@sircarolyn on reading @monkeyshaver’s post…
tbf the coming soon for the next one sounded great - summits! delegates! committees!
I do recommend you stick it out for at least this season. I’m no fan of political dramas but something about this one just grabs me.
In fairness, I can completely understand thinking it’s boring. Gallifrey takes a while to warm up and WoC definitely grew on me over time, and I guess not everyone can like it or something (? sounds fake)
Yeah, WoC isn’t perfect as a distinct story. It’s really Chapter One.
So, I finally delved into the world of Gallifrey, which has been evading me for years.
What did I think of Weapon of Choice? Well, it’s an atmospheric and fascinating opening instalment. It has a lot of characters and juggles many new things, and it’s a bit confusing to follow, but it was surprisingly enjoyable.
It takes a while to place everyone, but I like how quickly we are introduced to the main players—Torvald, Narvin, Romana, K9, Leela, and Braxiatel—and get a hunch of the basic plot beats that are relevant in this series, such as the space politics and terror organisations, the character drama, and the wider nature of Time Lords and Gallifrey.
I really like how effectively the characters are established. Romana and Leela are strong women (the former surrounded by people who constantly annoy her; the latter frequently solving problems with her fists), and there’s an intriguing tension between Leela and Torvald, while Braxiatel seems like a very dry Cardinal (as they all are).
The simple music and sound design and the superb performances contribute to building a surprisingly effective atmosphere.
The abundance of characters and new concepts mean that this is somewhat confusing at times, but I see great potential in the political intrigue and the character drama, such as the conflict and tension between Romana, Narvin, and Braxiatel.
Overall, I end up rating this a strong 7/10. I considered 8 at one point, but this felt safer this early on in the range.
Is a question I have never ever asked myself when listening to Gallifrey. The pace, the immersion into the political skulduggery, the rich characterisation… all completely earned and judiciously used. I just find myself swept along from start to finish. It’s all about our lead (and a good many supporting) characters, their friendships, rivalries and quirks.
I find myself in complete agreement with @sircarolyn. Weapon of Choice is good. In many ways, it’s a great starter (particularly in retrospect), but it is only a beginning. So much more to come. This series is a grower. Strong start, but the best (by far) is still to come.
To quote Leela, from somewhat later in Gallifrey (season 2, to be exact)…
“I do not think you know what the truth is anymore.”
Let’s see if this series holds my interest after the Audio Club Extra or if I am only listening to the first box. But if I do I will be looking out for that quote.
Well, that alone is a good reason to keep listening. It’ll draw you in. It will. Believe.
‘if’ I think you mean ‘when’
I almost want to dislike it when everyone is this positive
Obviously you are technically allowed to like whatever you like, and if for some reason you end up not liking Gallifrey (?) I can love it enough for everyone
Almost… but not quite. Ah, you’ve only just started your journey. So much still to learn. You might not like it. It might not be your cup of tea… but you owe yourself the opportunity to discover the joys.
For me, Gallifrey rights pretty much every wrong done with the bland ‘beige’ beaurocrat years of Gallifrey on TV in the 1980s. RTD was right to ditch Gallifrey and the interminable continuity when DW came back in 2005. It was necessary to re-engage the popular audience. Yet, for fans of DW, it is a wonderful thing Gallifrey exists. It’s very niche but, for those invested in DWs long (and oft confusing) lore, it is fantastic that this audio series exists.
Well, I’m not sold yet. The first story is good but not exceptional, but I see potential for the future. I’ll keep my mind open, but who knows, perhaps I end up being as grumpy and negative about it as @Tian
Not acceptable. I need some fellow Scandinavians to get aboard the Gallifrey train
I listened to this again and liked it more the second time!
Romana is brilliant
It’s even better once to relisten once you have the whole series under your belt.
I will do that too, I just felt I didn’t give it justice and for once I’m all caught up on the Audio Club (although just realised I never did Excelis…)
Well then - DO Excelis!