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The Sixth Doctor Adventures
Doctor Who: Water Worlds
The Sixth Doctor returns, and he's thrown straight in at the deep end! Travelling the galaxy with Melanie Bush and their brand-new companion, marine biologist Hebe Harrison, there are wonders to see, dangers to face and plenty of peril beneath the waves.
1.1 The Rotting Deep by Jacqueline Rayner
A mysterious SOS summons the Doctor and Mel to an oil rig in the North Sea where a dwindling group of survivors awaits rescue from a lethal menace. One of their number is Hebe Harrison, a wheelchair-using marine biologist who is definitely more than she seems. Can our heroes escape the rig? And just what is killing off the rig's beleaguered crew?
1.2 The Tides of the Moon by Joshua Pruett
For Hebe's first trip in the TARDIS, the Doctor and Mel take her to the nearest available 'water world' – the Moon, two billion years in the past! Its advanced humanoid inhabitants, the Gilleans, are terrorised each night by their monstrous enemies, the Sheega. Even more worrying is that in a matter of hours, this ocean world will be laid waste by the gravitational interference of the blue-green planet next door.
1.3 Maelstrom by Jonathan Morris
The Doctor, Mel and Hebe visit the archipelago world of Veludia, only to discover a planet beset by electromagnetic storms where three survivors traverse the seas in a ramshackle township. These survivors are 'corps' - bodies used as hosts for minds stored in the vessel’s ‘mind-drive’ - and the Doctor, Mel and Hebe are seen as welcome replacements. But there's something lurking in the waters below, something of rage and power that wishes to destroy them all: the Maelstrom!
1.1 The Rotting Deep by Jacqueline Rayner
A mysterious SOS summons the Doctor and Mel to an oil rig in the North Sea where a dwindling group of survivors awaits rescue from a lethal menace. One of their number is Hebe Harrison, a wheelchair-using marine biologist who is definitely more than she seems. Can our heroes escape the rig? And just what is killing off the rig's beleaguered crew?
1.2 The Tides of the Moon by Joshua Pruett
For Hebe's first trip in the TARDIS, the Doctor and Mel take her to the nearest available 'water world' – the Moon, two billion years in the past! Its advanced humanoid inhabitants, the Gilleans, are terrorised each night by their monstrous enemies, the Sheega. Even more worrying is that in a matter of hours, this ocean world will be laid waste by the gravitational interference of the blue-green planet next door.
1.3 Maelstrom by Jonathan Morris
The Doctor, Mel and Hebe visit the archipelago world of Veludia, only to discover a planet beset by electromagnetic storms where three survivors traverse the seas in a ramshackle township. These survivors are 'corps' - bodies used as hosts for minds stored in the vessel’s ‘mind-drive’ - and the Doctor, Mel and Hebe are seen as welcome replacements. But there's something lurking in the waters below, something of rage and power that wishes to destroy them all: the Maelstrom!
Audio CD
First published May 18, 2022
24 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Rayner
133 books168 followersJacqueline Rayner is a best selling British author, best known for her work with the licensed fiction based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.
Her first professional writing credit came when she adapted Paul Cornell's Virgin New Adventure novel Oh No It Isn't! for the audio format, the first release by Big Finish. (The novel featured the character of Bernice Summerfield and was part of a spin-off series from Doctor Who.) She went on to do five of the six Bernice Summerfield audio adaptations and further work for Big Finish before going to work for BBC Books on their Doctor Who lines.
Her first novels came in 2001, with the Eighth Doctor Adventures novel EarthWorld for BBC Books and the Bernice Summerfield novel The Squire's Crystal for Big Finish. Rayner has written several other Doctor Who spin-offs and was also for a period the executive producer for the BBC on the Big Finish range of Doctor Who audio dramas. She has also contributed to the audio range as a writer. In all, her Doctor Who and related work (Bernice Summerfield stories), consists of five novels, a number of short stories and four original audio plays.
Rayner has edited several anthologies of Doctor Who short stories, mainly for Big Finish, and done work for Doctor Who Magazine. Beyond Doctor Who, her work includes the children's television tie-in book Horses Like Blaze.
With the start of the new television series of Doctor Who in 2005 and a shift in the BBC's Doctor Who related book output, Rayner has become, along with Justin Richards and Stephen Cole, one of the regular authors of the BBC's New Series Adventures. She has also abridged several of the books to be made into audiobooks.
She was also a member of Doctor Who Magazine's original Time Team.
Her first professional writing credit came when she adapted Paul Cornell's Virgin New Adventure novel Oh No It Isn't! for the audio format, the first release by Big Finish. (The novel featured the character of Bernice Summerfield and was part of a spin-off series from Doctor Who.) She went on to do five of the six Bernice Summerfield audio adaptations and further work for Big Finish before going to work for BBC Books on their Doctor Who lines.
Her first novels came in 2001, with the Eighth Doctor Adventures novel EarthWorld for BBC Books and the Bernice Summerfield novel The Squire's Crystal for Big Finish. Rayner has written several other Doctor Who spin-offs and was also for a period the executive producer for the BBC on the Big Finish range of Doctor Who audio dramas. She has also contributed to the audio range as a writer. In all, her Doctor Who and related work (Bernice Summerfield stories), consists of five novels, a number of short stories and four original audio plays.
Rayner has edited several anthologies of Doctor Who short stories, mainly for Big Finish, and done work for Doctor Who Magazine. Beyond Doctor Who, her work includes the children's television tie-in book Horses Like Blaze.
