Fear of the Daleks

Companion Chronicles #1.2

Released: 19 February 2007

Listened: 10/2/20

This very early Companion Chronicle is Zoe’s first Big Finish appearance, as well as Wendy Padbury’s. It takes place immediately after Zoe joins the TARDIS, and even contains a recollection of the Doctor showing her “Evil of the Daleks” to cover the re-run. That sets up the rest of the story, where Zoe knows who the Daleks are. They’re not terribly effective in this story, although Zoe is justified in being afraid of them. They’re interfering in a war between two other species, as a cover to test a mind-projector device with the help of a collaborator. As part of the test, they take control of Zoe’s mind and attempt to force her to assassinate one of the leaders of the peace talks. This has the effect of keeping the narrative squarely on Zoe, with the Doctor’s role reduced, and Jamie altogether sidelined. That’s a good thing, because Wendy Padbury doesn’t really attempt to imitate either the Doctor or Jamie. She sticks with the frame story, of an older Zoe relating this story to a counselor, as if it were a dream. (The story points out what should be obvious -- for someone with an eidetic memory, having part of her memory wiped must be traumatic.) It’s a fairly bland story on the whole, overly talky, but not bad for starters.