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Big Finish: Monthly Range #57
Doctor Who: Arrangements for War
Onboard the TARDIS, nerves are strained.
After escaping the Forge and the murderous clutches of Nimrod, the Doctor and Evelyn have things to talk about. The Doctor's attitude towards death is a subject that these days is too close to Evelyn's heart, and eventually she demands to be set down somewhere where she can be free of him for a while.
And so they come to Világ, where the Doctor's meddling lands him in the middle of a truly dangerous liaison and Evelyn meets a man who wants to change the course of her life forever.
Love is everywhere. But then war is too.
Is it time for Evelyn to leave the Doctor? Or is the choice about to be taken out of her hands?
And who is to say what is the beginning and what is the end of love?
After escaping the Forge and the murderous clutches of Nimrod, the Doctor and Evelyn have things to talk about. The Doctor's attitude towards death is a subject that these days is too close to Evelyn's heart, and eventually she demands to be set down somewhere where she can be free of him for a while.
And so they come to Világ, where the Doctor's meddling lands him in the middle of a truly dangerous liaison and Evelyn meets a man who wants to change the course of her life forever.
Love is everywhere. But then war is too.
Is it time for Evelyn to leave the Doctor? Or is the choice about to be taken out of her hands?
And who is to say what is the beginning and what is the end of love?
Audio CD
First published May 1, 2004
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About the author
Paul Sutton
71 books5 followersPaul Sutton is a writer who has written for Big Finish Productions audio and collected novella range. He has written for the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Doctors in Big Finish's audio story range and also a novella part of A Life in Pieces a Big Finish's Bernice Summerfield series.
Sutton also wrote two linked audio stories Arrangements for War and Thicker than Water which introduced the planet Világ and were part of the exit stories for Evelyn Smythe.
Sutton also wrote two linked audio stories Arrangements for War and Thicker than Water which introduced the planet Világ and were part of the exit stories for Evelyn Smythe.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 9, 2016
This is a sixth Doctor story with Evelyn Smythe as the companion, and is #57 in the Big Finish main range.
Evelyn, traumatized from the events of Doctor Who: Project: Lazarus needs some time away from the TARDIS and the Doctor. The Doctor takes her to a world with one large continent split into three countries, two of which have been at war for a long time. But the war has just ended with the arranged marriage of the princess of one country to the prince of the other. Evelyn becomes friendly with the ruler of the third neutral country and the Doctor becomes close with the princess, but unfortunately changing the history of this world as the Doctor and Evelyn understand it.
The sixth Doctor and Evelyn are the best of the Big Finish main range and this story underlines it. One of the best Doctor Who audios I've listened to and maybe one of the better Who stories in any medium. It does everything refreshingly differently, with the TARDIS team spending weeks in place, developing quite deep relationships with the people they're interacting with and altering the timeline inadvertently and deliberately from their foreknowledge of events. It also addresses Evelyn's trauma and issues with her own mortality directly as well as putting a strong light on the Doctor's own ability to pick up and move to his next adventure.
Just brilliant.
Evelyn, traumatized from the events of Doctor Who: Project: Lazarus needs some time away from the TARDIS and the Doctor. The Doctor takes her to a world with one large continent split into three countries, two of which have been at war for a long time. But the war has just ended with the arranged marriage of the princess of one country to the prince of the other. Evelyn becomes friendly with the ruler of the third neutral country and the Doctor becomes close with the princess, but unfortunately changing the history of this world as the Doctor and Evelyn understand it.
The sixth Doctor and Evelyn are the best of the Big Finish main range and this story underlines it. One of the best Doctor Who audios I've listened to and maybe one of the better Who stories in any medium. It does everything refreshingly differently, with the TARDIS team spending weeks in place, developing quite deep relationships with the people they're interacting with and altering the timeline inadvertently and deliberately from their foreknowledge of events. It also addresses Evelyn's trauma and issues with her own mortality directly as well as putting a strong light on the Doctor's own ability to pick up and move to his next adventure.
Just brilliant.
