Doctor Who: Only the Monstrous

The War Doctor

by Nicholas Briggs (Author/Narrator), John Hurt (Narrator), Jacqueline Pearce (Narrator)

Three new battles for The War Doctor

1.1 The Innocent

As the Daleks mass their time fleet for a final assault on Gallifrey, something ancient is waiting for them at Omega One. And a sacrifice must be made.

Arch manipulator and Time Lord strategist, Cardinal Ollistra receives shock news of the Doctor’s death.

Meanwhile, on the planet Keska, a parochial war has returned to plague a peaceful civilisation after decades of tranquility. But how can such a war have any connection with the great Time War which, at any one moment in the whole of eternity, could threaten to tear the universe apart?

If only the Doctor were still alive.

1.2 The Thousand Worlds

With the high ranking Time Lord Seratrix behind enemy lines, the War Doctor finds himself assigned to a rescue mission. But any room for manoeuvre is severely restricted by an area of space known as the Null Zone.

Times have changed on Keska, and a countdown to destruction is beginning.

But who are the Taalyens and what is their part in the great and terrifying Dalek plan?

1.3 The Heart of the Battle

Trapped in a citadel swarming with Daleks, the Time Lord rescue force must find a way to overcome insurmountable odds. With the Daleks apparently planning to rule the Null Zone, perhaps their thirst for universal conquest and victory has been quenched…

The War Doctor doesn’t believe so — but how can he prove it without destroying any chance of peace?

As the countdown to the destruction of Keska proceeds, a deadly choice must be made… A choice that will define this Doctor and perhaps forever cast him in the role of ‘monster’.

Genres: Doctor Who, Audiobook, Science Fiction, Fiction, British Literature, Media Tie In

Audio CD

First published December 14, 2015

About the author

Nicholas Briggs is a British actor and writer, predominantly associated with the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who and its various spin-offs. Some of Briggs' earliest Doctor Who-related work was as host of The Myth Makers, a series of made-for-video documentaries produced in the 1980s and 1990s by Reeltime Pictures in which Briggs interviews many of the actors and writers involved in the series. When Reeltime expanded into producing original dramas, Briggs wrote some stories and acted in others, beginning with War Time, the first unofficial Doctor Who spin-off, and Myth Runner, a parody of Blade Runner showcasing bloopers from the Myth Makers series built around a loose storyline featuring Briggs as a down on his luck private detective in the near future.

He wrote and appeared in several made-for-video dramas by BBV, including the third of the Stranger stories, In Memory Alone opposite former Doctor Who stars Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant. He also wrote and appeared in a non-Stranger BBV production called The Airzone Solution (1993) and directed a documentary film, Stranger than Fiction (1994).

Briggs has directed many of the Big Finish Productions audio plays, and has provided Dalek, Cybermen, and other alien voices in several of those as well. He has also written and directed the Dalek Empire and Cyberman audio plays for Big Finish. In 2006, Briggs took over from Gary Russell as executive producer of the Big Finish Doctor Who audio range.

Briggs co-wrote a Doctor Who book called The Dalek Survival Guide.

Since Doctor Who returned to television in 2005, Briggs has provided the voices for several monsters, most notably the Daleks and the Cybermen. Briggs also voiced the Nestene Consciousness in the 2005 episode "Rose", and recorded a voice for the Jagrafess in the 2005 episode "The Long Game"; however, this was not used in the final episode because it was too similar to the voice of the Nestene Consciousness. He also provided the voices for the Judoon in both the 2007 and 2008 series. On 9 July 2009, Briggs made his first appearance in the Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood in the serial Children of Earth, playing Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Rick Yates.

Reviews

[Jim C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an audiobook based on the television series. It has the character of the War Doctor which only appeared on only two episodes of the long running series. The character was played by actor John Hurt who returns in this audiobook to play the character again. In this one, the Time Lords are still battling the Daleks. The War Doctor is tired of this war and wants nothing to do with it anymore. The problem is he dragged back into the conflict.

I am probably giving this a higher rating than it deserves and I am probably doing it because of John Hurt. I heard that distinctive voice in my ear buds and I was immediately into this book. His portrayal of the War Doctor was terrific. He easily shows why he is considered an amazing actor. As for the story it fit perfectly within this universe. A peaceful planet is being attacked by a race that adheres to beliefs similar to the Daleks. So we have the symmetry of The Daleks and the conquering race and the symmetry of the Time Lords and the peaceful people of the planet. I loved the Doctor's new companion in this story as we get all kinds to timey wimey shenanigans in the story. I can say all the actors brought wonderful performance as even minor characters stood out.

The production of a Big Finish production is top notch. Between the known and unknown actors, the sound effects, and the music I was immersed in the story. It helped that the story was enjoyable also. If you ever have a chance to get your hands on a Big Finish audio production I suggest you do it. They really excel at them especially ones from this universe. This one included.

[Kate Sherrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing is magnificent, the performances are magnificent, the plot is magnificent, even the militaristic new theme music for the War Doctor is magnificent, if strongly reminiscent of the more martial versions of Babylon 5's theme. John Hurt makes a wonderful Doctor (even if he now blows his top whenever anybody uses the name), sly and insightful and wise and brave, his voice as expressive as Peter Capaldi's face. The supporting cast, too, is excellent. I'm still hunting for information but I have special praise for the actors who played the wonderful Rejoice, the Doctor's companion du jour (there are two actors, for the character is depicted as a young and hopeful and then an older and wearier woman). This story is exactly what we would want of a "lost" War Doctor episode: it's only giving us a glimpse of a small battle within the Time War, but addresses in that microcosm all of the issues of the larger arc. Don't miss this one, Whovians!

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big Finish have been releasing Doctor Who (& numerous other) audio adventures over the years & while this first adventure for The War Doctor may not be one of the best it is still very entertaining. The cast, which includes Jacqueline Pearce & Carolyn Seymour, handle the material well. What lifts this above most Doctor Who audio stories is the legendary John Hurt. He slips effortlessly into the role & his voice is a joy to listen to. As if this wasn't enough, there's also an impressive music only section and a behind the scenes documentary. I look forward to furure releases of this promising series of War Doctor stories.

[osoi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Все истории Военного Доктора максимально отдалены от привычных докторских юмора, легкости, решения проблем мановением звуковой отвертки. Война обязывает обратиться к моральным дилеммам высшего порядка. Тут вымирают целые планеты, пока таймлорды грызутся с далеками и обе стороны пытаются придумать оружие изощреннее предыдущего. Доктор все еще открещивается от своего имени и ненадолго прячется в ракушку покоя на краю вселенной, чтобы быть безжалостно выдернутым оттуда бесконечной войной.

Идея заключения мира с расой, весь смысл жизни которой состоит в процессе угнетения всех и вся? Этот идеализм видится трогательным (и с далеками можно помириться?), пока не погребает под собой миллионы жизней. Эта линия захватила основное внимание, все остальное - беготня, принятие сложных решений в экстремальных ситуациях, совпадения и таймскипы - довольно стандартно обрисовывает докторскую ответственность, с уклоном в невозможность влиять на события. Доктор тут вспыльчивый и уставший от войны, потерь, бессилия. Война закатывает в асфальт больше и горше, чем может предотвратить один таймлорд; история получилась цельной и эмоционально насыщенной (никто не говорил, что будет просто). И где-то в параллельной вселенной Сэратрикс стал мессией.

Каст первоклассный. Отдельная похвала звуковым эффектам. Стычки с далеками в космосе выносили на орбиту (читай - переслушала несколько раз :3). Бонусом музыка к эпизоду + обширное интервью.

lukk.svbtle

[The Post Monument · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Innocent - 3.5 star
The Thousand Worlds - 3 stars
The Heart of the Battle - 3.5 stars

Overall - 3.5 stars

[Luiz Santiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

OBRA-PRIMA!!!
WAR DOCTOR É BADASS DEMAIS!!!

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

*technically a relisten but tbh I'd forgotten everything anyway*

Ah yes, my first ever Big Finish audiobook. Shout out to my uni housemate Louis who insisted that I borrow his copies of the War Doctor back in 2017, this rather expensive addiction is entirely his fault.

I enjoyed this box set waaaaay more the second time round, I think the political intrigue is a lot easier to enjoy if you've listened to the Gallifrey range and other Time War box sets. John Hurt's wonderful performance made me forget for a moment that I'm still salty about the War Doctor appearing in the 50th rather than Paul McGann and Jacqueline Pearce steals every scene that she's in with that fabulous voice of hers (thank u Big Finish for making practically every big political player on Gallifrey a woman).