With the start of the new television series of Doctor Who in 2005 and a shift in the BBC's Doctor Who related book output, Rayner has become, along with Justin Richards and Stephen Cole, one of the regular authors of the BBC's New Series Adventures. She has also abridged several of the books to be made into audiobooks.
She was also a member of Doctor Who Magazine's original Time Team.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 23, 2022
"DOCTOR WHO: WATER WORLDS" FROM BEST TO WORST
✅82% 👍64 👎14 = You should listen to it!
_________________________
The Rotting Deep: ✅86% 👍24 👎4
✅ +3 POINTS:
I love the final scenes, which allow some time to breathe out and explore Hebe a little more. There is also a much unexpected twist involving a former companion which I love!
----
✅ +2 POINTS:
It's great to get a story, where the Doctor arrives on the scene at a point where several people have already died. It means that the story can move on to the Doctor deciding to save the day quicker, and it can fill in the gaps along the way.
The Rotting Deep serves as the introduction of marine biologist Hebe Harrison as the new companion for Six and Mel, and she makes quite an impression with her confidence; she doesn't want to be pitied or treated differently due to her condition. Jaqueline Rayner explores the prejudices revolving around people in wheelchairs, but it's difficult to say just how much of a role that will play in Hebe's characterisation going forward.
Harrison seems to be another pretty quick-witted and smart companion, which is always a joy. She is also fearless, with an attitude similar to Ace's. She also hits it off with Mel right away. Ruth Madeley immediately personifies her as if she had been playing the character for years.
The oil rig setting is an effective one, particularly when the story enters The Birds mode and makes the gulls as dangerous as the alien threatening the lives of everybody on the rig.
There's good tension coming from the fear of the unknown, but also the unusual behaviour of the known - attacking birds and murderous jellyfish.
Kudos to the actors for their performances while under the influence of the water - it's chilling stuff.
I love how Hebe is the one to put the final nail in the coffin instead of the Doctor; it shows the potential of her character.
----
✅ +1 POINT:
Plus points for the title of this story, it's such a Classic Who-inspired story title!
Right off the bat, this story paints a canvas similar to Fury from the Deep - an aquatic setting on an oil rig, with a small crew threatened by unseen alien forces. Rayner ushers in the viewers by dropping them amid the action together with the Doctor and Mel.
The extended guest cast makes it possible to keep a layer of mystery around who might be behind the strange event on the rig - and means that there are more potential victims.
We already get a good feel for Hebe, who doesn't let her wheelchair be a hindrance to life depending on it.
Sky is the sort of odd supporting character who would be very memorable had she appeared on the show.
Another gross death scene here, as Jonah is squeezed to death by the giant squid.
I didn't like the twist of there not being an alien behind it all - the monster is pollution caused by man! - to begin with, but it grew on me as I came to realize how the story plays with our and the Doctor's expectations only to come up with a fairly fresh solution.
----
❌ -1 POINT:
The story does not establish the supposed alien presence very well at all but keeps teasing for longer than expected.
Since the plot mostly and rightfully focuses on Hebe, the other people on the rig feel underdeveloped and don't get very much to do.
The human culprit behind the deaths is disappointingly obvious after they enter the narrative in Part Two.
The twist involving water is logical and good but feels a bit overdone by this point (sugar in The Moonbase (1967), water in The Waters of Mars (2009) and so on).
________________________
The Tides of the Moon: ✅87% 👍20 👎3
✅ +3 POINTS:
Writer Joshua Pruett makes his Who debut here with a story that feels classic and modern at the same time; it has a lively setting, great characters and interesting twists, showing Pruett's love for and understanding of the series.
The sound design and music work in tandem to not only bring the story to life effectively but also offer multiple tense and exciting moments. It's very effective in the traumatic transformations towards the end of the adventure.
To me, The Tides of the Moon feels almost like a Nu Who story in terms of its characters, tone and pace, so it remains engaging from beginning to end.
The Gillians are an interesting concept, with Helias and Wulk being distinct representatives of their race. Both are performed very well by their respective actors, and I kind of fell in love with Wulk's simple, but charming persona.
----
✅ +2 POINTS:
I love Hebe’s childish energy and her chemistry with Six and Mel. She also shows a deep passion for her field - perhaps to a fault. The story also explores themes of personal integrity through Hebe’s eyes.
The Moon is no new place for Doctor Who to explore but I don't think we've been on it when it had water - and a civilization – so the setting is very interesting.
The Shiga is initially painted as the bad monsters before the story goes into typical "the monsters aren't actually monsters" territory - but the real twist is that the Shiga both are and aren't the monsters here! Making the Earth's gravitational pull the reason for the transformation is also an intriguing concept.
So, the city on the moon being a spaceship is a great way to tie all the events together by one common factor - and it explains why there are no signs of the Gillians on the Moon.
----
❌ -1 POINT:
That cliffhanger at the end of Part 1 is ripped right out Dr a 60s Doctor Who episode, so it's a bit boring.
The Clutch Father is a generically stubborn and ignorant leader, with very little character other than that.
The tension and stakes are almost non-existent after the first twist, which means that you'll just sit impatiently and wait for it all to be over.
_________________________
Maelstrom: ✅74% 👍20 👎7
✅ +3 POINTS:
The sound design and music are once again impeccable and help enliven the setting.
The setup with a bank of minds that are downloaded into corpses is a fascinating idea and well-thought concept.
The basic idea is used as great pot fuel and more social commentary is attached to Hebe.
