‘TIME REAVER’
Please feel free to comment on my review.
Calibris with the Tenth Doctor and Donna
The second episode of ‘The Tenth Doctor Adventures – Volume 1’ box set, ‘Time Reaver’, is by Jenny T. Colgan. This is another brilliant audio episode as the Doctor and Donna get to visit an alien planet.
They a visit the planet Calibris where the Doctor hopes to recharge the fluid link of his TARDIS. Eventually, the Doctor and Donna have to stop dangerous weapons and this alien gangster octopus.
David Tennant and Catherine Tate are fantastic in this ‘Doctor Who’ story. It was great to hear Terry Molloy and Dan Starkey in it too. The plot was engaging and Calibris is a pretty intriguing alien world.
Jenny T. Colgan clearly enjoyed writing for the Doctor and Donna in this audio episode. It was mind-boggling what she delivers in terms of the concepts of the Time Reaver weapons and Calibris itself.
The concept of the Time Reaver weapons in that they can slow down time and cause you pain and death is pretty frightening. These weapons were outlawed in many galaxies according to the Doctor.
David Tennant again delivers a terrific performance as the Doctor in this episode. I’m impressed with how he manages to still deliver the comedic aspects to his Doctor as well as the serious sides to him.
I found it tense when the Doctor confronted Rone at his customs office and he was seriously about his insistence to help with destroying the Time Reaver weapons. He makes no nonsense with Rone.
When the Doctor hears about the Time Reaver weapons being sold on Calibris, he is far from happy. It doesn’t make it any better when he finds the customs office are selling coffee and scones there. 😀
Catherine Tate is equally wonderful as Donna Noble in this episode. I found it amusing at the beginning when she came out of in ‘wrench’ clothes and she wanted to see the ‘planet of the boys’.
Just to say, a teaser clip of the Doctor and Donna from ‘Time Reaver’ was released before the CD box set came out in May 2016. I enjoyed listening to that teaser clip hearing the Doctor and Donna again.
I enjoyed the scenes that Donna shares with Cora when she’s comforting her through her turmoil and grief. The scenes where Donna berates the Doctor for self-sacrificing himself were mesmerizing.
The story features Sabrina Bartlett as Cora, a young girl who gets in trouble when the angry octopus-like Gully tries to capture her. The Doctor and Donna rescue her, but Cora is more than she appears.
Terry Molloy guest stars as Rone, Cora’s dad and the customs officer on Calibris. Terry is well-known for playing Davros in ‘Doctor Who’. It was brilliant to hear him in this Tenth Doctor and Donna audio.
Dan Starkey guest stars as Dorn, one of Gully’s henchmen. Dan is well-known for playing the Sontarans in new series ‘Doctor Who’. Dorn has four arms and gets to kidnap Donna and Cora here.
The monster in this story is the gangster alien octopus called Gully, voiced by John Banks. Gully is an angry octopus who wants the Time Reaver weapons for himself and tortures Cora in order to get it.
Alex Lowe guest stars as Soren, a shop owner who is an old friend of the Doctor’s and keeps spares for the Doctor’s TARDIS. Soren gets to help out during this adventure in stopping the Time Reavers.
‘Time Reaver’ is a pretty fast-paced ride and an enjoyable adventure with the Doctor and Donna. It’s mind-boggling throughout, but the performances of the cast are stupendous to listen to throughout!
At the end of Disc 2 of ‘The Tenth Doctor Adventures – Volume 1’, there’s a track of incidental music from ‘Time Reaver’ to enjoy!
If you subscribe to Big Finish for ‘The Tenth Doctor Adventures – Volume 1’ or for ‘Time Reaver’ individually, you’ll get the following extra. There’s a PDF script of ‘Time Reaver’.
‘Time Reaver’ rating – 9/10
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Bradley's Basement 
How many characters in Big Finish has John Banks voiced? He’s definitely the go to guy as he has a great range playing various characters.
I enjoyed this audio as well Tim, it’s a little darker than Technophobia & i like how Tennant brings out the more serious nature of the Doctor.
Brilliantly reviewed Tim, you really do summarise these audio dramas magnificently my friend.
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Hi Simon.
Yes John Banks can do any voice he wants and come up with in any Big Finish ‘Doctor Who’ audio he’s been in. I’ve lost count of how many BF stories he’s done in ‘Doctor Who’ and other ranges! 😀 I’ve had the pleasure of meeting John Banks at a Big Finish Day convention and he’s a really great, friendly guy!
Yes ‘Time Reaver’ is darker than ‘Technophobia’, but it was still fun and enjoyable to listen to. I could definitely tell how serious David Tennant’s Doctor was when dealing with the Time Reaver business on Calibris.
Very glad you’ve enjoyed reading my latest reviews on the Tenth Doctor audio adventures with Ten and Donna. I’m so pleased I’ve been able to review lately for my blog in detail.
Tim. 🙂
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