‘Qualia’ (ST)

‘QUALIA’

Please feel free to comment on my review.

Telepathy Trouble with the Fifth Doctor, Tegan, Turlough and Kamelion

This story is by Stephen Fewell and it features the Fifth Doctor, Tegan, Turlough and Kamelion. As well as a writer, Stephen Fewell is also an actor, having played roles in ‘Doctor Who’ audio dramas. These include ‘Red Dawn’, ‘The One Doctor’, ‘Seasons of Fear’, ‘Zagreus’ and ‘The Twilight Kingdom’.

I found ‘Qualia’ hard-going, even upon reading the ‘Short Trips: Companions’ book a second time. I didn’t fully understand what the plot was about and missed the Kamelion aspects of the tale. This is especially when the Doctor and Tegan’s memories are involved and they overwhelmed Kamelion. 😐

Essentially, Kamelion taps into Tegan’s memories in order to show Turlough what the Fourth Doctor looked liked when Tegan first knew him. Kamelion ends up showing the first three Doctors and is soon overwhelmed by Tegan’s memories of her family as well as the Doctor’s memories of Gallifrey.

I wouldn’t mind this story if Stephen Fewell was more audience-friendly to those who wouldn’t get his subtle descriptions of characters like Tegan, Turlough, the Fifth Doctor and Kamelion throughout. It became very confusing whilst reading the story and I gave up when I was about halfway in the tale.

I did like the character references made to Turlough and Tegan, which included references to Turlough’s life at Brendan School with the Brigadier as well as Tegan’s Aunt Vanessa and her mum called Joy. I especially quite liked the moment where Tegan was missing her friend Nyssa in the tale.

‘Qualia’ rating – 2/10

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The previous story For the Fifth Doctor was ‘The Day of the Doctor’ (TV) For Tegan was ‘Birth of a Renegade’ (RT Special) For Turlough was ‘Birth of a Renegade’ (RT Special) For Kamelion was ‘The Kamelion Empire’ (Audio)	The next story For the Fifth Doctor is ‘Gudok’ (ST) For Tegan is ‘Gudok’ (ST) For Turlough is ‘Gudok’ (ST) For Kamelion is ‘Mark of the Medusa’ (Penguin/Audio)
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