Doctor Who: Embrace the Darkness

Big Finish: Monthly Range #31

by Nicholas Briggs, Paul McGann (Narrator), India Fisher (Narrator)

Big finish CD's about Doctor Who

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

2 pages, Audio CD

First published April 1, 2002

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

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's obvious that the writers have now got a better handle on the Eighth Doctor and Charley.
Despite this having a bit of a midseason lull about it, there's still some brilliant ideas and concepts explored.

The opening two episodes are easily the strongest as the darkness envelopes the space station.
I could imagine it being so atmospheric listing to an episode a night in the dark just before bed.
It was still effective on a warm summers day walking around town, I had to stop and process that brilliant first cliffhanger.

What stops this from being as good as the other standouts in this series is the dull and over long final two parts.
I've never understood why Big Finish resorts to padding as the medium allows for episodes to be as long as they need to be (just like Netflix).

What makes this even more baffling is the rushed reveal at the very end of the play.

[Nemo ☠️ (pagesandprozac) · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the sort of sci-fi gothic that only Doctor Who can do

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honeymoon ain't over yet! Loving my audio plays! How did ever get along without these? Love the 8th Doctor. He needs a TV show!

[Polly Batchelor · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I've spent most of my life being told I'm mad."

"There is no way back from death."

[Lady Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Emilija · Rating 2 out of 5]

2020 52 Book Challenge - December Mini Challenge - 2) Related To The Word "Light"

This was excellently acted by Paul McGann and India Fisher, and they were both brilliant as the Doctor and Charley, but that's pretty much where the greatness of this book ends. I really struggled to understand the voice filtering used in this audio, and so I struggled to follow the plot.

[Frank Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Umm'd and ahh'd a little over my rating for this one, which I actually finished two days ago and have been re-listening to intermittently ever since, (it's playing again now as I type up my thoughts). That's because it features one of my favourite things alongside one of my least favourite; a loveable but menacing robot and characters that speak in whhissspers, respectively.

But I settled on the more satisfied rating in the end because it's fun and interesting throughout and even if it's not a particularly unique reveal at the end it is the kind of story that I prefer. At risk of spoiling it, I won't address that reveal too much but I can say that I like it when a story is less about saving the whole universe, or even just Earth/Humankind, and more about discovering and assisting an alien world/species.

That's it! That's all I'll say. I think most Whovians should enjoy this one.

[Taksya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nuova avventura per l'ottavo Dottore e Charley, alle prese con una base di ricerca minacciata da una oscura presenza e da una missione di salvataggio automatizzata che potrebbe, nel caso il salvataggio vada contro gli interessi della compagnia, risultare più pericoloso della minaccia aliena.
Storia retroattivamente non originale, con un finale a sorpresa che risolve una situazione altrimenti troppo ingarbugliata.
Si è lasciato ascoltare, ma nulla di più.

[Shawn Deal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another engaging audio drama. This one really came alive for me. Enjoyed it completely.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant adventure for the 8th doctor and Charley where they have travelled to the Cimmerian system for a mystery around it's sun and other things.

[Jadetyger Sevea · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable tale, but not especially brilliant. I must admit, my attention wandered sometime around the point the Solarians showed up. I quite liked the aliens in this one--as soon as they stopped reminding me of Gollum in the Lord of the Rings. An unfortunate bit of voice acting, there.

Charley's rant to the Doctor regarding his penchant for martyrdom was particularly well done, and spot on. The Doctor (whichever incarnation) has always had a tendency toward grand gestures and melodrama. It's nice to see Charley poke a hole in Eight's fatalism.

I'm giving this three stars because I couldn't help wanting more. A greater depth to the story and characters. Big Finish at its best can really knock it out of the park. Embrace the Darkness was a good, solid effort, but not a particularly memorable one.

[Danny Welch · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, admittedly I did forget to write up my review yesterday after leaving it for later so I could go to bed early that morning, so here I am writing it now!!

Now, this was one of those audios I didn't quite get back when I was younger and in turn, felt underwhelmed by it. But now I've relistened to it, I do think Nicholas Briggs has written a very experimental story that only works in the audio format since this story is almost entirely set in pitch darkness and it deals with a very grotesque idea with eyes that would gross or freak out viewers who are sensitive to that kind of thing. The characters were well developed and 8 and Charley were as brilliant as ever!