[MindProbe · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've listened to this boxset several times since its original release, and every time I've come away disappointed. it's clearly aware of its Big Deal status as Big Finish's first proper foray into the Time War, with *John Hurt* as the Doctor; there's talk in the Behind the Scenes interviews of it being essentially a whole new, unexplored era of Doctor Who, a huge patch of blank canvass to fill in, and the story clearly wants to live up to that with a suitably epic scale and some proper thematic weight and a sense of really being About Something. I want to appreciate that, because those sorts of qualities are hardly a given for a Big Finish release, and Howard Carter's spectacular music and sound design really do make it feel like a movie-sized Event, the suite at the end of disc 3 possibly being the highlight of the whole thing. but Briggs' conception of the Time War here more or less amounts to one endless, universe-wide, Star Wars-budget Terry Nation serial, all Time Destructors and labour camps and drilling into the cores of planets to turn them into spaceships and simplistic morality tales about the limits of pacifism (just about when you start to think "This Neville Chamberlain business feels a bit on-the-nose" the Daleks start chanting "PEACE IN OUR TIME"). it's a supposedly bizarre and unimaginable conflict beyond any human frame of reference, rendered as a straightforward extension of a very familiar mode of Doctor Who. what's the point of filling in the gaps if it's just with more of the same?

the dialogue really doesn't help either - attempts at naturalism that just feel strained and clunky, limp jokes that barely register as such, overwritten scenes full of redundant exposition and themes and emotional conflicts conveyed through characters directly stating them in plain (very plain, downright prosaic) language. the fact that John Hurt and Jacqueline Pearce give superb performances anyway is a testament to their deservedly legendary talent.

it's a story I really wish I liked, hence revisiting it occasionally to see if *this* time, if I'm in the right mood or something, I actually will, but for me it always falls frustratingly short of its own ambitions.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

#langolobigfinish

L'ANGOLO BIG FINISH: “THE INNOCENT” (Only the Monstrous - The War Doctor 1.1)

Scritto da NICHOLAS BRIGSS
Con JOHN HURT, JACQUELINE PEARCE, LUCY BRIGGS-OWEN, BETH CHALMERS e NICHOLAS BRIGSS as the Daleks.

Mentre i Dalek ammassano la loro flotta temporale per un assalto finale su Gallifrey, qualcosa di antico li sta aspettando su Omega One. E un sacrificio deve essere fatto.
Arci-manipolatrice e stratega dei Signori del Tempo, la Cardinale Ollistra riceve la scioccante notizia della morte del Dottore.
Intanto, sul pianeta Keska, una guerra parrocchiale è tornata a flagellare una pacifica civiltà dopo decenni di tranquillità. Ma come può una tale guerra avere una qualche connessione con la Grande Guerra del Tempo la quale, in qualsiasi momento dell'intera eternità, può minacciare di fare a pezzi l'universo?
Se solo il Dottore fosse ancora vivo...


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Ci rituffiamo quindi nella Guerra del Tempo, questa volta ad uno stadio molto più avanzato e in compagnia del Dottore che ha rinnegato il suo nome.
Stranamente, questo primo episodio si concentra poco sulla Guerra del Tempo in sé, andando invece a concentrarsi in un momento di pausa in cui il Dottore deve recuperare dopo essere stato ferito. A prendersi cura di lui c'è la giovane Rejoice, che nonostante le burbere esternazioni del suo paziente non si lascia intimorire.
Con un'ambientazione relativamente tranquilla, c'è la possibilità di andare a conoscere meglio questa incarnazione che abbiamo visto così poco su schermo.
In altre circostanze, Rejoice potrebbe essere un'ottima companion, ma ovviamente un Dottore così chiuso non può permettersi di avere intorno qualcuno che gli ricordi costantemente una morale alla quale in tempo di guerra non può più attingere. Ciononostante, lascia un segno abbastanza evidente da permettere al War Doctor di abbassare la guardia anche solo per un attimo.
Da tutt'altra parte, abbiamo qualche scorcio delle macchinazioni di Ollistra e di qualche altro Signore del Tempo che conosceremo meglio in seguito.
Ma quello che fa davvero funzionare l'episodio è l'interpretazione di John Hurt, che con un mix di introspezione e azione riesce a donare vita al suo personaggio, con i suoi dubbi morali, determinato e rassegnato allo stesso tempo.
È quindi un inizio in sordina ma che funziona egregiamente come entrée verso una storia più movimentata.




