The Time Machine (2013)

So this is where it ends. After 10 releases we get to see the 11^th Doctor’s story in the range and we almost didn’t see it. AudioGo went into administration just before Big Finish would normally have released it so we are getting this story somewhat later than usual. The story is performed by Jenna Coleman and it takes place six days from now or November 23^rd 2013 and sees the Doctor encounter Professor Chivers (played by Michael Cochrane) who is trying to assemble a time machine.

It’s quite nice that they have got Michael Cochrane into to this release as he has been in several Big Finish releases and also appeared in Ghostlight and can always be relied upon to give a sound performance. I thought that he was quite good in this story and even though he came close to being a clichéd villain who was obsessed with time travel, he managed to reign it in. Jenna Colman also performed well but I did feel at times like she was just going through the motions at time.

It’s great how all the pop up from the eleventh Doctor has been explained. It’s nice that it was the explanation that was given and it didn’t feel like it was plucked out of nowhere but something that had been sort of early on.

I don’t think that this story was quite what I was expecting for a final story. I suppose that over the eleven months that this series has been running, I was expecting a massive pay off but perhaps my expectations were too high. It’s a perfectly fine story that is performed well and the story works well along with the rest of the series and Matt Fitton has done a tricky job of tying up the loose ends as well as tell his story which isn’t a good job. It’s a fraction over an hour but the pacing uses it well.

This series has been a success. Despite the troubles that AudioGo are currently it doesn’t detract from the good work that everyone associated with the series has achieved. It’s a fine tribute to the show that they have managed to tell eleven stories with a story arc running through them whilst making each story work on its own and feel like the period that its suppose to represent.