THE DOCTOR WHO RATINGS GUIDE: BY FANS, FOR FANS

Big Finish Productions
The Company of Friends

Written by Lance Parkin, Steven Cole, Alan Barnes, Jonathan Morris Cover image
Format Compact Disc
Released 2009

Starring Paul McGann, Lisa Bowerman

Synopsis: Four one-part stories.

Reviews

Friends Reunited by Thomas Tiley 25/4/26>

An anthology for the eigth Doctor (his first, I believe) themed around the various non-Big Finish (Books, Comics, etc) companions of the eighth Doctor. Each story opens with the companion in question recounting a bit of backstory before moving into the story itself.

Benny's Story sees Benny reunited with the Doctor for the first time since the last NA The Dying Days. It's a nice story with Benny getting to do her archeologist bit, a misinformed villain and a time paradox involving the TARDIS key. Her narration at the beginning is fun as well. The plot reminded me slightly of the Matt Smith story Hide (pocket/bubble of the universe, with something hidden stalking them), but as this was produced years beforehand it's probably a coincidence (nothing new under the sun). Countess Vehella makes a fun villain, a sort of mad animal-rights liberation sort, only for TARDISes instead of animals, and I like how the Doctor just leaves her in the end to await rescue. A solid start to the collection.

Next off is Fitz's Story seeing everybody's favorite EDA companion do what he does best, make a bit of a fool of himself. Its an all right story, set on an alien planet that, like Earth, keeps getting invaded. Very comedic, with the Doctor annoyed at someone using his likeness to advertise a alien defense company, and Fitz ends up pretending to be the brains of the operation (with a funny recording of him begging for his life during a previous invasion played mid interview). It is a fun, if slight, story. I don't think that Matt di Angello is suitable for Fitz, however. He doesn't really fit with how I imagined him. Maybe it's because I have seen him in other programs beforehand (EastEnders, Hustle) and can't separate him, but he doesn't, to my mind, match with how Fitz would be; too conventional, handsome and charming maybe. He does an all right job, but like I said he doesn't match what I imagine Fitz to be like, although apparently Matt Smith was considered for the role, so he could have been played by someone worse (fitting to be Fitz that is).

Izzy's Story sees the DWM comic-strip character misusing the TARDIS to locate a rare comic book, much to the Doctor's chagrin, only to stumble onto an alien plot. Jemima Rooper, in contrast to di Angello, suits Izzy to a T, with a fun, bubbly personality and fantastic vocal performance, from her opening introduction parodying Trainspotters to her readings of comic strip. It's also fun to try and work out all the comic references. A light story about aliens working at a comic/2000AD style company. Filled with funny lines and moments like when she tries to get the last copy in the newsagent or the reveal of who Courtmaster Cruel really is. Fun throughout. The highlight of the collection.

Mary's Story sees the Doctor arrive at the Villa Diodati and needless to say it is much better than the TV version of those events. Nicely part-narrated by Julie Cox as Mary, this is a neat little story invoking much of the Frankenstein story mixed in with a time paradox (the injured Doctor sends a distress signal that his younger self picks up) with some interesting imagery (dark and stormy nights, the revived Doctor going on a rampage, the blackened and damaged TARDIS interior). Also some good moments such as the two Doctors bitching at each other or after encountering an argument between her sister, Percy, Polidori and Byron, the Doctor and Mary just take off for their own adventures. A nice way to end the collection.

In Night of the Doctor, the Doctor only mentions Big Finish companions which annoyed some fans of his other companions, but with this Big Finish story as a bridge to the various continuities (Comics, Books, Audio) you could argue they are all canon somehow even if it is a bit of a headache trying to work out the timelines. Of course, it still wouldn't have hurt if Moffat had had him mention Fitz or Benny or Anji (imagine mentioning Tamsin or C'rizz instead of someone likeable)..

There is also a final bonus story, a companion chronicle piece, The Three Companions, the fourth part. It's an all right story, but I haven't heard any of the earlier or later parts or as a whole so I can't really comment much about it. I was all right from what I heard.

A fine collection, I would rate it as a 10 out of 10 it, but being petty to knock it down for Fitz's miscasting (in my opinion) in that case drop it a point or two. 8/10