Overall: A very creepy story that makes for a good listen in the dark. 8/10

[Sara Habein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, it's more of a 4.5 but I'm rounding up because I'm indulgent.

Minus for the bad Russian accent with one character, but otherwise this was a good story. This would've been a very creepy TV episode too, but because a lot of this story revolves around darkness, maybe it was easier to imagine while listening as well.

Also, this story was released before the Time War was ever written/mentioned, so his fretting over potentially killing off a race of an entire planet was interesting, as was Charley calling him out for making grand gestures while feeling guilty.

[Plingsben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing: Very good premise being set on a planet with no sun and no light. A very unique idea that I hope that at some point will get ripped off by the main show (For all I know it already has). It's very descriptive of the creatures and I think they could make a nice appearance in the show. Charley is a great companion her story arc is brilliant. This story is dark literally and metaphorically. I do not recommend it for young children. But my god this would have made a great movie.

[Avarill · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a Who story that begins like a base-under-siege horror story, Embrace the Darkness comes up with quite a few surprises along the way. But then again it seems like all the tension seems to be in the first two parts and I daresay the resolution was a bit anticlimactic. But still, it's a good solid story and definitely worth the time.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good one. Showing how misunderstandings can change everything.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the Doctor Who audio dramas being in a medium where one does not have to have any sort of visuals to enjoy the story, it’s really a rich playground for stories like today’s topic to flourish. Embrace the Darkness takes place largely in total darkness, a setting that would be either completely idiotic or insanely brave to attempt to pull off in any sort of movie or TV show (not sure which), so it’s well-suited for audio. There are a handful of these sorts of dramas I have listened to, and I feel like this sort of concept is probably the best that I’ve heard so far.

“The Doctor and Charley travel to the remote Cimmerian System to unravel the mystery of its sun. But darkness has already embraced the scientific base on Cimmeria IV in more ways than one. In a fight for survival, the Doctor must use all his wits against a deadly artificial life-form and an ancient race whose return to the Cimmerian System threatens suffering and death on an apocalyptic scale.”


Embrace the Darkness is genuinely terrifying early on. The idea that somebody could be stranded on a planet in total darkness, only to have some unseen alien race literally eat their eyes out is horrific. The moments we hear characters screaming, crying or laughing due to their ordeal is crazy, one just has to close their eyes and think of such a situation to see how rough it would be. Imagine being driven to madness through the pain of such an ordeal – I’m not sure I could deal with it. Sadly this atmosphere only lasts for about half of the adventure, which was unfortunate.

The Cimmerian race is realized in a cool way, in one of the few instances where the sound engineer really used stereo sound to a degree we’re not used to, the voices float from left to right as they speak giving a strange effect almost similar to hypnosis or ASMR audios. It gives the listener an idea that The Cimmerians are both numerous and somewhat ethereal as they whisper menacingly in your ear to “embrace the darkness.” Keep in mind, the characters experiencing this cannot see anything whatsoever, so I know I would be freaked out. Their physical description is somewhat bland, but considering you aren’t actually supposed to see them, the fear of hearing this odd voice while your eyes burn out of your head is quite scary.

This opening premise unravels a bit as the story progresses, and the horror-laden mystery gives way to a series of comfortable Doctor Who tropes as they always do. Had they writers kept up a pure horror story, I’m sure this would have been an instant classic. That isn’t to say this is bad or anything, just a bit of a missed opportunity. What we do have is cool, and definitely keeps up the quality that I have grown accustomed to from these Eighth Doctor and Charley episodes.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part1