November 12, 2022
1
教え子の自殺を止めることができなかったショックからドクターに失望を感じているイブリン。ドクターはイブリンの気持ちを宥めようと、1人で出歩いても安全な星Világに向かう。
そこでイブリンはプリンセス・クリスティーナと出会う。長年続いた戦争を終わらせるために隣国の王子との結婚が決まっていた。しかしクリスティーナは5年前に命を救ってくれた兵士マーカスと恋に落ちていた。ふたりとも星の平和のためと自分たちの恋を諦めようとしていたが、マーカスの恋の相手がプリンセスと知らなかったドクターが諦めるなと励ましたことでマーカスはクリスティーナとの恋を諦めまいと奮い立つ。
2
クリスティーナとマーカスが充分に状況を理解しているのを見てドクターは2人が関係を続けられる手助けすることにする。イブリンは総督のロシターと楽しい時間を過ごしていたがロシターにドクターをおいて一緒になって欲しいとせまられる。一方ドクターに盗聴機がしかけられてクリスティーナとマーカスが恋愛関係にあることが暴露され結婚による和平同盟の話は流れてしまう。
3
ドクターは政治犯として投獄され、イブリンは国外退去となるが列車を飛び降り気を失うものロシターに救われる。クリスティーナはドクターを脱獄させる。ドクターは戦争を止めるため総理大臣のモータウンドに連絡し説得を試みるが電話の途中でモータウンドが襲撃され電話がきれる。
4
ロシターに心を許したイブリンは自分の余命が長くないことを打ち明け、そこでようやく自分がドクターにイライラしていたのは自分のことなどドクターはすぐに忘れてしまうだろうと気になっていたせいだと気がつく。ロシターに打ち明けたことで心の整理がついたイブリンはロシターに別れを告げドクターと旅を続けることにする。
クリスティーナとマーカスの身に降りかかった悲劇は全て自分のせいだとドクターがターディスで時間をさかのぼって止めようとするのをイブリンが目的時間を変え、過去のクリスティーナとマーカスがお互い楽しそうに恋をしていた頃をドクターにみせ、この頃の気持ちを思い出せたのはドクターのおかげと慰めるイブリンに泣けた。病気のことイブリンはドクターにどう説明するのかなぁ。
教え子の自殺を止めることができなかったショックからドクターに失望を感じているイブリン。ドクターはイブリンの気持ちを宥めようと、1人で出歩いても安全な星Világに向かう。
そこでイブリンはプリンセス・クリスティーナと出会う。長年続いた戦争を終わらせるために隣国の王子との結婚が決まっていた。しかしクリスティーナは5年前に命を救ってくれた兵士マーカスと恋に落ちていた。ふたりとも星の平和のためと自分たちの恋を諦めようとしていたが、マーカスの恋の相手がプリンセスと知らなかったドクターが諦めるなと励ましたことでマーカスはクリスティーナとの恋を諦めまいと奮い立つ。
2
クリスティーナとマーカスが充分に状況を理解しているのを見てドクターは2人が関係を続けられる手助けすることにする。イブリンは総督のロシターと楽しい時間を過ごしていたがロシターにドクターをおいて一緒になって欲しいとせまられる。一方ドクターに盗聴機がしかけられてクリスティーナとマーカスが恋愛関係にあることが暴露され結婚による和平同盟の話は流れてしまう。
3
ドクターは政治犯として投獄され、イブリンは国外退去となるが列車を飛び降り気を失うものロシターに救われる。クリスティーナはドクターを脱獄させる。ドクターは戦争を止めるため総理大臣のモータウンドに連絡し説得を試みるが電話の途中でモータウンドが襲撃され電話がきれる。
4
ロシターに心を許したイブリンは自分の余命が長くないことを打ち明け、そこでようやく自分がドクターにイライラしていたのは自分のことなどドクターはすぐに忘れてしまうだろうと気になっていたせいだと気がつく。ロシターに打ち明けたことで心の整理がついたイブリンはロシターに別れを告げドクターと旅を続けることにする。
クリスティーナとマーカスの身に降りかかった悲劇は全て自分のせいだとドクターがターディスで時間をさかのぼって止めようとするのをイブリンが目的時間を変え、過去のクリスティーナとマーカスがお互い楽しそうに恋をしていた頃をドクターにみせ、この頃の気持ちを思い出せたのはドクターのおかげと慰めるイブリンに泣けた。病気のことイブリンはドクターにどう説明するのかなぁ。
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2024
This started off with Evelyn feeling like she needs a break and then ventured into two love stories which kind of overshadow the main plot so it's a little surprising that I ended up really enjoying it.
There was nothing too weird about it, a bit refreshing after the series of completely bonkers stories we've just had. It was just a nice, neat story overall.
There was nothing too weird about it, a bit refreshing after the series of completely bonkers stories we've just had. It was just a nice, neat story overall.
April 3, 2018
This might be the first Big Finish story that actually brought me to tears... twice!
Doctor, the Sixth, and Evelyn Smyth are the most reliable Doctor/Companion team in the series. There is a maturity in their relationship that truly transcends Doctor Who as a whole and I treasure it.
In some ways this story is clever, but workmanlike, and would be a fine, though not exceptional, piece for any other TARDIS team, but Colin Baker and Maggie Stables invest it with some real marrow as the story becomes far more about their mortality and their relationship than it does about these people they are trying to save.
