What do you think of Loups-Garoux? I prefer that one to Phantasmagoria myself
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Loups-Garoux is good too. It might just be that I have a soft spot for this one. It’s traditional almost to a fault and one of those pieces of comfort Who for me. I don’t listen to it often, but always enjoy it when I do. I’m also not a Mark Gatiss fan. None of his stories really grab me.
4 Likes
Middle of part 2 and I think that’s one of the unintentionally funniest deaths I’ve heard
“H-How could it be..... that something so.................................. BLEAHHHH”
*beat*
“He’s dead”
5 Likes
Honestly, it’s the definitive “This story exists” for Big Finish so far. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not bad, having the Five and Turlough Pairing makes it a bit more unique. But it’s pretty unremarkable.
I don’t think you can do anything wrong with listening to this, pretty solid start for the 5 solo run, but even out of the first 10, I rarely ever think about this Story. I think that tells you enough about how I feel about it
7 Likes
5/10
Agreed with what others have said about this being just a fairly standard story, which isn’t a bad thing, but some things do seem to come out of nowhere or just feel a little disconnected.
Gatiss hamming it up is always a bit of fun though, definitely my favourite part of the experience.
5 Likes
Well this was the first time I’d listened to this story & I was pleasantly surprised. Yes it was definitely a traditional-style classic 5th Doctor story which is exactly what I want from BF. The Doctor was completely in character & Turlough was more likeable than in the TV series, probably because he wasn’t being overshadowed by Tegan for once. I liked the way he developed from “very reluctant hero” to becoming intrigued by the mystery and determined to get to the bottom of it even without the Doctor by the end.
I did find it hard to distinguish who some of the voices were - I remember that one of the problems I had with early BF was the way they liked to use very small casts with everyone playing multiple roles so it was hard to identify who was who - but I had “half-guessed” the identity of the alien shapeshifter from the clues given before the reveal, but not that both were the same person - I had thought there were two aliens (the dialogue for one of the alien scenes in Episode 2 was too quiet for me to hear in the car which didn’t help).
9 Likes
I really don’t know what to think about this story because even though I found myself enjoying it in places overall it wasn’t all that great. The pacing was weird and the story focus felt confused at times
4/10 for me
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This one started off Ok. I just felt like some of the acting was wonky.
Was nothing wrong with it really - not one i’ll be revisiting down the line though.
6 Likes
I really did not like this story, and that’s a real shame, I don’t intend to listen to or re-evaluate this story. I slept midway through somehow, and had to relisten to parts of it. 
9 Likes
It’s a fine story in my opinion, but nothing more than that. I think some parts of the plot might have been better if I hadn’t taken a week-long break in the middle. The historical atmosphere was pretty good. I enjoyed it while listening but I honestly doubt I’ll remember anything about the plot by tomorrow.
6 Likes
Phantasmagoria: 5th Doctor and Turlough
Happy to admit that I’ll always have a fondness for this story as it was the first full story for a single Doctor that Big Finish released and, thus, really felt like Doctor Who in a meaningful sense was back. It’s possibly one of the most “Gatissy” of Mark Gatiss’s stories, and I find it a real comfort listen. I haven’t listened to it for many a year so wasn’t sure how I’d find it this time around. For me, at least, it still hasn’t lost its charm.
The setting is simply lovely, rich and historical. It’s easy for me to visualise mentally (one of the most important tasks of an audio, I find), with colourful characters and plenty of event. Nicholas Valentine is a thoroughly dastardly villain. Jasper Jeake is a little (how shall we put it?)… a little broadly written, yet fun enough. I loved the use of Wisdens. Very much a “Checkov’s gun” in this story - it’s a nice moment when possession of this cricketing tome becomes pivotal to the plot. Indeed, the use of cricket in this story is a nice nod to this quirk of the Fifth Doctor, and I felt was handled better than in other cases.
If I’m going to gripe, and I feel mean spirited in saying this, then it’s with Mark Strickson’s acting. He’s normally so reliable and certainly has been later on with his Big Finish releases, but here it feels like he overacts or isn’t quite taking it seriously at times. It just feels off (and I normally really like Strickson as a performer).
8 Likes
I thought this was a step up from The Sirens of Time but it still suffers from the same convoluted aggregation of plot, trying to do too much and ultimately ending up a bit confusing. Turlough’s subplot however is quite enjoyable and I like the perceived supernatural element at first. Also, playing cards as a vessel to harvest energy is a very neat concept. A cozy listen to be sure but a tad hard to focus on.
8 Likes
I remembered really liking this on the first listen waaaaay back when and, honestly, it’s such a confident early step for Big Finish. It leans hard into gothic horror with all the candlelit tension and spooky whispers you could want, and Mark Gatiss is clearly having the time of his life writing sinister toffs and Faustian bargains. It’s a jolly good throwaway adventure that knows it’s a jolly good throwaway adventure… and I’d argue that self-awareness really works in its favour.
Valentine’s such a deliciously over-the-top villain, Davison is in his groove, and while Turlough feels a bit gentler than on screen, he’s actually given something to do, which is more than he often got on telly. Plus, a wild cameo from baby David Walliams! It maybe meanders a little in the middle, but then you get that cracking Part Three cliffhanger (I genuinely didn’t see the reveal of Major Billy Lovemore’s secret identity coming… and it’s delicious when it happens!) and suddenly it all clicks. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel, but it is having a great time spinning it in the foggy streets of old London, and I’m totally here for it. 
(You can catch my full review over on Substack — and feel free to subscribe for free while you’re there! It means a lot knowing I’m not just shouting into the internet void as I relisten to all 275 Monthly Adventures!)
6 Likes
This is a such an interesting tardis team to use to start with (not counting multi doctor) like it’s such a unique one it’s not what imo id expect if I was around back in 1999
2 Likes
Step up from Sirens but this one I still remember feeling it was average but this one is going into the relisten bucket solely because the description this feels like I should’ve enjoyed it more but this was only my 2nd/3rd audio so I don’t think I was fully ready for the format /medium yet
8 Likes
I’m in agreement on your points. I liked it better than the previous one, and Turlough is an intriguing character to me (only met him in short stories and audios so far. I’m on season 19 at the moment so I’m almost there). It’s about middle on my scale as well.
5 Likes
Sirens of Time was the story that made me leave Spotify to buy the first 100 monthly adventures (there was a sale) becouse I liked it so much. Phantasmagoria was the story that made me wonder if that may have been a mistake.
It was just kinda meh, and I struggled to get into it. Didn’t quite finish on a recent relisten to rate it either. Full review here:
6 Likes
It seems I was in a minority really disliking this story. Gatiss’ writing rarely clicks with me and this early instalment is no different. All the frustrations that would become commonplace with his writing are here - long-winded dialogue that tells rather than shows (I know it’s audio but it’s still clumsily handled here), pooping on Christianity for the sake of it, the bare minimum of female characterisation. I found it dull and frustrating. But, on the other hand, I liked The Sirens of Time more than most. The Audio Club threads read as though most people were encouraged to keep going with Big Finish by one of these first two releases or the other, though rarely both!
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Whereas I started Big Finish with Patient Zero (MR #124) and Legend of the Cybermen (MR #135). Both of which are deep into their arcs.
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I forget where exactly I started the first time, but it was somewhere towards the end of McGann’s C’rizz arc, which was wild to be sure. Certainly got me interested though!
6 Likes