Storm of the Horofax

Time is not a mere linear progression. It is a perspective seen through a prism of existence.

Ariadna

Synopsis

During a North Sea military exercise, the crew of the destroyer HMS Nemesis detect what they suspect is a submarine following them. But it’s actually a futuristic ship with an alien occupant, Arianda.

The Doctor and UNIT are called in, but things are already running out of control. The damaged craft is leaking particles and contaminating the Nemesis with time disruption.

But that’s not the biggest problem. For Arianda is being followed by the warships of the Horofax, who have picked precisely this moment to invade. Soon the destruction of humanity’s future will begin.

Review

The second story in the third Third Doctor boxset brings things back to Earth, following Nicholas Briggs’ Dalek story, which took place on an alien world. Andrew Smith’s story evokes the tone of the Third Doctor’s era well, whilst also bringing in elements from the modern series, without feeling jarring.

Andrew Smith has written a gripping story which is full of twists and turns, and this all makes it an engaging and entertaining adventure. With it’s central narrative concentrating on a foe that recalls elements of both Classic Who and modern Who alike. There are features that recall The Time Meddler and the cracks in time plot arc in Series 5 of the revived series with the clerics being erased from time, with only Amy remembering them. We also see the villain, Ariadna, using a Time Lock. Whilst there are similar devices used in the original run, a Time Lock is much more associated with the modern series, with the history of Gallifrey and Skaro being sealed off, and the Earth protected with one during the Last Great Time War. This is a story that unfolds gradually, with each cliffhanger at the end of each part keeping up the suspense and intrigue going into the next part. The majority of the characterisation is also mostly on point. The story brings in a fish out of water character in the shape of Iain Batchelor’s Adam Rigg, the forestry worker who ends up embroiled in the Horofax’s schemes and helping Jo and the Doctor. Batchelor makes this character really likeable.

At this stage of Big Finish’s Third Doctor Adventures range, we did not have a recast Brigadier. Looking back at this now, with impressionist Jon Culshaw in the role, it’s clear that this puts certain limitations on these early Third Doctor stories. Smith and others who have written Earth-bound stories have to write around that huge hole in the era. Here, this means not going to UNIT headquarters, and whilst he is mentioned, the UNIT personnel who assist the Doctor and Jo here are all original to this story. That might seem jarring when the Doctor and Jo are flown to the HMS Nemesis by Major Hardy, who has apparently been involved in repelling one of the Auton invasions and the Axons. The reasoning for this quickly becomes clear, as Smith has Hardy erased from time by the end of the first part. It’s an obstacle that Smith deftly navigates, with the inclusion of the Royal Navy. That seems very in keeping with The Sea Devils, another Earthbound story in which the Brigadier and UNIT don’t feature. The headquarters in the Kent Downs is a clever way of evoking the wider UNIT family without having to include any of the officers we are familiar with.

You won’t win, you know. No matter how clever your little toys are, others have tried to invade but the Doctor has always stopped them.

These others were not Horofax.

Jo Grant and Ariadna

The villains of the piece, Arianda, who is the provost of the Horofax cult, are really intriguing. We have the uncertainty about Arianda’s motivations and whether she is really just an innocent alien as she originally claims, and then displacing and removing humans through history. Ariadna is able to see both forwards and backwards in time, and claims to have been on a historical field trip at first, but the truth is much more interesting and unusual than that. Robin Weaver plays Arianda really sinisterly and is forceful. She is someone who is able to corrupt the most loyal companion, Jo Grant, and whilst this only last briefly, it is a concerning moment for both the character and the Doctor. The Horofax are a little generic, and don’t feel as though they are particularly memorable, however, this cannot be said for Ariadna, who is a strong debut villain here.

It seems crazy to keep saying that Tim Treloar continues to shine in his interpretation of the Third Doctor. He is becoming more confident in his performances and there are more and more occasions that I forget that I am not just listening to Jon Pertwee. This story does show the difficult side of being a time traveller, with the Doctor remembering those who have been erased by Ariadna. This story does also broach difficult aspects of the Doctor’s own people – they have persecuted others with Ariadna’s abilities. This almost feels more in keeping that the Time Lords of Tom Baker’s era than those of Pertwee’s. The story also allows Katy Manning to do something new by being possessed. Despite being the Third Doctor’s longest serving companion, Big Finish continue to find new things to do with her character.

Verdict: Andrew Smith has written an intriguing and captivating script, which is well performed by all involved. Storm of the Horofax is a highlight of The Third Doctor Adventures. 9/10.

Cast: Tim Treloar (The Doctor), Katy Manning (Jo Grant), Robin Weaver (Arianda), Iain Batchelor (Adam Rigg), Robert Hands (Major Hardy/Crewman), Richard Derrington (Commander Burton), Ian Conningham (Sinko/Ronson/Lieutenant) and Jake Dudman (UNIT Radio Operator).

Writer: Andrew Smith

Director: Nicholas Briggs

Music by: Jamie Robertson

Sound by: Joe Meiners

Parts: 4

Release Date: 17 August 2017

Cast Notes

• Robert Hands played Algy in The Empty Child and The Doctor Dances. He has also appeared in a number of Big Finish audios, including Legion of the Lost and A Thing of Guile opposite John Hurt.
• Richard Derrington has also appeared in The Harvest and The Last.
• Ian Conningham has also appeared in further Big Finish stories, including Northern Lights, Fallen Heroes and Nightmare Country.
• Jake Dudman (better known as Jacob Dudman) has portrayed the Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors in their respective Chronicles series, as well as appearing in various roles in other Big Finish audios.

Best Quote

Paul Hardy will be remembered, Jo. Don’t worry. I’ll remember him. I’ll remember them all. I always do.

The Third Doctor

Previous Third Doctor review: The Conquest of Far

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