Better Watch Out

Ravenous 2.2

Released: 9 October 2018

Listened: 12/22/21

This time in the writing order, we get a John Dorney two-parter in the middle of the set. And it’s a Christmas story, which nicely fits with the time of year I’m listening to this. But it’s a John Dorney Christmas story, so of course it’s not going to be peacefulness and light, which gives it possibly the best title of any Doctor Who Christmas story. In a continued attempt to find something fun and relaxing for Liv and Helen to do, the Doctor decides on Christmas in Salzburg. Except not exactly Christmas, but rather Krampusnacht, in early December. They’re in the early 21st Century, so Helen gets to explain Christmas to Liv, in a nice reversal of the previous story. It’s all wrapped in a timey-wimey frame story, as well as interludes from yet another story, and it’s not clear when either takes place. There’s a local family who’s about to be evicted, so the Doctor helps them out, and attempts to get to the root of the problem. Unfortunately, that has to wait, as the Krampus and his minions are running amok in town. The Doctor has met aliens who look like horned beasts before, but this doesn’t seem to be that. It’s got some pretty horrifying scenes (best accomplished on audio) juxtaposed with the Doctor’s complete inability to resist a Sound of Music reference any time the opportunity comes up, even during dire peril. And it ends on a rather interesting cliffhanger.