The Sandman

Main Range #37

Released: 24 October 2002

Listened: 6/15/20

This one takes place on “The Clutch,” a massive fleet of ships, mostly populated by the Galyari. Both are spoken of as entities that would turn up a lot, but outside of this story, they’re only in passing mentions. This story also assumes a story from the Sixth Doctor’s past (presumably traveling solo), where he became kind of a boogeyman to the Galyari. The first episode makes a lot of that, with Evelyn being uncertain whether the Doctor is, in fact, a monster capable of horrible deeds. But then it’s pretty much dropped after that, and he’s right back into his standard mode. This story, by Simon Forward, aims for high concept with evolution and race memories playing a part of the plot, but the science seems a bit questionable. Like a lot of early Big Finish stories, this one ends up being more talky than actiony, but at least it has a dramatic purpose for the Doctor’s coat, instead of just poking fun at it.