August 23, 2009

Flip-Flop (2003)

Flip Flop is a unique story. It’s a story that is told over two discs and can be listened to in either order. Each disc has two episodes and the events on the Black Disc and the White Disc take place at the same time in the same place. It’s a brave attempt by Big Finish as it is a complicated story however it doesn’t quite work.

I am glad that they have done another Mel story because I think that she has really developed over the last few years. I don’t think that Flip Flop particularly helped this because it just doesn’t advance the characters appeal which is a shame. By the end of the episode I just felt that there was no real conclusion to it.

Sylvester McCoy and Bonnie Langford put in good performances but unfortunately don’t have a great deal to do. It seems like they are just going through the motions and there is no real menace to the story. The Slithergees are not particularly impressive and they don’t sound great.

Jonathan Morris should be praised for making this story even make sense. To have to stories can be listened to in either order is quite a challenge and would have made a lesser persons’ head bleed. Gary Russell does an ok job as director but you feel that he is not really having to put much effort into it. This is definitely not one of his best.

Its better to have tried than not at all and whilst the story wont be remembered as a good story it will be remembered for being one the bravest stories of all time. The next four releases will be some of the most important in Big Finish’s history to coincide with Doctor Who’s 40th Birthday.

No comments:

Post a Comment