Project: Twilight

Main Range #23

Released: 20 August 2001

Listened: 6/10/20

This story opens some threads that will continue into other Main Range stories, the start of more connected storytelling within Big Finish, something they felt free to do during the period before the TV show would come back. In this case, Nimrod and the Forge are introduced, which the Doctor will deal with for a while to come. Cassie Schofield makes her first appearance as well, and her son Thomas is mentioned. (Spoiler: Tommy grows up to be Hex, the Seventh Doctor’s companion.) And the “Zagreus” nursery rhyme makes a quick cameo. But what about the story? It’s dark, and somewhat convoluted. The baddies are vampires, genetically engineered human vampires, but the Doctor still reacts to them as though they’re the ancient enemies of the Time Lords. This leads to an awful lot of overreacting and shouting on his part, as well as some really questionable judgment calls. Evelyn spends a lot of time being upset, with good reason, and Cassie seems to do nothing other than scream or moan in pain. It’s pretty bleak on the whole, but that’s what the story seemed to be aiming for. It’s not just setup for later stories, but a plot along with it, which is good.