Break the Ice

Something you should know about me, Lenni: I’m the kind of man who meets the myths.

The Ninth Doctor

Synopsis

On a chilly space station, the Doctor meets a group of scientists experimenting with cryogenics.

But when one subject returns from extreme sub-zero temperatures, he does not return alone. A creature awakens that can freeze the soul with icy fingers – Jack Frost.

Review

At the time of writing, the south of England is in the midst of a heatwave, so listening and reviewing a story with ice in the title might be an attempt to get cool. This is, in fact, a true Christmas special for the Ninth Doctor, with the Doctor arriving on this space station orbiting Venus on Christmas Day.

What is going on?

Merry Christmas! I’m the Doctor and let’s find out.

Dr Lenni Fisk and the Ninth Doctor

Break the Ice is very much a standard base under siege story, but does do inventive and new things for it, which means that it would fit nicely into the first Russell T Davies’ run. In fact, the villain of the story being a Winter God feels like a much more organic and satisfactory way of bringing Gods into Doctor Who than the Pantheon brought in during Davies’ second run. I really like Break the Ice, with writer Tim Foley penning a well-paced and compelling story. Not only does the story give us a showdown between the last of the Time Lords and the last of the Winter Gods, but also a personal story about Dr Lenni Fisk’s anxiety and family circumstances. With the story set on a base researching cryogenic freezing, their experiments lead to crew member, Kenton’s body being frozen to absolute zero, causing the mythical god Jack Frost to be unleashed on the other occupants of the station. Whilst it is arguably Doctor Who by the numbers, Foley and director Helen Goldwyn make sure that this is a sterling example.

Pip Torrens seems to relish the opportunity of playing the villainous Jack Frost. Frost is a sinister villain, and there is something about freezing his victims that is particularly and wonderfully horrible. The killing of the two crew members, sadistically freezing their feet before proceeding to kill them, highlights this wonderfully, as does the killing of the doctor when the transformation takes place. Whilst the character is quite dark, Foley wisely adds a touch of humour by having him wear a paper crown from a Christmas cracker for most of the story, which did amuse me. Frost is seeking reunion with the other Winter Gods following time in an another reality, however, the Doctor reveals to him that he is now the only one left following the Time War. It’s an interesting approach to bring in repercussions of the Time War into this range of stories – it is something that has been done sparingly so far, but it does work really well here. The character works so well due to Torrens’ superb performance

Along with Jack Frost, we also have a corporate bad guy in the shape of Pal Andrews, played by Simon Shepherd. Andrews is a character pushing for progress in order to make a profit, regardless of whether or not that progress is safe or not. It is his fault that Kenton is killed, allowing Jack Frost to possess his corpse and unleash havoc on the station orbiting Venus. Whilst Andrews is a progress at all costs character, he does show some remorse for the situation as the horror unfolds and takes responsibility for unleashing the powerful Frost on the station. Simon Shepherd does a good job of portraying this conflicted character, under pressure from those above him.

Our pseudo-companion for this story is Dr Lenni Fisk, played by Thalissa Teixeiria. Fisk is a character who suffers from anxiety and panic attacks, and the way that the story explores that feels very in keeping with how the television show would go about this. It doesn’t treat it like a superpower – as someone with anxiety, it is very much not – but the Doctor does go some way to helping Fisk find ways of managing this. The story takes care not to present one easy solution to mental health through a combination of self-care and assistance from friends and family. Ultimately, some of the moments of anxiety feel as scary as Jack Frost. She also has a sick son back on Earth with her wife Jeannie, which also serves to ground the character, and ultimately she feels like one of the more well-rounded one-off companions the Ninth Doctor has had in these pre-Rose Big Finish adventures for the Ninth Doctor. When the Doctor gives Fisk and her family the Christmas of their dreams.

I only suspected before. The TARDIS felt a fold in reality that gave me such a chill…but now I know for sure.

The Ninth Doctor

Christopher Eccleston continues to show why it is a shame that he didn’t have a longer run on television in this story. He bounces off the guest cast well, especially Pip Torrens and Thalissa Teizeria, and has some really great moments. Having a story that can be labelled as a Christmas special for this Doctor makes him feel in line with the other modern Doctors. Eccleston delivers a high-energy performance in a story which allows him to show off some of the various qualities of his Doctor.

Verdict: Break the Ice is perhaps not revolutionary, however, it does what is asked of it stylishly and effectively. 9/10

Cast: Christopher Eccleston (The Doctor), Simon Shepherd (Pal Andrews), Thalissa Teixeira (Dr Lenni Fisk), Pip Torrens (Kenton) & Amy Manson (Jeanie/System).

Writer: James Kettle

Director: Helen Goldwyn

Music: Howard Carter

Sound: Iain Meadows

Release Date: 17 August 2022

Behind the Scenes

• Despite being released after Auld Lang Syne, writer Tim Foley intended for Break the Ice to be released before that story. Foley worked on both stories contemporaneously, meaning he was able to put a reference to this story in Auld Lang Syne.
• Two members of the crew are named Mooney and Pringle, a reference to Big Finish writers Stewart Pringle and Lauren Mooney.

Cast Notes

• Simon Shepherd also appeared in the Eighth Doctor Big Finish story Vespertime.
• Pip Torrens played Headmaster Rocastle in Human Nature and The Family of Blood. He has also appeared in Eldrad Must Die!

Best Quote

I must make this suit of flesh more amenable to my purposes. I want ice in my heart, I want limbs so cold they might snap, I want my breath to hang in the air like it’s heavy and hurting.

Jack Frost

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Previous Ninth Doctor review: Last of the Zetacene