The Light at the End Review

This story is a bit more timey-wimey than most classic series stories. There's a lot more jumping around in time and causal loops and paradoxes. I really don't have much comparison for other Big Finish stories, so I don't know if it's normal for them, but it's rather akin to something more Moffat-ish.

I was glad they found a way to incorporate the first three Doctors (who are, sadly, dead). I don't know whether it was through computers or clever voice acting, but they did have dialogue and were in the plot line. It would have been awesome if they included the new series Doctors as well, but they don't have the license rights for them. There has been talk of changing Big Finish's licensing to include the new series. Maybe they can do something for the 60th anniversary, or perhaps the 10th anniversary of the new series.

I'm not sure of the reasoning for having the Master in this story be the 13th regeneration one from The Deadly Assassin and The Keeper of Traken. I would have expected Ainley!Master or perhaps some other version from the 8th Doctor stories (if there is one). There doesn't seem to be much clear reason for the writers to establish that it's that particular Master if it's the wrong one. Perhaps for a multi-Doctor story such as this one, there is no "correct" Master and it doesn't matter which one they use.

This story does contain a certain ring of The Name of the Doctor in that all of the Doctor's victories are reversed. The difference is, instead of going and changing each victory individually, the Master went back and changed a singular moment. Why he chose to do that in this particular way is rather intriguing. The Master could simply have gone back in time to Gallifrey and stopped the Doctor from going to the museum where the TARDIS was. He could have suggested that the Doctor go somewhere else instead or get the Doctor interested in some other part of the museum. There's also the possibility that the Doctor could simply have found another TARDIS somewhere else and stolen that one. So there are a few plot holes in the Master's plan.

The inclusion of the other Time Lords was rather unnecessary. The 6th and 7th Doctors could simply have proceeded to do everything together and the plot would still have turned out the same. Had they eliminated the plot with the Celestial Intervention Agency, the Master would still have had the same plan and the Doctors would still have countered it in the same way.

The Light at the End Now for Sale

In a surprise move, Big Finish has released their 50th Anniversary audio drama, The Light at the End, one month early. The story, featuring Doctors 4-8 and several of their companions, was due to be released on the 23rd of November. You can purchase it here.

Synopsis:

November 23rd 1963 proves to be a significant day in the lives of all eight Doctors…

It's the day that Bob Dovie's life is ripped apart…

It's also a day that sets in motion a catastrophic chain of events which forces the first eight incarnations of the Doctor to fight for their very existence. As a mysterious, insidious chaos unfolds within the TARDIS, the barriers of time break apart…

From suburban England through war-torn alien landscapes and into a deadly, artificial dimension, all these Doctors and their companions must struggle against the power of an unfathomable, alien technology.

From the very beginning, it is clear that the Master is somehow involved. By the end, for the Doctors, there may only be darkness.

New Trailer for The Light at the End

Big Finish has released a new trailer for their 50th anniversary special, The Light at the End. You can listen to it in the player below.



The story goes on sale on November 23rd and is available for pre-order here.

Peter Davison to Appear in 50th

Peter Davison has confirmed that he will appear in the 50th anniversary in some capacity. It's not known whether he will have a part in The Day of the Doctor, although he does have a copy of the script.

I’m making an appearance somewhere over that period of time but I can’t reveal in what. I can’t reveal anything specific about it. I’m not allowed to. It is a big year for the show and we’re all doing our bit for it. Trust me.

It is possible he was referring to the Big Finish production, The Light at the End. However, since he refused to comment on his involvement, it seems likely it's something more top secret than that.

Cover for Doctor Who Magazine #465

Doctor Who Magazine has released the cover art for issue #465, due out on the 19th. The issue is dedicated to Big Finish's The Light at the End 50th anniversary production.

Vinyl Edition of The Light at the End to Come with Download Option

Big Finish have announced that the vinyl edition of their 50th Anniversary story, The Light at the End, is to come with a download. Fans had previously complained that the special edition did not come with a download, which prohibited many fans without vinyl players from actually enjoying it. The vinyl edition is priced at US$153.52.

The Light at the End Vinyl Release

The Big Finish 50th Anniversary multi-Doctor story, The Light at the End, is going to be released in a special vinyl edition. 500 copies of the four-disc edition will be produced, featuring both the original story and a making-of documentary.

The vinyl edition is priced US$153.52, while the standard edition is priced $12.99 for download and $23.02 for CD. There is also a special limited edition containing The Light at the End, a different making-of documentary, This is Doctor Who at Big Finish (another documentary), and Doctor Who - The Companion Chronicles: The Revenants. It is priced $25.00 for download and $61.42 for CD.

Big Finish's License Extended Through 2016

Big Finish's license to produce Doctor Who content has been extended through December 2016. The company produces original audio adventures featuring all of the classic Doctors.

Executive producer Nicholas Briggs has been quoted as saying

This year will mark my seventh anniversary as executive producer at Big Finish. For me, it's a clear indication of how much fun I've been having with the work and the people I'm privileged to work with that I am looking forward to the possibilities opening up with this latest extension of our licence so much. And by that time, I'll have been in the role for ten years! Bring it on, I say. We have a great relationship with AudioGO and there will be exciting developments ahead.

Line producer David Richardson has also stated

‘We have so many more tales to tell with the first eight Doctors and their companions. We can promise that 2016 will see more of your favourite ranges – plus maybe a brand new range or two that will surprise and delight. Certainly, as a team, we could not be happier that we will continue to be able to make our Doctor Who dreams a reality.

Big Finish is currently celebrating the 50th Anniversary with the Destiny of the Doctors range and The Light at the End multi-Doctor special. Destiny of the Doctors is ongoing and available here, while The Light at the End will be released in November and is available for pre-order here.

Trailer for The Light at the End

Big Finish has released a trailer for their 50th Anniversary Special, The Light at the End. Starring Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, & Paul McGann as the Doctor, as well as numerous companions, the story should be available on CD and download this November.



Pre-order here

Big Finish Multi-Doctor Audio Drama for the 50th

Big Finish has announced the release of an audio adventure for the 50th Anniversary starring Doctors 4-8. Entitled The Light at the End, the 100-minute story features Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, and Paul McGann as the Doctor, Louise Jameson as Leela, Sarah Sutton as Nyssa, Nicola Bryant as Peri, Sophie Aldred as Ace, and India Fisher as Charley Pollard. It also stars Geoffrey Beevers as the Master, along with some other fan favorites.

The story will be released in two versions. The five-disc limited special edition comes with two hour-long documentaries and The Revenants. The standard edition is two discs with just the story.