I knock one star for Gary Russell again trying to spear his white whale of large scale action sequences in audio and again missing. It just doesn't work and a bit of the latter two episodes could've used less of it.
But the ending is as transcendent as anything in "Spare Parts", "The Holy Terror" or "Chimes of Midnight." And it had me in tears.
Doctor, the Sixth, and Evelyn Smyth are the most reliable Doctor/Companion team in the series. There is a maturity in their relationship that truly transcends Doctor Who as a whole and I treasure it.
In some ways this story is clever, but workmanlike, and would be a fine, though not exceptional, piece for any other TARDIS team, but Colin Baker and Maggie Stables invest it with some real marrow as the story becomes far more about their mortality and their relationship than it does about these people they are trying to save.
I knock one star for Gary Russell again trying to spear his white whale of large scale action sequences in audio and again missing. It just doesn't work and a bit of the latter two episodes could've used less of it.
But the ending is as transcendent as anything in "Spare Parts", "The Holy Terror" or "Chimes of Midnight." And it had me in tears.
February 10, 2025
I think the main body of the story of this one is a bit lacklustre and dull for the most part, and certainly has been done many times before, but the exploration and restoration, of both evelyn and the doctor, and their relationship and faith in each other, is great, and that last scene, and that last conversation, is so lovely and bittersweet. I’m definitely worried about where this storyline is going, especially for evelyn, but it’s an extremely engrossing and well told one so far.
April 17, 2025
Really strong story. The dynamic between Six and Evelyn was always one of my favourite and it's really tested here after Project: Lazarus. Great and likeable characters with a very compelling plot.
Only thing which lacks is the scene setting, which is described too minimally for my liking in a place which is supposed to be quite open and expensive. It was hard to grasp the scale of the palace and the courtyard for me.
Only thing which lacks is the scene setting, which is described too minimally for my liking in a place which is supposed to be quite open and expensive. It was hard to grasp the scale of the palace and the courtyard for me.
August 22, 2018
This really is as good as everybody says.
Very emotional and gripping.
Very emotional and gripping.
June 7, 2024
Really good story but an ending that hits you right in the heart
June 20, 2024
At the beginning I just wasn't into it, but it was all building to something. In the end it was just a good story all around.
September 26, 2024
Really played up the emotions of Evelyn and The Doctor.
April 7, 2023
Might be one of my favorite big finish audios I've ever heard, the doctor and Evelyn go to a nice planet just to relax and process their grief from previous adventures but the doctor says a few things to the wrong person and they end up on opposite sides of a planetary war/romeo and juilet story with even bigger stakes. I was very moved by the end, this was just really good.
February 10, 2017
One of the best of the Six/Evelyn stories; this one picks up directly after Project: Lazarus, with Evelyn still distraught over the events of that story (as well as Doctor Who and the Pirates) and deciding she needs a little time away from the Doctor. She's also coming to grips with her own mortality.
Although it's yet another story where the Doctor and his Companion get themselves involved in a planet's political situation, the conflict provides a backdrop for what's really a highly personal story -- for the Doctor, Evelyn, and the other characters involved.
This story once again highlights what a great idea it was to pair the Doctor with a more mature companion. With the exception of The Sandman, the Colin Baker/Maggie Stables series is consistently good. Anyone interested in delving into the Big Finish Doctor Who audios would do well to start with their stories and follow them forward.
This story is preceded by Project: Lazarus, and followed by Doctor Who: Medicinal Purposes.
Although it's yet another story where the Doctor and his Companion get themselves involved in a planet's political situation, the conflict provides a backdrop for what's really a highly personal story -- for the Doctor, Evelyn, and the other characters involved.
This story once again highlights what a great idea it was to pair the Doctor with a more mature companion. With the exception of The Sandman, the Colin Baker/Maggie Stables series is consistently good. Anyone interested in delving into the Big Finish Doctor Who audios would do well to start with their stories and follow them forward.
This story is preceded by Project: Lazarus, and followed by Doctor Who: Medicinal Purposes.
March 21, 2011
This has to be one of the most excellent Big Finish stories I've head the pleasure of listening to. There is so much to love here: a tragic romance, political intrigue, action, contemplation of life and death. Great stuff!
It was lovely to see a doting, almost fatherly side to Six in his relationship with Christina. And, of course, he also tries to make amends with Evelyn from the last time they saw Cassie. And the ending...let me just say that Colin Baker completely sells it. I was almost in tears, and that's rare for me. A beautiful, heartbreaking performance, and it also provided a moment for the Doctor and Evelyn to understand each other better. Actually, that moment is one of the most tender between Doctor and companion in any Who that I've seen or heard, and I say that as a Doctor/Rose and Doctor/Charley shipper.