#langolobigfinish

L'ANGOLO BIG FINISH: “THE THOUSAND WORLDS” (Only the Monstrous - The War Doctor 1.2)

Scritto da NICHOLAS BRIGSS
Con JOHN HURT, JACQUELINE PEARCE, LUCY BRIGGS-OWEN, CAROLYN SEYMOUR, BETH CHALMERS e NICHOLAS BRIGSS as the Daleks.
Con il Signore del Tempo di alto rango Seratrix dietro le linee nemiche, il Dottore Guerriero si ritrova assegnato a una missione di salvataggio. Ma ogni spazio di manovra è severamente ristretto da un'area di spazio conosciuta come la Zona Nulla.
I tempi sono cambiati su Keska, e un conto alla rovescia è iniziato.
Ma chi sono i Taalyens e qual è la loro parte nel grande e terrificante piano dei Dalek?


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Ad ascoltare il primo episodio, avrei pensato di avere a che fare con storie singole, ma a quanto pare Only the Monstrous è la stessa storia divisa in più parti (un po' come succedeva in Dark Eyes 1 e Ravagers, sempre di Nicholas Briggs).
Se la prima parte aveva quindi lo scopo di introdurre l'ambientazione e i personaggi, questa va ad entrare nel vivo della storia e a mettere le basi per il finale, senza però essere conclusiva.
Il (non) Dottore si ritrova di nuovo su Keska, ma molto tempo dopo averla lasciata, e non è più il posto pacifico di una volta. Si ricongiunge anche con Rejoice, ora invecchiata e con molta più sofferenza alle spalle, e il loro rapporto mi è piaciuto moltissimo. Abbiamo anche modo di vedere altri personaggi, in particolare alcuni Signori del Tempo che in The Innocent erano solo comparse, ma che qui hanno un ruolo molto più rilevante.
Per quanto riguarda i Dalek, sono qui molto più centrali rispetto al primo episodio e il loro intervento mi ha ricordato un po' una via di mezzo tra The Dalek Invasion of Earth e The Dalek Marsterplan. Quasi un ritorno alle origini, in cui il viaggio nel tempo non è una componente fondamentale.
L'azione non manca, ma essendo un episodio intermedio si tratta più che altro di intrufolarsi di nascosto e capire cosa sta succedendo, senza che ci siano grandi scontri con il nemico. L'interpretazione degli attori fa però sì che la tensione non cali mai, anche nelle parti più espositive.
Il tutto si conclude con un cliffhanger che invoglia ad ascoltare immediatamente il seguito.





#langolobigfinish

L'ANGOLO BIG FINISH: “THE HEART OF THE BATTLE” (Only the Monstrous - The War Doctor 1.3)

Scritto da NICHOLAS BRIGSS
Con JOHN HURT, JACQUELINE PEARCE, LUCY BRIGGS-OWEN, CAROLYN SEYMOUR, BETH CHALMERS e NICHOLAS BRIGSS as the Daleks.

Intrappolati in una cittadella brulicante di Daleks, la squadra di salvataggio dei Signori del Tempo deve trovare un modo per superare uno svantaggio insormontabile. Con i Dalek che apparentemente pianificano di governare la Zona Nulla, forse la loro sete di conquista e vittoria è stata saziata...
Il Dottore Guerriero non crede sia così – ma come può provarlo senza distruggere ogni possibilità per la pace?
Mentre il conto alla rovescia per la distruzione di Keska procede, una scelta letale deve essere fatta... una scelta che definirà questo Dottore, e forse lo getterà per sempre nel ruolo di “mostro”.

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La parte conclusiva di Only the Monstrous è un mix di azione e dilemmi morali.
Riprendendo da dove eravamo rimasti, la posta in gioco si è alzata ed è ormai chiaro che la missione di salvataggio non è affatto quello che sembra. Seratrix non ha nessuna intenzione di essere salvato, e le sue motivazioni per essere lì sono molto diverse da quelle che ci si aspettava. Il Dottore si trova quindi nella difficile situazione di dover scegliere tra la guerra o una pace ottenuta a caro prezzo.
In una guerra in cui nessuna fazione può vincere senza distruggere l'intero universo, la pace dovrebbe essere preferibile. Ma se l'Ottavo Dottore ancora aveva qualche ingenua speranza che questo fosse fattibile, il War Doctor non ha certe illusioni, e certamente non può accettare una pace alle condizioni dettate dai Dalek.
La tensione e il dramma è dato soprattutto dal dibattito tra i vari personaggi, alcuni dei quali pur guidati dalle migliori intenzioni, e dall'inevitabilità di dover fare dei sacrifici in determinate situazioni.
Molto pregnante il dialogo finale tra il Dottore e Ollistra, che scava dentro il carattere e la moralità di entrambi i personaggi. Anche se Ollistra compare solo qui, la sua presenza in copertina può essere giustificata dalla sua grande influenza dietro le quinte e dai suoi piani machiavellici.