The best use of Hebe yet, especially in how she connects with the Maelstrom.
----
✅ +2 POINTS:
You get quite a good feel for the crew members on the trade ship and their precarious situation.
The characters are well-defined and performed.
The mind-swap aspects and all its problems are well-depicted.
There’s a VERY intriguing set-up for the next set!
----
❌ -1 POINT:
The story builds up tension pretty slowly and doesn’t develop the narrative very effectively.
With all this mind-swapping going on, it's sometimes difficult to keep up with all the minds.
There’s an extended sequence of action in the storm that doesn’t translate well on audio
----
❌ -2 POINTS:
Considering how many times the mind of a companion has been swapped before, this time makes nothing bigger out of it.
The climax is underwhelming, as is the ill-defined and underdeveloped maelstrom.
_________________________
✅82% 👍64 👎14 = You should listen to it!
_________________________
The Rotting Deep: ✅86% 👍24 👎4
✅ +3 POINTS:
I love the final scenes, which allow some time to breathe out and explore Hebe a little more. There is also a much unexpected twist involving a former companion which I love!
----
✅ +2 POINTS:
It's great to get a story, where the Doctor arrives on the scene at a point where several people have already died. It means that the story can move on to the Doctor deciding to save the day quicker, and it can fill in the gaps along the way.
The Rotting Deep serves as the introduction of marine biologist Hebe Harrison as the new companion for Six and Mel, and she makes quite an impression with her confidence; she doesn't want to be pitied or treated differently due to her condition. Jaqueline Rayner explores the prejudices revolving around people in wheelchairs, but it's difficult to say just how much of a role that will play in Hebe's characterisation going forward.
Harrison seems to be another pretty quick-witted and smart companion, which is always a joy. She is also fearless, with an attitude similar to Ace's. She also hits it off with Mel right away. Ruth Madeley immediately personifies her as if she had been playing the character for years.
The oil rig setting is an effective one, particularly when the story enters The Birds mode and makes the gulls as dangerous as the alien threatening the lives of everybody on the rig.
There's good tension coming from the fear of the unknown, but also the unusual behaviour of the known - attacking birds and murderous jellyfish.
Kudos to the actors for their performances while under the influence of the water - it's chilling stuff.
I love how Hebe is the one to put the final nail in the coffin instead of the Doctor; it shows the potential of her character.
----
✅ +1 POINT:
Plus points for the title of this story, it's such a Classic Who-inspired story title!
Right off the bat, this story paints a canvas similar to Fury from the Deep - an aquatic setting on an oil rig, with a small crew threatened by unseen alien forces. Rayner ushers in the viewers by dropping them amid the action together with the Doctor and Mel.
The extended guest cast makes it possible to keep a layer of mystery around who might be behind the strange event on the rig - and means that there are more potential victims.
We already get a good feel for Hebe, who doesn't let her wheelchair be a hindrance to life depending on it.
Sky is the sort of odd supporting character who would be very memorable had she appeared on the show.
Another gross death scene here, as Jonah is squeezed to death by the giant squid.
I didn't like the twist of there not being an alien behind it all - the monster is pollution caused by man! - to begin with, but it grew on me as I came to realize how the story plays with our and the Doctor's expectations only to come up with a fairly fresh solution.
----
❌ -1 POINT:
The story does not establish the supposed alien presence very well at all but keeps teasing for longer than expected.
Since the plot mostly and rightfully focuses on Hebe, the other people on the rig feel underdeveloped and don't get very much to do.
The human culprit behind the deaths is disappointingly obvious after they enter the narrative in Part Two.
The twist involving water is logical and good but feels a bit overdone by this point (sugar in The Moonbase (1967), water in The Waters of Mars (2009) and so on).
________________________
The Tides of the Moon: ✅87% 👍20 👎3
✅ +3 POINTS:
Writer Joshua Pruett makes his Who debut here with a story that feels classic and modern at the same time; it has a lively setting, great characters and interesting twists, showing Pruett's love for and understanding of the series.
The sound design and music work in tandem to not only bring the story to life effectively but also offer multiple tense and exciting moments. It's very effective in the traumatic transformations towards the end of the adventure.
To me, The Tides of the Moon feels almost like a Nu Who story in terms of its characters, tone and pace, so it remains engaging from beginning to end.
The Gillians are an interesting concept, with Helias and Wulk being distinct representatives of their race. Both are performed very well by their respective actors, and I kind of fell in love with Wulk's simple, but charming persona.
----
✅ +2 POINTS:
I love Hebe’s childish energy and her chemistry with Six and Mel. She also shows a deep passion for her field - perhaps to a fault. The story also explores themes of personal integrity through Hebe’s eyes.
The Moon is no new place for Doctor Who to explore but I don't think we've been on it when it had water - and a civilization – so the setting is very interesting.
The Shiga is initially painted as the bad monsters before the story goes into typical "the monsters aren't actually monsters" territory - but the real twist is that the Shiga both are and aren't the monsters here! Making the Earth's gravitational pull the reason for the transformation is also an intriguing concept.
So, the city on the moon being a spaceship is a great way to tie all the events together by one common factor - and it explains why there are no signs of the Gillians on the Moon.
----
❌ -1 POINT:
That cliffhanger at the end of Part 1 is ripped right out Dr a 60s Doctor Who episode, so it's a bit boring.
The Clutch Father is a generically stubborn and ignorant leader, with very little character other than that.
The tension and stakes are almost non-existent after the first twist, which means that you'll just sit impatiently and wait for it all to be over.
_________________________
Maelstrom: ✅74% 👍20 👎7
✅ +3 POINTS:
The sound design and music are once again impeccable and help enliven the setting.
The setup with a bank of minds that are downloaded into corpses is a fascinating idea and well-thought concept.
The basic idea is used as great pot fuel and more social commentary is attached to Hebe.
The best use of Hebe yet, especially in how she connects with the Maelstrom.
----
✅ +2 POINTS:
You get quite a good feel for the crew members on the trade ship and their precarious situation.
The characters are well-defined and performed.
The mind-swap aspects and all its problems are well-depicted.
There’s a VERY intriguing set-up for the next set!
----
❌ -1 POINT:
The story builds up tension pretty slowly and doesn’t develop the narrative very effectively.
With all this mind-swapping going on, it's sometimes difficult to keep up with all the minds.
There’s an extended sequence of action in the storm that doesn’t translate well on audio
----
❌ -2 POINTS:
Considering how many times the mind of a companion has been swapped before, this time makes nothing bigger out of it.
The climax is underwhelming, as is the ill-defined and underdeveloped maelstrom.
_________________________
June 15, 2024
Three hour-long stories connected by a theme of the ocean and, more significantly, introducing us to new companion Hebe. The latter is played by Ruth Madeley, which, since she has since appeared as a different character in the TV series – and just possibly a lead in the rumoured spin-off – probably means that we won’t be seeing more from her from now on. Still, fans might be interested in listening to her playing a rather different character to the TV one, at least for a while.
The Rotting Deep – The first story is set in the 2000s; the near-future from Mel’s perspective, although not much is made of it being the recent past from ours. The setting here is a disused oil rig in the North Sea, mysteriously sending out a distress signal that the TARDIS can pick up. Arriving to investigate, the Doctor and Mel find themselves in a base under siege where regular wildlife appears to be what’s doing the besieging - in the style, most obviously, of The Birds. The puzzle of what is causing this isn’t resolved until close to the end, so that there are no monsters other than real-world sea life.
This, of course, is also the story that introduces Hebe, a marine biologist. It’s notable here that the biology she quotes is more plausible than some of the other science used in the story, although even then there’s some coatrack hanging where creatures do something that they probably couldn’t really. (Although the line about electron microscopy makes zero sense; writers never seem to have the first clue about what it involves, or, in this case, what you’d need it for).
A slight weakness is that Hebe is probably the only one of the people trapped on the rig who isn’t either a stereotype of some kind or who dies early on. She also comes across as overly prickly and defensive, which is perhaps plausible for somebody who so often gets treated with condescension or pity, but doesn’t make immediately likeable or sympathetic either. (Those listeners who are actually in Hebe’s situation may, however, come at this from an entirely different angle, so that may just be my privilege speaking). Perhaps not the best start, but she’s certainly a good match for the Sixth Doctor, and the story itself works surprisingly well in a guess-who’s-going-to-die-next disaster movie sort of way. 4 stars.
The Tides of the Moon – In the second story, we visit the first of the two “water worlds” of the title. This happens to be Earth’s moon, which an untested but serious scientific theory suggests could once have had a thick (if toxic) atmosphere sufficient to hold onto shallow seas or lakes. Here, the Doctor travels back billions of years to that time, discovering an alien city on the shoreline. The aliens, naturally enough, turn out to be facing a threat to their survival which forms the focus of the story.
This does mean that there are no human characters in this other than the companions and the setting is odd enough that it’s difficult to fully envisage. It fits in with many of the tropes of the show, but the strangeness of it all lends a degree of distance and it could have done with a few lines of exposition earlier on to explain some of the setting. There are also a few points where it’s difficult to work out what’s going on – the description of the monsters, for example, is vague, and there are some scenes that could have done with some explanatory dialogue to figure out what’s happening to the characters. (I’ll note here that the writer is new to Big Finish and likely to audio in general, having previously written primarily for cartoons such as Phineas and Ferb).
Hebe comes across as more likeable here, while still being true to what we’ve seen in the previous episode, but the story as a whole is merely okay. 3 stars.
Maelstrom – The third story is, to my mind, the strongest of the three. Here, the TARDIS crew arrive on a water world with only a few reefs peeking above the surface, where they are picked up by people believing themselves to be the last survivors of their doomed civilisation. The story keeps up the aquatic theme of the set, not only by being almost entirely set on a ship, but also by including a couple of scenes where the characters descend into the deeps in a bathysphere. This, however, is not the main thrust of the story, which is instead centred around the technology keeping the ship’s crew alive.
The result is a good tale with some morally ambiguous characters. Hebe is really starting to feel like part of the TARDIS crew, perhaps because Morris is toning down some of the spikiness she exhibited in the first story, without ignoring the basics of the character. Mel is in the story rather less, but for a good reason that ties into what it’s all about. The usual high quality soundscaping also helps sell the fact that the story is set on a ship on a stormy ocean and, despite the isolation of the setting, it’s not a true base-under-siege story, ensuring that the three stories in the collection are different despite
The Rotting Deep – The first story is set in the 2000s; the near-future from Mel’s perspective, although not much is made of it being the recent past from ours. The setting here is a disused oil rig in the North Sea, mysteriously sending out a distress signal that the TARDIS can pick up. Arriving to investigate, the Doctor and Mel find themselves in a base under siege where regular wildlife appears to be what’s doing the besieging - in the style, most obviously, of The Birds. The puzzle of what is causing this isn’t resolved until close to the end, so that there are no monsters other than real-world sea life.
