The Mindless Ones

Purity Undreamed #1

Released: 9 August 2022

Listened: 8/14/22

With the Main Range having ended, Big Finish released stories for all the Doctors in boxed sets. Although the first box featuring Hebe was a standalone, the next three boxes (nine episodes) are essentially one story, all with "Purity" in the titles. This set opens back on Earth, not dealing with Hebe’s marine biology specialty, but rather, the university where she learned it. It’s written by Paul Magrs, so you can expect some off-kilter plot and biting satire. In this case, the university has funded a “mindfulness center,” aimed at helping struggling students, and of course it’s all brainwashing and alien interference. Thing is, it doesn’t quite work for me. The satire is far too broad, with the techniques being treated like New Age claptrap that nobody should fall for. Magrs also seems to be arguing that the “right” mental attitude is acerbic and cynical, which may be very British, but isn’t an attitude I hold with right now. Hebe’s old friend Elise has gone through some changes as well, which she calls “maturing” and Hebe thinks is “selling out.” But Elise is the one who called for help with the signaler given to her by Evelyn, so what’s going on behind the scenes?