The Doctor and Evelyn just have such great chemistry (I don't mean romantic--their friendship is so much more pure and special, I think, than that). They have squabbles, they have issues, but they have fun together, and I think they each bring something that fills a void in the other, which is what the best Doctor/Companion relationships do.
I will certainly be listening to this one again. And I would recommend it to any Doctor Who fans, as long as you listen to Project: Twilight and Project: Lazarus first to get used to the Doctor and Evelyn together and because this ties into the aftermath of what occurred in those two adventures.
It was lovely to see a doting, almost fatherly side to Six in his relationship with Christina. And, of course, he also tries to make amends with Evelyn from the last time they saw Cassie. And the ending...let me just say that Colin Baker completely sells it. I was almost in tears, and that's rare for me. A beautiful, heartbreaking performance, and it also provided a moment for the Doctor and Evelyn to understand each other better. Actually, that moment is one of the most tender between Doctor and companion in any Who that I've seen or heard, and I say that as a Doctor/Rose and Doctor/Charley shipper.
The Doctor and Evelyn just have such great chemistry (I don't mean romantic--their friendship is so much more pure and special, I think, than that). They have squabbles, they have issues, but they have fun together, and I think they each bring something that fills a void in the other, which is what the best Doctor/Companion relationships do.
I will certainly be listening to this one again. And I would recommend it to any Doctor Who fans, as long as you listen to Project: Twilight and Project: Lazarus first to get used to the Doctor and Evelyn together and because this ties into the aftermath of what occurred in those two adventures.
March 8, 2011
Colin Baker really comes into his own as the 6th Dr in these BF audios. The 6th Doctor and Evelyn Smythe are great together and compliment each other well.
I liked the realism of this, the not so happy ending but as Evelyn tells the Dr, he gave the chance of time together that Krystina and Marcus wouldn't have had. This way they admitted how they felt rather than not. I also enjoyed the growing friendship and romance between Evelyn and Rossiter, and pleased to know they do end up together eventually.
I am enjoying these BF adventures enormously. They're well thought out, great characterisations, multi-layered and not always a HEA and a fix. It reminds me of why I like Dr Who as a series and have stuck to it all these years.
I liked the realism of this, the not so happy ending but as Evelyn tells the Dr, he gave the chance of time together that Krystina and Marcus wouldn't have had. This way they admitted how they felt rather than not. I also enjoyed the growing friendship and romance between Evelyn and Rossiter, and pleased to know they do end up together eventually.
I am enjoying these BF adventures enormously. They're well thought out, great characterisations, multi-layered and not always a HEA and a fix. It reminds me of why I like Dr Who as a series and have stuck to it all these years.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2013
I must admit after seeing so many high reviews for this I was a little disappointed at first. I love Evelyn and Sixie together. But the story line of the planet with the arranged marriage and the star cross lovers just felt so contrived it was hard to enjoy it and take the rest of the drama seriously. I think my anti-royal bias showed through as well, cause why should a political marriage of a Princess matter so much in a society that seemed at least at technologically advanced as Earth.
But that was all redeemed in the last chapter that was such a good conclusion and had some of the most wonderful character moments between these two that I've heard yet. Very sweet, sad and moving.
But that was all redeemed in the last chapter that was such a good conclusion and had some of the most wonderful character moments between these two that I've heard yet. Very sweet, sad and moving.
Read
April 8, 2009a story of the Doctor trying to get Evelyn's mind off recent tragic events and ending up getting over-involved in a local political situation. Indeed, really rather too involved for my reading of how both the Doctor and Evelyn normally operate. But the whole thing hung together well, with a grim and tragic story which yet found some redemption at the end.
October 29, 2014
The Doctor brings Evelyn to a quiet planet so that she can think. The planet is supposed to be peaceful until the Doctor accidently brings together the wrong pair of love birds. This is a really strong Evelyn story, and it highlights her morals and character beautifully. This CD is about love, and quite a bit about war, but mainly love. A really good listen.
August 1, 2013
This story gives Evelyn the chance to really shine. She has many good, albeit depressing, scenes in this story. She finally deals with her mortality in this story. The plot of the surrounding story is kind of weak and there is no good villain in this one.
December 24, 2021
2021: Another audio with a slow start, but the slow burn is definitely worth it. While this one gets a little melodramatic, it’s definitely something that needed to happen, a breaking point that caps the previous four Sixth Doctor and Evelyn stories!
January 21, 2016
The Doctor and Evelyn land on a planet in the middle of a peace treaty. Though like most things with the Doctor nothing goes as smooth as it is supposed to be.
February 20, 2015
Enjoyed this one a lot. I teared up and everything.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews