Class: Secret Diary of a Rhodian Prince

Class: The Audio Adventures #5

by Blair Mowat

What's it like being an alien stranded on a strange planet in the aftermath of a genocide? What would you think of Earth's culture? What's it like falling in love with a human when you only met one just the other week? Who is the Doctor?

And what happens if your secret diary falls into the wrong hands…?

Genres: Doctor Who, Class

Audio CD

First published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been rather busy the last couple of days, and I hadn’t seen this showed up on the Big Finish app. This morning I finally noticed it and I just couldn’t wait for the CD to arrive to devour it. This is everything I’ve been wanting and not quite been able to realize. It’s really just a way of revisiting the original TV series by filling in some bits that occurred behind the scenes or between episodes. But in saying that it seems like I’m just saying “it’s like a deleted scenes compilation.” But there’s a lot more going on here than that. This does really drive home the Charlie / Matteusz relationship, and that is the focus of this particular narrative.

Note to Big Finish: PLEASE! PLEASE! MORE! MORE NEW STORIES FOR CLASS!

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

As one would expect, this is mostly from Charlie’s perspective, picking up from after the first episode and taking us through the series. His outside perspective, being perplexed about coffee and football, is very amusing. And of course there’s the complications surrounding how his and Matteusz’s relationship is seen by some on Earth. There are hints of possibilities past the timeline of the Class series, and I really hope that Big Finish can do something set in the future, past when series 1 is set.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my favorite Class story that Big Finish has done so far! I really hope they continue!!

[TJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Class fans, this is the story you've been waiting for! Big Finish did 12 audio episodes set during the first series, and they were excellent, but this story finally nudges the narrative beyond that series 1 cliffhanger by the end of it (most of this story takes place right before and during series 1). We also get new insight into Charlie's character and his romance with Matteusz; we get to learn how they met, see their first date and kiss, etc. This story retconned some things, like when Matteusz found out Charlie was an alien (he obviously was supposed to be clueless during episode 1 of the show), but I'll accept it because the show was just vague enough on some things that it works. This episode enriches their relationship much more because it establishes that they've been dating for some time before the show; to me, the show always felt like they moved almost too fast in their feelings, so it makes sense that these two had a brief history before the show started. Anyways, this story is for Charlie/Matteusz fans and fans who want to get a glimpse of what happens after the television show final episode. I'd say it's one of the best Class audios BF has put out... so far, hopefully! 5/5 stars, and desperately hoping for a continuation series.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent character piece for Charlie Smith. The diary format allows us to dig deep into Charlie's inner thoughts and feelings, including how he feels like an outsider on Earth, and his misunderstandings of things like superheroes and animated gifs. There's some nice comedy to be found in his description of how rude Miss Quill is to the other students, including telling their parents they should suffocate their kids and try again.

Most revealing is how it describes how stark the transition is for Charlie, going from a world where everybody knows who he is as a prince to one where he's just another student studying at Coal Hill Academy, and people barely give him any attention. It really shows how alien the planet Earth is for him in comparison to when he was a child on Rhodia. Although his childhood on Rhodia isn't much better either, given how his parents barely seem to care about him, from how Charlie speaks about them.

A major focus of this audio is the romance between Charlie and Matteusz, which gets fleshed out more than it did on TV. It makes sense how Charlie discloses that he feels a strong connection to Matteusz because of how he is an outsider like him, because of how Matteusz is originally from Poland trying to fit into an English school. These are two people who feel an instant connection, because of how they feel as though they don't belong.

Surprisingly, Secret Diary Of A Rhodian Prince closes with a continuation of the Class cliffhanger. I was not expecting to hear Cyril Nri reprise his role as the Chair of the Governors, who gets ahold of Charlie's diary, and reveals how the Governors are trying to help separate April from Corakinus's body and return her to her human body. It makes me hope we get some Class audios at some point set completely after Series 1, with the Weeping Angels.

[Seb Hasi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was quite what I expected given the synopsis. Just an anthology of Charlie describing the course of events in the Class audios and TV stories with occasional remarks about his insight into these events. The scenes where he describes his comedic misunderstanding of human culture were fun but given this story amounts to no more than a list with occasional witticisms and romantic moments with Matteusz, I can hardly say it was anything amazing. It’s a shame that only Matteusz and Charlie got to be in it but given it’s not really a story, having the other cast members in this would give them no agency. The ending does however prove that this release does offer some grounds as a story with a brilliant ending monologue from one of the mysterious figures in the series finale of Class revealing some details of the shady and mysterious motives and actions of the ‘governors’. I did not dislike the story at all, it’s just that given I know all the events of the series well; having Charlie just add a few remarks about how he felt about them and how life on earth is, did very little to entertain me.

[Isiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when I finally forgot about how much I loved Class and how upset I was that we didn't get to know what happened after that cliffhanger, I FIND THIS.

If you liked the series, particularly Charlie x Matteusz, you'll love this. It's a series of little extra scenes starting before the series, when Charlie and Ms. Quill first came to Earth, and continuing until a little bit AFTER the cliff hanger with a focus on further developing Charlie's perspective and relationships. Also, no worries if you forgot what happened in the show, they provide context to help remind you. It was particularly sweet seeing how Charlie and Matteusz met and the awkwardness of their first date.

The interview at the end was very back and forth about whether or not there will be more, but I really hope they finally give us a full cast second season at least in audio. It sounds like the actors are 100% down for it. Hopefully, if people support the series, it will encourage Big Finish to move forward with it.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect radio-play. This story takes you right the way through 'Class', interweaving its way before, during and even after the original TV show. The performances from the two leads are well-honed by now, but the stand-out of this episode is SORRY CAN'T TELL YOU - but it's a surprise villain whose performance will chill you to your core. Big Finish have managed to take a show that was already unique and full of potential, and elevate it to a whole new level. The future is bright for Class! 5 stars.

[Joseph S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glorified summary of the first season and the audio adventures. Just give us season two...

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this show so much and was so happy to revisit it via this audio adventure from Big Finish.

[Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie is such a great addition to the Doctor Who universe. Plz give us more class stories!