Mother Russia

Companion Chronicles #2.1

Released: October 2007

Listened: 2/27/20

This is one of the very earliest Companion Chronicles recorded, so it’s a bit more narrated than usual, and Peter Purves’ First Doctor impersonation isn’t quite as polished. It’s an early appearance for Dodo, but it’s definitely set after they’ve been to Tombstone, so she’s more confident as part of the crew. She doesn’t have a ton to do, staying mostly “off-camera,” but the writer has pegged her rebellious streak, and given her some 1960s slang to differentiate her from Susan and Vicki. The story itself features the “companion telling a story to a hostile interrogator” trope that the Companion Chronicles used to use a lot. This time, it’s set in 1812, in Russia, so while it’s not a true historical, there’s still plenty of grimness as they get caught up in Napoleon’s march on Moscow. The baddie is a shapeshifter, who takes several different forms throughout the story, and Steven is really slow to pick up on it. Even accounting for the fact that he’s never met one before, several events hinge on his gullibility. On the whole, it’s a good enough entry for a first appearance.