The Prints of Denmark

Companion Chronicles #14.3

Released: 26 April 2022

Listened: 5/19/22

The first two stories of this boxed set featured Frazer Hines, but the last two feature Wendy Padbury. In this case, the second actor is Rufus Hound, which is a bit of a cheat, because that provides a pile of other voices as well. But if it’s Rufus Hound, then there must be the Monk, which is usually good fun. This story doesn’t take itself entirely seriously, as you can tell from the title. It’s based on a throwaway line from “The Time Meddler,” in which the Monk says he wants to change history so that the premiere of Hamlet in 1601 is televised. Zoe has gone off on her own, and the Monk swoops her up as a pseudo-companion, presumably because the Doctor and Jamie would recognize him, after “The Black Hole,” but Zoe wouldn’t. What follows is typical Monkish nonsense, as he tries to pervert Earth’s history to his own benefit. There’s plenty of funny dialog here, usually poking fun at Zoe’s ignorance of popular culture in history (although she knows who the Spice Girls are). And Zoe pulls out her clever-clogs persona when she tries to beat the Monk at his own game. In the end, there’s a twist that indicates this story isn’t as straightforward as it seemed. Rufus Hound is a delight as usual; the only thing more fun than smug Monk is apoplectic Monk, and this story has lots of the former, and a bit of the latter. The only narrative flaw is when Zoe appears to be talking to the Doctor and Jamie, but we only hear her side of the conversation. It’s a conceit of the Companion Chronicles style, but most stories work around it better. Still, this story seems to be the highlight of the set.