Doctor Who: Death and the Queen

The Tenth Doctor Adventures #1.3

by James Goss

Donna Noble has never been lucky in love.

So when, one day, her Prince does come, she is thrilled to have the wedding of all weddings to look forward to. Though the Doctor isn’t holding his breath for an invitation. And her future mother-in-law is certainly not amused.

But on the big day itself, Donna finds her castle under siege from the darkest of forces, marching at the head of a skeleton army.

When it looks like even the Doctor can’t save the day, what will Queen Donna do to save her people from Death itself?

Genres: Doctor Who, Audiobook, Science Fiction, Fiction, Short Stories, Media Tie In, Time Travel

Audio CD

First published May 31, 2016

About the author

James Goss has written two Torchwood novels and a radio play, as well as a Being Human book. His Doctor Who audiobook Dead Air won Best Audiobook 2010. James also spent seven years working on the BBC's official Doctor Who website and co-wrote the website for Torchwood Series One. In 2007, he won the Best Adaptation category in the annual LA Weekly Theatre Awards for his version of Douglas Adams' novel Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.

Reviews

[Jim C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an audiobook based on the television show. In this one The Doctor and Donna travel to a planet that is hidden from the rest of the universe. While there Donna meets a prince and agrees to marry him. Things don't go the way they were planned.

This was a very quick listen that made me laugh and smile throughout. The production is top quality as David Tennant and Catherine Tate come back to reprise their respective roles. That is easily the highlight of this story. Their banter is on point and brings you back to when they were the characters on the television screen. I believe they can do no wrong with their interactions. Their characters were once again brought back to life. The actual story was streamlined a little bit but that fits in with this universe. It was a strong story for Donna and fans of her character will enjoy her arc in this story. What surprised me about this offering is the little character exploration for The Doctor. Usually stories like this will shy from that aspect as there isn't enough time. This didn't as it touched upon companions leaving.

This was a terrific listen and it was made that way by the actors. Everyone from the two stars to the supporting cast did an excellent job. It wasn't the best story but it works in this universe. It would have made for a comedic episode if it was on television. This was definitely a great way to kill an hour.

[Polly Batchelor · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I’ve had worse first dates. Death here’s just asked me to dance"

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely my favorite of these three new adventures featuring David Tennant and Catherine Tate. They perfectly captured their dynamic, and, as always, it was great fun to listen to.

So in this one, Donna Noble is about to be crowned Queen.



I think that about says it all. As per usual, things don't really work out for Donna, though. A giant talking cloud that seems to be Death threatens to ruin her wedding day, and the Doctor isn't helping things. As anyone can imagine, Donna is somewhat less than amused...

"A giant talking cloud? That is so you. Things are finally going well for me, and you do this! ... Know anyone else who gets menaced by clouds? I am becoming queen today. Queen! All the times I've been there for you, saving your skinny little hide, I wanted just once to have one happy day all of my own, but nooooo. You just gotta make it all about you!"

This really feels like it could've been a TV episode. Plot-wise it's not really perfect, but honestly, it has adorable Doctor/Donna bantering, a lot of moments where Donna gets to shine (both comically and dramatically), hilarious dialogue (the Doctor's reaction to Donna's wedding dress: "That is one amazing dress. It's huge! You could make a blanket fort in there.", and let's face it:

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donna and The Doctor end up in a country they have never heard of which has been at peace for 500 years. Donna and the Prince fall in love and are getting married. Only we know, Donna is never lucky in love and this is no exception. There is a reason for the peace and a price to be paid.

I loved Donna in this story -- it caught her personality perfectly and Tennant and Tate are always amazing chemistry. Lots of fun

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

And... they saved the best for the last. Slowly getting to know James Goss. Think he's pretty good. Very good with the Donna and Doctor interactions. Best of the three stories. Excellent box set.

Very highly recommended.

Must listen for all David Tennant fans.

Even if you've never had experience with audio dramas - this would be a very fine introduction.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly enjoyable! By far the best of these 3 audio adventures with David Tennant and Catherine Tate narrating. The story fits right into the series and felt like a "Missing episode" from the Doctor/Donna era. Donna finds herself falling for a Prince of a (for some reason) unknown-to-the-Doctor little kingdom and is about to be married to him and crowned queen. Slight catch; there's a huge menacing cloud proclaiming itself to be Death which is descending upon the kingdom...

The banter between the characters in this one was fantastic and even the other characters were delightful. Hildegaurd was seriously amazing; she'd be a super fun companion but even just in this short adventure she was the best side-character/one-episode-additional-companion ever.

