What do you think?
Rate this book
Classic Doctors, New Monsters #1.02
Doctor Who: Judoon in Chains
The Sixth Doctor is no stranger to courtroom drama, but faces a very different challenge when he prepares to defend a most unusual Judoon.
After an environmental clearance mission goes wrong, Captain Kybo of the Nineteenth Judoon Interplantary Force is stranded in Victorian England, bound in chains, an exhibit in a circus show. But he has allies: Eliza Jenkins – known to audiences as ‘Thomasina Thumb’ – and the larger-than-life ‘clown’ in the colourful coat.
Uncovering a trail of injustice and corruption, the Doctor and Kybo soon find themselves on trial for their lives...
After an environmental clearance mission goes wrong, Captain Kybo of the Nineteenth Judoon Interplantary Force is stranded in Victorian England, bound in chains, an exhibit in a circus show. But he has allies: Eliza Jenkins – known to audiences as ‘Thomasina Thumb’ – and the larger-than-life ‘clown’ in the colourful coat.
Uncovering a trail of injustice and corruption, the Doctor and Kybo soon find themselves on trial for their lives...
- GenresDoctor WhoAudiobook
Audio CD
First published July 28, 2016
17 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 29, 2025
This is a episode from a set called Doctor Who: Monsters. This particular episode offers the Judoon as a monster, you know the Rhino law enforcer from the Shadow Proclamation.
Enter the 6th Doctor, as played by Colin Baker, who reacts on an SOS and tries to save a Judoon in his spaceshuttle that is datagebruik beyond repair. This ship crashes in old England, the Doctor follows him and finds the Judoon in a carnival where hé is living as wrestler inprisoned by a mad circus director. This Judoon however displays some strange characterics, he learns human speech, loves reading especially poetry. This kinda interests the Doctor who knows that other Judoon are bound to arrive and they will not be entertained by their different member of their species. The Doctor has a few trucks up his multicoloured sleeves.
Colin Baker is certainly the one Doctor who has benefited from BF and has given the actor far better scripts than the BBC ever did
This story is multi-layered and quite surprising with a very entertaining story with an already iconic Judoon race ever since the Tennant episode. For me the Judoon are quite understandable in their actions however the True monster in this story is far more recognizable for most people.
A very enjoyable story, time well spend.
Enter the 6th Doctor, as played by Colin Baker, who reacts on an SOS and tries to save a Judoon in his spaceshuttle that is datagebruik beyond repair. This ship crashes in old England, the Doctor follows him and finds the Judoon in a carnival where hé is living as wrestler inprisoned by a mad circus director. This Judoon however displays some strange characterics, he learns human speech, loves reading especially poetry. This kinda interests the Doctor who knows that other Judoon are bound to arrive and they will not be entertained by their different member of their species. The Doctor has a few trucks up his multicoloured sleeves.
Colin Baker is certainly the one Doctor who has benefited from BF and has given the actor far better scripts than the BBC ever did
This story is multi-layered and quite surprising with a very entertaining story with an already iconic Judoon race ever since the Tennant episode. For me the Judoon are quite understandable in their actions however the True monster in this story is far more recognizable for most people.
A very enjoyable story, time well spend.
February 9, 2026
Continuing the Classic Doctors New Monsters series, and the second story in the boxset means it’s time for Ol’ Sixie to come face-to-face with one of NuWho’s recognisable villains. His instalment sees him back in the familiar surroundings of a courtroom, although fortunately for him, not a Gallifreyan one. He’s come to 19th-century Reigate as defence counsel on a most unusual case.
His client: Captain Kybo of the 19th Judoon Interplanetary Force.
If Fallen Angels was the perfect opening gambit for Classic Doctors New Monsters, then Judoon in Chains presents a stellar development for the series concept. Barnard and Morris make their case with a story that is part courtroom drama but, more importantly, part study of the Judoon species, originally created by then showrunner Russel T. Davies.
