The Phantom Piper

Companion Chronicles #14.2

Released: 26 April 2022

Listened: 5/18/22

This 2022 Companion Chronicle is specifically set during the gap in “The Black Hole,” with Jamie wanting to get back to the space station where Victoria is. This is an even smaller story than “The Death of the Daleks,” with only two actors. Of course Frazer plays both Jamie and the Doctor, but the Doctor is sidelined for most of the story, almost literally. They’ve landed on a planet where all citizens have brain implants called Shards, which are supposed to simply be a memory aid. As a visiting human, Jamie is forced to get one as well (the Doctor is exempt). However, the implant seems to be subtly changing Jamie’s persona, and the Doctor is concerned, so they consult with a scientist who worked on the implants. The story is entirely told through the sessions with the scientists, although other events are described. We also spend a lot of time in Jamie’s memories from before he met the Doctor. In that sense, it’s a rather nice dialog-driven story, almost like a “therapist and patient” story, but with a sci-fi twist. Of course, it depends on the scientist being reasonable and open to new interpretations of data, which isn’t really common for scientists in Doctor Who, especially from this era. Still, it makes for a refreshing story.