This, of course, is also the story that introduces Hebe, a marine biologist. It’s notable here that the biology she quotes is more plausible than some of the other science used in the story, although even then there’s some coatrack hanging where creatures do something that they probably couldn’t really. (Although the line about electron microscopy makes zero sense; writers never seem to have the first clue about what it involves, or, in this case, what you’d need it for).
A slight weakness is that Hebe is probably the only one of the people trapped on the rig who isn’t either a stereotype of some kind or who dies early on. She also comes across as overly prickly and defensive, which is perhaps plausible for somebody who so often gets treated with condescension or pity, but doesn’t make immediately likeable or sympathetic either. (Those listeners who are actually in Hebe’s situation may, however, come at this from an entirely different angle, so that may just be my privilege speaking). Perhaps not the best start, but she’s certainly a good match for the Sixth Doctor, and the story itself works surprisingly well in a guess-who’s-going-to-die-next disaster movie sort of way. 4 stars.
The Tides of the Moon – In the second story, we visit the first of the two “water worlds” of the title. This happens to be Earth’s moon, which an untested but serious scientific theory suggests could once have had a thick (if toxic) atmosphere sufficient to hold onto shallow seas or lakes. Here, the Doctor travels back billions of years to that time, discovering an alien city on the shoreline. The aliens, naturally enough, turn out to be facing a threat to their survival which forms the focus of the story.
This does mean that there are no human characters in this other than the companions and the setting is odd enough that it’s difficult to fully envisage. It fits in with many of the tropes of the show, but the strangeness of it all lends a degree of distance and it could have done with a few lines of exposition earlier on to explain some of the setting. There are also a few points where it’s difficult to work out what’s going on – the description of the monsters, for example, is vague, and there are some scenes that could have done with some explanatory dialogue to figure out what’s happening to the characters. (I’ll note here that the writer is new to Big Finish and likely to audio in general, having previously written primarily for cartoons such as Phineas and Ferb).
Hebe comes across as more likeable here, while still being true to what we’ve seen in the previous episode, but the story as a whole is merely okay. 3 stars.
Maelstrom – The third story is, to my mind, the strongest of the three. Here, the TARDIS crew arrive on a water world with only a few reefs peeking above the surface, where they are picked up by people believing themselves to be the last survivors of their doomed civilisation. The story keeps up the aquatic theme of the set, not only by being almost entirely set on a ship, but also by including a couple of scenes where the characters descend into the deeps in a bathysphere. This, however, is not the main thrust of the story, which is instead centred around the technology keeping the ship’s crew alive.
The result is a good tale with some morally ambiguous characters. Hebe is really starting to feel like part of the TARDIS crew, perhaps because Morris is toning down some of the spikiness she exhibited in the first story, without ignoring the basics of the character. Mel is in the story rather less, but for a good reason that ties into what it’s all about. The usual high quality soundscaping also helps sell the fact that the story is set on a ship on a stormy ocean and, despite the isolation of the setting, it’s not a true base-under-siege story, ensuring that the three stories in the collection are different despite
January 5, 2023
Out of all The Doctors moving from the monthly range and into boxsets, I had a feeling The Sixth Doctor was going to by far be the easiest to translate into the shorter stories, considering how much work they've put into Colin Baker's Doctor and the different assortment of tales you can tell with his Doctor, so I think it's safe to say I was looking forward to this.
The Rotting Deep:
When The Doctor and Mel detect a distress call, they arrive on Earth at an oil rig, where the survivors are under threat from a mysterious monster, and the gulls swarming outside, but they meet Hebe and from here on out, The Doctor is about to discover she's far more capable then she seems and about to become one of his best friends in the known universe...
Jacqueline Rayner has written a fantastic but lovely little horror story oozing with atmosphere, a message on ocean pollution, and plenty of terror. Hebe is an amazing character who's sarcastic, quick-witted, and absolutely hilarious, love her connection to a previous Doctor Who companion as well which almost had me in tears of joy. If I have to criticize anything is that the supporting characters whilst decent, feel a bit too much like typical caricatures, but the actors bring them to life in a way where they honestly work far better than they should do. 9/10
The Tides of The Moon:
Taking Hebe on her first adventure, The Tardis arrives on the moon back when the world was filled to the brim with water and an alien species. But something is very wrong and with the Earth coming closer, the people of this world are about to face extinction, but there's something else a far sinister secret at play that might very well shatter their civilization before doomsday, will The Doctor help the people come to terms or will they perish?
Joshua Pruett has written a very fun story with some really creative ideas and imagery. It's a great first adventure for Hebe and seeing her start to discover the universe with her very own eyes. The Tardis team work brilliantly together and seeing Hebe bounce off the people of the moon and even gain a crush on one of them was really interesting. 8/10
Maelstrom:
When they arrive on Veludia, The Doctor, Mel, and Hebe find a very bizarre situation unfolding before their eyes, aquarium lifeforms who used to be human, someone else inhabiting Mel's body, and a sinister force threatening to distinguish the last survivors of this world and to destroy the mind bank.
