The Dreams of Avarice

Fourth Doctor Adventures #11.3

Released: 21 June 2022

Listened: 6/25/22

The second boxed set of this season was called “The Nine,” and this story is why, as John Heffernan’s Nine makes a return. The Nine’s various voices aren’t quite as distinct as Marc Bonnar’s Eleven, but they actually only play a small part in this story. The Nine is a kleptomaniac, as displayed in his other major appearance in Doom Coalition. This time, though, he’s even more insane than usual, not even willing to part with a cup of coffee. His “companion” Thana from “Relative Time” appears in this story, later in her personal timeline, but they’re not getting along. The real highlight here is the temporary companion, Detective Inspector Probert, played by Richard Dixon. Probert starts out arresting the Doctor, but of course that never lasts long. He’s reasonably bright, but completely out of his depth following the Doctor around, so it’s fun watching his policeman’s cynicism turn to confusion and panic, and then reach the stage where he’s just rolling with it. Unfortunately, because the Nine’s mental problems are so severe, he’s fairly predictable, and not too difficult to thwart. As a result, this story falls a little flat.