Doctor Who: Cold Vengeance

The Tenth Doctor Adventures #2.3

by Matt Fitton

The TARDIS arrives on Coldstar, a vast freezer satellite, packed with supplies to feed a colony world.

But there are cracks in the ice, and something scuttles under the floors. Soon, Rose and the Doctor encounter robots, space pirates and... refuse collectors.

As Coldstar's tunnels begin to melt, an even greater threat stirs within. An old enemy of the Doctor puts a plan into action - a plan for retribution.

Nobody's vengeance is colder than an Ice Warrior's.
57 minutes

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

26 pages, Audio CD

First published November 23, 2017

Reviews

[Jim C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick adventure that is an audiobook based on the television series. In this one, The Tenth Doctor and Rose land on a ship where they run into one of The Doctor's old adversaries.

Once again Big Finish does a tremendous job with the audio production of this story. The two actors who played these characters on the television show come back to reprise their roles. David Tennant once again flourishes when he does an audiobook production of his character. I thought Billie Piper as Rose was good. Like I said, the audio production is just amazing. The sound effects along with the actors just makes the listener able to dive into the story and this universe. As for the story I loved the antagonist's motive and it fits within this universe. I did think the ending was a little too streamlined but it somewhat has to be as this audiobook is only a hour long.

Once again I was able to dive into this universe because of Big Finish Productions. I enjoy these productions as they are fantastic. This wasn't my favorite story but I think I am a little biased here. The Tenth Doctor and Rose was not my favorite pairing. I like Rose more with The Ninth Doctor and I like The Tenth Doctor more with Donna or Martha. That being said I did enjoy my time in this universe as I do get to experience one more adventure with this pairing.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute short story involving one of my favorite Doctors, David Tennant. 7 of 10 stars

[Sarah ♡ (let’s interact!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, so the Ice Warriors’ whispering voices are even more sinister and creepy sounding when listening to this audio drama.
As always, Big Finish has impressed me with just how fun these stories are.
There’s that wonderful Doctor Who (TV) Series 2 feel to them and that makes me so very happy. The Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) and Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) are a joy to listen to. I’m happy to have their company whilst outside, that’s when I like to listen to them.
I enjoyed all three episodes and I look forward to seeking out the more dramatic, epic stories in the future - maybe the ones that feature the Master or the Time War.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 10th Doctor for BF, aka David Tennant overacting extra-ordinaire.
The 10th Doctor is something special he brought the masses back to the Doctor Who tv show and brought the series back to the top. I personally prefer Matt & Christopher, but that is just a personal taste.

Anyhow the Doctor & Rose land on a spacestation Who is aimed at being a deepfreeze facility for food. It turns out that the company had scooped ice from a planet and in that ice were caught some ancient warriors. These Ice Warriors are still fighting the war they fought 500 years earlier. Hence the title Cold Vengeance.
The Doctor stops the vengeance even if some casualties do not improve his mood.
Rose and the Doctor make an impressive team also on BF.
Enjoyable adventure with a classic enemy who are more tragic than lethal.

[Thibault Busschots · Rating 3 out of 5]

The doctor and Rose arrive on an automated space station circling a colony. There are space pirates there, trying to steal this colony’s supplies. But contained in the ice supplies are also some ice warriors and they’re waking up.


It’s a pretty short story, so a simple formulaic base under siege story with an already established and recognizable villain seems like a perfect fit. And yet, it doesn’t seem to work that well here. The setting’s great and the plot feels a bit generic but quite solid, built around a simple tale of vengeance. Unfortunately, it’s a bit boring. There’s never any real threat, just a few twists and turns that can feel a bit randomly thrown in to keep the story going and raise the stakes. The villain of the story also feels very one dimensional, being evil more as a plot device rather than as a character with motives that explain his actions.


Nothing stands out in this story but overall, it’s not bad.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

By and large, the Ice Warriors leave me cold.... >.>

But the Doctor and Rose are still cool.

All right, all right, I'll give it a rest. Just chill out, already.

I'll, uh, show myself out. :D

[Marcel Driel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent romp. Unfortunately the actress playing Lorna sounded a lot like Rose and the two male characters also sounded a lot like each other, which made it hard to follow sometimes. (They being flat characters didn’t help either). 2,5 stars.

[Nigar Osmanlı · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me? Listening to a Ten and Rose audiobook on 14th anniversary of Doomsday and crying?? NEVER.