Jonathan Morris is one of my favorite writers for the company and usually very consistent, however here he has an idea that's honestly really weird but cool that just doesn't work as it should. I feel the directing side of this story was superbly put together, the actors, the director, and the sound designers doing a brilliant job of putting this together, but I feel tonally this story could have been a lot better and I don't think Morris quite understands the character of Hebe compared to the other two writers for this set, but hopefully Reverse Engineering is much better in both departments. Not bad, just a little disappointing. 5/10
Overall: 22/30
The Rotting Deep:
When The Doctor and Mel detect a distress call, they arrive on Earth at an oil rig, where the survivors are under threat from a mysterious monster, and the gulls swarming outside, but they meet Hebe and from here on out, The Doctor is about to discover she's far more capable then she seems and about to become one of his best friends in the known universe...
Jacqueline Rayner has written a fantastic but lovely little horror story oozing with atmosphere, a message on ocean pollution, and plenty of terror. Hebe is an amazing character who's sarcastic, quick-witted, and absolutely hilarious, love her connection to a previous Doctor Who companion as well which almost had me in tears of joy. If I have to criticize anything is that the supporting characters whilst decent, feel a bit too much like typical caricatures, but the actors bring them to life in a way where they honestly work far better than they should do. 9/10
The Tides of The Moon:
Taking Hebe on her first adventure, The Tardis arrives on the moon back when the world was filled to the brim with water and an alien species. But something is very wrong and with the Earth coming closer, the people of this world are about to face extinction, but there's something else a far sinister secret at play that might very well shatter their civilization before doomsday, will The Doctor help the people come to terms or will they perish?
Joshua Pruett has written a very fun story with some really creative ideas and imagery. It's a great first adventure for Hebe and seeing her start to discover the universe with her very own eyes. The Tardis team work brilliantly together and seeing Hebe bounce off the people of the moon and even gain a crush on one of them was really interesting. 8/10
Maelstrom:
When they arrive on Veludia, The Doctor, Mel, and Hebe find a very bizarre situation unfolding before their eyes, aquarium lifeforms who used to be human, someone else inhabiting Mel's body, and a sinister force threatening to distinguish the last survivors of this world and to destroy the mind bank.
Jonathan Morris is one of my favorite writers for the company and usually very consistent, however here he has an idea that's honestly really weird but cool that just doesn't work as it should. I feel the directing side of this story was superbly put together, the actors, the director, and the sound designers doing a brilliant job of putting this together, but I feel tonally this story could have been a lot better and I don't think Morris quite understands the character of Hebe compared to the other two writers for this set, but hopefully Reverse Engineering is much better in both departments. Not bad, just a little disappointing. 5/10
Overall: 22/30
September 11, 2025
5 stars for Hebe but 4 stars for this specific box set but do recommend this and Hebe’s entire run I really enjoyed the Purity arc so this one for Hebe’s introduction but if you just want to jump into the Purity arc you can without this one but you will miss out.
Having listened to her complete current run I want to say that as an ambulatory wheelchair user Hebe is great representation. I understand if you find her prickly in this sets first episode all of which as a disabled person was perfectly reasonable to me given the way the crew was treating her, the very real danger and her place in it, and the Doctor and Mel being new unknowns who she needs to establish boundaries with. It is very important for wheelchair users and disabled people to establish boundaries and they are very used to a world who doesn’t respect those boundaries or them as independent individuals who may occasionally need assistance but only when it’s asked for in a world that is so inaccessible, dismissive, and just very difficult to live in as a disabled person. She is well written and good representation and as this box set progresses and she establishes boundaries and trust and respect with the Doctor and Mel she becomes a very likable well rounded and spunky character especially through out her whole current run.
Basically Hebe is a great character, great representation, and I love her as a companion and want more of her and this is the series where she’s introduced. If you’ve been put off of these box sets by negativity online about her character ignore it and give these sets a go! This one is stand alone but the next 3 following as you can tell by the names are part of a full nine episode arc.
This specific box set which specifically focuses on ocean and water related stories as evidenced by the title and all of them have interesting and unique premises. My favorite was episode two with three being a close second and the first episode being the weakest but I enjoyed all three.
Having listened to her complete current run I want to say that as an ambulatory wheelchair user Hebe is great representation. I understand if you find her prickly in this sets first episode all of which as a disabled person was perfectly reasonable to me given the way the crew was treating her, the very real danger and her place in it, and the Doctor and Mel being new unknowns who she needs to establish boundaries with. It is very important for wheelchair users and disabled people to establish boundaries and they are very used to a world who doesn’t respect those boundaries or them as independent individuals who may occasionally need assistance but only when it’s asked for in a world that is so inaccessible, dismissive, and just very difficult to live in as a disabled person. She is well written and good representation and as this box set progresses and she establishes boundaries and trust and respect with the Doctor and Mel she becomes a very likable well rounded and spunky character especially through out her whole current run.
Basically Hebe is a great character, great representation, and I love her as a companion and want more of her and this is the series where she’s introduced. If you’ve been put off of these box sets by negativity online about her character ignore it and give these sets a go! This one is stand alone but the next 3 following as you can tell by the names are part of a full nine episode arc.
This specific box set which specifically focuses on ocean and water related stories as evidenced by the title and all of them have interesting and unique premises. My favorite was episode two with three being a close second and the first episode being the weakest but I enjoyed all three.
June 16, 2022
When the Big Finish Doctor Who monthly range ended in March 2021, Big Finish moved to boxset model for their Doctor Who releases. The first 2022 boxset for the Sixth Doctor, Water Worlds introduces a new companion to the Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker)/Mel (Bonnie Langford) dynamic with Hebe Harrison, a disabled marine biologist played by Ruth Madeley. A wheelchair-bound companion is an interesting dynamic and Hebe is snarky and sarcastic and a lot of fun. Because she's a marine biologist, each story in the boxset is focused on water world.
