Titan Comic
The Titan comics were definitely a step up from the DWM once but they still have the problem that each story is too short. It was great that Missy was a constant in all stories and she was my main enjoyment of this part of the story. I hope that the book will give some depth to Doom as a character because she feels really flat right now. But first, it is time for the mobile game… 3/5
Next up: AI am the Doctor - Lost in Time - Game
Lost in Time - Game
My review of the game: Review of Lost in Time by Tian · TARDIS Guide
The story this hour gave me nothing. It was just not interesting. 1.5/5
Next up: Extraction Point - Novel. I am a bit excited about this one. Hopefully, we will learn more about Doom in it.
I know the feeling; it’s frustrating, and I’m also tired of the MCU, so I haven’t watched the most recent shows or movies.
Novel
I am starting to become frustrated by this event. They have a new main character but after 11 stories with her, I still don’t know anything about her. I thought that the problem was with the limitations of the comic medium but the problem is still here in the book. She is also alone most of the time which is also a bad way of introducing a character when we only get her thoughts and not interactions. She also changes places every hour which is also bad because they have to do environment introductions instead of making a character of Doom. I am almost angry about this event! The story this hour is set in some skiing place and she kills a dude and meets Nine for about 3 minutes, it is okay. The best thing about the novel is that it is a fast read. I won’t rate the book until I have read the whole thing.
Next up: Extraction Point - Novel.
Sooz is one of my best friends and the mishandling of this whole project still makes me furious when I think about it.
Awfully conceived trailer where she was given direction that seemed to totally misunderstand the whole thing and then next to zero support when the fans turned nasty.
Not leading with the performed media and instead leading with the written stuff and dwm comic strips, too short to showcase any great potential in Doom’s Day at all.
On top of which, when it then came to the audio books just no real guidance given to her on characters she was doing and if they were important. She told me she had recorded one with an old couple in it and then - waaaayyyyy after - I find out it was Ian and Barbara. Also, things like not being prepped beforehand that she’d have to try Capaldi’s voice and just being told at the actual recording session.
If they’d prepped her ahead of time which voices and characters she’d have to do it would have been fine - she’s a professional actor after all.
Just utterly bungled from start to finish and seemingly happy to sit back and let Sooz take the blame. Really, really poor form, especially when they know how toxic certain corners of the fandom can be.
The strongest stuff in my opinion is the Big Finish boxset where she was looked after and can actually show what she’s capable of. If they’d rejigged it and led with the performed stuff I honestly think she’d have had a much easier time.
All that said, I honestly don’t think you’ll have a nice time with Doom’s Day. It really sucks. I just have to stand up for Sooz when it arises because I promise you, she was thrown to the lions with it.
Things make a bit more sense with this context in mind. That must be frustrating for a performer and doubly so with the vitriol from people online.
The bit where she has to sound like Peter Capaldi was really rough, but if it came totally left field I can see why, you need to be able to prepare for what’s to come.
Who was it that was in charge of the Doom’s Day “project”? Surely the lack in quality must be placed at their feet at the end of the day.
Yeah it was on the day of the session. She isn’t a fan at all, I helped with some context where I could but she obviously couldn’t tell me much of what she was doing for legal reasons.
I’m not sure who spearheaded the whole project but I get the impression it was more disjointed than we may think. It might not be something even Sooz knows really, she was hired to do the job which turned out to be several different jobs along the way with different producers and directors.
Much of actually doing the job was actually quite fun by all accounts. She got to record with Paul McGann and Camille Coduri which she was super hyped about, plus she actually had a blast with the audio books. Beyond that it was photoshoots for the merch which she really enjoyed. It was really just the aftermath.
The way they announced the whole thing was a f*** up as well in my opinion. Countdown to the trailer prominently featuring “11” in the run up to the 60th. What were fans going to think? It was a let down before it got out the gates. As well as being massively disappointed by the products I was also angry for my friend so easily the oddest mix of emotions I’ve ever had consuming anything Doctor Who related.
Seriously even the stuff she was nowhere near lets her down by proxy. Those dwm strips were dreadful (and the first out the gates after the website short story, also an underwhelming way to begin).
Just ugh to the whole thing.
Stood alone, the Big Finish episodes are quite fun I think though.
