Rewind

The War Doctor Begins #3.3

Released: 10 May 2022

Listened: 8/28/22

This boxed set closes with a story that exemplifies the idea of the “War Doctor Begins” series better than any other so far. The Daleks have a new variant, the Berserkers, which are laying waste to planets in all directions. The best the Doctor can do is create a time loop around half of the planet Lacuna, where the population is stuck repeating the same day as the Daleks wipe out half the planet and then come for the rest. It’s less Groundhog Day and more Live, Die, Repeat, because the citizens go through the same horrible war every day, and the Daleks get a little further each time. But for the Doctor, it’s more like “Heaven Sent,” because he’s trying, day after day, to fix the problem and get everybody out alive. The story is told by Lacuna’s Minister for Poetry, forced into a role she never imagined for herself. Writer Timothy X Atack gives her a very distinctive voice and a real eloquence that make her totally believable. And just possibly someone who could talk the War Doctor into changing his mind. The ending is amazing, and perfect for this kind of story. This one will stick with you.