The first story, The Rotting Deep, introduces Hebe in story set on a North Sea oil rig where something mysterious is affecting both the wildlife and the crew. I found this the best of the set and a lot of fun. Atmospheric and exciting, but still highly enjoyable. The second story, The Tides of the Moon, takes the TARDIS crew to Earth's moon 2 billion years in the past. I found it to be my least favorite of the set. Though, that said, it's not a bad story. The third story is Maelstrom and it's by far the most interesting of the set in terms of fascinating sci-fi ideas. Here we arrive on a world where a global flood has limited the population severely to the point where their minds are stored on a computer and the whole crew of a ship shares a handful of bodies. A lot of interesting ideas, plus it gives Bonnie Langford a duel role and the chance to really show off her acting.
An enjoyable set that ends on a cliffhanger of sorts, I found this to be really enjoyable. I'm very interested to see where they go with Hebe, who I'm really enjoying as a character. Plus, it's always nice to see more Sixth Doctor and Mel. I think this is worth checking out, plus you get a free short story if you purchase it through the Big Finish website.
The first story, The Rotting Deep, introduces Hebe in story set on a North Sea oil rig where something mysterious is affecting both the wildlife and the crew. I found this the best of the set and a lot of fun. Atmospheric and exciting, but still highly enjoyable. The second story, The Tides of the Moon, takes the TARDIS crew to Earth's moon 2 billion years in the past. I found it to be my least favorite of the set. Though, that said, it's not a bad story. The third story is Maelstrom and it's by far the most interesting of the set in terms of fascinating sci-fi ideas. Here we arrive on a world where a global flood has limited the population severely to the point where their minds are stored on a computer and the whole crew of a ship shares a handful of bodies. A lot of interesting ideas, plus it gives Bonnie Langford a duel role and the chance to really show off her acting.
An enjoyable set that ends on a cliffhanger of sorts, I found this to be really enjoyable. I'm very interested to see where they go with Hebe, who I'm really enjoying as a character. Plus, it's always nice to see more Sixth Doctor and Mel. I think this is worth checking out, plus you get a free short story if you purchase it through the Big Finish website.
June 1, 2022
Doctor Who: The Sixth Doctor Adventures: Water Worlds - 3.834/5 stars
I really like the 6th Doctor and this TARDIS team but the format of the stories in this set aren’t the most exciting. Two part stories feel really rushed to me as you can tell the writers do all the part 1 setup in part 1 but instead of having 3 more episodes to flesh out the story it all has to be wrapped up in part 2. The stakes in these stories feel really weird as things bounce around so much that it’s a little hard to keep up sometimes, like you really have to be in the mood to listen to audio dramas, if you zone out for a minute then you’re going to get very lost.
The Rotting Deep by Jacqueline Rayner - 3/5 stars
I like Hebe. The cliffhanger in this story is a bit… cringy. Literally, Mel saying: “We can’t get out and it’s going to get in!” in the most melodramatic way possible. The twist with Evelyn Smithe is a great tribute to the late actress Maggie Stables. The mystery element of this episode leave a lot to be desired.
The Tides of the Moon by Joshua Pruett - 4/5 stars
Hebe continues to be great in this set. The story was pretty good. Different twists and turns kept my attention. I like how this is basically the result of a news story that came out a while ago saying that millions of years ago, there was water on the moon.
Maelstrom by Jonathan Morris - 4.5/5 stars
Doctor Who FINALLY has a freaky friday episode. And I love it.
I really like the 6th Doctor and this TARDIS team but the format of the stories in this set aren’t the most exciting. Two part stories feel really rushed to me as you can tell the writers do all the part 1 setup in part 1 but instead of having 3 more episodes to flesh out the story it all has to be wrapped up in part 2. The stakes in these stories feel really weird as things bounce around so much that it’s a little hard to keep up sometimes, like you really have to be in the mood to listen to audio dramas, if you zone out for a minute then you’re going to get very lost.
The Rotting Deep by Jacqueline Rayner - 3/5 stars
I like Hebe. The cliffhanger in this story is a bit… cringy. Literally, Mel saying: “We can’t get out and it’s going to get in!” in the most melodramatic way possible. The twist with Evelyn Smithe is a great tribute to the late actress Maggie Stables. The mystery element of this episode leave a lot to be desired.
The Tides of the Moon by Joshua Pruett - 4/5 stars
Hebe continues to be great in this set. The story was pretty good. Different twists and turns kept my attention. I like how this is basically the result of a news story that came out a while ago saying that millions of years ago, there was water on the moon.
Maelstrom by Jonathan Morris - 4.5/5 stars
Doctor Who FINALLY has a freaky friday episode. And I love it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2022
Well, what can I say?
The first story, "Rotting Deep" is absolutely fantastic and one of the most original, fresh and interesting stories BF have done in a while.
The box set is with it just for this story.
I cannot give higher praise than that.
Hebe, the new wheelchair bound companion is a great idea and well executed. She is a strong character who stands her ground and she is highly intelligent. She also manages to be different from the very frequent strong female companions we had so far. Well done!
As for the other two stories in this set, they are more average stories and pretty much what we are used to by BF by now. Sadly, these types of stories all somehow bleed into one, at least for me.
But at least the first story is an absolute blast. I first thought it would go down the road of Hitchcock's "The birds" but then took a very different road.
I have not yet listened to the audio book.
The first story, "Rotting Deep" is absolutely fantastic and one of the most original, fresh and interesting stories BF have done in a while.
