The Glorious Revolution

Companion Chronicles #4.2

Released: 22 August 2009

Listened: 10/18/20

This is an early Companion Chronicle, so there needs to be a frame story: in this case, a Time Lord doing some research restores Jamie’s memories so he can hear a story firsthand. Specifically, the TARDIS crew ends up in London in 1688, at the “Glorious Revolution” when James II attempted to flee England (although Jamie steadfastly calls him James VII). For once, Jamie is the one most fully conversant with the history involved, and with strong personal feelings about it. Although he says that he merely wants to see the king, he ends up interfering and causing a paradox. The rest of the story is an attempt to set history right again. It’s interesting to see Jamie in an element where he’s comfortable, because that almost never happens in any story. Zoe, while present, has pretty much nothing to do, and barely factors into the story. This is Frazer Hines’ second Companion Chronicle, and he’s given more space to do his Second Doctor impersonation, which is only improved over his last outing. It’s a historical, and a decent one at that.