The Beast of Muir

Subscriber Short Trips #2020-3

Released: 9 September 2020

Listened: 4/28/26

This Short Trip puts the emphasis squarely on Leela, and provides a look into her mindset. She's feeling frustrated that most of her adventures with the Doctor take place on spaceships or in urban environments (and going by the TV stories, she's right). She wants to see some wilderness, so the Doctor offers to take her to Muir, named after conservationist John Muir. Of course, a pleasant walk in the woods isn't what they end up with. They're stuck in a research facility, with a rather dangerous creature on the loose. Leela spends most of the story tracking it down, and thinking about how her habits and even her thought patterns have changed since she met the Doctor. She reflects that she couldn't go home again, even if she wanted to, which she doesn't. For his part, the Doctor is balanced between the protectiveness he shows all his companions, and his absolute trust in Leela's skills. It's an interesting little story.