Protect and Survive
Protect and Survive is a story that I have been waiting for with baited breath. As a child of the 21st century, I never lived through the Cold War, and it’s only during the last year that I have begun to learn about it at school. The idea of nuclear war has been one that both haunts and fascinates me. Had there been a button pressed during the 1970’s or 80’s, then I would not be writing this today, and thanks to games like Fallout 3, I knew what sort of devastation that total destruction could have caused (granted that is in the form of a CGI Xbox game). And so, when I read the blur for the first of the new Seventh Doctor, Ace and Hex trilogy, my excitement peaked. This trio is already my favourite TARDIS team after absolute classic stories like A Death in the Family and Enemy of the
Daleks, so I knew we were in for a treat. I couldn’t have been more right.
To be honest, before I knew much about it, I though having the Doctor in most of the story would ruin it. I wanted it to be about Ace and Hex coping completely without him for once. Imagine my shock when I read that this was a Doctor-lite story, and he would have a limited supporting role only. Don’t get me wrong, Sylvester McCoy’s incarnation is my firm favourite of the classic era, but having him out of the equation allowed his 2 companions a chance to prove how far they have come since their introductory stories.
Since the beginning, Hex was great. His ‘oh my God’ reactions were great to hear in The Harvest, but since he's been just another companion. Then, add in a complicated back story about his mother, a very near death experience in Scutari and finally, a traumatic battle with the Word Lord and he became an outstanding character that had matured beyond the level of any other companion in Who history. Ace, on the other hand, has been his teacher, guider and bridge between the manipulative Doctor, his time travel toilet (as Hex believed it was) and complete breakdown. They work so beautifully together, perfectly making up for the main hero’s absence. As Sylvester McCoy said himself this story would not have worked with any other Doctor. The seventh incarnation cunning plans allow his presence to be felt even when he hasn’t been around for 2 episodes.
The rest of the cast have been chosen expertly. Having only 3 other voices meant that the story could be lost, had there been more characters than voices. However, apart from a brief period during episode 3, there are only the three other characters, and even during that time, a few more from the end of the play are used to add up the numbers (listen to the end of episode 4 and all will become clear). Ian Hogg and Elizabeth Bennett as Albert and Peggy are so benign that it is creepy. Until the end of part 2, there is not hint of evil in them. And from part 3 onwards, Elizabeth Bennett really delivers. Her quiet, calm voice is so terrifying when given the tone it takes at the end.
For the plot, most of the first half is given the feeling of ‘once you know the surprises, you won't listen again.’ It starts rather dull, most of the first part is setting the scene, but by the first cliff-hanger, the drama is unstoppable. Giving genuine thrills and more ‘Oh my God’ moments than any story before it, it rattles along at a thrilling pace. As I said, I did get the impression that by the time I discovered what was happening it would become menial and that I would not listen again until I had forgotten anything that happens many years later. Part 3 stopped this. Without giving too much away (which is very difficult), the cast give a performance that I could listen to for hours and I would happily repeat within moments. I’m not afraid to admit that a scene in part 4 almost led me to tears thanks to Sophie Aldred’s and Philip Olivier’s performances. Having the Doctor appear for about half the third episode and some of the fourth lets the companions develop in a way that would have been stunted had he been around.
That’s not to say his presence is awful. He steals the scenes he is in and makes up for his minimal appearance in just a few minutes of being
around.
My final words must go to the fantastic ending, even though I knew it was coming, that final few moments still managed to surprise me. I really can not say what happens but safe to say that it astounds. However, you have to have heard a couple of stories before hearing this or you will not understand it at all. I knew there was a reason I bought and listened to House of Blue Fire before this.
Daleks, so I knew we were in for a treat. I couldn’t have been more right.
To be honest, before I knew much about it, I though having the Doctor in most of the story would ruin it. I wanted it to be about Ace and Hex coping completely without him for once. Imagine my shock when I read that this was a Doctor-lite story, and he would have a limited supporting role only. Don’t get me wrong, Sylvester McCoy’s incarnation is my firm favourite of the classic era, but having him out of the equation allowed his 2 companions a chance to prove how far they have come since their introductory stories.
Since the beginning, Hex was great. His ‘oh my God’ reactions were great to hear in The Harvest, but since he's been just another companion. Then, add in a complicated back story about his mother, a very near death experience in Scutari and finally, a traumatic battle with the Word Lord and he became an outstanding character that had matured beyond the level of any other companion in Who history. Ace, on the other hand, has been his teacher, guider and bridge between the manipulative Doctor, his time travel toilet (as Hex believed it was) and complete breakdown. They work so beautifully together, perfectly making up for the main hero’s absence. As Sylvester McCoy said himself this story would not have worked with any other Doctor. The seventh incarnation cunning plans allow his presence to be felt even when he hasn’t been around for 2 episodes.
The rest of the cast have been chosen expertly. Having only 3 other voices meant that the story could be lost, had there been more characters than voices. However, apart from a brief period during episode 3, there are only the three other characters, and even during that time, a few more from the end of the play are used to add up the numbers (listen to the end of episode 4 and all will become clear). Ian Hogg and Elizabeth Bennett as Albert and Peggy are so benign that it is creepy. Until the end of part 2, there is not hint of evil in them. And from part 3 onwards, Elizabeth Bennett really delivers. Her quiet, calm voice is so terrifying when given the tone it takes at the end.
For the plot, most of the first half is given the feeling of ‘once you know the surprises, you won't listen again.’ It starts rather dull, most of the first part is setting the scene, but by the first cliff-hanger, the drama is unstoppable. Giving genuine thrills and more ‘Oh my God’ moments than any story before it, it rattles along at a thrilling pace. As I said, I did get the impression that by the time I discovered what was happening it would become menial and that I would not listen again until I had forgotten anything that happens many years later. Part 3 stopped this. Without giving too much away (which is very difficult), the cast give a performance that I could listen to for hours and I would happily repeat within moments. I’m not afraid to admit that a scene in part 4 almost led me to tears thanks to Sophie Aldred’s and Philip Olivier’s performances. Having the Doctor appear for about half the third episode and some of the fourth lets the companions develop in a way that would have been stunted had he been around.
That’s not to say his presence is awful. He steals the scenes he is in and makes up for his minimal appearance in just a few minutes of being
around.
My final words must go to the fantastic ending, even though I knew it was coming, that final few moments still managed to surprise me. I really can not say what happens but safe to say that it astounds. However, you have to have heard a couple of stories before hearing this or you will not understand it at all. I knew there was a reason I bought and listened to House of Blue Fire before this.