Crossed Lines

Stranded #4.1

Released: 6 April 2022

Listened: 4/6/22

Rolling into the last boxed set of Stranded, you might expect a slam-bang ending, but that seems to not be what Big Finish is going for. This series has been smaller and more personal, and that’s the way things are going to end up. Of course, the fabric of the universe itself is in danger, because this is an Eighth Doctor story, after all. All of the back-and-forthing over a relatively small chunk of spacetime, in a damaged TARDIS, is causing some serious paradoxes and anomalies. And it looks like the version of 2020 where this series started was never the correct timeline after all. This story has plenty of timey-wimey, with the Doctor and Helen jumping back just a couple of months, leaving Liv and Tania behind…except the past Tania gets involved too, and things get really confusing. The Curator is involved as well, except he’s played by Colin Baker instead of Tom. Maybe that’s a result of the timey-wimey, maybe it’s something to do with the nature of the Curator…it’s unclear, and for once, I want it to stay that way. We do get to hear a wonderful story of the Doctor’s youth, involving his hermit mentor, because they always do. However, this draws on imagery from the new series, including the abandoned barn from “Listen,” and the Untempered Schism. But beyond references, it encapsulates the Doctor’s philosophy about as well as anyone ever has. Finally, there’s Mr. Bird, and we get the truth behind him at last. Assuming you hadn’t already figured it out; the Doctor really should have, before this point. As a story, it’s by turns confusing and dynamic, exciting and touching. A great start to this last box.