‘Doctor Who: The Light at the End’ review

Doctor Who: The Light at the End/Big Finish

“What’s so special about the 23rd of November in 1963?”

A question, asked by Nyssa, that is answered by Big Finish’s Doctor Who 50th anniversary story “The Light at the End.”  In celebration of the show’s big milestone, Big Finish brings together Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, and several of the actors who played their companions.

Similar in vein to the television serial, “The Five Doctors” (which marked the 20th anniversary at the time), someone attacks the Doctor through several of his incarnations all at the same time.  Big Finish spoils its fans for the 50th with a story that lands on the fittingly named “23rd of November.”

Spoilers ahead, sweetie.

Overall, it’s a fantastic tribute to Doctor Who’s 50th.  While the main cast features the Fourth through Eighth Doctors, three other voice actors add the the first three Doctors to the story with fairly accurate portrayals.  I was pleasantly surprised that they included actors to emulate the first three Doctors, making the story more complete.  The best part was finding out William Russell and Frazier Hines, who played companions Ian Chesterton and Jamie McCrimmon respectively, voiced their Doctors, First and Second, also respectively.

There were several casting surprises, including companions returning as echoes throughout time from within the Tardis.  It was a great representation of Big Finish’s coverage of Doctor Who.  I think the voice I enjoyed hearing the most was the phenomenal Jean Marsh as Sara Kingdon.  On the subject of surprise voice actors, I think the cutest had to be the child voiced by Nicholas Briggs’ own son.  That was adorable.

On to the plot, someone (the Master) is erasing the Doctor from history, making it so he never left Gallifrey.  Similar to IDW’s “Prisoners of Time” comic series, this leads to the Doctors’ companions disappearing.  Interestingly enough, the latest issue revealed the Master is involved in that plot as well.

With time collapsing in on itself because the Tardises are drawn to Nov. 23, 1963, the Doctors team up together to solve the riddle of the red light appearing on the console.  Told initially and finally from the perspective of the Eighth Doctor, “The Light at the End” offers plenty of things for me to “fangirl” over.

My one complaint might be the setup.  Scenes with the Doctor and both the plant creatures and living mud monster end up being irrelevant.  In the story’s favor, this keeps me guessing how important Bob Dovie and his missing wife and children are to the story.

In the end, it’s all worth it to me to hear the Doctors coming together to save the universe, themselves, and their companions.  The Master made the mistake of getting his revenge on the Doctor, on all of them (at least the first eight).  The Master be might barely a match for one Doctor, but eight of them at the same time?  Way out of his depth.

But, when all is said and done, the events of “The Light at the End” are undone.  The Doctors save the day, naturally, and all is well.  Except maybe for poor Bob Dovie and his family’s sleep.  Outside of the story, I always love to hear the behind the scenes interviews with Big Finish.

“Light at the End” also left me with a smile at the very end which grew bigger for each Doctor.