UNIT: The Longest Night

UNIT #1.3

by Nicholas Deal

"We interrupt this broadcast..." Having survived a day at the seaside, Robert Dalton and Emily Chaudhry are enjoying a few pints. Having spent the day answering the phone and praying for some action, Will Hoffman is enjoying a night out. Having signed a controversial new European treaty, the Prime Minister is on his way back to Downing Street. Having survived yet another day, the people of Britain are settling down to eat dinner, stay in, go out, spend time with their friends. "...a bomb has exploded in Central London."

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction, Audiobook

Audio Play

First published March 1, 2005

Reviews

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one a bit more than the previous UNIT adventures. It was very topical, even in years since it was initially written and produced, and confusion of pitting various factions against one another is certainly right out of the contemporary political playbook (as tRump so obviously exemplifies). Unfortunately, there is still a vast and confusing soundscape to the production that is more headache inducing than mood enhancing.
As an afterthought, I’m reminding myself that there are also some bits of fumbling narrative convenience to cover up plot holes and such, there’s at least one that is stretched to absurdity near the end.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

次々と起こる同時多発テロにUNITが巻き込まれていく。
同時多発テロからマーシャルロー発動、そしてクーデターへ。
人種間の緊張を利用してgreater goodを口にしながら排他主義と軍が支配するようになる。
リアルな脅威だけに緊張してききいってしまった。

ホフマンにダルトンも散ってしまうという。
ダルトンにいたってはマインドコントロールの支配下から抜けるために歌えーと言われて、緊迫シーンの中えんえん歌い続けてマインドコントロールから抜け出す荒技をやってのけたのにあんな風に散るなんてなんか悲しかった。

エイリアンテクノロジーが関与している設定だけどエイリアンテクノロジーがなくても起こってることだから怖い。

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one felt the most like torchwood! it felt grown up older and darker! i only wish all the stories up to this point had this tone and feeling! fingers crossed 🤞 the last episode is just the same

[James McIntosh Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's an interesting series so far. I like it. The characters are good for the most part and the stories are mysterious and interesting. I wish the episodes were longer though, and that the pacing and conclusions were done a bit better. This episode is extra dramatic and emotional.

[April Mccaffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

After a slow start with the UNIT audios, I feel like we're getting somewhere and Joseph Lidster does not disappoint with his writing.

This audio has everything you can ask for a political, harrowing drama. Almost as good as the Gallifrey series I would say.

This audio shows us just how easy it is for modern day people to get brainwashed so easily and how people can be easily controlled by fear and emotion. You don't always need aliens or robots to make great story-human emotions and fear is the biggest alien of them all.

You can relate to this audio as in parts of the world, this is happening and it is highly gripping.

I am hoping the rest of the UNIT stays on this level as I may begin to enjoy it. But if you want to start with UNIT, I'll recommend starting with the Longest Nights.

I also loved the mention of Irving Braxiatel's pub-the White Rabbit. That pub really does travel through time and space and nice to see the voice actor of Adrian Wall in this as well. Almost like a Bernice Summerfield crossover with UNIT!

*Hums London's burning nursery rhythm*

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was definitely better than part 2. Quite political, more women's voices! It felt like London under a terrorist attack and definitely brought up a lot of the prejudices of the time. I thought it was let down a bit at the end. One maniacal villain running everything works ok for Doctor Who but when you are dealing with a more complex story then you need to have a more complex resolution.

[Danny Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

So as we're nearing the end of the road, it's time for Joseph Lidster's contribution to this series. The Longest Night is a story I've heard a lot of praise towards and considering Lidster's one of my favorite writers at Big Finish it's not a surprise to say I've been excited to listen to this for a very long time.

When a nightclub is attacked by a suicide bomber, it isn't long before London is in chaos as terrorist attacks across the city are struck aflame. Anger is building up in the streets and the PM is brought to his knees. Only Emily Chaudry and Robert Dalton can save the day, but there will be many casualties on the way. Just who is causing hatred and prejudice to spread across the country and why?

Joseph Lidster has written an incredibly dark and hopeless script that is wonderfully directed and performed. It's a very bleak and intense story with many casualties, it's unfortunately also extremely relevant still in today's political climate. The idea of white extremists performing terrorist attacks to keep their country 'pure' is both a terrifying and very real problem that still affects not only our country but the entire world. This is a very shocking episode with some very solid twists and a jaw-dropping cliffhanger!

Overall: A mind-blowing third installment to the series that left me shook! 10/10

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm, interesting enough, but I still don't know why these unit selections were included with a Dr. Who bundle, this one didn't even mention him.
Anyway, a decent audio drama, Big Finish does a good job with these, and I still have more to listen to, so I guess off I go to start another one.

[Laura Naysmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Utterly brilliant!

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audio has a lot going on, but feels a bit uncomfortable as it tackles terrorism and involves an organization called ICIS.

[Luiz Santiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

5

[Tabitha · Rating 3 out of 5]

These had such a slow start that it's hard to care at this point. It did pick up somewhat, so hopefully that's a new trend.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Commentary can be a bit on the nose but something that still felt surprisingly relevant

[Seb Hasi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Longest Night is truly one of the greatest triumphs of Dr Who. Not because it is part of the whole sci-fi universe but because it has that real world shock factor, without losing the narrative running through the series. A victim of circumstance, the 7/7 bombings coincided with the release of this story but if anything that tragedy makes all the ‘very similar to real life’ elements feel even more visceral. The cries of ‘this is for my people’ become even more harrowing by proxy, and thankfully this is nothing that could potentially be seen as distasteful to take away from the freak coincidence this story was born into.

Joseph Lidster brings poignant observations into the multifaceted world of politics without lecturing or spoon-feeding; simply allowing you to assess the morals and motivations of each side. The fact that by this point the previous writers for the range have engaged you with the characters, means that Lidster can just hit you with an emotional anvil; not in the traditional ‘big twist ending way’ but with plotting that leaves you going ‘jesus f**king christ’ every 5 minutes. I cannot commend the simplicity of the story enough, because something like the matters brought up in this story could just be lectures from a writer of any less calibre. Not Joseph Lidster though, ‘violent nationalism is bad’ is a message given to you by breaking your heart, killing off characters, and leaving you devastated yet desperate to see what happens in the finale.

Characters like Andrea Winnington have limited potential generally, but she’s a perfect example of a writer using a character to their full potential even if said potential isn’t much. There are no scenes of characters or sub-plots that overstay their welcome, just a non stop machine gun fire plot that gives you no time to breathe. That intensity in the pacing matches beautifully with the grave and horrific nature of the plot and I cannot blame anyone if they have to pause halfway through just to take a breath before diving into the second act of tragic mastery.

Simply put JUST LISTEN TO THE DAMN THING.

[Jamieson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Longest Night is a very good political thriller. Taking place a day or two after UNIT: Snake Head, we get one long night of terror and mind-control. This is so well-written and well-acted and features two main character deaths. This story is brutal and surprisingly could just as easily be made today with phrases such as "Make Britain great" being uttered by the villains. The UNIT mini-series is well worth listening to and this might be some of the best.

[Debra Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unit investigates a rash of bombings and killings that are happening in London. The government is brainwashing people so that a military unit known as ISIS can take control. What is ISIS and why do they want control?

[ani · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good story tackling some interesting current political topics.