[The Post Monument · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[MrColdStream · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story pits the Tenth Doctor against a classic foe, the Ice Warriors, for the very first time. The plot is pretty typical for an Ice Warriors adventure, which is a shame since it's always interesting to hear a Doctor's first encounter with a classic enemy. That being said, the story makes mentions of a longstanding war between the Ice Warriors and the humans and the second half of the story turns pretty intense.
The best parts of the script are those where the Doctor talks with the Ice Warriors about the different kinds of Warriors and their revenge plans. I was expecting a higher twist somewhere, but the backgrounds and motives here didn't do it for me.

David Tennant and Billie Piper perfectly capture their old characters, while Nicholas Briggs, who plays the Ice Warriors, stays true to their original series voices while bringing more personality to their voices.

The Doctor is most like his old self from Series 2 here, and I like his mostly calm demeanour. He also interacts with the Ice Warriors in expected ways.

Rose hangs around, survives and does some nice things, but doesn't stand out very much.

The Ice Warriors are a glorious and honourable warrior species, but I feel that Big Finish struggles to truly make them interesting and fascinating. They seem mostly similar top their TV appearances with little new things to enjoy.

This story begins pretty hugely, then reaches a stalemate and the final act feels very dragged out. Even the small action sequences don't help make this story feel swifter.

There's light tension on this story, created by the villainous Ice Warriors, who even the Doctor cannot seem to stop. The second half is slightly more exciting when the story turns the attention to a small-scale battle. The final act tries to build some kind of emotional aura around the Ice Warriors, but that doesn't work very well.

Big Finish finally allowed the Tenth Doctor face the Ice Warriors, but unfortunately in a story that doesn't stand out particularly.

A bit disappointed about this one, but maybe I'll give it another go someday. Nothing that screams to be replayed though.

RANDOM OBSERVATIONS:

Cold Star makes me think of the icy planet seen in Dragonfire (1988).

The Doctor mentions the Ice Warriors' seeds, used to grow new warriors, as seen in The Seeds of Death (1969).

Score: 55/120

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly decent (6/10), the Ice Warriors are a fun villian if you're into that brand of Who, and I really enjoyed the structure of the plot. The service robot was a memorable character, a fun contrast to the rest of the crew. I've struggled to get immersed in some of the settings of various Big Finish but this one drew me in. The climax left a bit to be desired but the intensity was definitely there. Rose was a bit annoying but that can't be helped since her and 10 as per usual don't' have much conflict or development. Like most of these Tenth Doctor Adventure's its lacking in theme/message, arcs, meaningful relationships, and any sort of deeper meaning, but this one gets my thumbs up because it nails the essentials of a basic albeit fun Doctor Who romp.

[Karoliina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved the production and the stories in this volume of Big Finish The Tenth Doctor Adventures. Billie Pipper and David Tennant were amazing like they never stoped playing Rose and the Doctor. I love that Rose likes to show off, what she can do, to the Doctor. She gets herself out of trouble and so on. Also the Doctor's misery, when he thinks Rose is dead, feels so heartbreaking and the way he makes plans to break laws of time travel just to save her. My shipping heart exploded. I really wish they would make Rose and Metacrisis Doctor adventures on Big Finish with Billie and David.

[Taksya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finale di stagione con gli Ice Warriors, in un set che poteva rendere benissimo anche come puntata televisiva.
Rose e il decimo Dottore non mi esaltano ma, come i precedenti due episodi, i vari personaggi secondari riescono a risollevare l'ascolto, che siano umani o Ice Warriors non importa.
Il tutto è coerente con quanto già sappiamo e non crea sconquassi nella (tanto temuta) continuity.
Buona conclusione per una trilogia, tutto sommato, in linea con quanto ci ha abituati la Big Finish.

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

5/10
Verdict: Optional

Very basic DW story with a mildly interesting setting. The only thing you're going to get from this though is Rose/10 nostalgia (it is on point though) and 10 facing off against the ice warriors.

[Melenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Love the tenth Doctor!

[April Mccaffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it right up until the moment Ten said: "Rose Tyler, social justice warrior!"
Rose: Hmm...Think I'd give it a go.

Please...god no. Ughhh.

[Alyce Caswell · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unusually average adventure, especially given that it followed so many stronger stories. Can't say I'm a fan of the Ice Warriors, either.

[Rob Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an ardent Doctor Who aficionado since childhood, I invariably greet new adventures starring the eccentric Time Lord with enthusiasm. However, the latest audio drama entry "Cold Vengeance" from producers Big Finish failed to either challenge or delight this seasoned fan. While competent in its execution, the by-the-numbers story lacks the ingenuity that marks the most compelling exploits of The Doctor.

Scripted by Matt Fitton, this outing places The Tenth Doctor (played with customary verve by David Tennant) and beloved companion Rose Tyler (an ever-charming Billie Piper) on a frozen food satellite called Coldstar. After an attempted heist unravels, they soon face the awakened wrath of the iconic Ice Warriors, impassive armored reptilians hellbent on crashing Coldstar into a nearby planet.