タイム・ヴォルテックスの中を飛行中、ターディス・タイプ70が待ち伏せしていることに気がついたドクター。
面倒を避けるため進路を変更すると、ターディスは大きなノイズを立ててタイム・ヴォルテックスから抜け出す。モニターをつけると外に見えたのは美しく輝くシメリア星系だった。チャーリーが感嘆すると、ドクターはシメリア星系がある日突然に忽然と消滅し、しかも未だにその謎は解明されていないという話をする。2人の好奇心に火がつき、原因を調べてみることにする。ところがシメリア星系が消滅した頃に時間設定した途端にターディスが暴走する。トランスミットマットが原因でターディスは宇宙船の中らしきところに着地。ドクターとチャーリーは外に出て探索を開始。レスキュー任務を遂行しているロボット・ロズモと遭遇。ロボットはチャーリーをバイオハザードと見なし、排除しようとする。ドクターはロボットの気をそらし、チャーリーをターディスへ逃がす。しかし、チャーリーは逃げる途中で別のロボットと遭遇してしまう。それを知ったドクターはチャーリーがバイオハザードとして消されないようにロズモを説得しようとする。隙をみてチャーリーは近くの扉に飛び込むが、カプセルが作動し、宇宙船から近くの惑星に飛ばされてしまう。

Part2
チャーリーは基地に到着。そこでシメリアンの科学調査隊チームのオレンザとフェラスと出会う。彼らは基地の明かりがついておらず何も見えないと信じ込んでいたが実際には明かりはついており、チャーリーは彼らが目を失ってしまっていることを告げる。しかし、すぐにチャーリーも両目に激痛を感じ、視界が失われてしまう。ドクターはロズモを説得し、チャーリーが送られた基地に向かう。ドクターが基地につくと悲鳴と男の不気味な笑い声が聞こえてきた。チャーリーを探して歩き続けるとドクターはオレンザと出会う。オレンザは全てシメリアンの仕業という。しかしドクターはシメリアンに聞き覚えがなかった。オレンザがチャーリーの居場所知っているというので一緒に向かう。その頃チャーリーはオレンザとフェラスの仲間ハリアドと遭遇するが、ハリアドはオレンザ達のことを覚えておらず逃げ出してしまう。その後チャーリーはシメリアンに出会う。チャーリーは自分の視力が少しづつ回復していることに気がつくが、シメリアンは“闇を受け入れるか死ぬしかない”と繰り返すばかりだ。そこやってきたロズモがシメリアンを脅威とみなし射殺。ドクターとチャーリーはようやく合流できる。チャーリーはドクターにシメリア人と話したことを話す。オレンザはロズモに一刻も早く基地から安全な場所に移して欲しいと訴えるが、チャーリーは仲間のオレンザを残していくのかと驚く。しかし、今度はロズモが3人と同じ攻撃を受け、宇宙船のシステムにも障害をきたし、基地から避難できなくなる。

Part3
チャーリーのシメリアンの話からドクターはシメリアンが力になってくれるかもしれないと考え、ドクターとフェラス、チャーリーとオレンザで手分けしてスメリアンを探しに行く。オレンザはシメリアンに助けを求めようという考えは馬鹿げていると非難するが、遭遇したシメリアンが視力を取り戻してくれたたことで自分の誤りを認めドクターとチャーリーを信じるようになる。一方ドクターはフェラスから基地での任務の目的を尋ねるがフェラスはアストロフ教授の計画に則って作業していることは知っていてもその計画内容は知らなかった。ドクターはその計画がなんなのか宇宙船のデータにアクセスし、それが光を取り戻す計画と知り、ロズモに実行指示を送る。ところがチャーリーとオレンザと合流し、シメリアンが恐れているのはソラリアンという種族でソラリアンは光と共に襲ってくると知らされ、ドクターは計画実行指示がソラリアンを招くことになると自分を責める。

Part4
フェラスの視力を戻し、シメリアンはドクターは償いとして亡くなったシメリアンを仲間に戻し、ソラリアンの侵略を防ぐ手伝いをするために宇宙船を去ろうとする。エアロックでハリアドとすれ違ったドクターは自分が戻らなかった時はチャーリーの安全を代わりに守って欲しいと頼む。ハリアドからそのことをきいたチャーリーはドクターの後を追う。



感想
シメリアンがゴラムとスメアゴルのようでしかなかったところが残念だったこと以外は楽しく聴けた。最初の頃はうまく絡めていなかった8thドクターとチャーリーのケミストリーもようやく軌道にのってきた印象。2人のやりとりを聴いているだけで楽しい。ややドラマチッククィーンになりがちなドクターをいい匙加減でチャーリーがブレーキをかける感じが凄くいい。ドクターとロボット(A.I.？)ロズモとのやりとりも言葉のチェスゲームのようで面白かった。8thドクターがますます好きになった一品。

