DOCTOR WHO: BLOODTIDE

The Silurians are back to wipe out the "ape creatures!"

By Arnold T. Blumberg     August 17, 2001

The really cool thing about the Silurians that always set them apart from their fellow DOCTOR WHO monsters was that in the final analysis, they were right. The Silurians (actually a complete misnomer that is inexplicably retained in this new 'prequel' tale and used by the creatures themselves!) are the original inhabitants of the planet Earth, having gone into hibernation long ago to avoid a planetwide catastrophe foreseen by their advance science. The event was in fact the arrival of the Moon in orbit, and due to a malfunction of their hibernation equipment, the Silurians slept right through it and beyond their preset wake-up time. They lost control of their native world, and the ape creatures that were once simple animals an annoyance to the Silurians and their dinosaur pets evolved into the dominant lifeform. Whenever the Doctor encounters a group of Silurians (or ocean-faring cousins the Sea Devils) who have somehow survived and arisen once more, they are predictably peeved that someone else has moved into their living space...and they want it back.

This may explain why the Doctor has always been so inarguably devoted to pressing the cause of peace with the Silurian race, but such efforts always end in bloodshed. You'd think he would have learned by now that Man and Reptile can never reconcile, but bless him, he keeps on trying. In Big Finish Productions' latest DOCTOR WHO adventure, BLOODTIDE, the Sixth Doctor encounters his old foes and must stop them from destroying humanity even as he tries to convince them to share the world with the ape creatures. There's also a bit about Charles Darwin and the fact that his involvement with the Doctor, companion Dr. Evelyn Smythe and the pesky three-eyed beasties with the shaky voices is the true inspiration for his historic theory of evolution. Bet you didn't know that!

After a disappointing Seventh Doctor installment (DUST BREEDING), Big Finish returns to form with this solid Silurian outing that effectively recaptures the sound and menace of the classic '70s monsters and throws them into an entirely appropriate and intriguing historical setting. What's more, despite the fact that past Doctor stories almost inevitably return to the status quo at the end of every tale a necessity when slotting these audios into the existing immutable history of the series BLOODTIDE manages to introduce two major expository elements that link the Silurians to the rise of Man on Earth (a heady concept to say the least) and reveal the real reason why the Silurians never awoke as originally planned.

Amazingly, the story also manages to redeem the Silurians' and Sea Devils' pet sea monster, the Myrka one of the most laughable monsters ever to fall victim to the television series' notoriously limited special effects budget and make it into a genuine threat. There's also a clever thematic nod to the concept of belief as a psionic weapon, as seen in "The Curse of Fenric," although it's a neat and somewhat controversial twist to have that power derive from a vehement denial of God rather than faith in the divine. And listen for an 'homage' line of dialogue lifted almost verbatim from "Castrovalva."

Although the entire cast does a fine job apart from a few moderately painful accents (poor Greta and her brother) kudos must go once more to Colin Baker and Maggie Stables as the Sixth Doctor and Evelyn, surely one of the best Doctor/companion teams in the entire run of DOCTOR WHO. Freed from the prurient need to pair the Doctor with an empty-headed piece of eye candy on the TV show, Big Finish has introduced an older and wiser companion who is perfectly suited to the more mellow and thoughtful version of the Sixth Doctor now played with relish by Baker. They can't possibly return too soon.

DOCTOR WHO: BLOODTIDE

Grade: A-

Format: Audio Drama, 2 CDs, approx. 110 minutes

Cast: Colin Baker (The Doctor), Maggie Stables (Evelyn Smythe), Daniel Hogarth (Tulok), Helen Goldwyn (Sh'vak), Julian Harris (Governor Lawson), Jez Fielder (Emilio, Lokan), Jane Goddard (Greta), Miles Richardson (Charles Darwin), George Telfer (Captain Fitzroy)

Writer: Jonathan Morris

Director: Gary Russell

Publisher: Big Finish Productions

Price: $24.99