Empire of the Racnoss

Classic Doctors, New Monsters #2.2

Released: 27 July 2017

Listened: 12/7/19

After the success of the first CDNM box set, Big Finish immediately did another, and because the Doctor is alone, the story is placed here, chronologically. This time the Fifth Doctor meets the Racnoss, but the Racnoss’ long history with the Time Lords allows him to go pretty far back in Time Lord history as well. The Fifth Doctor seems desperate to give the Racnoss the benefit of the doubt, which is fitting for this incarnation, and a contrast with how the Tenth Doctor treated them. The events of this story justify the Tenth Doctor’s attitude, though. Unfortunately, I find the Racnoss voices grating, and a little ridiculous, and boy are there a lot of them in this story. Adjoa Andoh plays the queen, having played a variety of roles in the TV series, but not a Racnoss. So that’s something, but it’s really not enough.