Hello, I created this topic because I have a problem. I’d like to dive into the Sixth Doctor’s audios (I’ve already listened to some Main Range ones with Peri), but I’m having trouble finding my way around… I thought Big Finish’s 2022 relaunch would help by resetting the continuity, but in the fifth box set, there’s a companion from the Main Range. I’d like to get to know her, but I’ve been told that each era of the Sixth Doctor is heavily connected to Evelyn. Is that true? If so, I suppose I’d need to go through all the Main Range episodes, but that brings up another issue: Charley. I’ve only listened to the first few audios of the Eighth Doctor, so that might be a problem, right?
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Okay. So there is actually a recent solution (sort of) to this. The Sixth Doctor gave a companion list and order in The Quin Dilemma. I’ll work to give you a list coming up.
While Charley’s time with the Eighth Doctor does inform her time with Six, I think you can jump in with just a little context. Without spoiling Charley’s last Eight story, they end up separated (through time shananigans) and she’s rescued by Six. Thus, during her run with Six, she has to hide that she travelled with a future incarnation. My first Big Finish was the start of the last Six/Charley trilogy. I had no context, I just knew who the Sixth Doctor was and what the Daleks were. So, I think you’ll be fine.
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So, it can get confusing quite fast (and the list in Quin Dilemma is across all media). Essentially for audio it goes, young Peri, Matthew Sharpe (MR #238-240), Evelyn, Evelyn and Brewster, Jago/Litefoot, Charley, Flip, older/Queen Peri, Constance, Constance/Flip, Mel, Mel/Hebe. That is of course a very rough list. And there are out of release order stories scattered within that, but that should give you the backbone.
I’d recommend using these two sites to kinda of put together a definitive timeline: Doctor Who - The Complete Adventures - Sixth Doctor & Theory:Timeline - Sixth Doctor - Tardis Wiki
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Thank you so much!
You’ve awakened the completionist in me lol.
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Actually, maybe I should go through the entirety of the MR so I’ll be less confused, but that will take a lot of time. I know the multi-Doctor stories are going to frustrate me.
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Good luck. We have the Audio Club threads for the individual stories (currently up through MR#41), and the generalized Big Finish: The Monthly Adventures thread.
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I’ve never listened to any Eight/Charley audios and I was not confused at all when I listened to her stories with Six. I lacked the backstory regarding her previous experiences traveling with the Doctor, but I don’t think any Six/Charley stories are so lore-heavy that that they require prerequisite material because the whole point of their arc is for her not to divulge who she is. You can just jump in with their first encounter and understand what’s going on.
I disagree that every era of Six is connected to Evelyn. Excepting the odd (nigh inconsequential) reference to her here and there during some Flip and Hebe stories, she does not play a big role in other companions’ storylines. Evelyn doesn’t share an audio with any of his other main companions other than Mel and Flip (one story each). I’d argue that Six’s eras are pretty standalone by nature. From what I understand, completing Evelyn’s arc is only important if you’re interested in following her timeline through the Seventh Doctor’s range. Peri is the more crucial companion in Six’s history.
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Thank you, everyone!
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