[Rob Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite of the three from the first volume of 10th Doctor audios. Tate and Tennant are on top form and Alice Krige is excellent as the Queen Mother of the kingdom visited. My only quibble is that in places (especially at the half way point), it feels like I am listening to a stage play rather than an episode of the TV series.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! This is a story that works really well on audio (not too many characters, not too complicated) and it's just a great story for Donna. The Doctor and Donna's banter is hilarious too.

[Stephen Theaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite of the three so far. Lots of very funny stuff between the Doctor and Donna, especially her noticing that he has his eye on another potential companion.

[Evangeline Munster · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This one was pretty hilarious. Really enjoying these audio adventures!

[Shaitanah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, touching and makes me miss the fourth series of Doctor Who so much! Brilliant voice acting, too.

[Lauren (WesterDrumlins) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite of the three audio dramas, mainly because we got to hear Donna's personality shine the most.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been listening to this again lots in English and in German. It is such good practice and now I've heard the story about 5 times I'm still loving it.

Simply Perfection!!!! James Goss is another one of my favourite writers and he did not disappoint in this at all! Donna was simply amazing!!! From being Queen, to dancing with death, I was in stitches! And not only was she funny but also brilliant and clever! And it wasn't all about the Doctor! Also LOVED Alice Kriege as the Evil Queen Mum. Fantastic performance by one of my favourite Evil Actresses. And Beth Chalmers was BRILLIANT as Hortense, the soon to be general. All the three adventures were great but this one was my favourite. I just adored it! Fantastic 3 episodes by Big Finish. Only thing I want to know now is when will they do more????

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donna Noble, she truly shines in this one. The best of all three audio novels. First time I had heard one from Big Finish and they do an incredible job at capturing the essence of Doctor Who. And those special sound effects just brilliant, feels like and actual episode from the show, just we have to use our imagination to picture what is happening but they do anot incredible job helping us imagine the settings and eveything.

[Shawne · Rating 5 out of 5]

a brilliant rollicking romp of a high-concept adventure for the Doctor and Donna, which manages to be jolly good fun while also digging deep into the relationship between these two space-faring best friends - full of clever, affectionate callbacks to the canon established in the television series, while remaining wholly faithful to the spirit of this most glorious of TARDIS pairings.

the only thing I'm not quite sold on is how quickly Donna gets swept up in her romance with Prince Rudolph of the mysteriously peaceful Goritania - she falls so fast and seems willing to go so far with him but it doesn't quite fit with what we know of Donna after she started travelling with the Doctor. but Donna leaving the TARDIS for Goritania is an essential step for the story to kick off, so... 🤷🏻‍♀️

Otherwise, this really is cracking good fun. it's hilarious to listen as the Doctor tags along on Donna and Rudolph's dates, until he realises this might be something real, after all, and he has to contend with the possibility that Donna might really leave him. I love my humour served with a heaping slice of heartbreak, and writer James Goss delivers - paired with thrilling voice work by David Tennant, naturally, who responds with great energy and charm to this smart, sparky script.

While not a huge fan of the murkiness of Donna's original motivations, I love how her brilliance and bravery shine through once she accepts the people of Goritania as hers. it's lovely to see how her actions, borne of kindness and the profound empathy for which Donna Noble is known, change the minds and lives of the people around her, notably Hortense the maid (an excellent candidate, as Goss frequently reminds us, to be a companion on the TARDIS). by just being herself, Donna brings hope, literacy and new possibilities to the women of the kingdom, and that's kinda fucking cool to see.

plenty of fun to be had, too, when the story kicks properly into gear and we encounter a death-bringing cloud, an army of skeletons and, possibly, Death themself. there's something quite lovely here about how the Doctor keeps puzzling away at the situation, trying to figure out what's strange about it, and how he can save the day. even better, Donna never falls into the grim trope of becoming the damsel in distress - the Doctor couldn't do what he does without Donna making it possible in the first place.

the sound design is again excellent, this time featuring medieval-era sound effects like clopping horses and clashing swords. all paired with genius voice work by Tennant and Catherine Tate, as always, whose chemistry is so blindingly wonderful that it's especially a joy when they have such a good, dense, smart script to tear into together. both of them are such gifted actors and that comes through in the audio realm too - I defy you to remain unmoved with Tennant says, sadly, quietly, "Goodbye, Donna", at one point, or when Tate spends much of a scene holding back tears in her voice. it's just absolutely lovely work that makes the audio drama really come to life.

Goss' profound appreciation for this dynamic duo can be felt in every word of his script. he writes the Doctor and Donna with such affection and insight you'll wish he could do even more with them. highlights include a fabulous emotion-dumping speech by the Doctor, as he preemptively mourns Donna leaving the TARDIS; and tiny moments showing how much they really love and care for each other. there's no way Goss could ever have guessed what would be in store for the Doctor and Donna's final act on screen, but I love that his story fits perfectly into what we've seen thus far, while hinting at what's to come. for what is a "happy ever after" if not one that includes your best friend in all of time and space?

a joy to listen to, and an episode I'd more than happily include as part of Series 4!