Nonostante il fatto che questo sia sicuramente un episodio incentrato sulla guerra e il Dottore sia a tutti gli effetti un guerriero, il piano dei Dalek ha un feeling molto tradizionale che ricorda la serie classica. È quindi un inizio prudente che ancora non va a sfruttare tutte le possibilità offerte dalla Guerra del Tempo, ma sono sicura che ci arriveremo nei box successivi.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was more Dark Eyes and Dalek Empire than Gallifrey, but it was very very good. Without giving away any spoilers. John Hurt is just fantastic as the War Doctor. The story was a nice glimpse into how the Time War worked, and the Doctor's role in it. The story was a peaceful planet caught up in the war, with a hopeful new companion called Rejoice. It was wonderful to have such an adventure for the War Doctor. To hear him in such an epic. The ending of part three is simply superb! I kinda wish the whole thing could have been John Hurt and Jacqueline Pearce because they were so brilliant together. It makes me very excited to hear part II and definitely one I will want to listen to again.

[Number Two · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the first segment I had some sort of vision. Vision of John Cleese shouting "DON'T MENTION THE WAR! DON'T MENTION THE WAR!" towards mr Briggs. Fortunately, next two segments were better :)

[Steven Shinder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last April, I acquired The Innocent for free from a Big Finish sale and then regretted not buying the whole box set when it was on sale. Fortunately, the box set was discounted again this past week, so I was able to listen to the other two stories. First, here's my review that I'd written for The Innocent:

"The Doctor is believed to be dead, but of course, he’s not. It’s kinda ridiculous to make a story where people think The Doctor is dead. And speaking of which, the War Doctor doubles down on not wanting to be called The Doctor. During the war against the Daleks, he crash lands on a planet where he meets a woman named Rejoice, who nurses him while he’s knocked out for a long time and sees the good in him. Her people try to stay out of war, but a race called the Taalyens are after them. And so The Doctor helps, and this conflict ends two thirds into this story.

The last third of the story feels like the epilogue to the conflict. The Doctor seems to have retired, and Rejoice insists that he’s good based on what little of his actions she saw. I still think it’s a bit naive since she doesn’t know him super well. But then again, lots of companions don’t know The Doctor that well when they meet him. But he insists that he is a monster, saying, “War is very simple. And all you have to do to wage it is become a monster.”

There is some suspense when the Time Lords try dragging The Doctor back into the war, and this feels reminiscent of The War Games. The Doctor tries escaping, and it seems like he’ll have no choice but to bring Rejoice (rhyme not intended) along with him, despite being tired of explaining everything to companions. A War Doctor on the run series of stories might have been interesting. Sadly, he has to say goodbye to her as the Time Lords successfully retrieve him.

The War Doctor has so little screentime in the TV show, but this helps to give him more dimensions. I’ve been of the mind that it should’ve been the Eighth Doctor in The Day of the Doctor, but stories like this one help justify this incarnation’s existence, I suppose. Though it could’ve been Paul McGann going through this, arguably. Still, it’s always nice to hear John Hurt’s voice."

Now, imagine my delight when I listened to The Thousand Worlds and found out the Rejoice was back! Though only a little bit of time has passed for The Doctor, many years have passed on Keska. But Rejoice remembers The Doctor, and her people need his help as the Daleks attack. This one ends on a cliffhanger that leads directly into the final story, The Heart of the Battle, in which The Doctor has to bear the guilt of a certain choice. There is a somewhat hopeful denouement showing that his actions paved the way for something better. But he is convinced that he has to be a monster when it comes to war.

As you can probably tell, The Innocent is still my favorite of these three stories. But together, they form a nice complete trilogy. I also love this series' rendition of the Doctor Who opening theme, which feels like it has the war-like drum sound that The Master can't forget. If you're a fan of the War Doctor or want more time with him to make him feel more like a character (I've found that he feels flat and not really "alive" in the comics Four Doctors and The Eleventh Doctor Year Two), then this trilogy is a must for you.