Thick-headed, trigger-happy and sticklers for procedure, these rhino men of intergalactic law have never been known for their flights of whimsey. However, Captain Kybo is different. After an encounter with a sentient, psychic force, he’s come under radical change. He becomes articulate with the propensity to learn beyond the confines of the Judoonese rulebook. For his differences, Kybo is essentially made an outcast by his fellow Judoon.
Barnard and Morris effectively explore these motifs throughout the story by paralleling his experiences with those who played a role in 19th-century freak shows. Filled with their own number of outcasts and misfits, their shared experiences become a type of adopted community for Kybo as he ends up stuck on Earth. These moments reveal a newfound depth to the Judoon as a species. Their capabilities (or lack thereof), uniformity to procedure, and the consequences of straying from them are all new dimensions that could never be touched upon within the confines of the TV series.
Elsewhere, these themes also echo The Doctor’s own origin story as a Time Lord outcast. Although these themes apply to any incarnation of The Doctor, there’s method in the madness for choosing Ol’ Sixie. His garish attire (which I’ve always liked) and often prickly demeanour set him adrift more than most. As a result, his inclusion adds more levity to the already weighty themes of the story.
The story’s themes of community, exclusion and sentience aren’t the only ones found throughout the adventure. Towards the conclusion, the courtroom drama picks up at an immense pace as it dispenses justice on a corporation causing universal woes. Whilst anti-capitalist and anti-corporation themes are a staple of the show, they are not used to their greatest effect during this story. Though it gives the story a solid ending, little time is spared developing these themes beyond surface-level observations, undercutting the stronger themes of the episode.
Judoon in Chains continues Classic Doctors New Monsters’ streak of stellar stories. Barnard and Morris’ vision for the concept elevates its storytelling, spinning a web of effective themes and motifs, as well as developing a well-known NuWho monster, taking them beyond the confines of the TV series.
His client: Captain Kybo of the 19th Judoon Interplanetary Force.
If Fallen Angels was the perfect opening gambit for Classic Doctors New Monsters, then Judoon in Chains presents a stellar development for the series concept. Barnard and Morris make their case with a story that is part courtroom drama but, more importantly, part study of the Judoon species, originally created by then showrunner Russel T. Davies.
Thick-headed, trigger-happy and sticklers for procedure, these rhino men of intergalactic law have never been known for their flights of whimsey. However, Captain Kybo is different. After an encounter with a sentient, psychic force, he’s come under radical change. He becomes articulate with the propensity to learn beyond the confines of the Judoonese rulebook. For his differences, Kybo is essentially made an outcast by his fellow Judoon.
Barnard and Morris effectively explore these motifs throughout the story by paralleling his experiences with those who played a role in 19th-century freak shows. Filled with their own number of outcasts and misfits, their shared experiences become a type of adopted community for Kybo as he ends up stuck on Earth. These moments reveal a newfound depth to the Judoon as a species. Their capabilities (or lack thereof), uniformity to procedure, and the consequences of straying from them are all new dimensions that could never be touched upon within the confines of the TV series.
Elsewhere, these themes also echo The Doctor’s own origin story as a Time Lord outcast. Although these themes apply to any incarnation of The Doctor, there’s method in the madness for choosing Ol’ Sixie. His garish attire (which I’ve always liked) and often prickly demeanour set him adrift more than most. As a result, his inclusion adds more levity to the already weighty themes of the story.
The story’s themes of community, exclusion and sentience aren’t the only ones found throughout the adventure. Towards the conclusion, the courtroom drama picks up at an immense pace as it dispenses justice on a corporation causing universal woes. Whilst anti-capitalist and anti-corporation themes are a staple of the show, they are not used to their greatest effect during this story. Though it gives the story a solid ending, little time is spared developing these themes beyond surface-level observations, undercutting the stronger themes of the episode.
Judoon in Chains continues Classic Doctors New Monsters’ streak of stellar stories. Barnard and Morris’ vision for the concept elevates its storytelling, spinning a web of effective themes and motifs, as well as developing a well-known NuWho monster, taking them beyond the confines of the TV series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2021
My favourite monster and my favourite Doctor, I could not ask for more.
