Should be - it’s been donkey’s years since I listened to this one but she’s very much just one of the Doctor’s companions in this.
2 Likes
I listened about 2 years ago and this is all i knew. She’s and archaeologist and sarcastic.
4 Likes
Season 1
1.1 Oh No It Isn’t.
The plot was interesting if not a little bit too long. It could have been cut down by about 30 minutes and it would have flowed better. You can tell this is the first recording by Big Finish as the quality of some of the voices are a bit off. The lack of music and minimal special effects are jarring if you are familiar with later releases. Overall it’s not terrible but it is a little rough around the edges. 3/5
1.2 Beyond the Sun.
The plot is meandering and can be a slog to get through. At some points things are just rushed through while hoping you remember what was said, and other times there are scenes where the plot doesn’t seem to happen. The looming threat is talked about but as a listener you have no connection to them. The audio design is better then Oh No It Isn’t but without a character ‘narrating’ what is happening, it just sounds like noise. While an improvement in one way the plot is very lacking and leaves one wanting more. 2.5/5
1.3 Walking to Babylon.
The plot was great. The world of Babylon is really well fleshed out and, based on the sound work, feels alive. While a little slow the overall plot development is worth it. The sound design work is still little iffy in a few places but, again, it is a vast improvement over the previous two releases. For me this sets up the next two parts of this trilogy excellently. 4/5
1.4 Birthright.
While not as good as Walking to Babylon, Birthright is another good installment of Bernice Summerfield. The plot really sets you up in London and brings the world to life. While not being the quickest, and some added scenes to pad out the story, the plot is easy to follow and moves along at a decent pace. The acting is top notch and the audiowork is the best it has been so far in Season 1. 3.5/5
1.5 Just War.
Just Wars’ plot is great. A little slow to get started as it has to set all the new characters up but about 1/3 of the way through it picks up pace. This story was a lot more ‘adult’ than previous ones but the sense of tension was kept for a good hour. The sound design was great again, and the score was very well done. really played the emotions. The voice acting was superb and reall showed off the skills of the performers. This little trilogy overall has been great. 4/5
1.6 Dragons’ Wrath
While the idea for this plot is half interesting, sadly, it just doesn’t get explored enough. It reall feels like you are listening to an abridged version of the story. Because of this the story is sometimes hard to follow and the plot seems to be rushed in some places and slow in others. The voice acting is great but the recording quality is all over the place. The sound design is jarring with no room to breathe on some effects. This was a dissapointing end to Season 1. 2/5
bonus Buried Tresures: Making Myths
For the benefit of the listeners, don’t bother. Plot is ok but the dialogue is repetative and not funny. 2/5
bonus Buried Treasures: Closure
A very well done 2 hander. be warned it is grusome. 4/5
8 Likes
OK, ‘Summer of Love’ is probably something of an odd choice, but I honestly adore the stories set on the Collection - where we get interactions with all the characters; Jason, Bev, Adrian, Hass… Doggles… maybes we can forget about that creep!
Simon Guerrier is one of my favourite writers - thanks to ‘Graceless’ - and it was so delightful to hear him write a hilarious comedy piece.
5 Likes
I listened to the Second Series last night/this morning and I enjoyed it a lot more than the First. The First had some good stories, as I reviewed above, but it was a long series.
With the Second series, they have found their grove with writing. 4 stories, an hour long, and each feels different. The only downside is that it was tied into the books coming out at the time, so for completeness I’d essentially have to read them at the same time, in release order. But really this is only a minor quibble.
Big Finish has released the novels as audiobooks read by Bowerman, most of the ones I’ve listened to are really good. I actually enjoyed the novels around that second series more than the audio dramas.
4 Likes
I actually listened to all the Benny audios in the span of about a month and a half so I have very little memory of what happens in any given individual episode! I have 24 Benny stories with a 5* rating which is pretty generous for me, so that tells you how much I loved her, but I want to relisten to it all to actually like, you know, remember what happens haha
That said, Summer of Love is obviously notorious and I was a little nervous going into it based on what I’d heard, but it was actually a lot more fun than I expected, so I wouldn’t totally disagree with you pulling it out to highlight positively!
3 Likes
I have the audiobooks now, but I’m going to wait to listen to them, probably when I have a break from work, so I can really concentrate on them.
4 Likes
Easily one of the greatest spin-off ranges.
Though the title of this thread reminded me of THAT theme tune used during Series Two!
I’ve actually just transferred my old reviews for the first series of ‘Bernice Summerfield’ over to TARDIS Guide, all of which have been updated too.
#1.01. Oh No It Isn’t!
#1.02. Beyond the Sun
#1.03. Walking to Babylon
#1.04. Birthright
#1.05. Just War
#1.06. Dragons’ Wrath
6 Likes
I don’t care what anyone says, adventure is my name, adventure is my game, and I like that theme tune 
9 Likes
Other than your review of Oh No It Isn’t!, I agree with pretty much everything you said. Thankfully, it gets more consistent with Series 2.
4 Likes
Consistently awful. I genuinely cannot think of anything worse than the second run of stories in this range.
The only one which I’d call essentiall is Brax’s debut into the range.
5 Likes
Well, I really disagree with that. Only 1 of them is a ‘bad’ story, ad even then it has the sin of being boring. The rest I find rather good.
4 Likes
I didn’t find Series 2 bad, just average. Especially compared to the novels where all the arc was happening.
6 Likes
I’ve listened to Series 2 and four of the five novels that are interspersed among the audios. I loved Doomsday Manuscript, very Indiana Jones, Squire’s Crystal was really good, and surprisingly funny, and Infernal Nexus was quite good. The only one I didn’t finish was Gods of the Underworld, which I lost interest in as I took to much time between parts and listened to too many other things in between. Next up, whenever I get back into them, is The Glass Prison.
5 Likes
I have vague memories of some of the Benny books, but I couldn’t tell you which is which.
4 Likes
Ooh I don’t think I hated s2 at all! I can’t remember that much, but my ratings don’t seem to indicate I didn’t have fun. And @DarthGallifrey yes, I’ve been very slowly getting through the novels too - Lisa Bowerman reads me right to sleep every night The Squire’s Crystal is very good, and The Glass Prison is dark af but absolutely incredible, I loved that book
6 Likes
Oh, I plan to get to it eventually, I just have so much I want to listen to and so little time. And I absolutely love Benny, too. She’s so much better than River. 
9 Likes
Contentious!! Don’t let @shauny hear you say that 
(but I don’t fully disagree…)
7 Likes
Agreed…
/burns flat down
/changes identity
/goes into hiding
10 Likes