The Prisoner of Peladon

Companion Chronicles #4.3

Released: 25 September 2009

Listened: 7/3/21

This is an unusual Companion Chronicle in that there’s no companion. There is, however, the returning character of King Peladon, played by David Troughton, son of Patrick Troughton, close friend to the franchise, and frequent Big Finish actor. In traditional Chronicles fashion, it’s told as a flashback, as a story King Peladon is telling to his daughter Thalira, the future queen. The flashback is set five years after “The Curse of Peladon,” during a Martian Civil War, in which Martian refugees took refuge on Peladon, with the King’s blessing. Of course, because this is Peladon, nothing goes quite the way it’s supposed to, there’s a mystery and intrigue, and Ice Warrior politics plays into all of it. There’s also a rare moment of the Doctor getting called out for going too far, similar to what Donna believed about him. That works best when the Doctor is without a companion, and having it delivered by a king is a nice touch. Alpha Centauri is present, because of course it is, but Troughton is forced to perform its voice, and he’s no Ysanne Churchman (but who is?). Nick Briggs provides the voice for the Ice Warriors, as he often does, but sounds much more clearly like himself than usual. This is also a very rare directing credit for Nicola Bryant. Although they never went back to that well again, it was a nice effort.