It’s a perfectly suitable premise, if rather pedestrian by this era’s standards, calling to mind “base under siege” conceits common during the Second Doctor period. The key issue is that the story unfolds almost exactly according to formula without offering surprise or advanced character development. The rapacious Ice Warriors burst from frozen slumber seeking violent retribution? Expected. Supporting characters like pirates and maintenance workers who exist solely to react to events with brief shock or awe? Tiresomely predictable.

Both the Doctor and Rose Tyler shine whenever bouncing witticisms off each other with Tennant and Piper exhibiting effortless chemistry. Their effervescent presence provides moments of fizz amid the dramatic flatness. However, the dull plotting fails to present a mystery worthy of their cosmic talents or an adversary to push their limits. Neither the alien threat nor ticking clock generate true suspense, a shocking misuse of two treasured figures.

In the hands of less qualified stewards, “Cold Vengeance” may have frozen over completely into absurdity. As produced, the workmanlike competence keeps affairs inoffensively flowing from start to enervating finish. While Matt Fitton’s script checks necessary boxes, it lacks the vital seals of creative passion and wonder that characterize the most compelling Doctor Who stories across mediums. One expects and deserves better for a character as iconic as The Doctor, especially with talent as prodigious as Tennant and Piper in starring roles. This tepid tale sneaks by on their appeal without truly testing their strengths or the audience’s imagination.

[Seb Hasi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story set on a place that is basically just Iceworld from Dragonfire, with some Ice Warriors there to give the story some stakes. I enjoyed their presence and definitely regard this as one of the better appearances in Big Finish but the story did lag for me with the side characters being quite boring. The story tries to make you care for this space pirate and her son, but they just have no personality so what is there to really get attached to?

Rose has lots of agency in this story and manages to be presented as a strong female character without any speeches; something that was a frequent and unsubtle trend in the RTD era. The story goes on quite a while, but the plot is detailed enough to have you interested in the themes and plot threads, without being fatigued by the runtime. The Doctor doesn’t really do too much bar talk and frankly it was a relief after the bombardment of action sequences in the previous story in the boxset.

The Ice Warriors plan is very generic, but I liked that their motivation had some depth. You nearly get communist Ice Warriors and that was an unintentionally funny couple of scenes. There is a lovely twist towards the end but by that point so much of nothing had happened, and I wasn’t engaged with the plot. The story does feel authentic to the series it is set in, but it feels like 25 minutes of content stretched to over double that. Obviously the story is perfect for a massive 10th Doctor fan, but I really am not that so I wasn’t that impressed.

[Matthew Abbott · Rating 3 out of 5]

3rd entry in volume two of the Big Finish 10th Doctor Adventures series, staring Billie Piper as Rose Tyler, David Tennant as The Doctor and Nicholas Briggs as both Commander Slaan and the Ice Lord Hasskor.

The story is an enjoyable affair, having landed on a slowly defrosting freezer satellite, the Doctor and Rose discover space pirates have instigated the thaw attempting to solicit demands out of the station. As things become clearer, it seems that something altogether more sinister than frozen peas are hidden within the ice.

The Ice Warriors are a cool (sorry) enemy in the Doctor Who universe and this is a good story for them, if not particularly deep. It moves a long at a fairly good pace but has no real surprises or shocking revelations that I've grown to love from many extended universe Doctor Who stories.

That being said, this is more than made up for by the superb performances put on by the cast, especially the rasping menace portrayed by Briggs as the Ice Warriors. Piper and Tennant have their familiar chemistry, but also work well with the extended cast, their characters splitting up for part of the story.

I listened to this on the limited run HMV green vinyl which is a beautifully presented collectors piece, but this is also available on CD and download from the Big Finish website. Nothing ground breaking, but an enjoyable 10th Doctor story none the less.

[Jamie Revell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is, in many ways, a fairly standard Doctor Who story but, for me, it does what it does very well, raising it above the merely average. It's set on an automated space station orbiting a colony world, where a group of Ice Warriors awake to encounter, not just the Doctor and Rose, but a couple of space pirates, the robot management... and the woman who's come to empty the bins.

It's a well-constructed story, just right for the length, and managing to feel like a part of the modern series while still having stylistic connections to the past (and nods to the Peladon stories). The ruthlessness of the Ice Lord is played up and there's some good interplay between the various characters. Rose gets to be heroic, and the bin lady attracts our sympathy as the ordinary person entirely out of their depth as their home planet is placed in peril by alien invaders. Even the robot is good, played differently than robots often are on the show.

