Pretty Lies

The War Doctor #4.1

Released: 23 February 2017

Listened: 9/3/22

This boxed set is “Casualties of War,” the fourth and final set. It may have been originally planned as four, and I think they were going to take a pause after this one, but they certainly hoped to continue with more. Which is a shame, because John Hurt’s death in early 2017 put a final end to it. The Doctor seems a lot crankier in this story, much more disgusted with himself and short-tempered with everyone around him. Which makes a bit of a contrast, because there’s a war historian following him and Ollistra around, trying to preserve the moment for posterity. The reporter is clearly star-struck, and provides some inappropriate comic relief as a result. The Doctor is still behaving fairly Doctor-y in terms of his plan, but he’s being clear that there will be deaths he’s unable to prevent. It seems as though he’s heading toward the bleakness that will lead him to use the Moment. Ollistra, however, while remaining irritated with the Doctor, shows considerable leadership skill in helping a badly outgunned city defend itself. Although John Hurt and Jacqueline Pearce play wonderfully off each other, putting them together all the time is starting to make me wonder whether Ollistra lacks anything better to do than personally hound the Doctor all the time.