The story started magnificently: a Judoon, one of the most single-minded militaristic species, stole a ship and became a traitor. So a trial is being held, and Sixth Doctor is the defendant as well as the witness (what is it with Sixie and trials??).
It's weird, but I can't recall much of memorable stories where The Doctor helps a non-humanoid alien. It's easy to fall into a stereotypical farce with The Doctor keep pointing on Judoon's "nature" — but not this one, there's a warmth in the open minded relationship between Kybo and The Doctor, even before he realized the changes in Kybo's Judoonism.
This story is just pleasant all around. Well paced, witty lines, and right dose of comedy that neither meandering or suffocating. All the characters are lovely, heck I even like Meretricious Gadge.
This is definitely my favourite story in the range, as well my favourite Judoon's story.
**spoiler here**
I don't want to think too much about the theme, but I initially a bit worried about placing a "standard" on a species' way of life. Glad to found out the story went beyond that and makes one of the most satisfying conclusion ever.
**spoiler ends**
The story started magnificently: a Judoon, one of the most single-minded militaristic species, stole a ship and became a traitor. So a trial is being held, and Sixth Doctor is the defendant as well as the witness (what is it with Sixie and trials??).
It's weird, but I can't recall much of memorable stories where The Doctor helps a non-humanoid alien. It's easy to fall into a stereotypical farce with The Doctor keep pointing on Judoon's "nature" — but not this one, there's a warmth in the open minded relationship between Kybo and The Doctor, even before he realized the changes in Kybo's Judoonism.
This story is just pleasant all around. Well paced, witty lines, and right dose of comedy that neither meandering or suffocating. All the characters are lovely, heck I even like Meretricious Gadge.
This is definitely my favourite story in the range, as well my favourite Judoon's story.
**spoiler here**
I don't want to think too much about the theme, but I initially a bit worried about placing a "standard" on a species' way of life. Glad to found out the story went beyond that and makes one of the most satisfying conclusion ever.
**spoiler ends**
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2024
Oh what could be more fun than mashing-up actors from the classic era Doctor Who with monsters and enemies from the new era series? Not much, that’s for sure.
This was interesting, actually very interesting. But I thought having The (Sixth) Doctor, Colin Baker, involved weakened it a bit. Not sure if I can explain why exactly. There were aspects that played as thoughtlessly silly and others that worked quite well. Taken all together, it just didn’t really work that well for me. Still it was interesting.
This was interesting, actually very interesting. But I thought having The (Sixth) Doctor, Colin Baker, involved weakened it a bit. Not sure if I can explain why exactly. There were aspects that played as thoughtlessly silly and others that worked quite well. Taken all together, it just didn’t really work that well for me. Still it was interesting.
March 16, 2025
4.5 stars.
This was fun. Not just because of how much I’ve always enjoyed the Judoon, as they were one of the first Aliens I saw in the series, the first episode I watched properly being Smith & Jones, but because it was just an enjoyable story.
A little bit court room drama, a little bit Elephant Man and a splash of anti colonial sentiment. A strange mixture but it works.
This was fun. Not just because of how much I’ve always enjoyed the Judoon, as they were one of the first Aliens I saw in the series, the first episode I watched properly being Smith & Jones, but because it was just an enjoyable story.
A little bit court room drama, a little bit Elephant Man and a splash of anti colonial sentiment. A strange mixture but it works.
December 9, 2023
This was an absolutely beautiful and very enjoyable adventure. What could have come off as trite and silly is carried to genuine profoundity by excellent performances from both Colin Baker as the Doctor and Captain Kreg.
December 14, 2023
Sixie and the Judoon make a great combination in this courtroom/circus adventure.
February 15, 2024
Nice to hear Kiruna Stamell who I know from Doctors.
April 3, 2024
Brilliant plot. Excellet voice acting. A great exploration of the Judoon. 4/5
March 12, 2025
BANGER story that uses the Judoon in a fresh way
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews