5 Things I’m Still Hoping To See From Big Finish
Guest contributor Greg House shares his wishlist for audios Big Finish haven’t yet announced…
Never mind Ianto Jones’ return, I’m still reeling from Big Finish’s last major announcement! Having already pre-ordered and set my expectations on a Dark Eyes themed adventure, I was utterly astounded to see River Song on the cover alongside Paul McGann in Doom Coalition 2. To later find out we may see the story behind the line “The finest war in history and we weren’t allowed to be a part of it” in “Classic Doctors, New Monsters”, not to mention seeing Peter Davison face off against the Weeping Angels, or Sylvester McCoy battling the Sycorax (One of the main reasons I can only assume is because the word Sycorax will just roll of Sylvester’s tongue). And on top of all that also a continuation of Churchill and River Song’s very own adventures! This I did not see coming. What with the success of Bernice Summerfield in a similar archaeologist’s tales genre, it’s easy to estimate the tone of the adventures, and that should set you on edge waiting for these to come out!
But my point is it gets you thinking. Big Finish doing New Who, merging with Classic Who, what are my five hopes left for the Big Finish future?
Derek Jacobi Master Stories
Derek Jacobi played the actual Master for around 5 minutes on screen, and in that time he sealed himself as one of the darkest, well portrayed Masters Doctor Who has ever seen, or is likely to see. I rank him up there with John Hurt’s Doctor. Sure, he was found as a child on a beach, but maybe before he used the Chameleon Arch, perhaps he had the same body and the process just made him young as a disguise, that would open up a world of evil opportunities to this Master. I think he’d play well off all of the classic Doctors and would offer a chance for Master stories which don’t stretch the Geoffrey Beevers timeline too far. I love the Beevers Master, but it would be nice to see some more of the Master’s personal future after the events of the movie.
New Who Doctor Stories
Would anyone not expect to find this on the list! Now okay, Christopher Eccleston might need some persuasion, David Tennant and Matt Smith have busy schedules, but it’s not beyond the realm of possibilities that they might be able to find a window to go and record a Dark Eyes style box set: four interlinked epic episodes to keep expanding their time as the Doctor and give fans much-loved Doctors for brand new episodes
War Doctor Stories
I deliberately left John Hurt out of the last choice, because I felt the War Doctor has so much more to tell. Some of his tenure I feel should never be revealed as I don’t think anyone could really do the horror of the Time War justice (Though Big Finish could get away with more than they could on TV!). However I read lots of messages regarding the War Doctor, with nifty ideas such as him being sent on more missions for the Time Lords. Perhaps being sent back in time to try and prevent some casualties in the future, prevent development of weapons Daleks would eventually get their slimy tentacles on and becoming embroiled in events as he so often does.
Now of course recently there was the sad news that John Hurt has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and I’d like to take this opportunity to wish him the best with his treatment and send across the thoughts of all Whovians and non Whovians alike who’ve been touched by his brilliant work. This development might certainly put number 3 on the list on the back burner, for now at least.
The Paternoster Gang
Frankly I think this is one of the most likely out of all of them. Dan Starkey (Strax) has already lent his voice to many a Big Finish as a Sontaran and we know quite well how keen the others are to continue their adventures. I’m sure the prospect of being able to continue without having several hours of make-up should appeal to Neve and Dan! But as well as this, it would allow a much darker tone which I think would suit them. These three solving, in essence, murder cases, unlike other spin-offs where the protagonists end up embroiled in alien incursions. That’s not to say there couldn’t be alien stories, there could, but solving murders is how they make their living.
It would also lend a way to allow for the lack of reaction those three gave when seeing the Doctor had changed into an elderly grey-haired man with mad eyebrows, by allowing them to meet classic Doctors. I once heard a theory that the Paternoster Gang first met the Doctor just after the Time War, with the 9th Doctor first meeting Vastra, fresh from regenerating. They helped each other, both having lost the planet they had once loved and finding this bond, finding friends and allowing himself an adventure just like before the Time War, he sets out, ready to meet Rose… I do like that idea.
More 8th Doctor!
This is possibly my most wanted, as I loved Dark Eyes so much. I bought Dark Eyes 1 cheap in a BBC Shop clearance, and after listening to the first instalment, I’d ordered all three other box sets. I was hooked. I loved the tone, I loved it being in 4 inter-connected parts, and I loved the fact that Doom Coalition is using a similar style. So my biggest hope is more epic stories for Paul McGann after Doom Coalition 4!
So that concludes my list. Don’t forget to comment below what you’d like. Who knows, someone influential might read. (We can live in hope!)
