The Mouthless Dead

Companion Chronicles #10.1

Released: 23 June 2016

Listened: 9/22/20

This one is a spooky, atmospheric story. The TARDIS arrives at a train station in Devon in 1920, just before the train carrying the Unknown Warrior from WWI is due to pass by. The TARDIS is damaged on landing, and combined with the outpouring of grief in the area at the time, manifests ghosts of fallen soldiers. The story is tightly focused with one location and a only a few guest characters, which enhances the spooky feeling, much like “Midnight” or “Knock Knock” from the modern series. Jamie’s status as a man out of time is emphasized here, as he doesn’t understand trains or electricity, but he and Ben get to bond over their common military experience, which is needed if Big Finish is going to squeeze in more adventures with both of them. Polly gets split off on her own, in a plotline that once again emphasizes her empathy, but she has a moment of courage as well. Because it’s a Companion Chronicle, the Doctor doesn’t have as much to do, but he does get the exposition at the end, and geeks out rather a lot over the 1920s railway mechanisms, which is a very Second Doctor thing to do. The atmosphere is the important factor in this one, and it holds up quite well.