Assets of War

Susan's War #1.3

Released: 16 April 2020

Listened: 1/16/22

This story is probably the weakest one of the set, unfortunately, as it’s just kind of a side-step. A research group of Time Lords is developing a biological, monster-shaped weapon, and for some reason it requires Susan’s approval to move forward. So she heads there to check it out, accompanied by Veklin and Rasmus, and everything goes to hell faster than you can say “Jurassic Park.” There’s a lot made of Susan’s psychic abilities, just like in the first story. I don’t remember her being unusually gifted for her species, but given that most Time Lords in the war never do anything psychic at all, I guess she qualifies. There’s also a subplot about class relations on Gallifrey, how the non-Time Lord Gallifreyans don’t really appreciate being dragged into the war to be used as cannon fodder, which seems like a valid complaint. Rennis, the lower-class Gallifreyan, is played by Roly Botha, Carole Ann Ford’s grandson, so that’s always fun. Rasmus gets a bit more character development here, showing that even though he’s the Doctor’s friend and Susan’s ally, he’s still a Time Lord politician, meaning he’s got dirty deals going that he doesn’t want anyone to know about. Maybe the class-war aspect would hit harder for me if I were English, but the “monster research gone awry” plot doesn’t feel very original.