[MindProbe · Rating 3 out of 5]

a spooky slow-burn base-under-siege in much the same vein as Briggs' previous Eighth Doctor audio, Sword of Orion, though not quite as heavily indebted to Alien and, I think, a bit better. Jim Mortimore's superb soundscape certainly helps, with lots of atmospheric Tangerine Dream/John Carpenter-like synth stuff and a textured and distinctive, but not overbearing, Robot Voice effect for ROSM. there are some solid conceptual hooks as well, an intriguing "You can only do this on audio" premise (the title could almost be a tagline for Big Finish as a whole), some strong imagery, and for the most part the plot is structured decently enough, though it could be tightened up a bit. the twists felt somewhat predictable, but given that this was my second listen that's admittedly not something I'm in a position to assess with confidence.

the main issue for me is that it's all a rather mechanical exercise, more a plot construct with an effective tone than something especially emotionally engaging. it doesn't have to be right at the forefront of what the story is doing necessarily, but some livelier characterisation for the guest cast and just a few of the kind of emotional beats that the TV series would consistently find time for under Russell T Davies a couple of years later would, I think, have made this a considerably more compelling listen.

[Juan Fernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is so much to like about this story.

The setting is that Doctor Who staple of ‘the base under siege’ and is really effective; the darkness and the loss of senses is handled well; episode 1 gets you fully hooked and has an amazing cliffhanger as Charley realises her crewmates eyes have been burned out.

The characters are equally well realised. They are a cynical crew led by a ‘been there, seen it, done it’ boss in Orllensa. Her fear in losing her sight is palpable and ramps up the horror of the story. She even manages to make me laugh with her handiness with a spanner in dealing with threats.

ROSM is also that sci-fi standby, the robot with a heart, protecting the humans and finding humanity in its circuits.

So where does it go wrong? Somehow the story of the Cimmerians becomes convoluted, although the premise of extinguishing the light to protect themselves is simple. The indistinct voices make them a chore to listen to and the discovery that the returning aliens they are protecting themselves from, the Solarians, are simply archaeologists makes them far too minimal a threat. That the story revolves around a misunderstanding reduces the impact of the narrative.

It’s a real shame. The story starts so well and has great moments, and they are simply undermined by an underwhelming resolution. I would listen to this story again, but not for a while. And there is no shade on the actors and designers of the story who all do a wonderful job.

[Dalek1J · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Sumarians are The Sumarians!”

So, last week I was asking around which stories hit differently at night. Many said that “Embrace the Darkness” was the one to go for. So, I listened to Part 1 at night, then I got into an area with no service in the middle of nowhere and this car started to chase mine on the road... long story short, I only heard Part 1 in the dark. Oh boy, that part truly did hit differently with it genuinely creeping me out. Part 1 is incredible. The rest of it is meh. I like the ideas presented and the main cast is great, but something was just off in my opinion. I don’t know what it is or why it matters, but the other 3 parts just didn’t live up to the expections that the first one was setting up. The story also felt like a paint-by-numbers Who Story with a lot of predictable twists and turns. It’s an alright story, but it’s nothing that special. I do think your atmosphere will help, however. 7/10.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those audioplays that really makes you wish that McGann had his own TV series- because you know he would be absolutely brilliant and competing with Tennant for the favorite Doctor spot. I feel like I'm nostalgic for a time that never was.
Embrace the Darkness seems like it could have fit either in Classic or New Who- it's got that sense of mystery, intrigue, and that the Doctor is learning as he goes, but still using his vast reserves of knowledge, intelligence, and in 8's case, diplomacy, to work his way through the problem to a sound conclusion. This particular audioplay starts out as your typical remote-space-station-but-something's-out-there-and-going-to-get-us situation, and as usual, things aren't exactly as they seem. Charley is still capable and helpful, and still one of my favorite of 8's companions so far.
This was a great addition to the Big Finish 8th Doctor collection, and I can't wait to continue in the series.

