攻撃を仕掛けてきたことでRamosaは炎に包まれ殲滅。コロニーの地球人たちはマスターに連れ去られてしまう。
CIAのやり方に不信感を抱いたドクターは荒れるがリヴァが自分の命を救ってほしいと病について打ち明けたことで落ち着きを取り戻す。
モリーへの干渉もなくなるよう最初から時間を書き換えるとキレたドクター。大丈夫なのかな？
Pt. 3 Master Plan
過去に戻りトランスマットを発明したマーカス教授に研究を全て止めるようにいうドクター。カラシニコフのように後悔したくなければ止めるべきと警告を残し、モリーを救うべく宇宙船の爆発を止めにターディスで飛ぶ。
ドクターとマスターが対峙している間、リヴ・チャンカはマーカスの説得を続ける。
相変わらず誤算だらけのマスター。リヴ・チェンカとサリー・アームストロングの会話をきいて心を決めたマーカス教授が作業を止め、全ての記録をデータバンクの中から消去したおかげでエミネンスをこちらに呼びこむための機械も作動せず。
サリーは命を落としリヴ・チェンカはマスターに助けられる。ナーヴィンも2人の行方はわからないという。
pt4 Rule of the eminence
よもやドクター、自分にエミネンスをとりつかせるとは！加えてマスターを殺すんじゃなくて自分を殺せってなんかもうびっくりしたけどモリーに自分を撃てるはずがないという確信とマスターを殺したら人を癒す看護師であるモリーが後々苦しむことになることがわかって止めたんだろうな。そんな価値はないってことだと思う。ナーヴィンがマスターに捕まった時は焦った。ドクターの味方ってナーヴィン言ってたけどつまり最悪を回避するために歴史改変を行ってしまったということになるのか、それともクリティカルポイントは巧妙に避けたとかそういうことなのかな？ナーヴィンとドクターのコンビはすごくよかった。ナーヴィン、またドクターと絡んで欲しい。
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2019
The third instalment in the Dark eyes series sees Matt Fitton take over writing duties after writing the latter half of the previous set.
Whilst I enjoyed the previous and its more unconventional series format with the story being out of order from the Doctor's point of view, I feel that this set benefits from the more traditional format in line with the first Dark Eyes which was also written by one sole writer, Nicholas Briggs. This helps to make the set a strong feel of direction and coherency, which is needed given that the Daleks are completely absent which the Eminence and the Master taking over as the two main threats of this chapter. This is a refreshing change however and I feel that Matt Fitton is very good at portraying the complex relationship between the Doctor and the Master by hinting at their past friendship and giving an insight into why they chose different paths.
Unfortunately, Molly is only present in two of the set's four stories as Ruth Bradley had other acting commitments but Nicola Walker has done a fantastic job following in her footsteps as full time companion; Med-tech Liv Chenka.
Overall Dark Eyes 3 is a great addition to the series which takes the story to new and interesting places.
Whilst I enjoyed the previous and its more unconventional series format with the story being out of order from the Doctor's point of view, I feel that this set benefits from the more traditional format in line with the first Dark Eyes which was also written by one sole writer, Nicholas Briggs. This helps to make the set a strong feel of direction and coherency, which is needed given that the Daleks are completely absent which the Eminence and the Master taking over as the two main threats of this chapter. This is a refreshing change however and I feel that Matt Fitton is very good at portraying the complex relationship between the Doctor and the Master by hinting at their past friendship and giving an insight into why they chose different paths.
Unfortunately, Molly is only present in two of the set's four stories as Ruth Bradley had other acting commitments but Nicola Walker has done a fantastic job following in her footsteps as full time companion; Med-tech Liv Chenka.
Overall Dark Eyes 3 is a great addition to the series which takes the story to new and interesting places.
March 16, 2025
Though a good volume for the series, I didn't find this installment quite as compelling as its immediate predecessor. Molly O'Sullivan has been such a driving force in the Dark Eyes series, but in this volume she's stripped of her vitality and spends the majority of the overall story having her brain scrambled by the Master's mind control. Everyone else is running around trying to do damage control, first of what the Master and the Eminence get up to, and then the Doctor's decision to say to hell with the rules, he's changing the damn timeline. It's only in the last story that we finally get Molly back in all of her Irish, no-nonsense, sharp-tongued glory and pretty much saves the last story from being 2 stars.
Oh, that and Matt Fitton decided to have the Doctor say goodbye to Molly on a bloody beach of all things. Bloody hell, Fitton clearly decided to see how many people he could trigger flashbacks in, seeing what Russell T. Davies did in Doomsday and asking, "Oh, how many hearts can I break?" That, combined with Molly getting to be more than a zombie is what made Rule of the Eminence 4 stars.
Oh, that and Matt Fitton decided to have the Doctor say goodbye to Molly on a bloody beach of all things. Bloody hell, Fitton clearly decided to see how many people he could trigger flashbacks in, seeing what Russell T. Davies did in Doomsday and asking, "Oh, how many hearts can I break?" That, combined with Molly getting to be more than a zombie is what made Rule of the Eminence 4 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2020
I liked this more than Dark Eyes 2, but not as much as Dark Eyes 1. What is done with Molly in this conflict involving The Doctor and The Master is interesting. The ending is somewhat emotional, but feels a tad too familiar, as if it was influenced by the end of Doctor Who series 4. Then again, something like this was played around with back in the Charley Pollard days.
