Doctor Who is one of, if not my favourite, pieces of media that exists. Now you’ll note I say piece of media, because whilst it may have started off as a TV show back in 1963, sixty years later it’s branched out into pretty much every other form I can think of. Now for those of you how enjoy a good audiobook/drama, or those simply wanting to immerse themselves even more into the Whoniverse, then you’ve come to the right place, because this You Should Listen to This focuses on Big Finish and how it all fits in with the madman (or lady) in a box.
It’s my understanding that ‘Big Finish’ isn’t exclusive to Doctor Who, rather that Big Finish is the company who produces many audiobooks/dramas and the world of Doctor Who happens to be one such thing they cover. So as an aside, if you’re looking for audio-related tales outside of the Whoniverse, it may be worth checking out what Big Finish has to offer.
Anyhow, back to the point in hand. I can’t really start off by pinning down a single story released by Big Finish for Doctor Who, simply because there are hundreds of them. I think by this point, there are stories that feature every Doctor we’ve seen on-screen up to now, with the exception of 14/15 (though that will change I’m sure) and whilst at times it is not the original actor lending their voice to a story (though even then the impersonation can be VERY good), hearing Colin Baker or PaulMcgann reprise their role as the greatest Time Lord of all really is a treat.
I want to also give praise to the numerous voice actors who’ve popped up throughout Big Finish stories, you’ll sometimes not returning voices in a different role, and in particular those who have played more long-standing companions that we’ve never seen in the show before. Dare I say I prefer these to some of those we have seen? Let’s not name names because everyone has their own preference, but yes- I do.
What I love so much about the Big Finish stories is how, even though it may only be an audio medium, is that the quality in sound design and production is still well-done enough that you can often visualise exactly what’s happening anyway. It lets your imagination concoct amazing scenes in your head, with the guidance of sound, and lends for some stories to be told that probably wouldn’t translate all that well to screen anyway. Yet within the depths of imagination, there are no limits.
Furthermore, whilst I’m led to believe there are some limitations on what can feature in a Big Finish story, there seems to be largely free-reign on the stories told. Because of this, the Eighth Doctor in particular has really been able to shine in ways that wouldn’t necessarily have been possible on-screen, or that there was a side to the incarnation that never got a chance to rise to the surface. I want to note, as many do, that the Sixth Doctor was hit and miss for many during his on-screen appearances, but Colin Baker does a phenomenal job for Big Finish, and I really have grown to like his incarnation.
What also amazes me is that, despite being such a vast and sprawling mess of overlapping timelines and events by this point, the Big Finish stories never seem to fall into the trap of seeming like a super grand explanation is needed as to why these events and/or companions/foes were never mentioned on-screen (sometimes they are). The stories manage to pull off being their own thing, largely sticking to the (nearly non-existent) continuity of Doctor Who, and never seeming out of place. Kudos.
Personally, I’ve really been favouring any stories to do with Six or Eight, though I am also a big fan of those featuring Seven and his little impish/trickster ways. Though that said, as is the case with Doctor Who in general, there are so many stories to tell, so many ways to tell them, so many different incarnations and companions to tell them with, that it genuinely seems limitless.
I can’t necessarily recommend a single incarnation or list of stories to listen to, because there’s such a wide range. I’ll admit, some aren’t that great (in my opinion) but some are absolutely fantastic. Personal highlights go to Six interacting with a Judoon, seven getting involved in affairs at Colditz, Three fighting some naughty stones, Four and Ten teaming up, and Five fighting a Weeping Angel with Philomena Cunk. Oh, Eight also has to thwart the deadly acts of a murder house and Five gets a fantastic story focusing on the origins of the Cybermen. Delightful.
There’s no real jumping-on point either, though this does bring me to having to note that if you wanted to download or purchase physical releases of Big Finish stories for Doctor Who, then good heavens it’s going to cost a fair amount. That said, Spotify has a decent selection of the first batch of Big Finish stories, alongside some more recent ones, and you can find more on BBC Sounds (here in the UK at least) to give you a sample too. I’ve only scratched the surface of Big Finish so far, but I’ve yet to spend a single penny, and I’m more than content with what I’ve listened to.
I’m going to wrap it up here for this instalment of You Should Listen to This because I could honestly gush about Doctor Who for hours. I’m know that the audio medium isn’t for everyone, and I respect that, but if you’re a fan audiobooks/dramas (the former are also available and narrate some of the Doctor Who books released over the years) and want to delve even further into the Whoniverse then look, or rather listen, no further than the Big Finish audio dramas.
Dualshocks and Daydreams 