It’s time to listen to and discuss The Next Life
Buy it online using the link above.
Even if you listened to it before and just want to discuss it - dive right in! Just please use spoiler tags!
Everyone who participates will get a coveted Audio Club badge! 
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I’ve got 14 audios left till I’m caught up with this club!!! I’ve had to let Benny slip so I can catch up on this.
I don’t know if Divergent Universe is worth that trade 
Ah I’m not relistening to any I’ve already heard So any 8 ones I’ll be skipping.
So, yeah. What a disappointing ending to the Divergent Universe arc. It’s ambitious, it’s overlong, and it has a few good ideas, but honestly, I can’t really remember what it was about.
6/10
The Next Life is an ambitious and layered finale, packed with intriguing twists, strong performances, and a suitably grand sense of scale. Rassilon’s manipulations, the eerie religious cult, and the exploration of Charley and C’rizz’s subconscious desires all make for compelling drama. However, the sheer length of the story ultimately works against it, stretching the narrative to breaking point.
While it provides a satisfying conclusion to the Divergence Universe arc, the pacing issues and information overload prevent it from being a truly great story. Still, the tantalising cliffhanger—returning the Doctor, Charley, and C’rizz to the regular universe, only for them to be immediately confronted by familiar foes—sets the stage for an exciting next chapter.
You’re welcome to read my full review below (spoiler warning!):
Not a Fan of this one. I am kinda glad we abandon the DU Arc, since while I would have been interested in more, even with its better or good Stories, I don’t think its Core-Concept has been used all that well for the most Part. The Ending is messy with some bright Spots, but ultimately it being so long just kills most of the good Will I might have for this one.
Fittingly underwhelming for the finale to the Divergence Saga.
Whilst The Creed of the Kromon might be more creatively bankrupt, I think The Next Life takes top spot for worst story in this arc on account of it being three agonizing hours long and boasting one of the worst casts of characters Big Finish has ever put out.
There’s a good atmosphere in places but it fails to live up to what little expectations had been set for it
Full review here, if you enjoy, please leave a like
Been slogging through this for the past week and I finished Part 5 on the way to work this morning. I… don’t hate it??? I don’t like it very much either. But I don’t think it’s anywhere near the likes of Prison in Space, my least favorite Doctor Who story of all time. The opening two episodes I LOVED. I love a story that really explores its characters and their development and those scenes give some spectacular character work for Fisher and Westmaas to play with aplomb.
I hate that Charley and Perfection meet and immediately hate each other. It’s a major writing pet peeve of mine to have the two women characters start bickering because they think one of the men is hot.
The twist with Keep is really well foreshadowed and executed. Overall, messy as this story is, it ties up the Divergent Universe with a well tied, if a bit loose, bow. A solid 5/10. Not exactly a pass but, especially with the behind the scenes challenges that came from the Divergent Universe, it isn’t necessarily as bad as it could have been.
Not as bad as you all are saying. Not the most amazing story, yes, but at least it actually does something. I listened to this over the past three days I think, so maybe spacing it out a little was also what helped it not be too boring. Maybe the first story where C’rizz as a character actually had something interesting going on. Charley was less pleasant here. So in total, a pretty average story to me, some good, some bad.
I really enjoyed the first part.
I liked Perfection and her dynamic with the Doctor.
I actually enjoyed the bit where they took turns explaining the history of the Divergent Universe.
But I don’t think it all makes perfect sense. Sure, it goes around in a time loop but that should not stop there being a time vortex. So with this being the final explanation of why no-one knows the word “time” (how do they arrange what they do over a normal day??), I don’t think it works.
It was far too long and then the ending all happened in a whirlwind at the end, leaving me not entirely sure how they got out of it despite me also reading the plot summary on TARDIS Wiki.
Oh well, I’m glad they are finally out of the DU, I want normal adventures for the Eighth Doctor now!
3/5
Ooh, I’d be interested to hear more about this!
Pretty sure smash is refering to the fact that the DU Universe was supposed to be going on for at least two more seasons, but since the show was coming back, big finish didn’t want a very out-there concept for their 8 Audios (since some people might want to try him out due no TV-Run) and wrapped it up much quicker. Some of the post DU Stories were I believe even planned to take part in that 'Saga´. To cut the chase short, the ending of the DU-Arc lead us to the other 8 Monthlies and later the 8DAs with Lucie.
I could be recalling things the wrong way but I believe it was something along those lines (and if not, anybody feel free to correct me).
Yes, they had to cut it all short when the show returned.
So we can blame the BBC for ruining it, like they always do!!! /j
Damn you Russell The Davies !!!
Well thank goodness for that! I think the DU was pretty bad, and 8DAs with Lucie are much better!
That’s a fair opinion to have, while I appreciate the DU Universe, it was a little too ambitious for its own good. Oh, well, it at least lead to the fourth series of the lucie run, which was (mostly) excellent from start to finish, so yippie!!