The box set is with it just for this story.
I cannot give higher praise than that.
Hebe, the new wheelchair bound companion is a great idea and well executed. She is a strong character who stands her ground and she is highly intelligent. She also manages to be different from the very frequent strong female companions we had so far. Well done!
As for the other two stories in this set, they are more average stories and pretty much what we are used to by BF by now. Sadly, these types of stories all somehow bleed into one, at least for me.
But at least the first story is an absolute blast. I first thought it would go down the road of Hitchcock's "The birds" but then took a very different road.
I have not yet listened to the audio book.
February 17, 2025
It’s interesting how the TV show has only just recently installed a ramp in the TARDIS (which oddly didn’t get used right away by a wheelchair bound character) and had a prominent trans character (though she hasn’t travelled in the TARDIS onscreen as of yet). Meanwhile, Big Finish included a trans companion in 2020’s Stranded who’d appear regularly, and in 2022 gave the Sixth Doctor a wheelchair-bound companion here in Hebe. Are the audios research and development, or is the show just late to the party?
May 28, 2022
Brilliant stuff. No episode below an hour, which you thought might be the case with a trend in Big Finish.
June 19, 2022
Three great sea adventures with 6th doctor, Mel and a new companion Heebee.
August 15, 2022
A companion in a wheelchair, hmmm. I'm all for inclusion and new travelers, but if there's one thing the Doctor does a fair amount of it's running.
August 14, 2022
The Doctor and Mel find new adventures and a new TARDIS crew-mate as well: Hebe. Interestingly, the Doctor takes the TARDIS crew to a series of water world themed trips (which in itself seems odd, as when has the Doctor ever taken a new companion to worlds that seem tailor selected for their interests). This collection is set up as a trilogy of 2-episode stories, evoking the era of Colin Baker.
1.1 The Rotting Deep ~ (Part 1) All set up and introduction. Just like in the classic series, when a new story starts we have an initial episode of basically a ton of exposition to get everyone caught up with who’s who and what’s what as fast as possible. This one is handled pretty well. Interesting story and Hebe looks like she’ll be an interesting addition to the TARDIS team. (Part 2) A nice, solid wrap-up for this adventure. Very reminiscent of the two-parters from this particular era of the series. While some moments seem a bit rushed, this is to be expected in stories that are only 2-half-hour episodes when they’re trying to introduce new characters, a new menace and keep things moving along. So, yeah, clearly there’s never a dull moment (3/5).
1.2 The Tides of the Moon ~ (Part 1) Team TARDIS arrives on the water world nearest to the Earth. And apparently that would be the Moon. Wait … what? (Part 2) after receiving a death sentence, Team TARDIS now has to figure out how to save the inhabitants of the ancient Moon or they’ll die with everyone else. There’s some interesting stuff here, but overall it’s a pretty standard pair of episodes. Although the water world setting is a fresh take. Something the budget of the classic series would never have been able to manage (3/5).
1.3 Maelstrom ~ (Part 1) The Doctor brings the TARDIS to an archipelago planet, during a thunderstorm. And things only get worse from them. Mel gets mind swapped. The TARDIS sinks into the murky deep. Clearly it’s a disaster. (Part 2) Wrapping up this one was fascinating and made this one the best in the set. Very entertaining and a lot of fun. A bit creepy but never so much that it would send me behind the sofa (4/5).
I did like the new companion. Once we got to know her, she was a bit prickly in the first episode, but she warms on the listener by the third story. I also like the whole water worlds aspect. But in the end this was just a typical set of adventures (3/5).
The download edition also comes with the bonus adventure: Doctor Who: Interludes: The Dream Nexus.
1.1 The Rotting Deep ~ (Part 1) All set up and introduction. Just like in the classic series, when a new story starts we have an initial episode of basically a ton of exposition to get everyone caught up with who’s who and what’s what as fast as possible. This one is handled pretty well. Interesting story and Hebe looks like she’ll be an interesting addition to the TARDIS team. (Part 2) A nice, solid wrap-up for this adventure. Very reminiscent of the two-parters from this particular era of the series. While some moments seem a bit rushed, this is to be expected in stories that are only 2-half-hour episodes when they’re trying to introduce new characters, a new menace and keep things moving along. So, yeah, clearly there’s never a dull moment (3/5).
1.2 The Tides of the Moon ~ (Part 1) Team TARDIS arrives on the water world nearest to the Earth. And apparently that would be the Moon. Wait … what? (Part 2) after receiving a death sentence, Team TARDIS now has to figure out how to save the inhabitants of the ancient Moon or they’ll die with everyone else. There’s some interesting stuff here, but overall it’s a pretty standard pair of episodes. Although the water world setting is a fresh take. Something the budget of the classic series would never have been able to manage (3/5).
1.3 Maelstrom ~ (Part 1) The Doctor brings the TARDIS to an archipelago planet, during a thunderstorm. And things only get worse from them. Mel gets mind swapped. The TARDIS sinks into the murky deep. Clearly it’s a disaster. (Part 2) Wrapping up this one was fascinating and made this one the best in the set. Very entertaining and a lot of fun. A bit creepy but never so much that it would send me behind the sofa (4/5).
I did like the new companion. Once we got to know her, she was a bit prickly in the first episode, but she warms on the listener by the third story. I also like the whole water worlds aspect. But in the end this was just a typical set of adventures (3/5).
The download edition also comes with the bonus adventure: Doctor Who: Interludes: The Dream Nexus.
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