Excelis Dawns

Special Release

Released: 11 February 2002

Listened: 11/30/19

A special release from 2002, it’s part of the “Excelis trilogy,” spread over the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Doctors. As such, it’s very odd to listen to in isolation, but that’s the way this project goes. Even more oddly, it’s specifically set at the end of “Frontios,” when Turlough is left behind on Frontios, and Tegan just...stays in the TARDIS the entire time, uncharacteristically (because it was recorded before Janet Fielding was participating). It’s awesome to hear Anthony Stewart Head in a story, except he’s playing a bombastic warlord, and mostly does a lot of boasting and shouting. And then there’s Iris Wildthyme, played with her usual over-the-top style by Katy Manning. Iris does best when she sparks off the Doctor, but the Fifth Doctor isn’t the best combo with her. He mostly seems put-upon and irritated when she’s around. The plot doesn’t make a lot of sense, but it probably wasn’t intended to. This is the setup for the trilogy, and the point is the actors working together.