[David Layton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting John Hurt to reprise his role as the War Doctor was a coup for Big Finish. This, plus getting Tennant and Tate, solidified Big Finish as a legitimate alternative Doctor Who production company. Nick Briggs' introduction to the War Doctor is designed primarily for that purpose, to establish the character and the general type of story he will occupy. Therefore, there are not many risks taken in the storytelling. The three 45-minute episodes comprise what we can call a "season," with a story arc and repeated characters. Briggs has smartly read the character of the War Doctor so that he does not get a "companion" in the traditional sense. This Doctor is a loner. The basic story is that the Doctor (don't me THAT!) has apparently died in defeating the Dalek time fleet. However, the chief strategist Cardinal Ollistra, played with relish by the formidable Jacqueline Pearce, does not believe it. Part one, "The Innocent," finds the War Doctor landing on a peaceful planet that has escaped a war of its own, beset by their own implacable, genocidal enemy. The Doctor meets Rejoice, a character just a bit too sweet to be believable, helps keep the would-be conquerors at bay, and then gets sucked back into the Time War. In part two, the Doctor is added to a team to go deep under cover behind enemy lines, and lo and behold, it is back on the planet he had just landed on in part one. It is now decades later and the Daleks have formed an alliance with the other genocidal race. The Doctor meets a much older Rejoice, though only slightly less sweet. Of course, the mission is not what it seemed and there are some questionable characters on the mission. Part three is a direct sequel to part two, playing out the mission to its end and establishing the Doctor - Ollistra partnership. Part one is designed to provide the Doctor with a parallel situation to the Time War and thus allow him and the audience to reflect on the morality of war. Parts two and three provide numerous touchpoints with classic Who, especially in the Dalek plan, and provides more opportunity for discussion of the morality of war. In particular, we get a Time Lord fanatic who believes in peace at any cost versus the Doctor, who knows that one cannot negotiate with "monsters" and that war forces even good people to become monsters. Thus, the Doctor must argue with the man he would like to be and accept, however reluctantly, the man he has become. John Hurt pulls this off brilliantly, mostly by never overplaying the emotions. His controlled delivery and careful modulation carry the character's sadness and disgust far greater than shouting would ever do. Big Finish really has sound design down to an art now. The new theme arrangement is big, mock-orchestral, war-movie contraption that is a little too over-the-top for my tastes. The story itself drags down my appreciation. It is rather ho-hum and unimaginative, playing out in a highly predictable fashion. It is a good, but not great, start to a new series.

[Bree Hatfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Throughout the millennia, on countless worlds, people have bleated that war is complicated, unfathomable. As if it were some mystery disease without a cure. But it isn’t true. War is very simple, and all you have to do to wage it is become a monster.”

This is my first foray into Big Finish, and I went with the War Doctor because I’m fascinated by him as a character, especially after reading his novel Engines of War, which was incredible. These were on sale, so I picked them up.

The plot is incredible. Everything I’ve read or seen from the Time War era of Who I’ve loved (and I’m including Prisoner of the Daleks), which is surprising considering how easy it might be to mess it up. But Nicholas Briggs, like Moffat and Baxendale and Mann, highlights the nuance of the war and the morally gray aspect of the character of the Doctor. And of course John Hurt brings a gravitas to the role that is so wonderful and haunting that it’s impossible to forget.

Minor spoilers ahead.

The characters, specifically the Doctor and Rejoice, the temporary companion, are incredible. I love seeing the two versions of Rejoice and how both are a foil to the Doctor — she’s always loved her people, and we see how far she would go for them when we see her as an old woman. I think the two had an incredible dynamic and I would loved to have seen more of her. In fact, that’s probably my only critique of this story, that Rejoice died.

In the Behind the Scenes, Nicholas Briggs talks about how he wanted to have the Doctor face an enemy with the same moral values as he once had — someone who thinks peace is the best way to go — and have him struggle with being on the opposite side. This, I think, is one of the main reasons why the War Doctor differs from all the others. He’s a Warrior, but because he’s still him he hates himself for it. But because he’s still him, he’s still fun and entertaining, he’s just the slightest bit more brutal.