January 24, 2023
Eight and the Master carry this set, particularly the almost too friendly and manipulate Master in opening the story and enacting his plans. This boxset builds well on Dark Eyes 2 and the Eminence War
December 27, 2017
Quite enjoying this, although it is a lot going on. It's a big, expansive story full of all sorts of villains.
July 28, 2021
A battle with the Master
January 25, 2022
I hate to say it, but this is probably my least favourite Dark Eyes box set so far. Still fantastic, high-scale sci-fi goodness, but a slight step down from the previous two.
April 14, 2024
I didn't know if listening to an audio book of Dr Who could evoke the same connection with the characters as you get in the TV series but this series shows that it very much can.
October 13, 2025
Not as solid or as engaging as the previous two series... and my goodness, they did Molly so dirty in this one. Set dressing without any agency. Liv didn't fare much better.
December 8, 2025
The best showing of the MacQueen Master yet. Really solid box set with the second story dragging but other than that the rest of the stories are great and exciting.
February 10, 2017
It was a great idea to make this set of episodes Doctor vs. Master, if only because it really gave Alex Macqueen an opportunity to chew the virtual scenery. What a brilliant addition to the Big Finish stable his interpretation of the Master turned out to be. May he never regenerate.
However, this set is a bit weaker than Dark Eyes 2, mainly because so much of the Master's plans -- and the foiling of his plans -- depends on technobabble that it's hard to feel any kind of tension.
Therefore, the episodes are going to depend on the emotional moments, which for some reason failed to capture my attention. I do have to give it another re-listen, just to pick up what I missed. The similarity between Alex Macqueen's voice and the voice of the scientist who were similar enough that I started thinking that he was just another of the Master's disguises. But no, he was a completely different character. Huh.
However, that revelation (spoiled above) was enough to really grab my interest, and is a plot line that shows up again in Dark Eyes 4 -- although I wasn't expecting that at all.
However, this set is a bit weaker than Dark Eyes 2, mainly because so much of the Master's plans -- and the foiling of his plans -- depends on technobabble that it's hard to feel any kind of tension.
Therefore, the episodes are going to depend on the emotional moments, which for some reason failed to capture my attention. I do have to give it another re-listen, just to pick up what I missed. The similarity between Alex Macqueen's voice and the voice of the scientist who were similar enough that I started thinking that he was just another of the Master's disguises. But no, he was a completely different character. Huh.
However, that revelation (spoiled above) was enough to really grab my interest, and is a plot line that shows up again in Dark Eyes 4 -- although I wasn't expecting that at all.
December 22, 2014
Terzo capitolo delle avventure del Dottore (nella sua ottava incarnazione) e di Molly O'Sullivan.
Questa volta, oltre al solito Master, ci troviamo ad assistere alla nascita di the Eminence, villain gassoso e con forte personalità incontrato in altri audio in precedenza, e al ritorno di Narvin, agente della Celestial Intervention Agency (CIA), e di Liv Chenka, già incotrata in un audio con il Settimo Dottore.
Come sempre ricco di colpi di scena e di vari cliffhanger tra i quattro cd della serie, lascia un fianle più chiuso rispetto al secondo capitolo... ma sappiamo già che è in produzione la quarta stagione, resta solo da vedere se recupereremo Molly per una quarta volta.
Questa volta, oltre al solito Master, ci troviamo ad assistere alla nascita di the Eminence, villain gassoso e con forte personalità incontrato in altri audio in precedenza, e al ritorno di Narvin, agente della Celestial Intervention Agency (CIA), e di Liv Chenka, già incotrata in un audio con il Settimo Dottore.
Come sempre ricco di colpi di scena e di vari cliffhanger tra i quattro cd della serie, lascia un fianle più chiuso rispetto al secondo capitolo... ma sappiamo già che è in produzione la quarta stagione, resta solo da vedere se recupereremo Molly per una quarta volta.
January 15, 2016
Do not listen to this audio adventure unless you have heard the first two sets first. Otherwise, you will be very confused. Alex MacQueen is very good as the Master. He plays him old school style and reminds me of Anthony Ainley. There is a very good series of exchanges that explore the similarities and diferences between the Master and the Doctor. Molly was used rather sparingly in the story. But, this was explained in the interviews section of the set. But, I still would like to have had her character used more. After all, Molly is Dark Eyes.
October 31, 2024
The Master has kidnapped and brainwashed Molly O'Sullivan; the Doctor and Liv must find her and save the day. I liked the development of Liv in this volume, she seemed a lot more real to me than she did in DE 2. It was nice to have a new villain -- The Eminance -- and get a break from the Daleks. The final scene, the goodbye between the Doctor and Molly was bittersweet.
November 17, 2014
+1 for fabulous Narvin
March 12, 2015
Not as strong as the previous 2 instalments but even in places the narrative didn't click as well as it should have the actors made up for it.
Still looking forward to the next Dark Eyes!
Still looking forward to the next Dark Eyes!
August 2, 2015
Epic adventure featuring Molly Dark Eyes, the Master and the Eminence.
December 23, 2015
The Doctor, and Narvin interacting! Brilliant. Loving this series of audios.
June 24, 2016
The master uses Molly O'Sullivan to try and destroy civilizations. Can the Doctor stop him.
March 16, 2016
It was solid, but I really wanted more Molly.
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