Review: The Feast of Axos

Doctor Who Review: The Feast of Axos

I hate this time of year. It seems silence has invaded early and has made this part of the year very “who” quite. We’ve had the announcement of bits and bobs, filming reports, the Doctor Who Experience, but one range that never stops is the amazing Big Finish Productions. To date, the audio company have brought us the return of Jago and Litefoot, seen four Doctors enter worlds TV could never produce and have produced one of the best audio seasons to date, (The Eighth Doctor Adventures.) We’ll look at the Eighth Doctor when the season ends, but today our main focus is this month’s audio release: “The Feast of Axos.”

Basic Information

Doctor/Companion(s): 6^th Doctor/Evelyn/Thomas Brewster

Writer: Mike Maddox

Synopsis: “Axos calling Earth. Fuel system exhausted. Request immediate assistance.”
Many years ago, the vast space parasite Axos attempted to suck the planet Earth of its energy. Now it’s all but forgotten – a dried-up husk, marooned in orbit, still stuck in the time loop it was placed in by Earth’s defender, the Doctor.
Forgotten, that is, except by space tourism billionaire Campbell Irons – who’s hatched a plan to solve the world’s energy crisis by reviving Axos, and transmitting its power back to Earth. But the crew of the spaceship Windermere aren’t alone aboard the parasite. The Doctor has returned, to correct an error of decades past…
And Axos is waiting.

Cast: Colin Baker (The Doctor), Maggie Stables (Evelyn Smythe), John Pickard (Thomas Brewster), Bernard Holley (Voice of Axos), John Banks (Campbell Irons/Svenni Nilson), Andree Bernard (Joanna Slade), Chook Sibtain (David Brock), Peter Forbes (Craig Swanson), Duncan Wisbey (Philippe Lefevre)

Duration: 4x30 mins

This story was very well written. Maddox gave a strong mix of good and very upsetting scenes! The general plot at the start was very difficult to follow, probably because I have never seen the Axos TV story. However, the pace of the story moved on near the end of the first episode. Keeping spoilers hidden, the plot had authentic elements to that era, as well as revamping that era with the modern day. I really enjoyed this.

The performance of the audio was amazing. All the cast were of a very high standard, especially Maggie Sables, whom was brilliant! Her monologue in episode four was beautiful; it brought a tear to my eye. Colin was also brilliant as the Doctor and his other role. Pickard however seemed a bit plain at some points, mainly not having a huge role in the last episode; however he was brilliant in the rest.

The sound design was also on top form, and the cover is beautiful!

On the Whole...

Good

-       Brilliant Cast

-       Brilliant Story (mostly)

-       A clever twist on an old foe

Bad

-       Slow starting

-       More Brewster!

Rating: 7.5/10

 Information: Big Finish Productions

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