What really makes it strong, though, is the ending. Aside from a cheeky reference to Star Trek, this manages to be dramatic while also delivering the sort of message that's more common in the modern show than the classic one, and doing so effectively. (And, for that matter, putting the Ice Lord's actions into context from his perspective). One rather gets the feeling of a grander setting here, with stories of its own to be told that don't fit within the one-hour format, which makes it all feel rather more real.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

あらすじ

雪の見られるところをたーディスで目指したはずが、氷の壁に囲まれた部屋の中に到着してしまったローズとドクター。二人が降り立ったのは植民星の食料保管庫だった。とりあえず散策をはじめた二人。雪が見られる気温のところにいくよう設定したにも関わらず、氷の衛星コールドスターについたことを奇妙がるドクター。ローズの反対も聞かずに原因をつきとめるべく散策をはじめる。気温調整装置が故障しているのかコールドスターの氷が溶け始めているのをみて、スキャンして調べようとターディスに戻ろうとするが、停めた場所からターディスが消えていた。氷の壁が突き破られており、それがアイス・ウォーリアーズの攻撃である。

感想

正直なところ最初に聴いた時は、アイス・ウォーリアーの語り口がどうにも聞き取りづらく、そのせいでドラマが間延びしているように感じてしまったのだが、もう一度聞き直すと耳が慣れたおかげか、テンポもさほど気にならずドクターとローズに気持ちをのせて存分に楽しめた。今回、ドクターは敵の手に落ち、ローズは惑星めがけておちる衛星に取り残されるという大ピンチをドクター無しで切り抜けなければいけないという大ピンチ。目の前にいながらローズを助けにいくことのできないドクターの苛立ちや、もどかしさ。一難去ってまた一難的な展開もドラマをみている時のようなドキドキ感が味わえた。コールドスターを管理するロボット、海賊親子など他の登場人物とドクターとローズのやりとりも面白く、軽妙なドクターとローズやシリアス・モード全開の二人がたっぷり堪能でき、懐かしさ満載の一品。いまはドラマが見返したくてしょうがない。

[Taaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Einerseits ist die deutsche Synchro immer noch furchtbar. Andererseits fehlt dringend ein Erzähler. Man bekommt viel zu wenig mit, und wenn, dann nur aus Dialogen, die gestelzt klingen, um dem Zuhörer überhaupt mal eine Info zu geben. Das geht definitiv besser.

Story selbst: Das Ende war unlogisch und passte nicht wirklich. Der Kerl HATTE doch jetzt noch einen neuen Kampf. Wenn sein Volk nur in Slums lebt, dann hätte er doch einfach auf den Planeten runter gehen und für soziale Gerechtigkeit kämpfen können, statt 'Ich kann keinen Krieg mehr führen, also bring ich mich jetzt um'. Und warum faselt er was davon, dass der Doctor noch sein Feind ist? Also nee...

[David Layton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cold Vengeance is an Ice Warriors story. Pretty much, that tells one all one needs to know. Doctor 10 and Rose land on a cold storage facility the size of a moon. Ice Warriors have awoken, vowing revenge. The base is under siege. The one-hour time limitation for the story means that motives and development are sacrificed for pace. There is the urge to keep the story going fast at all costs. We also get two false endings, just to keep the tension ratcheted high for the duration. Doctor 10 and Rose are a good pairing, as usual. This one would have easily fit as a middle-of-the-season episode on TV.

[Phoebe Jeziel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Okay this one was my favorite! It reminds me a little bit of Satin's Pit- in the sense of being stuck in space and having to figure out where to go from there. Kinda sorta. They had similar vibes, okay?

This one just had some of my favorite feelings from Doctor Who from RTD's era- emotion, sacrifice, and Ten and Rose being Ten and Rose. Also Ten being the ~oncoming storm~. So much fun!!

Also if you're not listening to these stories with David and Billie- WHAT ARE YOU DOING. It's the only way to consume these stories!!!!

[Finlay O'Riordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tenth Doctor and Rose get to face off against the Ice Warriors, with superb acting from Tennant and Piper as great as it is on-screen. Matt Fitton understands these characters, and the culture of the Ice Warriors, down to a tee, making this a very easy and enjoyable listen, with some genuinely compelling emotional moments from the supporting cast.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve never failed to be impressed by the big finish productions so far! They’re so fun and make for some great listening. I’ve loved listening to more stories with the Tenth Doctor and Rose and this one was fantastic!

Ice warriors? Impending doom? Yes please. 4.5 stars !!!

[Gabriel Mero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great adventure with the Tenth Doctor and Rose. I miss them!!!

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good adventure with Ten and Rose, the ice warriors are just as great as they were in Classic Who.

[Rob Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this Tenth Doctor adventure with a flavour of Classic Who with the Ice Warriors.