John Hurt’s “Doctor” does not hesitate to do what’s necessary when he knows there’s no other option, unlike many Doctors (11 and 12 specifically). It’s almost refreshing to see, especially in the Moffat era where the Doctor always seems to hesitate or find another way, which often makes for a contrived and awkward story (like the climax of “A Town Called Mercy” or “The Witch’s Familiar”).

In many ways, the War Doctor is a direct thematic precursor to the 10th Doctor — he’s still haunted by the war and remembers what it was like. He always chooses what’s best for the greater good, even when it means people die. He doesn’t like it, but he does it (like in “Fires of Pompeii”). But he’s grown since the war, which is why he knows he needs a companion, to stop him from becoming a warrior again (as is demonstrated in “The Runaway Bride”).

I’m sure not every fan of Doctor Who will like this, but if you are at all a fan of the War Doctor, this is a MUST READ (if you can afford it, of course).

[Jamie Revell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The TV show's 50th anniversary introduced us to the War Doctor, a "missing" incarnation between the 8th and 9th versions. Naturally, he only really appeared in that one episode, leaving us knowing that there was a whole series of stories that we never got to see on screen. Fortunately, despite already suffering from what proved to be terminal cancer, John Hurt agreed to appear in a series of four audio releases, of which this is the first.

It's a single three-hour story, albeit structured into three individually titled episodes. Nothing much happens in the first of these, but that turns out to be a wise decision, allowing this part of the story to focus on introducing us to this "new" Doctor and his personality. Of course, we already have some idea of that from Day of the Doctor, but here he has the freedom to be the focal point of the entire production and Hurt is (unsurprisingly) magnificent as the tortured and war-weary central character who refuses even to acknowledge his own name.

From there, however, we are into a classic type of war story, with the Doctor placed behind enemy lines to rescue a captured Time Lord strategist. The story is rather more complex than this - Briggs cites Where Eagles Dare as an inspiration in the sleeve notes, and it's easy to see why - and there's a strong tie-in to a certain classic era TV story as well.

Having said which, this is undeniably Nu Who, and those who aren't familiar with the classic series won't be missing out on anything - it's just a reference that longer-term fans will probably appreciate. Part of the Nu Who feel comes from the superb orchestral arrangement of the theme tune, strongly reminiscent of that in the Eccleston/Tennant era, but with added military bombast.

If there is a weakness, it's that the Daleks are rarely interesting foes, and it's hardly possible to write a War Doctor story that isn't largely about them. There is also, of course, no companion, although this is alleviated by having a guest character partly filling that role (as is often done in TV "specials") and serving as the conscience and soul of the story, off-setting the Doctor's more sombre tone.

Nonetheless, the production as a whole is very high quality, with a good plot, excellent acting (and not just from Hurt) and a real insight into the Time War and how this un-numbered Doctor differs from all the others while still identifiably being the same character underneath. It'll be interesting to see where this goes once other writers get to show us their takes in the remaining three releases...

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Innocent:
7/10
Verdict: Recommended

It's a testament to Nicholas Briggs and the team that I got where they were going with this character pretty soon after starting. The War Doctor is a bit of a blank slate, previously being shown as vaguely upperclass and world weary, but other than that we didn't get a lot. Now I get a really good sense as to who he is. My impression is that he's a homeless General, someone who knows the war is inescapable and tries his best to shut people out to avoid them getting killed, but still carries the qualities of a good man, helping where he can. This makes him wirey, easy to snap and closed off, that is until he starts to open up with Rejoice. Rejoice is a really nice character and with any other doctor she would definitely be a companion, however that ain't how the Time War works. She brings the most out of him, and it's clear that he respects her a great deal. This is a great story to introduce this take on the doctor, being that it's a generally small scale standard adventure where the doctor really gets to strut his stuff, more importantly, it really gets to show him at a rare moment when he's able to relax, away from the war, for a brief time, before thrusting him back in at the deep end.

The Thousand Worlds / The Heart of the Battle:
8/10
Verdict: Recommended

Quite honestly, I wasn't too fond of the first story here, I found it to be quite slow, and while I liked the setting, I didn't like the methodicalness of it. Then the second part happened. The Daleks plan is completely insane and I love it, seriously this sort of stuff should be all over the Time War. I also love that the weasley, cowardly nature of the Time Lords is still here and on full blast. The Doctor is also great in this, his character is still like he was in the last story, but it's almost like being in the battle gives him a bit of swagger, like this is him in his prime. There's only so much I can say about this story without spoilers, so I can only hope that I'm selling this. I really enjoyed this, properly fun.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doctor Who: The War Doctor: Only the Monstrous by Nicholas Briggs - 4/5 stars

John Hurt as the War Doctor is such a compelling character. Ollistra is a devious character. They both work so well together in these stories.