[Jamie Revell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third and final episode in this set uses a historical setting - sort of. We're actually in some small, Ruritania-type kingdom in 18th century Europe, although it's sufficiently out of the way that there isn't much sense of history here, just a location made up for the purposes of the story. That story is, in part, a riff on The Runaway Bride, with Donna once again falling for the charms of someone unsuitable.

That aspect of it is done quite well, and is something that works better with Donna than it would with pretty much any other modern companion. And Goss writes Donna effectively, with both her flaws and her strengths on display, and some great dialogue. It's really this that is the episode's saving grace.

Because, other than that, it all feels a bit daft. The villain is never really believable, and most of the guest characters are rather cardboard. The exception is Hortense the maid, and even there the resolution of her subplot feels overdone, as if Goss is trying too hard to feel 'modern'. There is clearly an attempt at comedy here, and it may be that that's the overall intent of the episode, but, some of the Doctor/Donna banter aside, most of it falls flat.

I was really expecting to like this one, which seems generally to have a good reputation, but the strong portrayal of Donna doesn't lift it above the uninteresting plot, and it is, to my surprise, the weakest of these three stories.

[Alina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A high 3.4 stars. This adventure was very enjoyable and very reminiscent of Russell T. Davies-era scripts. The main actors' acting was great and consistent with the show. The plot was exciting, fun, and very Classic New Who. As others have noted, this audio-book could easily have been a tv episode, but, overall, it translated well into audio format. (There was one moment where some awkward additional dialogue was necessary to help the listener understand what was happening.)

On the other hand, the story could have really benefited from both stunning visuals and a stunning soundtrack. Most importantly, the plot could have had more weight or significance (especially emotional significance, if this was an RTD script, I think). This may seem like an odd comment to make for a story with "Death" as its titular character, but this is Doctor Who. Were this a tv episode, with a "meatier" plot, great visuals, and great music, this episode could have ranked up there with the best of New Who.

tl; dr: A fun adventure for Whovians who miss Ten and/or Donna. It's nearly as good as an RTD episode, but because it lacks emotional or other weight, it's not nearly as good as the best of RTD-era episodes.

[TheGeekProblem · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been enjoying getting into the extended media of Doctor Who. It feels quite nerdy having books and audio dramas, very vintage, very retro, but I’m having so much fun. It’s also expensive but I’ve been getting around with some audios that are on Spotify and some books I’ve downloaded completely free.

This audio was the most memorable of the lot. Volume 1 is good all in all, but this one was the best of the lot, I think.

Donna falls in love with this guy who’s the future king of a country they’ve never heard of. Starts right in the middle of the adventure. They use flashbacks in an audio which gives way to funny bits and change of tone. The Doctor being a 3rd wheel is so funny, just interrupting every time Donna gets cozy with the future king. He’s all like ‘Adventure! Mystery!’ and Donna is like ‘God fucking dammit!’. She also doesn’t like life as a Queen but she’s all like ‘Is great, really. Fine. Just nice’.

The Doctor thinks that Donna is actually going to leave him and he goes into a rant about how he feels like he’s being abandoned and it never gets easier. He also makes a comment how his tin dog left him twice and it’s a funny comment in a rant that is actually kind of sad. Also he’s like ‘no man is going to be good enough for you, Donna’, like all fatherly love, or I guess best friend love.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of the three adventures featured in volume 1 of the Tenth Doctor Adventures, this one was my favorite!

Poor Donna just can't catch a break when it comes to men and this time is no different. Donna meets and almost immediately falls in love with a prince, that's right, a real prince. Then before you know it, they're getting married and Donna is already getting used to being Queen Donna.

But the prince and the queen mother have left out one tiny detail about Donna's wedding day. As Donna prepares for her wedding day, the Doctor tries to uncover the mystery behind the kingdom's flag. Donna starts to realize something's off, and it's almost too late when she and the Doctor figure it all out.

In the end, the kingdom is saved and Queen Donna is not only accepted by her people, but beloved.

Death and the Queen is the best of the Doctor and Donna's witty banter and relationship based on taking the piss out of one another.

[Rowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is david tennant and catherine tate at their best. this is also the only audiobook with them i've listened to, but what a good one to start with!

the plot is simple and easy enough to get, which is nice because this story really shines in its humor and interactions between the doctor and donna. the little flashback scenes work so nicely, and you can really picture them playing out in your head. donna running away from the doctor was very funny to me, although i do feel for her wanting a break from everything.

interesting character development for the doctor, with him acknowledging that companions leaving is harder on him than he lets on.

all in all, great comeback for the doctor and donna!! so excited to see them back on the big screen later this year.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doctor Who: Death and the Queen (The Tenth Doctor Adventures #3) by James Goss

Most enjoyable tale, superb interaction between Doctor and Donna, and a right royal pain in the backside mother-in-law! ****

“A giant talking cloud? That is so you. Things are finally going well for me, and you do this! ... Know anyone else who gets menaced by clouds? I am becoming queen today. Queen! All the times I've been there for you, saving your skinny little hide, I wanted just once to have one happy day all of my own, but nooooo. You just gotta make it all about you!”

Doctor's reaction to Donna's wedding dress: “That is one amazing dress. It's huge! You could make a blanket fort in there.”

[Steven Shinder · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tenth Doctor was more annoying here, but it worked really well with the banter he shared with Donna. This adventure kinda goes full circle putting Donna in another marriage situation. Death is involved, and I feel like this could've been called 'Til Death Do Us Part or something. The Doctor is also open about how sad he feels about companions leaving even after all these years. Weirdly enough, had Donna gone through with the marriage, it would've felt like some Classic Who companion write-outs in which they end up settling in a time that is not their own. We know the end result of this story, but the journey is fun. Definitely the best out of these first three Tenth Doctor audios.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really mixed feelings about this one (6/10). BRILLIANT opening, and hilarious first act with Catherine Tate getting several chuckles out of me. I was smiling the whole time - Donna at her finest! Second act is good too, a bit of intrigue, and both the settings and characters are servicable. BUT, in classic Doctor Who fashion the villian and showdown are all predictable and boring. This story deserved a better antagonist. Still, I recommend seeing it through as it's one of the better David Tennant ones. Wanted to give this one higher rating but I can't based on my disappointment with the ending.

[Lewis Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

The Tenth Doctor Adventures have all been entertaining to listen to, if not a little lightweight and filler-y. ‘Death and the Queen’ feels like a typical Tennant story, with humour and lighthearted adventure, but it never really rises above that, except for in the fact it’s genuinely funny and has a good villain to it. I’ve enjoyed dabbling back into this era of Who, albeit briefly, but I am hoping one day Big Finish break away from trying to please Tennant fans and do something remarkable with his Doctor.

[Akasha Wayland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hallo 🇧ookies ‼️

Und heute hören wir uns "Der Tod und die Königin" an.

Ein weiteres #DoctorWho #Hörspiel mit dem #ZehntenDoctor und Donna Noble. Donna trifft auf Prinz Rudolph und einer Skelettarmee, die vom Tod persönlich angeführt wird. Findet die Traumhochzeit zwischen Donna und Prinz Rudolph statt oder endet sie in einem Drama. 🙊 Von mir gibt es für dieses #AudioDrama 5 🌟

#LübbeAudio #SubAbbau2023 #Bookstagram #BookTok #BookClub #Bücherwurm #Bookworm #Leseratte #BookNerd #Whovian #SonicScrewDriver

[Isiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This just became one of my favorite Big Finish stories yet.

It is a perfect 10 & Donna story that includes Donna’s second failed wedding, a flair of fairy tale and fantasy, an army of maids on horseback fighting off an army of skeletons, and Donna defeating “Death” with protective underpants. What else could you possibly want?

The plot was a bit predictable, but it was done with so much fun it didn’t even matter. I need more 10 and Donna Big Finish stories…there will never be enough.

[David Layton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The thing about "Death and the Queen" is how close in style and subject it is to the Tennant-era TV series. We have Donna getting married again, seeking an exit from her boring existence. We have the Doctor - all off-kilter enthusiasm. And we have a kind of E.T.A. Hoffmann story of a little-known European country and its eerie bargain with Death. Add in some girl power moments and the listener gets an entertaining romp through some traditional and clichéd story elements.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun audiodrama that reminded me how much I love Donna's and Ten's dynamic! The plot could have been a bit more solid but it's still very entertaining.

I bought this at Big Finish out of curiosity for this type of media and I have no regrets (though mostly because I got this for 3 euros and not the original 9 something)

[Shaun Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This swings back the other direction toward farce, despite being a pretty grim adventure. Catherine Tate's Donna continues to be unlucky in love, but thankfully, the Doctor has her back, and once again the chemistry between her and David Tennant is worth the price of admission. For our full reviews, see http://travelingthevortex.com/?p=8848

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly good Dr. Who audio drama. I liked this one, and I still have five more from the humble bundle I bought last year, so hopefully some of the others are as good as the last two I've listened to. Big Finish does a relatively good job with these, though sometimes, their their story lines irritate me. :)