I followed Sooz back in the days when I was still on the hell pit that was Twitter. She always spun a great story and came across as a lot of fun and very professional. When I saw the first drawing of Doom I thought “That looks like Sooz Kempner! That’s really weird!” Then I found out that she’d been cast as Doom, which I thought was a bit of a left field choice, but I was very there for it. Then the trailer came out and it was obvious they’d spent no time at all on it and given her nothing to work with, which was very frustrating. I thought the shade thrown her way was unjustified, especially as it clearly wasn’t her fault. It did seem very much like she’d been thrown under a bus.
I’m not a fan of these extended universe-wide events, but then I’m not the target audience. This one did seem to be particularly poorly conceived, though. Even before hearing what you’ve said, I thought that Sooz had been very badly treated, especially as it only really boiled down to a couple of days’ work for her.
I have not listened to the audio yet but this just confirms how ruched this whole event feels. I will continue to read the novel and listen to the audio but I am disappointed about this. Timelord Victorious was also a mess but in a fun but a bit confusing way.
But mostly I am disappointed in how they treated your friend. That sounds awful. Hope you and others could give her support when her employer failed.
Thanks for this Chris. Doom’s Day brought out the worst in fandom and it was horrible to see, so I can only imagine what it was like for you being friends with Sooz.
There are so many behind the scenes realities which any reasonable fan could have a guess at - it was obvious the faults of that video promo weren’t Sooz’s - that should prevent kneejerk nastiness but, no, it’s easier to just be unkind. Cowards hiding behind a screen.
Thanks for telling us this Chris, I’m sorry this happened to her and now I understand it a bit better.
On a lighter note - all the Doom’s Day stories are now on the website, and there is a shiny new badge for anyone who rates them all 
@Tian
Yay! I need that badge 
Novel
A story set at the Satellite Five from the 9th Doctor’s season where Doom is set out to kill a ghost. It was boring. But yay halfway through the day!
Next up: Extraction Point - Novel.
Novel
After a bit of time, I decided to pick this up again. This hour was a bit of a steep in the right direction with a bit more of the Doctor. If I would say something that I do like it has to be the writing style with short and fast-paced chapters. I am a bit excited to read the last hour of the book and then continue with the audios (with a story in that mobile game first).
One strange thing is that all the stories before the novel have been named Hour 1, Hour 2, Hour 3… and so on, the book has been counting down the hours instead. Just another sign of how rushed this has been.
Next up: The last part of Extraction Point - Novel.
Cross media events seem like a bad idea in general tbh. Like, everyone has their preferred method of consuming DW and unless you sail the seven seas, it might be difficult or impossible to follow the entire thing if there’s regional issues with availability and delivery etc. and as mentioned in the thread, the whole thing seem very rushed and disorganised which is bound to happen when you’re trying to coordinate storytelling over multiple platforms
The thing is that despite its faults Time Lord Victorious was kind of fun. They just did it a bit too hard to follow. This is kind of easy to follow but tells a bad story. I think that the way to do it is to tell the same story from different points of view making it so that you don’t have to read every part to enjoy it.
Novel
Finally done with the book. I am not recommending it at all. It is mostly just not that interesting. I don’t think that this is MG Harris’s fault I just think that the premise for this event is not developed enough. I still feel like I don’t know Doom and I feel like I don’t care that much about her faith.
I also feel a bit cheated. I was hoping that the ninth and second Doctor would meet in this book. They did not meet. The cover also spoiled the return of the Slthereen something that would have been a fun reveal. I rate it 2/5 mostly because I like the writing style.
Next up: Wrong Place at the Right Time - Lost in Time game
Lost in Time - Game
My review of the game: Review of Lost in Time by Tian · TARDIS Guide
This was the most boring thing I have ever read… I must admit I stopped reading after 30 pages and mostly skimmed when flicking through the rest. 0.5/5
Next up: The Steel Cascade - BBC Audio: Four From Doom’s Day. Let’s hope that the audios can save this event. But by your comments above I don’t see that much hope of that.
BBC Audio: Four From Doom’s Day
I did enjoy this one. It was fast-paced and had an interesting enough premise. But mostly it was fun to have a post-TARDIS Barbara and Ian story. Would love more audios about their adventures after the TARDIS. 3.5/5
Next up: The Martian Dilemma - BBC Audio: Four From Doom’s Day