The Innocent - 4/5 stars

Great opening. Characterises the War Doctor well. Lucy Briggs-Owen as the Doctor’s nurse/friend Rejoice is very compelling here, she cares about the Doctor and tries to help him see that he is not a monster.

The Thousand Worlds - 4.5/5 stars

An amazing continuation of the last. Years after leaving Keska, the Doctor/Gallifreyans go to infiltrate the planet after the Daleks/Taalyens have taken over the planet. The Doctor meets Rejoice years later and has a really sweet reconnection.

The Heart of the Battle - 3.5/5 stars

"At the heart of the battle, where the blood of the innocents flow, and only the monstrous survive..." Great but depressing ending. The twists all come out here and they're somewhat satisfying but have some issues.

[Stephen Theaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wounded in battle, the War Not-the-Doctor takes some very long naps but the time war catches up with him again. Taken back to Gallifrey he is soon off on a mission back to what turns out to be the planet he was just on. It's wonderful listening to John Hurt as the Doctor. The story is pretty good, but it has the same issue as the George Mann War Doctor novel: he never does anything that other Doctors wouldn't have done. In fact he seems more good-natured than most of them, though he gets quite grumpy when deadnamed – it's almost impressive how often he refuses to give an alternate name even though everyone he meets finds it intensely annoying! His relationship with companionesque Rejoice is interesting, and the ten-minute symphony of the soundtrack music that ended the third CD was good too.

[TheSmilingDragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Hurt reprises his role of the “War Doctor” in this three part audio story set during the time war before the events of the 50th anniversary episode “The Day of the Doctor”.

“Only the Monstrous” deals with a version of the Doctor who is becoming increasingly wary of a seemingly never-ending and all encompassing conflict. One that he once tried to avoid but can no longer escape from, putting him in situations that test the limits of his morality. This story deals with these concepts as well as well as how far those on both sides of the conflict are willing to go to achieve victory. Amongst the chaos however, the Doctor is reminded of his past sense of optimism on the planet Keska, unfortunate the Devious machination of the formidable Ollistra, a Time-Lord Cardinal who has some appreciation for the Doctor whilst preferring to utilise more ruthless and manipulative tactics in an attempt to defeat the Daleks.

This is a great box set that places the Doctor in unique and challenging scenarios. I can’t wait to see what the future of the series has to offer.

[Charles Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Hurt is nothing short of spectacular as the War Doctor, aka the Time Lord With No Name. His sardonic wit and sarcasm filled insults shine as the warrior, anti-Doctor that he represents. Interesting intro to Big Finish in story 1 but the action ramps up in parts 2 and 3.
Even the Behind the Scenes is a charming and mesmerizing listen.

[Nikolai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to a few DW audiobooks/plays this far. This interconnected 3 part story was up there with my favorites.
John Hurt was incredible, and the stories were interesting! The first two beat the last for me but overall a really cool glimpse into more of a character and Doctor we only saw a tiny bit of on screen.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not going to say much here except that I have rather enjoyed the concept of the War Doctor since he was introduced, and so I was looking forward to hearing Big Finish create some of his adventures for us. I do not feel that they disappointed . . .

[Xiankowaty01 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Znam odcinki na 50-lecie, gdzie Doktor Wojny się pojawia (oglądane pewnie z 6-7 lat temu, ale jednak), więc mniej więcej wiem z czym ta postać się je, ale samo słuchowisko mnie jakoś mega nie wciągnęło. Po prostu słucha się dobrze, zobaczymy jak kolejne sezony.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good introduction to the character. Love his voice.

[Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to hear stories of the War Doctor. It really did focus on his internal struggle about what happened during the Great Time War.

[Sara Habein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was excellent. I can't believe I waited this long to listen.

[Dalek1J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this set. It has everything, and overarching story, wonderfully acted characters, sharp writing, definitely some of Brigg’s best work.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Diminishing returns for this anthology. The Innocent was really good, and The Thousand Worlds was promising, but The Heart of the Battle fumbled the conclusion.

[Connor Vera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never listened to an audio drama before, but this was wonderful and incredibly immersive.

[Adam Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Daleks' want to throw a thousand planets at Gallifrey, what more do you want?