Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * *

Cast: Colin Baker, Bonnie Langford, Ray Fearon, Ony Uhiara, Stuart Organ, Lucy Russell, John Banks, Beth Chalmers, Barnaby Edwards, David Sibley.

In the best traditions of Doctor Who there is a new terrifying enemy for the fans to get to grips with but as with timey-wimey approach to the Doctor’s life, this isn’t the first time he has met The Eminence or his Infinite Warriors as he battles against them in The Seeds of War.

In the final trip in the Tardis for Colin Baker’s incarnation of the sixth Doctor for a few months, Matt Fitton’s and Nicholas Briggs’ script takes him far into Human history and the colonised worlds of the ten systems. Initially, the Doctor is there for a dinner date at the Great Tower of Kalsos with Mel but as ever he slightly arrives at the wrong time and finds himself trapped inside as the tower is turned to ash and rubble all around him and the after affects of a long and harrowing war against the evil of The Eminence.

Whilst a great piece by two writers who seem to bring out the very best in both Colin Baker and the Doctor it unfortunately doesn’t reach the heights of previous stories involving the main actor. It is understood that the understated performance Mr. Baker delivers is to be expected as he is trying to ward his thoughts off against this new and powerful enemy but if the underlying theme of the tale is one of possession, whether of the mind The Eminence infiltrating his Human enemies into becoming shades, creatures in which to do The Eminence’s bidding or the possession of Humanity in the outer worlds, there could be seen more ways in which to get the best out this fine actor.

For once it is not Mr. Baker’s portrayal that deserves the full force of praise and in that perhaps it is a good thing for it allows the some of the cast members to give just as memorable performances in which to take in and wonder how much their back story or even possible future adventures could have gone. In the brother and sister team of Barlow and Sisrella Teveler, portrayed with great depth and sincerity to the part by Ray Fearon and Ony Uhiara, their lives are attached to the Doctor’s and Melanie’s, from the start and their humanity, their desire to see people saved shines through. The way that both actors absorb themselves into the work is a huge testament to the way Big Finish finds and nurtures young acting talent and although the story doesn’t end well for one of the siblings, it would be a real shame to have the other one disappear from thought and not appear again in the near future.

Although The Seeds of War doesn’t have the same energetic feel as the first story in the latest adventures, The Wrong Doctors, it is still a good way to wrap up the latest adventures for the sixth Doctor.

The Seeds of War is available to buy from Worlds Apart on Lime Street.

Ian D. Hall