[April Mccaffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember Embrace the Darkness being one of my favourite 8th Doctor and Charley audios, and I am glad it still remains that way. The Cimmerians are such fascinating aliens, and I think Nick Briggs did such a good job at creating them and having fun with their voices, they certainly remind me of Gollum.

Doctor Who: A 30-second summary

The Doctor: Charley, what's the matter?
Charley: Has everything we've been through meant so little to you that at the first sign of trouble you just dump me?
The Doctor: Charley, I was thinking of your safety.
Charley: By leaving me in goodness knows what century with a load of people I don't even know!? Well, I'd rather look after myself, thank you very much, if that's your idea of consideration.
The Doctor: Charley...
Charley: I think it's much more likely that you're feeling guilty about making a mistake and think you can make yourself feel better by making a grand noble gesture.

Embrace the Darkness

[David Layton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nick Briggs delivers another of his many base under siege stories. This one takes place mostly within a scientific base on a planet orbiting a sun that has mysteriously gone totally dark. The technicians are trying to start up artificial suns, when the whole base goes haywire and something takes away their eyes. The story belongs to the early phase of Big Finish in which the writers are foregrounding the sound medium in a highly self-conscious way. And what better way to do that than to have most of the characters most of the time either unable to see or groping around in darkness? The story also highlights the developing character of Doctor 8, a mix of Doctor 4's sense of wonder and tendency to be talking to himself even when talking to others, and Doctor 6 with his over-wrought sense of responsibility and a tendency toward grand-gesture self-sacrifice. The story has a few too many implausibilities for me, too many bits of magic dressed up in scientific garb.

[Erin Curran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can see how this story inspired many stories in the NuWho era. The Vashda Narada, the lights going out and the escape pod scene in 42 all immediately jump to mind.

This story was quick paced and tense, the concept of not being able to see always having been one that's made my skin crawl. I love how every character felt fleshed out. They weren't trying to be likable, they were acting realistically for the situation they were put in.

It appears that Charley's predicament as a person who shouldn't have been saved is still posing issues. If my speculation that the secondary anomaly that ROSM detected in her is correct. Another concept that inspired NuWho in stories like Father's Day, Fires of Pompeii and Waters of Mars. I'm really interested to see where they go with it.

I love to see how much the classic era aided the new. More respect should be put on these stories for their heavy lifting of concepts!

[Reggie A · Rating 2 out of 5]

Every Doctor needs an unmemorable space romp, it comes free with being the Doctor. This is a perfectly fine Doctor Who story, and I’m certain there’s someone out there foaming at the mouth that I’d say it’s mid when I rate Stones of Venice so highly.

Two stars is harsh, it’s really more of a 2.75 (let me use half stars, good reads!), I just could not engage at all with this one, no matter how hard I tried. The characters were fun enough, and the twist was good, but I could not bring myself to care.

I dunno. Maybe I was tired when I listened.

[Kathryn Houghton · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Why Ms Pollard you never cease to surprise me!” Yes I’m starting my review with that quote. These audios seriously are just so good. At this point I’m just loving Charley. I thought I picked up on some flirting going on here and there, and I’m definitely not complaining. But she really knows how to hold her own. Poor Doctor though, he’s always spending half the story trying to find his best friend. So many good moments in this story. The beginning was strong, as was the ending.

[Finlay O'Riordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first part was pretty good and had me thinking we would be in for a really creepy and compelling story, but this atmosphere dissipates around midway through Part 2 and the rest of the story becomes a drag and a whole lot of nothing.

It also didn't seem to have any direct links to the wider Charley arc going on at this time, despite the previous three stories all having made some kind of small or big reference to it.

[Kyle Berk]

Very good Gothic sci-fi. Paul McGann and Indi Fisher are the tops.

All the performances are great. It’s a very sharp tale with good bits of characterization and progression in the Charley arc.

Worth a listen if you’re going through the continuity but also if you want some war between species that can be horrifying creepy.

[Stephen Higham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A high concept play from exec producer Nick Briggs. The soundscape and concepts are of a high quality and I enjoyed the first couple of episodes but the latter two were, this time a bit of a slog. The small cast and darkness (literal) (also figurative) make for a promising doctor who story but there’s always that point where the writer has to explain everything and usually that bit disappoints.